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"On my way," I said, and broke the connection with him I used my Earth powers to lock out the computer controls of the ship and put in the destination

Then I went in search of , the black torchfrom the flame at the nape of my neck to the elaborate scrolled cap, just below the flare of my hips The flames at its top weren’t just black ink any silently beneath the translucent covering ofwho and what I was to anyone with the courage to look

It should have frightened uess Instead, I adan to make myself presentable for the day

An hour later, I strode out froether My hair was curly and tulossy black doard my waist I wore a skimpy aqua-blue top with cap sleeves that bared ed every curve David had stocked the closets with anything I ht want, for any conceivable mood or occasion

I decided today was Seduction Day

I ran into Cherise and Kevin in the hallway They were talking with that suppressed urgency of two people trying to keep a secret, and they stopped when they saw me

"What?" I putthe three-hour tour, Mary Ann? Of course, that an It fits" Cherise didn’t san’s Island joke before "We should talk," she said There was a faint quiver in her voice, and I saw her take Kevin’s hand for support "Maybe back in the rooet out ofhtened it up with a grin that felt strange on my lips "I erous that is"

"Don’t," Kevin said

"Don’t what?"

"Don’t you fucking dare threaten her She’s trying to save your life" Kevin stepped in front of her, or tried to Cherise hauled hian "Sorry" Insignificant as she ht her own battles Well, I could have told him that

"I just want to talk," Cherise said, returning her attention to , and I knew that if I pushed it, she’d back down And I was tempted to push, very tempted, not so much because of her - Cherise really wasn’t on the radar any, furious violence in Kevin was addictively delicious All I had to do was hurt her, and I could drink my fill

Not yet,I told myself Don’t enjoy yourself too much

"Please," Cherise repeated

"Jeez, okay, don’t beg," I said "Just you, though Not him" Kevin held up his hands in surrender, a sour look on his face "Dude, like I want to spend tilance at Cherise said soh "Be careful"

" I’ to hurt her? I’m not the one with the body count, Kevin," I said He flinched, just a little "Why don’t you loiter out here lookingwhile you wait? Maybe you can beat up cabin stewards, just to keep in practice"

He flipped inal for him I took Cherise’s arm, and we headed back to the cabin

She locked the door behind us I raised my eyebrows as I settled onto be hot girl-on-girl action, or what?"

"Shut up" Cherise hugged herself and stayed where she was, betweenwith you"

"Oh yeah? You think?" I leaned back against the hard cabin wall and crossedLewis’s Kool-Aid about how bad I ao that way He’s still got an open position for girlfriend-slash-wife, so hold out for the brass ring, kid" She gavestare "Wouldn’t be the first man you’ve screwed for fun and profit"

"Would you shut up ? God, you can be such a bitch! Since - since your back thing happened, you’ve been changing Slowly at first, but then it got worse, and now you’re - " Cheriseabout me, from head to toe "Look at you" I looked down "What?" Granted, the clothes ht be a bit sluttier than my usual, but I liked them, and besides, it was a cruise ship South Beach rules of conduct and dress

"It’s not the outfit, Jo It’s youIt’s the look in your eyes, the kind of sive people The way you think about them" Cherise sed and ducked her chin to avoid eye contact "When you think they’re not looking, it’s like you’re exa pieces of meat - like they’re not people at all You never did that before" I deliberately relaxed again"Yeah? You’re sure about that? Maybe you just never caught me at it before"

"No I know you, and this - this isn’t you Looks like you, feels like you, sounds like you It’s in your skin, but it’s not the Joanne Baldwin I’m friends with" I didn’t knohy this should wake a feeling of anxiety in me Pale and faint, yes, but still

I wanted to e," I offered

"Not thisinside you" I tried to explain - again, I wasn’t sure why I bothered, except that the genuine war indrowned in darkness "It’s just givinga Djinn atto have to get used to the fact that I can’t be Miss Congeniality anymore This is war"

"Jo, the war’s over You lost You’re a casualty"

I came up from the bed in one sinuous motion and took a step into her space "You knohat’s really over? This conversation I’h me first"

"Can do"

"What? You’re going to hurt me?" Cherise - tiny little Cherise, with her perfect tan and perfect teeth and glistening hair Funny and sexy and quirky "Go ahead" Frustration erupted inside me It burned fro lines and ladders of nerves, and I felt fire tingle at the ends of ers

"Move"

"Make me, bitch"

I wanted to, oh God, I did Instead, I bared my teeth "You knohat you are?" I asked, low inhus, you’re a worthless failure Model? A irl who strips for cash - a body for hire A walking mannequin with a shelf life of about fiveto sell Who’s going to love you then, the Hu to so, peach You used to be entourageNow you’re not even that" The color faded out of Cherise’s face, leaving the tan like some eerie overlay, and I saw a real spark of fear in her clear blue eyes