Instead of answering him, Charlie zoned out, going still and quiet, something she hadn’t done since the other morning in the parlor when I’d found her standing in the middle of her crayons and all those scattered papers.

“She never used to do this before,” I said in a half whisper.

“She does it often now?” Lucas asked, his own voice tight and low.

“Sometimes,” I offered. “Whenever she talks about him.”

“Charlie, what is it?” Lucas asked, suddenly raising his voice to just above normal volume. “Is there something there?”

Charlie’s thumb went to her lips and hovered there as her gaze remained locked on the door, which hung half open. Before, this kind of behavior hadn’t done much more than annoy me. Now it sent arctic chills up my spine.

Slowly, after receiving no answer, Lucas went to retrieve his camera from where he’d set it on a nearby chair. Then he drifted to where Charlie stood, the floorboards creaking under his feet.

As though in answer, an echoing creak sounded from out in the hall.

Startling me as he sprang into action, Lucas leapt for the door, which he threw open.

FOURTEEN

Zedok

Quicker than I would have thought possible, the young man burst into the hallway where I stood, his two staggering steps bringing us abruptly face-to-face.

Face-to-mask.

I remained frozen in the place where I’d moved to gain a better vantage point from which to observe this intruder. And now my efforts had rewarded me with as good a view of him as I could have hoped for.

“Charlie, did you see something?” the boy asked, even as he gazed right through me.

It came as no surprise. Unless they were as young and unconditioned as Charlie, even those who believed my existence was possible rarely perceive me before I offered undeniable proof. The boy had heard the creak of my footfall, though. An important thing to note.

Charlie latched herself to Stephanie’s legs, watching me from behind them, one eye hidden, which told me her silence was something I could bargain for.

While the boy squinted and searched the gloom, I wrapped a hand about the hilt of my sword and began a slow retreat in reverse down the hallway, careful this time to keep my steps deliberate and silent.

Lifting his camera, the boy snapped a photo, the spark of its blinding flash igniting the hallway like a bolt of lightning. He shot the camera again and again. I would not show up in his photographs, though. Not until I was something he was willing to see.

As I went, I pressed a finger to the keyhole mouth of my mask, cautioning Charlie against revealing my presence. She blinked at me, frowning, but nevertheless, the child did as I bade and kept my secret.

FIFTEEN

Stephanie

Dinner turned out to be awkward times five centillion plus pi.