Doppelgänger

Kido struck. His jian traced a sharp, precise arc, cleanly severing Xarath's arm.

He could have ended it right then, but he stepped back, watching the creature writhe in pain. Xarath, now off balance, curled on the ground, groaning and screaming. Yet those cries of agony stirred nothing in Kido—not even a flicker of pity.

"This is strange," he muttered, almost to himself. "I'm human, even if only half. I should feel something when faced with another's pain."

He advanced slowly, each step echoing in the dark tunnel. His hand seized Xarath's head with brutal force, forcing the demon to meet his gaze.

"Tell me," he asked coldly. "Is this how you felt when you killed Estia and her companions?"

He tightened his grip, pulling the demon's pain-stricken face closer. "Did you enjoy it?"