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He should’ve already called in the Brotherhood
There were agents posted in at least twenty sites around the world; there wereover vortexes where II Colletore Di Aniht rise, one last time As soon as they knehere the event was to take place, they could converge and see that the final collection did not happen, not here and now
Defeated, II Gatto Nero would be forced to return to the jade and wait another two hundred and eighty-seven years before trying again to rise, and at that time the demon would be someone else’s problem
If the Brotherhood could keep the statue in their possession, perhaps they could find a way to destroy the demon before that time passed
All possible scenarios had been studied and discussed, and Zane ell aware of the most favored scenario The Brotherhood would find the next victim Ruby They would watch over her closely, just as he was doing now A group of well-trained warriors would wait for the de her of her life and robbing the collector of the soul he required to take form By that time it would be too late for the collector and those who served it to choose another victim, to appear in the heart of another vortex in another town or another country The ti of a soul was very precise and inflexible There would be no second chances for the deht
It was a coldhearted but workable plan
Unfortunately, Zane liked Ruby He liked her a lot For the first ti hi serious second thoughts There had to be another way
The dehts when the moon was at its fullest It was impossible to knohich one In any case, Zane had a matter of days to find an alternative
Dinner was si too unfamiliar, so he made chicken teriyaki with pineapple salsa and brown rice Zane actually enjoyed cooking The simplicity of the task took his ht his mind would not rest There was no quiet place within him
He filled their plates at the stove, then carried thelasses of ice water sat on cheerful Christood silverware
"Looks good," Ruby said as she took her seat "And healthy"
"It is" Zane sat, after she was settled Since the table had been pushed into one corner, there were only two spaces available, and they were side by side
"Do you have so healthy food?"
He forced his voice to be light, al as it’s in moderation," she responded
And then she took her first bite The look on her face was one of surprise "Oh, this is good," she said after she’d sed
"You sound so surprised"
"Don’t get lish toffee cheesecake, but it’s very tasty"
They ed to eat and talk, and the conversation was very nice Even though he could and did on occasion cook, Zane was accusto quick or made a full meal He couldn’t even count the nu a book or working on charts or doing research on the Internet
This was nice, and made him wish the circumstances were different
They were al He couldn’t help but note how the sound of the bell made Ruby jump out of her skin She was skittish, as if she instinctively realized so
She stood and headed for the front door, and Zane followed Soiven Ruby the jade cat Soned with the Order of Runhura and offering her up to II Colletore Di Anima That someone would not take kindly to a disruption in her routine, and Zane intended to be a disruption
Todd stood on Ruby’s porch, his tie-dyed T-shirt not quite enough to keep out the December chill, not even here in Alabahtly and rubbed at his arms to ward off the chill, as he looked past Ruby’s shoulder
Thehimself at home in Ruby’s house Usually friendly eyes hardened, for a moment
"I didn’t know you had company," Todd said
"Yeah," Ruby said "What can I do for you, Todd?"
"I won a drawing for a free dinner at Captain Ron’s Seafood, and I thought you ht like to join me" He waved a piece of paper that was clutched in his meaty hand
"That’s very nice, but I’ve already eaten," Ruby said kindly
Zane wondered if Todd’s interest was normal and sexual or abnormal and deadly It was impossible to tell He had been the one to deliver the anony around Ruby’s house ue with the derimaced "It expires on Wednesday, so I need to use it soon"
"I really" Ruby began
"We’re busy to his arm around Ruby’s shoulder