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I took another few steps into the room, Sharon and Emma just behind me

"I haven’t seen you around before," the dealer said

"I just bought hi to you?" the dealer said sharply

Sharon went quiet

"No, I wasn’t," the dealer said He stroked his fake beard and seeh the hollowed eyes of his mask I wondered what he looked like underneath, and just how much ambrosia you’d have to pour into your face before you melted it Then I shuddered and wished I hadn’t

"You’re here to fight," he said

I told hiot a prime batch of ambro, so your chances of survival have shot up dramatically!"

"I don’t need any, thank you"

He looked at his gunmen for a reaction--they reast out there, you know You’ve heard of them?"

They were all I could think about, especially the one outside I was desperate to be onhiry was more trouble than we needed

"I’ve heard of theainst one?"

"I think I’ll do okay"

"Just okay?" The man crossed his arms "What I want to know is: should I putto win?"

I told hi to putto need some help" He stood up, went to the littered with glass vials--rows of theed with tiny corks He plucked one out and brought it toout the vial "It takes all your best attributes and nifies them times ten"

"No thank you," I said "I don’t need it"

"That’s what they all say at first Then, after they get beaten--if they survive--everyone takes it" He turned the vial in his hand and held it to the weak light The a, silvery particles I stared, despite hed "Snips and snails and puppy dog’s tails" He held it toward e," he said

"He said he doesn’t want any," Sharon said sharply

I thought the dealer would lash out at him, but instead he cocked his head at Sharon and said, "Don’t I know you?"

"I don’t think so," Sharon said