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Chapter Twenty-One

The Queen of Death

First updated 12/25/2015

=ooo=

A/N: Merry Christmas!

=ooo=

Kali moved slowly toward them, a strange ethereal glow emanating from her body. Harry tried to stand his ground but both Chiun and Remo's hands were on him, pulling him away. "You cannot fight me, Harry Potter," Bellatrix's voice echoed in his ears and in his mind. "Not you, not the old Korean, nor Shiva's avatar. You and I shall dance the Tandeva, and the world shall be mine!"

Remo's expression was grim. "Over my dead body, bitch," he snarled. "You and I have a score to settle between us first!"

Bellatrix smiled evilly. "For your precious Jilda? You cared nothing for her, Remo. You and she used one another for your own selfish needs — you would never even have seen her again if it wasn't for me."

"She's the mother of my child," Remo growled. "And you killed her!"

"You killed her," Bellatrix retorted.

"Because I thought she was you!" Remo shouted. He started to move toward her, but stopped at a word from Chiun.

"Remo!" Chiun hissed in Korean, so low Harry barely heard him. "You cannot fight her alone!"

"I have to try," Remo whispered in reply. "Harry can't handle her!"

Harry started to disagree, but was interrupted by a voice from behind them.

"Bellatrix!" Sirius chose that moment to step forward, his wand leveled at his cousin's body. "Whatever game you're playing is finished! Stop this or you'll answer to me!"

She spared him barely a glance. "Curse yourself, fool." Bellatrix pointed toward him, her face a rictus of hate. Sirius's wand twisted in his hand, back toward himself, and a blast of red spell energy threw him backwards a dozen feet. Remus, Ron and Hermione ran back to check on him.

"Bellatrix never had such power," Harry heard Dumbledore murmur.

"That's not Bellatrix Lestrange," Harry finally spoke. "It's Kali, the Hindu goddess of Death."

"That cannot be!" Dumbledore shook his head sharply. "Witches and wizards in the past sometimes convinced Muggles they were gods, but such things do not really exist!"

"Hate to tell you, Gandalf," Remo ground out, "but sometimes, you're wrong!"

"This body is powerful," Kali spoke from Bellatrix's mouth. "Much more powerful than the humans I have used in the past. I am pleased that I kept it alive all these years. It will serve me well after the world has become mine."

Harry watched warily as Chiun and Remo held him back, out of Kali's reach. He wanted to leap forward with a sudden burst of energy, to drive a fist into her chest, tearing out her heart, but that was unlikely to work — and even if he succeeded, Chiun would probably kill him for being so reckless and stupid.

They had to think of something, however, and quickly — Sirius was already down, though Harry could still hear his heart faintly beating. There was another sound, too — a faint but annoying whistling, too high-pitched for anyone but he, Remo and Chiun to hear. Whatever it was, it would have to wait until they figured out how to defeat Kali.

=ooo=

Circling high above the confrontation, Severus Snape listened as the body of Bellatrix Lestrange advanced toward Potter and the two men from Sinanju, who continued to move away from her. Dumbledore was backing away as well, and they were drawing nearer to Lupin and Potter's friends, who were hovering over Black's unconscious form.

Snape had assumed his Animagus form, a bat, and flown from the Headmaster's office to reconnoiter the confrontation with Potter and the Dark Lord. He had managed to keep his form secret from everyone, including Dumbledore, as it allowed him a mobility not available to many other wizards.

The fight with Voldemort had been surprisingly short, but the Dark Lord really had no chance once the Dementors had been routed. What was surprising now was the appearance of Bellatrix, or whoever she was purporting to be — the name "Kali" wasn't familiar to Snape, but if the Masters of Sinanju were wary of her, she must be formidable indeed. Dumbledore did not appear to have returned to his full strength yet. That meant it was up to him to save the day.

Snape spun in mid-air and flew away.

He passed through an open window on the castle's seventh floor, flapping down the corridors on his way to the one place where he might find help.

The Room of Requirement.

Resuming his human form, he fluttered to a halt before the tapestry, facing the blank wall opposite it. "Requiram locus aperire!" he said loudly, and the castle seemed to shudder as a polished oaken door appeared before him. Snape quickly stepped inside, finding a room large enough to hold nearly all of the students in the castle. A group of them, seeing him, rushed foward; it was most of the top two years of Slytherins students.

