She nodded.

“Back then, though, it was part of the Hittite Kingdom. Not a bad place, as things go back then." She blinked as the memory came back.

“Over four thousand years? Has it been that long?" Yasna shivered. For a moment, Althea's glorious green eyes had looked inexpressibly old. As if she had felt the weight of every single one of those years on her soul.

She shook herself.

“Anyway, there was a string of child murders.

Horrible, terrible things. I won't darken this day by describing them.

Understand, back then there was no such thing as teenagers. Either you were a child, or you were an adult. And children were treasured beyond price, because so many died young.

“So when the murders began, no one knew why. There was no concept of serial killers then, no TV shows Like CSI or Law and Order to give humans an idea about what was happening.

“I stalked her for three days," she said, her voice going cold and distant. "When I finally caught her that night, she had just killed another child. A boy. She had lured him away from his parent's home and gutted him in the marketplace. He was no more than three years old."

Her voice was harsh with ancient grief. "Too late. So many times I have been too late. I took my sword and battled her on stones which were slick with that child's blood. And when I cut her head off and sent her foul soul back into the Pit, what thanks did I get? None.”

Her smile was bitter.

“The good people of Aleppo found me there, covered in the demon-spawn's blood and a dead child at my feet. They drew the only conclusion their minds could. I had killed the child. I barely escaped with my life"

As Althea's tale ended, the building grew quiet. How many times? Yasna wondered. How many times had she fought a battle against evil, only to look forward to doing the same thing again and again, over and over until she was slain? How could any woman keep the capacity for love when her whole Life had been a war that could not be won, only endured?

One where each momentary victory only bore the bitter reminders of her ultimate defeat?

I would go mad, if it was me, she decided. Mad and raving Like some of those poor lunatics you see downtown, off their meds and unable to cope with reality. And she has been doing this for centuries. No, even longer. Millenia. No wonder Rachel says she has walled herself off from love.

Suddenly, with icy clarity, Yasna saw what was in store for Althea and for the rest of the family once the danger of Kincaid had been dealt with. Her eyes narrowed, and she decided to have a long talk with Josh and Rachel the next time opportunity permitted.

"Shoot," Althea said. She was looking at the old clock on the wall. "I suppose I better get ready. I have to go with Alex to school today."

“What?" Yasna asked.

“He's going to be in a play at College of DuPage, starting the day after tomorrow," the succubus explained. "And unless I am mistaken, that is exactly the kind of opportunity that Kincaid is looking for.”

She smiled grimly.

“I've become something of an expert on the demon-spawn over the years. Imagine the pain he would cause Rachel and

Josh and Sarah if he cut down Alex before their very eyes. It's the sort of thing they delight in.

“So I'm going with Alex today to watch his rehearsal and scout out the territory. Besides, it's been too long since I've seen a production of

Othello."

This is nicer than I thought, Althea observed.