By this time the injured and dazed zhirelin have all picked themselves up; one is helping Mary-Anne, who's cursing under her breath over a broken quill. Ha'krt, supporting the cliath'tah's injured apprentice, comes forward at the cue; he and Emma confer briefly, quietly, and then he turns to leave with the two robed demons in tow.

Beth's still standing by the door, and steps aside to allow them past her. There's something tugging at the edges of her attention, and she can't think what it is yet.

It's not until Mary-Anne brushes a foot through the little heap of ashes on the floor that she realizes: in all the fighting, the only one killed was the vampire.