Lloyd's explanation left Lana none the wiser as to what on Earth -- or, more likely, off-Earth they were looking for. True, she knew what it looked like, and that magic was involved. Ilia had occasionally explained bits and pieces about her abilities, but it was still far too nebulous for Lana's liking.

Granted, she wasn't going to have to present the knowledge to a judge, so it didn't really matter if she was slightly confused, but it was unsettling. She thought Ryuuzaki might feel the same; or he just wanted to move on -- either way they were racing against time. The night ending or Lloyd turning into a monster; which it was would make a great difference to Lloyd, but less so to the rest of them.

"Perhaps he'll do us the favor of taking a few of them with him." Even a despicable man like one of the doctors deserved better than to be ripped apart by wild creatures, and she couldn't help imagining it. The howls that they could occasionally hear through the walls didn't help. As she answered, though, she was pulling open drawers. She lifted a tangle of junk out of one and shook it; nothing fell out, so she dropped back in and shut it with more force than was entirely necessary.

Damnit. She didn't need to add to the tension level by letting her nerves show; she knew better than that. Was better than that. She did not compound it by taking a deep breath; instead, she slid open the next drawer like nothing had happened.

This one was devoid of anything but a few cobwebs. As were the next three. Nothing.