His voice thickened. `But in the dream, it had, so I cant discount the possibility that I might be wrong. I also remember what I was sent to do in Hopewell five years ago. If I was prepared for it to happen once. .
He trailed off, his hands knotting before him, his eyes shifting away. `I've gambled as much as I dare to with this business. 1 don't know if there's a demon out there or not. I don't know if the Void is setting a trap for me. I don't know what's gaping on. But whatever it is, I don't want you involved. At least not any further than you already are. I want you to get on a plane right now and get out of here. Get far away, so far away, you can't possibly be a part of whatever happens next'
She nodded slowly. And what happens to you?'
He shook his head. `I don't know yet. I have to byre that out. But I can tell you one thing. Fm not so sure anymore I'm not in danger.'
She finished the last of her sandwich and wiped her mouth carefully, wincing as she brushed one of the deeper cuts on her chin. 'Good for you' she said. There was neither approval nor condemnation in her voice. Her gaze was steady. `But you don't know the half of it. Let me tell you the rest.,'
She was shaken by the revelations of his dream and more than a little frightened and angered by the idea that she might be his target once again, but she kept it all hidden. She could not afford to let her feelings interfere with her purpose in coming to him in the first place. She could stew about the ramifications of his having had such a dream later, but for now she must concentrate on convincing him he needed to do something to protect himself.
`I watched three forest creatures die last night,' she began. `One of them was Ariel, one was a sylvan named Boot, and the third was an owl named Audrey. A demon killed them, a demon that is attempting to claim your soul, John. Ariel, Audrey, and Boot died trying to stop that from happening. So please pay close attention to what I have to say.'
She told him everything that had happened. She started with Ariel's appearance in the market, summoning her to West Seattle and Lincoln Park, where Boot and Audrey lived. Boot had seen the demon and had a story to tell. She called to let him know what she was doing, perhaps to persuade him to come, as well. But she couldn't reach him, so she left a message with Stef that she believed only he would understand. She took a taxi to the park and went in. At the rim of the cliffs overlooking Puget Sound and the park embankment, the sylvan and the owl appeared.
She related Boot's tale, repeating the conversation that had taken place between the two demons as accurately as she could remember it, then telling of how the first demon had killed the second to protect its claim on Ross. Boot was about to tell her more, she finished, when the attack occurred that snuffed out Boot's and Audrey's lives and led to the chase along the heights that ended up costing Ariel her life, as well.
`I went over the cliff by mistake or I would be dead, too' she finished. `I fell all the way to the base of the embankment, but I didn't break anything. I got up and ran out of the park with the demon still chasing me. There were houses where I thought I could get help. Twice I managed to get inside and twice the demon broke down doors and windows to get at me. I was lucky, John. It almost had me several times. 1n the end, I managed to get on a bus just ahead of it. Even then, it slammed into the bus doors with such force that the glass broke and the metal bent. It was in such a frenzy it didn't seem to care what it had to do. If the police hadn't arrived, I think it would have kept coming. It has to be really worried about me to go to such efforts. Maybe it thinks I know something. Maybe I do, but the truth is I haven't figured out what it is yet'
She watched the skin grow taut across his face and his eyes lose their focus. as if he was looking at something beyond her. `I wanted to come after you, and then something happened and I couldn't' he said softly.
She waited. His eyes came back to her. `The demon has to be someone I know, doesn't it?'
She nodded. `I guess so. Someone you know well, for that matter. Someone at Fresh Start, if you want my further opinion. When Ariel appeared to me after our lunch, she said I should stay away from you, that you were lost, that there was demon stink all oven you. She said it was all over Fresh Start, as well. I was there earlier, and I was physically sick while I was inside the building. It might have been demon stink or it might have been the demon itself. This is all new to me. But it isn't idle speculation anymore. It's real. Something is after you'
He didn't say anything for a moment, thinking it through. `Who was at Fresh Start yesterday morning when you were there?'
She shook her head. `I can't be sure. Stef. Simon Lawrence, Ray Hapgaod, Carole someone, Della Jerkins, some others. There were a lot of people. I don't think we can pin it down that way'
`You're right, it's too hard. How about the park? How did the demon manage to track you there? It must have followed you.. `Or intercepted my message„ she finished. `I already thought of that. Who besides Stef and yourself would have known where I was going?`
He hesitated. `I don't knave. Stef took the message at Fresh Start and gave it to me. I don't think she would have told anyone else, but she might have. '
Nest took a deep breath, not liking what she was about to say. 'So the demon might be Stef:
The look John Ross gave her was unreadable. 'That isn't possible.' he said quietly.
She didn't say anything.
Ross looked around, took in the nearby diners.
'Let's continue this somewhere else'
She charged the bill to her room, and they went out into the lobby. There was a small library bar on the other side and no one inside. They went in and took a table at the back on the upper level. The bartender, who was working the bar alone, came up and took their order for two iced cappuccinos and left. Surrounded by shelves of books and a cloud of suspicion and doubt, they faced each other anew.
`She saved all those people last night' Ross insisted. `She risked her life, Nest. A demon wouldn't do that'
A demon would do anything that suited its purpose'
`It isn't possible,' he said again.
`This demon is a changeling. A very adept changeling'
Ross shook his head. `I would know. I could be fooled, but not that completely.'
She wasn't going to change his mind. Besides, she wanted to believe him. `So the demon found out where I was going and what I was doing some other way. What way would that be?'
Ross rubbed his lean jaw with one hand and shook his head slowly. `I don't know. None of this makes much sense. There's something not right about all of it. If the Void wanted to turn me, why wouldn't it take a more direct approach? Just suppose for a moment the dream comes to pass, and I do kill Simon Lawrence. That would be a terrible thing, but it wouldn't persuade me to begin serving the Void. It would probably do just the opposite'
Nest looked at him doubtfully. `But the Lady said it begins with a single misstep. You don't change all at once. You change gradually'
They stared at each other some more, neither speaking. Nest thought suddenly of Two Bears, and the reason he was in Seattle. Perhaps she should tell Ross. But what would that accomplish? How would it help him at this point?
His green eyes were intense. 'Remember when I said earlier I wanted to come after you, but something happened and I couldn't? There was something wrong with me yesterday after I left you. I went back to the apartment and practically passed out.' Stef stopped off just long enough to give me your message. Then I seem to recall Simon being there, too. That's the last thing I remember before waking up at midnight. It's been bothering me. I don't even remember going to bed. I just remember sitting in the living room, thinking it was odd that Simon was there, then waking up in bed when Stef shook me'