He sent me another withering look. "The side that is not my father's. Anyone with half a brain should be on it, by now."

"Nathan and I will research this sword. Hopefully, we'll get a break before Max and Bella find the Oracle." The prospect of reading well into the daylight hours made me suddenly sleepy.

Cyrus tapped his lips thoughtfully with his forefinger. "I wonder if it is some kind of riddle. You said Bella has heard the Oracle's thoughts? What if that's indicative of some kind of power Bella has?"

"She is a werewolf. They specialize in magic." I rolled my eyes. "You know, the kind of magic spelled with a k at the end."

"The kind your boyfriend peddles in his shop," Cyrus pointed out. "The kind that pays your rent."

"Touché. I'll give Max a heads-up." Nathan's cell phone tucked in my back pocket, began to sound a classical melody. "Yikes, that will be him. I have to go."

"Max?" Understanding caused a scowl to cross Cyrus's face. "Oh, the other him."

I ignored the ringing, though I knew I would play a game of twenty thousand questions when I got home. "Listen, don't give Dahlia the brush-off right away, if you can stand her for a bit longer. Any information you get would help us out."

"Oh, I think I can stand her."

"God, not only are you human, you're a fourteen-year-old boy." I shook my head. "Listen, find out what you can about Dahlia, but be safe."

"Do you honestly believe she'll harm me?" He laughed. "She was obsessed with me."

"Yeah, and she asked me to kill you. Besides, you have no idea where she's been. I haven't really looked into whether STDs can be transmitted from vampires to humans, but best play it safe for now." I didn't know what the appropriate goodbye gesture would be, so I held out my arm for an awkward handshake.

When he pulled away, he looked anywhere but at me. "I'll try to find out where Jacob is. I'm sure Dahlia must know. She's on his payroll."

"That would great. Thanks." I turned to go, and I'd reached the door when his voice stopped me.

"Thank you for not giving up on me, Carrie."

I glanced back and gave him a tremulous smile. "I don't know if I ever could."

When I reached the street I ran the short distance home, invigorated by new hope and relief that something finally seemed to be going right.

Bella had slept for the rest of the night and all day, though she'd made valiant attempts to stay awake the few times she rose to get a drink or use the bathroom. Finally, just before sunset, Max had been forced to wake her.

She'd grumbled and shuffled around, getting ready, but hadn't gotten sick again, and as far as Max was concerned, that was all that mattered.