The van’s engine started to howl. Katrina cursed and glared at the dashboard. “The engine’s overheating!”
“Not much farther,” said Conmager. He glared out the rear window. “No. Damnation, no. That black van….Marugon…”
Something dark and huge swooped overhead, flickers of bright yellow light flashing in the darkness. Katrina screamed as bullet holes appeared in the hood. The left mirror vanished in a spray of glass shards, and the back window shattered into glittering specks.
Conmager thrust his staff out the window, its head blazing with searing white flame. Conmager shouted, the white fire pulsing in time to his words. A deep-throated howl of pain rose from the air.
“Faster!” said Conmager, the wind whipping through his hair and clothes. Simon looked out the windows, saw dilapidated warehouses blurring past. “We are almost there!”
Something heavy landed on the van’s roof.
Simon looked up just as gunfire ripped through the ceiling, shredding the seat cushions and blasting holes in the floor. He grabbed Lithon and pulled him toward the wall, trying to shield the boy from the fire. Ally scurried back into the corner, her eyes huge.
Conmager twisted around, brandishing his staff as he levered himself further out the window. An infuriated roar filled the air.
A winged demon landed on the hood.
Red flames danced in the creature’s eyes, and its sooty black armor rattled as it moved. Through his terror Simon recognized the creature as one of the hooded and bearded thugs he had seen at the warehouse’s front gate every day. The false beard had done a remarkable job of hiding the winged demon’s yellowed fangs.
The creature drove an armored fist through the windshield, glass shards raining over Katrina and Conmager’s lap. Katrina screamed and let go of the wheel to cover her face. The van bobbed across the lanes and brushed the curb. The winged demon grabbed Katrina by her shirt and pulled her towards him. Simon roared and clawed forward, trying to reach her.
Katrina kicked the brake. The van lurched, catapulting Conmager out the window. Simon caught a glimpse of his staff clattering against the street.
The van jumped the curb, careened over the sidewalk, and smashed into the wall of a warehouse.
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The Tower of Endless Worlds Page 54
