‘Liana,’ Elivia shouts, as several of the heretics claw and stagger and rear back to their feet, spilling dust and warp light. As more march in lockstep from the edges of the chamber, looking to cut us off from the crystal stairs. ‘Carve us a path!’

The Retributor Superior’s response is short and curt.

‘Aye, Canoness.’

Liana and her Retributors move into flanking positions on either side of us. They open fire as one, their heavy bolters roaring. The high-calibre explosive rounds punch the hollow warriors from their feet, sundering their armour and shattering their helms. But still, some of them manage to fire back. First one of Liana’s Sisters falls. Then another, and another. The Retributors take the brunt of the enemy fire, their armour and flesh splintered and set alight by the heretics’ ensorcelled guns, but still their formation does not break. The Retributors keep limping forwards, their armour and faces scattered with blood.

‘Evangeline!’ Ravara shouts. ‘The gateway!’

The inquisitor is looking up at the portal that hangs over the crystal dais. Tiny motes of light are falling from it, trickling downwards to land on Sofika. Where they touch the interrogator’s skin, Sofika begins to glow. Lightning sparks, lighting the storm around her from the inside.

‘The stars,’ Ravara says absently, from beside me. She looks at me, her amber eyes wide. ‘We have to get to Sofika. Now.’

But the stars are not the only thing emerging from the gateway. There are devils, too. Creatures of flame and fury, studded with multifaceted, unblinking eyes. They disgorge themselves from the gateway and spiral down all around us, lit from within by warpfire and wickedness.

‘Go,’ Elivia says to me. ‘Make for the dais, and the sorcerer.’

I start to speak, but she stares at me, fiercely.

‘He chose you, Evangeline,’ she bellows. ‘Now, go!’

I do as she commands as the creatures descend, my Sisters following with me. We catch the edge of the daemontide, carving through it with blades and with blessed fire. Ravara keeps pace, with Zoric and Yumia at her side. The two members of Ravara’s retinue are wide-eyed and bloody, their breathing shallow with fear, but still they fight. Still they protect their master, even against these creatures of the abyss. Even though perhaps a dozen of the sorcerer’s silent warriors still stand between us and the crystal stairs.

‘Do not stop,’ I cry, as we run. ‘This is why He led us here. This is where we will find our vengeance, by blade and by fire. By the will of the God-Emperor of Mankind!’

‘By His will,’ bellow my Sisters in reply, as we crash against the traitor lines like a storm against stone.