TBC: Epilogue

Aderes's body lay flat on a concrete stone table in a room adjacent to Akila's main room in her cave, a soft orange-red hue now apparent across his skin. His uniform had been removed.

Akila stood over Aderes as Mordán stood in the corner shadow of the room, his arms crossed.

Akila closed her eyes and extended her hand out over Aderes's face. Silver-white light bounced off the cave walls as light emerged from her fingers and sunk into Aderes's skin. The streams of light could be seen circulating along his veins beneath the surface.

"What is that for?" Mordán asked.

"To keep the blood active and warm."

"Can he still be used?"

"If I use his blood as it is now, the soldiers would die from one drop because of the moonfire poison. It must first be cleansed."

Mordán stepped toward the table. "And how is that done?" he questioned as he stared at Aderes with a look of loathing.

Akila glanced at Mordán from across the table. Her eyes flashed with irritation. "I work best alone, Sire."

"Fine, Akila. I'll leave you to your experiments. Just answer the question. How do we cleanse his blood?"

"In the same way all things are purified, Sire—by taking them into the dark."