[Suzerain of Sheol]

The man smiles, the expression somewhere between benign and utterly terrifying. "There's no devil, here," he says in a flat, calm tone. "We make sure of that." He gestures slowly off toward the ranks of crucified bodies.

Looking back, he stares into Lev's eyes and says, "I am Mithaias, and you are welcome in my sanctuary." He still holds the book to his breast, fingers curled over the edge of the cover.