Anthony stood up but only to close the gap between them so he could gently push his cousin's shoulders down onto the pillow before he ripped any wires free or fell out of bed, which in better times might have been funny... right now it only would have added to the terribleness of the week.

"Relax Alec, it's a joke."

Only once his cousin had settled did he reach into his shirt and pull out his golden cross necklace.

"See? This thing has been blessed more times than I have. If I were really a demon it would burn through me like anything! There's nothing to worry about."