[Suzerain of Sheol]

Shealtiel casts a haggard glance back at Michael, unsure of what to tell the young man. "I... do not know. I have... theories, speculations, postulates... but, I could not tell you which is true."

He looks back over to their host, wondering if he does indeed detect a faint hint of concern across her placid features, or if it is merely his imagination supplying what is otherwise chillingly absent.

"Though," he adds, still speaking to Michael, "I do wonder where Kasdeja has gone."