Allison and I were sitting together at breakfast.

I'd managed about three hours of sleep before Allison literally woke me from the dead. Now, we sat with the other Thurmans - or a few of them at least - on a wide balcony that overlooked the grounds. As Allison ate and I drank water, I caught her up to speed on the night's events. When I was finished, I said, "Your mouth's hanging open."

"It tends to do that when I'm shocked shitless."

I shushed her. Although we were alone at our little patio table, there were still other Thurmans eating nearby. The morning had been shockingly clear and warm, so much so that breakfast had been served outside. There was a nearby table filled with heaps of eggs and breakfast meats and pancakes. Someone had cooked up a storm. Many nodded at us as we sat and talked. Noticeably absent was Edwin Thurman and our hostess, Tara.

"And where is the man of the hour?"

asked Allison. She was, of course, talking about Edwin.

"In his room," I said.

"You mean, the basement?"

"Right," I said.

"And you know this how?"

"I've got mad skills," I said. Although Allison was a close friend, she was still a new friend. She didn't know the extent of what I could do. Truth was, I didn't know the extent of what I could do either. So, for an explanation, I gave her a glimpse now into my memory, showing her what I'd done - and what I had seen.

She blinked after a moment. "You can remote sense?"

"I guess so, yes."

"Geez, the government's been training psychics for decades trying to get them to do what you can do."

"Well, I can't see very far, maybe only a few hundred feet or so."

"Far enough. I saw the image of him lying there on his little cot, sleeping. Very clear image. Very precise."

"Very weird," I said.

"Well, weird or not, it's helpful...and why the hell is he lying on a cot, in the basement, in this beautiful home?"

"Maybe they ran out of beds," I said.

"Or maybe it's because he's a vampire."

I shook my head and lowered my voice. "No. Not a vampire. He's something else. He's different."

"Different, how?"

"Greater. More powerful."

She caught the meaning of my words and also caught my own vaguely formulated thought. "Sam," she said. "Do you really think he might be the greatest of them all?"

Allison and I had previously discussed the thing that resides in me. She understood that it was this thing that fueled me and gave me eternal life. She understood that this thing needed to be fed, and blood was its choice. She understood that the powers within it emanated out to me, making me stronger and stronger.

I said, "I don't know yet. I don't know much about these entities. I don't know why they've been banished, and why they want back in. I don't understand the kind of magicks needed to give them access to me, and to live within me forever."

"But you think the thing that lives in Edwin Thurman might be the strongest of them all."

"That's what my gut is telling me."

She snorted. "Well, I can tell you one thing: I can tell you who's high on my suspect list of who killed George Thurman."

"We don't know if he killed him," I said.

"Well, he certainly sounds like he's got it in for you, Sam. Did he really say his sister is inside you?"

"Yes."

"God, you vampires are weird."

"Thanks."

"So, what's the game plan, Sammie? Other than me keeping you alive."

"You keeping me alive?"

"Someone's got to, kiddo. My sensitivities may not be as strong as yours, but I am getting a very, very strong feeling that not all is as it seems on Skull Island."

"Very melodramatic," I said.

"And very real."

My cell phone went off. I looked down at it: Danny. The ex. Allison saw it, too.

"You going to answer?" she asked.

"No."

It rang again. I drummed my fingers.

"Fine," I said irritably, and clicked on.

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