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〃Yes； Thais； I get very tired。 I am intensely weary right now。〃
His tail twitched and tapped against the floor。 The scales that covered his skin were iridescent and gleamed in the low light。 I wondered what happened when he had to shed his skin。 So many little details about his life I didn't know。
〃Very well；〃 Thais said。 〃I'll tell you。 He is here； on this plane。 He contacted me a few days ago。 But he didn't e to me in person…I had a dream。 It was so vivid； unlike any other dream I've ever had。
〃He explained。。。 everything。 He told me why you hated him。 Told me the truth。〃
Caimbeui made an ugly noise and I looked over at him。 A frown pulled at his mouth and he gave me a Why…the…frag…don't…you…just…shut…the…little…wackweed…up？ look。 I doubted he'd ever had children。 I couldn't expect him to understand。
Thais had uncoiled himself from the couch and was slithering along the floor to the doors leading outside。
〃Where are you going？〃 I asked。
〃Outside for some fresh air；〃 he replied。
I followed him。 The temperature had dropped more than I expected。 I rubbed my arms as gooseflesh broke out。 We stayed there for a long time； wrapped in night sounds。
〃Thais；〃 I said at last。 〃I know I've been a disappointment to you。 All those years apart； then later； when things turned bad for all of us。 But。。。〃
〃Shut up；〃 he said； turning violently toward me。 〃Just stop talking。 How do you think I felt when he came to me？ How could I deny him？ You've cursed me with him。〃
He began to weep then。 Terrible wracking sobs that shook his frame。 I wanted to go and embrace him； but I was afraid to。 Afraid that he would reject me again。 Oh； what agony it was to hear him in pain。 I wondered how Caimbeui could resist the sound of it； for it tore me inside。 Like I'd swallowed glass。
I forced myself to wait and watch until his tears began to dry and he seemed more in control of himself。
〃Thais；〃 I said。 〃I am so sorry。 I never wanted you to have to face this。 I tried to protect you。〃
〃I know；〃 he said。 His voice was shaky and rough。 〃But you haven't been very good at that。 Have you？〃
And how could I answer that？ But I suspect he didn't mean me to。
I don't know how long we stood there in the chilling night air。 The stars frosted the sky in diamond…hard brightness。 Then； later； I noticed that the black sky was turning purple…gray。
〃What did he say？〃 I asked at last。 I felt drained and exhausted。 So empty that it didn't matter what he told me。
〃He said you would e for me。 He told me that you would try to stop him and it would do you no good。〃 Thais's voice sounded weary。 I wondered how I could help him； but then I realized there was nothing I could do for him now。 That there are some things a parent cannot do for her child。
〃Did he tell you if there were any other of the Enemy here？〃 I asked。
〃No；〃 Thais said。 〃But I didn't sense any others。 I have always been sensitive to that sort of thing。
Your friend；〃 he said； giving a jerk of his head toward the house。 〃He managed to stop something from happening a while ago。 But the world has more than one point of entry。 They are there waiting。 Waiting for the moment when they can return。〃
〃Did he say anything else？〃 I asked。 〃Anything at all might be important。〃
〃Only that he's been waiting for you to e to him。〃
The sky was light now； moon hanging low against the horizon； looking strange and out of place so near the sunrise。 We stood there in silence as the night fled from the day。
Aina sits before an old woman who has black witchy…hair and who wears gypsy colors。 The air here is thick with incense and patchouli。
〃Cut the cards；〃 the woman says。 Aina does so； feeling the coolness of the deck beneath her fingers。
The reading begins。
The cards lie face down…hidden and hiding their meanings。 The first is turned up。 The old woman gasps。
The Devil。
In a moment； he's crossed by the Moon and crowned by the Tower。
Aina shoves away from the table； unwilling to see what es next。
〃But you don't know how it ends； 〃 the old woman says。
〃Why should I want to know？〃 Aina says。 〃After all； they're nothing but a pack of cards。〃
〃You must send me back；〃 Thais said。
We'd returned to the darkened interior of my living room shortly after sunrise。 Thais was not fond of the light。 He said it was too cruel。
〃Why don't you stay here with me？〃 I asked。 Caimbeui gave me a sharp look； which I ignored。
〃I cannot；〃 Thais said。 〃And you know why。 But there is something I will tell you。 Ysrthgrathe is not the only one of the Enemy here。 There is another； just as subtle and as deadly。〃
〃But where。。。 how。。。〃
〃Deal with Ysrthgrathe first；〃 Thais said。
I tried to get him to tell me more； but he refused。 Finally； I had no other choice than to send him back。
The house seemed empty after Thais was gone。 How I wanted to spend time with him。 Get to know him。 Figure out his peculiarities。 But I had denied myself that long ago。 And there was no going into the past to fix things。
We closed up the house again。 Sheets covered the furniture。 The alarms were set。 I didn't look back as we drove away。
PART II
Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon。
Susan Ertz
She sleeps。 And dreams。 Safe happy dreams of times never lived and not imagined。 They fort her and calm her until she sinks。 Sinks down into the long black darkness of her night。
Once； a human discovered what I was。
Like most curious men； he thought that the knowledge would gain him something。 As though knowledge is a safe thing。 Inert and powerless on its own。
It was 1998。
Fin de siecle fever was at an all…time high。 There were riots and hysterical sightings of Ufos； messiahs； and dead celebrities。 I'd bought my home in Scotland a few years earlier for an obscenely cheap price。 An earldom； no less。 Imagine； me a countess。 It was to laugh。
