MacPhearson had acquired a podium to Aurelia’s satisfaction, though MacPhearson had fussed at the men bringing it in, warning them not to scuff the floors if they valued their jobs. Johnny sat in a room down a hall off the rotunda and listened jealously as the crew performed a sound check on the mic. Things were so much easier when all I wanted to be was a rock star. On the cell phone he hit the autodial for Seph, again. Still no answer. He called the haven again. After five rings Ivanka growled, “Da, Johnny. I am here. I have no news. Stop calling!” She hung up on him. “Silence that phone,” Aurelia said on her way to the door. “It’s time.” Johnny set the phone to vibrate and followed her out into the hall. “You wait here. I’ll have everyone’s attention once I begin, so you can come to the head of the hallway after I’m talking. Wait there until I introduce you.” Johnny noticed Gregor watching her strut away and remembered that Gregor had been the guard of the Rege in the Courts of the Zvonul in Romania.
