Not a moment passed between Beth uttering her greeting and the woman opposite her responding before the door opened by just a few inches and Parael's face poked out, closely followed by Flint's. No doubt he still had the gun in his hand behind the door. Beth threw up her hands and rolled her eyes. Really, did these people have no tact? No matter, should the mortal bodyguard attempt to get by, she would turn tangible again.

She folded her arms and watched the exchange, not for a second appreciating this woman's authoritative tone. No one ruled the roost here. Not any more. She respected de Lacy's authority because the system, as unstable as it was sometimes, worked for the most part. He kept supernaturals in check and gave them somewhere to go, so long as they didn't cross him. For Beth, he'd given her a future beyond death. What had Autumn done for them? And her wording -- tolerate, carelessness? She must have wanted to piss everyone off.

At least her story about meeting Parry was entertaining.

Staring through narrowed eyes at the woman, Beth waited for Parael to confirm her story. Once he did, however, a laugh broke through the small gap in the door. A rich and jolly laugh that, if she had a body, might make her skin tingle with excitement. Never before had she heard it, but she attributed it to Rikive nonetheless. Though Beth did her best not to smile, the corners of her ghostly mouth twitched upwards. She tried countering it with a scowl.

The moment Parael opened the door, the humour fell flat. "What is it you think you can do?" she asked Autumn, ignoring the mortal and Parry's question regarding him. "Unless you know exactly how to kill the mummy, you're on the same level as we are."