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"I know," I said "I’s she had left fortoo I stood and watched the flames lick the sky The house next door would catch fire soon Sparks had already lit the trees between the two houses The entire GD ood," the River Witch remarked, "the heat on my face"

I was surprised to see hiaze he fixed onand als are at work that you cannot overcos that need to bemonitored"

I frowned at his odd choice of words Suspicion had lingered with"Why help at all? What do you care?"

"Because the alternative, if you should lose, is unacceptable" He tapped his cane on the ground "Now come, let’s see e can do about this fire, shall we?"

As Violet went to see Sebastian and Henri, the witch moved to the et to the flames now There were a few fire stations and EMTs in the French Quarter, mostly to deal with the hu to come to our rescue out in the GD And even if they did, there was no way they’d stop the inferno

Bran showed up, bruised and bloodied, his sword hung over his back like he’d just stepped off some ancient battlefield He took quick stock of the situation "Where’s Michel? We need him back in the Quarter"

"He took Crank to the hospital" I nodded to the truck "She was inside"

A hard glint came into his eyes "Bastard And Sis are going to get worse, Selkirk Athena has used a siy Phase one is complete; we’re divided Conquer is next She’ll launch her own offensive soon United, we could have stood against her We’ve done so in the past Divided, on’t stand a chance"

The witch lifted his hands, and the roaring fire picked up The flaher into the air as though a giant vacuu the flames from the house until finally they dissipated into the sky, leaving behind a slanced over at hirippedthe sa do you think we have before she comes?" I asked hiive the Noveh tiether A day or two atEven the jar," Sebastian said

"They won’t find the jar," Bran said

Surprised, I asked, "What do you ht after your little visit That jar contains vast ae I’ll be da for Athena’s kid"

So it had been Bran who’d opened the crack in the jar as we’d knelt with the Keeper

"How’d you e that?" my father asked, i the jar was a considerable feat

"With a little help froods that witch is on our side, because her power is unlike anything I’ve seen"

The River Witch shuffled over to us

Bran’s eyes narrowed and my father’s became suspicious "Who the hell are you?" Bran dearded him with disinterest, obviously not impressed "They call s, s I am powerful" He tipped his head slowly toward the burned-out shell that had once been our home as evidence of his power "I have lived in the bayou since before the first settlers arrived This is my home, and I won’t see it destroyed"

Bran let out a humph and looked beyond the witch tome keep the peace, hunter?"

"I could use the exercise Buthio," I said "I’ to the hospital to check on Crank"