THIRTY-FIVE.

Friday, December 31.

Afternoon.

My heart pounded harder. Blood rushed in my ears. I whirled to face the doorway.

I drew from Bryna's essence and straightened in my Host body. I pulled back my shoulders, forced a smile, and prayed that he couldn't tell that Colin and I had taken Olivia's and Angel's stones.

"Uncle Amory," I said the moment the big male walked through the archway, and I started toward him, making my way down the rows and rows of stones. My body grew hot as I hoped he had no way of sensing that two stones had been removed.

Then I realized I'd just spoken in the French-sounding language without even thinking about it.

What came naturally to Bryna must come naturally to me.

It was interesting, feeling like I did in Bryna's world. I didn't have to try and be her, it just came to me, as though it was who I was. As Nyx I could control it, but it came naturally, like someone almost acting in character. An actor becomes the character and in a scene doesn't just become himself. He knows he can control it. This was similar. Only I didn't have to try to act. It just happened. Although I controlled Bryna, I could come out of character at any time.

The Sorcerer hadn't looked surprised to see a stranger in his Room of Life. He came to a stop, clearly waiting for me. "Bryna," he said as if he'd already known who I was before calling him uncle.

Had the guards told him? Or had he known in some magical way?

Amory's power was so palpable that even my human Host body recognized his magical strength.

Bryna's essence backed up that awareness, telling me that the Sorcerer's power went beyond what most beings could imagine.

However, I was used to the Great Guardian, so I could imagine a lot.

When I reached him, the Sorcerer engulfed me in a strong embrace. His arms felt like steel bands around me and I winced from the pain he caused my Host body's scrapes and bruises when he squeezed.

"Bryna," Amory said. "I am most grateful to have you back with me." His voice was a low growl as he added, "Una and Tieve almost paid with their lives when they gave me the news that you had been injured and taken to an infirmary."

"It is good to be back," I said as my stomach twisted, knowing that his powerful Host could physically crush mine. I hoped Amory wouldn't sense me inside of Candace's mind and body. The fact that Colin was near in his Dragon glamour made me feel slightly more at ease. Only slightly because I knew Colin was no match for the Sorcerer magically.

Amory was so tall his roughly woven tunic scratched the side of my face. At least it was the side not scraped up from Bryna's tumble onto the asphalt when she was hit.

Bryna's essence relayed how strange it still was to see him this way when she was used to a frail, brittle-looking old man. Her essence also told me that despite her close relationship with her uncle, his power and his bursts of anger sometimes frightened her. She would never show that he scared her, but the fact was he did.

Amory kissed my cheek and I tried not to shudder because the monster was touching me. I tilted my head and gave his jaw a light kiss like Bryna always did. My stomach churned the moment my lips touched his face.

The Sorcerer drew away. "I am so pleased to see you, niece." He smiled, his straight, perfect teeth white against his dark complexion, and Bryna recalled how yellowed and crooked his teeth had been in his old body. She much preferred this Host body he was now in.

I, on the other hand, wasn't so sure about his new Host. He was so incredibly physically strong that he could easily crush this human Host that I was in. He wouldn't even need magic to hurt me.

All I had was Bryna's knowledge and my own wits to get me through this. Which I was seriously beginning to doubt after my lack of focus so far today.

"Did Una and Tieve come back with you?" Amory asked as he patted my shoulders then released me.

I shook my head. "I haven't seen them."

The Sorcerer frowned. "They did not recover you from the Earth Otherworld? Then how did you escape?"

He could have looked into my mind but Bryna's essence told me that he respected his niece enough to not do that. At least most of the time.

"It was uneventful. When I recovered, I found an opportune time to escape." I'd already rehearsed this part. "This Host's clothing was in the room and I changed into it then slipped away when no one was looking," I said. "Then I went to the portal as fast as I could." Amory's callused fingers were warm as he touched the side of my face. A frown crossed his strong features. "You were injured."

I nodded. "This Host body is bruised and scraped, but I am well."

"Una and Tieve are at fault for this." Amory's words were harsh, angry.

My natural inclination to protect almost overrode Bryna's much less caring essence. "Tieve almost lost my stone." I brushed my hand over my pocket, hoping Amory didn't sense the keystone, too.

"I almost died to save it."

"What were you doing in the Room of Life, Bryna?" the Sorcerer asked in a soft, firm tone that had an edge of warning to it. And suspicion?

Even without magic I thought I felt Colin stiffen beside me while still in his Dragon's glamour.

