I was in the kitchen, preparing for the evening meal when the doorbell rang.It was Nicole. She just barged in, "Is Richard here, Amy?" What was up wit...h her. She was already getting on my nerves. I replied, "He is sleeping. He is very tired because of his trip. Just leave him for today."Nicole looked disappointed. But then something came in her mind and her face suddenly perked up. "Amy, I know it is too much to ask but can I, ummm..... take a look?"I knew where this was going. In serious tone I. Without any warning, not even the slightest hint that Brad could think of, she was gone. That bitch took everything of value she could pack. My watches, my class ring, my camera, even the pre-Civil War gold coin my grandfather had given me. That bitch! And of course, the bitch emptied my checking and savings account of the money my aunt had left me. She had been my last living relative. Man, my aunt was a great lady. Goddammit, it all sucks. “Whoa!” Brad sat up quickly. “A tree!” They had. "The snorting sound Tami made suggested less than total agreement. "Here's the thing," I said, laying both hands on Darlene's shoulders and looking into her eyes. "We've got a status quo. You're out of the house and out of his reach. If you go for emancipation, we could lose and some idiot judge might order you back into Steve's house. Then Robbie's dad could get some headaches over harboring you if you don't go." I thought you said I had a good chance. Or was that Robbie too." Robbie said it,. But it is what it is.”“So far, our powers appear to match those of the adelshaut or foot-soldiers and the technology we use matches, and can deal with, their ghosin,” Roxanne added.“What of these bug things?” Mage Cixi asked.“The Orc records call them troichin; they’re usually unleashed just before an attack by the adelshaut. We believe the eggs are an energy source, possibly for the patripure leadership, but so far have no evidence for this,” Mage Kyra replied.“Bug spray?” Mage Tara.