I should have known better-- Charles can do anything.
And everything he did, he did very well.
That's only one of the reasons that Charles intimidates me and everyone else.
"Kept you busy and out of trouble for a whole summer," said Bran smugly.
He was teasing ...
but serious as well.
One of the oddest things about being grown-up was looking back at something you thought you knew and finding out the truth of it was completely different from what you had always believed.
It gave me courage to do what I did next.
"I need some advice," I told him.
"Sure," he said easily.
I took a deep breath and started with my killing Marsilia's best hope of returning to Italy, jumped to Stefan's appearance in my living room and the unexpected visit from my old college nemesis, and ended it all with the nearly fatal adventure at Uncle Mike's and the little bag that smelled like vampires and magic.
I told him about Mary Jo and my fear that if I told Adam about the bag, it would cause a war.
"I'll stop by and see if I can help Mary Jo," Bran said after I'd finished.
"I know a few tricks." Samuel looked relieved.
"Good." "So," I told Bran, "it is my fault.
I chose to go after Andre.
But Marsilia's not attacking me." "You expected a vampire to be straightforward?" asked Bran.
I supposed I had.
"Amber gives me a reason to get out of town for a little while.
Without me around, Marsilia might leave everyone else alone." And it would give me a chance to think through my response.
A day or two to figure out something that wouldn't lead to more killing.
"And give Adam and me a chance to mount a proper response," Samuel growled.
I started to object ...
but they had the right to go on the offensive.
The right to know that they were targets.
As long as Mary Jo survived, Adam wouldn't bring a war to Marsilia's doorstep.
And if Mary Jo didn't survive ...
Perhaps Marsilia was crazy.
I'd seen that kind of madness in the Marrok's pack, where the oldest wolves often came to die.
"If you leave, Marsilia might take that as a victory," said Bran.