Ian, Nora, and Michelle spent the next few hours pouring over that strange book, looking for any clues as to how to stop the realms from colliding. But the whole thing was strangely cryptic. It didn't even have any advice on how to get to the other realms. Useless. So the only things they knew would come from Ian's own limited experience. And his being tricked by those shadows really showed him just how little his own knowledge was worth.

It was dark by the time they finally decided to take a break and grab dinner downstairs. And afterwards, Ian told Nora and Michelle that he was going to take a walk. It had stopped raining, so at least he wouldn't have to meet Sophie in a downpour. He walked around the side of the building, slightly out of the light. She wasn't expecting him, and there was an excellent chance that if she saw him, she'd turn right around.

Finally, he saw her. She wasn't facing his direction, so he walked over as quickly as he could, trying not to alert her to his presence. He put his hand on her shoulder, taking slight satisfaction as she jumped. She turned around, and when she saw him, her eyes went wide.

"Hello." he whispered. He was pleased to see it sounded much more sinister than he'd intended.

"Iamin!" she said, taking a step back. "You're here."

"I am." he agreed. "Surprised?"

"You were recalled..."

"I was. Came back."

"How?" Sophie asked, dropping her voice to a whisper to match his. Clearly, she thought he wanted secrecy. He decided not to disabuse her of the notion. He didn't think Nora was around, but that didn't mean he wanted anyone else to overhear.

"You lied about what happened." he said, not answering her question.

"I said you were gone..."

"Then why did Nora think I was dead?" he snapped.

"I told her you were gone. She assumed you were dead." Sophie replied, equally as venomous. "How is that my fault?"

"How is it not?"

"Because if you'd ever told her what you really are, she wouldn't have assumed that, would she?"

Ian sneered. She might have been right, but that was hardly the point. Instead, he asked, "And I supposed you told David about yourself?"

Sophie hesitated. Then, she said something he didn't expect. "He knows now."

"Now? Since when?"

Sophie shrugged. Now, it was her turn to ignore the question. "I gave her clues, you know. Not my fault she didn't take the hint."

"What clues?" Ian wanted to know.

"I gave her chocolates- the ones you'd always gotten for her. Dropped them off at her apartment. I even remembered your anniversary."

Ian was almost shocked at the stupidity of the comment. Did she really understand so little about humans that she thought that would work?

"The fact that you're 'gone', along with the chocolates at her apartment would have been more than enough for her to know you were alive." Sophie insisted. "I wasn't going to do it again this year anyway. I figured if you weren't back by now, they'd never let you return. And then, what would be the point? How did you convince them to let you come back anyway?"

"...I didn't give them a choice." Ian admitted slowly.

"You strong-armed them? Didn't think you had it in you."

Ian just grinned. It was better that she thought that. It would have been what any self-respecting denizen of the Realm of Rage would have done. But Ian hadn't had any leverage.

"So how's Nora taking it?" Sophie asked.

"I'm spending the night with her tonight." Ian told her casually, like it was something he'd planned. He didn't see the need to mention that Michelle was going to be glaring at him the whole time. Or the fact that she was only going along with it because of how pitiful he'd looked when she'd first seen him; she didn't have the heart to turn him out.

"Well, congratulations." Sophie said, sounding genuinely impressed.

A car pulled up in the parking lot, momentarily illuminating them. Ian didn't pay any attention. Sophie didn't either, until she saw the driver.

"Hmmm...wonder what he's doing here?"

She looked so interested that Ian was almost curious. He leaned around her, watching as a tall guy with dark hair got out of a too-flashy sportscar. He walked across the parking lot to the hotel's front doors. Someone was standing under the overhang, arms crossed. With the light coming from behind her, it took him a minute to realize it was Nora. Suddenly, he was as interested as Sophie.

"Who's that?" Ian asked.

"Nora hasn't introduced you?" Sophie asked. Ian couldn't tell if she was surprised or amused. And when he shook his head, she grinned. "Let's go meet him."

She took off purposefully across the parking lot before Ian had time to stop her.

"Hey, Nora!" Sophie called out, waving cheerfully. Ian just followed behind, grumbling to himself.