That conference call was like the little push on the small of your back when you're sitting on top of a big tall slide. Before I could catch my breath and process the situation, I was gliding down and there was nothing I could do to stop or at least slow down.

I called Trisha before going to sleep, and I was forced to move the phone away from my ear until she was done with her happy cries and exclamations.

"How long do you need me to stay?"

"Three days?"

"Didn't you say the Haunters are staying five?"

"Yeah, but—"

"Then I'm staying at least six."

"You can't call in sick for six days straight, Trish!"

"Oh, didn't I tell you I quit? Yeah, I was sick and tired of that groper son of a bitch. I have a couple of interviews scheduled, but they're over Zoom, so I don't need to be in town for them."

"Then maybe you can come before them. Let me check with Amy, okay?"

"Yeah!" I moved the phone away again until it was safe for my ears to bring it close again to say goodbye.

The next morning, I had breakfast while I waited for the Collins and explained to them what would happen starting that very Friday, in two oh-so-brief days. Susan grabbed a piece of paper to take notes, so she wouldn't forget anything. Hers and Mike's to-do list grew longer when Amy texted me the things she would be needing. She also wanted me to ask Price about each and every med he and his friend were on. What was she up to?

She thought it would be better if she picked up Trisha to come to the Manor, to invest the ninety-minute drive to explain to my friend the whole situation, and make her promise on three holy books she would behave and keep from upsetting the Blotters.

Susan asked about the diet of our guests and I realized I didn't know what Price and his friend liked. Okay, something more to ask him.

I left her and Mike to work and hurried to the north parlor. "I'm going to the basement," I whispered. "I think I'll be fine by myself."

"Forget it," said the phone app.

"Okay." I shrugged and turned around to walk out. And found Susan frozen right past the doorway, broom, duster and basket of cleaning products in her hands. "It's okay, Susan. Just carry on with your routine."

I stepped out and she stepped back, doing her best to not panic openly. The moment I crossed the kitchen door, I trotted down the steep stairs and all the way past the central pillar to the corner, where I dropped to my knees and raised a hand, palm to the wall in front of me.

"Clap my hand, Kujo," I said, excited, and giggled when I felt a brush of heat against my skin. "Good! That's a way to say hi."

"Hi Fran."

"It's happening, Kujo!" I did my best to keep my voice down. "Amy and Price are coming! A week from now, you're gonna be free!"

The deep growl took me aback, and I heard the shuffle clearly.

"Yeah, I know. But we need him, you see? Amy needs him in order to cut your chain."

"Hate Brandon."

"Of course, I know. What can we do, Kujo? It's the only way to set you free. Please, I need to know you won't try to hurt him."

The next growl wasn't exactly a reassuring answer. I sighed, troubled. Setting him free was what I wanted most, but I wouldn't put anybody in harm's way to achieve it.

"Fran sad."

I shrugged, grimacing. "Yeah, because I can't keep my word without your help."

"Help Fran."

"Would you? Would you do that for me, Kujo? Can you promise me you won't hurt him? I can promise you I'll keep him away as much as possible, but we need to spend a while down here with him to cut your chain."

"Keep away."

"You have my word. I'll bring him here only for the ritual."

"I promise."

I leaned forward, sticking my head in the shadows of the corner, and raised my hand to stop whoever Blotter was there with me. A moment later, I felt a gentle hot gust brushing my forehead.

"Jeez," I whispered. "If you could feed on love, I would get you so fat so fast."

The growl sounded more like a moan, and pushed a lump up my throat.

"Hush. Don't try to be anything you're not. I like you just as you are, no matter your diet."

I felt the heat wrap around my shoulders.

"Step back, Fran."

"It's okay," I replied, standing the soft burning a moment longer. Then I leaned back and smiled. "Now I better go, 'cause I'm already in trouble."

"Don't say."

I stood up chuckling, wiping my nose to keep from crying, and headed to the stairs.

"Who is it? Edward, Joseph?" I asked, climbing the steps in no hurry.

"Joseph. If he were here."

"Yeah, guess I got lucky. Please, don't try to lecture me. You've seen it yourself twice already. He's not gonna hurt me in any way. And I need to open myself to him. He reads my mind and my emotions, so I need to stay invested. Else, I won't be able to protect Price."

"Why protect?"

"I have the ugly feeling that Kujo would eat him up alive if he gets a single chance, or hurt him in any way he can. We can't allow that."

