“He’s not a piece of meat,” Karas said, speaking up with a thin voice. “That’s the difference between you and them. They appreciate every life; you don’t.”

“The traitor has stopped trembling long enough to speak,” Alucard said.

“From what I gather, you’re the one who turned your back on Elyon.”

“Shut up, Karas,” Darsal snapped.

“That would make you the traitor,” the little girl said.

Alucard whipped his head back and roared, an earsplitting howl that crackled with rage.

The roar rang, then echoed. Silence filled the cavern.

“Wouldn’t it?” Karas said.

Had she lost her mind?

“Do not speak that name in my home,” Alucard snapped. “It makes me doubt you. Why should I agree with someone who defiles my home?”

“She’s a young child; ignore her. I’m the one you’re speaking to. And you can trust me because I would give my life for this ‘piece of meat’ named Billos.”

Alucard regarded her with an expression hidden by red, pupilless eyes. The centipede slid out of his ear and disappeared into a patch of mangy black fur.

“Yes, you would die for him, wouldn’t you?”

He thumped the wooden platform with his stick. Three Shataiki flew in from the side and disappeared into a hole behind the dock. Into the lair, not unlike the one Johnis had entered at Teeleh’s lake.

“And I’ll give you that opportunity,” the beast said.

Darsal’s pulse pounded, as much from the anticipation of accomplishing her first objective as from a gnawing fear.

“How many big bats like you are there?” Karas asked. The tremble was gone from her voice.

Alucard just stared at her.

“Why do you want to go where Billos has gone?”

Darsal didn’t think the bat would entertain such simple questions from a little girl. “Karas . . .”

“I am Shataiki!” the beast snapped.

“And that bothers you?” Karas pushed.

“Did it bother you to be Horde?”

“No. I was too deceived. Are you saying you want to bathe in the lakes and make amends with Elyon?”

Alucard’s neck stiffened, and his lips pulled back to reveal sharp, crusted fangs.

“Sorry, you didn’t want me to speak Elyon’s name. I forgot.”

The beast’s coat quivered, sending flies that Darsal hadn’t noticed buzzing. “This is my home.” He seemed to force each word out, one by one.

“But you don’t want it to be?” Karas persisted.

For a long time Alucard just glared at her, and Karas stared back, though her shaking hands betrayed the state of her nerves. The entire forest had become deathly quiet.

When the beast spoke, his voice was nearly a growl. “Human,” he said. “What I do, I do for a purpose beyond your understanding. A purpose that serves Teeleh well.”