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dearest act. “That is not what I heard. The way I hear it, they succeeded.”
    “And how does one hear things locked away as solitary’s only inhabitant?” I said. “I’m curious.”
    He looked smug. “I may be locked up, Nikita, but I am never helpless. What are you really trying to ask me? If it was me? How could it be? I am stuck here thanks to dirty politicians.”
    “Well, they had some pretty good reasons,” I said.
    “Perhaps,” he said. Now he was being coy.
    “Well, have you heard of any other Summoners?”
    “Who are you working for, daughter?” he said.
    “Why?”
    “Because men are never what they seem to be.” He was looking at Gage, who was immersed in his big book. “Maybe you do not really know what you are looking for.”
    “I can take care of myself,” I said. “I always have. I’m a Slobodian, remember?”
    He nodded. “Yes, yes you are,” he said, his gaze returning to me. “And this makes me worry more. We are not careful, we Slobodians.”
    “Come on, Sasha,” I said. “Who else is summoning these days?”
    “Do you know what they let out?” he said.
    “They let out a Dark,” I said.
    “A Dark Spirit,” he said. “Very dangerous. Murderous. The only thing it loves is killing and pain. They lock them deep in the pits because they like to slip into people’s bodies. Does not matter if human or demon.”
    “What do you mean ‘slip into’?” I said.
    He frowned. “I cannot think of the word. You know like the movie with the little girl with the spinning head?”
    “They possess people?” I said.
    He snapped his fingers. “Yes.”
    “Peachy. So these Dark things, they’ll start killing?”
    “It is a sure thing,” he said.
    “How long before they start?”
    He shrugged. “It is very tiring coming up out of the pits. The Dark will want to rest for many days. A week, maybe.”
    “How do you know all this stuff?”
    “I know many things,” he said. “You can never really know a person, Nikita. I have many secrets.”
    “I don’t doubt that.”
    “There is time still to walk away from this job,” he said.
    “No, Dad, I can’t. I need the money. Sofi’s in the hospital again.”
    “I know,” he said. “She is old, Nikita. You have to let her go. Do not kill yourself for a sick old woman.”
    “I suppose I should just leave her behind?” I said. “Like you did with Mom? Like how you left me behind?”
    “Someday you will understand,” he said.
    “I’ll never understand that,” I said. “I don’t want to understand.”
     

Chapter Five
    The hospital was just a few blocks from the prison, so I asked Gage if we could stop off there for a bit.
    “No problem,” he said. “I love cafeteria food.” I was pretty sure he was being serious.
    I left Gage at the entrance. He had his satchel and headed to the cafeteria. I took the elevator to Sofi’s room on the sixth floor. She looked about the same as the last time. Her hair was falling out in clumps and she had bald patches all over her head. She was startlingly thin, even for her. Her birdlike bones jutted out under her nightgown and she had a sheen of sweat on her face even though the room was freezing. Her eyes were closed and I could see tiny veins bright red on the surface of her eyelids. I sat down next to her in a large padded chair.
    “Baba?” I said softly. Her bony chest rose and fell only slightly. I put my head in my hands.
    “Niki?” she rasped in a voice so soft it was a whisper. “It is about time.”
    I smiled and took her small hand in mine. It was so cold. “Sorry to wake you.”
    “Pah,” she said. “I sleep all the time. I would rather see you. Now, tell me about this job of yours. You could not talk long on the phone.”
    “Sorry about that,” I said. “I was in a hurry.”
    “So now you tell me,” she said.
    “Well,” I said, “for starters, I got off the Registry.”
    Her eyes became saucers. “How? It cannot be done.”
    “It can,” I said. I gave her