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CHAPTER 25

Bliss

Of course, just because Bliss was allowed to have control once in a while did nother life for granted, but then the Visitor would return, and it was out, out, out again till next time She would keep track: Monday to Wednesday, then out forinto a blur, then back!, she would still be confused by dates, think it was Thursday when it was really Saturday As the days passed, it was beco more difficult to adjust to the times when the Visitor returned, to suddenly find herself thrown out of the light and the world, and back into that cold, empty void of memory and restlessness

She decided that the next time it happened, she would not allow him to shut her out There had to be a way to stay She had to find out what the Visitor was planning, where this was all going Sure, the Visitor had allowed her to have part of her life back, but who knew if it would continue? Plus, Bliss didn’t want to share She wanted all of herself back She couldn’t live like this, like a crazy person There were other people to think about The Visitor was dangerous, evil She couldn’t let what had happened in Rio happen again

The thought made her insides turn to ice If only there were more fashion shows to book, ordown in the Hamptons, and there were fewer excuses for her to be out in the world

She spent the afternoon sunbathing in the backyard She was so pale, she always burned, and had lathered up with soht as well be wearing a blanket She basked in the sun, enjoying how the heat sloar nowhere, it was heaven to be outside again, to sit on a chaise lounge, bobbing gently in thethe ater

Then she felt it: a darkening like a shadow passing over the sun, and then the push, the Visitor co him take over, Bliss forced herself to remain Inside her mind, Bliss made herself very, very quiet, curled up like a ball, like a shadow against the wall so that the Visitor would not notice that she was sticking around She knew, instinctively, that he must not realize she was still there She tried to become an ocean of stillness, with nary a ripple on the surface She forced herself to hang on Soe, but she was still there This ti he could see; she could even hear hih her voice) They (she had to think of the on a robe, then striding into the house They took the steps two at a tied into Forsyth’s study

The senator was ho behind his desk with a cigar, and he jumped at their unannounced entrance

"Didn’t I teach you to knock?" he snarled

"It is me, Forsyth," the Visitor said in Bliss’s voice

"Oh! My lord, I a so soon," he said, throwing hi to see Forsyth through the Visitor’s perception, a loor before her

"Tell me how I can be of service, my lord," the senator said, still on his knees

"News, Forsyth Tell me of the Conclave"

Forsyth practically chuckled Bliss had never seen her "father" look so s a lot for a politician

"We have nothing to fear fro on Red Blood "hearing aids" to listen to reports It’s highly entertaining, really Did I tell you A member? Of course you know him as Britannicus"

"Britannicus" the Visitor said "He does sound familiar"

"He was once your foreman He took the children to the baths" The Visitor found this incredibly funny "Very good I take it everything is set inyou any trouble?"

"Not at all Everything is proceeding as planned Charles Force is in Paris as we speak He is easier to manipulate than a puppet," Forsyth said with a sharp bark of a laugh

A deep sense of satisfaction settled over Bliss The news had made the Visitor very happy Like an overstuffed cat who had just devoured a cage of canaries

"Very good Very good And my brother?"

Forsyth removed a bottle of scotch frolasses

"Say the word and Leviathan will strike The girl is within his reach It will be easy enough for him to infiltrate the party By the way, you : et an invitation to the ball"

"How fortunate that the schis very pleased "I could always count on e It works to our favor" The Visitor downed the scotch in one fluid motion "And my other sister, Sophia?"

"Alas, she refuses to divulge information about the Order She swears she does not know You know, after a year with Harbonah, shethe truth"

"I see"

"The good news is Kingsley and his team are still in the woods They’ve been misdirected for months, with no idea they were sent on a useless sley," the Visitor snorted "that traitor We’ll deal with hih"