THE NEXT MORNING, Nita rose and showered so she could go out and find them breakfast. Kovit, who was essentially trapped in the hotel room, lay in bed, his hair mussed and his eyes bright, drinking vampire blood wine from the bottle while he read through comments on the videos of him. Every once in a while he’d mutter something along the lines of “that’s not anatomically possible, asshole.” She’d tried to get him out of the comments section, but it was no use, so she left him to it.

She made her way outside. The day was too hot, like every other day, and the streets buzzed with excitement. Whispered conversations swirled around her.

“—they still haven’t caught that zannie yet—”

“—heard there’s talk about suspending the DUL—”

“—all bullshit to me—”

Nita went to a pizzeria across the way and sat just outside while they made her pizza. Pizza for breakfast was the sort of quality lifestyle independence afforded her, and she enjoyed taking advantage of it.

“Hello, Anita.”

Nita froze, her whole body turning to a small, frightened statue at the sound of that voice. She turned, slowly, like she was in a horror movie, until she faced the person behind her.

Her mother.

Her mother, who was trying to kill Kovit. Trying to take Nita back, control her life. Who’d sicced the black market on Nita. Who’d murdered her own best friend.

Her mother’s hair hung loose, just touching her shoulders, the red so vivid against the black that it looked more like fresh blood than hair dye. Her eyeshadow was dark blue, as was her lipstick, a blue that almost looked black. She looked like a gothic mermaid, not the kind that sang in Disney movies, but the kind that stole your voice by ripping your vocal cords out with her bare hands.

“Anita, darling.” Her mother grinned, thin and sharkish. “How are you?”

Nita opened and closed her mouth like a fish, before managing a choked “Why are you here?”

“Now, now, is that any way to speak to your mother?” Her mother was smiling, but Nita could see the mockery just under the surface.

Nita didn’t know how to respond. So she just remained silent.

Her mother’s smile widened. “I heard about the mob that ran through the city yesterday, hunting a zannie. Pity they couldn’t get him.”

Nita’s breathing was harsh and sharp, and her heart was loud in her ears. Something bad was about to happen. She could feel it, deep inside. Worse than the dact incident, worse than when Nita had freed Fabricio, worse than anything her mother had ever done to her before.

“Please,” Nita whispered, her voice soft.

“Please?” Her mother laughed. “Please what? Please fix what that incompetent mob couldn’t accomplish?”

“Please leave him alone,” Nita whispered.

“Oh, darling,” Her mother tut-tutted. “It’s too late for that.”