“If you’re asking me to give my body to science, I’ve misplaced my donor card.”

Anita smiled. “That would be very rude of me, and I can assure you, this is a completely respectful conversation, Ms. DuCharme. I have a proposition to make. I’d like to offer to extend your life.”

“Ah.”

“That’s interesting, isn’t it? It intrigues you?”

“Perhaps.” Cassandra folded her hands on the table. “First, Ms. Barrington, tell me about Matthew Hull. He admitted to killing you. Clearly he didn’t. He simply wanted the council to think he had, so if anything happened to him, his work could continue. You were working with him, not against him. And now you’re working with Gilles de Rais?”

“You have it all figured out.”

“Another curse of old age. I have no patience for prevarication or pretense. I presume you’ll indulge me in that?”

Anita didn’t answer. I tensed, ready to . . .

Ready to what? Run in and shout, “Leave her alone, you bad people!”

I took out my cell phone and texted Lucas. Potential situation. Bring backup. I gave my location and told him to call from the back door when he arrived. He texted back immediately, saying he was ten minutes away and Troy was with him.

As Anita and Cass faced off in silence, I ran through ideas. They knew I might be nearby, so I could sneak out, make some noise, and lure the guy out of the room. But that would still leave Anita and Eloise.

“Yes,” Anita said finally. “I was collaborating with Matthew Hull. When I learned who he was, I made contact and we discovered we had a mutual interest.”

“Immortality research.”

“When the werewolves began getting close, he suggested faking my death to distract them. I went along with it. But I had no idea that he planned to take those babies and kill Zoe Takano. I’d never have allowed that. They’re lovely girls, Elena and Zoe. I was relieved to hear they survived the attacks.”

Truth or bullshit? I couldn’t tell. Anita’s sweet old lady routine was as convincing as Cassandra’s unshakable doyenne.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Cassandra said. “But you have continued Hull’s work, have you not?”

“I’ve incorporated it into my own. Being presumed dead does have its advantages. I’ve been able to continue my work in peace.”

“Without your granddaughter to look after. I’m sure that made it particularly peaceful.”

“My granddaughter is still with me. I know Elena made inquiries after my death, checking on her, and I appreciated that. As she discovered, Erin was in the care of a witch friend, who kept her until it was safe for me to take her back.”

“So now you’re continuing your immortality work with Gilles de Rais.”

Silence. I could tell Anita was thinking fast. Did she dare admit to collaborating with a notorious killer? She’d already insinuated that she wasn’t working with him.

“Gilles de Rais intrigues me,” Cassandra said.

Relief flooded Anita’s broad face. “As he should. He’s a fascinating and brilliant man.”

“Who has found the cure for mortality? Is that what you’re offering to share with me?”

“Possibly.”

“In return for what?”

“Your cooperation.”

“With what?”

“You’ll need to speak to Gilles about that.”

“I’m speaking to you,” Cassandra said. “If you can’t supply the answers, then I trust you can bring him here to continue this conversation.”

“He’s no longer in Los Angeles.”

“Then why did you wish to speak to me?”

“To initiate the conversation.”

Cassandra sighed. “Did I mention my age and lack of patience? As you’ve pointed out, my time on this earth is limited. I think my position entitles me to better treatment, and you can tell Mr. de Rais that I’m not impressed.”

The young man stepped forward. “No one means you any disrespect, Ms. DuCharme. I’m sure Anita can call him and explain the situation.”

Anita glowered at the interruption. But after a moment, she nodded, and said she’d try to get him on the phone. When she left the room, I pressed back against the wall behind the door. She passed without noticing me, and continued toward the stairs. Apparently she didn’t want Cassandra overhearing this conversation. I started to slip after her.

“Eloise,” I heard Cassandra say. “I see it didn’t take you long to contact Anita after speaking to us.”

“It wasn’t like that. Well, okay, I figured it wouldn’t hurt, right? I mean, she’s Anita Barrington. Of course I want to get on her good side, and when I called Brad here, he agreed we should do it . . .”

As Eloise chattered, Brad stepped behind Cassandra. There was a blade in his hand. A huge butcher’s knife.

He swung it back.

“No!” I screamed.

I raced through the door. Rage filled me. And then something else.

Power.

It rushed in like a shock of electricity, so fast and hard my brain went into shock. My body kept moving, though, flying forward, my hands lifting, sparks flying from them, waves of energy pulsing from me, knocking everyone to the floor.

Brad started to leap up, butcher knife raised, gaze still fixed on Cassandra. I hit him with an energy bolt. I didn’t say the incantation. I just swung toward him, and thought the energy bolt, and it hit him so hard he smacked into the wall. He hit the floor, mouth opening and closing, eyes wide, hands clutching his stomach as he convulsed. After a moment, he went still.

Cassandra snatched up the knife and got to her feet.

Eloise backed into the corner.

“Brad made me do it,” she whimpered. “He’s the one with the knife. He’s the one who got Anita out of the room.”

“And who told him to kill me?” Cassandra advanced on Eloise as she cowered.

“N-nobody. It was his idea. I told him about Anita and he volunteered to help her speak to you. Then he said if we could get her out, he could kill you and you’d be worth a lot of money. Your body, I mean. On the black market. For immortality experiments. You’re going to die soon, right?”

“And if I could help others achieve their own immortality, it’s a good way to end my life. Sorry, but nobility has never been one of my virtues.”