Chapter 19 #2
“Take helping Seiji in shifts,” Hannah advised us. “So he has an extra set of hands, but also so everyone here can learn how he works. You all need to know.”
“She speaks words of wisdom,” Eli noted. “Let’s do it. Seiji, why don’t you and—”
Lachlan cut in smoothly. Or tried, he was clearly excited and bouncy. “Me. Let me show him around. I can guard his back in the tunnels.”
Seiji didn’t seem to mind, but his eyes were on Lachlan like he was trying to figure the man out. “I do not mind. A monster slayer, correct?”
“Right. And there’s something dark down there. A gnarly beastie, for sure.”
Seiji glanced at Booker. “So I was informed. But you only saw the energy for it, correct?”
“Sadly, aye. It’s why I don’t want you going down there without a foot of steel at your back.”
“For that matter, I don’t want to go down without backup.” A light of little boy glee sparked in Seiji’s eyes. “What’s your sword of choice?”
“Oh, depends on the beastie.” Lachlan’s answering smile was also that of a twelve-year-old about to really enjoy the conversation. “Why? What are you using?”
“Katana,” he admitted. “In enclosed places, a wakizashi. In large, open areas, I will sometimes use a naginata.”
Welp, Lachlan was now half in love with the man, it was official. Anyone who used a sword and was a badass was apparently his type. Plus, Seiji was a good-looking man. Lachlan’s heart didn’t stand a chance against this combination.
“I wish I could have brought the naginata,” Seiji tacked on with a sigh. “But it’s too long to fit on a plane. And I don’t trust it to airport baggage.”
Fair. Those weapons were hard to buy, and likely it would have ended up damaged by baggage handlers.
Gwyn piped up with the next question. “Wait, why swords?”
“In my case, I am cutting through energy.” Seiji inclined his head to Lachlan again.
“Like him, I have, of course, killed a monster or demon as needed. That is not my main job nor what I use the swords for most of the time. I utilize a very stable element—metal—to cut through chaotic energy. Works like a hot knife through butter.”
Oh, made perfect sense to me. Any element could be countered by its natural opposite.
Iron was a very stable element, and forged into a sword, it could easily cut through supernatural ties or energy.
It must be fun to watch him work, as it would be like shadow fighting, in a sense.
Now I was even more intrigued to shadow and help him.
“We do have one more problem,” I informed him. “Booker mentioned the mob boss?”
“He did, but it’s news to me that ghosts can form mobs?”
“News to us, too.” And I’d really rather they didn’t.
“We’ve had multiple ghosts tell us about the ringleader, a man named Joey Halfacre.
He likes downtown Black Rock to hang out in.
We had heard he likes the theater, and a lot of his mob was there, but we haven’t been able to lay hands on him yet. ”
“That is not good news. I understand he’s borderline demon?”
“Right,” Eli confirmed. “So I’d really rather take him down before he turns full demon. That’ll take the shitshow to a whole new level. I’m not confident I can handle him on my own. Is this something you can help with?”
“Indeed so. I’ve worked alongside Exorcists before to do something similar.” Seiji made a thoughtful sound. “We’ll need to talk more in depth and form a plan.”
“We’d hoped to catch him at the theater,” Hannah stated. “Unfortunately, our plan didn’t pan out. We’re not sure how to find him.”
It was a problem. “Some of the ghosts in the area have given us suggestions of where he likes to hang out, but we haven’t found him in those places, either. I think he’s evading us.”
Lachlan’s eyes met his cousin’s. “You thinking what I’m thinking? Bait and trap?”
“Territorial as he is,” Davina mused, “would he show up if we start exorcising in the open?”
“Oh, now that idea I like.” Quinn was already grinning. “If we start on the riverbank, right in plain sight, you think he’ll bite?”
I shrugged. “I have no better suggestions. And we need to deal with the riverbank anyway.”
“I also need a full day to recharge,” Eli threw in. “So what if the Mediums work the riverbank tomorrow, do some passing, and see if you can lure a ghost out? I can be there waiting if he does show.”
“I can lock him down if he does,” Seiji tacked on.
“Might as well get it over with.” Brandon groaned. “Although, right next to running water, the ghosts are going to be stronger. Right? Please tell me I’m wrong.”
“No, cher, you’re right.” Unfortunately. I wasn’t thrilled either, but it was on our to-do list and all. “Is the weather fair tomorrow?”
“You’re in the desert, it’s always fair,” Quinn said dryly.
I was already sore from chasing after ghosts all day, but now I’d have to do it in an open space where I couldn’t cage them in if I needed to? Oh, this was going to be fucky for sure.
I finished my dinner, said my good nights, and headed to bed. Then got up again, fussing, as I realized I hadn’t set an alarm or plugged my phone in to charge. Dammit, I was tired if I skipped whole steps just to get horizontal.
Those damn ghosts better not run my legs off tomorrow. They better not.