10

"Was Pasema a waste of time, Jun?" Min mutters. Verity is still glowering at them, but she allows you a small smile.

"It hardly matters at this point," Verity says, shaking her head. "Isidora and I have been making plans for months. All you need to do is—"

There's no sound, no flash of light, but something in the air feels heavier for just a moment, and suddenly Meredith is standing there in the middle of Verity's office. "They're coming," she says, and vanishes just as quickly as she arrived.

When you look over at Verity, you see just a hint of flame flickering around the edges of her outstretched hands, and you realize she meant to attack. You wonder if she recognized Meredith specifically or only realized a demon had arrived. "They're coming?" Verity repeats, lowering her hands. The fire's died already, so she doesn't singe her clothes. "That doesn't make sense. Before—when we did it—it was later in the day than this. I thought it was supposed to be the same."

"The prophecy didn't specify the hour," Alvis says slowly. "I suspect, after a certain point, Cadafel can do more or less what he wants."

Min has already run out the door, and the rest of you follow.

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