The more Istredd tries to reason with him, the harder Wilhelm resists. Each patiently measured and cut word just becomes a brick in the wall he builds around himself.

"Who are you hearing? What, Lucifer? Of course you know he's not here, he's still up there somewhere." He throws a gesture toward the vaulted ceiling of the cavern. By now, he's hysterical, eyes cutting like jagged glass and a voice to match. "You can confirm it just like that. Just send him a message, it'll get through eventually."

But not to Erik. Wilhelm hadn't heard his voice in almost a year before it reached him in the darkness. Their last conversation — over the phone and cut short, because he thought there would be hundreds more — lingers with him.

Enjoy it while you can.

Bye, Erik. You're being annoying. Bye.

He's not ready for another last conversation. He grabs Istredd's arms, fingers twisting tight, swinging into his space.

"Can you prove that Erik's not here?" With the full measure of his hurt and fury, he shoves Istredd. "Tell me where the fuck my brother is!"