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I opened oing to argue with Mab about anything right now, least of all Tina And really, I thought as I pulled the door shut, Mab was right What har as she understood that borrowing the book didn’t mean she was stilllooked different as I walked down the hallway back to the living roo, I realized what it was

"You’re cleaning up" The words sounded strange, directed as they were at Tina

"Yeah Your aunt said I should She was all about how an orderly environet Tina to pick up after herself, she was stronger than I was, even in her weakened state

I put out ive me that I’ll take care of it"

Tina handed it over, her eyes thoughtful "What’s wrong with your aunt? The last time I saw her, she didn’t look soI ot all that aweso experience But she didn’t look old old How sick is she?"

"She’ll be better in a couple of days" I’d ht she looked likeI don’t know, like she was about to die any h Uround the toe of her boot into the carpet "Did she say anything about me?"

"Right now, Mab and I have other things to talk about"

"Oh Sure I guess you do Ifrom another country and all" Tina picked up a discarded pizza box I held open the trash bag, and she dropped it in "Well, I guess I’d better get home I have to cleanTina’s home environment orderly would probably require a bulldozer and a hazood It would keep her out of trouble for aaround "I want to say good-bye to hi toward the kitchen "Probably sleeping We took a long walk"

"Oh Well, rub his tummy for me, okay?"

Heat rose in ave Kane would have to wait until things were back to normal And it would not be on Tina’s behalf

Tina headed for the front door I picked up Russom’s from where it lay on the coffee table "Wait a second," I said "Mab did mention you She said you needed to work harder on the individual species of the Iniuess you can hang on to ht now"

She grinned and reached for the book

"But," I added, pulling back slightly, "we need to be clear on one thing I’ you back as an apprentice You do understand that, right?"

Tina nodded, her eyes on Russom’s like it was a container of butter-pecan ice cream and not some dry old textbook about demons "Yeah, sure I understand I just want to, you know, brush up" I let her take the book, and she hugged it to her chest "If you need soiveto do somebody a favor I stood and stared at the closed door like ht about now

I WENT TO BED BEFORE DAWN, BUT FOR A LONG TIME I LAY on my back on the sofa, unable to sleep When I did drift off, I found ht Sort of how I iht E stirred in the darkness, a sain As I watched, it took on for a ser Sky blue streaks swirled up a face peering back at me

"Hi, Maria"

"Yes! I did it!" She pumped her fist "I called you" My niece stood in the middle of a vast, colorless dreae

"You certainly did But isn’t it a school night?"

"Nope Too to school, but the kids stay home" She did a little happy dance "I really called you! It wasn’t too hard, either"

"It gets even easier with practice For example, you can fill in your dreamscape hatever scenery you want You can make it look like you’re in your bedroom at ho on a throne in a big castle"

"Princess stuff is for little kids"

"Well, whatever you want"

"Can you showyour eyes"

"My eyes are already closed I’ started, i is easier with your eyes closed"