"I think that it was a reasonable suggestion," Paul countered calmly, "We want this thing on our side." Laying back against the ostentatious red silk couch, he fed himself a grape.

"Jesse's not an object of barter." I growled, settling more comfortably in the chair. The warmth of the room and the glow of the candles made it harder to remember the terror we'd just experienced.

Paul shrugged. "He's an old man whose been dead for about a hundred or so years- and I'm sure Jesse wouldn't mind taking one for the team."

"Thanks, I'm flattered by the value you place on me, but I'm not very substantial," Jesse said wryly. "Unlike you, Slater, who have plenty to chew on.""

"Nothing is going to be chewing on anyone!" I snapped. "Stop it!"

They both sighed.

"Now, is Washington still unconscious?"

"Nope," Paul closed his eyes lazily. "I checked where we locked him- disappeared. He's bound to show up any minute now."

I swallowed the shards of fear in my throat. "Great. So what are we going to do about it?"

"There's a fifty percent chance he's figured out we're useless in his plan, and he'll kill us- or, he'll keep trying to use us."

Something fell softly- and the silence seemed louder, falling in around us as though it were straining for every mellow sound we made.

"Can he hear us right now?" I asked quietly, glancing around.

He hesitated. "Naturally he has control over his entire house," Paul admitted. "I'd forgotten to think about that."

"What else are we managing to forget?" I demanded. "And how are we supposed to plan anything if he's got physic listening power everywhere?"

"Well, I guess we can't." Paul said flatly. "We're going to have to assume he hears everything."

"Perfect." I rolled my eyes. "Is there anywhere you think he's not able to spy on us?"

"Well, there's the library," Paul said dubiously, "Which is my best guess only because he's the only one allowed in there- so I doubt he would set ghostly magic to eavesdrop on himself."

"Well that's a start. But, uh, whats so special this exclusive library?"

Paul shrugged. "He said it was a library. Clearly I've never seen it so it could be anything."

I sighed. "So we get in there so we can talk without him listening in. But what's our objective anyway? I mean is our goal to get out of here? Or defeat whatever the hell it is he's doing?"

"Are you even asking this?" Jesse demanded. "The reason I came is to get you out of here as soon as possible."

Paul was silent.

"So we just leave?" I bit my lip. "And let him do this?"

"Uh oh," Paul rolled his eyes. "Always the do-good fetish."

"I don't know," I ignored him, "We're the only ones in place to stop him."

"We have to weaken him to get out of here- that's technically impeding the process." Jesse pointed out.

"Maybe," I sighed. "Paul, besides being sickened at my possession of a moral compass, what do you want to do?"

"The great Susannah is actually asking my opinion." He mused. "I need to savor this moment."

"Moment over," I decided, "I take it back. Now- I say we stay and fight this."

"I say there's no way I'm going to let you put yourself in harm's way." Jesse crossed his arms and a muscle jumped up near his cheekbone. I knew that look well. It was one of total determination. Impassible stubbornness.

"Jesse," I complained, "You can't control me, we've had this discussion."

"You don't know whats good for you querida," He said softly, "Despite myself, I have to agree with Slater- you're letting your conscious get in the way of saving your life. This isn't a game- this is a powerful man in a very toxic situation- please listen to me."

"I am," I insisted. "I hear you. I just know that we can do this."

"You're coming with me." He stated again solemnly.

"I have a brilliant idea," Paul piped in sarcastically, "We get to a safe place before we start spilling out the master plan."

I frowned.

It was one of those rare instances in life, when Paul Slater was actually right.