Arthur and Aziel reached the same terrifying conclusion with the speed that came from bitter experience. This was their second encounter with such overwhelming malevolent presence, and the familiar crushing weight of an abomination's aura left no room for doubt in their minds. The memory of their previous encounter—the desperate flight into the city, the termites' inexplicable retreat—suddenly made perfect sense in the context of what they now faced.
For Kay and Lara, however, the realization came more slowly. Neither had ever encountered an abomination before, had never felt the soul-crushing pressure that emanated from such creatures like a physical force. But there was no mistaking that kind of raw, primal power once you experienced it. The terror that clawed at their minds, the way their very bones seemed to ache with dread—these were not reactions their bodies could fake or misinterpret.