"After my near-death experience in the Earth Otherworld," I said, carefully drawing upon Bryna's essence, "I felt the need to be among life. I thought of the Room of Life and how you find solace in it, and came here to renew myself before locating you."

"Your Host must be sealed soon." Amory met my gaze and a sick feeling dropped to my toes. "It is dangerous to be amongst occupied stones when you have not been sealed. You know this, Bryna." The thumping of my heart and the perspiration breaking out along my skin was going to give me away if it didn't slow down. This was happening too fast. I couldn't let him seal me into this Host and it was too soon to leave. It created too much risk to transfer back later.

I took a huge inward sigh of relief when Amory added, "However, it must wait until after the meeting with my Inner Circle. I am pleased you shall make it this time. I have much to tell you all that is of great importance."

"Of course, Uncle Amory." I gave a low bow of my head. "Not only are you my favorite uncle, but I am ever at your service."

The Sorcerer put his hand on my shoulder and started to guide me out of the enormous cavern.

He paused to look down at me. "It is good to see you before you return to the Earth Otherworld, Bryna, to serve in your new Host's position."

"It is good to be home," I replied before he led me up the stairs and over the threshold, back into the manor. "As much of a home as we could call Doran after twenty years," I added and when Amory nodded in knew I'd said the right thing.

Bryna's confidence in herself made it easier to hide my unease at being in the Sorcerer's company. Knowing Colin was nearby helped immeasurably.

We walked across the great hall, rounded a corner, and headed down another hallway.

Everything was familiar thanks to Bryna.

When we entered the Inner Circle chamber we went down several steps. The sheer size of the enormous round room amazed me despite having Bryna's knowledge of it. The chamber was at least the size of a basketball court.

Eleven faces stared back at me from a round table. I offered a haughty expression. It was expected in keeping with Bryna's attitude and her position as Amory's niece and confidante as well as an advisor.

Like we'd seen in the detention center, all of the Kerran Sentients who had not taken Host bodies had long, delicate fingers, small ears, and petite noses.

Present was the obnoxious Jalen in his new Host body that Bryna had seen only once on the day she'd departed. Also in their new Hosts were Fala, LeeLa, and Xella.

Most of the other advisors were still in their old Host bodies but preparing for their trip to the Earth Otherworld to secure their new ones.

Not if I could help it.

"Bryna is back in our Inner Circle." Amory presented me to the group with a genuine smile. "Her new Host is Candace Moreno, and she is the CEO of a brokerage house in the Earth Otherworld's Manhattan."

The advisors each gave me a nod. Bryna knew she wasn't popular among the advisors. The real Bryna didn't care if she was accepted by any one of them, or not.

I took one of the two empty chairs that were side-by-side at the circular table. Bryna always sat beside Amory at the meetings. All of the advisors seated themselves, including me, when Amory made a slight gesture with his hands.

The wooden chair was hard and I winced from the press of it against the back of my bruised thigh.

Amory's voice boomed throughout the room. "All of the Hosts brought over after the mass takeover at the theater have been sealed and returned to the Earth Otherworld." My stomach flipped and my throat and mouth felt dry. Angel. Angel must have been sealed. Had her Host body returned with the others?

The Sorcerer gave a sardonic nod to Jalen. "This was accomplished thanks in great part to Advisor Jalen who worked tirelessly until the very last of our people were sealed into their new Hosts." Jalen scowled and I hid a smile that Bryna would have given. She despised Jalen and it was obvious that whatever it was he'd had to do hadn't been enjoyable by any means.

One thing was true-Bryna loved her uncle even though she feared him, and she didn't like how Jalen normally spoke to him.

Jalen's Host's face grew red with anger and it was easy to see that he wanted to say something.

For once the big ass kept his mouth shut. At least that was Bryna's opinion of the scowling male-an ass.

I turned my attention to Amory as he said, "As we have planned, and you are just now hearing, Bryna, we will be able to take as many as half a million Hosts in one night." The statement slammed me with the force of a tsunami that made my head swim and my mind whirl.

As many as half a million Hosts? In one night?

Shock continued to course through me in a way that made my skin cold, my scalp prickling as if being jabbed by thousands of needles at once. How could Amory expect to accomplish stealing such an incredible number of Host bodies?

The advisors around me applauded, all except Jalen and me.

Amory looked at me and I forced a brilliant Bryna smile and joined in the applause.

"Where will you accomplish such a feat?" I asked.

