The city sped by as Devon jumped through the streets. He leapt over crowds of people and landed on a rooftop before sprinting off the edge. After another landing, my head snapped forward, and he readjusted his grip and pulled me higher.

"Devon! What if I'm wrong?" I shouted through the wind.

"Look up," he growled as he landed on another roof.

I twisted in his grip and stared at the sky. Black clouds raced together and formed above the castle. There wasn't lightning or thunder, but the clouds swirled together.

"What's going on?"

"Ritual," Alice shouted.

"Brace," Devon commanded.

I stiffed, and he leaped up a cliff and nearly bent my spine. He jumped again and again till he crashed into the upper district and pushed past a crowd of people. They screamed, and a group of guards brandished their swords, but Devon leapt past them. Horns began to fill the air as we sped away.

I really hope I'm right.

He crashed into the courtyard and released us. I landed and crouched, pulling out my axe. Alice did the same, and Devon shifted back. As we marched for the door, guards spilled out. Ulren dashed forward door and ran ahead.

"Sir Devon, Cain, miss Alice! What's wrong?" he rushed.

Devon picked him up and pointed him toward the sky. He visibly gulped and yelped as Devon dropped him.

"Where's Garret?" Devon growled.

"Sir Garret? He-he's in a meeting with his Majesty. They are discus-"

Devon moved past him, and we followed. The guards stared, but Ulren ran ahead.

"Weapons down! Let the Grimms through!" he ordered.

Devon wasn't kind. He tore the door off its hinges and ducked inside. The guards shuffled in behind us like an escort as Ulren dashed for the throne room. He forced the guards manning the door to open before Devon ripped the doors off.

As they did, the people inside the room turned.

"So you've finally joined us. Finally, we can get some answers!" Redmire shouted.

I looked around, but the Queen was absent. Vertus and Redmire huddled around a map with Mulren at the helm of the table.

Ignoring the noble's outburst, Garret walked over and crossed his arms. "What's wrong? Why are you here?"

"Have you seen what's happening with the sky?" Devon asked.

"Sky?" he muttered. He rushed to the window and looked up. "What the hell?!"

"Garret. Nareid. She's the one who killed the old woman. And I think she has something to do with the gold threads," I rushed.

"Gold threads? String sorcery?"

Devon pointed to the king. "Where's your wife? And the seamstress."

"My wife, sir Grimm? She and Ms. Nareid are busy with a new dress. What's going on?" Mulren answered.

"If you value your wife's life, then tell us where they are."

The king's face hardened, and he stood up. "Guards! Follow. We're going to the royal chambers."

"Mulren! This is ridiculous! The Baathan's head is dead, and they are str-" Redmire began before Garret strode over and backhanded him into the Queen's throne.

Vertus squeeked and backed into a wall.

"Finally, the oaf shuts up," Garret said as he bent down and placed two fingers along the man's thick neck. "Still breathing. Let's go."

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Mulren led the way while Ulren and the Vertus noble stayed back. Garret saddled up beside us and closed his eyes.

"What are you doing?" Alice asked.

"Using my skill. Shut up," he responded.

I ran a mana thread into my eyes and found his body glowing a dark red. It came in wisps that curled out before fading.

As we rushed through a stairwell he opened his eyes and grunted. "Can't detect anything. You?"

"I smell nothing," Devon answered.

Now that he brought it up, I sniffed, but there was nothing off-putting beyond the odor of sweating bodies.

We rushed down a hallway, and Mulren rapidly knocked on the large iron door.

"Lynrell! Open the door!" Mulren shouted. He waited, then knocked again. "Dear, open up! The Grimms are here to see you!"

No answer came, and he knocked a third time, but Devon pulled him back and kicked the door. It dented, and he kicked again. Mulren stared wide-eyed as Devon grunted and sent the door flying. He stepped to the side but held out his arm. As I peeked over Garret, I saw why. Golden threads covered the room. A glowing rune attached to the floor spat out more thread that joined the ever-growing web.

"Lynrell? Guards, where is my wife?" Mulren demanded.

One of the guards who followed saluted. "I'm sorry, sir. Ms. Nareid was led to her room, but they have not come down since! My apologies for our failure!"

