Keeley Thomson (Book 4): Demon Trap by P.S. Power Page B

month and a half, just in case Xenses showed back up.
    Nodding a bit, Keeley agreed, in general. She didn't have time to explore that kind of option though, and didn't really care at the moment, not needing to torture Fram for his attempt on her. After all, it had clearly been designed to fail. Whoever had done it hadn't even tried to warn him that she could take him like she had, even though it was common enough knowledge, after what she'd done to Ma'at. Xenses too.
    Getting it all set up took hours, which meant that the new Barb would have to get herself around in the morning, since Keeley needed to get home and eat soon. They had visiting to do after all. She was blocking her hunger, but had Darla to remind her, since she was tagging along. Probably just in case Fram found some way to break the link and come for her. So far he didn't even seem to be struggling very hard. It was a bit surprising, to tell the truth.
    As she sat at the kitchen table eating a pancake that was folded in half, drenched in syrup and covered with peanut butter in a thick layer, she tried to draw energy into her right hand and actually absorb it all. There was something that she'd noticed earlier, which made it far more efficient. That thing that Zack had done, re-circulating the energy inside herself, given her more time to try and grab it.
    Her sister noticed too.
    "Very nice. The integration is at about seventy percent. I want to see at least ninety though. Remember to use that store of energy first, when possible too. Keep this up and you'll be back to regular eating habits in no time." A pan clanked on the stove and the next pancake came off. "For one of us at least. I can't say I'm all that happy about you being discovered like that. My guess is that Xen, or one of his cronies, put the word out. Of course, they're the ones we were hiding you from, so I can't see it as that big of a deal. Now we know that they have the information. Less than perfect, but not impossible to handle. I have to say I liked the way you handled that Wen'pth earlier. Perfect for the setting, and you did it so casually it looked like you didn't even think she might be a threat. Not that she was. Most won't bother you now though. Just the loonies."
    Keeley kept drawing energy into her palm and fixed more food with her left hand. There was a tiny ball of light that was forming, which she dimmed considerably by drawing in more of the power from what she was doing. Darla saw it and didn't bother to nod at all. It was clear that her new plan as far as her sister was concerned was to hold high standards and cut her very little slack. That meant praise would really have to be earned now. No more pats on the back just for finishing her supper or anything.
    "I hope it isn't a big problem, but I guess I need to work on fighting more. I know that it's my favorite thing personally, being beaten up daily. Good exercise for you though, what with all the cardio you're going to get chasing me around." It sounded a bit muffled, since food was getting ready to go into her mouth as she started speaking. A girl had to have priorities after all, and right now she needed to have a consistently high energy level.
    Someone was out to get her after all. Who knew when they'd attack? Or what form that would come in even.
    "True enough. If you have things in hand here, I'm going to head home and do some work. Coretechs is busy this time of year. It's mainly signing papers, but has to be done."
    "No problem. See you in a few days?" It sounded pretty casual, but there was a reason for that. It was the twenty-first now. Keeley still had presents to deliver and all that.
    "Sure. Maybe sooner. Fram... really shouldn't be a problem. He can be a moron, but... honestly, if you can keep him in check about one percent of the time, it might actually improve his life. Besides it will give you someone to experiment with that isn't a family member or someone that will take things too seriously. Like Hally." She