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He's curious。 〃You know this for a fact？〃
〃Yes。 I'm going to break the lights in here； which will cause them to panic and call for help。 I'm sure General Havor himself will e。〃
〃Then what？〃
〃I have a plan of sorts； but it's not set in stone。 Just follow my lead。 Get up…get ready to act when I say the word。〃
Joel moves to the wall closest to the door。 Standing in the center of the cell； staring at the overhead cameras； I give the guards on the other side of the wall one last thing to think about。
〃I'm ing for you now；〃 I say in a wicked voice。
〃You'd better run； you'd better hide。〃 I lick my lips。 〃Because I'm very hungry。〃
Then； in a series of blindingly fast moves； I shatter every light on the ceiling and plunge the cell into darkness。 I see perfectly； but Joel has to reach for the wall to get his bearings。 At the security station； I hear Guard One and Guard Three screaming in terror。 Guard Two fumbles for his weapon； yelling at his partners to stop。 I suppress a giggle。
〃e to me； General；〃 I whisper。 〃e； Arturo。〃
Five minutes later I hear Arturo and Havor pounding down the narrow hall； speaking heatedly。 Although I have not heard the general's voice before； I recognize it by the authority it mands。 Arturo has influence within the confines of the pound； but the man with the star on his shoulder is in charge。 I wonder about the details of their relationship。 All about them； clutching machine guns and trying not to panic； are dozens of soldiers。
〃She's not a danger as long as we keep the lock in place；〃 Arturo says to the general。 〃This is a stunt she's pulling to get us to open the door。〃
〃I don't like it that we can't see her；〃 General Havor snaps back。 〃You heard what she told you。 We don't know the full extent of her powers。 For all we know she's cutting through a wall of the cell as we talk。〃
〃She's a master of manipulation；〃 Arturo counters。 〃She talked about her unknown powers to plant a seed of doubt in our minds…for just this occasion。 If you open the door to check on her； she'll be on you in a second。 You'll have to kill her to stop her and you can't kill her。〃
〃We'll wait and see what she does next；〃 General Havor says。
〃What's happening？〃 Joel hisses in the dark。
I whisper softly so that only he can hear。 〃The general and Arturo are ing。 They don't want to open the door； but I think I can do something to inspire them to relent。 There will be a lot of noise in a few minutes。 Besides creating the racket； I will be mentally projecting into the general's mind。 Please don't speak to me during this time。 I need to concentrate。 Then； when they start to open the door； I need you to wedge yourself in the corner behind the door。 But don't do it until I give the signal。 There'll be gunfire； and the space behind the door will be the safest。 Do you understand？〃
〃Yes。 You really think they'll open the door？〃
〃Yes。 I'll make them。〃
Once more I sit cross…legged on the floor； this time in the center of the room。 Quieting my thoughts with several deep breaths； I project myself into the general's mind。 It is easy to locate…the psychic energy that emanates from him is like molten lava from an erupting volcano。 Yet his resolve will not be so easily manipulated with a few implanted thoughts。 With a strong individual； even when I can look him in the eye and whisper in his ear； I have trouble getting him to do what I want。 Now； I have neither of those options at my disposal。 What I am attempting to do is set up several conditions that will work on the general and prompt him to give the order to open the door。 Getting the guards nervous and knocking out the lights were the first of my conditional steps。 The next ones will be more difficult。
I slip into General Haver's mind。
It is a black cavern； draped with the webs of poisonous spiders。 When he does get my power； I see； General Havor fantasizes about raping me。 He also plans to kill Arturo； as soon as the alchemist pletes his experiments。 There is no trust between the two。 General Havor fears Arturo will alter his own DNA and then kill the general。 But what Arturo thinks I cannot read。 His mind is heavily cloaked… not unexpected in a partial hybrid。 Anyway； I must concentrate on the man who gives the orders。 General Havor must push the button that opens the door…this is all that matters。
I reach out with my mental claw。
〃The witch will break down the door。〃
I hear the general speak to Arturo。
〃Are you positive she cannot break down the door？〃 he asks。
〃Even she cannot destroy this alloy；〃 Arturo reassures him。
〃The blood of a dead witch is as good as the blood of a living witch。〃
General Havor does not speak this thought aloud to Arturo。 But I know he fantasizes about shooting me in the head； killing me； and immediately injecting my blood into his veins。 It is an attractive idea to him；
Arturo will not be able to stop him； or to e back at him later at an unexpected time； with an unseen dagger in his hand。 It is this latter point that is the general's primary worry。 My suggestion hits home； and I watch as my mental implant expands and warps。 General Havor can almost feel what it will be like to have my blood flow through his veins in the next few minutes。 I give the idea another nudge。
〃Why wait for the witch's blood？〃
Again； General Havor does not share this idea aloud with Arturo。
Still； he is not ready to open the door。
Stretching and breathing normally； I slowly e out of my trance。 Enough for mental gymnastics。 It is time for brutal force。 Climbing to my feet； I study the supposedly impenetrable door； then launch my attack。 I leap into the air and plant three extremely powerful kicks on the hard metal with my feet。 In quick succession I leap again and again； alternately pounding the door with first my right then my left foot。 The door doesn't give； but the noise I create is deafening。 Outside I can hear them shouting to one another； and I know what the general is thinking。 The witch is going to break out。 I may as well open the door and kill her while I have her cornered。 To hell with Arturo。
I keep up the pounding。
By this time； I am sure； Guard One and Guard Three have wet their pants。
After five minutes； I pause。 Something is happening。
I strain to listen with my ears。 General Havor and Arturo are arguing again。
〃You are playing right into her hands！〃 Arturo yells。 〃The only protection we have from her is this cell。 Open it and you open the door to death…both for yourself and your men。〃
〃How long do you think that door can withstand that barrage？〃 General Havor asks。 〃See； there are cracks in the walls。〃
〃The cracks are in the walls that hold the metal cage！ The cage itself shows no sign of giving。〃
〃I don't believe it！〃 General Havor snaps。 〃I say we face her now when we're armed and ready。 Better she die than escape。〃
〃But what about her blood？ We need it。〃
〃There'll be plenty of her blood lying around when I finish with her。〃
Arturo hesitates。 He lowers his voice。 〃Plenty of blood for what？〃
General Havor does not answer。 He knows there will be only enough blood l