Nick retreat

Nicodemus’s eyes widened, but he turned his body to shield the Grail, and the hailstone struck him in the right shoulder blade. He let out another breathless cry—and then sudden blackness engulfed him and a tide of shadow swept him away.
“Michael,” I said, and hurried to my friend’s side.
Michael’s eyes were busy, roaming left and right, looking for Nicodemus. He turned so that I could see the wound. It was a thrust, narrow but deep. There wasn’t an inordinate amount of blood staining the leg of his jeans, and I didn’t think it had gone into the artery.
“What happened there?” I asked. “Is he gone?”
“I’m . . . I’m not sure . . . ,” Michael said. “I’ve never seen him forced to run before.”
“We should finish him.”
“Agreed,” Michael said. “How? He just flew away.”


Skin Game Chapter 45, Page 381-382