Some Kind of Miracle

Emily Vaughn followed the man who called himself Mr. Sark up to the same hotel room she and Jack had visited not even a week before. She entered the dark room to find her grandmother seated in the shadows; when the door closed behind Emily and Sark a lamp clicked on, and she rose from the darkness like some sort of mystical creature, a cool smile playing about her lips.

"Emily," she said, looking the girl up and down as if appraising her value. "Don't you look lovely."

"Do you think so?" Sark asked, cocking his head to one side. "I was surprised her daddy let her leave the house dressed like that."

Irina's smile widened. "I have a strong suspicion that our little Emily didn't let her daddy see her before she left the house, isn't that right, Emily?"

Emily felt a rush of irritation run through her, much as she knew she should be afraid. "You know, if you wanted to talk to me, you could have just asked," she said, trying for a cheap imitation of her grandmother's cool tone. "You didn't have to have someone threaten to pull a gun on me."

Irina raised her eyebrows disapprovingly, her brown eyes asking Sark a silent question.

"I'm quite sorry, Irina," he said smoothly. "But the girl is a bit willful."

The smile returned to Irina's face. "Of course she is," she said, nodding as if she had expected as much. "Emily, darling, why don't we sit down? Relax a bit."

"I-- I think I'd rather stand," Emily said tentatively. The easier to run away, if necessary.

"As you wish," Irina said, eyes gleaming. Emily shuddered, hating the way the woman seemed to anticipate her every move. "You've grown quite tall," she noted. "You were so tiny when you were born, did you know that? Born so early. We weren't sure you'd make it."

"Yes," Emily responded hoarsely as Irina settled herself into a high-backed chair. "I knew that."

Irina nodded in response. Emily glanced over at Sark, who stood at Irina's side with his hands clasped in front of him. He was officially creeping her out.

"Your parents were so grateful when they were finally allowed to take you home from the hospital," Irina continued. "They acted as if it were some sort of miracle. But you had so many problems, even when you were a little older. Those horrible asthma attacks. Do you still have those?"

"Uh-- not that often," Emily said, reaching unconsciously for her purse, which she knew held her inhaler. "But I have this weird feeling you already know that."

"Smart girl," Irina commented. "But then, I always knew you would be. Your grades are outstanding, aren't they?"

Emily nodded mutely, feeling even as she did so that her grandmother already knew the answer to the question. "Math and science," she whispered, not quite knowing why. "Those are my favorite subjects. I want to be a doctor."

Irina nodded. "Well, I'm sure you'd make a fine one, dear," she said. "But I'm also convinced that you're destined for other things."

Emily had no idea what she meant. But she had the sinking feeling it wouldn't be long before she found out.