---
Their faces were smeared with blood. Their eyes glowed dull red. Their mouths opened and closed slightly as if tasting the air.
They looked less like Slik guards now and more like creatures wearing guard uniforms.
Sekhmet's stomach twisted again. He could not take them with him. Not without Lily seeing. Not without Lily asking.
Not without Lily fearing. And he did not want fear in her eyes yet. Not until he could explain in a place that was not trying to eat them. He could put them in the void land. Because Lily was there. When she wakes up she will see them.
Sekhmet's voice came out low, firm. "You two," he said.
The ghouls turned their heads toward him instantly. Their obedience thread pulled.
"Yes," the first rasped.
"Hold here," Sekhmet ordered. "Kill anything that enters."
The second ghoul's eyes flickered, hunger and rage mixing.
"And you," he asked, voice rough. "Where do you go."
Sekhmet did not answer fully. He said only, "I bring her out."
