Charon's Crossing

"No," she said. "No, I really need to tell you now. You probably won't believe me at first, but—"

"You're right, Kathryn. He won't believe you, so why waste your breath?"

Kathryn almost jumped out of her skin. Matthew was standing less than ten feet behind Jason, leaning back against the banister of the staircase, arms folded and feet crossed casually at the ankles.

"Are you crazy?" she hissed. "Get out of here!"

Jason drew back in bewilderment. "But you just said you were glad to see me."

Kathryn's gaze shot to his. "I am," she said quickly. "Very glad."

"Then, why did you say—"

"I wasn't talking to you!"

"You weren't?"

"No. Of course not. I was talking to—"

"He can't see me, remember?" Matthew said lazily.

Kathryn ignored him. "I wanted to break the news slowly, Jason, so that it wouldn't come as a shock..."

"Are you going to tell him about me?"

"...so that it wouldn't come as a shock," she said hurriedly, "but—"

"How generous," Matthew said pleasantly. He leaned away from the banister and strolled to where Kathryn and Jason stood, frowning as he peered into Jason's face. "Though I suppose it is wise to be solicitous of a man who looks like a lump of dough. You wouldn't want to put too much of a strain on his heart."

"Shut up," Kathryn said furiously.

Jason's eyebrows rose. "I didn't say anything."

"Oh, not you, Jason."

"But you said—"

"I know what I said, but I wasn't talking to you."

"Kathryn," Matthew said in the reasonable tone he might have used with a child or a puppy, "I think you really should reconsider. He's only going to think you're insane if you tell him about me. His sort will never understand things like me."

"You wish!"

"It's the simple truth."

"He will. You'll see! He loves me."

Matthew shook his head. "Female logic," he said with a condescending smirk. "It makes no more sense in this century than it did in the last."

"Kathryn?" Jason gave an uneasy laugh. "What's going on? Who are you talking to?"

Kathryn swept the tip of her tongue over her lips. "Look, Jason, I know this is going to come as a shock, but..." She gave a hopeless shrug. "Just turn around."

"Turn around?"

"Yes," she said impatiently. "Just turn around and... and look."

Jason turned. He looked. Then he smiled uncertainly.