In the grey dim murk of the Howard family estate, the worms writhed on the kitchen table. Their movements had slowed long ago. Their once slimy hides were dry and leathery. They'd be dead soon. Franklin knew that much. He stood at the windows that faced onto the back green, his back to the dining table set with plates of grey death. He could feel it, the suffocating pain of their shrivel in the open air. It crawled beneath his skin, settled into his bones. The Whole would miss the worms on the table. The Whole would never forget their sacrifice.

It didn't have to be like this.

It shouldn't have been like this.

The ache in his head was getting worse. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. Would that make it stop?

He heard the sound of nails clicking hardwood. And a voice spoke inside his head, You humans are terribly ugly in your melancholy.

"I am not melancholic," growled Franklin. "Nor am I human, for that matter."

The saber tooth chuffed and collapsed on the Victorian rug, its girth covering the entire thing. Your guise to the world is human, and is vulnerable to all the same things humans are. For all intents and purposes, you are human.

"Need I remind you," Franklin growled, "I did not ask for this assignment. I was chosen."

The saber laughed -- oh yes, sabers can laugh. A deep and breathy thing, it rattles the earth and sets bones trembling. For Franklin, it only aggravated his headache. Ah yes - how could I forget all the favor you hold from our queens. How is that working for you now, old friend?

Franklin frowned. They both knew Franklin's favor with the queens was waning. Both he and his saber companion could feel it as sure as one can feel a brewing storm.

And anyway, the saber went on, if I recall correctly, it was only the Third who wanted to send you on this mission.

The pain in his mind flared, and Franklin turned on the saber, snarling, "You dare suggest our Third Queen is less than her sisters?"

Tut tut, said the saber. I am only saying, by my recollection the First and Second were quite against your overtaking of the cruise ship boy.

The truth of the Saber's words could not be denied. The First and Second Queens were dubious at best that Franklin's mission to overtake the humans Eidon and Celia was a worthwhile effort. But the Third -- she had vision. She saw what could be accomplished with the Whole in the heads of the closest humans to their final aims. They could kill Eidon and Celia, sure. But what purpose would that serve? No. The Third saw what Franklin saw himself - with Eidon and Celia controlled by the Whole, their ability to infiltrate mankind would be greater. First Eidon and Celia, and then the girls who glimpsed their queens in dreams. The girl from the sharks and the girl from the unicorns.

But the Panic room was not something Franklin had planned for. They'd been in there for days. How long before they starved?

Strange creatures, humans, the saber mused. Constructing caves within caves. And a tar pit at it's heart.

"It's a room," snapped Franklin, his mind throbbing too much to try to explain construction and architecture to his companion, yet again. "Nothing more."

They can't escape, the Saber shot back. And we can't go in after them. It is a tar pit if ever there was one.

"Perhaps if you had just caught them--"

Perhaps if you had been less cocky! You can hide from yourself, but not from me, old friend. You wanted to see that boy, that girl from the ship. You wanted to watch them cower when you revealed our brothers on your plates. Wanted to smell the terror escape their pores. You should have done like I said from the beginning, and ambushed them in their sleep!

"Shut up!" shouted Franklin, his hands flying to his head. The ache was swelling, pulsing, and his vision began to swim.

Your human mind is fighting you again, the saber noted. Surprisingly strong for one so young. These giant felines are quiet creatures. So long as they're fed, it is quite a peaceful mind.

"You are too peaceful," Franklin spat. "What use are you if a couple of teenagers can outrun you?"

This ludicrous dwelling is full of doors.

"Mighty beast. Felled by doors."

Your tarpit has a very hard door. And I'm not a bit embarrassed. You put the metal door there, not me.

He hated his companion -- useless and endlessly annoying. An overgrown house cat more than saber tooth. And ever the critic. He hated him more for being right. The human mind of the Franklin boy was fighting him. Had been since he'd taken control of his body. The boy never stopped resisting. It was exhausting. And if he were honest, he was afraid he might lose control.

"The human did!" said Franklin. "Or his parents. I didn't know the room existed."

Exactly.

"What?"

You didn't know. Because you haven't let your mind mingle with your host's. Haven't embraced the life you commandeered. If you had, you would have known the room was there. But you didn't. And here we are.

Franklin turned back to the window, unable -- no, unwilling -- to face the truth of his friend's words. Was he so transparent? Of course he hadn't let his mind mingle with the boy's. It was all he could do to keep it contained. If he let the boy who used to be Franklin free of the cage he kept in the corner of his mind, the boy might overwhelm him.

And then the queen --

His true Queen --

She'd witness his failure. And that would not do.

Though if the Saber had noticed his struggles, how much did his Queen already know?

"What do I call you?" Franklin asked.

Call me?

"The boy. This body. His kin call him Franklin. What is your cat form called?"

Sabers don't have names. Just like the Whole. And this is what's so dangerous about you, old friend. You want a name. You want to be separated out.

"I want only to serve my queens well."

So they...so she... can see how special you are.

Franklin stiffened, the blood in his veins turning cold. His secret, his shame, his desire. So it was well known to the Whole. He'd built up his mental defenses all his life, shielded his mind from the mingling, teaming, writhing threads of the others -- the Whole. From the massive, all powerful,  all seeing presence of the Queens. His Queen. The Third.

If he failed her...he wouldn't be allowed to live.

And then she was there -- magnificent and bright as a nebula in his mind's eye, as oppressive and powerful and ancient as the sun.

Time is running out, she said, her voice, her essence, thrumming through the marrow of his bones. They are coming for you.

Who?

The others, she said. Others like the boy who's body you took. They will be here shortly. You must overtake the boy and girl from the ship.

I will, my queen.

You'd best, she seethed. Their throats are dried to dust by now. If they stay confined much longer, they'll die....and so will you.

I won't fail you, my queen, Franklin promised -- an endless, heavy vow that would outlive the universe if it had to.

Then extract them from their cage, she raged. The others will be here by nightfall tomorrow.

And then she was gone, as suddenly and as overwhelmingly as she'd arrived.

And his choice was made for him. Eidon and Celia would come out from hiding. Franklin would drag them out, kicking and screaming if he must. Because death, for Eidon and Celia, could not be permitted.