“Like hell you have." Maria said flatly, and Josh jumped. He didn't think he had ever heard the sweet-tempered Latina curse before.

“Gunshots and squealing tires and people screaming bloody murder." She paused for a beat.

“Reminds me of prom night at my high school.”

Josh shouted with laughter, and even Alex gave a weak grin. Working together, they wrestled the bed out of the trailer and up the steps.

They were stymied at the front door, however, as it was too narrow to wheel the bed through. Alex solved the impasse by the simply lifting

Althea's body up and carrying her into the house.

“Where to, Mom?" he asked.

She pointed him to one of the spare rooms on the ground floor.

“In there. Your father set it up earlier this evening." She Looked around at the rest of them. "I know we've all just been through one hell of an experience," she said. "No pun intended." She waited until the rueful chuckles died away.

“But we don't have time to waste. Kincaid was injured badly, but not killed. And the demon-spawn are the next closest thing to immortal that we are ever likely to see. Once he recovers he will not hesitate to attack us. Our only shield is Althea. So our best bet at safety is to restore her to her body.

"Go and clean up. If you were hurt, peroxide and band-aids are in the medicine cupboards."

“I've got my medical bag if you have a serious injury," Yasna put in helpfully, showing the item in question.

Rachel nodded her thanks.

“Everyone showers. If you are a man, shave.

Put on something clean and comfortable. Yasna, come on upstairs with me. I'll get you something to wear. Everyone else, back down here in thirty minutes. Go."

“Do you really know what you are getting yourself into?" Rachel asked her as she led Yasna up the back stairs.

She felt her lips quirk in an unmeant smile.

“Probably not. But that doesn't matter. I saw the face of evil at the hospital tonight, Rachel.

It would kill you, me, Althea, and everyone else in the wide green world, and even that would not satisfy it. That sort of evil must be opposed. No matter the cost. Even if it's my own life."

Rachel nodded soberly. "I know what you mean," she said.

“What I did before I met Althea, it just doesn't mean as much as it did. I used to be a lawyer. Still am a lawyer, I suppose, though I'm not actively practicing any more.”

A spark of humor manifested.

“Why?" She let her voice take on a teasing tone. "Weren't you any good at it?" She stopped, surprised at her rudeness.

“I'm sorry. That was...unpardonable. Especially after you and your family put themselves at risk for me."

“Forget it." Despite her blunt words, Rachel's face was kind. She led her into a sumptuous bathroom. Yasna paused at the threshold, comparing it to the tiny closet of a bathroom she had in her condo in Hyde Park.