Every moment marked

With apparitions of your soul.

However swiftly moving

I'm trying to escape this desire.

The yearning to be near you

I'll do what I have to do&

But I have the sense to recognize

That I don't know how to let you go."

Sarah McLachlan: 'Do What You Have To Do'

From the album: 'Surfacing'

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Dear Joe:

By now you've probably already read theletter of resignation that this was folded into.

I want you to know that I'm OK. The medicalproblem cited as my reason for resignation is not life threatening,but does make continuing my job impossible. I know you don'tunderstand; there's a lot I can't tell you. You'll just have to trustme on this.

It's been fun, Joe. Lots of hard work,frustration, and long hours, but rewarding as well. I met manywonderful people to offset the dregs of society. Your friendship wasone of the best benefits of my employment. I will miss you.

Please don't worry about me (although youprobably will). It isn't necessary. I really am going to be allright. Take care of yourself.

Affectionately,

Catherine

With a sigh, Catherine set down the pen and readover what she had written. A simple, tersely worded letter ofresignation for the files, although necessary, was not what sheneeded to say to Joe. Even this wasn't what she really wanted tosay.

Of all the things she had to give up, this wasthe worst. She would miss Nancy and Jenny desperately, of course.Even though they didn't manage to get together too often, knowing allpossibility of another meeting was gone, that hurt. There were manythings she would miss. But her job, the camaraderie she had found,that sense of accomplishment when some sleazeball got what hedeserved, the thrill of putting her training to productive use, thatloss hurt the most.

Giving herself a mental shake, Catherine foldedthe letter and tucked it into an envelope. Marking the envelope tothe attention of Joe Maxwell, and adding a Personal and Confidentialnotation, she sealed it and inserted it into a large brown manilaenvelope. The contents were double checked one more time. Parkingpass, District Attorney ID, desk keys, notes on her personal filingsystem for her replacement, and the ten dollars she owed Edie. It wasall there. This was it. Resolutely ignoring the tear that slid downher cheek, she sealed the package. One of the children would be by totake it to Peter later on.

It took about ten minutes of a normal pace towalk from her chamber to Father's study. She could make it in a lotless of course, but Catherine felt very shy of exhibiting her newdifferences in this way. After the confrontation in Father's studyyesterday, things had begun to settle down. However, at evening mealmany had still looked upon her new features with some disquiet. Toher mind, the less unnecessary notice she attracted right now, thebetter. Halfway to Father's study however, she veered away and took adifferent tunnel. She didn't really want to endure the stares rightnow. She wasn't in the mood to make idle conversation. All she reallywanted was to be alone. To brood.

Catherine might have wandered for miles, shewasn't sure. This new body, now that it had recovered from its ordealof change, had such stamina! What would have left her tired beforewas barely even felt now. The movement felt good, helped calm andorder her thoughts. Absently, Catherine ran her right hand againstthe side of the tunnel wall, letting just the tip of one claw scoreagainst the rock, feeling the tug of unfamiliar muscles around thebase. She could never have done this with her former manicured nails;it would have ruined them. Deliberately, she dug it in harder, untilan audible screech resulted from the friction. A sound she had heardbefore, in the catacombs. When Vincent was sick.

They'd had a long talk last night. After he hadreturned and received an admonishment from Father, Vincent hadaccompanied her to evening meal. It hadn't been the easiest dinnershe had ever struggled through, but Vincent's stalwart presencehelped. The children, however, had been a joy. Unlike the adults,they thought her new features were "awesome." Still, neither she norVincent had been truly prepared to answer that one inevitablequestion. The question had come from, of all people, Eric.

"Why are you like this now?" Curious eyes peeredthrough thick glasses. "Can I be like Vincent, too?" The secondquestion brought a start of surprise from the man at her side. Neverwould he have believed that anyone would wantto look like him. Somewhat at a loss, they had glanced at each otherfor help. A measure of silence fell across their section of the tableas the other children, and many adults, waited for an answer.

"Well, Eric," Catherine had finally replied,"Dr. Alcott thinks that there is something in my body, something thathas been a part of me since I was born, that has always wanted to bethis way. Having Vincent around just finally showed it the way tomake it real."

Kipper chimed in. "Can you switch back andforth?"

"Yeah, can you? That would be totally awesome."The group of children greeted this entire concept with greatenthusiasm. Fragments of statements such as "neat, like a werewolf orsomething", "bet it would be gory", "Yeah, maybe like your lungsgetting all ripped out n'stuff", "Eeewwwww!"

