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The streak of crimson bounded back to Geoffrey, and the young man stared at Hector in disbelief. “Why?! You should be mine, now!”

‘Fool,’ said Garovel. ‘You can’t have him. He already belongs to me.’

Geoffrey lashed out with a red whip.

Hector and Garovel split out of the way. Geoffrey tore after the reaper. Garovel slipped through a wall, and when Geoffrey turned, that metal helm was right in his face. Hector launched him the full length of the corridor to leave an impressive crack in the far wall. He could already see Geoffrey getting up as Garovel’s skull poked out of the wall.

‘Hector,’ said the reaper. ‘This is a losing battle.’

‘What do you mean? I’m doing fine, aren’t I?’

‘For the moment. But we aren’t prepared for this fight. There’s no time to explain. You need to remember what we came here for.’

Hector’s expression soured. ‘The children...’

‘Colt will probably be needing your help about now.’

He saw Geoffrey charging him.

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The conversation ended abruptly when a pounding thud shook the room. The three men all eyed each other a moment.

“What the fuck was that?” said Swank.

Rofal picked up the phone on his desk.

Colt’s gaze hardened. “Who are you calling?”

Rofal looked at him but did not respond. “Report,” he said into the receiver. A brief interval passed as he listened. “I see.”

Colt shifted in his seat. He did not like the look on the other man’s face.

Rofal hung up and started dialing again.

He could wait no longer. Colt bolted up and ripped the phone from Rofal’s grasp.