‘How long?’ Fran checked her watch. ‘Twelve hours, forty-three minutes,’ she replied. ‘That’s, er,’ she paused a moment for mental arit...metic, ‘just under twenty-five minutes each, on the average.’ I had had no idea they were timing me like an Olympic athlete. ‘Thirty-one girls in twelve and three-quarter hours,’ repeated Wendy. ‘An astonishing achievement, darling. I’m so proud of you. We all are.’ ‘Er, thanks,’ I said modestly. I was still trying to take it in. I had had no thought of. “I scoured the city archives in search of the most haunted buildings, for the most unnatural deaths, and this one was at the top of the list. Its misfortune became my fortune, a haunted place, packed with souls who couldn’t move on due to their trauma. It can take a great deal of time for such a lost soul to pass into the next life, for them to overcome their grief, but Bifrons has power over the dead. I summoned him once more, and this time, I asked him to grant me a familiar. He provided me. You must do as I tell you. Your initiative is out of need here. Stay straight. Hang your head. Answer me. Will you obey me?-Yes, my Mistress.-That’s right. Fall to your knees and kiss my wrists. Good. You see, you are very talented.I gently pulled his hair and he held up his head. With a slight movement I hung it again.-I haven’t permitted you to rise your head. Be patient. Don’t make me punish you for the insignificant things.-Yes, my Mistress. I should be attentive to what I am doing. -You. "We need to talk to you for a moment," he said"I think that's apparent," Jesse replied, watching Stony put her hand over her mouth to bite down a giggle. He didn't know why he was acting like a smart ass, but he was."Did you attack that man over there?" The cop asked, pointing to the guy being loaded on the stretcher."Yep," he said in the same clipped tone."I think we're going to have to take you down the station for some questions," No, you don't! He was just defending ME! You aren't taking my.