Kyrine stood in the doorway of the mansion to see us off. I noticed that she didn’t step foot outside the doorway, and I wondered if she could even go out into the grounds. She’d said she couldn’t leave the mansion, but did that include the grounds as well? I’d have to ask her. I was still very interested in the idea of enabling her to go out into the world, though I had no idea how to even begin with that.

The light from the candelabra framed her slender body as she stood in the massive doorway, leaning on the doorframe. I waved, and she held up a hand in farewell.

We all piled into Selena’s car, Astrid and Belinda in the back, and me in the front passenger seat beside Selena. I glanced back at the mansion doors, and saw the lights flickering out behind Kyrine as the huge doors swung closed.

We drove down the gravel driveway and the gates opened automatically to let us out, then clanged shut behind us.

“Here we go,” muttered Selena, pushing the car up to 60 as she took us down the hill through the quiet suburb toward the main road.

Selena’s car was a nice vehicle, a black Chrysler hybrid of the type that had become common in recent years. Since it had become fashionable to try to use less gas, lots of companies had begun to bring out cars which used part gas engine, and part magitech propulsion. These were still pretty new technology, and lots of people said that you didn’t get the same power out of the magitech hybrids, but I’d always liked the smooth, noiseless way they handled.

There was only one thing that was strange about this - I lived with Selena, and I’d never seen her drive a Chrysler. She had always driven a beaten up old Ford Victoria—the ultimate crappy old American car. As we exited the suburb and got onto the main road, I turned to her and raised an eyebrow. “New car?” I asked.

Selena avoided my gaze. “It’s been in storage,” she said, sounding a bit embarrassed. “When I was playing the part of your broke housemate, I had to keep up appearances, and that included driving an appropriate car.” She laughed. “As soon as I got the news that the mission was a success, the first thing I did was go to the storage lot and get this baby back out.” She slapped the dashboard fondly.

I shook my head in amazement. I had been pissed off when I’d first learned that Selena had not been who she’d said she was, but I found it hard to hold it against her. Ultimately, she’d done a great job. Not once had I ever suspected that I was living with an undercover agent for the Extra-Dimensional Security agency.

“You still mad at me?” she asked regretfully.