A Remnant swooped down, attaching itself to Darquesse’s face. She grabbed it, pulled it away, and another latched on to her back. She reached behind her and a third was suddenly in her hair, its little claws tearing at her scalp. A fourth Remnant flew at her, and a fifth, and they were at her face and prising open her mouth and Darquesse stumbled and cursed …

And when her mouth opened, the first Remnant slipped in.

Then the second. Then the third.

And then a stream of Remnants flowed down from above, straight into her open mouth, and her hands were at her bulging throat and her eyes were wide, but there was nothing she could do to stop the flow. Hundreds of Remnants – no, thousands – flying into her, faster and faster, overpowering her, taking control even as black veins started to rise beneath her skin.

Then the flow ended, and Darquesse gasped, staggered, and Vex watched the whole thing with his hands in his pockets.

“You’re going to deliver what you promised,” he said. “You’re going to give us a playground that will be ours forever.”

The black veins faded slightly. “You think you can … you think …”

She gasped again and the black veins rose. Her lips darkened.

“You’re one of us now,” said Vex. “It took practically all of us to do it, but I think it’s been worth it, don’t you? Now it’s time for you to do what you do best. Kill. Destroy. Have fun.”

Darquesse smiled, but the smile turned sour, and she frowned.

The veins faded again before rising. She was fighting it.

“Practically all of you?” she rasped. “Should’ve brought more.”

She stood up straight, eyes locked on Vex. “I’m killing your brothers and sisters.”

For the first time, Vex lost his confidence. “Impossible.”

“I’m killing,” Darquesse said slowly, “every last one of them. I’m burning them inside me. They want to … they want to get out …”

“Stop,” said Vex. “Stop!” Energy burst from his hand, but Darquesse caught it in her palm. Her skin sizzled, and healed.

“They’re making me stronger,” she said. “Every one of them I kill makes me that little bit … stronger.” The last of the veins faded. Her lips returned to their full, natural colour, and she smiled.

Vex launched himself at her and she batted his hands away and grabbed him by the throat. She forced her hand into his mouth, shoving it down his gullet.

“Come on now,” she said, “where are you? Don’t bother trying to hide. I can put you back together. You know I can. I can make you solid again. Ah, there you are … Come on out. Come on …”