He lookedpletely on edge, unable to hide his anxiety.


    Hurting others was the thing he feared most-unlike Jasper. Jasper was his pr opposite, thriving on causing harm and never hesitating to seize control.


    "Tie you up?" Calliope considered the idea but shook her head after a pause. "That''ll only push him over the edge."


    "Then what are we supposed to do?" ck Spider''s voice trembled with uncertainty. "I can''t predict when he''ll take over. And when he does, it''s like I just ck out—I can''t break free, I can''t stop him, and he never lets me see what he''s nning!"


    "Let me try something different," Calliope told him softly. "Maybe some acupuncture —it worked for you before, remember? We never finished those sessions. Let''s see if picking up where we left off makes a difference this time."


    She studied him with intense, searching eyes. "Back then, it helped. I believe it can help now too. But I don''t have much time, so we''ll need to move quickly."


    She couldn''t shake the worry gnawing at her for Mavis. She needed to take care of things here fast and get back to her side. Even though Uriah and Portia were with Mavis, there was still the lingering fear that Mavis might not wake up. Calliope knew she had to consult more experts, find a better solution.


    "All right," ck Spider said, the trust in his eyes unwavering. "Whatever you say, I''m in. I know you''ll do the right thing."


    Calliope gave him a nod.


    Standing off to the side, Damien''s frown deepened. As soon as ck Spider stepped away for a moment, Damien hurried over to Calliope and lowered his voice. "I don''t like this. This guy-he''s dangerous. With his dissociative identity thing there''s no telling when he''ll snap of which version of him we''ll get. He needs a psychiatrist, not holistic therapy. No offense, but this is way out of your wheelhouse."


    He pressed on, “Let''s just grab Nigel and get out of here. If he needs help, we''ll find


    a shrink to take over, but you shouldn''t be putting yourself at risk."


    Damien couldn''t shake a bad feeling. They were in unfamiliar territory-hardly the ce to tryè experimental treatments, especially with someone as unstable as ck Spider Psychiatric hospitals could be rough under the best


    circumstances. The thought of ck Spider losing control here was


    enough to set rm bells ringing.


    "For everyone''s safety, we have to leave," Damien insisted. "If he slips into another personality, or develops an even more dangerous one, there''s too few of us to hold him back!"


    Nigel arrived then, catching the tail end of Damien''s protest. He nodded in agreement. "He''s right. We should get out, and fast."


    But Calliope stood her ground. "I made him a promise-I said I''d treat him. I know there''s a risk, but I have to give it a shot."


    Damien pushed back, "Fine, but if you''re set on helping him, at least do it back in Capitalton. Staying here is just too risky. Let''s not wait around to see what happens."


    Nigel nodded again. "He''s right. We


    can take him with us, but it''s not


    safe to stay. Things are tense


    enough in this ce as it is and his case is way tooplicated to handle here."