Sable Weihl-Reis sat in the large fake leather chair in Andremoth's office.

"So she hasn't returned?"

"No," he told her. He stood there, looking out his tall, thin window. It seemed to match his tall, thin frame. "I'm pretty sure she isn't taking her pills anymore, either."

"Well, you tried. Thank you, Mr. Grey." Sable stood up to leave.

"Oh, I'm not done with Runa Walker," he told her.

"What do you mean?" she asked. "If the job I asked you to do won't work then we're done."

"I don't think you know what this is really about," he told her.

She just looked at him strangely. "What is this really about?"

"Nevertheless," he told her, "those weren't just some mood stabilizers I gave her. She needed something stronger; more long-lasting."

"I told you not to hurt her. What did you give her?"

"Oh, trust me, Sable, I can't hurt the girl. But what I gave her will allow me to keep tabs on her."

"A tracking device?" Sable asked.

"Something like that," he told her.

"Who are you?"

He smiled. "I'm your friend, of course. And you are mine."

"I don't care about Runa Walker anymore. Just leave her alone," Sable told him.

"No, Sable Weihl-Reis," he said. "It doesn't work that way." He looked at her and his eyes went blank. Both of his whole eyes darkened and he walked toward her. "We are not done with Runa Walker yet."

Sablewas frozen with fear. Something felt cold on her back. No one was touching herbut it felt like someone was. It felt like many cold hands all over her backand neck. Then there was a ringing in her ears and then there was a stinging inher neck. Her eyes shut and she felt herself falling.