Page 27 (1/2)

And then we came to my bedroom I tried not to see the unh my aunt’s eyes--which wasbeside uessed by the unkempt bed Honestly, child, personal habits are a reflection of character"

"I didn’t know you were co If I had, the whole place would be pristine"

"That’s no excuse Character shines brightest when no one’s watching"

You can’t argue with that I know, because I openedoccurred to me Okay, time to move on We went back out into the hallway

"That door’s the bathroom"

"And across from it, I presume, is your roommate’s bedroom"

"Yes, that’s Juliet’s room, but--"

Mab reached for the doorknob "Since she’s away, she won’t mind if I stay there" She opened the door before I had time to warn her that Juliet slept in a coffin Halfway into the room, she froze

"Your roommate isa vampire?"

"Yes Juliet Capulet" Surely I’d told Mab that at so an apartood a story to keep quiet But Mab and I rarely engaged in personal chitchat; it just wasn’t a part of our relationship Maybe I hadn’t told her

Mab pulled the door shut, her face white "I think I’d like a cup of tea, if you have any"

"Sure Are you all right?"

She waved away ht But I’h the living roo an intervieith Police Co new?" I asked Kane

He shook his head Ha down Deadtown to protect Boston’s human citizens I tuned him out and continued into the kitchen

Mab sat silently at the table as I put the kettle on, found the teapot, and spooned in solances at her My aunt’s mouth was drawn into a thin, pale line, and the knuckles of her hands, folded before her on the table, shohite What could have flustered her soon the table She pulled theht? What upset you in that room?"

"It wasn’t the room, child IIt was a bit of a shock to learn you live with a vampire Some of the Cerddorion feel they’re the enemy of our race every bit as htered without mercy"

I frowned "Is that what you think?" I’d never heard Mab say a word against va way more like Commissioner Hampson thanShe sighed "No, that’s not my personal view But I can’t say I trust them, either You see, every vampire is a potential Old One"

That comment hit ho uncomfortable "But she ran away fro"

"Are you certain she’s broken with them?"

From the doorway, Kane barked, as if to say that’s what he wanted to know, too He came into the kitchen and sat beside me

I related to both of them Juliet’s account of her experiences with the Old Ones And I told Mab what had happened when I’d visited Juliet in the Goon Squad cell, how the Old Ones had tried to saw off her leg to drag her out of there