sized chicken to do it.”

“I’d like to see you take Bloddeuwedd on, one on one, and get a

secret key out of her nest, at the same time,” Bonnie began indignantly,

but stopped when Meredith squeezed her arm.

Sage, meanwhile was murmuring something about what his own

“oversized chicken,” Talon, would do if Shinichi were brave enough to

show up in person.

Shinichi ignored all this. “Oh, yes, and the mental calisthenics you

had to go through. Truly formidable. Well, never again will we mistake

you for blunder-headed idiots who never really asked why my sister

would give you any clues in the first place, much less clues that

Outsiders could understand. I mean”—he leered—“why not just go and

swallow the key in the first place, hmm?”

“You’re bluffing,” Meredith said flatly. “You underestimated us,

plain and simple.”

“Maybe,” said Shinichi. “Or maybe it was something else

entirely.”

“You lost,” said Damon. “I realize that may be an entirely new

concept for you, but it’s true. Elena has gained much more control over

her Powers.”

“But will they work here?” Shinichi smiled eerily. “Or will they

suddenly disappear in the light of a pale yellow sun? Or in the depths of

true darkness?”

“Don’t let him bait you, Madame,” Sage shouted. “Your Powers

come from a place he cannot enter!”