charged. This is a bad bust, Leary, and it won't stand up. I haven't even been advised of my rights."

charged. This is a bad bust, Leary, and it won't stand up. I haven't even been advised of my rights."

while we're waiting for the lawyer to show up so your rights can be protected, I'm going to ask the nice

sergeant out there to lock you up with the nastiest cellmates he can find. Now do you get the picture?"

"Tell me something," Kira said. "Were you always such a cunt or did you work at it?"

"Okay, honey, you asked for it."

"Oy vey!" Broom said, throwing its hands up to where its head would have been if it had a head.

"Shut up, Stick," Kira snapped.

"You," Megan said, pointing at Broom. "Get back in that corner and stay there until I tell you to move.

And if I hear so much as one peep out of you, I'll snap you over my knee!"

Broom hastily shuffled back into the corner and stood there, wringing its hands.

"Look at me," said Megan.

Kira stared up at her defiantly. "Go ahead, bitch. Do your worst."

Megan Leary's eyes began to glow with a blue light as she started concentrating, her lips moving

soundlessly as she mouthed the words of the compulsion spell. Kira simply smiled at her. After a moment

or two Megan's eyes narrowed and a frown creased her forehead. She redoubled her efforts.

"What's the matter," Kira said, "losing your touch?"

The glow faded from Megan's eyes. "It's impossible," she said. "I'm a ninth-level sorceress! Youcan't be

stronger than me!"

"Ninth level, huh?" said Kira. "According to your file, you're only level eight."

"I passed my ninth levels last month, damn them," she said. "Theystill haven't updated . . ." She caught

herself. Kira grinned.

"You can't possibly be more advanced than I am," Megan said. "You're too young. Unless . . ."

"Before you go jumping to any conclusions," Kira said, "the answer is no, I haven't rejuvenated myself

with someone else's life energy. I'm not a necromancer. If I was, I wouldn't be here and you'd be dead."

"Who the hellare you?"