"Headmaster!" Draco Malfoy said loudly, relieved to see him, but Snape held up a hand for silence.

"I require your aid," Snape said. "Those of you who are of age come with me."

"To do what?" Draco demanded. "The Dark Lord is coming! He will do what needs to be —"

"The Dark Lord is dead," Snape said, flatly. There were gasps around the room, then cheers and shouts of joy as the other students reacted to Snape's news.

The Slytherins all looked devastated. "How?!" Draco cried. "He was supposed to crush the Ministry, to bring in a new order —"

"We have no time for questions!" Snape thundered. "We must act to save the school from an even worse threat! We must provide a distraction so Potter and the others can stop it!" He held out his wand, saying "Portus!" and the wand briefly glowed blue. "In 15 seconds I will Portkey to just inside the Hogwarts gates. If you wish to help, touch my wand!"

There was a moment of hesitation, then Blaise Zabini reached out and touched Snape's wand. He was followed a moment later by Nott. The sixth years Harper and Scalby touched it as well, and another sixth-year, Bletchley, joined in a moment later, leaving only Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. Draco looked away, unable to meet Snape's eyes, so he did not see Crabbe and Goyle reach out as well. The Portkey whisked them away, leaving him standing alone as the rest of the school stared at him in disdain. Humiliated, Malfoy moved away from them, into a far corner of the room, to contemplate his cowardice.

=ooo=

Snape and the Slytherins reappeared on the path leading out of Hogwarts. The iron gates were opened wide. Just beyond them stood Lupin, Weasley and Granger, trying to get a barely conscious Black on his feet. Further out, Dumbledore stood behind Potter and the two Sinanju men, facing the advancing form of Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Harper, Scalby," Snape said in a low voice. "Help get Professor Black to the infirmary. Crabbe, Goyle, flank the woman on the right. Protect yourselves, attack only if you see a clear opening. Zabini, you are with me on the left."

The Slytherins nodded acknowledgement of their orders and moved. Harper took over helping Ron with Sirius, moving him back inside the grounds toward the castle, with Scalby and Hermione behind them providing cover. Snape and Zabini went to the left, flanking Bellatrix, while Crabbe and Goyle were on her right. Remus stayed behind with Dumbledore, moving to stand with Harry, Remo and Chiun facing Kali.

"Fools," Kali laughed. "You should fall to your knees to worship me, not fight me!" She pointed at Remo. "Shiva's pawn will tell you that I cannot be resisted! Behold!"

A yellow mist seemed to emanate from Bellatrix's form, filling the air around them.

"Do not breathe," Chiun warned Harry and Remo in Korean. "It is the Breath of Kali."

"I know what it is," Remo muttered. "I've faced it before. Hold your breath, Harry," he said to the youngest Master of Sinanju.

Harry turned and quickly told Remus and Dumbledore, "Bubble-Head Charm!" Both men nodded and pointed their wands toward their faces. A moment later a shimmering bubble formed around their heads. On their left, Snape saw the bubble form, and he and Zabini followed suit a second later.

Over a decade ago, when Remo first faced Kali, he had encountered a strange smell that had filled his mind with desire, so powerful he had not been able to resist. It had forced him to do Kali's bidding, to find her spirit, which was then inside a statue of the goddess that was somehow able to grow arms whenever someone was killed for her. Kali had tried to force Remo to do his bidding, and when he managed to resist, she began to kill those around him, including (or so Remo believed) Chiun. But the old Korean had been able to control his body enough to resist the power of Kali's magic.

This time, however, Kali's magic was augmented by the magic in Bellatrix's body.

It reached Crabbe and Goyle first. Neither of them had cast a Bubble-Head, though Remus had magically cast his voice next to their ears and whispered for them to use the spell. Either they were ignoring him or neither of them knew the incantation. Crabbe's wand, pointed at Bellatrix, suddenly faltered and lowered to his side.

"What are you doing?" Goyle hissed at him.

"I — I can't," Crabbe whispered. "I can't hurt Kali — I love her. I would do anything for her," he murmured. His wand came up and pointed at Goyle. "I would kill for her. Kill for Kali…"

Goyle stared incredulously at his friend, then lowered his wand as well. "So would I," he agreed. In front of them Kali chuckled, then pointed toward Harry, Remo and Chiun.

