Lord Belmont's life ended in Clovis, in the impenetrable darkness beneath the ground where forbidden rites were once held. Lady Gwendolyn was his love, body, and soul, and the Demon in Blue Light killed her. Every year, on the anniversary of Gwen's death, he returns to Clovis to stand in the cold desolation, hearing the wind moan through the lonely passes, feeling her loss all over again. On this anniversary, he wasn't alone in Clovis. He hears the noises rustling in the brush. He smells the raw river of Shadow tech. Then he sees it: The claws ... The flicking tail ... The maniacal, glittering eyes fixed on him ... "I've been waiting for you," it says in a grating voice as it attacks. * * * * * Far away, across the cosmos in a city of wondrous crystal towers, two people watch in horror as the desperate scene at Clovis unfolds. They had worked so hard, sacrificed so much, even argued for it before the gods. They convinced the gods they were right, that they knew best, and everything would go well. But, things weren't going well at Clovis. If this situation turns out poorly, then ages worth of work would be lost, and, just possibly, the universe itself might come to an end.