"Enough!" Vincent rumbled loudly over thegleeful cacophony. "This is very new to all of us, especially toCatherine. Did you stop to think how your ghoulish comments mighthurt her?" Instantly, several muttered apologies came from therepentant mob. "In answer to your question Kipper, neither of us canswitch. This is what we are."

"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings Catherine, Ididn't mean to. But Vincent's always been totally cool, and nowyou're even cooler, don't you think?" Noting that dessert had begunto be served, Kipper had not waited for a reply but with a quick"excuse me" had led the pack to the serving table.

Catherine let out a relieved breath and dippedher head to hide the rather ominous looking bunching of her facialmuscles, which passed for an irrepressible grin. Really, it was laughor cry, and she was sick of crying. Daring a glimpse up, she wasstruck by Vincent's obvious woebegone expression. Instantlyconcerned, without thinking she had reached over to touch his arm."Are you all right?"

"I don't truly know. It's puzzling." AtCatherine's inquiring tilt of the head, he continued. "Only havingjust now discovered that all-unknowingly I had held the status ofMost Awesome and Cool, that particular honor has been summarilysnatched away by the new kid. I find my feelings quite grievouslyhurt."

For a moment, Catherine had thought he wasserious, until a little poke of fun sneaked its way through the bond.Eyes widening, she had burst into helpless laughter. It had lightenedup a rather tense mealtime.

In some cases, I suppose this could be considered cool, Catherine museddistractedly as she examined the nail she had run over the rock. Itshowed no sign of having been scraped across rough stone. Catherinestretched her fingers and rotated her hand speculatively as she cameto a halt. 'I told Vincent that hands like these were beautiful, thatthey were my hands. Humph. They're mine now, all right, literally.But& are they beautiful? Now that they're truly myown?'

Since she had left her apartment, she had notallowed herself to really contemplate or discover her new body.Awareness had been restricted to what changes had occurred in her ownoutward appearance. Inwardly though, she hadn't let herself thinkabout her new differences. A tensing of musculature in herfingertips, and her claws extended into inch and a half long razors.For as long as the muscles were kept contracted, the claws remainedin extension. Experimentation revealed that the claws retracted oncethose muscles were allowed to relax. It was fascinating to watch.

The world appeared to be made of shades of gray.It was with reluctant pleasure that Catherine realized there wereno torches in this area of the tunnels. Afew weeks ago, this would have been stygian darkness to her. Whateverlight was available here was being collected and magnified to adegree never experienced before. Closing her eyes, Catherine leanedagainst the tunnel wall and experimentally threw her newly acutesenses wide open.

A barrage of information flooded through them toher. The faint plink of a drop of water falling. There was a mustysmell of rodents, an unfortunate fact of life in the tunnels. Iron, ametallic tang she could almost taste, coming from all around. Perhapsthe rock contained iron ore? Water, a clean pure smell, but faint.The sounds of wind from further ahead. Another sense sprang to herawareness, disorienting her momentarily. A sense of 'down' and 'thisway'. It was& direction. Her limited knowledge of the tunnelscoalesced into a three-dimensional image in her head as sheconcentrated, showing her exactly where she was in relation to thesurface, and to the familiar areas. Amazing. The unexpected need tofill in those empty spots in her internal map was strong. The desireto know where Vincent was surfaced, and quite surprisingly, throughthis sense, she instantly knew. Exactly. The map in her head seemedto spin in order to display the most direct route to hislocation.

'Wow. No wonder he could always find me so fastwhen I was in trouble.' Curious and determined, Catherine set off tofind out just how well this new sense worked.

Vincent sat on his favorite ledge on the farwall of the Chamber of the Falls. He never had to worry about beingdisturbed here. It was a virtually impossible climb for anyone notnaturally equipped as he. Ever since his childhood he had alwayspreferred being high up. It was one of the reasons he climbedskyscrapers to look over the city lights. From this vantage he couldsee almost the entire cavern, including the path from the entrancedown to the several private overlooks.

