Titans of Chaos

If only I could get my tendrils on one of their rifles, I could shoot maenads and nymphs alike withbullets designed to cripple their particular powers. The distance was far, but was it too far? Ipushed first one, then two energy-tendrils into four-space. And...

The nymph standing over Colin smote him a second time with her wand, saying, "Powers used forevil deeds, this recompense we nymphs demand of you-serve now Ethemea, not Phobetor, and allthe powers of Phaethusa undo."

Stepping lightly over to me as she spoke, this nymph struck me in the face with the butt of herwand. It was shockingly painful. I tasted blood where my lip had been cut on my teeth.

And I was three-dimensional again. Crushing pain pressed in where once my higher limbs hadbeen. I could no longer even imagine the other directions.

The nymph Ethemea looked down at me, not smiling, not frowning; she did not gloat, but neitherdid any trace of sympathy mar the perfect coolness of her gaze.

I was vermin to her. She looked like a farmwife looking at a rat in a trap, or some vixen that hadbeen killing her chickens.

I lay there helpless, numb, motionless, waiting for death. I could still speak, but what would I havesaid?

The voice of Lamia now issued from the crystal marble hovering overhead: "Slay thedream-prince instantly! Why do you delay? Pierce his flesh with pitiless steel knives!"

The nymph Ethemea turned away from me and said in a voice as soft as falling snow, "We havewitnessed in this place what curses, what weaknesses, cling thick and black to any who offend thelaws of gods and men."

One of the nymphs-the one who had robbed Colin of his power, and called herself Cyane-spokenext, saying, "The crime of murder would render us vulnerable to the curses of that chaoticistwhom you have not yet caught, nor yet discovered: Eidotheia, whom we have cause to fear."

Lamia said, "Fear more to disobey! Take up your athames, and slay!"

A third nymph, Lara, said softly, "Lord Trismegistus, swift guide of souls to Hell, and father oflies, promised me freedom from the Path of Sighs, and swore my soul would not in that DarkHouse dwell, if only I would forget all honor, and worship his body with feigned love and trueconcupiscence. Him alone, my husband is, to him alone, fealty and obedience I owe. What causehave we to obey cruel Lamia, who rejoices in blood and woe?"