Page 13 (1/2)

The Djinn, Rahel, had moved closer, too, and now those eyes were just plain eerie A hot, old, with flecks of brass Predatory eyes She slowly dru her folded ar

Marion, in the wheelchair, was easier to read She looked worried And conte

"Joanne," she said She was the first to sood to see you safe" She held out her hand, and I shot Lewis a nervous glance He nodded, so I took it and shook Her skin felt warrip firm Her dark eyes held mine steadily "I see you’ve had soood you’re back with us again We can use your strength"

It was, at the very least, a public endorsement Probably more than I could reasonably ask for "Thanks," I said I had the feeling that I ht not have been a friend, but at least there was respect between us Respect, I could return The others standing around were regardingexpressions of wariness or hope, neither of which made me feel any too secure

Marion’s attention slid past ed to concern "My God, Lehat happened to the boy? No, never et him to the clinic" Her eyes passed over Cherise, then came back, and she frowned, puzzled She looked sharply at Lewis, an open question on her face, and he shook his head

"Later," he said

She pressed controls and wheeled the chair in a tight circle, leading the way to a small parked caravan of plain black sedans and vans I started to follow

The guy Lewis had pointed out as Paul caught ed me to a stop "Not so fast, babe," he rumbled He had an East Coast accent, uess Olive-toned skin, dark hair with flecks of gray, dark stubble showing even though I was sure he’d freshly shaved "No welcoed le, because he see for comfort

"Kid, I thought you were gone," he ain, all right? You’ve given h heart attacks already" And then he pecked me on the cheek and backed away The way he looked at me, I wonderedNo, surely not Surely I hadn’t slept with every guy I knew

"I-I’ll try to be more careful," I said Aard I didn’t knohere I stood with this guy-kissing-close, obviously, but notup close, which was funny, since I’d been spending ti I sed and forced a s Lewis Paul studied o

"Yeah," he said quietly "I was hopingYeah You probably should get yourself looked at, too Call when you’re done, okay? We got to talk Things to work out"

I nodded, kept the s Kevin and Cherise into the black cargo van, the one with the Handi-Lift on the back that was already lowering for Marion’s wheelchair

I didn’t make it to join them Another person stepped into my way, and I felt whatever nerves hadn’t already been alar

"A -taloned hand between us She looked atHer expression stayed blank and still, and I hesitated, wondering whether or not to yell for help Her eyes flicked paston the Wardens behind me, and she reached out and took hold of my shoulder "A moment of your time, my friend I have been so concerned for you" She didn’t wait for agreement She steered me sideways, away from the Wardens but also away from any potential rescue fro deeper, and I hissed in pain "Sistah, you come whether you like it or not," she warned in a very low tone "I have news for you, fro to listen She kept hold of er of deep-tissue bruising

"I don’t reet it out of the way "I’m sorry It’sthis problem I have"

"I’m well aware," she said No smile at all, and her tone was dry and cool "You shouldn’t be here, Snow White Not as you are, neither here nor there, living nor dead, hu you back I think it is a foolish concept It opens doors that are dangerous for us all"

"Gee, thanks," I said with no sincerity "That’s the news?"

She snorted "Opinion At least you haven’t lost your sense of the absurd David wishes me to tell you that he is on Ashan’s trail, and for you to stay with Lewis" Rahel smiled She had pointed teeth I mean, seriously Pointed "You knohat happens to little lambs ander from their herd"

I yanked myself free this time "Hey, Creep Show, save it for the cheap seats Aren’t you supposed to be on ?"

She blinked, and I had the satisfaction of seeing a Djinn thrown just a half step off balance It didn’t last "I am," she said "As your kind isAndyou loved the child I count that in your favor"

"Iht?"

Her expression composed itself to instant formality, and she tilted her head Beads clicked as the braids slithered over her shoulders with a sound like dry paper shifting "Ashan was fortunate the Oracle took him before we could reach hi"

Which was supposed to be co

"Great," I said faintly

That ain, sharply "You don’t remember the child, either," she said "Do you?"

I started to lie about it, then shook esture that was almost human Almost affectionate

"I can pity you for that You will reh," she said "Such emptiness must be filled"

And in a weird sort of way I suppose she did comfort me A little "Thanks," I said "IWill you tell David I’ll be with Lewis?"

"I will" She stepped back "Ashan is lucky once again David would have hunted hi by now, had he not been distracted by concern for you It appears he needs Ashan alive and functioning to try to fix as done to you" A slow, cool smile revealed even, white teeth Nonpointed "After his usefulness coanize an entertaines" I was sure she es part, anyway I shuddered to think what entertainht ed "David’s obsession with you puts his leadership of us in some doubt But he remains the conduit to the Mother, and so ed Still, he is not secure His insistence on repairing as done to you has been taken badly in so her right in the eerie eyes

It was very quiet I could hear the whine of the rotors powering down on the helicopter, the hiss of blowing snow, the engines starting in various SUVs around the landing area I could hearfast

"For my part," Rahel finally said, "I should think the world less interesting without you, sistah Take that as you wish"

And she turned and walked away, one

Wow Not sure how I felt about her, but I couldn’t dislike her Fear her, sure Dislike herno