Now, however, the incredible view of the fallswent virtually unnoticed. Instead, it was replaced in his mind's eyeby another view - a view of Catherine. Not as she had been, but asshe appeared now. Exotic lion-like features, sinuous grace ofmovement, and a husky voice all added up to quite a package. 'Sexy!'that other side of him exclaimed insistently. Although Vincent shiedaway from it, he had to admit that, yes, he could not help but findher intensely attractive. Not that he hadn't before, but inhindsight, he acknowledged that something had never seemed quite,well& quite right to him.Now, however&

Vincent's reverie was broken as he saw theobject of his speculative thoughts enter the huge chamber. Throughthe bond he could feel her attempting to locate him. Silently hewatched her. It was good that she was trying out some of her moreunusual senses. Unerringly she began to make her way down the correctside path. Vincent observed her as she moved carefully across theprecarious footing. She wore a familiar pair of gray leggings, and apink sweater, over which was a belted tunic of tunnel design. Shelooked& wonderful. And the way she moved! Like water over asmooth streambed. Vincent felt an unbidden rumble of appreciationvibrate soundlessly through his chest.

Catherine knew she was getting close.Deliberately, she had closed off her empathic sense of him and wastrying to use the location sense only. A distasteful underlying scentbelow the clean rock/water/moss flavor of this cavern caught herattention, and she immediately attempted to discern its nature. Allfaculties extended, she became aware of movement ahead - lots ofmovement.  Drawingcloser, the scent grew stronger and she instinctively identified it –rat. Oh, how she hated rats! The rank smell brought instant picturesin her mind: furry dirty run root around steal eat garbage scurrysqueal bite!

It was as if a hot fog descended from nowhere.Instinct rose in response to the feeling-pictures, flooding her mindwith the knowledge of exactly what to do. Catherine dropped to acrouch and stealthily made her way to the protrusion of rock near thecliff wall, where the presence of rat was strongest. The world feltlike it was in slow motion. The sound of the waterfalls receded asher entire being narrowed its focus to the prey, which she knewthronged behind the rock. Peripheral vision sharpened, the worldseemed starker. Slipping silently over the top of the rock, shelooked down.

All in a cluster, many prey. Feeling herselfgather, she drew a breath and sprang!

Landing in their midst, her foot claws shot outand skewered a hapless rodent, not even allowing it to awaken fromsleep. Immediately terror was felt. Tiny screaming non-voicesprojected feeling images of run! danger! big! A feminine roar of gleeburst out as she swiped blinding fast at a large rat, impaled it onher claws, and followed through to fling it with a meaty splatagainst the cliff face. Two more bodies followed before the pack ofrodents had scattered. Wild, instinct fully in control, she castaround for more.

There! Fifteen feet up the cliff face, awriggling brown body of an escapee, scaling desperately upwards. Noteven pausing to think, with a bubbling snarl of anticipationCatherine leapt upward. Unerringly, hard claws latched onto the cliffface, and the chase was on! Her light body, enhanced by incrediblystrong musculature, made climbing easy, especially with built-inclimbing spikes finding any crevice or protrusion in the rock forpurchase. Finally, Catherine was almost upon the fleeing rat when itscrambled onto a ledge, only to die on the end of an even biggermenace's claws.

Catherine blinked. Vincent? He was here? On theledge? Surprise almost made her lose her grip, and she grabbedVincent's proffered hand to accept his assistance. Feeling dazed, shesettled in beside him on the ledge. Gradually, the adrenaline fromthe chase dissipated.

"Father caught me hunting rats when I was aboy."

She felt her muscles relax further at thesoothing, soft rasp of Vincent's voice and her claws retracted.

"That was one lecture I'll never forget.'Diseases and unacceptable behavior' were the two major themes, Ibelieve."

Acute embarrassment rolled over her at Vincent'swords. Now she would get the same lecture. On the heels of that camemortification. How could she have done& that? And to be seen, inthat state! She had behaved like an animal! What would peoplethink?

"No! Never think that! That way lies madness, Iknow!"

Vincent paused until Catherine looked up at him,a smile pulling at his lips.

"Besides, it was fun, wasn't it?"

Catherine thought back, and once she got pastthe fact that she had actually voluntarily touched a rat, she had toadmit he was right. "Yes& it really was fun.Have you&?"

"Hunted rats lately? Not in the last month orso. You know it always seemed strange to me that, living below thesewers, underground, this community has never realized it enjoys adistinct lack of pests. I don't bring the subject up."

Catherine couldn't suppress a snort ofamusement. "So you're the Pied Piper of the Tunnels?"

Vincent chuckled. "I consider it a form oftherapy. No one knows of it. No one but you."

Catherine glanced down at the cavern floorbelow.

"I can't believe I climbed up here. It was soeasy! And I didn't even think about it, I just knew I could do it,and went for it! Just like how I found you. It's like there's thismap in my head, and when I think of you I know just where you are.It's amazing!"

