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Chapter 7

Downstairs, I was happy to discover that Iris and Hanna had fixed a buffet of sandwich s and clah with Monterey Jack and ladledbowl of the soup As I slid into hostly activity is so strong" I bit into my sandwich as the others stopped to stare atback in his chair A sandwich a rinned Vanzir didn’t always eat food--he didn’t need to feed in the sa for so around to it," I said, around a , I told them what had happened in the bathtub "So, yes, Gulakah is responsible for the increase in ghostly activity, but it’s not just lately--it’s been since before he was banished fro on a long time here, Earthside"

"And it’s increased lately because of his actual presence here," Delilah said "Pentangle said the only way to restore the balance…"

"Is to defeat hiod?" I motioned to Morio "Pass the salt, please?"

He handed ods are not ih far more so than us He"But what is it?"

"His ego?" I shrugged "He seems to think he’s invincible"

"But he can’t truly believe that Charlotine ed to repel him with a spell ent after hie to affect hi" Shade frowned "No, he’s not stupid--we can’t bank on his ego blinding him We have to find a way into his inner sanctum"

"Well, if he is associated with the Aleksais Psychic Network, Cao to their psychic fair that takes place on the thirtieth We found the advertiseotten at Mystic Charuisethis way or they’ll knoho I aht work on me?"

She frowned "I think so…we could dye your hair platinurinned at me "I know, I know But I think…Morio, you have soic, too?"

An idea hiton his second sandwich "My love, remember the talismans you found for us e first ht knohere we could scare up a couple more of those They’re pricey to come by, and I’ll have to head back to Y’Elestrial to find them, but I can do that this afternoon"

"Price doesn’t old should we need it--currency everywhere Camille’s safety is tantamount"

Trillian nodded "You will come with one longer than the night"

Mydown a yellow brick road together, and I coughed, al on my sandwich Morio slapped lass of water Wisely, I bit aveto say, wife?"

"I don’t think she believes we can take a trip together without killing each other" Sh, you two This is serious"

"Now look--she’s been caught and is trying to divert attention" S himself I could see it in his eyes

Trillian nodded "We need to teach her better reed" Smoky pushed back his plate "So, what are the plans for this afternoon and evening? Trillian and I will be headed to Otherworld"

"I’ to hang around the house and rest this afternoon" I didn’t want to overtax ht The Triple Threat were likely to put er

Delilah finished off her potato chips and wiped her hands "I think I’ll head to the office I haven’t been there for a few days, and I need to check es and see if anybody has any jobs for me I’ll check in with Giselle for you, Cao Crescent Then, I guess…"

"After that, you can help od" Roz leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table "There has to be so He’s part Titan He has to know so her plate to the counter

"I’ll stay home, with Menolly and Vanzir We can watch over the house this evening since Carinned "Menolly and I are teaching Nerissa to defend herself, so it will give us time to practice"

I knew that Menolly and Shade had been training Nerissa in hand-to-hand combat Nerissa could defend herself just fine in werepuma form, but she’d never really learned in human form, and now that she and Menolly werehere, it stood to reason that she should get in some practice

I pushed back fro to sit in the yard for a while"

The others nodded I kissed each ofenough to grab ht before I’d accoht me how to use it yet, and I knew better than to ask for details They would train me when they saw fit