"Something like that," Alessa said. "But it struck me as a true moment where something of Alessa felt the pull of parental protection. That was what Sharon's mother, Rose, was to her. She would do whatever she needed to to protect her chld, even brazenly entering my world."

She shrugged. "I was struck by that, I suppose."

She looked up at her roommate. "Are you preparing for our next demonic encounter?