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"I want to believe that too," he said

"Do you think Cassandra is dead?"

Dante hesitated "Yes"

His frank answer somehow disturbed me, and a series of questions escaped my mouth before I could process them "What? How? Why? Who do you think--?"

"Slon," he said "One at a time"

I paused to compose myself "Do you think Benjamin was murdered?"

"Killed, yes"

"Do you think it’s related to ht about it "Yes"

I hadn’t expected so many affirmatives, and was at a loss for what to say "So you believe me? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? After the séance?"

"I didn’t know you were looking for your parents when I ran into you that night," he said, alht uard And you looked so surprised to see me; I couldn’t tell if you were happy or upset I reh the rain; the way the water collected in droplets on your eyelashes I couldn’t believe you were real I still can’t"

"You re"

I looked up at hi ers around the back of his neck and pulled hi up to meet his But just as our lips were about to touch, he pulled away and kissed me on the cheek

His face was inches fro more despair than I intended

When he finally spoke, his words caht happen"

"What could happen?"

"That’s what I’, I let er to my lips, as if to stop me, but instead let his hand pass over the me toward him His touch tickledHis eyes were trained onyou need to--"

Everything happened at once I closedhis breath dance aroundtoward us, followed by the sound of footsteps thuht

I pulled away froht shone on us

"Stand"

I shielded e, her cheeks rosy froht in my face, and then in Dante’s

"What was about to happen just now?" she asked hi," he said "Nothing"

She shone the light in his face for a fewit off