The Sum of All Shadows by Eric Van Lustbader

Author:Eric Van Lustbader
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates

* * *

“HOW DO you know my name?” Emma asked.

When Surah smiled she looked something like a crocodile, but an adorable crocodile. Until now Emma hadn’t thought that possible.

“I think you’ll want this back.” Surah handed over the necklace Emma had fashioned to hold Beleth’s talon.

Emma’s hand closed around it tightly, feeling its shape and contours impress themselves into her palm. She took several deep breaths, then put on the necklace. Feeling the familiar weight on her breastbone both calmed and comforted her.

“That means a lot to you,” Surah said. It wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact.

“Beleth meant a lot to me,” Emma blurted out, and immediately wondered why. She knew nothing about this creature, and just hours ago she was a prisoner here. For all she knew, though she was free of all restraints, she still was.

“To me, as well.” Surah nodded in response to the look of astonishment on Emma’s face, and produced that oddly adorable smile again. “It was through Beleth that I came to know your name. To know you, as well.”

Emma shook her head. A mistake, as her headache made a swift foray out of the back of her brain where it had been lurking. She winced, her eyes squeezing shut for a moment.

“I must apologize again for the discomfort you’re feeling. But it is a fact that Azazel is difficult to control, even for me. His tendency to rash behavior is well documented, and to try to tame him would, I’m afraid, only lead to catastrophe.”

Emma took some time to digest those words, before she said, “Am I a prisoner?”

Surah appeared offended. “Certainly not!” She stood up, swept her hand toward the door. “You may walk out of here anytime you wish.”

Throwing back the sheets, Emma swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Now?”

“As you wish,” Surah said. “But I wouldn’t advise it.”

“So I am still a prisoner.”

Surah sighed. “Take my advice. Have a shower—it’s through that door over there. Fresh clothes are folded on the small table in there. Afterward you’ll have something to drink and eat, if you like—tea and crumpets and clotted cream might do you. And then we’ll go for a stroll. Does that sound agreeable?”

“I could do with a shower,” Emma said. “I am a bit ripe.”

Surah laughed, showing three rows of terrifying teeth. “Then by all means be my guest!”

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