Chapter 430

Katelina woke, lying on her side across a yellow cushion, and rubbed her aching head. Flickering lamps illuminated a pillared room. Four men stood against the wall, their expressions frightened. She followed their gaze to find Samael kneeling on a pillow near her, frowning.

"It seems a mortal mind cannot contain so many millennia of knowledge. The old masters were not as ancient when they passed on their wisdom to their wives and children, so I did not realize. No matter. I have taken it back and will return it once the change has taken place."

Katelina sat up slowly, unsure what he was talking about. She had a smeary memory of kneeling, of seeing her life flash behind her eyes. All the insignificant moments drained away to make room for something more important. There was a vision of two men and then-

"My brother and myself," Samael said.

"What was his name?" she asked vaguely. She felt as though she had known something important, but now it was gone.