"There are your first victims," she told them. She waved an arm toward them and their wands were replaced by long, yellow scarves. "Kill for Kali!"

The two Slytherins began advancing toward them. Chiun stepped in front of Harry and Remo. "Don't hurt them, Little Father," Harry warned. "They don't know what they're doing."

"They will not stop until you or they are dead!" Kali laughed. "You have no choice!"

"I will not kill them," Chiun promised, as the two Slytherins continued to advance. "It is my understanding that magical healers can grow new limbs."

"Better think again, bitch," Remo growled at Kali. "Everyone here is safe from your breath — the wizards have spells to protect them, and we can hold ours for hours if need be, though it won't take that long to take you apart."

"Foolish little avatar," Kali mocked. "Long before you need to breathe, my Breath will insinuate itself into the very pores of your skin! I have increased its effect tenfold with the power this body holds. None of you can harm me!"

"We'll just see about that," Remo said. He stepped forward, raising one hand to deliver a death stroke. But as he approached his steps began to falter.

"Do you see, o avatar of Shiva?" Kali taunted him. "The closer you are to me, the more susceptible to my will you become. You are helpless!"

"Like hell," Remo muttered, forcing his legs to take a step, then another. But with each step forward it became harder and harder to continue. When he was only an arm's length away Remo collapsed to his knees. Laughing, Kali loomed over him.

"You shall remain alive long enough to witness your son and I dance the Tandeva," Kali gloated. "When it is finished, the world shall be mine!"

"Over my dead body," Remo whispered.

"That shall come, soon enough," Kali promised.

=ooo=

Appearing over the center of the Black Lake, Dumbledore allowed the frozen forms of Crabbe and Goyle to drop into the water. They sank until the natural buoyancy of their bodies halted their descent, where they hung suspended in the cold waters, still unconscious, the Bubble-Head charms providing oxygen for their paralyzed forms. "You will be safe there for the time being, gentlemen," Dumbledore, standing on the surface of the water above them, said. "I shall return in due time to remove you — either that, or the giant squid will throw you onto dry land. For now, I must return to the battle raging outside the walls of Hogwarts."

But the question remained — how would they defeat the being that had taken over Bellatrix Lestrange? Kali was supposed to be an ancient Hindu goddess — the goddess of Death. The Tandeva was a dance Hindus believed was the source of the cycle of creation and destruction. Such dances were performed in India by the followers of Shiva and Kali, but Dumbledore had no idea what might happen if Kali herself performed the dance, though she claimed that the world would become hers, somehow. That in of itself was enough reason to keep her from performing the dance. Dumbledore hoped Harry and his mentors could stop her. He vanished, returning to where Kali and the others were.

Reappearing next to Remus, behind Harry and Chiun, Dumbledore saw that Remo was in front of Kali, on his knees. "What has happened?" he whispered to Remus.

"Remo tried to stop Kali," Remus answered. "But when he got close to her, his energy seemed to wane and he couldn't touch her."

"The vapor she is exuding saps our strength," Dumbledore surmised. He leaned close to Remus's ear. "Keep her occupied — I shall return shortly." Before Remus could protest he vanished.

Kali reached down and put a fingertip on Remo's forehead. A blue dot began to form there, growing deeper and larger every second. "This means your death, avatar of Shiva," she told him, and though Remo strained with every ounce of skill his Sinanju training could summon, he could not pull away.

"Enough!" Harry shouted. He moved forward, out of Chiun's grasp, and as he stepped toward Kali his magic formed a shield around his body, protecting him from Kali's Breath. His fist shot forward, faster than the eye could perceive, striking Kali's breast over her heart between two heartbeats — the Thunder Dragon strike, meant to cause cardiac arrest.

Kali laughed. Her arm swung almost lazily, knocking Harry away. "This body cannot be killed so easily, boy — not while it belongs to Kali!"

Chiun was instantly at Harry's side. "My son," he whispered urgently. "We must gather Remo and flee."

"No!" Harry shook his head violently. "I can't abandon my friends!"

"Your duty is to preserve Sinanju!" Chiun hissed. "Do not squander the precious gift I have given you and Remo!"

"I'm not going to throw away my friends' lives, Little Father!" Harry cried.

"All your lives are forfeit to the will of Kali!" Bellatrix's body laughed triumphantly. "You will dance with me now, scion of Shiva!"