"I& what are the differences you notice? Canyou tell me?"

"How do you mean?"

"Our differences. To me, they are just what Iam, all that I have ever known. It took a long time for me to figureout what other people could sense. You have a clearer perspective.How different are the senses you have now compared to before? Forgiveme if I seem eager, but this is a question that has plagued me foryears."

"Everything seems sharper. Clearer. Hearing andsmell are a lot more sensitive. A lot!Some reactions are different, they take me by surprise sometimes."Both of their minds replayed the recent rat ambush. "Plus the bond,that's new to me, at least the way it is now. I discovered thedirection sense, that's what I was doing just now, finding you byusing it. I can sense people's feelings as well, but not as stronglyas you can, I believe. And if those rats are any indication, animalsare possible as well." Catherine looked out over the magnificentview. "This is a wonderful spot. I bet you've never had to share itbefore."

Vincent nodded in agreement. "No one knows Icome here. Catherine, we have to be careful. I have always walked afine line in this community, and now that path must be yours as well.Our friends, our family Below, they know us to be different. However,I've always attempted to hide the majority of my abilities, for thesake of their comfort with me." Vincent gave a rough 'humph' andshook his mane out of his eyes, focusing on the distant waterfall."No, let me be truthful. I've been ashamed of my abilities mostly,feeling they kept me from being human. When I could stand it nolonger, I would travel to the nameless river, or explore thecatacombs, alone, to find some release from the harsh control Ienforced. A blessing, and a curse. It would feel so good to loose thereins, and yet, it would once again prove I wasn't a normal man."

"We're not though, are we? Not quite human?"Catherine turned to watch his beloved profile, expecting a look ofpain. What she saw, and felt, instead was acceptance.

"No. We're not completely human. That was mystruggle last week, and now it's yours. But we're not less thanhuman, nor are we more."

"Then& what are we?"

"Ourselves. I told you once, in this cavern,that we are something that has never been. We must find our own way.That's what we both must accept. It's not& the easiest path."

"This fine line you spoke about. It's hiding ourdifferences, isn't it? Keeping that full knowledge from people. Youmust have been holding back so much."

Vincent sighed. How he wished he had answers togive her. She was as lost as he. "It was difficult. I had alwayssuppressed everything I was, to be accepted as human. I'd done it sowell, I sometimes even convinced myself. But I think that path is notthe healthiest one. We must accept what we are, and so must ourfamily. Now, I don't think we should flaunt our differences to them,simply that we must no longer repress and refuse to acknowledge them.For example, the only person Below who knows I can extend my claws isFather. I have hidden the fact, even during a work detail whenextension would have made a job easier. I've been afraid to showthose differences. That must end. We are who we are. We must not beashamed of that. Even so, we don't need to advertise either. It isindeed a fine line we must walk." Vincent let out a huff of sarcasm."Listen to me. I sound like a wise sage, with all the answers. Suchis not the case. I'm wandering in the dark, just as you are."

"Not alone, Vincent. Neither of us is alone. Wehave each other now."

Vincent stiffened as he felt Catherine take hishand. Compelled, he looked down as he curled his own around hers. Twohands, similar yet one obviously feminine. Not quite as workroughened as his. Fascinated, Vincent raised her hand to examine itclosely. Delicate ivory claws, strong as steel, were buried in thereddish fur which crowned the back of his own hand. He tested thesharp points with his thumb. That part of him he had always thoughtof as the dark half engendered another rumble of appreciation.'Sexy'. An unbidden fantasy slid into his mind, the imagined feel ofthose claws buried in the mane on his spine, sliding down through thethick waves with delicious friction to cup&

A gasp from Catherine broke through, and helooked up automatically to meet her shocked stare. She had felt that!Acutely embarrassed, Vincent dropped his eyes to observe the pathbelow.

Catherine sat immobile with shock. 'He thinksI'm& attractive this way.' Surprise gradually fell under a tideof relief. All fears that he had found her new strangeness repulsivewere washed away. Gradually, she began to review her opinionregarding her appearance. She felt attractive, now.

Mundane matters have a tendency to interrupteven the most esoteric of thoughts, however, and she was noexception. A loud rumble came from her stomach, the same kind ofrumble that she had experienced during her former life.

Vincent tilted his head at her inquiringly.

"Pardon me, but I skipped breakfast. It must bealmost time for evening meal by now. I'm starving!"

