She squeezed her toes in her shoes. It was totally incredible to suddenly have this ultimate power. She’d never had any power at all. But now she sure did. She could point to somebody and say, “I want that one,” and that person would undergo the most important experience of his or her life.

She wanted to feed for the first time. Even if she didn’t have all that much hunger. She wanted this to happen.

It was unimaginable that she would live a really long time. But Miriam had stuff that was, like, Egyptian that was still in use. They had some three-thousand-year-old chairs in there. Leo had researched it. She’d priced it. A chair like the one Miriam had been sitting on during their viola drag would go on at Sotheby’s easily for one million bucks.

She was going to see, like, the future. Spaceships. Aliens. Whatever the hell. Unless the world ended. Global warming, was that for real? Miriam said, “What happens happens.” That was the way to approach it.

They were coming up to the club. Great. She was already high. She’d been awful sick at first, but since this morning, she’d started to feel better and better and better, and now she felt completely damn wonderful. She didn’t have any aches or pains at all.

The Bentley stopped. “Okay,” Leo said, popping the door.

But Sarah grabbed Miriam’s wrist. “Don’t do this!”

“It’s safe enough.”

“You can’t be certain.”

Leo watched them bicker. They’d both been real scared lately. For sure; Leo was no fool—she could see it. This guy was bad news.

Miriam started to get out again.

“The front of the club’s too public. Go in the back.”

Miriam stroked Sarah’s head. “There’s going to be a confrontation, child. And the club is where it’s going to happen.”

Leo watched her go in. Then she helped Sarah dress. “That was so cool. I feel like I really know you now, Sarah.” Nervously, she kissed her cheek. Maybe Sarah would do something sexy with her. She’d love to find out how it felt. Or Miriam—but that was too, too awesome.

“You know me,” Sarah said. She followed Miriam, and Leo hurried after her. As usual, the club was dark, entirely invisible from the street. There was never a crowd outside the Veils. Ordinary people couldn’t find the place. They weren’t supposed to—only those who knew. And now Leo was, like, at the top of the food chain. She knew the truth behind all the rumors about Miriam Blaylock and Sarah Roberts. Sarah’d had a lover whom Miriam had killed, that was the main rumor. Another doctor. That they never talked about.