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"It is" I paused, waiting I knew the guards had searched theiven the events of the past few days, I was leery

"My name is Aues We’re from the United Worlds Church I’ to attend We have a proposition for your loves and stuffed the FBHs usually weren’t invited into our s, but I motioned for the estured for her to wait

Amanda stepped up to the microphone and cleared her throat "Hello We are e the gap between Supes and FBHs by foranization called All Worlds United in Peace It will be a secular group focused on working together to pro between the races Many of us come from families who suffered intolerance and prejudice It’s time to turn Seattle back into what it once was--one of the most friendly cities in the nation"

She passed h it The preood, and they seemed sincere I nodded for them to hand out their brochures to the audience

As people flipped through the pages, I glanced at their oal of AWUP is to pro this world, whether human, Were, vampire, Fae, or otherwise unknown We seek to create and implement a vision for the future that is inclusive, rather than exclusive We seek to lobby for the rights of the entire Supe Community, and to act in unison When one member of AWUP is harmed, all members come to har, and then, slowly, excited whispers began to fill the roouests, I moved back beside Menolly

"You think they’re on the up-and-up?" I was surprised that the thought of duplicity even occurred to roup But I’d seen too ain

Menolly, the one usually quickest to ju the interaction out on thefloor After a moment, she cocked her head

"You know, I think they are I have a good feeling about this We’ve been needing soether, and the fact that FBHs are extending a peace offering may mean we pull some people off the fence We aren’t out to win over the haters We need to focus on those who haven’t made up their minds--the ones who don’t take part in the hate cri about it"

"Good analysis" I paused as Neely tapped me on the arm She was a pretty black woman, short and curvy, with short curly hair

"Excuse ht want to talk to you"

"What can I do for you?"

"May we speak in private?" She looked around, a little nervous

I motioned for her to follow me into the hall Once ere out of the hubbub, she sat down on the stairway leading up to the second floor The steps were polished, the railing newly finished The vamps had updated Sassy’s home and made it shine It had always been pretty, but noas exquisite

"So, Neely, what do you want to talk about?" I sat down beside her, leaning back, resting"I wanted to know…I’ Inter-World studies at the UW I want to write my e for a trip--escorted, of course--to Otherworld for a week so I can get a feel for what it’s really like I hope to eventually write a book on Otherworld from an FBHs point of view"

I blinked A lot of people had expressed a desire to go to OW, but the OIA had put a kibosh on any unofficial travel However, ere no longer eht now, but I’ll see what I can find out about the possibility of a tour Meanwhile, it’s not the same, but my sisters and I can talk to you…answer some of your questions" The United Worlds Church had made an effort to reach out to us; the least we could do was return the favor

"I’d like that" She held out her hand, and I took it Her skin arrip friendly "You like fish and chips?" she asked

I nodded, grinning "Anything that involves French fries or potato chips is good to go by me Why?"

"Because I work at Abby’s Fish House part time to help pay for my tuition You come by some afternoon and I’ll fry you up the best batch of fish and chips you’ve ever tasted"

As we scheduled a lunch date for next week, y, and flipped open the phone There was a hushed silence, and then I heard a faint whisper on the other end

"Delilah, I need your help This is Marion I’ o out to my car alone I don’t want to ask somebody to ith me in case it’s the Koyanni They wouldn’t think twice about killing so to help"

I’d assuht back to the crowd inside, I realized that I hadn’t seen her all evening "Where are you?"

"I’m at the Seattle Public Library on the Book Spiral The library’s about to close in ten lanced at the clock We weren’t far away "Go down to the front desk and stay there I’ll call Chase If we don’tthe End Talk button, I immediately speed-dialed Chase and asked him to send a car with two of his burliest Supe officers to the library toto Neely and pro rooed Menolly and Camille out "We have to head to the library Now Give Trillian your keys and he can folloith the guys if we need the"

We piled into uar We weren’t far frohts ithto stop Within nine minutes, ere at the library I saw a squad car parked out front