He wanted mages to serve him, both as humans and, later, as vampires.’ She paused and poured herself a cup of water. ‘When I was getting ready to ...tart school, I was tested, in secret. I was made to hold the image of a shield in my mind. I didn’t know it then but the man testing me, Jerry… Dale I think his last name was, someone my mother grew up with, cast a spell at me. Pain flared in my head and drove me to my knees. My parents freaked out, but they knew then that I could use magic. The. I’lladmit that I wasn’t nearly as attractive, but the guysI dated never seemed to think so. Anyway, Cheryl really surprised me one night after anexciting football game. We had gone back to the girl’slocker room, and I decided to get a shower before wedecided what to do for the evening. Once I was nude andunder the hot spray of the shower, I got very relaxed.I closed my eyes and stood there, feeling the heat soakinto my tired muscles. I was broken out of my bliss by the sound. ”I leaned over to Cal.“Notice she didn’t include us in that?” I asked.“I wonder what trouble she thinks we are?” she asked.“Lots,” her mother said, “are you staying the night or going home, David?”I looked at Cal and she mouthed ‘stay’ at me.“The boss says staying, Aunt Pat,” I replied.“Well, you’d better stay then,” she said, “don’t want you getting in trouble with the boss. I’m off to bed, don’t you two stay up too late.”Cal looked at me and smirked.“What’s the smirk for?” I asked as I heard. I held her tight, rubbing my face into her neck as my world reeled. Master vanishing punched all the joy right out of me. My tail slashed in the air behind me while I held up Kora. This couldn't be happening.We won.We did all we set out to do. We should get to be happy now! Why was I happier before today? Ealaín dead and Master gone... It didn't make any sense to me. Why would he vanish? Did he leave? Did something grab him? Was it a final revenge of the Biomancer?“I sensed something in him.