"Onunicorns ?" said Loomis.

"Onunicorns ?" said Loomis.

"You're not telling me everything, Cornwall," Loomis said. He glanced down at the girl's body. "What

happened to their eyes? The other victims weren't like that."

"They were blinded by thaumaturgic beams," said Modred. "The killer must have realized their screams

would bring the police and he had to work quickly to absorb their life energies before his concentration

could be disturbed, so he blinded them first. The pain must have been excruciating and it would have

effectively immobilized them. He must have blinded the young man first, and while he was writhing on the

ground in agony, the killer caught the girl, burned out her eyes, then went back to his first victim to finish

the job. He must have been finishing off the girl when your men arrived."

"Officer Baker said they fired on the entity and hit it," Paul said. "But it only slowed it down for a

moment."

"I thought you said that would break the necromancer's concentration," said Loomis.

"Apparently, we're dealing with one who has great powers of mental discipline," said Modred. "And that

only makes it worse."

"So what are you telling me?" asked Loomis. "There's nothing we can do to stop him?"

"That's precisely what I'vebeen trying to tell you," Modred replied. "Your men would be far better

employed in keeping people off the streets at night. I would suggest a curfew."

"A curfew," Loomis said. "You've gotta be kidding. I can't put this city under martial law, we're not at

war."

"Yes," Modred replied, "we are. And until you realize that, more people are going to die. I strongly

suggest you cancel the upcoming fiesta, as well."

"I can't cancel the fiesta," Loomis said. "For one thing, the chamber of commerce wouldn't stand for it.

For another, I haven't got that authority."

"Then find whoever does and convince them to cancel it," said Modred. "Your chamber of commerce

will hardly be well served by a mass murder. In any case, with the exception of these unfortunate two, the

city should be safe for the rest of the night."

"What, you don't think he'll strike again?" asked Loomis.

"No," said Modred. "He's expended a great deal of energy tonight, so the necromancer will rest now. I

suggest you do the same."

"Won't he be stronger from having absorbed the energy of these two?"

"Yes," said Modred, "but he won't cast any more spells tonight. He will rest and allow the energy he has

absorbed to replenish him. If I were you, I'd make good use of the time to get some rest yourself. I

intend to do the same. Then first thing tomorrow, find whoever you need to talk to and convince them to