By this late hour, the second-level crowds had thinned. The curfew was midnight, though some still ignored it. It was more of a “polite request” from the city’s leadership, anyway. Most of the Exiled Maras who spent their evenings down here in the common taverns had retreated to their homes, and only a handful of Imen were left, walking down the narrow alleys in pairs, fearful to go anywhere on their own.

Hansa, Jax, and I patrolled the streets, constantly paying attention to any noises or sudden movements. A couple of Imen children darted past us, giggling as they ran inside one of the townhouses on the west end. Their mother reprimanded them before she locked the door and pulled the shutters down.

The moons cast their warm light over the city, while the nocturnal winds rustled through the massive tree crowns overhead and billions of stars cluttered the sky. I looked up and found the asteroid belt, a string of purple shimmers stretched from the southeast to the northwest. What a beautiful sight, and what a troublesome phenomenon, given that it was most likely responsible for blocking our Telluris.

“Let’s get a higher vantage point,” Jax said, and climbed up on top of a townhouse.

Hansa and I followed, and we settled on the edge of the roof. We could see the whole second level of Azure Heights from there, including the stairs coming down from above. I nudged Hansa, prompting her to follow my gaze. I could see Rewa headed down from the third level, accompanied by two Imen servant girls.

“What is she doing here at this hour?” Jax frowned, noticing the Exiled Mara.

“I thought Darius would keep his daughter on a shorter leash after this morning’s events,” Hansa muttered, moving closer to the corner to get a better look.

My jaw clenched as I noticed invisible figures rippling through the air on the second level below, just below.

The girls were talking and giggling, completely unaware of the five invisible daemons, prowling a stretch of road just five houses down from us, as they circled an unsuspecting Mara couple.

“Crap! The protection spell didn’t take!” I hissed, then pointed at the figures.

My blood instantly rushed through my limbs, firing me up. My instincts flared, and I took a deep breath. We watched in silence as the Mara couple made it indoors, their living room lights flickering yellow in the windows. The daemons kept moving around, huge and quiet, then stilled as Rewa and her two Imen servants reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Go, go, go!” Jax whispered, and jumped off the roof.

He landed with a dull thud. Hansa jumped after him, and I followed. We drew our swords and ran after the beasts.

Rewa stilled and put her arms out, stopping the Iman girls in their tracks. Her eyes were wide with horror as she realized there was something moving, something invisible right in front of them.

“Rewa, run!” I shouted, and sped up, my twin blades out and thirsty for daemon blood.

She noticed me, but it was too late. As the Imen girls moved back, they were snatched by two fiends and dragged away in opposite directions, screaming and flailing their arms. Blood blossomed on the lower halves of their beige skirts.

Jax and Hansa darted forward and split up, each going after an Iman girl.

Rewa froze on the spot, a large daemon inching forward. She was only a few yards away, but I feared it would be too late by the time I reached her.

“Rewa, damn it, run! Run!” I yelled, and pushed out a pulse barrier. It barely nudged the beast, but it was enough to snap Rewa out of her fright and shock. She tried to run off, but the daemon slashed at her back.

She cried out in pain and tripped, falling flat on her face.

I pushed another barrier out. It was the only sentry power I had against it. I caught a flicker of red eyes as the daemon turned to face me. I jumped, my swords up and angled to go right through the creature’s skull. One blow and Rewa would get another shot at running.

A rib-cracking force knocked into my side, cutting my breath off. Something hit me hard mid-jump and threw me off course. I caught a glimpse of Hansa and Jax swinging their swords as they fought off the daemons trying to snatch the Imen girls.

I heard a rough growl beneath me before I hit the cobblestone hard.