"New York City," the Sorcerer said.

My mind raced. When would that many people be gathered in one place at one time in the city in the near future?

Then it hit me so hard that it was like any remaining heat in my body rushed out of me in an ice cold wave.

"New Year's Eve, Times Square," I said as horror started to roll through me. "Tomorrow."

"Your Host mind knows well," Amory said. "You are correct." Then he smiled. "Although you are forgetting that time is different here. It is already New Year's Eve Day in the Earth Otherworld." Panic nearly had me jumping up from my chair. "Over half a million people in one place. One time. In just hours."

"With five hundred thousand of our people in place early," Amory said as he nodded, "we will crowd out any amount of people over that number. Reporters will report unprecedented numbers.

Before they know anything, we will have taken a half-million Hosts." Shock almost made me forget where I was and who I was with-the Sorcerer and a roomful of his advisors. Then I felt Colin's warm palms on my shoulders as he gave them a squeeze meant to ground me. To remind me of where I was and what I was supposed to be doing.

I didn't look up, knowing Colin was still in glamour, then felt his warm breath in my ear. "We will get back in time to warn Rodan and the other Trackers," he murmured. "First we need to find out all that we can. A few more moments of knowledge will save more lives." To let him know I'd heard and that I agreed with him, I gave the barest of nods.

A glow lit up Amory's end of the room and I turned my attention toward it, barely able to keep to my seat. Colin continued to rest his palms on my shoulders, reassuring me of his presence and that I could make it through this.

My skin itched with the desire to jump up and do whatever it took to stop the Sorcerer now. But I had no power of any kind here, including being able to slip out of the room unnoticed or use my elements to protect myself or my team members if any one of us was discovered.

I didn't like the helpless feeling coursing through the Host body I was trapped in. Didn't like it at all.

A glow emanated from the Sorcerer's hands and I watched as an image of Times Square floated up, almost like a projector casting an image onto the white wall.

"This is where we shall take many Hosts at once." Amory smiled, a cold, chilling smile. "Once we have secured such a large number, it will become easier and easier to accomplish our task of controlling this Earth Otherworld."

"What is your plan?" I asked. "I hate to have you repeat only for me, but I am excited to hear this fantastic news."

Xella shot me a look telling me she was obviously perturbed that Amory had to retrace the steps of the plan that everyone knew but me. She wasn't a pretty female-at least her Host wasn't-and the way her lips were twisted into a smile it made her look almost evil. From Bryna's familiarity with the female I knew she was exactly that. Evil.

"When it grows darker in the city of New York, we shall start transferring the rest of the stones," Amory said.

"The rest?" I couldn't help myself. "You have already sent some there?" A pleased expression crossed Amory's features. "We transferred close to half a million stones last night."

My stomach dropped and I could almost feel my face whiten. I drew on Bryna's confidence and her feelings to recover from my own reaction.

"This is amazing, Lord Amory," I said and let Bryna's smile shine through. "How did you accomplish such a task?"

The Sorcerer gave me a hard look. A suspicious look. I had to force myself to meet his dark eyes.

"How do you think, Bryna?"

"Your incredible abilities and power, of course." I tried not to rush the words out. Instead I spoke in the easy, careless way of Bryna. "Forgive me for asking." Amory turned back to the image and began gesturing to it and explaining that the stones would be given out by his people as mementos of the evening. The moment a Sentient passed a stone to a human, the Sentient would take control of the Host and leave its Shell-a Zombie-behind. He said that the Zombies would be released for the first time en masse.

Inwardly I shuddered.

"I have been keeping a rein on the Shells until now," Amory said. "But as of this exchange, I shall leave them to wreak havoc among those we have not chosen to use as Hosts. Those not on our lists."

"How will the Shells know the difference between future Hosts and those we wish to dispose of?" Xella asked.

Amory looked at Xella, then for some reason, me. "I have programmed all Sentients with this knowledge that will remain with their Shells once they are in their new Host bodies," he said. "Just as the Shells do not destroy one of our own, they will not touch future selected Hosts." The thought kept pounding at my head.

The Zombies would be free to terrorize the city.

I gripped the arms of my chair so tight my hands ached as I absorbed Amory's words. The pressure of Colin's grip on my shoulders increased and tension radiated from him.

The enormity of it was almost too much to comprehend.

How could we keep such a large-scale takeover of human lives from happening?

And if we didn't, how could a mere two dozen Trackers stop a half-million Zombies from terrorizing our city?