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Eli kisses my nose "See you downstairs, then"

I love the way his blue eyes take on a dark shine when he looks at onna throw up now," Noah says, then turns and walks off

Eli joins him Funny how normal a pair of va inside, I cross over to my duffel--I haven’t even unpacked it yet--and find the concealed leather sheath containing a silver dirk I’-sleeved Under Ars to my body I assemble the thin leather straps of my holster--thinner than a Victoria’s Secret bra strap--adjust it over my shoulders and around rab the black, ankle-length oiled canvas coat, which will completely hide the sheath, dirk, and sword, and turn to leave

I noticed you the h And I’es through me and I snap my head around I search the room There’s no one around Of course there’s not The voice just formed in my head

So who the hell is it?

Aye, in time we shall s, you know You being here It changeseverything

"Who are you?" I ask out loud "Don’t be shy Give up a nah Then you’ll know one I can no longer feel it residing in my mind I have no idea where it came from, but I know it’s not so in the city? Another otherbeing? One of the Fallen? The voice is almost familiar Almost, but not quite All I know is that it leaves within h the doorway, I jerk to a stop A sensation of dread fills loo shadows and furniture The moment I turn back around, she’s there She wasn’t seconds before Standing just on the other side of the threshold is a young girl Black hair Black dress Black stockings Black shoes Her skin is pasty white, and large dark eyes stare at me

For a mo surrounded by otherbeings on a daily basis, this one feels different

Witha silent, strangled screaht at asp I’m filled with icy cold Not a cool draft on h my skin, freezes my blood, and scrapes one Only the eerie shadows in ?" Victorian says behindaround "I swear I think I just saw a ghost," I say "That, or this place is just getting towillies Let’s get the hell out of here" I head out and shut the door behind lare, I shake , Vic"

"I want to know in case I have theh We hit the steps and I jog down, Vic right beside , like under your skin Your hair stands up on your neck? Goose bumps?" By the blank look on Victorian’s face, I can tell he’s never experienced the feeling

"Probably because I’," Vic says

I roll ht

At the bottoather Twelve of us in all, dressed in various shades of black and gray we look like a funeral procession I turn roups and take separate directions," Jake says, then explains "I think a group as large as ours walking together would cause unwanted notice"

"Sir," Peter says as he e room "You may wish to see this" He shakes his head "Horrible"

Jake, Gabriel, and Darius lead the way to the sitting rooe flat-screen television on ood portion of one wall

"Turn it up, Peter," Jake asks

Peter unh the roo on the sidewalk in front of the entrance Lights from the fire and police vehicles flash across his face "There appears to be nothing else burned, save the victi behind hi withheld until the next of kin is properly notified, but its been reported that, nothing else seems to be charred except the body" He looks at the camera "Human self-combustion? What else could cause such an atrocity?" The reporter turns away "This is horrific I anize the building It’s in the flats close to St Giles’ Lets go check it out," Jake says