Chapter Fourteen
Neith
R aiden nods, “I think that’s a great idea. I have been collecting rare books from every realm that I’ve been to for a long time, so there is a good chance that I have something Ty hasn’t read.”
“I’m good with that,” I reply. “I’ll never say no to some time spent in the library, plus you mentioned before that you had some books that speak, and I would very much like to find them.”
Raiden chuckles, “Yeah, I do. They will only talk if they want to though, and they look exactly like all of the other books, so you won’t necessarily be able to hear them.”
I smile, “That’s okay. I can be patient, and if they don’t talk to me today, then I’ll just wait. One day, they will.”
“Before we head to the library, I think we should all pack the bags that we intend to take to the Choosing. I know that we’ve got two weeks to do it, but we have no idea what is going to happen in those two weeks, and we are still hoping that Sully is going to be able to find a Warrior Team for us to speak to. I would just feel better if we got it done, and then it’s one less thing that we have to worry about,” Evander says.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea actually. I’m likely to forget if we don’t get it done straight away,” River comments.
“Same,” I reply, with a slight frown as I wonder how much I need to pack and what I need to pack. Mentally shrugging, I figure I’ll just pack a little bit of everything, and weapons, lots and lots of fucking weapons. Hopefully, Luke will be able to get my triple-knuckle knife made in time. I fucking love that weapon, and I have a feeling that it’s probably going to be very useful in the trials of the Choosing.
Which reminds me, I need to talk to the guys and see if they can get Luke to shut down the shop for Navy, the others, and me on Friday.
“I think I might get a jump on practicing with my other magic. I want to get better at flying, and I want to see what else I can do with this side of me,” Raiden says. Adding, “As much as I love research, I want to make sure that if I need to use the stronger part of me, I can and do it well. I also need to practice because the Reaper Council is going to call on me at some point. As I have mentioned before, their timelines tend to work a bit differently than everyone else’s and it could be months before they call me, or it could be a couple of weeks. They won’t be able to call on me while the Choosing is happening, but if I am on their list, so to speak, then seeing me involved in the Choosing could put me closer to the top. I would rather be ready for it.”
“Hopefully, it will push you further down the list,” Ransom says. He continues, “If we can keep the other side of you concealed while we are in the Choosing, and you appear just as you always have, then they’re going to assume that their readings were wrong, and although they have a duty to investigate it they will put it off for longer because they will assume that it was an anomaly.”
River nods, “That’s true. I mean, if that’s how it happens, then it would be reasonable to assume that they may just call you in briefly and dismiss you. We could work out a way to properly conceal the stronger part of you and your wings. Maybe something similar to what Ransom makes for me?”
Ransom nods, “Yeah, I can do that. I would need to tweak things a bit, and I would need more time to make than we have before the Choosing, but yeah, I think it’s most likely something that we can do.”
Raiden smiles, “Thanks, I really appreciate it, and I think we should do it as an option, but if I’m being honest, after what Sully told us about the Reaper Council and the fact that they aren’t even supposed to be in power, I think I might want them to know exactly how strong I am and what I’m capable of. It doesn’t sit right with me that the whole of the original Reaper Council didn’t make it through to the Earth Realm before the gates closed.”
“You want to figure out what happened?” I ask with a smile.
Raiden nods, “Absolutely. I want to figure it out and then hopefully fix it, or at least find out enough information that I can give that information to someone else so that they can fix it.”
“I think that it’s going to be a really complicated thing to do, but you won’t be doing it alone. We will help as much as we’re able to,” Ransom replies.
“I think it is definitely a good idea to look into it,” Evander agrees. “What Sully said didn’t sit right with me as well. Especially since he said that the original council behaved in a much different way to the way that the current council does.”
“Are you prepared to deal with all the shit that it could bring up for you?” River asks. “I mean, your dad is on the council.”
“Which means that he may have been a part of whatever it was that insured that the originals remained in Trieneliea,” I point out.
Raiden nods, “Yes, I am prepared to deal with all of that, and actually, if my father was involved, which I am almost one hundred percent sure that he was, then I think it’s my responsibility to make sure that it’s fixed.”
“We are not responsible for the mistakes of our parents,” River replies in a rare show of being earnest.
“He’s right,” Griff agrees. “Don’t take on this dangerous situation just because you feel responsible.”
