Bewildered, I reached for my coffee. Ivy sat up and did the same. “Vamp track?” I said.

Kisten’s head came up. His expression was resigned as he brushed his blond bangs back. “Takata puts a track in his music that only the undead can hear,” he said, and I froze, my mug halfway to my lips. “Ivy can hear it because she’s Piscary’s scion.”

Ivy’s face went white. “You can’t hear her?” she asked. “Right there,” she said, looking at the stereo as the refrain came back on. “You can’t hear her singing between Takata?”

I shook my head, feeling uneasy. “All I can hear is him.”

“The drum?” she asked. “Can you hear that?”

Kisten nodded, leaning back with his coffee and looking sullen. “Yes, but you’re hearing a hell of a lot more than we are.” He set his cup down. “Damn it,” he swore. “Now I’ll have to wait until I’m dead and hope to find an old copy laying around.” He sighed in disappointment. “Is it good, Ivy? Her voice is the eeriest thing I’ve ever heard. She’s in every CD, but she’s never listed in the credits.” He slumped. “I don’t know why she doesn’t burn her own album.”

“You can’t hear her?” Ivy said, her words a sharp staccato. She set the cup down hard enough to spill, and I stared, surprised.

Kisten made a wry face and shook his head. “Congratulations,” he said bitterly. “Welcome to the club. Wish I was still in it.”

My pulse quickened as Ivy’s eyes flashed into anger. “No!” she said, standing.

Kisten glanced up, his eyes wide, only now realizing Ivy wasn’t pleased.

Ivy shook her head, wire-tight. “No,” she said adamantly. “I don’t want it!”

Understanding pulled me straight. That she could hear it meant that Piscary’s grip on her was tightening. I looked at Kisten and his expression went worried. “Ivy, wait,” he soothed as her usually placid face went ugly with anger.

“Nothing is mine anymore!” she exclaimed, her eyes flashing to black. “It was beautiful, and now it’s ugly because of him. He’s taking everything, Kist!” she shouted. “Everything!”

Kisten stood, and I froze as he went around the table and reached for her. “Ivy…”

“This is going to stop,” she said, knocking his hand aside with a quick jerk before he could touch her. “Right now.”

My jaw dropped as she strode from the room with a vampire quickness. The candles flickered, then steadied. “Ivy?” I set my coffee down and stood, but the room was empty. Kisten had darted out after her. I was alone. “Where are you going….” I whispered.