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Just as he heard the shing of a blade being drawn from a scabbard, Toby saw something moving sprightly in the corner of his eye. Soon after, a rumble of activity penetrated the hall from above.
‘Now!’ echoed a distant voice.
Shud-shud-shud-shud-shud!
One by one, the drains were plugged by heavy boards, blocking out the snowstorm and gaslight from the streets above. At once, everyone was engulfed in darkness.
Toby felt the pressure on his arms relax as the changelings paused, confused. Their confusion seemed to turn to fear when a roar of dozens of voices rang around the chamber from somewhere near the roof.
‘We’re under attack!’ someone yelled, the warning ripped prematurely from his lungs as something unseen silenced him.
Krampus’ shovel-sized hands loosened around Toby’s wrists
