Abe burst through the door and fixed his eyes on Ava, who looked much more pale than when he'd left her. "I don't know what you two are yelling about," he said in a surprisingly authoritative tone, "but you'd better shut up if Ava is ever to recover."

Charlie opened his mouth to speak, but Ava cut him off. "Your father used us," she spat, her color fading even more as her voice rose.

The old man had the opposite problem--his face grew increasingly red every second. "We both want to fix the watch, girl," he roared, "So why don't you tell me--is it fixed?" He thrust the golden pocket watch into her palm and stepped back, arms crossed.

It was the first time she'd ever held it, and it caught her breath for a moment. "Well?" he demanded angrily.

Ava stared at it, cool in her hand, ticking steadily away. Her voice froze in her throat. What exactly could she say? She was a Coulise, after all. She was supposed to be able to use the damn thing.