"What?" It was Shelby. "You guys are just hiding her with us? What about our
safety? What if these Outcasts people just showed up on campus?"
Miles said nothing, just looked with alarm from Luce to Arriane.
"You didn't understand that the Nephilim camouflage you?" Arriane asked.
"Daniel didn't tell you about their--whatever, protective coloration?"
Luce's mind rolled back to the night Daniel dropped her off at Shoreline. "Maybe
he did say something about a shield, but--" There had been so many other things racing
through her mind that night. It had been enough to try to process Daniel's leaving her.
Now she felt a queasy wave of guilt. "I didn't understand. He didn't elaborate, just kept
saying I had to stay on campus. I thought he was being too protective."
"Daniel knows what he's doing." Arriane shrugged. "Most of the time." She poked
her tongue at the corner of her mouth thoughtfully. "Okay, sometimes. Every now and
then."
"So you mean whoever's after her can't see her when she's with a bunch of
Nephilim?" This was Miles, who seemed to have found his tongue again.
"Actually, the Outcasts can't see at all," Arriane said. "They were blinded during
the Revolt. I was getting to that part of the story--it's good! The putting out of eyes and
all that Oedipal jazz." She sighed. "Oh, well. Yeah, the Outcasts. They can see the
burning of your soul--which is a lot more difficult to discern when you're with a bunch of
other Nephilim."
Miles's eyes grew wide. Shelby was chewing nervously on her nails.
"So that's how they mistook Dawn for me."
"It's how meat-cooler boy found you tonight, anyway," Arriane said. "Hell, it's
how I found you too. You're like a candle in a dark cave out here." She grabbed a can of
whipped cream from the counter and shot a squirt into her mouth. "I like a little nondairy
pick-me-up after a brawl." She yawned, which made Luce look up at the green digital
clock on the counter. It was two-thirty in the morning.
"Well, as much as I love kicking asses and taking names, it's way past curfew for
you three." Arriane whistled through her teeth and a thick blob of an Announcer bled out
from the shadows under the prep tables. "I never do this, okay? If anyone asks, I never do
142
this. Traveling by Announcers is ver-ry dangerous. Hear that, hero?" She bopped Miles
on his forehead, then flicked her fingers open. The shadow bounced instantly into a
perfect door shape in the middle of the kitchen. "But I'm on the clock here and it's the
fastest way to get you guys home and to safety."
"Nice," Miles said, like he was taking notes.
Arriane shook her head at him. "Don't get any ideas. I'm taking you back to
school, where you will stay"--she made eye contact with each of them--"or you're going
to have to answer to me."
"You're coming with us?" Shelby asked, finally showing just a little glimmer of
awe toward Arriane.
"Looks that way." Arriane winked at Luce. "You've turned into some kind of
firecracker. Someone's gotta keep an eye on you."
Stepping through with Arriane was even smoother than it had been on the way to
Vegas. It felt like coming inside after being out in the sun: The light was a little dimmer
when you walked through the door, but you blinked a few times and got used to it.
Luce was almost disappointed to find herself back in her dorm room after the
flash and excitement of Las Vegas. But then she thought of Dawn, and of Vera.
Almost disappointed. Her eyes settled on all the familiar signs that they were back: two
unmade bunk beds, the clutter of plants on the windowsill, Shelby's yoga mats stacked in
the corner, Steven's copy of Plato's Republic sitting bookmarked on Luce's desk--and one
thing she was not expecting to see.
Daniel, dressed all in black, tending a blazing fire in the hearth.
"Aaaugh!" Shelby screamed, tumbling back into Miles's arms. "You scared the
hell out of me! And in my own place of sanctuary. Not cool, Daniel." She shot Luce a
dirty look, like she'd had something to do with his appearance.
Daniel ignored Shelby, just said calmly to Luce, "Welcome back."
She didn't know whether to run to him or burst into tears. "Daniel--"
" Daniel? " Arriane gasped. Her eyes widened as if she'd seen a ghost.
Daniel froze, clearly not having expected to encounter Arriane, either. "I--I just
need her for a moment. Then I'll go." He sounded guilty, even scared.
"Right," Arriane said, gripping Miles and Shelby by the scruffs of their neck. "We
were just leaving. None of us saw you here." She herded the others before her. "We'll