Chapter 23 The Heart Of Darkness

• The foundation chamber was a cathedral of carved stone and malevolent energy, its vaulted ceiling disappearing into shadows that seemed to move with their own volition. Ancient runes covered every surface, glowing with sickly light as the ritual approached its climax.
• At the center of the chamber stood a massive obsidian altar, surrounded by concentric circles of binding stones. And suspended above the altar, writhing in chains of pure magical force, was something that had once been human but was now much more and much less.
• "Gods above and below," Prince Aldric breathed. "What is that thing?"