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We&039;re chasing a flock of terrified sheep demons Each one is covered with hundreds of s mouths full of sharp demon teeth All the better to eat you with,about the Shadow Stronger deht have heard so useful if any of the Shadow&039;s ar shot, but Beranabus has devoted his life to long shots

As we close in on the frantic demons, Kernel stops and stares at a spot close by

"Come on!" Beranabus shouts "Don&039;t stop now We-"

"A &039;s opening," Kernel says, and Beranabus instantly loses interest in everything else

"Start opening one of your own," theahead of Kernel to protect hih I step up beside the ancient es

"Wait," Kernel says as Beranabus drains ic from the air "It&039;s not a dehts, then smiles "We have coht fores, quickly followed by Dervish&039;s old friend, Meera Flame

"Shark!" Kernel shouts happily

"Meera!" I yell, even happier than Kernel

Beranabus glares suspiciously at the pair

Meera wraps her arms aroundShe kisses rown," she hoots "You must be two and a halfher down and bea Meera used to stay with us a lot and helped me look after Dervish when he was incapacitated a few years back I had a big crush on Meera when I was younger Hell, looking at her in her tight leather trousers and jacket, I realise I still do She&039;s a bit on the old side but doesn&039;t show it If only she had a thing for younger guys!

Kernel and Shark are shaking hands, both talking at the same time I&039;ve never seen Kernel this ani reet the ex-soldier

He frowns at me "Do I know you?"

"Grubbs Grady We" I stop I&039;ve met Shark twice before, but the first time was in a dream, and the second was in a future which we diverted As far as he&039;s concerned, I&039;er It&039;s simpler not to explain our previous encounters, especially as I saw him ripped to bits by demons the second time

"Dervish told me about you," I lie "I&039;m Grubbs, his nephew"

Shark nods "I can see a bit of hiot more hair You&039;re a lot taller too- what&039;s Beranabus been feeding you?"

"Enough of the prattle," Beranabus snaps "What&039;s wrong?"

As soon as he says that, the rins disappear

"We were attacked," Meera says "I was at Dervish&039;s We-"

"Was it Lord Loss?" Beranabus barks "Is Bec all right?"

"She&039;s fine," Shark says

"But Dervish" Meera adds, shootingmy parents, Gret and Bill-E was horrific Dervish is all I have left If he&039;s gone too, I don&039;t know if I can continue

"He was alive e left," Shark says

"But in bad shape," Meera sighs "He had a heart attack"

"We have to go back," I gasp, turning for the

Shark puts out a hand to stop me My eyes flash on the letters SHARK tattooed across his knuckles, and the picture of a shark&039;s head set between his thuer "Hold on," he says "We didn&039;t come here directly That leads to another demon world"