Dani stood in a shadowy area just outside the bright reach of skylights criss-crossing the ceiling. The area was a typical mall milieu. The artificial trying to look natural. Bright, open counters, lots of stone tile. Green and growing things and scattered wooden seats breaking up the traffic patterns so shoppers couldn’t take a straight line through but were directed toward possible impulse purchases.
The scent of cookies drifted past on recycled air. Dani turned towards the smell like a flower to the sun. That’s where he would be. By the cookies.
She almost did it. Almost stepped out into the light. Something stopped her. No, not something. A feeling that someone was looking for her. Someone?
Him. Dark Lord. Here?
She shrank back against the wall. How could that be? The only people w
