“They’re wondering what’s taking us so long,” Saracen said, eyes on the door. “They know we’re here. They’re getting anxious. Impatient.”

Frightening took out his sword. “Let them wait,” he said. “They’ll know pain soon enough.”

“I’m almost finished,” said Wilhelm, wiping out a line with his sleeve and drawing over it.

“I never doubted you for a moment,” said Vex, then looked at Aurora and spoke more softly. “I actually doubted him the whole time. He’s really not very good.”

Wilhelm turned. “I’m standing right in front of you. I can hear literally every sound you make.”

“Wilhelm, please,” said Vex, “this is a private conversation.”

Wilhelm hesitated, then went back to the sigil. Vex grinned at Aurora and she grinned back.

A few seconds later, Wilhelm made a final mark with the chalk and started putting his things away. “There,” he said. “Finished.”

The symbol pulsed once with a grey light, and a darkening rot spread outwards through the wood. When the rot reached the steel brackets of the door, they rusted, started to flake.

“Here we go,” said Vex.

Aurora snapped her palms against the air and the rotten door burst apart. Vex was the first into the dark room, followed by Frightening. A shadow whispered by his ear and he ducked and rolled, springing up and slamming into a Necromancer. They went down and there was gunfire and cries and the sounds of breaking things. Vex wrestled with the man, feeling spittle on his cheek as they rolled. He jabbed a finger into the man’s eye and then started dropping elbows. When the Necromancer was unconscious, Vex got up, turned, saw Saracen snap an arm and Frightening break a jaw and saw a Necromancer with a staff running for Wilhelm.

“No, no, please!” Wilhelm shrieked, and didn’t do anything to stop the staff from whacking into his skull. He crumpled and the staff twirled, gathering shadows, but Aurora pushed at the air and sent Wilhelm sliding away before the shadows turned sharp.

The Necromancer turned to her and she flicked her hand. The staff flew from his grip, but shadows grew like tightened elastic and it returned to him in an instant. He swung and Aurora ducked, lunged and grabbed him and got a foot behind his and sent him to the ground. She landed on top and hit him until he stopped moving.

“Everyone OK?” Vex asked.

“My head!” Wilhelm cried.

“Everyone else OK?”

He got a thumbs up from everyone except Wilhelm. Gracious and Donegan stepped in through the ruined door.

“We intercepted their reinforcements,” said Donegan. “A few mortals with guns. No big deal.”

“I almost died,” said Gracious.

“You did not.”

“I’m traumatised. My life flashed before my eyes.”

“Your life in reruns would traumatise anyone. You’re fine.”