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The truth That was the key

"We have to go back to Chicago" He hesitated "There’s a va there, the one named Jaus He can touch people and make them tell the truth I know, he did it to me in Florida If anyone kno the order recruits new htower"

Alex looked startled "You want Val to work on Hightower? I don’t know, John We try to avoid contact with the Brethren They do unfriendly things like torture and kill us"

"If I brought the archbishop to Jaus, would he do it?" he countered

"He probably would for me" She looked past him as Cyprien came back into the room "I have a favor to ask"

Alter she related what John said to Cyprien, he agreed to o "After the proble Thierry Durand in Chicago I aain Still, there are ways it can be done safely, and as Alexandra says, Valentin is a friend It is alure of afro to theHe had stopped at their ashed gate and gazed up at the cottage Surely it was one of the priests, come to take her back to the facility, and that dread expectation made her feel ill But it was not a priest--he carried neither cage nor scissors

Was it possible? Was it him? She looked a second tiolden hair and fine blue eyes

She had not beenretreated fro a bouquet of cae from red to white His color, like the snow in his voice and the ice in his eyes "He cohthouse purposely to take me," she told the flowers But why? And where? "I will be calm; I will be mistress of h She was so tired

You sure, Lili?

The ghost of Chen Ping bustled around the roo in vain to wipe the dust-coated furniture and chase the cobwebs in the corners with her broonet that had taken up residence on the pianoforte, sending hiry swan hissed and spread enored substance, becoave Liling one last smile

Wish him joy

As Valentin entered the room, his expression seemed bewildered, as if he had never been to such a place But Liling had entertained him so often he should know every room, every wall, every brick of the place How could he look upon her now as if he expected no welcome--he, the only one to whom she had ever extended an invitation?

"This is not real" Disbelief made soft his mellow tenor "You are mortal You cannot suhted, sir" Liling went to hi her countenance to remain smooth and untroubled, and offered hireat happiness Mr Jaus"

"Happiness" He gripped her hand and held it er than could be considered polite "What do you know about my happiness?"

The blue swan uttered a wild call and flew across the roo both Jaus and Liling with shards before it escaped through the jagged hole Blue feathers, stained with red blood, slowly drifted to the floor

Fro with it fiery clouds pregnant with blue lightning

Now that the swan had fled, a terrible silence fell over the roo over her little horip "I was to rejoice in the dryness of the season It cannot rain now Please let o"

"No" He put his hand to her throat "How did you bring ? You are not an to smoke

Not his kind That was his opinion of her She had never been allowed to feel angry, had never allowed herself to feel so It had always been too dangerous, especially after she had discovered what she could do

Youwhispered Only take

"Your behavior insults ave er in er is ret "I a no injury to anybody but an to sprout fro on the floor They curled around Jaus’s boots and Liling’s bare feet, cool and white, soft and fragrant