I had settled into a smaller house on this property。 The castle held no interest for me； being large and 'hard to maintain。 I'd acquired quite a large fortune over my many eons。 I could afford to take the； uh； long view on investments。 There are some uses to being immortal…even if they're only financial。
It was from this vantage point that I was watching everything happening around me with great interest。
The signs were beginning。 I knew it wouldn't be long before the magic returned。
So I began to gather together the things I would need to be prepared。 For many centuries I'd hidden artifacts away； waiting for this time。 It was on one such trip that I noticed him；
I'd just arrived from Scotland。 The United States was still whole back then。 The turmoil that would rip it apart was years away。 Though I had spent many years in America over the last two centuries； I tried to stay away from the politics of the place。 They seemed entirely too messy to me。 But that's always been the nature of freedom。
As I ran to catch my connecting flight to New Orleans； I saw him。 He was leaning against one of the pillars that lined the concourse in O'Hare。 He wore a black T…shirt and faded blue jeans。 A scuffed duffel bag lay at his feet like a lazy dog。
There was a look of intense concentration on his face； as though he were looking not at how I appeared； but at what was inside me。 I didn't like it。
This was before the Awakening； and there was no way he could know what I really was for I'd found ways to disguise my true form。 Oh； I appeared human； for the most part。 My features were more delicate； perhaps； than most。 And I was very thin。 But my skin was as black as it ever was； and my hair was dark then； too。 Some of the developments in the twenty…first century weren't all bad。 I'd seen that blondes really don't have more fun； and I found that auburn really didn't suit me。
As I passed； the light reflected off his glasses； obsouring his eyes from me。 I noticed that he had straw…colored hair sprinkled with a little gray。 His beard was clipped neat and close； giving him an almost scholarly look。 But then I could see his eyes again and once more I had the sensation of being looked through。
Frowning； I turned and hurried on down the corridor。 I wouldn't have given him another thought； except that he boarded my plane not more than fifteen minutes later。
He was the last passenger on； probably flying stand…by。 But why was he on this flight？ And why had he been standing there in the corridor； as though he were waiting for me？
But he passed by me； not even making eye contact。 What an imagination I had； I thought。 The idea that he was following me。 It was nothing。 A chance meeting of the eyes； nothing more。
Despite the air conditioning； the air was hot and soupy。 The smell of beignets hit me as I walked through the airport。 One of the charms of the New Orleans airport was the immediate realization that this place was like none other in the United States。 That Puritan priggishness was utterly cast aside here。
Maybe it was the weather； or perhaps the strong hold the French had placed upon the place centuries before； but here there was no hand…wringing over drinking； or gambling； or eating。 In short； it was heaven； of a sort。
I caught a cab to the Fairmont Hotel； a gorgeous place with nine…meter…high ceilings in the foyer； crystal chandeliers； thick rugs； and the almost physical sensation of decadence。 They also made the most fabulous pecan pie there。 A southern confection that I've never liked anywhere else。
As the elevator was closing to take me up to my room； I thought I caught a glimpse of Black T…shirt through the milling hotel guests； but I knew it must be my imagination。
The French Quarter was a five…minute walk from the hotel。 New York was the only other place in America where history butts up so closely with the present。 I went down Chartres Street； then cut over to Royal。 The heavy smell of the olive trees in bloom sweetened the air and almost masked the odor of the river。
Lined in antique shops and small art houses； Royal was my favorite street in the Vieux Carre。 Bourbon may have been more famous； but the smell of vomit every few steps always put me off。 There were some beautiful homes at the eastern end of Bourbon； but they hardly made up for the foul smells and lingering air of dissipation。
I slipped into one of the antique galleries： de Pouilly's。 Over the years I'd made friends with the owners of many of these stores。 They knew me as selective and willing to pay well for what I wanted。 In return； I expected them to keep quiet about my ｜ visits and to let me。。。 wander。。。 in their shops。 ｜ The whole Quarter was rabbit…warrened。 You might ｜ enter an unpretentious storefront； only to discover a ｜ maze of rooms that led you through any number of connected buildings。 I doubt there was anyone who knew all the twists and turns in these places。
A middle…aged man approached me as I entered。 He gave off the superior air of someone who just knew I wasn't the sort who could afford to buy here。
〃May I help you？〃 he asked in a tone that let me know in no uncertain terms that he thought he couldn't。
I picked up a bronze piece （not a very good reproduction at that） and turned it over as though considering。
〃Tell Mr。 Hyslop that Ms。 Sluage is here；〃 I said。 I began fingering a porcelain bowl that looked to be an original Meissen。 The clerk was obviously torn between telling me not to touch the pretties and trying to decide if I was； indeed； on speaking terms with his employer。 Fear won out over officiousness； and he scuttled off like a cockroach。
A few minutes later （I was by now poking around in a large； intricately appointed armoire looking for secret doors）； Mr。 Hyslop appeared with the now very sweaty clerk in tow。
〃Ms。 Sluage；〃 Mr。 Hyslop said as he held out his hand。 〃It's so good to see you again。 I trust you've been able to amuse yourself？〃
As I backed out of the armoire and gave a little sneeze； Mr。 Hyslop produced a handkerchief like a magician performing a trick。
〃Bless you；〃 he said as he pushed