Dominic walked into view. He had, wisely, stayed out of the argument. Besides, he was already a vampire's human servant. What was he going to say? That the mark was evil, or that it was no big deal. Lies either way.
"I am very glad to see you awake."
"It thrust me out," I said.
He nodded. "Indeed."
"What thrust her out?" Richard asked.
Dominic looked at me.
I shrugged.
"When the power that animates the vampire returned and found Anita still inside the body, the power cast her out."
Richard frowned. "Why?"
"I shouldn't have been there."
"Did the soul return as you touched it?" Jean-Claude asked.
"I've felt the brush of a soul before, that wasn't it."
Jean-Claude looked at me.
I looked back.
He was the one who looked away first.
Richard touched my hair where it had gotten wet from the rag. "I don't care if it was a soul or the bogeyman. I thought I'd lost you."
"I always seem to survive, Richard, no matter who else dies."
He frowned at that.
I let him. "Is Damian all right?" I asked.
"He seems to be," Jean-Claude said.
"What were you two arguing about?"
"Dominic, could you leave us now?" Jean-Claude asked.
Dominic smiled. "Gladly. I am eager to speak with Sabin. Tomorrow, you and Richard can raise him, and you, Anita"--he touched my face lightly--"can heal him."
I didn't like him touching me, but there was almost a reverence in his face. It made it hard to yell at him.
"I'll do my best," I said.
"In all things, I think." With that, he bid us a good day and left.
When the door closed behind him, I repeated my question. "What were you two arguing about?"
Richard glanced behind at Jean-Claude, then back to me. "You stopped breathing for a few seconds. No heartbeat, either. I thought you were dying."
I looked at Jean-Claude. "Tell me."
"Richard wanted me to give you the first mark again. I refused."