Harry lurched to his feet. "No, my son!" Chiun cried. "We must —"

"It's not me, Chiun," Harry told him. "I — I can't control myself —"

As Chiun and Remo watched in disbelief, Harry began swaying slowly, gradually gaining energy as his arms and legs spun around and around. Kali began to mimic his motions, and the two spun around each other, their movements reminiscent of martial arts strikes.

Chiun moved next to Remo, his fingers pressing points on Remo's neck and back. The blue dot began to fade from Remo's forehead, and he slowly regained his feet. "We have to stop Kali," Remo gasped, as soon as he could speak.

"Agreed," Chiun murmured, watching Harry and Kali perform the Tandeva. "If they complete the dance the world is lost to the will of Kali — Harry shall become the new Tarakasur."

"Not on my watch," Remo growled. He reached up, touching his forehead. The blue spot was gone. "KALI!" he roared. "Get away from Harry, you bitch!"

Harry froze in place. Kali turned to face Remo. "Are you still alive, avatar?" Winds swirled around her form. "I thought I had destroyed you."

"Destroyed? No," Remo intoned, coldly. The tenor of his voice changed, becoming deeper and more resonant. "I am CREATED, the Destroyer! Death the shatterer of worlds. The dead night tiger made whole by the Master of Sinanju." He stepped toward her, his hands going around her throat.

Kali screamed. Her hands sought Remo's throat as well, and the two were locked together, each squeezing the life from the other. A scream began to build in Remo's throat as well, until his knees slowly began to buckle. Kali forced him, with excruciating slowness, to the ground, her teeth bared in a rictus of pain and fury, until it seemed as if Remo would succumb.

Then her body jerked forward as a bloody hand emerged from her chest, bearing her still-beating heart. Kali looked down in disbelief, seeing her heart beat before her eyes until they closed forever, and she slumped to the ground, dead.

Harry stood over her body, her heart in his hand, as Remo stared at him, gasping air back into his body. He dropped the heart onto Kali's corpse. "That's the biz, sweetheart."

"I'll let you have that one, kid," Remo wheezed, massaging his neck.

=ooo=

Two days later, Harry entered Three Broomsticks to find Remus and Sirius sitting at a table drinking firewhisky. Sirius had recovered from his injuries at the hand of Kali and had been discharged from the Hogwarts infirmary. "Harry!" they waved him over.

"You look good," Harry told Sirius.

"I feel good," Sirius agreed, tossing back another drink. "Thanks to this Ogden's."

Remus nodded toward the front of the building. "All packed?"

"Yeah," Harry said. "All ready to go. Just one thing to do before we leave." He sat down, reached out and turned over a shot glass in front of him, then picked up the bottle of firewhisky and poured a shot into it, as Remus and Sirius watched, wide-eyed. Picking it up, Harry brought it to his lips, then smiled. "Just seeing if you were paying attention," he said, putting the shot down in front of Sirius, who grinned as he picked it up and quickly knocked it back.

"For a moment I thought I'd seen everything," Remus admitted, smiling. "It would be interesting to see you have a drink."

"Sure, if I wanted to puke for a week, then spend the next five years having Chiun yell at me for polluting my body," Harry agreed, dryly.

Remus chuckled, then gave Harry a sober look. "Are you sure you're not going to finish school, Harry?"

"No need, now," Harry shook his head. "Voldemort's dead, Kali is — well, Chiun won't say if she's gone for good, but if tearing her heart out of her chest doesn't make her think twice before she comes back, I don't know what will."

"Whether it was Kali or Bellatrix or whoever," Sirius growled, "it couldn't have happened to a more deserving bitch."

"Wotcher, you lot." Tonks had appeared at the door of the pub. "Harry, glad I caught you. Kingsley sent me to tell you, he's agreed to honor the contract you made with Rufus Scrimgeour." She handed him a piece of parchment with the letterhead of Gringotts Bank — it was a receipt for 180,000 Galleons that had been deposited into Harry's vault the day before.

Harry took the receipt and stuffed it into his pocket. "Thanks, Tonks," he smiled at her. "That will make Chiun happy — he was sure we were not going to see any of that money once Voldemort took over the Ministry."

"Speaking of that," Remus asked Tonks. "What did the Ministry do with his body?"