Raiden nods, “I hear you, but I’m not doing it for that reason. It’s just a bonus outcome if that makes sense. The current council has caused so much damage not only to the reapers themselves by turning a tier system that didn’t really mean much, I mean, Sully said that his friend on the council was training someone to take his place that was a lot lower tier. So, although they still used the tier system, it didn’t carry the same weight that it does today with the new council. Not only that, but they have also made sure that the reapers are isolated and have ensured that the stories of our crazy and incredibly dangerous reapers have been told, which has meant that the majority of people view us with fear and distrust. It has isolated us. It has also put us in danger because we have been hunted, especially in the smaller towns and countries around the world.”
Griff nods, “It doesn’t make any sense though. I mean, why would they want to put you all in danger?”
Raiden shrugs, “I have no idea, but I intend to find out and hopefully put a stop to it.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Evander agrees.
“Actually, now that I’m thinking about it, I want to carry on making River’s top-up spell potion so I can get that on him as soon as possible, and like Van said, it’s something else that we then don’t have to worry about anymore,” Ransom says.
“Agreed,” I reply. I want to make sure that we’re all as safe as we possibly can be.
“I'll help Raiden get some practice in,” Griff offers. He grins at Raiden, “What do you think about a crash course in flying fight maneuvers and practicing with a few weapons and whatever other magic that we find out you have?”
Raiden’s smile is broad, and his eyes are filled with excitement as he replies, “Less of the crash part, but yeah, that sounds awesome.”
“How are you doing with the emotional side of having your magic free?” River asks, watching Raiden closely.
Raiden tenses, and I can see him think about brushing off River’s question before he sighs heavily and decides to answer honestly.
“I’m coping. The nightmares are happening a bit more frequently, but they haven’t got to the point where I’m scared to sleep yet,” he explains, and my heart breaks for him. I know what it’s like to have nightmares that are more memory than not.
It’s because I know this that my mouth speaks before my brain has caught up, “Do you want to sleep with me?”
Raiden’s eyebrows rise, and his expression clears immediately as a smirk pulls at his lips, “Well . . .”
I chuckle, “Before you continue, what I meant by that is that I get nightmare memories, and it helps if someone is sleeping next to me. Griff did it for me at House after we spoke to Dimitri, and it helped so much. So I was wondering if it would help you, too.”
Raiden studies me closely, “You would do that for me?”
I nod, “Of course I would. I mean it’s not entirely unselfish, I don’t like sleeping alone.”
Raiden chuckles, “Well, in that case, yes, I would love to sleep with you.”
“Lucky fucker,” Griff mutters.
Raiden shrugs, “Neith’s bed is massive, and there’s no reason why you can’t sleep there, too.”
Griff glances at me, his eyebrow raised in question. I grin, my heart pounding in my chest, “As I said, I hate sleeping by myself. If you guys want to share my bed, consider this an open invitation. You can work it out among yourselves how to keep it fair if you all want to.”
As I finish my sentence, I get that uncomfortable feeling that I sometimes get when I think that I’ve said something wrong or not normal. I don’t really know how to explain it, but it quickly dissipates when the guys all smile excitedly.
“I’m texting Doc and Reed, we can work out a schedule or something,” Evander says, his phone already in his hand.
“So, you all want to sleep in my bed?” I ask.
River chuckles, “Obviously.” He carries on without waiting for a reply from me, “Raiden is going to need to be with Neith tonight.”
Van nods, “Yeah. We’ll figure it out.” He looks at me, “I think you may have underestimated how much we like cuddles.”
I burst out laughing at the sincerity in his expression and then say, “That was so fucking cute.”
Ransom shrugs, “He’s not wrong. If you ever want the bed to yourself though, some of us are bed hogs, just say.”
“Oh, don’t worry, if I want to starfish you guys will be the first to know,” I chuckle.
“Starfish?” Griff asks, a cute, confused frown on his face.
Before I can reply, Evander does. Sitting in his chair, he holds his arms and legs out to the side in demonstration and says, “Starfish.”
“Oh,” Griff chuckles, “understood.”
“So that’s the plan then?” Van starts getting us back on track. “Obviously, Reed and Doc are at the Training Academy, and Doc is doing his thing. Griff and Raiden are going to practice, Ransom is going to work on the spell potion for River and Neith, River and I are going to see if we can find anything out in the library.”
Griff nods, “Yeah, that sounds right to me. We’ll meet here for lunch?”
The guys all start to get up and I realize that I got so distracted by the conversation that I forgot to mention Luke.
“Wait,” I say, and they all immediately stop. I glance at Raiden, “You know when we went into town, and Luke had to close his shop before I got a chance to look around properly, and he said he would keep it open for me?”
