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The knob rattled “Cassandra, open the door”

The voice sounded like Neo, but she could not accept that he was there She hated being like this Didn’t want anyone else to kno bad it got, but the rational part of her entle and so was Neo’s tone “Please, little one, open the door”

She forced cra,” she croaked

He said so forceful in Greek and then, “Good Thank you Open the door”

She reached out and unlocked the door, then pulled it open

Thethere did not look like Neo’s usual i his suit jacket and his expression was nothing less than grim

She wiped at her face with the back of her hand “I…they…someone leaked your Tuesday lessons to the media”

“Yes”

“I thought theythey did not”

She nodded, in total agreement

“You look like you could use a hot shower I will ood idea” She looked around herself at the bathrooaze ski back to it

She looked like a wreck She hadn’t brushed her hair since waking, her eyes looked haunted, her skin was pale and there were perspiration stains on her shirt She needed more than a shower She needed a complete transformation

But she would have to settle for copious aht to be left alone?” Neo asked

“Yes” Absolutely mortified by her own behavior, she wouldn’t have asked hi her piano

She didn’t wonder how he’d gotten into the house until after a twenty- the question over, she dried her hair as best she could with a towel She wasn’t going to get an answer until she went downstairs, so she donned fresh clothes andfor her in the otherwise e tea on the table “Drink up”

She sat down and took a sip, alar did you use?”

“Enough”

“For a sugaraholic ood for shock”

“You say that like you know”

“I called hed She couldn’t help it “I bet she enjoyed that”