‘Hold on tight everyone,’ Steve warned as he took the driver’s seat. He snatched up the reins. ‘This is going to be bumpy.’
More dents were forming in the heavy metal of the grey roller door. It started to give at the top. The long sharp claws of multiple Nirad fingers appeared and ripped at it.
The door finally tore free of its rails and gave way. It crashed backward on to the street, trapping two Nirads beneath it.
Pegasus shrieked. The horses panicked. Wild with terror, they started to stampede. They raced over the collapsed door and crushed the Nirads beneath. Without concern for their fallen warriors, other Nirads sprang forward and tried to force their way past the charging horses.
‘Pegasus, go!’ Steve shouted. ‘Go now!’
Emily felt the carriage jerk forward as Pegasus started to run. Several Nirads fought to climb over the terrified horses and charge towards them. One of them leaped in the air, passed over the top of the panicking horses and landed on the side of the carriage. While two arms clung to the carriage, the other two reached for Emily and started to pull at her hair. Emily screamed clawing at the heavy muscled arms as the Nirad drew her closer.
Joel reacted instantly. He went for the Nirad’s eyes. But the Nirad fought back. It released one of its arms holding on to the carriage and swung at Joel, knocking him back with a brutal blow just as Diana raised her spear and lunged forward.
When the golden tip struck the Nirad’s exposed chest, it released Emily and howled in agony, then fell away from the carriage.
‘Hang on!’ Emily’s father cried as they approached the collapsed door.
Pegasus charged up the metal door. The carriage immediately followed. With the two Nirads still trapped beneath it, the broken door worked as a ramp. The carriage sailed off the end and flew several metres into the air.
Everyone screamed.
The carriage crashed down to the ground. Although the occupants were tossed down to the floor, somehow the carriage remained upright. Without pausing, Pegasus sprang forward at full speed along 50th Street.
Emily struggled to climb back up in the seat. She peered back to the livery stable and gasped. More Nirads were charging forward, raising their four arms in threat and howling with rage at losing them. They ignored the panicked horses as they concentrated on chasing the carriage.
‘Go, Pegs, go!’ Emily screamed.
Emily was only able to count to twelve before she lost track of how many Nirads were following them. With the two still under the door, that made at least fourteen Nirads in New York City, all hunting them.
‘Emily, are you all right?’ Diana anxiously checked Emily for fresh cuts. ‘Did they wound you?’
Emily shook her head and gingerly prodded her painful scalp. ‘No, I’m fine. But I think I’m going to have a bald patch where that thing ripped out my hair.’
‘That’s nothing,’ Joel complained, clutching his side. ‘I think I’ve got broken ribs! Those Nirads really pack a punch.’
‘They bested Hercules,’ Diana explained. ‘It is no surprise that they should defeat you.’
After several more blocks, Pegasus slowed to a trot. A few blocks later and he stopped completely. Everyone climbed shakily out of the carriage.
Emily limped up to Pegasus and stroked his muzzle. ‘Are you all right, Pegs?’
The stallion’s eyes were wide and bright with fear as his nostrils remained flared. He gently nuzzled her neck.
‘That was too close,’ Joel said as Steve inspected the carriage for damage. ‘This thing was ready to break before the attack. One more flight like that and it won’t last another minute.’
‘We were lucky back there,’ Steve said grimly as he tested the large wheels. ‘But we’ve got to keep ahead of the Nirads. Those four arms are lethal.’
‘They are,’ Diana said. ‘And with their three eyes, they have full directional vision.’
‘Three eyes?’ Joel asked. ‘Really? Where’s the third one?’
‘In the back of their head, under all that filthy hair,’ Diana explained. ‘From what we have learned, they do not see well out of it. But it is enough that you can never take them by surprise.’
‘How can we ever beat them?’ Emily asked. The fever flared, making her feel even more weak and tired. ‘They’re too strong.’
‘We need that bridle,’ Diana uttered. ‘With it we can defeat them.’
‘Plus the Flame,’ Joel added. ‘Once Pegasus gets the Daughter of Vesta back to Olympus to relight the Flame, you should have your powers back. Right?’
Diana nodded. ‘That is correct. But we must keep away from the Nirads until Pegasus is ready to fly again. He is our only way home.’
Emily was leaning heavily against Pegasus for support. Her father felt her face.