"He wasn't among the dead," Mindy confirmed, “and I know he was at the meeting. You think whoever or whatever grabbed Jane grabbed him too?"

"I don't remember seeing him in the fight though," Tarloh thought absently.

"You don't suppose Patrick held Jane in his arms as he flew towards the sterile-looking business complex where the Hellspawn were based. The place still gave him the creeps, as it had ever since he had been recruited. The Strays were a noble group, but they didn't have a good retirement plan. The Dark One did. Obey it, and he would have a place at its side when it ruled this world. All he had to do was keep an eye on the Strays and report back what they were planning and what they're defenses were. He was supposed to join up with the Dark One's forces when the Hellspawn attacked and the opportunity arose, but Jane's unexpected interference had caused him to rethink that, and luckily the Dark One had agreed. Of course he'd had to kill a Hellspawn to make it look Like he was really trying, but it had all been worth it.

When the Strays had left Jane alone to check on that egotistical bitch Red, he had grabbed her and flown off down one of the escape tunnels, and no one would down there would have a clue. He still wasn't sure why his Master had wanted this stupid little girl so badly, but it wasn't his job to question why. So he had snuck out and gotten word to the Hellspawn about what the Strays defenses were and how the Swarm might bypass them.

He landed in front of the glass doors where two Hellspawn were waiting, opening the door for him as if he were some kind of emperor.

‘Maybe I will be someday,’ he thought idly as he carried Jane down the long stairs to the Dark One's chamber. He was met at the bottom by Gelok, who looked upon both captor and captive with some contempt.

"The Master is waiting," Gelok hissed, in his best English.

"I know," Patrick said, pushing past and carrying Jane into the darkness, depositing her on the floor. He felt It's presence and took pride in his accomplishments.

{{LEAVE US,}} the Shoggoth's massive mind said telepathically.

{{LEAVE ME WITH HER,}} it crooned. It sounded so much creepier when it wasn't trying to sound menacing.

Patrick wanted to wait for his well-deserved congratulations, but he knew better than to defy the Dark One. He walked back toward the opening of the room.

‘I wonder if I'll even recognize her the next time I see her?'

Patrick wondered has he walked back up the stairs.

Red and the other victims of the attack that could be saved had all been stabilized. The amount of energy that Natasha had let Arthur share had proven to be more than enough. As Shield replenished the defenses, Tarloh tried to figure out what the Strays next move would be. He had never had to rule without Red's help before, and he didn't like the way it felt.

Robbie and Natasha had refused to leave Red's side, and Talia had dropped by as often as she could. No one had ever seen her so weakened before. They were flabbergasted . . . using a Swarm to try and murder a single person was like using a nuclear bomb to destroy a single tank. Their opponents had been serious, and they had struck two blows. Red was down, Jane was gone and the Strays were scared.

"She's gonna be alright," Natasha said, trying to soothe the red- haired girl's brother. Robbie was trembling in pure fury. He hadn't been able to protect his sister, though she had protected him so many times. And he was helpless to do anything about it.

"Wha . . . what the . . ." came a low voice from between Red's Lips.

Her eyes opened, and Robbie held one hand while Natasha held the other. Red looked between one and the other.

"What happened?" she asked.

"We got hit bad," Robbie told her.

"Arthur saved you, with a little help from your woman here," he said unthinkingly.

While Red's affection and appreciation shown through, the words “your woman" brought someone else's face to mind.

"Where's Jane?"

Natasha flinched but didn't let go. ‘I'm the one here with you,' she thought, almost angrily. Then she felt guilty. Red wasn't hers and she knew it.