"Disappeared into the Department of Mysteries," Tonks shuddered. "I don't know how those fellows deal with all that secrecy and weirdness, and — eecch." She reached down and took a glass of Ogden's Remus had just poured for himself, drinking it in one quick gulp. "Ahh, that hit the spot!"

"Aren't you on duty?" Remus grinned slyly at her.

"Delivering Harry's receipt was my last assignment for the day," Tonks replied, sitting down in the chair next to Remus. She pushed the empty glass toward the bottle. "How about a refill?"

"Careful, Remus," Sirius teased. "I've seen that look in Tonks's eyes before — she's on the prowl."

"So what if I am?" Tonks retorted cheekily. "And I've heard some things about you, cousin — Mum has some pretty interesting stories to tell about your time at Hogwarts."

"All completely true," Sirius said, deadpan, pouring himself another glass.

"Yeah, right," Remus scoffed. "I made up some of those stories about you!"

Harry was laughing and enjoying the camaraderie between Tonks and his tutor and godfather, but his ears picked up the approach of two heartbeats coming down the staircase from the first floor. He stood. "It's about time to go," he said, disappointment in his voice. It had been interesting to see Hogwarts and his friends again, even if the place now seemed rather backwards to him compared to the rest of the world.

Sirius and Remus stood as well. Sirius looked torn. Harry knew how he felt — he'd hardly gotten to spend any time with his godfather after their first meeting back in August. "Sure you can't stay another day or so?" Sirius asked, wistfully.

"You can come visit us in New York," Harry suggested. "I can show you around New York City — I'm sure we can find a few things to do."

Remus nodded. "We might just take you up on that, Harry."

Harry was confused for a moment. "What?"

"I've decided to stay in Britain," Remus told him. "You're of age, Harry, and Sirius tells me he could use someone to handle his finances."

"That sounds brilliant!" Tonks beamed. The look she was giving Remus told Harry volumes about why she might want him here in England. He smiled and offered Remus his hand.

"That's great, Remus, I'm really happy for you," he said, as they shook.

"Is that deathtrap of yours ready?" Chiun snapped as he and Remo stopped next to the table.

"Remo and I have got your trunks all loaded, Little Father," Harry said. He'd retrieved his GT from the Shrieking Shack and parked it in front of Three Broomsticks earlier that morning. Remo had packed Little Father's satellite receiver and video recording equipment in one of the trunks, then Harry floated all 13 of them down from the first floor to the street so Remo could store them in the trunk as a collection of boys and girls, along with some adult witches and wizards, watched curiously. Whether they were more interested in the car or in Chiun's lacquered trunks, they weren't sure.

Chiun looked around at Sirius and Tonks. "It has been an honor," he said, placidly.

"The honor has been ours, Master Chiun," Sirius said, giving a small bow.

"That is what I meant," Chiun sniffed. "Of course it has been an honor for you to be in my presence." Sirius glanced toward Harry, his eyes crinkling with amusement. Harry gave a miniscule shrug in reply: well, that's Chiun.

"Take it easy," Remo said, offering a hand to Sirius, who shook it. He then turned to Remus. "I hear you're staying, teach," he said casually. He jerked a thumb at Harry. "I'd say you did alright with the kid."

"So did you," Remus smiled.

"Barely adequate," Chiun muttered. "He has gotten sloppy these past few months."

Harry smiled and held his tongue. Chiun was never, ever satisfied, no matter how well he or Remo performed. "I'll try to do better, Little Father."

"Do or do not," Chiun told him. "There is no try."

Harry looked at Remo. "Did he just channel Yoda?"

Remo was grinning. "Maybe. I didn't think you were into those Star Wars movies, Chiun."

Chiun gave him a baleful look. "For your information, ignorant one, I am currently in discussions with Mr. Lucas to script the next installment."

"Oh, really?" Remo looked skeptical. "What's it called?"

"Not that you are worthy to know," Chiun retorted. "But I like the sound of The Sinanju Menace." He walked past Remo out the front door of the inn.

Harry hugged Tonks, Remus and Sirius goodbye in turn, promising he would see them again soon, then he and Remo walked out of the inn.

Harry saw Ron and Hermione were hurrying up the path leading toward Hogwarts. "I'll be just a second," he said to Remo, who nodded and got into the Mustang's passenger side.

"I was worried you'd left already!" Hermione cried, pulling Harry into a hug as she reached him. "I'm going to miss you, Harry," she said, letting him go and wiping tears from her eyes. "Thank you for everything you've done."

