between his eyes and the light.
She lifted her head and smiled at it. “You did not kill it, Adrien. Look.” She gestured in his direction.
Jamison could feel the thing moving closer, could see the brightness of it in the mirror behind Lanny. It was just a man, with white hair, white clothes, surrounded by shards of light, as if he was wearing the mirror he came from.
“Don’t be a fool, Jamison. Don’t look in his eyes.”
Lanny said it just in time. He’d been preparing to do just that.
“It was a mistake to bring me here, woman. You should have never been given such...freedoms.”
“Powers, Adrien. Not freedoms. Get over it. I wish to know where a soul has been sent.”
“The female we discussed before? One of the Final Host?” Even with all the screeching, Jamison could hear the distaste.
“Yes.”
“What do you offer in return?”
“Nothing.”
“Are you sure? You would not offer me worship?”
“No.”
“Give me her name.”
Lanny screeched at Adrien. There were no words beneath the distortion. If that what was spoken in Heaven, Granddad was seriously pissed.
“She is there.” Adrien backed away from Lanny, as if he didn’t trust her, leaving the way he’d come, stepping backward into the mirror.
Jamison felt like he was watching a video clip, in reverse.
Lanny stood stock still, staring at the mirror, a look on her face of incredible...longing. Had she wanted to follow the creature? Was she antsy to go Home too? Or did she feel something for Adrien?
“Tend your own business, Jamie.” She turned away from the mirror, none too pleased to have been interrupted, he thought.
He looked around, but Lucas and Jonathan weren’t in their seats; they were on the floor with their foreheads to the carpet.
“He’s gone.” Lanny turned toward the mirror behind her. “He just couldn’t stand to leave my Place of Perfection perfect, could he?” She reached up and ran her fingers over lines etched in the silver surface.
“How is it Jamison survived?” Jonathan’s voice was hushed.
“I’m not sure.” She didn’t sound like she wanted to waste time caring.
“You risked his life.” Lucas stood and put his hand on Jamison’s shoulder.
“I didn’t. I knew if he could bare the chandelier, I wouldn’t need to send him from the room. Who do you suppose made the chandelier?”
“Adrien?” Lucas and Jonathan looked up. Jamison’s eyes had had enough for one day, so he didn’t.
“Yes. Adrien.” She looked at Jonathan. “Help me read this.”
Lucas slapped him on the shoulder and joined the other two. Jamison decided to stay as far away from Adrien’s mirror as possible, just in case the guy decided to reach out and surprise someone. He backed against the wall—the wall right next to the door.
“That can’t be right.” Lucas pointed to a mark. “What are the chances of her being given the name Skye?”
“Zero.” Lanny looked for Jamison, found him, then looked back at the mirror.
“And she’s seventeen. That’s a little convenient, for Jamison.” Jonathan glanced at him and frowned.
“Jamison? Tell me. Why did you come looking for Skye, when you’d been told Lanny wouldn’t be able to help you?” Lucas was probing his mind. No apologies, no warning. And Jamison couldn’t think of a thing to stop him. “Why now, son?”
“My granddad came to see me, to tell me that she was out there, needing me. That’s why I’m not worried about her being happy without me. She’s waiting. Somehow, she’s waiting.”
Lanny grabbed the mirror on both sides and scanned the markings.
“Lucas, is it true? Is her name really Skye?”
“It seems so. And she’s seventeen.” Lucas frowned.
Jamison leapt from his seat and hopped around the room like a little boy who’s just been told Santa was on his way. Forgetting his paranoia, he looked in the mirror, tried to see a little bit of Eternity in spite of the three angels blocking the other mirror. He imagined Skye standing there, next to him. He had no guess what she’d look like, but he imagined kind of a blurred version of the photo in his wallet.
She could have warts and a gap in her teeth and half her hair falling out and she’d be beautiful.
“Sit down, Jamie. I’ve got some bad news for you, too.”
He held up his hands. “Wait. Don’t spoil it. Give me just another minute to be happy. It’s been so long. And just think how much longer it might have been if Granddad hadn’t told me.”
“Tell me about this grandfather. Who is he?” Lanny tapped her finger on one mark. Jonathan looked closer.
“He was Skye’s assignment.”
“Your