Part 76 (1/2)

”I don't think,” Dean began, searching for a protest that would carry some weight.

”Good. You're not supposed to think. You're supposed to do as I say.” She smiled and brushed dry, brittle hair back off her face with fingertips that were still a little black. ”So what did I say?”

”Put the bag on the floor.”

”Do it.” Her hand closed around Dr. Rebik's arm.

”Or have you forgotten the consequences? He dies, and it's all your fault.”

There had to be a way out of this. There had to be. Unfortunately, Dean had no idea of what it was. Coming up with a last minute solution wasn't in his job description. Run the guesthouse. No problem. Anchor Claire in the real world. Got it covered. Get a high enough gloss on the dining room table that he could stop nagging about coasters. Almost there. He even did windows. Pull a brilliant plan out of nowhere just as things were about to land in the c.r.a.pper, not likely.

Where was Austin? The wardrobe door was open about six inches. Was he inside? Waiting for the perfect moment?

Dean set the writhing bag on the floor.

Meryat smiled. He really wished she'd stop doing that-although all things considered, her teeth were remarkably good. ”Open it.”

Austin needed to hurry it up. They were rapidly running out of perfect moments.

Dean dropped to one knee, the last thing he wanted was to be bending over the bag as the basilisk emerged, closed his eyes, and yanked the zipper open.

The scream of an enraged cat filled all the empty s.p.a.ces in the room. Adrenaline surged through Dean's body demanding flight or fight and getting neither. He jerked his eyes open in time to see a scaled tail disappear into the wardrobe.

Austin leaped from chair, to dresser, to the top of the wardrobe and sat there looking smug. ”The half with the brain is a chicken,” he said.

”You do realize that a basilisk would have no effect on me,” Meryat murmured conversationally.

”Obviously not,” Austin purred in much the same tone.

”But since there's one available, I was thinking that turning Dean here to stone would reverberate through their bond and bring the Keeper racing back believing she was about to face a basilisk.”

”Whereas sucking Dean dry would bring her back prepared to face you.”

”Exactly. While she's dealing with the lesser threat, I will . . .”

”. . . suck her dry and regain youth, beauty, and power in one fell swoop.”

”What a smart kitty you are. I think the Keeper might miss you more. Get down from there.”

”Or you'll what?” Austin snorted. ”Suck Dean dry? You're going to do that anyway. Kill Dr. Rebik? Talk to someone who cares.”

”I see cats haven't changed much in three thousand years.”

He looked seriously affronted. ”Why should we?”

”Excellent point. All right, if you won't cooperate, I suppose I'll have to return to my original plan. Dean, get the creature out of the wardrobe. Try to pick an attractive pose; you'll be holding it for very long time.”

Turned to stone, he'd have a chance at being turned back when Claire kicked mummy b.u.t.t. With his life sucked out . . . Dean glanced back at Dr. Rebik who seemed to have fallen asleep propped up against the wall. He stood and headed for the wardrobe where he found seventeen pairs of shoes, a crumpled pile of Claire's clothes . . .

”What are you doing?” Meryat demanded.