Something rushed her and for a moment she flew through empty space. The wall smacked into her and as she fell, she saw the man lunging at her again. She tried to push at the air, but he grabbed her wrist. He squeezed and the pain brought her to her knees. His other hand lifted her and he whirled, sending her through into the living room. She landed on a table, scattering whatever junk had been piled on top of it, and rolled off.

Another one grabbed her. Valkyrie jammed her forearm into his mouth as he tried to bite her, forcing his head back, and with her free hand she sent a half-fist into his throat. He gagged and fell away, and a weight landed on her. She went down and a fist cracked against her cheek and the world spun. She covered up as the Infected sent punches raining down on top of her, her coat sleeves absorbing much of the punishment. The others would be coming. If she stayed down for any length of time, they’d be all over her.

She clicked her fingers and thrust a handful of flame into the Infected’s face. He screeched and recoiled. She pushed at the air and he was flung back, crashing his head into the wall. She got up. Through the gloom she saw more of them running in. This wasn’t going to work. Skulduggery could have battled his way to the door, but she wasn’t Skulduggery. She needed a new plan.

“Stop!” she shouted.

Amazingly, the Infected stopped.

“I’m not here to fight you,” Valkyrie said loudly and clearly. “I’m not here to hurt you or compete with you. Moloch sent me down here to talk. He wants one of you to help me. Do you understand?”

They looked at her like she was food, but they stayed where they were. Somewhere in the darkness an Infected growled.

“I need to find Dusk. One of his vampires infected one of you. You were brought to his lair. I need to know where that is.”

Somewhere to her right, there was another growl.

“If you don’t help me,” she continued, glaring at them, “you’re all going to burn. Do you hear me? Moloch has no time for vampires who disobey him.”

She figured about half of them were growling now and she was seriously regretting this plan. Her back was to the wall and they were gathered in front of her, ready to rip her apart the moment she said the wrong thing.

“My name is Valkyrie Cain,” she shouted over the noise. “You may have heard of me. I killed twenty of you two years ago and I’ll kill twenty more today and I won’t think it too many.”

The growling stopped.