Prologue: The Graveyard
Pain flooded Will's senses. The needling electric sensation in his spine made it hard to breathe, hard to think, and hard to stand. He couldn't see the damage this time - the demon's stinger had landed between his shoulder blades. He was lucky not to be paralyzed, but it was a close call.
Will's vision swam and he lost footing, his boot slipping on the damp peat of the London graveyard, and landed bent over a gravestone. Standing, Will couldn't see who it had belonged to - it was long eroded past recognition, but he apologized under his breathe. You never knew who was still hanging around.
He needed to move quickly to the mausoleum. He needed to get to Jem. Jem - he knew - could help him. He'd be furious, Will thought, this being anything but a superficial wound.
Mud slid from under him, his left foot fell away, and Will tipped sideways. He was unconscious before his head hit the side of the Mag's grave. She'd be cross with him, he decided, for getting blood on her tombstone - that is if he ever woke up.