He heard Leith’s boots on the boards.

“Highwaymen, helping to save all realms,” Rory muttered in disgust.

“That’s about it,” Nick confirmed.

“If I get dead in gods-damned Mar-el, trying to save all realms, I’m dragging you to the under-realm with me,” Rory declared.

Nick grinned at him.

Then he looked back out from the loft to see another of the creatures in human form steal away.

“I’ve got that one,” Kaden called.

“That means we’re on the last,” Nick murmured.

“Fantastic,” Rory replied.

Nick grinned again.

Even if his stomach felt sour.

This did not stop him from saying, “Let us move.”

And this, they did.

Galbdor and Welbrix

Nautilus

MAR-EL

They made the roof and raced across it.

Gal made the leap to the next roof, and Brix jumped after him.

Gal then took a turn, dropped down, caught a finial, swung around it, launched himself across the alley, and landed on his feet on the roof opposite.

He did not wait until Brix had landed solid with him.

He kept running.

Though he was glad to hear his friend’s boots hit tile.

They made many jumps, swings and heaves before, thanks be to their Green god, they made the roof they sought.

Gal dropped to shimmy down a drainpipe. He then swung to the window ledge and did not hesitate a moment before he kicked the window in with his boots.

He landed on the floor inside amongst a sprinkle of glass, only to face Serena and Chu, both of whom, in the commotion, had drawn their arms and were at the ready to attack.

Brix landed beside him as Gal said, “The priests were wrong. They have venom. You need to gather the others. They need to ride. Now.”

“Venom? They can freeze people with their poison?” Serena asked in a grim tone.

“No,” Brix answered. “They can turn them.”

“Turn them?” Chu queried.

“There’s no time to explain. They are not only here,” Gal began. “They have created an army.”

“By the goddess,” Serena breathed.

“That’s what they’ve been doing,” Chu bit.

But no one said another word.

They all raced out.

Teddy

Smuggler’s Den Inn, Nautilus

MAR-EL

Faunus had barely dropped his bag in their room when he turned to Teddy and declared, “We need to report we’ve arrived.”

Teddy nodded and said, “But you’ll be back.”

Faunus came to him. “I’ll be back. Tonight, I stay with you. Tomorrow…”

He didn’t finish this, but he didn’t need to, for Teddy already knew what would happen on the morrow.

Or what they all hoped would happen.

They both tensed when they heard a faraway scream.

Faunus moved swiftly to the window and looked out.

Teddy quickly joined him, and as he was taking these strides, another scream could be heard.

There also seemed a muted commotion from belowstairs.