Chapter 3

Coraline dragged herself away from the window, enraged at the sight of Mick with the child. Enraged wasn't good enough of a word – wrathful – that was it. But she had other things on her mind now. The stake hadn't completely rendered her powerless or she would have been ashes. Still the flames had done plenty of damage. Damn HIM! The healing had begun immediately but she wasn't as powerful as Lance or the others. They had taken the cure numerous times before and she only the once so it wouldn't be as easy as she had seen with them. Yes, she was as old as them but the healing was somehow accelerated. Yes, there was something in that stuff that really packed a punch.

Coraline laughed weakly and thought that it was definitely time to leave Los Angeles – and in fact, the entire United States – before she became a tiresome conversationalist! All these idioms and colloquialisms – slang – she had picked up. She would have to go underground – literally – for a few years before she was healed. That was all that mattered now. Later she would have time to contemplate her next move.

Maybe back to France; Lance or Henri perhaps? Or no, they were bores. Cynthia, yes! She must call Cynthia and tell her what had happened. Her chéri would come, help find her a place where she would be safe while she healed. La, she was already better. Enough to get away from what was left of the cabin and barn.

Well enough but there would be a time in the future to think it through. To figure out what had just happened. How she had lost Mick. And what it would take to get him back.