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Chapter Twenty

Part One

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Sarah said later that evening as she examined Catherine. “But Karen’s right; this thing is rewiring her brain somehow. The lump is obvious and physical but it feels like it has tendrils through out her brain – and they aren’t physical. I’m fairly sure I can fix it, but I’m not sure if her increased ability levels will survive me doing so. However, even with the increased ability the harm it’s doing her is outweighing any good effects anyway.”

From the expression on Sarah’s face Lydia suspected that was an understatement.

“How bad is it?” Catherine asked.

Sarah hummed to herself as if she was unsure how to answer. Then she sighed. “There’s a lot of activity in certain areas of your brain. You’ll probably end up having hallucinations and odd mood swings within weeks. Only your own healing ability has retarded its growth so far and it’s starting to work around that.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Nineteen

Part Nine

Lydia was already out of the door before the others could react.

“Lyd! Wait!” Daniel rushed after her but the only response was the sight of her back going down the stairs.

“Well it must be important, Dan,” Matthias said. “Or Bennu wouldn’t have called.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Nineteen

Part Eight

It looked like Emms still used the room occasionally, Daniel decided. Most of the stuff scattered around wasn’t that interesting – clothes and similar. Even the books told him nothing except that Emms had a completely unexpected taste for really trashy conspiracy novels. There were piles of the things lying on the bedside cabinet.

“I guess we know where he got his ideas from then,” Lydia said as she picked up one and stared at it. “I mean good grief, what are these?” Incredulity spread across her face as she flipped through one. A piece of paper which had apparently been being used as a bookmark fluttered from between two pages. She bent down, scooped it up and frowned at it for a moment before the colour drained from her face. “Shit! Look at this!” The hand holding the paper was trembling badly. “I told you it wasn’t a coincidence.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Nineteen

Part Seven

A look of concentration crossed Matthias’s face, then Catherine gasped and went pale. It was followed almost immediately by a soft groaning sob as he released her hand.

“Catherine?” he said in a concerned tone.

“I thought you said a touch of a headache,” she moaned laying her head on her forearms. “This feels like a herd of elephants stampeding through my head.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Nineteen

Part Six

After she had served their sandwiches, Catherine slipped over to the door, locked it and put up the closed sign while they ate. Lydia couldn’t help eyeing her quizzically when she returned.

“Well, I’m guessing that you won’t want any customers disturbing us while we’re talking.” She pulled a chair up to the table. “So tell me the worst. What’s he done this time? I’m guessing it worse than his usual stunts to bring you down here to see me.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Nineteen

Part Five

As they turned off the country road to follow a sign pointing to a farm shop and tea room, Karen turn around and eyed Alban critically. Her heart friend was tugging at the yellow T-shirt and blue jeans that Daniel had leant him and from the way his shoulders were hunched, it was clear he was really uncomfortable. But there was no helping it.

“I guess you’ll have to do,” she said after a long moment. “Though you might get teased by some prats for looking a bit ‘girly’ by some standards.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Nineteen

Part Four

Lucas arrived the next morning while they were all eating breakfast in the conservatory. It was just after sunrise, but even those not going to Devon were awake.

“You’ve got a nice house here,” he commented as he walked in. “But isn’t it a bit small?”

“That’s exactly what I said when we moved in.” Sonia chuckled. “But it was the largest house Matt could find.” Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Nineteen

Part Three

Mela was sure she must be shaking visibly as she stared at Darya. He looked just as hesitant as she felt as he met her eyes.

“Melusine,” he said softly. “How are you?”

Mela swallowed and managed not to back away only with effort. She knew he’d been trying to protect her and Sarah and Matthias would never have left him alone with her if they felt he constituted a risk. “I…” she began. Read the rest of this entry »

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Side Story Three

Two Years Ago

The Trap Six

From the rooftop, they had a spectacular view of the city. Smoke was rising from several places and part of the outer wall had been reduced to a pile of rubble where the outlanders had burst through.

Jason, however, seemed to have his attention riveted on something nearby. He pointed mutely at where a wild-eyed oread was kneeling by a fallen Haltia boy. Her grey features were spattered with blood and she was close enough for them to see that her crystal teeth had been sharpened to points. As they watched, she lunged at her victim and sank her teeth into the soft flesh of his stomach. Read the rest of this entry »

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Chapter Nineteen

Part Two

As Matthias turned into the drive of the Keefe house, the sight of the pretty red brick house with its grey slate roof – so like the one where he grew up – made Kyle swallow back an unexpected burst of homesickness. It was, like most astral homes, detached and large enough to host an entire extended family and with plenty of garden to buffer them from any neighbours.

“Matt! I’ve been expecting you!” Sarah Tyler opened the front door herself. “I didn’t think you’d drive, though.” She narrowed her eyes at the car they’d arrived in. “You hid my sister right on my doorstep and I never noticed? Dammit, Matt!” Read the rest of this entry »