n open。 There； standing in the doorway was the Horror； Ysrthgrathe。
He was as I remembered。 Cloaked in deep brown； power radiating off him like a corona。 Though his face was shadowed by his hood； I knew how it would appear： cadaverous； with the sienna flesh pulled taut against his skull。 The collapsed nose； the yellowed teeth； the heavily muscled arms that burned my flesh as he held it。 Under the cloak was his tail。 Thick as a man's waist； with protruding bony ridges。
〃Ah； I see I must again rescue you from those who would deprive me of my pleasure；〃 Ysrthgrathe said。 〃You look quite faint； my dear。 Is it such a shock to see me again after all this time？ I'm wounded。 I thought you would have expected me by now。〃
The air was gone。 It felt as though everything was going black。 I thought I heard Glasgian's panicked cry； but it seemed to e from some far…off place。 I struggled to overe my panic。 In the seconds it took me to regroup； Ysrthgrathe had slid across the floor and grabbed Glasgian。
Backing away from me； he held Glasgian against his chest as a shield。 Around Glasgian's neck were Ysrthgrathe's long fingers tipped by razor…sharp nails。 Glasgian was making little hiccuping noises。
〃Let him go；〃 I said。 〃This doesn't concern him。〃
Ysrthgrathe threw back his head and laughed。 It bounced off the walls and echoed inside me like a low…throbbing ache。
〃Aina； it has indeed been too long。 I've missed these little tete…a…tetes。 Do you think I don't know who this child is？ e now； I'm not that much of a fool。 The irony is almost too perfect。 Is it not？〃 Then he gave a sigh of such perfect rapture that I felt as though a shaft of ice had been driven into my heart。
〃How long have you denied me this most perfect of pleasures？〃 he asked。 〃I've been waiting for you patiently。 You've denied me for far too long。 And now you shall pay。〃
He began to draw his nails across Glasgian's neck。 The blood welled up after a moment and trickled down into the white shirt。 Glasgian gave a moan； and a dark spot appeared on the front of his trousers and grew。
〃Stop it；〃 I shrieked。
Just then； there was a violent flash； a purple jolt of energy； behind Ysrthgrathe。 The force of it lifted him and Glasgian off the floor and hurtled them toward me。 I dropped to the floor； but still； my shout…der was caught by one of them as they flew by。 The force of the impact rolled me over and over until I came to rest against a table。
I looked up and saw Caimbeui standing just beyond the door to his bedroom。 There was a crackling of energy around him。 Then I heard another sound and turned my head to see what it was。 Ysrthgrathe's robes burst into flame。 With the briefest nod of the head； he extinguished the flames； and turned to Harlequin with a smile。 But he'd also let go of Glasgian； who was making whimpering noises and clutching his throat。
Cursing my long skirts； I struggled to my feet and raced over to him。 I pulled his hands away from his neck and looked at the wound。 It was bleeding profusely； but wasn't as deep as I'd feared。 Placing my hands on the wound； I began to pull the weave of his life together。 My hands grew warm； then hot as the magic worked its way into his flesh。 Glasgian tried to move away from me； but I tightened my hands and that stopped him。
I heard a cry； and looked up to see Caimbeui falling backwards； arms and legs splayed out。 A bright orange flash blinded me for a moment； and when I could see again； Ysrthgrathe stood over Caimbeui。 The sweet smell of burning flesh came to me and I fought against the memories it called forth。
I opened my arms； and a blue light leapt between my palms。 It coalesced into a ball of blue…white bril…hance。 Turning my palms outward toward Ysrthgrathe； I pushed the ball away from me。 It hurtled across the room and slammed into Ysrthgrathe's side。
The impact spun him around； and then he crashed into the wall with a howl of indignation。
〃Ah； Aina；〃 he said； holding his side。 〃You still care。 But despite my gratitude to find that you are as I remember； our sweet reunion must be cut short。 I cannot say I approve of your choice of pany； but rest assured； I will rectify that in the future。〃
With that； he vanished。
I sank to the floor just as someone began banging on the door to the penthouse。
No more dreams now。
The nightmares have merged with the waking world。 The time for running is over。
Now her sleep is covered by nothing。 Nothing except darkness。
The pounding at the door continued。 Through the thick steel door I could hear a voice calling。
〃This is hotel security。 Is everything all right in there？ If we don't hear an answer in twenty seconds； we're ing in。〃
〃Damn； damn； damn；〃 I muttered as I pushed myself off the floor and stumbled to the door。 The left sleeve on my dress was torn； and it slid off my arm。 I shoved it up； but it fell down again。 Reaching the door； I flung it open。
〃What do you want？〃 I said； trying to keep a bal…ante between annoyance and huskiness in my tone。
〃There was a report from the floor below；〃 said one of the uniformed guards。 There were two of them…big troll bruisers lugging heavy…duty artil…lerp。 〃Something about a lot of shooting and banging around。 Is everything all right？〃
〃Of course；〃 I said。
〃Mind if we e in？〃
〃I don't； but my panion might；〃 I said。 〃He's a bit。。。 tied up at the moment。〃 I gave them a hot smoldering look； and one of them looked distinctly unfortable。
〃Oh。。。〃
〃But we're always to open to variety；〃 I continued。 〃I can't remember the last time we had pany。 That is； if your boss won't mind letting you off…duty for a while。〃
〃Uh。。。〃
〃Well； what's it to be？〃
〃I don't think we need to stay。 As long as everything is all right。〃
〃We're both fine；〃 I purred。 〃Really。〃
The trolls backed away down the hall。 I watched them for a moment； then gave them a slow； nasty smile and shut the door。
〃What are we going to do about Glasgian？〃 Caimbeui asked me。 He'd just finished off a spell to 。 take care of the wounds he'd suffered in the struggle with Ysrthgrathe。
Unfortunately； Glasgian was in no condition to offer an opinion about his plans。 A thin dribble of saliva hung from one corner of his gaping mouth。 His eyes were vacant and glassy。 When I touched his cheek it was cold and clammy。
〃We'll keep him here until after the Council meets。 If necessary； we can use him as a demonstration；〃 I said。
〃That wouldn't be advisable；〃 replied Caimbeui。
〃Aithne；〃 I said。
〃Yes。〃
〃Help me with him；〃 I said； taking one of Glasgian's arms。
Together； we managed to drag him to my room and lay him down on the bed。 I disconnected the tele； then cast a spell to protect and hold him。 Back in the living room； we righted the furniture toppled during the fight。 I went to the terrace doors and shut them。
After a couple of medicinal drinks； I felt more like myself。
〃I told you；〃 I said as I finally came to sit beside Caimbeui on the sofa。 〃I told you he was here。 That he'd found a way through。〃 My hands shook and I took another deep drink。 And wished for something else。 Something more potent。
〃I believed you；〃 he said。 〃But I didn't think the threat was all that great。〃
〃Because you thought you'd already dealt with them。 But they're ing like locusts。 And they won't stop until they've all made it through。〃
〃Things are different now。〃
〃How？〃
〃The weapons。 The Matrix。 And the magic。 There is always the magic。〃
I snorted； then got up to pour myself another drink。 〃Have you forgotten everything？〃 I asked。 〃They leam。 They're patient。 The first few may die； but there's no end to them。〃
〃Don't you think you've had enough？〃
I turned and threw my glass at him。 It disappeared a moment before it would have hit his face。
〃Aina；〃 he said。 〃I'm on your side。 I just can't stand to see you destroying yourself over this。〃
〃For heaven's sake； Caimbeui； I've just seen the face of my most dreaded enemy after six thousand years； and you're carping about a couple of drinks。 It would take far more than that to slow me down rig