Chapter 15 Meet the team
Meet the team
“Iinvited him.” Cufio stepped next to Raymond. “I know you don’t want to deal with him, but it just made sense.”
“Am I missing something here?” Raymond tensed. The muscles in his arms flexed and his jaw tightened. “Why the hell would you invite him? He’s the reason this is happening.”
“He’s also our best shot at getting out of this alive,” Cufio explained. “I know you don’t like him, but we have to think strategically here. He just faced off with the big guy and walked away alive. How many others do you know who can say that?”
“It’s more than just not liking him.” Raymond shot a warning glare at his brother. “That man has never been on our side, and now you want me to believe he is?”
“I’ve never had an issue with him. You two bumped heads, and that’s unfortunate, but it’s time to move past that, especially since your life is on the line, brother.”
“You want to fill me in on what you’re talking about?” I asked, pointing out the window. “Is that guy going to be a problem for us? If he’s an enemy, why the hell is he standing in my yard?”
“Let me figure that out and then I’ll let you know.” Raymond looked at his brother and then headed out the door. “With me,” he called back to Cufio.
“Coming!” Cufio called out then turned to me when Raymond was out of earshot. “It’ll be fine. These two just have a tense history. They just need to hug it out.”
“Do you actually think that will happen?” Jackie asked.
“Hey, anything’s possible!” He smirked then ran out the door to catch up with his brother.
I watched them carefully as they walked out to meet the strange new guy.
The murmur of their conversation was lost to me, coming through as only a frustrating hum.
The newcomer mirrored Raymond's discomfort.
He slipped his hands in his pockets and lifted his chin as he came face to face with Raymond.
It looked like things could erupt into chaos at any moment.
“They better not destroy my garden. I already need to make up for the first fight out there.” I looked over at Jackie, who joined me. “What do you think that’s about?”
“Looks like bad blood.” She popped a sushi roll into her mouth. “Enemies forced to work together. This is getting juicy.”
“Really?” I scoffed at her. “With everything going on, you’re still eating?”
“What? Should we let good sushi go to waste because demons are popping up? I think not!” Jackie winked at me. “Look, while they talk, I’m going to call some backup of my own. We need more help here. I’ll be back.”
Jackie left the kitchen, sushi and beer in hand, leaving me alone with Noville. We stared at each other awkwardly for a moment, and I realized he hadn’t said much since arriving. I didn’t know what to say to break the tension, so I turned back to look out into the yard.
“You’re too kind to be with…Raymond.” Noville spoke with the same hesitation around Raymond’s name, reminding himself of the modification.
“Am I?” I turned back to the large demon, who looked too big to be in my kitchen. It was strange. His skin appeared rock hard when motionless, softening to normal skin as soon as he moved. “What makes you say that?”
“Your energy. It's not nearly as chaotic as his,” Noville continued. “He usually surrounds himself with people who are just as wild in their spirit. People like your friend Jackie.”
“Um, thank you?” I frowned; I didn’t know what to think about his observation. I’d barely spoken since he'd been there, and yet he had already formed opinions about me.
Did he really just say my friend was more compatible with Raymond than I was? And why the hell does that annoy me so much?
“I hope you survive this. Most don’t,” Noville continued, and I immediately wanted to tell him to keep his thoughts to himself.
“The shadow walkers are messy. You’d think they would be able to handle things better than they do, but their elusive nature often leads to them making mistakes because they think they can never be caught, despite all the times they have been in the past.”
“You really need to work on your people skills.” I sucked my teeth. “Are you trying to make me doubt myself?”
“I’m often told that.” He nodded. “I prefer to be honest, but I do apologize. That wasn’t my intention.”
“Be honest when your honesty is requested. That should help a lot.”
“Of course.” He sighed.
“Can everyone in the Bane speak English?” I wanted to change the conversation but also avoid going back to the awkward silence in case he decided to share any more of his honest opinions.
“No, and I don’t speak it either,” Noville responded.
“Maybe you don’t realize it, but we’re speaking the same language, and I damn sure don’t speak whatever is the natural tongue of your people.”
Noville nodded again before opening his mouth.
He reached his boney fingers behind his back tooth and pulled out what looked like a piece of bark.
He held it out to me and spoke a garbled language I couldn’t understand.
