EIGHTY:  Confession in his looks

            “You told her,” said Siobhan as Jude walked through the door.  Octavius turned to look at her.

            “Good boy,” I said out loud.

            “He’s a good cat.  He’ll keep sending us the information while he’s there,” said Edlawit. “I love this cat.”

            “Edlawit, you stay with Arous,” I’ll keep with Octavius. See if we learn anything new.  I doubt we will but just in case.”

            Jude stroked Octavius.

            “You told her everything, didn’t you?” said Siobhan.  “That’s why she’s not worried about breaking into the HaleSpa.  She thinks Simon will save her if she gets into any trouble.”

            “Maybe,” said Jude. “Or maybe she’s just tired of waiting for other people to help her.  People who pretend to be her friends but aren’t.  Not really.”

            “That’s not fair,” said Siobhan. “How was I supposed to tell Ricci no? How are any of us to tell him no?”  A fit of coughing seized Siobhan.  Jude took her glass and filled it up again.  She drank half of it.

            “I could’ve,” said Jude. “Ricci can’t touch me and he knows it.”

            “Why?” asked Siobhan. “And you haven’t told her yet, have you? That you work for Ricci, too. That you could’ve been Captain of the Grey Guard.  He wanted you, not Simon.”

            “Because I have a gift.  I can port without being turned into a Miasman.”

            “What? You mean?”

            “Yes, they are real, not just fairytales, not just Grey Guard dressed up with red-rimmed glasses and grey pin stripe suits.”

            “What are they for?”

            “They are an assassin squad. And they’re guarding Lady Grey.”

            “And Simon,” Siobhan asked. “Is Simon a Miasman?”

            “No,” said Jude.  “He’s just a regular Grey Guard.  Have you ever seen one of them turned?”

            “No,” said Siobhan.

            “Then don’t,” said Jude.

            “Why are you telling me this? Feeling the need for confession? Save it for Arous.”

“You’re thirsty all the time, aren’t you?”

Siobhan didn’t answer.

“It wasn’t just a dream, Siobhan. Ricci’s going to turn you.  You’re as good as one of them.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Ricci had his personal Abbot from the HaleSpa look at me.  She said that it will go away.  It’s just stress.  But I feel like I can’t catch a real breath.”

            Another fit of coughing over took Siobhan.

            “Jude,” she said. “I don’t think I can make it out there.  I can’t drive her hoveh.”

            “I know,” he said. “Don’t worry.  I’ll take care of her.”