Epilogue
A WEEK LATER
SAWYER
It was a beautiful day in Tenebrae. And by beautiful, Sawyer meant overcast, cold, and drizzly. The water didn’t call to Sawyer like it did when he’d first arrived. He still wanted to go in, and he was still fascinated by it, but he didn’t fear being pulled into it like he used to.
So it was fine for Sawyer to stand on the jetty with Ciaran, Fray, and Tobin, awaiting Hadeom’s arrival.
At least he’d given them a heads-up that he was coming this time.
Well, that was possibly because Sawyer had answered his phone when Hadeom had called.
Now that he knew Hadeom was... aware.
Hadeom knew Cern Brown. It was very likely that he knew Cern was not human. He knew of cephamorphs, and maybe he knew of the treaty between them. He certainly knew that Lusca was... whatever the hell she was.
The kraken? Maybe. An old god? Perhaps. If that’s what human histories had called her. But she was not of this planet, Sawyer was sure of that.
Tobin had shown Ciaran and Sawyer, using his Vulcan mind-meld thing, the “rift” in the Trench that Lusca had lured them to.
Tobin had used the word “rift,” but Sawyer would have gone with “portal.” And maybe Sawyer had seen one too many sci-fi movies, but the inside of the portal didn’t look like it was on this planet. ...
But that was for another day.
Hadeom was returning—and bringing two guests, apparently.
Which is why they were standing out on the pier, waiting. Fray and Tobin were being so cute. And to think Tobin was once considered a loner, or a bit of an outsider... when all he needed was love and understanding.
Could be said for most people, Sawyer realised.
Kellan, Hendrix, and Dylan had been busy these past two weeks. Oh, they’d venture out every so often, but most of the time, loud peals of laughter could be heard, so they knew they were still alive, at least.
Otis and Pania had decided to stay in Tenebrae, for now. Te-Ariki and Koa had gone back to New Zealand, and Otis and Pania had promised to see them soon. They’d live between both families, they’d decided, and Sawyer was happy for them.
The Norwegians left two days after the Lusca incident. They’d had their idiosyncrasies, sure. They were old-fashioned and cautious, but they lived their lives steeped in tradition and lore, so differences in personalities and lifestyles were a given.
But they’d helped, they’d fought alongside them, and so they would be forever welcome in Tenebrae. They were taking back news and accounts to be added into the cephamore lore, and they were excited to start.
And life in this little cove had returned to normal. If normal was ever a thing that could happen here. Sawyer truly hoped it never would be.
The thumping sound of a helicopter’s approach pulled Sawyer out of his thoughts, and the four of them stood by, shielding their eyes as it landed.
“He never said who the two guests were?” Ciaran asked. Again.
“Nope.”
Ciaran grumbled. Again.
But the helicopter rotors slowed, and the door slid open.
Hadeom emerged first, followed by two men.
Hadeom wore a suit, the other two guys wore shorts, T-shirts, and wary expressions, and they each carried a duffle bag.
Sawyer had never seen them before, but judging by their curious exchange of glances, Ciaran, Tobin, and Fray obviously had.
“Sawyer,” Hadeom said. Then, looking at Ciaran, he gestured to the two newcomers. “You know Hudson and Beau. They’ve defected from the Bass Strait consortium and need a new home. Thought you might be willing to take them in.”
Well, shit.
Beau was the one who spoke. “We’re very sorry we weren’t able to help when you needed it. Dirk moved us up north, and...”
“And you can’t live in warmer waters, and Dirk is a giant dick,” Fray helpfully supplied.
“Pretty much, yes,” Hudson said.
“The fighting in our consortium got pretty bad,” Beau added. “Others left to go out on their own, but we’re pack creatures and feel safer in numbers. We’d be most grateful if we could stay here.”
“We’re hardworking,” Hudson said as if this was a job interview and not basically a plea for asylum. “We’ll contribute as much as we can, and we won’t be any trouble.”
Ciaran inhaled deeply, then broke out a smile. “Of course you’re welcome here.” He nodded to a place up past the store. “There’s an empty house up there. Needs some work, though.”
They were both clearly relieved. “Thank you.”
“Hope you enjoy rain,” Fray added with a grin. “And don’t mind the noises coming out of Hendrix’s place.” He made a face. “Or Otis’s. Or the doc’s place, sometimes. Or my place, for that matter. Or the police station.”
