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Gwendolyn Talbert had been one of the best therapists in the business until she retired two years ago due to health problems She had specialized in trauma victims--particularly children She saved my sanity and probably my life after the events that led to my sister’s death and ic that had blunted therelationship with Bruno DeLuca No, I hadn’t dated anyone since we broke up, but that was by choice, not because I wasn’t able to

Now I needed help I was hanging on to my sanity with my teeth and toenails, s But that wouldn’t last The shock would wear off, and when it did I was going to need a da three ti to voice mail Apparently this was not my day to reach anybody I listened to the cal, "You have reached Gwendolyn Talbert If you have called on a professionalpatients If this is a personal call, please leave your na a deep breath, I spoke as clearly and cale "Gwen, it’s ’s happened I need to talk to someone I know you’re retired, but I don’t trust anyone else If you can’t see ive me a name? Somebody you trust? Please?"

God I sounded pathetic Desperate Then again, I was I left the office nu up I would have left the new cell number, if only I’d written it down so useless calls, I left aI could about abominations and brush up on any successful techniques hunters had used to find the daytime lairs of o, so I decided to start doing a little research on my own

But first, I had one et me the number from the Internet I hadn’t been sure she’d be honized Vanessa’s voice when she picked up the phone on the third ring

I tried to break it to her gently I was rewarded by a streah that I had to th ofup onrelatives, so I didn’t knoho else to call But it seeood man Not perfect, but who is? He deserved to have somebody more than just me to otten divorced until the screa voice in my ear inforirlfriend? I had no way of knowing I sure as hell wasn’t going to call Vanessa again

Maybe in a day or then things settled down, I’d put so into it But first, I wanted to take care of the crisis du jour

I braced myself and sprinted from the curb to the front doors of the university library Since lass, I wasn’t really safe until I’d gotten halfway down the stairs down to the basement

I’d always considered it a nuisance that they’d put the paranormal section down there, all by itself, behind every known kind of protection Noasn’t sorry Being in the basement meant that I would be able to have a less study rooical barrier I couldn’t see and nearly lost rab onto the handrail and steady myself for a minute before I couldainst , but there were a lot of the in a room with too much static electricity I couldn’t et better until I stepped off of the staircase When I did, the change in pressure nized the staff e of the Paranormal and Metaphysical Desk for over a decade She’d helped me with research for many a project, and could recite where every book or artifact was froe," she had iron gray hair and warlasses I’d always ade talent to be able to handle any student-related accidents thatof the merchandise I didn’t doubt that it was her spell I’d passed through awith authority She rose, leaning both hands on the counter "You have no business coer rose up in a wave How dare she? "It’s full daylight, Anna" I didn’t bother to keep the scorn from my voice "I’m not a bat"

"If you were a bat," she answered coldly, "you wouldn’t have h the wards But that doesn’t erous In fact, it h to pass through unhindered"

I felt a surge of rage that sent the blood pounding throughat the base of her stringy neck; the adrenaline-laced scent of her fear rose to my nostrils like the bouquet of a fine wine I could ale of her pulse Slowly, carefully, I fought to rein in h an open mouth so that the scents wouldn’t overwhelhtfall, but

I a bat I will not do this

It took tiht down the beast within ed on for long moments as Anna stared at me When she finally spoke, her voice was soft and careful It was the sae, or wild animals you don’t want to spook "I shouldn’t have threatened you, Celia That was stupid But you don’t belong here You don’t belong anywhere in public It isn’t safe There are too many people Too much temptation"