"We're 0 for 2 so far," Pari muttered, still suspicious of the vanishing children.

Roo hesitated outside the door, then called, "Do you mind if I break your house a little bit, just to prove that I am who I am?"

"Okay," Roo said uncertainly. "I'm going to do it."

"Feofil, the woman's about to break your house." Pari's gaze flickered between him and the door. "We either face this thing head on or get buried in the rubble."

“What do you have to do,” she asked, giggling and draping herself over him, her lips dancing against the rim of his ear, arms laced around his neck. “That’s more important than me? Come on, Leriph. It can be a quickie, that’s hot.”

“Yeah? How?”

The man lurched forward, reaching out for Rhea's hand. She side stepped him easily and watched with some concern as he just barely managed to right himself, leaning against the wall. "Aw, fuck you, Leriph."

“Did something happen, kotenok?” Saskia asked, rubbing the spot between his shoulder blades.

“I know you think you’re totally independent but you need support,” Saskia told him. “Both of you. Please, Parisa, just stop there for an hour, maybe two. You’ve been gone for months. I know you think your cousin hates you but you barely see him. I see him every day. You won’t believe how much he misses you.”

“Feo,” she sighed. “I don’t…”

Pari looked at him oddly. "You want the details?"
Sparrow looked like she really wanted them too, but wisely, did not say anything.

Pari watched him shove furniture aside, a hint of warmth pooling in her stomach despite the chill in the air. It was just that she was woozy, that was all. Feo and and the tautness of his muscles had nothing to do with it. "You trapped them in there?"
But before he could answer, a thin, keening noise sounded from the staircase. Pari whipped around, her eyes flashing with alarm.