I am aware that was a really long-winded way to ask the question, but it’s the way my brain decided to do it, and I learned a long time ago that there is no point arguing with my brain. My brain is going to do what it wants to do and it doesn’t matter what I do to try to get it to behave in a somewhat normal way, it won’t. I stopped trying to change it a long time ago.
Raiden must be getting used to me because he follows my train of thought easily enough and asks, “Yeah, I remember. Do you want me to call him and see if he can close early tomorrow afternoon so that you and the others can go and check it out?”
I grin, “Yes, please. I want to get that weapon made; I’m hoping that he can do it quickly enough that I will have it for the Choosing. Neera mentioned something about needing a new sword, and then Navy and Joey both decided that they should get weapons for themselves as a well done for graduating.”
Evander’s eyebrows raise, “I don’t think you need to worry about not getting on with them. They’re all like you.”
I shrug, “You know it isn’t as easy as I would like it to be for me to make friends. If I end up making three all at once and not because they want to be friends with you, then that will be a first.”
Van’s eyes fill with understanding, but he smiles, “That may have been true when we were kids, but you have made so many friends in the years since then, powerful friends that would do a hell of a lot for you. Don’t sell yourself short.”
I consider his words, “You’re right.”
“Luke says that’s fine. He can shut it down from around two. Does that work?” Raiden says as he glances up from his phone and gets us back on track.
“One second, I’ll check. I’m sure it is though,” I reply.
I pull out my phone and send a message in the group chat. It doesn’t take long, and I get messages back from all of them that it works well.
“All good?” Raiden asks.
I nod, “Yep. That’s fine. We’re going to meet at Neera’s place around two and then head straight to Luke’s. She’s just asked us for our coffee orders so she can get them ready when we arrive, which is pretty cool.”
“Awesome,” River grins. “Luke is amazing at what he does. You’re going to have a blast.”
Everyone finally gets up and goes to their various destinations. Since I have my phone out anyway, I decide to send messages to Reed and Doc.
Me: How’s it going? I missed you at breakfast.
While I wait for Doc to reply, I message Reed.
Me: Are you helping, or are you bored? I miss you.
Reed: I’m missing you too. Usually, I would find something else to do while Doc works, but we need to stick together, and although the Draconian Team isn’t supposed to be here today, we still need to be cautious.
Me: Yeah, that makes sense. What are you doing then?
Reed: I’m sitting on the couch playing with my phone while Doc does his thing. He’s setting shit up for the tests that he wants to do at the moment, but once he’s done that, I’ll help him with the autopsy.
Me: That’s so cool. I had no idea that you knew how to do that.
Reed: I decided to learn so that I would understand some of what he was talking about. What are you guys up to?
“Are you coming, Neith?” River asks as he pops his head back through the door.
I nod, and get up, and follow him out, “Yeah, I’m coming.”
Me: River, Van, and I are doing some research on the Choosing, Ransom’s doing his potion, and Griff is training Raiden in flight combat.
Reed : Aw man, I missed out on flight training?
Me: Hopefully, you can do it tomorrow. Raiden wants to get as much training as possible.
Reed: Good, he needs to. I’ve got to go, Doc needs a hand.
Me: We will keep you updated if we find anything. Tell Doc I said hi and that he needs to remember to eat. You too!
Reed: I will. He never answers the phone when he’s in this state of mind and focusing on work, so don’t be offended if he doesn’t reply if you message him.
Me: Don’t worry, I won’t.
I look up from my phone. Surprisingly, I’ve managed not to walk into anything, and it takes me only a moment to realize why. River’s holding on to my hand, swinging it between us as his thumb rubs circles on the back of my hand.
I smile. “How often have you guys done that?”
“Done what?” River asks, looking down at me with amusement in his eyes.
“You know what,” I retort with a smile. I clarify anyway, “Pulled me out of the way of walking into things and people while I’ve been distracted. I haven’t been covered in nearly as many bruises as I usually am.”
River’s smile widens, “We take it in turns.”
I groan, “That’s kind of embarrassing actually. I’m a thirty-something-year-old woman, and I can’t walk in a straight line.”
River laughs at my indignation and then asks, “Why do you say thirty-something all the time and not your actual age?”
“Because I never remember exactly how old I am. I know I’m in my early thirties, but working out exactly where in my early thirties that is isn’t something that I want to waste time doing. Especially when I’m trying to make a point,” I explain as we finally get to the library and walk inside.
“Hey guys, that took you ages. I thought you were right behind me,” Van greets us, already making us coffee.