"Book works for me," he said.
"Why are you here?" I asked.
This time when he looked at me there was a darkness in his eyes. A knowing that managed to feel sinister.
"Because an important someone asked me to keep an eye on you."
"Who?" There weren't a lot of people I knew who would fit that bill. None, in fact.
His lips curved, this expression managing to leave its mark where the others hadn't. "Oh, I have a feeling you'll know by the end of this. I truly hope you don't die, magic breaker. It would be such a shame."
Magic wound around and through him, thousands of little fireflies.
"Wait," I shouted as they split apart to be replaced by a burst of light.
I lifted a hand to shield my eyes from the brilliance, aware of Connor doing the same.
When the light had faded and the black spots in my vision were gone, it was to find my living room empty again. No sign of the man—or the book.
Inara stared at me wide-eyed from her spot in the ceiling. "Whose bright idea was it to summon an artifact's soul?"
I pointed at Connor. "Him. Blame him."
Lord knows, I certainly wouldn't have been that stupid on my own, or more truthfully, that I wouldn't have even thought it possible.
"I take it back. You're almost more trouble than her." She jerked her chin at me, before disappearing into the ceiling, pulling the canned light into place behind her.
I collapsed onto the couch, staring at my ruined living room with dismay.
Connor took a seat beside me. "You lead an interesting life."
"Tell me something I don't know."
FOUR
SHADOWS CHASED ME in my dreams that day. Creatures of all shapes and sizes, their bodies morphing from one form to another as easily as if they were changing clothes.
One had the head of an elephant and the body of an octopus. Others were a cross between a cat and a bat. Some monsters had forms I couldn't even begin to describe. Still others were a mishmash of many species both supernatural and mundane. The only thing they had in common were the half-filled holes where I could see black veins trying to knit themselves together. At their hearts were small twinkling lights that flashed at me as if to say hello.
It felt like I'd been running forever when I realized their pursuit had a goal. They were herding me.
I stopped and faced them, unsurprised in that way of dreams when they stopped too.
They shuffled with unease; the weight of their eyes heavy on me.
"What do you want?" I asked.
Any answer was overridden by distant thuds that gradually grew louder.
In my bed, I lifted my head up to stare blurry eyed at the door. Someone was knocking.
I groaned, rolling onto my stomach and burying my head beneath my pillow to drown out the persistent annoyance.
Within moments I sunk back into slumber. This time I was the one chasing, only my quarry was gone. I ran through shadowy mists searching and searching.
I thought one of the shadow monsters was finally within my grasp when a grip on my shoulder shook me loose of the dream for a second time.
"Go way," I mumbled, batting at the hands.
