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"Okay," Verlaine said, a bit too loudly, but Elizabeth didn’t react "As long as you keep the text under five lines, it’s seventy-five dollars for one week, one hundred dollars for two Which is a whole lot cheaper than virtually any other paper in the world, but hey--it’s the Guardian"

"Under five lines" Elizabeth’s voice sounded distant "I’ll have to think hoord it Thanks for your help"

"No proble this fake smile plastered on her face the whole tio She walked back out into the night without ever glancing back

What was that about? Verlaine wondered

Once she was halfway down the block, Elizabeth reached into her bag and pulled out the turquoise Bakelite bracelet It glea it earlier today It would work

Although Nadia considered calling Mateo to be with her while she atteainst it For one, it was late--eleven pone or her father realized he was in her house, it would be tough to explain

Also, the first ti Spells for reentle, showy or soft This needed to be gentle and soft Nadia wasto see if it would work--whether she could sneak a sliver of Elizabeth’sThat was more likely without the boost to her powers that Mateo provided (Later, when they had to stop her on Halloween, then she’d need him by her side the whole way)

Finally, this spell was best cast while in the water, and there was no way Nadia was taking another dive in that freezing cold ocean Much,aweso in an old-fashioned house was the old-fashioned bathtub It hite porcelain, so big about four people could sit in it at once, set up on golden claw feet Nadia had the squeaky taps turned all the way up, which was the only way to fill the tub before the water started getting cold

Okay, supplies Quartz dust Rose petals And--the razor blade

Nadia set the stuff on the broad shelf beside the tub and took a deep breath Then she slipped off her robe and sank into the warm bathwater, which covered her whole body up to her neck She wore only her bracelet

The dust swirled into the water,it cloudy and yet softly sparkly The rose petals floated on the surface The razor blade--

--this was harder to do than she’d anticipated Nadia had never cast any spells that called for her own blood, not before this But blood ic an accuracy and intensity that couldn’t be matched any other way

Great The one time I actually need it to be that time of the month, and it’s not

She bit down on her lip, held out one thumb, and jabbed

Oo But she’d done it Nadia pressed on the tiny cut in her thumb tip until the first fat drops of blood spattered into the water First they becahtened to pink, then vanished