Elaine frowned, but managed a slow nod, acknowledging the point. “There is a reason dragons rarely rule, Ann.”Antoinette leaned back as well, sigh...ng as she combed her hair over her chest. “This squabble between the covenants is but a wound earned from tearing free of old traps around our legs. With time, the covenants will cooperate.”“And the Lancea et Sanctum?”“I spoke with Maria. She is far more reasonable than her lover was. So is the boy.”“Lucas’s childe?”“Oui. He is ... a pleasant. Which will it be?"There was no hesitation before Thompson spoke."Anna. My youngest. My little girl! Oh god, oh god!!"It was a bright, sunny day, but, for Thompson, there was no warmth in it. Thompson had not spoken a word on the short ferry trip. He showed little awareness of his surroundings, and merely followed Alice blindly as she stepped from the boat and led him on the path to the temple. The knowledge of what awaited him weighed heavily on his soul. His little girl! Thompson was very. Esteban was still talking when Liz and I left the meeting, picking up our weapons before we left the area. The first thing we did was to rush to our cabin to prepare our pillowcase. We dumped some bars of soap, ash trays, and other things into the pillowcase. There was nothing of any value in there. We hid our valuables in various places around the cabin and dropped our pillowcase outside our door. We also scooted away from our cabin after locking the door. That was a trivial thing because the. Theres plenty more. He takes another bite of his burger as nonchalantly as if it were simply made of beef, and raises mine for me to bite. I hesitate, but take another bite. I dont want him to kill me. I need to play along for now. After the meal is done, he brings me back to his room, ties the leash to a hook on the wall near the closet, which he locks shut, and goes to bed. I wait a bit and try to get the leash off the hook. I cant. After struggling for a while with this, I eventually fall.