Magic? Why did she know I could do magic?

... Wait. Relax, Dresden. Crazy woman.

I considered it, as I brought my heart rate under control and tried to ignore the sudden adrenaline rush. She's just a crazy woman, in all odds.

Crazy people sometimes see things. Hmm. Well, best not to say anything.

"Magic? Why would you think I can do magic? S'just a necklace. My mother's."

I held it up and put it out between us, focusing on the silvery shape as I did. On my faith in it.

I'd never been able to work faith tricks with religious symbols- I jut wasn't a spiritual enough guy. I had no true faith in God, or Yahweh, or Allah, or Buddha, or any of them.

What I did have faith in, what I'd always had faith in, was magic. My magic. And the power it had to protect me, to keep me safe. To answer me at need.

That faith served just as well for repelling vampires, demons, and beasties that bumped in the night, and it was that faith that I channeled through the pentacle.

It was the perfect test. A vampire would be repelled, a normal human would just think I was holding up a necklace for her to look at.