Dark Horse

Thirty-Five

Control.

Power lay in control, and power was absolute.

To have a creature helpless and at your mercy, to toy wit it, play with it, hold its life in your hands, the knowledge that you have its destiny in your dominion — this was the ultimate validation of power.

Human souls.

Not blood. Not death. Not destruction. Not even authority over life.

The ability to manipulate a person's soul. Subdue it. Tame it. Force it to bow before the almighty presence. The more souls it could vanquish, the more it could subjugate and make quiescent, the faster omnipotence was attained.

The demon licked its lips and relished the slow hours ahead of it.