Ron nodded agreement. "You were brilliant, Harry. I still want to learn that Sinan-whatever you call it."

Harry smiled. "Maybe I'll show you a few tricks the next time I visit, Ron."

"Really?" Ron beamed happily. "Excellent!"

"As if the oceans of Sinanju could fit in that teacup," Harry heard Chiun mutter to Remo, not loud enough for Ron or Hermione to hear.

"Take care," Harry said to them, and both Ron and Hermione hugged him, then stepped back as he got into the driver's side of the Mustang. Though Chiun sniffed in displeasure, he said nothing.

"I guess we're ready to go," Harry said, looking at Remo and Chiun in turn.

"Wait!" Chiun said suddenly. "Harry, did Princess Elizabeth's minion deliver the balance of our tribute for the demon's defeat?"

"I wouldn't call Tonks a 'minion,'" Harry said, "but yes, she did. The gold is in my vault at Gringotts."

"Was there a bonus given for defeating Kali?" Chiun queried.

"Um, no," Harry said, slowly. "I don't think Minister Shacklebolt even knew about that."

"And you did not tell him?" Chiun shrilled. "Harry, that is no way to negotiate a bonus!"

"I'll remember that the next time I have to fight Kali," Harry muttered, putting the car in gear and driving down the main road.

"Not in my lifetime," Chiun muttered in turn, as the car passed the edge of town and Harry sent it skyward, towards home.

=ooo=

"Welcome back, Headmaster," Snape said as Albus Dumbledore sat down in his familiar desk chair in the Headmaster's office. His position at the school had been restored to him by Kingsley Shacklebolt, the new Minister of Magic, and the governors of Hogwarts at Professor Snape's request.

"Thank you, Severus," Dumbledore beamed. "Though in some sense I have never really left. But I do appreciate that you were gracious enough to step aside now that I have returned." Snape inclined his head in silent acknowledgement.

"I shall return to my quarters now," Snape said, moving toward the door. "I must prepare if we are to return to classes tomorrow."

"Severus." Snape stopped, waiting for Dumbledore to speak. "I wish to apologize for the difficult situation I left you to deal with. I honestly felt the deception was necessary — Voldemort would have acted much more boldly if he had realized Harry was no longer in Britain."

"No apologies are necessary, Headmaster," Snape murmured without turning to face Dumbledore. "I, too, was faced with some difficult choices during my time in your chair. We need not speak of it again."

"As you wish, Severus. Have a pleasant evening. I will see you and the other teachers in the morning staff meeting." Snape nodded and left the office.

Albus privately felt that Severus simply wanted to go back to teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, thinking perhaps that he could triumph over Voldemort's curse on that position now that he was dead.

Unfortunately, Dumbledore knew better.

It was a secret he had kept to himself for many years now, hoping someday to be proven wrong. Instead, he had been proven right. The diary that he and Arthur had destroyed five years ago had confirmed his worst fears — that Tom Riddle had called upon the darkest of magic in his quest to remain alive forever.

He had nearly given it away when he found Voldemort dead at Harry's feet. He should have told Harry not to kill Voldemort. But Harry would have wanted to know why, and that was a secret he could not share with anyone. Not even Severus, who knew more than most about the Dark Lord's quest to become immortal.

The body of Voldemort was now in the custody of the Unspeakables of the Department of Mysteries, where it would be examined in exacting detail for years to come. It was just as well, Dumbledore thought — Voldemort's spirit was no longer inside it. He hoped.

This business of Horcruxes was a mysterious one; even Dumbledore himself was not sure of all of the intricacies of creating one and using it to restore one's soul to a living body. He had hoped to question Voldemort at length on the subject, but alas, that was not to be now. Dumbledore sighed, letting his chin rest on his chest for a moment in silent thought that slowly lulled him into an uneasy sleep.

=ooo=

Miles away, deep below the streets of London, in a room hidden away from all but a very few eyes, the body of a young man lay on a stone slab covered in a dark cloth. The back of the man's head had been a shattered wreck when it was brought into the room and the cloth thrown over it. No one had noticed that, during the two days that had passed since it arrived, that the shattered bone and brain had almost completely healed. The handsome, blonde features seemed to be merely sleeping, the pouty lips of the body almost quirked in a smile, as if the body held a secret only it could understand.