Even as he shouted to his partner, Baker saw the robed figure in the alley straighten up and turn toward

them. There was a hellish red glow in its eyes and it had a face that wasn't even remotely human. It

opened its lupine jaws and gave out a deafening bellow that echoed through the alley and before anyone

could react, twin red bolts of thaumaturgic energy shot out from its eyes and struck Sanchez squarely in

the chest, penetrating through his back.

Even as he shouted to his partner, Baker saw the robed figure in the alley straighten up and turn toward

them. There was a hellish red glow in its eyes and it had a face that wasn't even remotely human. It

opened its lupine jaws and gave out a deafening bellow that echoed through the alley and before anyone

could react, twin red bolts of thaumaturgic energy shot out from its eyes and struck Sanchez squarely in

the chest, penetrating through his back.

He threw the mike down and bolted from the car, drawing his weapon as the other two officers opened

fire. The creature gave out a deafening, bloodcurdling howl that echoed through the alley.

Sitting cross-legged on the floor in his darkened, candlelit room, Wulfgar's body jerked as the demonic

entity was struck by the policemen's fire, but his eyes remained tightly shut, his jaw muscles clenched, a

vein throbbing in his temple as he fought to maintain his concentration.

In the alley, the entity staggered for a moment, then straightened up and roared as bolts of energy lanced

out from its red, glowing eyes. The beams of thaumaturgic force struck the building wall behind which

two of the officers were braced in shooting position. The corner of the building exploded in a rain of

concrete and stone fragments. Both officers were hurled backward, their faces and bodies lacerated by

flying pieces of the building wall.

"Holy shit!" said Baker. He ducked down behind his car and reached in through the open door, grabbing

the radio mike. "Officers down! Officers down!" he shouted. "Jesus Christ, we need some help here and

we need itnow! "

He dropped the mike, braced his gun on the hood of the car, and emptied it. The night was filled with

the bestial roaring of the creature in the alley and the sounds of police sirens as other units came hurtling

down the street. And suddenly, from just behind him, Baker heard the sounds of galloping hoofbeats.

They were almost on top of him. He turned just in time to see two white unicorns bearing riders coming

at him at a dead run, their iridescent horns gleaming in the night. They leapt and Baker ducked down with

a yell as the beasts sailed over his car and bolted down the alley.

Other police cars had pulled up and armed officers came running out, but Baker yelled at them to hold

their fire. Question were shouted at him, but he didn't know what the hell was going on. Those riders had

come from out of nowhere. He shined the spotlight down the alley.

It was empty.

"It's over," said a voice beside him. "For now."

He turned and saw that cop from England, Cornwall, and Professor Paul Ramirez standing by his car.

The other officers stood around, confused, their weapons still trained uncertainly at the entrance to the

empty alleyway, while several others ran to check on their fallen comrades.

"Where the hell did theygo ?" asked Baker, staring down the alley in a daze.

Another car came pulling up fast, siren blaring and lights flashing. Loomis got out and came over to them.

His quick glance around the scene told him it was over. He saw the bodies of the fallen officers and his

lips tightened into a grimace.

"What happened?" he demanded.