"Perhaps it's time to head back."

Catherine felt a spurt of fun. Well, why not?"Vincent?"

"Hummm?"

"Wanna race? Bet I can beat you back to yourchamber!"

"Surely, Catherine, you can't be so misguided.There's no way you could possibly outrun me."

"You're very sure of yourself," Catherinereplied archly. "I think you're mistaken."

"Do you?"

"Yes. I think you've met your match. I used torun track, you know. Now I'm equipped to meet you on your ownterms."

Vincent pondered her request. Through the bondhe could feel the anticipation that rippled through her. She neededthis, to enjoy her new abilities, to help her accept herself. "Thenby all means, you're welcome to make the attempt."

Eye to eye, crouched on the ledge in preparationfor the climb down, the two contestants stared at each other, eachwaiting for the other to make a break. Catherine felt a lightrumbling ripple through her chest, and started in surprise. Eyebrowsraised, Vincent responded with an answering deep growl as his voicerose to meet her challenge. Muscles tensed, claws sprang out.

"Go!"

Father limped wearily down the tunnel. Everyyear it seemed like this corridor became longer. But when someoneneeded his expertise, there wasn't much choice but to respond.Pausing to resettle his medical bag, he rubbed his bad hip. Damnedthing. The last medical journals Peter had brought down spoke aboutsomething called hip replacement surgery. Right now that soundedawfully tempting. Oh, well, there was no help for it now, just onemore turn and he would reach his study. Then he-

A flash swept by him, almost bowling him over.Catherine! Hair wild, running faster than he had seen anyone move.Directly behind her, a bone chilling growl preceding him, his sonfollowed in hot pursuit, long claws flashing in the torchlight.

"What the devil? Vincent! Vincent!" In mereseconds, the two had sped around the corner. Heart in his mouth,Father set off after them.

Almost there! Peter had been right, beingsmaller and lighter than Vincent gave her an advantage in a longrace. Just outside the Chamber of the Falls, however, Vincent hadsplit off in a different direction. Mentally cursing those holes inher internal map, she just knew he was taking a shortcut. And she hadbeen right. Approaching the home tunnels he had been ahead of her.But not for long. They were neck and neck. From this direction, sheknew she could cut through the upper level of Father's study and gothrough the high tunnel to the ladder, which led down to Vincent'schamber. A burst of speed sent her just ahead of Vincent, and sheignored his prohibitive growl. Was that Father she had just passedby? No matter, she was almost there. Bursting into Father's study,she gathered herself and leapt, catching the upper rail of thebalcony, claws gouging in the old wood for purchase. In a vaultmaneuver, she was over the rail, hurdled a carelessly stacked pile ofencyclopedias and was pelting through the rough stone corridor.

Vincent skidded through Father's study, bluntedclaws scrabbling on the stone, and made the sharp left to bound upthe three steps. The lower route to his chamber was longer, but thefooting was flat and sure. Heart pounding in his chest, he burst intohis chamber, just as the lithe form of Catherine leapt from theladder to land lightly and balanced on her feet before him.

"I won!" Catherine crowed through rough drags ofdesperately needed air.

"You certainly did not, my feet touched thechamber floor before yours." Vincent, too, was struggling for breath,the long run having taken its toll on his greater mass.

Catherine did a little shuffle of a victorydance. "Yes, but I entered the actual chamber first. You're just asore loser."

"Me? A sore loser? It's you who can't bear to admit defeat!"

"Hah! Typical male!" Eyes flashing, adrenalinesurging, Catherine could not prevent a gleeful pirouette of joy."That was so much fun! I've never run so fast."

Chest heaving, Vincent had to agree. Ithad been fun. More than fun. Impulsively, hecaught Catherine as she spun, grabbing her at the waist and liftingher up. "Admit that I'm the victor."

"You?!Never! I made it herefirst!"

"I won't put you down until you've acknowledgedthe truth."

Catherine looked down into Vincent's eyes,snapping with laughter. He was playing!

"Never! And you will set me down this instant!"

"I will not, Catherine. And I can hold you likethis for a very long time."

"Can you now? I think not!" Determinedly,Catherine began to struggle. Hands going down to try to pry his ownoff her waist, she braced her feet against his thighs and pushed.Irrepressible, the giggling growls of laughter burst out of her ingusts as she fought to be free. Her strength surprised him, and heturned to brace her against the chamber wall in order to contain herwrithing body. A surprise wrap from her right leg however, trippedhim and sent him to his knees.

