Nellie smiled faintly. “It’s handy at holding things in. Not nearly so good at keeping things out.” Her voice was calm, but there was a faint look of strain in her eyes.

“Am I broadcasting?” Hollis asked apologetically, thinking that might be it. “I thought I’d mostly stopped doing that.”

“Well,” Nellie said, “not exactly. Not thoughts or feelings, but . . . I’ve never been able to see auras, but what I’m seeing now has to be yours.” For a woman who had strenuously resisted even an admission of being psychic just weeks ago, she was taking the whole conversation, never mind her own abilities, very calmly now. Or certainly appeared to be.

Hollis looked disconcerted, which was not an expression often seen on her expressive face. “I can’t see mine even in a mirror. What does it look like?”

“Sort of a gleaming white with streaks of red,” Nellie answered immediately.

“Healing and power, energy,” Bishop noted.

“I’m not healing anything. Or anybody,” Hollis objected.

“It’s also a protective ability, remember,” he said. “Self-healing and self-protecting. With all the psychics around you, shielded or not, and especially with the energy, I’d expect your instincts to be protecting you at least somewhat.”

“And the healing? If I’m doing that?” Her gaze was steady.

Bishop hesitated, then said, “You may always be self-healing at a certain level, below your conscious awareness.”

“Because of all the abilities popping up. And sticking around. So maybe protecting me from all those potential dangers you and Miranda have worried about.” It wasn’t really a question.

EIGHT

Bishop nodded. “It is one theory we believe to be very likely. That could explain how you’ve been able to cope with acquiring so many different abilities without organic damage. You were healing yourself from the moment your abilities were first triggered.”

Hollis considered a moment, then apparently changed the subject. “That isn’t a shield? The protective part of my aura, I mean?” She sounded rather hopeful.

“In your case, no.”

Hollis sighed and said to Nellie, “It’s like being the brightest or the dumbest kid in class. Either way, not in step with all the rest.”

“I get that.”

“I thought you probably would. It’s only my aura you can see? Nobody else’s?”

“Nobody else’s.”

To Bishop, Hollis said matter-of-factly, “So at least some of my abilities are apparently broadcasting in that way. Perceptible, at least to a psychic as powerful as Nellie is.”

“Apparently.” He looked thoughtful. “My guess is that the way Nellie uses energy is just close enough to the way you do that she’s able to perceive it in—or as—your aura. At least when your shield is . . .”

“AWOL?” Hollis said. “Which it is right now.” She shifted slightly, almost unconsciously, bothered by the skin-crawling sensation caused by energy she could sense but couldn’t quite get a handle on.

He nodded, as matter-of-fact as she was. “As Nellie said, her own shield is better at containing, not keeping things out. Energies. And the rest of us are shielding.”