A fallen stepped in from the front hall. He was nearly as tall as Craetis, with broad shoulders and eyes that sparkled in the lamplight even more than the other immortal’s eyes.
It was Deter, another of the Raze’s emissaries.
Fuck, Dedrus thought.Do they know it’s the Antichrist?
“It’s a mortal,” Deter said. “She was sneaking through the woods out back.”
“Let me go, asshole!” Maggie slammed her fist into his chest. She tugged at her arm.
Vera’s eyes fixed on Maggie’s bloated belly.
She must know something’s up, Dedrus thought.
Maintaining her duel with him, her eyes shifted from Maggie to Treycore.
Dedrus knew Treycore couldn’t bluff. She knew him too well. Any little twitch—any slight shake in his pupils would tell her all she needed to know.
Treycore stared back at her, still exchanging blows with Mika.
Vera’s pasty flesh grew a shade whiter. Her eyes returned to Dedrus.
“Well, well,” she said as she blocked a slash from his sword. “You boys have been busy, haven’t you?”
Deter looked around, confused.
“It’s…the Antichrist,” Vera hissed, “you dumb shit.”
“Holy fuck,” he said.
“She’s gonna go for her!” Dedrus warned.
***
Gotta get to Maggie before Vera does, Treycore thought, his sword still in swift battle with Mika’s oncoming daggers.
If she got to her first, she’d teleport her to who-knew-where and that would be the end of the Antichrist.
Vera disappeared from before Dedrus and reappeared next to Maggie. She reached out to snatch her.
Fuck!
SMACK!
Kinzer had come up beside her and rammed a baseball bat into her face, sending her falling backward.
“Fucking dick!” Deter yelled. He released Maggie and pulled a sword from a sheath affixed to his belt. He rushed Kinzer.
Dedrus leapt over the couch and blocked Deter’s sword as they started up their own duel.
Of course, he’d be there for Kinzer, Treycore thought.Fucking doormat.
Maggie fled across the room, toward the study.
Treycore sliced at Mika’s hip. As Mika used both daggers to block the attack, Treycore reared his fist back and decked him. Mika toppled over the couch, rolling across the floor.
Treycore hurried after Maggie.
Vera appeared behind her.
