young women.'
'Leave the men for Roma. We'll share the women. They are young?'
'And tender.'
'Lovely?'
'Beautiful.'
'Virgins?'
'I think … possibly three. Susan is curious of our Master. She will be an easy convert, and an easier fuck. But one of them I know is pure. She is the one I picked for you.
Both men laughed, the chuckling evil. 'Problems should they vanish?'
'By that time it will be over and done with, bon?'
'Oui. Balon's bastard is to be Roma's … exclusively. You understand that?'
'Yes, Falcon. Unless she tells me differently.'
'You may have to kill your sister, Black. Or, on a more pleasant note, plant your seed within her. Does either prospect disturb you?'
The young warlock shrugged his reply.
'Good. You are your mother's child. Well, now … a full nine days.' He smiled, the smile as corrupt as his heart was dark. 'I am looking forward to the time.'
The hot wind picked up, rousing Jane Ann from a fitful sleep. Tony had not returned. She opened her eyes and gasped in fright when she saw the mist at the foot of the bed.
The mist began to change, to take some shape, and her fright turned into a mixture of relief and joy. Jane Ann smiled.
'I will do what I can to help,' the voice said, beating a silent message inside her head. 'But I don't know how much He will allow me to do. I am rather a maverick within the Kingdom.'
'Oh, Sam!'
'Let me finish. You have lost half of all you once loved, Balon flung his message. 'And I can tell you no more than that. Help Miles and Wade while you can. In the end, it will be up to you and the clay man. But more weight will be put on your shoulders, your faith.'
She did not understand. 'Tony? He is the half I have lost?'
'I can tell you no more at this time.'
Jane Ann knew then that her suspicions had been correct. Tony had gone to the other side. 'Our son?'
'He will be tempted, and he will fall from grace more than once during the next nine days. But I can do little to help. I will attempt to see him, perhaps attempt to write to him. I … think he will find an unexpected ally coming forward. But my place is with you, and at the end, you will have a choice to make.'
And Jane Ann knew what that choice would be.
'Don't be too hasty in your decision.' Balon hurled the warning. 'You have many, many good years ahead of you. You don't have to do this.'
'I must.'
'Once you have decided, the only alternative is to accept the Dark One's offer.'
'I will never do that. I love you, Sam. I want to be with you.
'I must go now,' Balon projected. 'Be careful.'
The mist began to disperse, becoming shapeless, formless. Then one slim tentacle of mist broke from the vapor and moved down the side of the bed to touch Jane Ann on the cheek. Then the mist was gone. She put her hand to her cheek: the spot was damp. Soon her tears had kissed the touch of love that endured … of life after death.
Dinner had been quite an event, the setting something Sam had heretofore witnessed only in the movies. The meal had been served in courses, and the coffee the best he had ever tasted.
'Mother owns land in Columbia,' Black explained. 'We have the beans flown in and grind them ourselves.'
Falcon was very polite throughout the meal, but not given to much conversation. He and Black excused themselves after dinner and went into the study, closing the door. Nydia said she was going to bed and would see Sam in the morning.
The look Nydia fired at Sam was full of warning. And Sam did not really understand it … at least he tried to convince himself of that.
Roma rose from her chair and held out her hand. 'Come, Sam, walk with me. The night air will do us good.'
He held her wrap and was conscious of the heady perfume wafting into his nostrils. He was grateful when they stepped out into the cold night air of the terrace.
'Tell me about yourself, Sam,' she said, standing very close to him.
'Not that much to tell. I'm twenty-one. Went right into the army out of high school. Did my time, and glad I did. Here I am.'
'You and Black have a lot in common. Black and Nydia were born in March 1959.'
'So was I. Where were they born, Roma?'
