Wow. That was kind of--neat.

"No!" Maureen screamed.

That's when I saw TC hovering over Allard, the only robed figure remaining. Allard was on his knees and TC's right hand was up. I recognized the glowing red orb in the center, and I could remember the feeling of utter euphoria being pulled into that red light could give. TC was stealing his soul.

On my own instinct I yelled at TC. And I mean yelled--just as I had that night on the roof. As I had that day in the shop when Mitsuri had gone after Daniel.

The foundation shook and groaned but it had the effect I wanted. TC vanished--not like he had on the roof--no. I hadn't blasted him that hard though I'd wanted to. He was holding Allard and I didn't want to zap a human being--no matter how guiltyout of existence.

But the Archer was gone.

Allard Bonville collapsed and lay still.

"Thank you, Miss Martinique."

I looked at the two women. They really were starting to look alike--tall, well built and totally naked. Wow--if only Dags could see this. I pointed to him. Will Dags ever know you're there?

Alice shrugged. "For now, no. We'll have to reveal ourselves to him slowly. When he recovers from this, he won't remember us."

"Neither will you," Maureen said. "You won't remember us. You'll remember the Archer unfortunately. And he'll remember you. You hurt him, but you didn't destroy him. Be prepared against him, Miss Martinique. He is a vile enemy."

Yeah, yeah. You don't have to tell me. So I won't remember either of you?

"Not at first. But I have something I want Dags to remember," She knelt down beside him and put her hand on his heart. I didn't know what she was doing though, or what it was she wanted him to remember.

Alice said, "I will put this memory into your heart--the energy you absorbed can be transferred, and it can be used for healing."

The two women vanished.

I sighed and sank to the floor besides Dags.

EPILOGUE.

Needless to say mom and Rhonda were cheezed to find my slowly freezing body in Elizabeth. When I didn't respond I was once again rushed to the hospital where I woke up. Mom was there, her bag of knitting beside her and demanded to know what the h.e.l.l happened.

Evidently there was a call to 911 placed at the residence of one Allard Bonville. The Cheif of Surgery was rushed to the hospital along with an unconscious young man, both found in his bas.e.m.e.nt. Bonville was found in silky black robes and the young man, later identified as Darren McConnell, was in a pair of flannel pajamas and a tee-shirt.

"You have anything to do with that?" Mom was knitting, not looking at me.

I pursed my lips at her and shook my head. I had my board and wrote on it. GOT A FEEL'N, CAME HOME AND FOUND SF AROUND HOUSE. WENT OOB.

She read it but kept knitting. "But you don't remember anything after that?"

I shook my head, which was the truth. I didn't remember anything other waking up in the hospital. I did remember going Wraith and sneaking into the house and then poof. Total black out.

"We'll see if Dags can remember anything when he wakes up."

Uh huh. Erase. Scribble. CAN GO SEE DANIEL?

"No, you have to stay in bed. Melvin thinks you were in another diabetic coma--and it appeared like that. We told him you left and what he thinks is that you got in the car but slipped unconscious and that's where we found you the next morning."

I nodded. Sounded reasonable. Maybe.

In a pig's eye.

"Right now Dags is resting. So is Daniel. You rest too. I have three of you in the same d.a.m.ned hospital, rooms 116, 123 and 245. I want you to know I hate hospitals, Zoetrope. I despise them."

Me too. Erase, scribble, scribble. RHONDA WITH DAGS?

"No, she's not. She left after she saw him--hasn't been back. Jemmy, Steve and Tim are watching him."

Oh. Wonder what that was about?

Later that night--and I couldn't tell you what night it was--I slipped out of my body and headed to Daniel's room. I had an overwhelming need to see him. To touch him. I had to give him something. But I had no idea what.

No one was in the room when I sieved through the door and I moved as quickly to him as I could. I became solid and took his hand. The skin around the IV was irritated, black and blue. And he was loosing weight as he lay here un-moving.

But I had to-- I was supposed to do something-- I needed to-- The inability to finish the thought p.i.s.sed me off, so I simply sat in the chair, took his left hand in my left hand, put my right hand over his heart and closed my eyes, intent of mending him myself.

But...

There was another pull...

***CODE BLUE, CODE BLUE, CRASH TO ROOM 116 STAT. CODE BLUE, CODE BLUE, CRASH TO ROOM 116 STAT***

About the Author...

Phaedra Weldon is the author of the Urban Fantasy series, Zoe Martinique Investigation, published by Berkley, available for Kindle. She most recently completed the soon-to-be released Eureka novel, Brain Box Blues. Look for it in stores Winter 2010 under the name Cris Ramsay.

Read more on Zoe's world on Phaedra's website at www.phaedraweldon.com.

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