It died on its feet, mouth open in surprise.
Holding fast to the sword hilt, Simon drew up a leg and put his foot against the demon’s chest. He forced the demon’s body backward at the same time he pulled the sword free.
The Gremlin fell backward through the broken window. Breathing hard but in control, Simon stumbled back over the dead body of the other Gremlin and steadied himself. He caught hold of the window and peered out just in time to see the demon crash down hard enough to crack the sidewalk.
Two other Gremlins started climbing the building’s wall.
Simon turned back to Derek. The other Templar was just getting to his feet. Crossing the room quickly, Simon plucked his Spike Bolter from under a pile of books and leathered it. Then he grabbed Derek’s arm as the Templar found his Firestarter.
“Are you all right?” Simon asked.
“Yes.” Derek sounded winded and disoriented. He stared at the dead Gremlin. “Where is the other one? There were two.”
“Gone. Let’s go. Others are coming.” Simon pulled on his arm and got him moving. Fear drove him. He didn’t want to be caught. But he wasn’t afraid of dying. He’d accepted his death would come sooner than later. He just didn’t want to lose.
Simon pulled Derek down the stairs, bumping into the wall as the other Templar slammed against him again and again, losing his footing several times. He slid his sword over his back again and held the Spike Bolter.
As he turned the last corner that put him out into the second-floor hallway, Simon switched to thermographic display and peered through the walls. Three yellow and red shadows showed in the darkness.
Holding up on the stairs, Simon put the Spike Bolter away and yanked a grenade from his vest. It contained a high explosive made from Greek Fire that burned with a nuclear intensity.
“This is Simon,” he said. “Is anyone on the second floor?”
“No. We got outside once we spotted the demons. Do you need help?”
“Negative. I just wanted to make sure you were clear.” Simon pulled the arming ring, then flipped the grenade into the second-story hallway.
The red and yellow shadows shifted in reaction to the noise the grenade made as it hit the floor. If any of them recognized the explosive for what it was, they didn’t have time to do anything about it.
The grenade blew up with a deafening report the armor almost blocked out. The floor vibrated beneath Simon’s feet and smoke roiled from the room.
Drawing the Spike Bolter, Simon turned the corner. He pointed the pistol in front of him and yanked Derek into motion.
Greek Fire covered the walls and the floor. The house wasn’t going to survive the night. As close as the buildings were, Simon felt certain that most of the block would burn by morning. He felt bad about that, but it couldn’t be helped.
Another Gremlin emerged from one of the rooms. It carried a strange pistol Simon couldn’t identify. Blocky and metallic, the sidearm looked ungainly. Crimson lights flared along the dulled steel-gray finish. The demon fired at once.
Several dozen incandescent flashes streaked from the pistol and slammed against Simon’s armor. Most of the bursts bounced and ricocheted from the armor, deflected from the palladium alloy or the protective spells, though Simon wasn’t sure which. But his defenses dropped quickly.
He pulled the Spike Bolter up and fired. The Greek Fire coiled up his armored legs, setting off a new set of warnings on his HUD display. More flaming liquid hung from the ceiling and the walls. Some of it dripped down onto Simon and obscured his view for a split second before it slid away.
Behind Simon, Derek was shifting, taking his weight back as he aimed his Firestarter. Streams of fire covered the demon and caused horrific burns immediately. It wiped frantically at the fire.
Weakened by the fire, the ceiling started to buckle. Simon knew it was going to come down. Even the armor might not stand against the maelstrom of fire.
Simon aimed point-blank at the demon and ran toward it, firing the whole way. The palladium needles tore through the Gremlin’s flesh and staggered it. As he closed on the monster, Simon lowered a shoulder and caught the demon in the side, propelling it over the second-floor banister.
The demon fell only a short distance, probably not even enough to notice if it had been healthy. But it wasn’t healthy. It kicked and tried to get to its feet but couldn’t manage the action.
Simon ran down steps that hadn’t been built with four-hundred-pound Templar in mind. The steps split and crunched underfoot, leaving pitfalls for Derek.
Instead of taking the stairs, though, Derek simply leaped over the side and made the jump easily. He touched down on a three-point landing and shoved himself back up.
“Come on!” Derek roared.
Simon ran, following close at the other Templar’s heels. Just as Derek passed through the doorway, the foyer closet opened and a little girl poked her head out. She wore a frightened expression.
Astonished, Simon recognized the little girl from the photographs of the writer and his family. She was the daughter.
She’s still here. The knowledge twisted sickeningly through Simon’s stomach. He knew children were caught in the battle with the demons and everything they were doing in London, but he hadn’t invaded the houses of any of those.
But he had invaded this little girl’s home.
She looked at him, her blond hair highlighted by the house burning behind Simon. Tears ran down her cheeks. Her lips trembled. “Help!” she said. “Please help!”
Simon took her by the hand and started to pull, reminding himself to be gentle or he’d rip her arm from the socket.
“No!” The little girl pulled back against him. “I need someone to help my mother.”
Mother! The word cascaded through Simon, leaving sickening greasy tendrils in its wake.
“She’s down there.” The little girl pointed into the closet.
Peering
