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A swarm of crimson engulfed both women, holding them in the air. It was a larger shadow than Hector had yet seen from Geoffrey, but he dove into the mass head on regardless. The red coiled around his limbs, slowing him down but not stopping him. Then it started digging into his flesh and lifting him off the ground, taking away all his leverage.

Geoffrey turned away from Lynn to look at Hector. “Why did you bring this normal girl here?” he said. “Is she a friend of yours?” He held up an eyeball, freshly removed. “Please tell me she is.”

Blood and shadow obscured Lynn’s face. Geoffrey had covered her mouth to muffle her cries, and a meaty gash occupied the place where her right eye should have been.

The Queen acted before Hector could, however. Speared through the gut, she had pulled herself down along the shadow while Geoffrey’s attention was held on Hector. She smashed him over the head with her fist. He hit the ground flat, and the entire mass of crimson shuddered and released everyone--but it did not altogether disappear.

Geoffrey was quick to get up, and Hector was there to meet him. He swung for Geoffrey’s chest again. The red mass wove around his arm and held it back, struggling.

“I should make her my friend, too,” said Geoffrey. And the crimson began to expand again.

Hector used his other fist to clock him in the face. It wasn’t focused and didn’t break the shadow, but it sent Geoffrey flipping head over foot across the road and into the side of a building.

“Lynn?!” Hector rushed over to her.

She held a hand over her eye socket, cringing. “I’m okay,” she growled through gritted teeth.

“Please stay close,” said Hector.

She just groaned and nodded, dripping more blood on her uniform.