The higherling was quick to react and a twist of his blade made his sword slam against Kid’s wrist.
Kid cried out as it sliced into him. He dropped the dagger and fell against the wall behind him, his wounded hand retreating to his other for care.
The higherling wasted no time. He pulled his sword back and jabbed at Kid.
But his attack ceased.
Kid couldn’t understand what happened.
The higherling’s eyes grew wide. He dropped his sword and shook about, opening his mouth and making a choking sound. His wings relaxed, and he fell forward.
Hayde stood behind him, looking like he’d been brutally beaten since their last encounter. His dagger was lodged in the back of the immortal’s neck.
***
Kinzer lay amidst the bodies of immortals. A head resting atop a stack of bodies seemed to look back at him. With its mouth agape and its eyes wide, it looked like it had just witnessed the same horror as Kinzer.
Janka had escaped, and now was so much closer to unleashing a devastating war upon all creation with whatever that monster was.
He grabbed Veylo’s sword, rose to his feet, and stepped through the carnage.
He had to get back to Maggie, Kid, and Hayde and make sure they were alright.
“Kinzer!” Treycore called.
He stepped over the sill of the window Janka and the Christ had fled through.
“What the fuck was that thing?” Treycore asked.
“That was the Christ.”
“The Christ? A baby did that?”
“It’s not a baby anymore.”
An echo of clicks filled the room.
Kinzer and Treycore turned in their direction.
From a side hall, the door opened.
Neeva and her guards stepped into the room. She glanced around at the bloody mess before looking to Kinzer.
“Well, well. Seems we meet again.”
“How did you find me?”
“It wasn’t my intention. A source suggested I check out this location. I’m relieved I took it seriously.”
Kinzer imagined Janka or Veylo must have been responsible for the suggestion. But why? Had they been planning on killing Neeva as well? Or had they intended for her to find this atrocity for some other reason?
“We have bigger problems to deal with,” he said, “Veylo and—”
“You stand before a massacre, and you seek to blame another?”
“He’s telling the truth,” Treycore insisted, stepping before Kinzer.
“Treycore,” Neeva said. “I wish I could say I was surprised to see you here, but it seems Vera has reported an attempted murder. Can you guess by whom?”
