13
A shrouded figure waited outside the gates to the Lovelace mansion.
The gates opened, and Darius, Terrance, and I walked out to meet him.
The man wore a cloak with a hood over his face. He stood like a floating shadow in the middle of the street.
A woman lay sleeping at his feet. She had a bruise on her forehead and looked as if she had been thrown there.
“Greetings, dream mage,” the man said.
“Why don’t you take down your hood for a minute so we can see your face?” Terrance asked.
The figure ignored him.
“I would be silly to think that you’re Balthus,” I said. “Because that would be too easy.”
“I am not Balthus,” the man said. “But Balthus sent me. You are finally understanding how we operate.”
“Exactly,” I said. “And you’re going to deliver a message for me.”
“Actually, I h
