I grinned and walked over to the palm, tracing the pattern of the ward that hung in front of it onto a nearby lamp.

"The protection ward. Very good," Nora said. I shot her a look of gratitude before continuing to the next ward.

"The luck ward. Well drawn."

The patterns I drew in the air didn't last like Nora's did—I assumed it had something to do with my inexperience—but the symbols burst into sparkly life for a second before dissolving away into nothing. By the time I drew the last one, I was feeling much better. Nora might be bound by the rules of proctoring to avoid helping me outright, but she was obviously taking my unorthodox entrance into her world into consideration as she set the tests. I thanked my stars that she, rather than Marvabelle, had offered to conduct the ritual.

"Excellent," Nora said as I finished and came back to stand before her. There was the usual momentary sense of loss as my vision returned to normal, but it took a lot of energy and concentration to look at the world the pretty way. I could do it for only short amounts of time, "You will now please recite the names of the eight princes of Abaddon."

Now that was something I knew. I hadn't read all those ancient medieval demonology texts for nothing! "In alphabetical order, they are Amayon, Ariton, Asmodeus, Ashtaroth, Bezlebud, Oriens, and Paymon."

"Very good. Now name for me three demons and the demon lords they are bound to."

I almost laughed out loud. "Ilarax is bound to Magoth, Bafamal is bound to Ashtaroth, and ... er ... Effrijim is bound to me."

Laughter flashed in her eyes. "That is correct. The last part of the ritual involves you drawing and closing a circle with which you might summon a being."

"That's it?" I asked, a little stunned. "I just need to draw and close a circle? I don't have to summon a demon or anything?"

"No. Applicants to the position of apprentice generally do not have the experience or skill to do something so demanding as to summon a demon."

Well, hell! I could draw a circle with my eyes closed. I knelt carefully on the wood tile floor, accepting the piece of chalk she handed me, drawing a circle about two feet in diameter. I didn't have any blood, ash, or salt to seal the circle (all of which were used for varying purposes), but since it wasn't intended to do anything, I pulled a strand of my hair out and carefully laid it across the point where the circle started and ended. Then I stood and called the four quarters, which had the effect of extending the circle from the mortal world to the Otherworld.

"I guess that's it," I said, as I stood looking at the circle.

"Yes, that is it. And it was very well done, too. I especially liked the peace signs you drew as wards when you called the quarter, A very unique and fascinating touch."

I gnawed my lip, wondering if my improvisation would count against me, but Nora was smiling. She rubbed out the chalk circle with the toe of her shoe and gave my arm a little squeeze. "You needn't look so worried, Aisling. You completed the ritual successfully, and with seven minutes to spare. I will inform the committee tomorrow morning that you have done so. You are free to seek a mentor with the goodwill of the L'au-dela."

"Thank god. I don't think I could stand to be kicked out of one more thing."

She walked with me to the elevators, and I wished with all my heart that I could summon up the nerve to ask her to be my mentor. But I had read the etiquette in the conference packet—it wasn't polite to pressure a potential mentor. There were more apprentices than mentors, and some people ended up waiting years before they found a mentor willing to take them under their wing. Much as I wanted to beg Nora to teach me, I kept my mouth shut and simply thanked her for making time in her schedule to oversee the ritual. "There is one thing I'd like to know," I said while we waited for an elevator. "Why do some people call it L'au-dela and others refer to it as the Otherworld?"

"The words are interchangeable, and it's just personal preference which you choose to call it. L'au-dela is the closest approximation to Otherworld to be found in mortal languages. Amongst other things, the words translate to 'beyond,' which I believe is really a better name for the society than 'Otherworld.' It's not an other world ... it's just a state beyond the mortal one."

"Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I think I'll stick with—oh, hi, Tiffany. Off to virgin?"

She stepped from the elevator clad in a length of translucent silver material draped in toga fashion. It didn't take much of a glance to see that she was naked underneath the material. "Good evening, Aisling. Good evening, Nora. Yes, the Mages have contracted me to conduct cleansing rituals by the light of the goddess. It is said that a drop of blood from a virgin under a full moon will restore a man's virility and a woman's purity, will reclaim a lost soul, and remove even the most stubborn tarnish stain."

"Wow," I said, trying hard not to laugh. "That's some powerful blood you have!"

"Oh, yes, very powerful. Now you see why being a professional virgin is such an important job. Just think of all the people whose lives I am making better with just one tiny little drop of my perfect blood I AIL those men able to make happy little babies, and women who will be able to be as they once were. It is a gift I share with the many peoples."

"Selfless to the core," I said, giving her a little wave as she headed toward the front door, where a group of men in expensive suits and shiny shoes were waiting for her. "What I'd give to have that sort of belief in your own abilities."

Nora laughed as we got into the elevator. She asked for my floor number, pressing her own, just one floor above Drake's. "I suspect the chastity she must embrace would soon have you wishing for a little less self-confidence."

I slid a curious glance at her, aware that we had just a few seconds before the elevator arrived at Drake's floor. Would I kill any chances I had with her if I asked her what I wanted to know? No. My chances were long since blown. It couldn't possibly hurt. "I realize this is going to sound very invasive and rude, but I have a really good reason for asking. Have you ... have you ever summoned an incubus?"

Her eyes widened just a little. "That is a very personal question."

I couldn't help it. A faint blush rose under the mildly offended look she was giving me. "I know it is, it's impertinent and nosy, and honestly, Nora, I wouldn't ask it if it didn't have some bearing on something important, but it does, and if you wouldn't mind telling me, I'd really like to know."