“No reason to be diplomatic?” He smiled. “The way I see it, we may be stuck with each other for the rest of our lives. And beyond. I should try to get along with as many people as I can.”

“I’m being serious,” Laurie said.

He nodded, sitting down on the side of the unmade bed. “I know. What are you getting at?”

“There’s something… not right about him.”

“Well, he’s not a real talkative guy, but—”

“Not that.” She sighed. “What if he’s a spy?”

“What?”

“Just hear me out.”

“That’s crazy.”

“Is it? I don’t think he’s been totally honest with us—”

“Come on! Everyone has secrets. You think I’d completely spill my guts to a bunch of strangers? You think I told you guys everything about me?”

“No, but I think you were honest enough to tell us everything that you thought pertained to this situation. I’m not so sure Mark did. I think he’s keeping something from us.”

“And that makes him—what?—a House agent?”

“I don’t know. I’m not saying he’s monitoring our conversations and reporting back to Billings or whoever. I’m just saying that I don’t entirely trust him.”

“Why did you come to me? Why are you telling me this?”

“You seem… I feel like we maybe have more in common than some of the others. I don’t want your ego to get too swollen, but you seem smart. Confident. Straightforward. And I guess the bottom line is that I trust you the most.”

Daniel couldn’t help smiling. “I’m flattered.”

“Look. Just think about it. Just keep your eyes open. That’s all I’m saying.” She stood up. “It’s getting late. We’d better go down to breakfast.”

“I’m not hungry,” Daniel said.

“But—”

“But what? Our faithful servant will get mad at me? Let him.”

Laurie nodded, understanding dawning in her eyes. “Maybe these rituals give the Houses power.”

“It’s a possibility.”

“I’ll tell the others.”

“You going to skip breakfast too?”

“Starting tomorrow.” She smiled embarrassedly. “I’m hungry.”

Daniel laughed. “Go on, then. I’ll see you guys later.”

But he couldn’t fall back asleep, and after a fruitless forty-five minutes tossing and turning restlessly, he put on his clothes and headed downstairs to the dining room.

The table was set, but there was no food on it and no one was eating. Whatever conversation there had been had died, and Laurie, Mark, Norton, and Stormy sat in separate sections of the long table, playing with their silverware or staring into space.

“Where’s Billings?” Daniel asked, sitting down.

Stormy shrugged. “That’s the big question.”

“Has anyone tried to look for him?”

“I did,” Laurie said. “No sign of him. On this floor at least.”

“So… what? We’re going to starve?”