“When I find you and your family you're going to wish you'd never been born. Do you have any idea how much that suit cost me? You, and your worthless husband, and your two whelps, and whoever else you have hiding over there with you. You are all going to die.

“And that goes double for that...that disease you have in your skull.

Tell me, Rachel. Do you actually know what you are carrying around? The bastard spawn of a mating which God himself forbade, and which so sickened him he cursed it to barrenness. A mistake which never should have been allowed to live.”

"I don't want it!" she cried. "I don't know how she got here and I don't care! I just want her out of my head! She's making me have these...these urges," she said, Letting her tone grow thick with loathing. "Not just for men. But for women. And...and other things.

“Just leave me alone! ALL of you! She's driving me insane! She forced me to steal her body from the hospital. But now she tells me I have to do these...things...and I don't want to!

“No, I won't shut up!" she screamed, as if she were talking to a voice which only she could hear.

“Just go away," she sobbed, her voice breaking.

“ALL of you. Go away and leave me alone.”

She disconnected the call and turned off the phone.

Alex clapped softly, Maria and Jeremy joining him.

“Bravo,” he said, not a trace of mockery in his face.

“If I wanted to convince Kincaid your mind was about to snap, I don't think I could have done a better job."

Althea nodded, a grim smile on her face.

“He'll assume you're lying, because a creature Like him always assumes everyone is lying. But lying which way? Was the rescue a plan meant to accomplish what we have done here tonight? Have we succeeded? Or perhaps we failed, and you are simply trying to bluff him by pretending I still exist. Or maybe you are being driven slowly insane by my spirit within you, and the entire family is headless and flailing.

“Form now on, doubt will gnaw at him."

“What will he do?" Jeremy asked.

“He will attack," Althea said. "A creature such as he, weaned on hate, cannot help itself. He has no choice in the matter. He knows I exist.

Therefore, he must destroy me.

“He may be clever or cunning or clumsy or cruel. But eventually, he will come for us."

“And when he does, we will be ready." Rachel said.

Althea nodded. "Yes." She let her glance fall on Yasna. "I am so tired

I am about to fall down. Will you help me to bed? And if you are willing, I would like to talk to you alone for a few minutes."

Yasna's face shone happily.

“Of course."

Althea nodded at the rest of the room.