“What's the matter, Josh? Feel like being gutted by that slime if he corners you in a dark alley?"

He shook his head. "I've got what I need right here."

In a few minutes, the family started to trickle back in.

“ALL right," she said to Josh.

“What's your choice?"

He pulled a small box out of a drawer.

“This was my first wood-carving set. My folks gave it to me when I was eleven." He pulled a wickedly sharp knife out of the box and showed it to her.

“What do we do?”

She wrapped her hand around his.

“Just this." She closed her eyes, reaching within herself for her power. Then she moved towards him, flowing up his body Like a cat. Her mouth opened, finding his in a long, slow, languorous kiss. When she pulled away he was smiling.

"Done," she said.

“But you didn't do anything," Maria protested.

“Did you?"

“Maybe not to your eyes," she told the lovely young woman with a smile.

“But if you were a succubus, you would have seen plenty."

One by one, she moved down the Line.

For Alex, a stage dagger. As Althea blessed it, he and Maria exchanged a secret smile.

For Maria, a broom handle. Althea frowned slightly, but relented.

“You'll have a hard time hiding it, dear. But it could serve as a staff if need be."

For Rachel, a gavel, which she had received from her parents when she had graduated law school.

For Jeremy, a small set of pruning shears, pulled from the trunk of his car.

For Sarah, a vicious-looking carving knife.

“Lucifer's Tits," Althea said, fingering the serrated edge. "You could do some serious damage with this thing."

“I know," Sarah said cheerfully. As Althea's hand closed around her own, she pulled back slightly. "You don't...don't have to kiss me for this to work, do you?"

“No,” Althea said regretfully.