[Suzerain of Sheol]

Shealtiel follows Dara into the APC, uncomfortably aware of Kasdeja's presence behind him. Does the Nephilim think this empty courtesy will ease over the threat of his presence among them? He studies his companions as he makes his way back to his seat, noting their varying conditions. None of them seem to be paying Kasdeja much mind.

Knowing that the abomination can read his every thought makes Shealtiel feel a certain kind of honesty of expression when it comes to addressing the group. No point in mincing words.

"Feenai, you should get us moving. We don't want to anger him... or whatever emotion it is that triggers him killing us all. Dara, he adds, strap yourself in. We have a long way to go." He is intentionally speaking around the Nephilim, refusing to so much as look in its direction.

He is not sure what he senses of Dara, and, he conjects, likely none of them are. The very fact that the Nephilim stopped them to retrieve her betrays a mystery about her nature that none of them are likely to solve any time soon.

Thinking back to the appalling massacre in the Pass, Shealtiel muses on his earlier threat to Kasdeja, wondering, not for the first time, just what will happen upon his death. The power of Sheol is so intrinsically bound up in his own spiritual being, he may lose himself utterly once that last candle-flicker of life is snuffed.

If such should be the case, he would dearly like to test the Nephilim, then. There is a certain innate arrogance to the creature that offends the stoic, abiding, passionless forces of Abaddon's realm. Not to mention, he would just like to see that one, sublime moment of shocked surprise when Kasdeja felt icy fingers closing about his heart.

Alas, though, Shealtiel planned on living for a while yet.