Piercing Gale ducked into a nearby building, with me in tow.

“Shouldn’t we get farther away?” I hissed in his ear.

“They won’t expect us to stay this close. You two will hopefully be safe here while I try to rescue Night Lover,” he whispered back, breath tickling my ear. He gently lowered me down to sit on the floor. I glanced around the dark, closed shop filled with all sorts of food items.

Death-Bringer stumbled in a second or two behind us and leaned against the doorframe, “unfortunately, Bloody is dripping a path of blood leading straight towards us.”

Piercing Gale, who was searching for something in the store, cursed under his breath. “Fuck,” he pushed his hair back, squeezing the strands in his fist as he stared off into a corner, “then... we keep moving together?”

Death-Bringer shook her head, wiping the lingering sweat from her brow, “no, too dangerous, we’d be in the way. I’ll take Bloody and get out of here while you find Night Lover.”

“Can you even carry Blood-Forged in that state?”

“It’s wearing off..” Death-Bringer said, somewhat unconvincingly due to her bright red cheeks.

“Do you really think you can fight the demon on your own?” I asked, shifting to sit up straighter.

“I’m not going to fight. I’m going to go in, get Night Lover, and get out.”

I rolled my eyes, “like it’ll work out that well.”

“Why don’t you just hold your tongue until you have something productive to say.”

I wanted to suggest we just abandon Night Lover to his fate but I knew, objectively, that it was a bad idea so I held my tongue and crossed my arms.

“I’ll help get you two out of town then come back for Night Lover, and I won’t let Blood-Forged leave a blood trail.”

“That’ll take too long! Who knows if Night Lover-” Death-Bringer was cut off by the sound of fireworks going off, surprisingly close.

When the fireworks stopped a booming voice rang out, “let the ritual begin!”