When the ground split open, I wasn't sure what to expect. Nothing good, obviously. Maybe the dark angels, come to strike at us from below.

The man who rose from the newly-formed pit was arguably worse. At least with the angels, you knew where you stood.

Hadleigh Oblivion strode up on thin air. After reaching the street, the crevice shuddered, and the ground closed with a groan. I understood how it felt.

If Hadleigh held any animosity for me after our latest encounter-so to speak-he showed no sign. He glanced at each of us in turn, nodding curtly at Walker and smiling at his brothers in what he probably imagined was a friendly way. Tommy tried to smile back, and failed. Larry winced.

'It is good that you've gathered them, Walker. Saved me the hassle,' Hadleigh said, hands in the pockets of his black trenchcoat.

'Of course,' Walker replied smoothly. "It is always a delight to do your job for you."

The two looked at each other in such a way I was surprised lightning didn't leap from their eyes.

'I know the Nightside disgusts you, Walker,' Hadleigh continued. 'But I didn't imagine even you could be so opportunistic. Let her and the city's defenders tear each other apart, then kill whoever's still standing. Then, maybe, you can nuke the rubble, just to be sure.'

'It's fascinating,' Walker said, smiling. 'How you can fail so badly at your duty, and still lecture me on how I'm failing at mine. How did she even manage to enter the Nightside without you knowing? Or, perhaps, you opened the path for her...'

'I am the Detective Inspectre,' Hadleigh said coldly. 'I stand against threats to reality, not the Nightside. The only reason I live in this city is because my family is here.'

Larry scoffed quietly at that, but Hadleigh still heard, and fixed his brother with his unblinking stare.

'No offence, Hadleigh,' Tommy said, trying to be diplomatic. 'But I don't think you've visited the folks since I was five, which I still have nightmares about. If you remain in the Nightside for us, you have a fairly strange way of showing it.'

Hadleigh nodded at that, seemingly thoughtful. 'We have drifted away...no matter. After this is over, I will return home.'

Well, that didn't sound threatening at all.

'This is all very heartwarming, and be sure to send Dash my regards,' I cut in. 'But I'd like to get a word in edgewise, if you don't mind. For a start, who the hell is "she"? The one who bought the angels to the Nightside?'

Hadleigh and Walker both looked at me, the former in disbelief, the latter with a strange look in his eyes.

'You still haven't told him? What, did the Authorities tell you to keep quiet? This is exactly why I quit the job.'

I wanted to ask what the hell he meant, but, apparently, Suzie was more curious, because she stepped away from Walker, shotgun raised and moving between the two.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

'Enough with this cryptic bullshit,' she said coldly. I doubted even her blessed and cursed ammo could have scratched Hadleigh, and I didn't even know what protections Walker had, but neither fact seemed to discourage her. 'Who the hell is "she", does she have to do with the angels, and how many times do I have to shoot her until she dies?"

'Good questions, as always, Ms. Shooter,' Walker said with a nod. 'I can tell you for a fact that she is allied to neither Heaven nor Hell. As for your other questions... John, I think it's past time I told you how I met you mother.'

Walker turned to me, but, before he could speak, and finally reveal the secret of my mysterious, non-human mother, something tore through my mind like shrapnel through flesh.

I fell to my knees, hands instinctively clamped over my bleeding ears, but it wasn't the sort of sound you merely heard. I felt it: a feeling of confidence, of certainty, turning into shock and naked, shrieking horror and pain.

Luckily, I was used to mental attacks, even by Nightside standards-a result of opening my third eye, my private eye, for too long one too many times. It was likely the only thing that kept me from going mad or catatonic.

The others had felt it, too. Suzie was clenching her shotgun so hard her knuckles had turned white, and Tommy was gritting his teeth, muttering "this is not happening..." in a pained voice. Either his gift kicked in, or he just got over it, because the agonized expression on his face disappeared, and he sighed in relief.

Larry had his brow furrowed, but he looked more confused and disgusted than hurt or terrified. The dead are beyond some things, I suppose.

Walker and Jude were even less affected than Larry. In Walker's case, I wasn't surprised-the man was untouchable in every sense of the word-but what did the little Vatican agent know or have to protect him from this psychic agony?

Hadleigh, of course, was completely unphased. 'This is what happens when you meddle in things. Should have stuck to wandering. You and your damned Grail...' He said, giving Jude a withering look.

'Damned, perhaps. But it has not been mine in a long, long time,' Jude replied. 'And do not pretend you think it is the cause for this, Oblivion. The Grail might have brought the angels here, in another world, but now? They saw rogue kindred, and thought to either bring them into the fold or break them. As for her...' The little man grimaced in distaste. 'The Nightside's boundaries were weakened, frayed. Four souls, brighter than most, come from further than the city has ever known. Of course she would take advantage.'

Hadleigh stared at him for a few more moments, then turned to me, smiling humourlessly. 'John? Your mother has just killed the Authorities. And she liked their death throes so much, she thought to share them with everyone in the city. Yet, somehow, you are both alive and sane. Be grateful. Few still are.'