"That was what we agreed on." But I could definitely sympathize. I'd felt helpless for the past few days, as well. It was hard, after being so active in our past dramas, to be a bit player in this one. "We don't have anything else to go on. We don't know where the Soul Eater is. We don't know where Max and Bella are. All we can do is wait."

"You're half-right." Nathan looked as tired as he sounded. "I know where Jacob—" He stopped himself, grimacing. "I know where the Soul Eater is. He's coming back. For Dahlia."

Her name forced my hands into fists. Jealousy and anger burned through me. Yes, I was still jealous of her, after all this time. "Fine. I'll go and find out what we need to know."

"Are you insane?" Cyrus actually laughed at me. "My father will kill you. Dahlia will kill you before he gets the chance."

I shook my head. "Clarence will help me. He talks a tough game, but he hates vampires. He'll do anything to get them out of the house."

"He can't help you, Carrie. As long as my father's name is on the deed, Clarence can't do anything that will directly harm him. He—"

"Comes with the house, I know, Cyrus," I interrupted. "But I have to try. I'm the only one who isn't blood tied to him, vampirewise or through genetics."

"Absolutely not!" Nathan shook his head vehemently. "It's ridiculous and dangerous."

I tossed up my hands, though I knew I didn't sound one hundred percent reasonable. "We have a chance here to do something. I'm the only one in this room who hasn't been manipulated or enslaved by the Soul Eater. We think he wants Bella, for the baby. So, why don't we do more? Why don't we go over there, to the mansion, and find out what he's up to? Why don't we do something—"

"Something suicidal!"

"But something!" I shouted, jumping to my feet. "I'm sorry if I can't think of exactly what you want to do, but we have to do something!"

Nathan's hands clenched to fists at his sides. "You're sorry? Since when do you care about what I want?"

I drew a deep breath, willing myself to calm down. It took great effort. "You're right. I've never done anything with your best interests at heart. I never traded your life for mine. I never risked myself to protect your son. Never let your dead wife's soul invade my body to free you from an evil spell."

"Not without throwing the facts back at me over and over," he snapped. "If you want to go get yourself killed, fine."

"Who says we're going to get ourselves killed?" Cyrus asked, leaning to pick up Dahlia's grimoire from the table. "I'm sure she has something in here we can use as protection."