I ran from the room, checking the kitchen on my way to the stairs. "Drake?" I yelled for him and heard footsteps slamming the floorboards as he came running. "What happened?" "Demons. Two of them. They appeared in the bedroom. Steph was with the kid. She tried to protect her, to stop them from taking her but they hit her. She's hurt, mostly bruises and maybe a broken rib." I rushed passed him, heading to Steph's room. Saleem's footsteps reached the landing, and Drake said, "Who the hell are you?" "Drake meet Saleem." I left the gargoyle and the djinn to get better acquainted and entered Steph's room. She lay on the bed facing the door, her face pale, bruised and twisted with pain. I hurried closer and knelt beside her bed. "I said look after the kid, not get beaten to shit." "My bad," she croaked. I laughed. "What happened?" She swallowed. "I was with Samantha. Martin went out for pizza and I was keeping the kid company.
