Chapter 45

London from Harpy's back looked dirtier and darker than ever. Its buildings were empty and any glimpse of art, which was not in short supply in the city, lay in ruins. An insult to history that the system could patch up over time if the New World didn't put an end to Allsium sooner. Security had fallen and, although I knew it was virtual, it hurt a lot to see how your hometown ended up demolished because of the same thing that had destroyed it in reality: human greed.

"There's something going on down there," Greek announced, looking up at Westminster Bridge.

I took a look and ordered Harpy to come down. There was Ryan Leproiner, swelled with pride as he spoke to the masses and railed against the Kurayami rebels.

However, as the Italian had pointed out, something seemed to be wrong.

Dagon's limp body shimmered and broke into a shaft of light that shot up into the sky. The silence that had invaded us was broken by Harpy's high”pitched squawk.

Instead of moving away from the bridge, the