Chaos returned to the chamber where she had been about to commit another ritual murder. It was now empty of everyone save Roger and Kore, Kore still on the stone table, Roger sitting nearby, both still immobilized by the drug-induced daze she had put them in.

Chaos strode to the raised platform and retrieved her flint-bladed knife, then turned on the pair. "I should slay you both where you sit," she said, "But that would gain me little. My minions have departed, and without their presence your deaths would have no meaning. So sit tight, my pretties. I will return for you shortly."

With that she left them, hoping to quickly round up enough of her followers to give the deed the importance it deserved. A pity, she thought, that she could not have sacrificed the Lamia herself before them, but that one had been far too dangerous.