"Estelle.
She's no match for Marsilia.
Bernard ...
he's tougher and stronger even if he's younger.
Together, they might manage something, but it'll be without me." "It didn't sound like they were working together," I said.
"They'll work together until they've achieved their goals, then fight it out.
But they are fools if they think they'll even get that far.
They've forgotten, or have never known, what Marsilia can be." HE PULLED UP IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WE BOTH GOT OUT of the van.
"If you need me, if you hear Blackwood call you again--just think of my name as you wish me at your side, and I'll come." He looked grim.
I hoped it was the encounter with Estelle and not worry for me.
"Thank you." He brushed a thumb over my cheek.
"Wait for a while before you thank me.
You might change your mind." I patted his arm.
"Decision's made." He gave me a shallow bow and disappeared.
"That is just so cool," I told the empty air, and, suddenly so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open, I went inside and tucked myself into bed.
8
ADAM WAS SITTING ON THE FOOT OF MY BED WHEN I woke up the next ... afternoon.
He was leaning against the wall reading a well-worn copy of The Book of Five Rings.
It was resting on Medea's back, and she was purring, wiggling her stub tail--which she uses more like a dog than a cat.
"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" I asked.
He turned a page, and said in an absent voice, "My boss is flexible." "Doesn't dock your pay for shirking," I mused.
"How can I get a boss like yours?" He grinned.
"Mercy, even when Zee was your boss, he wasn't.
I have no idea how you would ever find anyone you'd listen to ...
unless you wanted to." He marked his place and set the book beside him.
"I'm sorry your foray into exorcism didn't go well." I considered it.
"It depends upon your outlook, I suppose.
I learned a few things ...
like did you know that Stefan knew sign language? Why do you suppose a vampire would need to learn to sign? That ghosts aren't always harmless.
I always thought the only way a ghost could kill was if it scared someone to death." He waited, curling his fingers over the lump my toes made in the covers.