Chapter 21

I sat on the edge of the bed, Theo’s hand in mine. My bedroom was empty save for the bed, Theo, the medical monitors, and me—Dr. Lincoln had stepped out. Directly across from me, cobwebs frosted the wall where my dresser had been, and a layer of dust coated the floor in patches where the dresser and bedside tables had sat. An injured patient should be in a clean room. I’d thought it was clean.

I put Theo’s hand down and stood up. Taking a clean cotton shirt from the closet, I began wiping away the cobwebs and dust, wishing I could wipe all the hurt and turmoil from the lives of the people in my house.

I didn’t want Theo to die. I didn’t want anyone to die, and if the vampires went postal in my home, we all would. Actually, “going postal” would be too mild a term for what they’d do, not to mention sounding insultingly mortal to them. They’d go “nuclear” or “nova” or something that sounded impressive, but it would really just mean something much more intensely bloody and horribly painful than a mere mentally disturbed human with a loaded gun could accomplish.

The steps squeaked, and I knew someone was coming to warn me of the time. I expected Nana because the steps were slow, but it was Johnny’s face that appeared in the doorway. “What have you decided?”

“I’ve decided that no matter what happens, I’m screwed.”

“Can I apply for that job?”

I smiled. “Johnny.”

“If you can still smile, then all’s not bad, Red. Have faith.”

“Faith. In what? Myself? Fate?”

“Yes.”

I thought of Nancy. Her faith hadn’t kept her friendships from crashing, hadn’t kept her out of the dark valleys of human experience.

But it kept her to her purpose.

It was almost like hearing Amenemhab’s voice in my head.

My attention strayed to Theo. I had a purpose too. My lungs filled up, and I let them empty again. Goddess guide me, I thought.

“I’m ready.”

I walked out into the hall and to the darkened guest room, I left the door open so the light from the hall could shine in. I eased down onto the floor beside the air mattress and touched Beverley’s shoulder. She didn’t immediately rouse. It made me feel guilty to be waking such a tired, tormented child who’d found some release in her sleep. I shook her again. “Beverley.”

“Mmmm. Seph?”

“Beverley, I need your help. I wouldn’t wake you otherwise.”

“What is it?” She rubbed at her eyes.

“I know Goliath has treated you well, but he’s also done some bad things in the past, and…” There was no way around this. “I’m going to have to ask Menessos and Goliath to come inside my home.”

“Really?” She sat up, eyes wide.

“Really. I thought I should tell you that, in case the ritual woke you, so you wouldn’t be alarmed. And…honestly, I had wanted to keep you away from the spell, since Theo will change, but now—now I’m hoping you’ll agree to be a witness to it. Goliath seems to genuinely care about you and, this is crappy of me, I know, but I think if you’re there, he’ll be less inclined to let any of his bad qualities from the past creep into this situation. Do you understand?”

“Yeah. It’s like his gift of the iPod. It kept me from seeing or hearing things that wouldn’t have happened if I’d been watching or listening. If I’m there, watching and listening…then he’ll behave.”

She was so awesome. “Yeah. That’s exactly right. Are you okay with that?”

Beverley grinned. “You were going to go out and take on a vampire for my mom. And for me. If I can help you out by simply showing up…that’s easy.”

I hugged her.

“Theo will change,” I said again, pulling back. “I don’t want you to be freaked out by it—”

“Mom didn’t want me to see her change, but I always wanted to.”

“It is scary, Beverley.”

“I’ll do it, Seph. I want to help.” She kicked her feet from under the covers, ready to go, just like that. “I think it’ll be cool.”

I couldn’t help but admire her. “It’s very serious in a circle. No giggling, okay?”

“Right.” Her face was earnest. “I get to stand in a circle with witches, wærewolves, and vampires? Wow. Cool.” Then she hesitated. “What about…her?”

She meant Vivian. I said, “When this is over, the vampires will be taking her with them. She’s going to get what she deserves for what she’s done.”

Beverley’s spine straightened slowly. “Okay.”

I went downstairs. Everyone was in the hall or the living room, but my focus remained on my purpose. I stepped out onto the front porch. The night air was swirling and cold, like my thoughts. But the chill I felt was deeper, in the marrow of my bones and down in the core of me that was so deep it was in another world beyond the boundaries of physics.

“Menessos.” I didn’t shout. I didn’t have to. He was already watching me through the open window of his vehicle. The door opened, and he slid out smoothly and came striding toward the house. He clearly didn’t like being “summoned” as such, but we both understood why I wasn’t going out there again. Before, I’d left my safety to rescue Beverley because I had thought they had taken her. Now I had what he wanted. Goliath was, of course, following—the expression on his face was guarded, but not guarded enough. I had the distinct feeling that they had been talking about me.

I shifted my weight. There was no time for dancing around the subject. I met Menessos’s eyes and asked, “Would you and Goliath stand in my circle?”

An infinitesimal change to the tilt of his head signaled surprise. His perfectly proportioned features suddenly displayed a wonder that was altogether foreign to his face. “You’re serious.”

“I don’t want Theo to die.”

“But are you prepared to invite Goliath and myself into your home?”

“That’s what I came out here to do.”

Amazement silenced him.

Goliath said, “Why?”

“Ritual says you, Goliath, have to ask her to forgive you during the rite.”

He grinned. “Oh, so you need me? I thought you wanted to kill me.”

“Theo needs you.” I wasn’t giving him the satisfaction. “If I hadn’t screwed up in the first place—and if you weren’t such an arrogant, murdering bastard—we wouldn’t be here. Either of us. So how about we play nice for just a little bit, and then everybody goes away happy?”

“I’m not sure you’re qualified to understand what will make me happy.”

“I have the stake, Vivian, and the book. I can figure out what will make you unhappy. The forgoing of that should, if you’re wise, make you happy.”

“Fine. What’s in it for us? Our assistance has a cost.”

“I already said that Vivian, the stake, and the book are yours once the ritual is complete, but if I invite you in, you have the guarantee of knowing there will be no way for me to block you from taking them and that I intend no double-cross.”

“You’re not offering me anything new.”

“I’ll be giving up the safety of my home’s inherent protection. That’s the price I’m willing to pay to save Theo.” I faced Menessos. The decision would be his. “The things you fear the most are all inside my house, and despite your intimidation tactic of calling my wards petty—”

“I believe I referred to them as paltry,” Menessos corrected.

“Paltry. Nevertheless, the things you desire are ultimately out of your reach, unless I bring them out or I invite you in.”

“The stake is inside. Being uncertain of who may pop out of a hiding spot and stake us does not inspire our cooperation.”

If I was inviting him inside, it made little difference if his beholder buddies had the opportunity to grab the stake from a location outside. “Then the stake will leave the wards. I’ll take it out into the cornfield.”

He considered it.

Before he could speak, I added, “But in exchange for that guarantee from me, I want a guarantee from you. A guarantee that no one in my house will be harmed.” I paused. “That includes Vivian—at least, until she’s off my property. Do what you want to her, but not here. Not where Beverley can see or hear it.”