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Were no longer closed They opened, not an indistinct gray from the colorless lens of the past, but a rich copper shade encircled by rings of evergreen I would have thought they were beautiful, but at the ht into mine

It unnerved me, but I reminded myself it was only coincidence No one ever knehen I used my abilities to establish a link I could be the world’s biggest voyeur if I wanted, but my most fervent as to know less about people, notIf I hadn’t seen his finely shaped lips ined the words Coincidence, I reain Any second someone would come intoto -

"I’ll ask a second tihtly accented voice said "Who are you, and how the hell are you insidethe link at once, forcing all of my focus back to the hotel roo drapes disappeared, replaced by ass-ugly wallpaper and a bed that would probably result in h it burnedover what just happened

"Well?" Jackal asked "Did you find him?"

"Oh yeah" My voice was nearly a croak fro to tell hi been spied on If Jackal knew that, he’d kill me on the spot so the firestarter couldn’t follow the link back through me to find him It was possible If he could feel me in his head, the firestarter could probably hear me, too

With a flash of inspiration that was more reckless than smart, I knehat I had to do

Twitchy, Pervert, and Psycho had already left the room, but Jackal stayed by the tiny desk Fro

I let out a sigh "You think I’ to escape out theif you leave me alone? Come on, the others would hear it and stop me Can’t call 911 and say, "Help, a bunch of vampires kidnapped me!" either Even if they didn’t think it was a crank call, you’d justOr eat the anywhere and I know it"

"You’re up to so," Jackal stated

It took all my willpower not to flinch, but I schooled myself to stay absolutely still Don’t panic, don’t panic

"I don’t knohat, but I can s," he went on

I clearedout in cold sweats ever since she was kidnapped by vauy aside from how nice his drapes are, then leave How a stared at by a pack of creatures that keep looking attheir lips?"

He was suddenly in front ofto do?" he asked, forcingeyes

Their effect was immediate I felt drowsy, unconcerned, and talkative even as a part of me screeched in alar," I h in his htened until it almost hurt to look into them "That’s all?"

The words "he sees me, too" hovered on h I felt like I’d just s else

"Too scaredwith you here"

That was the truth, but the reasons why reaze still lit up "You won’t call anyone or try to leave this roohHe shoved me and I fell back onto the bed, but to my relief, Jackal then headed to the door

"You have an hour Find hiain, and more importantly, find where he will be in the future"

He opened the door, and then paused Before my next blink, Jackal had ripped the phone cord in two

"That’s for insurance," he muttered, and finally left

I waited a few seconds and then let out the breath I’d been holding Holy shit, that was close! I had no idea how I’dwhen Jackal turned his Lite-Brite’s on s later

They say the devil you know is better than the one you don’t Maybe that was true, but considering what Jackal and the others had planned for ave ht off four vampires with one puny knife - which Jackal had taken with hi suicide, although what I was about to do ht turn out to be the equivalent of that