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"What kind of power?" I asked

"The al -knowing, understanding dead languages blah, blah, blah I also knohen they move, when they approach, when they leave, and why they’re doing it And I think I can take their power at wil , but none of theh for me to try"

"So Kim is an asset," Claire said, sul en "She affects them in ways no one understands"

"I…you…" Arevelation was that nothing was separate, now My normal life just had a head-on col ision with my life with Jared

The air around me felt thick and ful of static An end table next to one of the chairs shook for a moment, and then slid across the floor a few inches

"What just happened?" I said

The table vibrated again, and then shot to the wal , the legs squealing as they grated across the tile

"Sweetheart," Jared warned

My fingers worked in sainst ativity that the demons could use to fuel their power "What now?"

"I can help you," Kim said, uncharacteristical y syh They’l tel me They have to"

Al expression fel from my face "So you’re like…you’re like the dereat"

Kim nodded, unaffected by my jab

"You never said why you’re here," I said

"I wanted to check on Ryan I also have news"

Neas usual y the job of Samuel, and I wondered why Kim had been sent instead The ly typical

Claire crossed her legs, settling in her chair "Wel ? Tel us already"

"Jared and his covert operation tipped them off He’s asked too many questions, and they knohat he's after The book has been ot solared at Kim, annoyed "I have to look it over before we take it back There are things within those pages that could help Nina"

"That was the deal, wasn’t it?" Kim replied

Jared nodded, and then looked to his sister "Now that Ryan’s stable, we should head back Did the Colonel say how long you’d be here?"

Claire shrugged "At least until he’s stable enough to ship state-side, and then we’l probably be at a VA rehab until he’s functional I’ll keep you updated"

I stared at the smal table that had slid across the floor Two hundred or so de about, and they were already onto the next subject The air had returned to its norlide across the roo close to composed since Gabe had infiltrated ain, but this time there was no normal life to escape to

One-third ofin a hospital bed, and another sitting beside s so opposite of the realm of ordinary, it was difficult to reer consumedabout?" I asked

"Yourto help et it fro to tel me about any of this?" I said to Jared

Jared took my hands in his "We talked about this"

"Yes, that you would os that didn't directly me, but first Ryan, and now Kim? They were my friends, Jared!"

"We stil are," Kinored Kim "Are you sure I can’t see Ryan?" I asked Claire She shook her head with an apologetic expression "It was good to see you again," I said to Claire, hugging her "Ki nice to say

Ki herme with her possession-crusades-basilica sob story

Now she was supposed to help us find the book because of her Oh So Spooky to the Demons powers I didn’t care! She was supposed to be ht out from under me

Gabe had wanted us to turn back, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I wasn’t supposed to know about Kim Could Gabe’s appearance be ain, or was it so different? Maybe Ki for the other side

I had almost reached the elevator when Jared call ed my na ing hiain "Would you please telthe button to the elevator "That would requireyou the whole truthand that's not real y how our relationship works"

The door opened, and I pul ed Jared inside We were alone, and for the first tihed "This isn’t happening"

"What isn’t happening? Nina, talk tohis hands on the wal at each side of my head

"She’s my friend, Jared! She was on the other side, the side that kept one! It’s al gone!"

Jared cupped my face "She’s stil your friend You’re life at Brown is no different"

"It’s not different? It’s disappeared!"

He frowned "Let’s think of this as a positive thing You have someone to talk to about this, now Someone on the other side that understands"

I crossed et lost in al of the heaven/hel fiasco"

"She’s human, Nina She may handle it differently, but she kno you feel She knohat it’s like to know things, and be different because of it Erumbled "You don’t understand"

Jared tookWith her help, we can find the book"

"Great!" I said as the doors opened to the et rid of it! Take it back to the church, I’ll stop having the dreaet my life back!"

Colonel Brand waited next to the car that would take us to the base Jared and I re the trip, but once the plane took off froain

"Nina, we can’t just take the book back We have to read it; find out why Jack stole it from Kim’s uncle in the first place"

"Because Jack was crazy, that’s why," I snapped