As I materialize, the white figure at the foot of the bridge seems to hesitate. I open my mouth soundlessly, but Ethan's cry breaks my concentration, breathless and desperate.

"Isabel!"

He must realize by now that it is in vain, that she cannot hear his voice. He reaches the glimmering structure, still calling out. Isabel takes another step. I breathe out, and her name escapes my lips. Her foot pauses midair.

I come forward, positioning myself beside Ethan. "Isabel," I plead. "Turn around and come home."

For a moment, I see her face. Her eyes widen in surprise, and her lips part. Whether to curl into a smile or a frown or something entirely different, I will never know, because the next moment she is tugged back into the world of the living.

As her body begins to fade, I shift Ethan and myself back to the Citadel. Isabel stirs, and I wonder how to explain the stain on her nightgown. My hands are shaking.

Isabel's eyes open, and she looks around. "What . . . what happened?"

I glance at Ethan sharply. He understands he is not to say anything about what had transpired, even though he disagrees with my strategy.

"What can you remember?" I ask Isabel softly. She sits up, trying to recollect her thoughts. What I read tells me that she recalls nothing of the middle realm. The memories are buried in her brain, subconscious. She starts recounting what happened with Marduke and the knife when her eyes connect with Ethan's and she smiles a smile of hopeful love. "Did you save me, Ethan?"

Ethan looks at me with confusion. Trying to keep a cheerful note in my voice, I confirm this. "He most certainly did, Isabel."

Ethan's eyes widen, but I ignore his thoughts of surprise, and worse than that, pity.

"He is a true hero." I say, more quietly than I intended. Ethan's eyes seek mine, and I look down, doing everything I can to stop the tears from coming.

Isabel is ready to leave, sitting on the narrow crystal table, when her thoughts focus on the red rims around my eyes. She wonders whether I've been crying. Her concern irritates me, although it is really not her fault. Her head tilts and I perceive that she is looking at me, sensing that I have read her mind.

I force myself to grin. "I was," I tell her. She frowns, jaw hanging open. "Really?"

"Allergies."

Ethan looks confusedly at the two of us, but catches on quickly and remains silent.

"Oh. I could try and heal it if you want," she offers. I am mildly intrigued by the prospect of a healer being able to cure allergies, but of course, to test this, we would need someone actually suffering from one.

"Don't bother yourself. You need your rest. Thank you though."

She shrugs and gets up, but before I can transport her back to her body, she gives Ethan yet another hug. He returns it with discomfort and awkwardness, looking at me over her shoulder. I avert my gaze feeling empty and cheated.