I listen for a little, but let her have her time. It was important that I didn't intrude any more in her life than I had to. The absolute best thing for her now would be for me to extricate myself and never see her again. But that was not possible, and not just because of the Claiming. She had become part of the noctalis world. Even if she had only seen a small part of it, she had been exposed. It was like a disease that once you were exposed, there was no cure. You might not show symptoms, but it would always have a piece of you. Of her.Of course, it would have been better if I had never come back to the cemetery to see her. That would have been the best.Her window screeches open and she pokes her head out, gazing up at me, her forehead puzzled.“What are you thinking about so hard? Your plan that you won't tell me about? Again?”“How did you know I was thinking?”“I don't know. How did you know I was going to drink Tex's blood? How does any of this work?” Her eyes shut as she lifts her face to the sky, letting the mist fall on her face.
