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years。 The scent was familiar； he had smelled it just last night； but now there was something different about it。 Something foreign； more ethereal； more delicate 。 。 。
The dark metallic smell of blood。 And beneath that； the bittersweet scent of rose petals。
Now Zillah was beckoning to him from the couch。 Nothing could tell from the tiny smirk on his lips what Zillah wanted； and he had to quash a tiny flare of irritation。 Didn't Zillah know how wrong it would be for them to make love in this house？ Nothing could not go to him； not this time。 At the end of that hall； drowning in that scent； might be Ghost。 And Nothing thought that somehow the smell might be his fault。 He should not have brought his new family here。 He lived in a different world now； and could not cross back and forth。
He started down that white passage。
The hall was long。 Light filtered into it from the open rooms。 Someone had left the bathroom light on。 Nothing reached in and turned it off as he passed； looking at the ivoried tub squatting on gryphons' feet； the lone beer can on the edge of the sink。 He was seeing things very lucidly now； aware of each detail。 The air in the house was as clear as cool still water。
Then he was at thc door of someone's bedroom。 Ghost's； it had to be。 Delicate colored leaves and dead flowers were pinned to the ceiling。 On the walls； in crayon and ink； pencil and Magic Marker； was a fabulous twisted riot of color…maps of real lands； maps of strange lands； faces that seemed about to speak。 And words。 Hundreds of words。 There were words strung together in sentences and quotations and lyrics。 There were words alone； written there because of their individual bright or dark glory。 And there on the ceiling…above the bed； showing through a nest of brittle foliage…there were stars。 A universe of stars and planets painted there； a thousand tiny heavenly bodies； yellow； glowing faintly。
My god； I'm home； thought Nothing； and stepped into the room。 And in that instant； the figure on the bed…the figure that Nothing had not seen because it lay so still； swathed in a great heap of bedclothes； because its pale hair fell so transparent across the pillow…sat bolt upright and shrieked； 〃NOTHING！〃
In the living room； three heads swivelled toward the sound。 Molochai's throat stopped working in midswig； and beer cascaded over his chin。 〃Nothing？〃 he sputtered。
〃Nothing；〃 said Twig； nodding。
Zillah's eyes narrowed。 〃We'll see about Nothing；〃 he hissed。 With one fluid movement he was off the couch； disappearing into the recesses of the house。 For a moment Molochai and Twig gaped after him。 Then they looked at each other； shrugged； and followed Zillah down the hall。
Steve was dreaming。 Somewhere in his head Ann struggled； beat her fists against the inside of his skull； trying to force her way out。 Fuck her。 She could rot in there。 （What the hell do you think she's doing？ his mind asked nastily； but he ignored it。） Why was she plaining？ She liked to play with his mind。
But suddenly there were teeth。
At first he thought he had imagined the gnawing。 But pain flared inside his skull； razor…sharp； ripping； and he knew。 She was trying to chew her way out of his head。 She was trying to eat her way out。 He felt her teeth tearing at the soft meat of his brain。 He clawed at his forehead； trying to stop her； trying to wrench her out before she made wounds that would never heal…
〃Jesus fuckin' Christ；〃 he gasped； jerking himself awake。 A Penthouse centerfold grinned at him from the wall above his bed； pulling her anatomy open like pink bubble gum。 Steve snarled and tore it down； crumpled it； threw it into the corner。
Ghost shrieked from the next room； his voice clear and terrified。 Nothing； it sounded like he'd said。
Nightmares for everybody this morning。 Or this afternoon； more likely。 What time had they finally gone to bed？ No idea。 A hangover began its stealthy gnawing inside Steve's head； no dream this time； and he almost rolled over and let Ghost sleep through it。 But Ghost's dreams were always just a little too real to ignore。
He rolled out of bed； dragged on semiclean underwear and a T…shirt that didn't even approach a state of cleanliness。 Got to do some laundry； he chided himself。 Yeah； laundry； and maybe haul some whiskey bottles and beer cans out to the recycling dump； and maybe make some apologies and get his life back together while he was at it。
That was when he heard the voices in the living room and the footsteps ing down the hall。
