Even when they weren’t deliberately probing.

No way to know for sure, but when she focused briefly and more or less automatically to check auras, everybody’s was held close to their bodies by that sharply delineated line she’d learned to associate only with shielded minds. She spent a few seconds just studying the auras of Bishop and Miranda, which were remarkable and unique in Hollis’s experience because whenever they were within a couple of feet of each other, their two auras in essence became one.

One that held all the colors of the rainbow, which was also unique. She’d never told them that, and made a mental note to herself to do so. She thought they’d probably be interested.

Hollis forced herself to look away from that fascinating aura, noting finally that it, too, had that sharply delineated line because both were shielding.

So probably nobody had been listening in. Besides which, it would have been rude; those within the SCU had learned long ago to do their best to respect each other’s privacy.

She glanced at Finn, who happened to be seated nearby. And his aura suddenly made her pay closer attention, because it was greenish, which was rare, but more because it held a metallic glint on the outer edge of the delineation.

“What is it?” Bishop asked, his attention fully on her.

Hollis didn’t really notice when Finn turned his head to find himself the focus of all her attention, because her mind was working busily and her gaze sort of traced his outline several inches out from his body. “Finn, do you have enemies in Salem? With abilities—Talents—I mean?”

To him, the question clearly came out of left field.

“An enemy with Talents? You mean a personal enemy? Now that Duncan and the most rabid of his followers are gone, I don’t believe so. Why?”

Instead of replying, she looked at Bishop. “Maybe a shield with generations of learning behind it always looks like that. More solid than we’re used to. Extra protective. I haven’t thought about it, or tried. Yesterday it was only exploring what we could of the nearest mountain slopes, so we really didn’t see people. Not to look at. And I didn’t have reason to look. But maybe I should meet a few more members of the Five.”

Bishop said, “Nellie’s would be different since it was developed away from here and in a different way. So maybe you should.”

Miranda, taking pity on Finn’s bewilderment, said, “It’s one of Hollis’s abilities to see auras. She sees something unusual in yours.”

“My aura? What do you mean something unusual?” he demanded, returning his gaze to Hollis.

She lifted a brow at Bishop, waited for a slight nod, then looked back at Finn. “Well . . . you know it’s all about the body’s energy, right? The electromagnetic field around living things and some machines.”

“Right.”

“Some people who have stronger electromagnetic energy can be sensed by people who don’t see auras but feel the actual vibrations of that energy. Which is where the bit about ‘feeling vibes’ came from; sensitives—generally latent psychics—can determine mood from those vibrations, so not quite the New Age bullshit you might have thought.”