"Certainly not."

I crossed the kitchen and headed down the hall back to the north parlor. I saw Mike fixing something in the dining room and ignored him.

"I can't think of any other way than binding Kujo to the promise he made to me."

"It's dangerous."

"I'm open to suggestions."

"Come again, Miss?"

"Nothing, Mike." I smiled to myself. Well, and to Joseph.

After lunch, when I thought I wouldn't disturb anybody's beauty rest, I texted Price and Trisha. Of course Price was a proper Angelino celeb and had become a vegan, and of course he asked why would Amy want to know if he was on any meds and exactly which ones. I told him I didn't know, maybe he wanted to ask her himself? Looked like he didn't, because he just texted me a list with four different prescriptions for him and two for his pal, that I forwarded to Amy right away.

Trisha wanted to come over that very evening, but I stopped her short.

"Things are not as simple as they seem, Trish, and having you here right now could mean trouble. Amy will explain everything. That's why you need to wait and only come with her."

"Jesus, Fran, you're scaring me."

"Told you there's a demon in my basement, right? Well, maybe you should google what demon means."

"There you go, getting mad at me! I haven't missed that!"

"Sorry, Trish. It's just that this is all too much for me." I sighed, shaking my head. "I'm afraid the tiniest misstep will fuck the whole thing up."

That defused her in a heartbeat. "It's okay, girl. You're right and I was being silly. Yeah, it's exciting for me, but I gotta keep in mind this is scary and even dangerous for you."

On Thursday, Susan stayed working until three, getting the last details ready in Amy's and Trisha's rooms. On the bright side, the internet guys came that morning, and installed a brand new line that rivaled NASA's connection in the guesthouse.

Finally on my own, well, without any other living around, I was free to go spend a while in the basement with Kujo. I didn't request any bodyguard, but Joseph joined me anyway. I sat against the wall, right by the shadows of the corner, and when Kujo came to sit by my side, I told him all I knew about what would happen over the next few days. He surprised me yet again.

"Worms. Eat."

"What are you talking about?"

"He means the parasites," Joseph clarified.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Aren't those parasites like, your cousins or something? You were one big fat worm around Price's throat yourself!"

"Good food."

"Okay." I grabbed my guitar and tried a chord. "Now let's have our last quiet moment."

I didn't feel exactly sad while I played and sang, and it was plain to see Kujo didn't try to manipulate me. However, I did feel upset, like a cold spot in my belly, and I realized it was a bad feeling mixed with fear. Well, like I was about to bring an arrogant celeb with the demon that wanted to kill him together. What could go wrong?

Kujo and I parted with a high-five and I went back upstairs with Joseph. We could hardly wait to discuss what Kujo had said. A few minutes later, the other tablet, my phone and I burst into exclamations at the same time.

"So Kujo can feed on them."

"It makes sense," said Edward. "They are full of darkness."

"Of course! You're right!"

"Check with Amy," said Ann.

"First thing tomorrow when they arrive."

"Much to think," said Lizzie.

"It's a delicate situation," Joseph agreed.

Indeed.

I decided to go out for a walk, feeling the hours didn't pass: they crawled like rheumatic snails. But night eventually fell and closed, and somehow I found myself in bed, turning and tossing, unable to sleep. I ended up getting out of bed, wrapping up in my old robe and dragging my slippers down the stairs. The cat ball on the kitchen table flashed the moment I turned the coffeemaker on.

"It's Edward. You can't sleep?"

I shook my head, grimacing. "I don't know if I'll be able to until this is over."

Like the ultimate gentleman he was, considering Joseph was in the library —reading, as one does in libraries— he invited me to the north parlor for a little chat to keep me distracted. That was an honor, being a woman invited to the gents' parlor. So I grabbed my mug, the two last cupcakes and followed him down the hallway to the inner sanctum of the Blotter men.

I loved every minute of that sleepless night, while Edward told me about his family, especially how he'd fallen in love with his wife at first sight, and how he'd done everything to get her attention, until she finally said yes to marrying him. The Blotter Foundation web had a section of family pictures, and Edward showed me his wife and two sons, one of them Joseph's father. Sunrise found me still there, cuddling in an armchair, smiling and nodding to what Edward said.

When the big old clock in the corner tolled to seven, I decided to go back upstairs to take a shower. Friday was already here, the first day of a defining week.