Having his privacy or his belongings invaded anywhere； at any time； was enough to piss Steve off mightily。 Someone had stolen the radio out of his T…bird right after he'd gotten it back in high school； and Steve had sat outside for three nights waiting fur the asshole to show himself again。 The asshole never had； of course。 But the idea of this house； Miz Deliverance's house； being broken into was almost unbearable。 White magic had happened here。 This place had sanctity； dammit。
He had never expected anything bad to happen in this house； had vaguely thought it had a magic circle around it or something。 But he hadn't been willing to stake his life on it； so he kept a taped…up Louisville Slugger next to his bed。 It reassured him； along with the claw hammer under the driver's seat of the T…bird and the sock full of pennies he kept behind the cash register at the record store。 Steve hyperaware of the possibility that violence could erupt anywhere at any time； he supposed that meant he was really the one with the violent nature。 But he was glad of it now。
He grabbed the bat； hefted it； and stepped out into the hall。
Right into the path of Zillah。
〃Who the fuck are you？〃 he had time to get out； and then the crazy green…eyed apparition was lunging at him； all bared teeth and hooked claw…hands； so Steve pulled the Slugger back and swung it straight into the fucker's face。 The crunch of bone and cartilage reverberated through the wood into Steve's hands。 It wasn't a bad feeling。
Green…eyes staggered back and hit the wall hard； but didn't go down even with the fountain of blood pouring between his cupped hands。 His mouth and nose were erupting blood； Steve had felt the bat take several teeth out。 Two taller； bulkier figures were ing down the hall。
Steve was afraid somebody might be in Ghost's room too； he had to get in there first。 He grabbed the bleeding figure by its long hair and one shoulder and with all his strength shoved it down the hall toward the approaching strangers。 It crashed into them； spraying blood； and all three staggered and nearly went down。
Steve ran into Ghost's room； slammed the door behind him； and locked it。
As Nothing approached the bed； Ghost went limp and collapsed back into the tangle of bedclothes。 Reality did another slow giddy roll as Nothing stood looking down at the fair dreaming face； gone tranquil now。 This was Ghost； the lost soul of all lost souls。 This was his secret brother…some part of Nothing's mind still clung dimly to that wish； though he knew now that it was not true。 There was a deep scarlet rose in the lapel of Ghost's rumpled army jacket； full blown and fragrant。
Then he noticed the stain at the corner of Ghost's mouth。 Not much blood； not much at all。 Just a drop。 Ghost must have bitten his lip or his tongue。 Nothing bent without thinking to lick the blood away； and Ghost's eyes flew open and stared straight up into Nothing's。
〃Born in blood；〃 Ghost whispered。 〃Born in blood and pain…〃
Then the door burst open and slammed shut again； and strong hands seized the back of Nothing's raincoat and yanked him up。 All at once he was flying toward the wall。 His forehead caught the edge of something sharp。 Tiny colored stars exploded through blackness。 Blue； red； silver。 All the stars from Ghost's ceiling were showering down on him。 He closed his eyes and let them land on his eyelids； tingling。
Steve's adrenaline rose another notch at the sight of the strange kid bending over Ghost's bed。 But he couldn't bring himself to bash the kid's skull in； not from behind。 Instead he grabbed the kid by the back of his coat and threw him across the room。 He did not know that he was screaming Ghost's name； but later his throat would be sore。
He turned； weighing the bat in both hands； keeping it between him and the kid； keeping himself between the kid and the bed。 〃What did he do to you？〃 he asked Ghost； who was looking dazed； not quite awake。
〃I didn't do anything；〃 the kid said。 〃I wouldn't hurt him； honest。 Or you either； Steve。〃
〃How do you know my name？〃
〃I like your music and…〃
〃Yeah？ This how you usually show your appreciation for art？ Breaking into people's houses？〃
The kid looked so sad and shamefaced that Steve almost felt sorry for him。 Not quite； though。 The kid didn't seem dangerous； didn't seem to have any fight in him； and he was locked in here with Steve and the baseball bat。 This kid might be the only weapon he had against those three creeps in the hall if Steve handled it right。
〃Ghost。 Wake up； Ghost； WAKE UP； YOU DUMB…FUCK。〃 Ghost would be worse than useless in your typical barroom brawl； but in