'Thank you, Isaac,' Catherine thought gleefullyas Vincent's grip loosened. An eel-like twist and a surprised Vincenthit the floor. Dropping on top of him, she let out a wolfish snarl,which melted to a surprised yip as his hands gripped hers and herolled, straddling her and pinning her underneath him. Dark blue eyesbored into hers, as a low dominant rumble shivered through his chest,physically felt by her in the places their bodies were pressedtogether.

In an instant, all laughter disappeared. Thiswas Vincent, his weight draped over her, his eyes caressing her, hisbreath gusting in labored pants, not all of which was now fromexertion. He felt so good, pressing down against her body. A blanketof hot and heavy male scent settled over her senses, and Catherinedrew a heady gasp of appreciation. Her hands clutched around his,where he held them fast at her sides. Deep within, a curl of helplessarousal pierced its way downward, swirling around itself in that mostfeminine place.

She wanted him. She was as aroused as he. Hecould feel it through the bond, and scent its presence as well as herbody readied itself for his possession. A submissive purr tickled hisawareness. It broadcast her willingness. She was his. His rumblinggrowl, wordless yet eloquent, increased in intensity and signaled hisunderstanding; communicating his intent. Nostrils flared as heabsorbed that drugging, intoxicating scent that confirmed hisattentions were welcomed. Desired. Craved. Glazed green eyes met hisown, and then closed in hazy anticipation as he lowered his head.

"Vincent – no! Don't hurt her! Let her up now!"

The voice! And the emotional flare of fear, forher, for them! It was like a splash of cold water. Catherine's eyessnapped open in shock as Vincent threw himself off her, hitting theside of the bed. Through the bond she felt his mortification, and hisfrustration.

Struggling to focus, and to diffuse thesituation, Catherine sat up and swept a trembling hand through herhair. "It's all right, Father. I'm not hurt. Everything's&fine."

Father stood frozen, feeling his own stirringsof mortification. Was it possible he had misread the situation? WhenVincent has rushed by him in snarling pursuit, he had feared theworst. The vicious sounding bestial noises he had overheard from themboth as he rushed in panic to this chamber had only confirmed hisfears, as had the sight that greeted his arrival - Catherine, pinneddown by his son who loomed above her, snarling. He had been sofrightened for them both. The last thing they had needed was anotherincident like Lisa, like the catacombs. But& could he have beenwrong? They now looked like two teenagers caught necking. "I'm sorry.I think I& Please accept my apologies. Vincent, shall I see youtwo in the dining hall later?"

"Yes& yes, we will be there shortly."

Catherine felt a bit sorry for the obviouslyembarrassed man, as he hurriedly departed.

After a few minutes of strained silence, Vincentlet out a huff of reluctant amusement.

Relieved, Catherine began to relax. For the lastseveral minutes she had agonized about Vincent disappearing again. "Ifeel like I've just been caught by Dad. Aren't we a bit old to feelthat way?"

"Obviously not. Regardless, I think Father justlearned a lesson about jumping to conclusions he won't forget forquite some time." Rising from the cold stone floor, he held out hishand to help Catherine up. "Was there any truth in his concern? Did Ihurt you?"

Not wanting to dismiss his fears out of hand,Catherine did a quick mental check. She was fine. "No. Nothing youdid harmed me in the slightest."

The mood was broken, however, and Vincent seemedto withdraw mentally. It was after both washed their hands and setout for the dining hall for a very welcome evening meal, that Vincentposed that question again. "Are you sure I didn't hurt you? I canfeel you have some pain on your left side."

"Oh that. That's kind of embarrassing. Ms. Proudand Free here wasn't careful enough during our race, that's all. Itook a corner too fast and bumped an outcrop."

"Truly?"

"Yes, truly. Why? What has you soconcerned?"

Vincent ducked his head and was silent for sometime. Just when she had given up on receiving an answer, the lightestof murmurs reached her ears. "I didn't hold back."

"Pardon? How do you mean?"

"Catherine. My strength. When we were&playing. Wrestling." His voice was quiet, full of wonder. "I didn'thold back. I didn't even think of it. And later& that, too. Mygrip& I held nothing back.And& you were not harmed."

Catherine met his shy gaze as he glanced down ather from beneath his shaggy mane and couldn't help but smile, for thelight of relief in his eyes, and the coursing release of his joythrough the bond, could have lit the entire world Below.