It had been a beautiful sleep. I was absolutely exhausted. The time change, jet lag, being awake for so long, getting screwed all night long, and then of course, served a nice warm cup of broken heart. It had all really taken it out of me. I opened an eye to see the panicked stare of Luce through the small crack in the doorway to the bedroom. I shot up from the bed as a trickle of blood dripped from her lips. She made a mewl like a sheep and dropped to her knees. She shook her head and mouthed, "Run!" I couldn’t breathe or make a sound. Everything was stuck in the crimson liquid dripping down her lips. I shook my head, trying to see past her. There was no movement. "Luce, just tell me where she is. I know she's here." James' voice rang out in the hotel room. I rolled over, dropping to the floor silently. "I didn’t recognize the young man with you, but you—you I recognized instantly. You haven’t changed a bit, still so beautiful and strong. I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw you." I was breathing into the carpet, terrified.