"Find her!"

"What now?" I asked as I stared at the threads.

The sight of them made me want to torch the room. Alice's glare suggested she felt the same way.

"Where else would she be?" Garret asked Devon.

He paused and stared out the window where the sky was visibly darkening.

"Renner."

Devon pushed the guards out of the way and jogged down the stairs. The guards and the king followed, but we outpaced them. I finally smelled something as we rushed into the hallway containing the alchemy room.

Corruption. Rot. Acid!

"Devon," I whispered.

"I know."

We stopped as he pointed out the blazing enchantments along the back wall and above the door. They burned with enough energy to glow like a bonfire.

"Garret. Can you handle it?"

He narrowed his eyes and snorted. "Of course."

His arms snapped and extended as claws grew into sharp talons. Mana rushed from his feet, and he stomped, creating a pool of liquid darkness.

That's shadows.

He bent down, shoved his arms inside, and closed his eyes. Alice watched intensely at the wall, but I stared at where his arms were connected to the void. I could almost make out shapes swirling inside.

Then, his body flashed red.

I watched as massive shadowy claws tore the enchantments apart and sliced through the stone.

He pulled his arms free and shook them as the pool receded. "Done."

Devon unslung his spear and stepped forward. But the castle shook, and thunder boomed, drowning the world. From the window, lightning flashed and painted it a blinding white before I covered my eyes and crouched low.

Glass shattered, adding to the cacophony before something rushed above my head, fluttering my hood.

The light subsided after another thunderclap, and my eyes regenerated from the damage. I blinked away the remaining spots and stood up, axe at the ready. To my right, a piece of brick lay crumpled against the floor, Garret glaring at the cuts along his gloves.

"Prepare yourself!" Devon commanded as he brandished his spear.

Garret pulled out a sword, the dark metal gleaming in the dim light.

We rushed to catch up, and Devon threw the door open.

A glass vial smashed into his chest, and he raised his arms and knocked the second vial aside. It crashed to the floor and flared with light brighter than the enchantments.

Devon!

The explosion blasted him backward and crashed through the wall. Garret stepped in front and shifted. Bones snapped, dark brown fur sprouting from his body as his clothes disappeared.

Jeremy slinked out the doorway and jumped up and down. "I got him! I got him! I did it, Renner, I did it!"

Garret charged, but a needle pierced his arm and pulled him off balance. He dug in his claws and resisted, but a second needle stabbed into his leg. As he tugged, he exposed the golden thread pulled taut leading into the room.

Nareid stepped out, wearing a dress of pure gold, but the threads were connected to her wrist. She pulled again and managed to drag Garret forward.

How strong is she?!

"Witch!" Garret roared.

Jeremy stepped out, and Renner forced three vials into his hand.

"Drink! We don't have time. Kill the Grimm!" Renner demanded.

Jeremy smiled and jumped before uncapping the vials and downing all three. The green liquid spilled down his throat, and his body ballooned in size. His form mutated snd became red, like an angry orc. Along his spine and shoulders, black needles punctured his flesh and jutted from the meat while a black haze spilled from his mouth.

He grew taller than the hallway and punched through the stone, scattering it into hail before he jumped. The ground shook as he landed outside where Devon was sent flying.

"Nareid. You know what to do. I'll handle the kids."

Nareid pursed her lips. "Are you sure? I've waited too long for this day, If you fail now..."

"Just go," Renner ordered.

She hefted a pair of scissors nearly as long as her torso. Before Garret could move, she launched herself at him and pushed him through the window with streams of gold thread trailing behind.

"Renner!" I conjured flames and extended my arm.

Alice did the same but with a forceball at the ready.

Renner slammed his staff down just as the storm outside released a roar. His robes were stained black and dark red, while blood marred his arms. He reeked of corruption--the sickly sweet smell riling the beast inside.

Hunt!

"You two. Go play with my pet," he sneered.

I released a fireball, but he ducked and swung his staff. The wood smashed into Alice's forceball and knocked it away.

What the hell?

He raised his fingers up to his mouth and whistled.

I charged, but the wall exploded in a shower of rubble, and a monster rolled through.