The two scrabbling sounds joined, and I stiffened at a sharp crack followed by a thump. There was a cry, then the desperate raking of claws on stone and glass all the way to the ground. I listened, not moving or daring to breathe. A gargoyle? I thought. There were gargoyles here? They were fiercely loyal to their churches and would defend them against attack. It was the only explanation, unless both had fallen, but it had sounded as if it had only been one.

Trent sighed in relief, but I kept staring at the high windows, not trusting that it hadn’t simply been two klutzy surface demons and that more wouldn’t be coming. “I think we’re okay,” he said, and I just looked at him in disbelief.

“Wanna bet?”

“Guys? Over here,” Jenks called out as he hovered before a white statue of Mother Mary. “There’s an electronic whine coming from under it.”

Giving Trent a last look, I tucked my splat gun into my pants at the small of my back and left the altar to join Jenks. The pixy had sunk down to sit on the statue’s shoulder, looking somehow right in between her heart and her halo. Trent had come with me, and before I could say anything, he stretched to put his hands on her knees, clearly planning to shove her over.

“No!” I exclaimed, not knowing why except she was the only thing in here on the ground floor not marked up and defiled.

But Trent scowled, and as I grasped his shoulder to jerk him back, he reached out.

Pain raced through my arm and into my chest, cramping my muscles like an electric shock. I heard Trent yelp, and I must have passed out because the next thing I knew, I was laying on the floor four feet back with Jenks hovering in front of me.

“Rachel!” he cried, and I put a hand to my aching head, my arm moving slower than it should have as I propped myself up. “Are you all right?”

I took a breath, then another. My roving gaze found Trent sitting cross-legged and holding his head. His nose was bleeding.

“Stupid-ass elf,” I muttered, feeling my heartbeat. “You stupid-ass elf!” I shouted, and Jenks flew backward, smiling in relief.

“You’re okay,” he sighed, the sparkles sifting from him turning a clear silver.

“What in hell is wrong with you!” I yelled, my voice echoing against the distant ceiling. “You don’t think it’s protected?”

Trent looked up. “Jenks was sitting on it.”