Josh glanced quickly at the young-looking woman who was pulling cups from the
dishwasher. Her short haircut made it impossible to guess her age. Do you
really think she s Joan of Arc?
Sophie squeezed her brother s arm. After all we ve seen, what do you think?
She nodded toward the table. I just want fruit and cereal.
No sausage, no eggs? he asked, surprised. His sister was the only person he
knew who could eat more sausages than he could.
No. She frowned, blue eyes clouding. It s funny, but even the thought of
eating meat is making me feel sick. She grabbed a scone and turned away
before he could comment, and approached Joan, who was pouring coffee into a
tall glass cup. Sophie s nostrils flared. Hawaiian Kona coffee? she asked.
Joan s gray eyes blinked in surprise and she inclined her head. I m
impressed.
Sophie grinned and shrugged. I worked in a coffee shop. I d know the smell
of Kona anywhere.
I fell in love with it when we were in Hawaii, Joan said. She spoke English
with the merest hint of an American accent. I keep it for a special treat.
I love the smell; hate the taste. Too bitter.
Joan sipped a little more coffee. I ll bet you didn't come here to talk
about coffee?
Sophie shook her head. No, I didn't. I just She stopped. She had just met
this woman, yet she was about to ask her an incredibly personal question.
Can I ask you something? she said quickly.
Anything, Joan said sincerely, and Sophie believed her. She took a deep
breath and her words tumbled out in a rush.
Scathach once told me you were the last person to have a pure silver aura.
That s why yours reacted to mine, Joan said, wrapping both hands around the
cup and staring at the girl over the rim. I do apologize. My aura overloaded
yours. I can teach you how to prevent that from happening. She smiled,
revealing straight white teeth. Though the chances of meeting another pure
silver aura in your lifetime are incredibly slim.
Sophie nibbled nervously on the blueberry scone. Please excuse me for
asking, but are you really really Joan of Arc,
Yes, I really am Jeanne d Arc. The woman gave a short bow. La Pucelle, the
Maid of Orl ans, at your service.
But I thought I mean, I always read that you died .
Joan dipped her head and smiled. Scathach rescued me. She reached out and
touched Sophie s arm, and immediately, flickering images of Scathach on a
huge black horse, wearing white and jet armor and wielding two blazing
swords, danced behind her eyes.
The Shadow single-handedly fought her way through the huge crowd who had
gathered to watch my execution. No one could stand against her. In the panic,
chaos and confusion, she snatched me right out from under the noses of my
executioners.
The images flashed in Sophie s head: Joan, wearing ragged and scorched
clothing, clinging to Scathach as the Warrior maneuvered her armored black
horse through the panicking crowd, the blazing swords in either hand clearing
their path.
Of course, everyone had to say they saw Joan die, Scatty said, joining
them, carefully slicing a pineapple into neat chunks with a curved knife. No
one neither English nor French was going to admit that the Maid of Orl ans
had been snatched out from under the noses of perhaps five hundred heavily
armed knights, rescued by a single female warrior.
Joan reached out and took a cube of pineapple from Scathach s fingers and
popped it into her mouth. Scatty took me to Nicholas and Perenelle, she
continued. They gave me shelter, looked after me. I d been injured in the
escape and was weakened from months of captivity. But despite Nicholas s best
attention, I would have died if it had not been for Scatty. She reached over
and squeezed her friend s hand again, not seeming to notice the tears on her
cheeks.
Joan had lost a lot of blood, Scathach said. No matter what Nicholas or
Perenelle did, she was not getting any better. So Nicholas performed one of
the first-ever blood transfusions.
Whose blood Sophie started to ask, until she suddenly realized she knew
the answer. Your blood?
Scathach s vampire blood saved me. And kept me alive, too made me immortal.
Joan grinned. Sophie noted that her teeth were normal, not pointed like
Scatty s. Luckily, it has none of the vampire side effects. Though I am
vegetarian, she added. Have been for the last few centuries.
And you re married, Scathach said accusingly. When did that happen, and
how, and why wasn't I invited? she demanded, all in one breath.
We got married four years ago on Sunset Beach in Hawaii, at sunset, of
course. We looked everywhere for you when we decided, Joan said quickly. I
really wanted you there; I wanted you to be my maid of honor.
Scathach s green eyes narrowed, remembering. Four years ago I think I was in
Nepal chasing down a rogue Nee-gued. An abominable snowman, she added,
seeing Sophie s and Joan s blank looks.
We d no way of contacting you. Your cell wasn't working, and e-mails bounced
back saying your mailbox was full. Joan caught Scathach s hand. Come, I
have photos I can show you. The woman turned back to Sophie. You should eat
now. You need to replace the energy you've burned up. Drink plenty of
liquids. Water, fruit juices, but no caffeine no tea and no coffee, nothing
that s going to keep you awake. Once you've eaten, Francis will show you to
your rooms, where you can shower and rest. She slowly looked Sophie up and
down. I ll get you some clothes. You re about my size. And then later we ll
talk about your aura. Joan held up her left hand and spread her fingers. An
articulated metal glove sparkled into existence over her flesh. I ll show
you how to control it, how to shape it, make it into anything you wish. The
glove turned into a metal raptor's claw complete with curved talons before it
faded back to Joan s tanned flesh. Only her fingernails remained silver. She
leaned in and kissed Sophie quickly on each cheek. But first you must rest.
Now, she said, looking at Scathach, let me show you the photos.
The two women hurried from the kitchen, and Sophie made her way back down the
long room to where Saint-Germain was talking earnestly to her brother. Josh
handed her a plate piled high with fruit and bread. His own plate was heaped
with eggs and sausages. Sophie felt her stomach object at the sight and she
forced herself to look away. She nibbled on the fruit, listening to the
conversation.
No, I m human, I cannot Awaken your powers, Saint-Germain was saying as she