As if satisfied with his display, he popped it back into his mouth.
“This is what helps me understand you and you me.”
“Whoa.” I shook my head. Once again, he spoke perfect English. “So it’s like a magical translator?”
“Easier than learning new languages.” He shrugged.
“There are many dialects and languages in our world, just like there are here. This bridges the gap, especially with new creatures coming to the Bane every day. There is no way we would all be able to communicate without it, not unless you’re someone like Raymond.
That guy has a big brain; he picks up languages quickly.
Last I checked, he knew over four hundred. ”
“Four hundred?” I looked at his mouth a lot closer as he spoke and realized the movement of his lips didn’t match the words I heard. It was the same disorienting feeling of watching a foreign movie that had been dubbed. “How much does something like that cost, and how can I get one?”
“This is small talk, right?” Noville chuckled. “You don’t really care about this. Just trying to fill the awkward silence?”
“Okay, maybe you’re better at peopling than you’re given credit for.” I smiled. “But honestly, in my line of work, that would come in handy.”
“If we survive what’s to come, I’ll have one delivered to you.”
“Brace yourselves.” Cufio popped into the room. “The big guy is coming inside!”
“Damn it!” I shouted at him and clutched my chest. “Don’t do that. Are you trying to freak me out? And why didn’t I feel you coming?”
“Feel me coming? Why would you?” He looked genuinely confused by my question.
“I—nothing. Where is your brother?” I deflected, because his reaction made me second guess if I should tell him how I felt the temperature shift before Raymond appeared. Maybe there was something wrong with him. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be the one to expose it.
Cufio paused, looking at me for a moment before he responded. “Raymond’s bringing our special guest. He wanted me to come give you a heads up. Honestly, I think he just wanted to say something without me hearing it. Those two have a deep history.”
“Oh.” I looked over his shoulder out the window, where I could see Raymond approaching. “Is he dangerous?”
“Yes, but so are you, from what I’ve heard. But he’s on our side, so you don’t have to worry about him.”
“Help is on the way.” Jackie returned, waving her phone in her hand. “Didn’t take nearly as much convincing as I thought it would. Starting to think that man has the hots for me.”
“Perfect timing,” I pointed out the window. “They’re coming in now.”
“Great. We get to meet the mysterious new stranger!” She clapped. “You think he’s also a shadow walker, or something different?”
The door opened, and Raymond stepped in first, followed by a tall man with dark skin, a stern expression, and no horns. I swore they were there when I first saw him, but as he stood there, leather jacket, low collar, brimming with aura, I couldn’t tell he ever had them.
“Are you going to introduce us to your new friend, or are we just gonna stand here staring at each other?” Jackie was the one to break the silence.
“I'm glad somebody said it.” Cufio chuckled and leaned against the wall. “This is starting to get really awkward. You both know how I feel about awkward situations. I will pop out of here in a second.”
“Jericha,” Raymond addressed me and nobody else. “This is Metice. He's here to help us with our situation.”
“It's nice to meet you.” I reached out to shake his hand and instantly noticed the strange look he gave me. “What is it?”
“Your energy. It feels familiar.” Metice furrowed his brow, conflicted by something unspoken. “Like I’ve encountered it before.”
“Considering you were close enough for our paths to cross, you probably have,” Raymond interjected. “Remember, that’s why we’re all here now.”
“Right. Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Jericha,” Metice continued, and it felt like the house rumbled with his voice.
“Damn,” Jackie commented. When I looked back at her, she was popping the last piece of sushi into her mouth. “I just know he got the demon girls going crazy over him.”
“Jackie.” I rolled my eyes.
“My bad. It's nice to meet you too, Metice. My name is Jackie,” she introduced herself. “I'm Jericha's home girl, also here to help them clean up this little mess they've created.”
“Hey, I didn't create any mess,” I corrected her. “It was dropped into my lap.”
“After you dropped into his lap, right?” She pointed at Raymond and winked.
“Oh, she's funny.” Cufio grinned. “So, she was in your lap? You left that out.”
“Don't get any ideas, shadow man.” Jackie balled up a fist, ready to fight off his advances. “Just because my friend likes to play in the shadows doesn’t mean I do.”
“Can we get focused here?” Noville groaned. “Earth’s air is making my skin itch. How do you all survive with such pollution?”