Daji helps Pazuzu make himself scarce, employing a variety of magical and godly powers to conceal his presence so that Lamashtu doesn't suspect a thing. "Go make sure that she's completely fooled," Pazuzu tells me, as if I didn't already know. "Once she's asleep again or otherwise diverted, we'll scheme and dream and plan strategy."
I nod. "I'm going to have to grab more musk root then. Can we do something to neutralize her while she sleeps? I don't mean kill. I just mean make it so she can't bother us anymore."
Meanwhile, I zip downstairs in the elevator and am about to head out to the garden ...
Only to see Lamashtu standing behind the front desk.
There are a million things wrong with this picture, starting with her acting like she already owns the place. She's checking in a group of Indian Apsara dancers, who have the politest looks on their doll-like faces that I've ever seen. They're supposed to be divine, and I believe it. They smile, bow, and make the Namaste gesture.