Ciaran cleared his throat, but Tobin laughed. Then Tobin did the funniest thing. He shook their hands. “Welcome,” he said, taking each man’s hand in turn. It was more formal than Sawyer was used to around here, but then he clocked why he was doing it.
Touching them and opening up his mental mirror, he was seeing into their minds. Looking for intentions and honesty.
“Oh, Inspector Hadeom,” Sawyer said, intervening. “This is Fray and Tobin.”
Fray gave him a wave, but Tobin understood. He then shook Hadeom’s hand for a too-long moment, looking him right in the eye. He dropped his hand and glanced at Ciaran, then Sawyer, letting them know he’d seen something.
“Well,” Tobin said, turning to Beau and Hudson. “Fray and I will show you to your place.”
“I’ll be up to see you soon,” Ciaran said, and Sawyer and Hadeom watched as the four of them left.
“Thank you for taking them in,” Hadeom said. “We’re keeping an eye on Dirk, just so you know.”
“Good,” Ciaran murmured.
Sawyer gestured to the police station. “Should we go take a look at the damage?”
Hadeom gave a nod, and the three of them walked over. “How’s your arm?”
Sawyer held up the casted arm. “It’s okay. A few broken bones, but I’ll live.” The truth was, it ached and itched, but all things considered, he’d come out of the whole ordeal much better than he’d thought he would.
He had been one hundred percent convinced he was going to die that day. Every day since was a gift.
They walked into the police station, and Hadeom stopped dead. He looked at the jail cell, at the wrought iron bars that were broken and bent like a smashed ribcage. And to his credit, he schooled his reaction pretty well.
“Yeah, like I said,” Sawyer said. “I hope you have her well-contained.”
Hadeom gave a tight smile in reply, and for a second, he said nothing. He looked around at the carnage of the police station. “You have questions,” he said. Not a question but a statement.
“Only about a thousand,” Sawyer replied.
He nodded slowly. “Then you know enough of the answers warrant you not asking them, yes?”
Sawyer couldn’t help but chuckle. “I figured as much.”
Hadeom gave a pleased nod. “I didn’t think you’d last here,” he said. “Like all the others.”
Sawyer met Hadeom’s gaze and held it. “I love it here. And I’m not leaving.
You can fire me if you have to, or you can close the police station, but I’m staying.
” He looked at Ciaran then and smiled. Something Hadeom didn’t miss.
Like he hadn’t missed the ring on Sawyer’s finger.
Like he was talking his weird-ass police business in front of Ciaran like he wasn’t there, as if he knew whatever he said in front of Sawyer could be said in front of Ciaran.
He knew what Ciaran was.
Hadeom inhaled deeply and eyed the torn metal bars again before he smiled at Sawyer. “Oh, I’m not firing you. I don’t want you to leave.”
“What do you want?”
“I want you to reply to emails, file your damn reports, and answer your phone,” he said.
Sawyer nodded as if that was a serious negotiation. “Fine.”
Then Hadeom sniffed indifferently before he said, “And I want to know everything you know about Salem.”
Sawyer glanced at Ciaran, then back at Hadeom, and he said nothing. And when the silence stretched on, none of them willing to bridge the gap with words, Hadeom smiled—the kind Sawyer didn’t care for—and with a parting nod, he walked out across to the helicopter, climbed inside, and left.
“What the fuck,” Sawyer whispered.
“Hmm,” Ciaran hummed, angry and unimpressed.
Fray and Tobin came in. Fray reading the room like he usually did. “So, another interesting development, yes?”
“Something like that,” Ciaran mumbled.
“What did you see?” Sawyer asked Tobin.
Tobin grinned at him. “Beau and Hudson seem legit. They left their consortium and need a place to live. I saw memories of fights with Dirk. They’re very grateful to be here. And they’re honest.”
“And Hadeom?” Sawyer pressed.
Tobin looked at Ciaran, then Sawyer and puffed his cheeks out with an exhale. “Yeah....”
Sawyer decided to change the question. “What is he?”
Tobin’s eyes sparkled because that was the right question, but then he shook his head. “I don’t know what he is. But he’s...” He shrugged and let out another sigh. “Yeah. He sure is something.”
The end