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"No," Luc said "They can’tis complete"

"They’ll take him back to the Arcoses, and they’ll kill him," Josie offered

In the next instant, I shifted--barely a movement, from one foot to the other--and one of the boys heard Several hoodies glanced ht froood look Seth’s extraordinarily pale face and lightened eyes stared hard atfroed back, both of us at the sah now that I could see the depth of his eyes: crazed, unfa, sweet brother he once was The others stood, glaring; the energy around us snapped, and I knew they were ready to pounce

"Shit--get her out of here!" Phin yelled, and Josie grabbed ht ed ht that had started We ran--hard--I had no choice, really It was run or be dragged I followed Eli’s sister and rolled beneath a red-tip shrub and into a neighboring yard The grass was damp and cool with dew, prickly and stiff We both ju

"You have to go back and help theht hoainst two are bad odds--even for a vampire"

Josie stopped and stared hard at me "Promise?" she asked, then frowned "Swear it"

I nodded "Swear it Now, go," I said

She watchedher trust of me, no doubt, then took off I ran in the other direction, toward hoht, et the hell out--I was nowhere near capable of handling s It ate at me to run away--it just wasn’t in ht off Riggs and the others, andthere would be a total and possibly lethal distraction--to both parties As I ran hard and fast beneath the streetla the paved sidewalk, I prayed the Duprés wouldn’t accidentally hurt my brother

I turned at the intersection at Martin Luther King and ran up River Street, the lights and activity at the west end not nearly as heavy as at the east end, but I’d get there soon enough I hurried up the cobbles, the old Atlantic Paper Company on my left, then past the Hyatt I crossed over to the river walk, slowing now to a jog I glanced over an to walk, out of breath I couldn’t help but wonder who the victilad I hadn’t seen his face I knew I’d never ridoff his chin; it was too horrific I felt like screa--I felt sick to ain--ran hard Very few people were out on a Sunday night at ht--even on River Street, and I had free rein on the walk I jumped over the short wall barrier and headed to the river At the section across from Inksomnia, I stopped, leaned over the rail, and threw up Never, ever would I forget what ly done I hated this I hated all of this

I stood there grasping the nant, the low tide ent, and the shoals of oysters bubbled and popped across the river from Dafuski Island The mosquitoes were out in armies, and I slapped my neck as they bit Dao inside--but gasped and jerked to a halt as I stared straight into the vacant, opaque eyes of my brother

I stood frozen in place; my eyes widened andafraid of my brother, but I was He almost looked dead, with his skin so pale and translucent, his eyes a coreen--nearly white now--and his lips a darkish blue Dried blood streaked his chin His nostrils flared as his gaze settled on the side of my throat, atfroer sounded huain, I froze, and he stopped I know he didn’t recognize ht sight of me Josie and the others had said more than once Seth wouldn’t re?

The air tensed around us; Seth and I were both on edge and about to lunge--I could feel it I slowly eased back a few razed the rail, and rip "Seth," I said quietly, steadily, my eyes directly on his; hopefully he would concentrate onjump in the river if I had to, despite the bull sharks that patrolled the ays--another thing not s and brochures I inhaled slowly, and even that slight movement was noticed by my brother He flinched and juh he’d been struck His chest rose and fell rapidly, faster than human, and his Ada rapid-fire, over and over

Then his face drew taut and his eyes widened, and in the next second, he lunged for s over the handrail, and before I could drop, Seth’s body juststopped co, suspended, until rew cold and nu happened I had no idea whether he stood there, waiting, orwhat? No more than thirty seconds passed, and I’d decided a sith the bull sharks was going to be ht Then Phin’s face appeared over the rail, and he reached doith one hand, grasped one of mine, and effortlessly hauled ?" he asked

I looked at him, then looked around "What’d you do withhis question, still scared but trying to shake it off

In the laht, Phin’s flawless pale face, chiseled features accented by the light dusting of scruff on his jaw, all but glowed Even though he had different colored hair he looked a lot like Eli He cocked his head "What are you talking about?"