The Order

Epilogue The Lord of Lies

Far beyond the mortal plane, among the raging fires of the Burning Hells and deep within his realm of illusions, Belial screamed his frustration. The walls shook with his fury, and his demons cowered before him, fearful of being caught by his wrath.

He had been so close to tearing apart the very fabric of Sanctuary and accomplishing the first phase of his plan, but then that useless waste of a man had caught him by surprise. He had never expected Garreth Rau to defy him in that way, and certainly never thought he would sacrifice himself in the battle for control.

Perhaps I acted too quickly, Belial thought. But the temptation had been too great; the human shell had been his for the taking, and destroying Deckard Cain had been an extra incentive to assume control immediately.

I am still the Lord of Lies, he thought, ruler of the Burning Hells, and I shall not be denied.

“My lord,” a voice said. Belial looked down to find one of his minions at his feet—a beautiful, golden-haired female, strong and tall and proud, her full, red lips holding a hint of a smile. “I must speak with you—”

Belial snarled. He was not in the mood for games. He reached down with a massive clawed hand to pick up the demon, bringing it to his face as its physical shape rippled and changed, the illusion broken; a skinless, oozing nightmare stared back at him from lidless eye sockets.

The creature squeaked in pain, squirming against his grip. “Please, my lord!” it said. “I bring news. A seer has had a vision, one that will please you. There will be . . . a birth, in the east! A boy emperor shall come to Caldeum!”

Belial set the creature back down, the urge to rip its head from its shoulders fading. A new curiosity piqued his interest—a boy emperor in Caldeum? This was very interesting indeed. His plan had been dealt a damaging setback. But perhaps there was another way to find the particular object he so craved.

“The birth shall come within five years,” the creature said, bobbing its suppurating skull. “It is not too long to wait, not for you . . .”

“Have your brothers torture this seer,” Belial said. “Take no chances. I want to hear more. There is much to discuss.”

The demon nodded and scampered away. Belial smiled. Much to discuss, indeed. He began to think that his entire approach had been wrong from the beginning. He was not about brute force; he was about cunning and deceit.

There were many ways to approach the problem, but only one goal: the destruction of Sanctuary and the fall of the High Heavens itself. The Lord of Lies would not rest until it was done, and he ruled over all that was left.

Patience. Soon enough, his time would come.