Chapter 24
Cleanup wasn’t fun. Mack and Seiji both helped Thomas, clearing out all of the negative spectral energy still clinging to the poor kid, which finally let him wake up.
He wasn’t a happy camper, and I didn’t blame him.
He was also weak sauce, barely able to stand.
Possession apparently was like trying to cage an electric eel inside your body and this was a common side effect.
Seiji gave strict instructions to him, Mack loaded him up with two vials of holy water to sip on throughout the day, as he said it would help, and then the kid was taken to the local hospital for observation.
We had to clean up some of the mess we’d made, of course, and the crowd outside finally decided the show was over and moved on.
At least the mob boss wannabe demon was finally taken care of. That wasn’t how I’d have preferred to do it, but it was done. One less headache on our plate.
Our crew dispersed for the rest of the afternoon, needing a little downtime, which I could hardly blame them for.
We were all wiped out after this morning.
I rescheduled the restaurant for later. Back at the ranch, I tried to relax and settle, but I just couldn’t do it with so much hanging over our heads.
Since we didn’t have anything booked for the afternoon, I decided to find Seiji, see if he could use help. If anyone needed help, it might be him.
I found him in the living room with a huge sketch pad in his lap and a pencil. He was focused, glasses on his nose, and looked quite the intellectual.
“Hey, Seiji.” I sat down next to him.
He glanced up with a welcoming expression. “Hi, yourself. What’s up?”
“Had a thought. We don’t have anything slated to do this afternoon. Is there something we can do today to help you?”
Seiji didn’t even need to think about it.
“There’s two things. I need some scouting done.
We know the locker is around Miner’s Creek, but how much of the area is affected?
Is it just the town and mineshaft? Does it go out for miles?
Does it almost touch Black Rock or cross the river?
I have a lot of unknowns, and it’ll be very hard for me to undo the locker until I know how much territory I’m dealing with. ”
“That’s very fair, man. Okay, so how do we scout?”
“I have some tuning forks in my bags, and I can attune them to the locker’s energy.
They’ll continue to vibrate in your hand up until you’ve left the area.
Once you’ve found the spot, a charmed spike can be driven into the ground.
I can feel it from quite some distance, and it’ll tell me exactly how far out the locker goes. ”
“Sounds like something that’s more of a group project. You do this shit alone?”
“Sometimes,” he admitted with an aggravated, sour expression. “Not everyone is as nice as this group. The one pro to working with assholes is at least I get my steps in.”
I couldn’t imagine making Seiji do all the work alone.
For one thing, he was here to help us. We were the ones with our fat in the fire, and he was the one with the extinguisher.
For another thing, the longer it took him to fix the problem, the longer we were stuck here.
Plus, he was a sweet guy; I couldn’t imagine him doing anything to piss off an entire group.
People could be very shitty.
I had no idea if he was interested in being friends, but I thought he might be, so I decided to throw out a lure.
“When I first met Quinn, Booker, and Eli, they said something similar. They had a hard time working with most groups because they got shit for being poly. Mack and I didn’t blink, which they loved, and when Eli went down, Mack ran to her rescue.
They pretty much adopted us afterward. Seiji, you’re a pleasure to work with.
Honest to god, I would love to be friends.
So if you’re in a situation and need backup, just call me, will you? ”
The gobsmacked, slack-jawed astonishment was actually funny. Man was a walking meme, I swear. Then he lit up with joy, already shifting the sketch pad to the other cushion so he could orient toward me.
“I would love to be friends,” Seiji said in his usual calm manner, but his eyes were gleeful. “I hoped I could. With all of you, as you’re all great. You’re also such a tight-knit group, I wasn’t sure what to do to break into the circle.”
“Show up? I dunno, man, we’re not very deep. We’ve just been through hell together. Tends to make people tight.”
“The Highland case, correct? Lachlan told me that’s how he met you all, and a little about how insane it was.”
“That’s the one.”
“I can see how you’d form a sort of comrade, brother-in-arms attitude after fighting a Slaugh,” he said. “Um, Brandon. Since we’re friends, can I ask a very personal question?”
“Shoot.” I had no idea what he was going to ask me next, but from his strong hesitation, the way he formed each word carefully before releasing it, it was going to be a doozy.
“Is there anyone aside from Hannah and Beau who’s straight in this group?”
As expected, the unexpected question. “I don’t know about Davina, or Gwyn, but basically everyone else is bi, me included. Mack is gay. Why?”
“I can’t figure out if Lachlan is flirting or not?” His brows drew together as if this was truly puzzling.
Lachlan, for god’s sake, up your game, buddy.
“I’m admittedly very bad at telling if someone is flirting with me,” Seiji said.
Oh, that might be part of the issue. All right, let me do a friend a solid. “He’s very much interested in you. Begged Mack to help him figure out if you might be interested, actually.”
Seiji’s confusion cleared up immediately, and cross my heart, he seemed excited.
“I must find a moment to flirt back,” he declared. “Thank you. I wasn’t sure whether I would step on toes or not.”
“Oh, so you’re interested?”
“Very much so. Aside from the fact he could be a cover model—”
I snorted a laugh because I’d thought the same thing many a time. Glad I wasn’t the only one.
“—he’s loyal, kind, and very thoughtful. I’ve seen him properly communicate several times. Truly, hard character traits to find in a man these days. Plus, he’ll understand my insane schedule, as his is likely just as crazy.”
“There’s also that.” It begged a question I hadn’t thought to ask before. “Uh, Seiji, do chaos magicians have anchors? Not every psychic type does, I know.”
“I should, actually.” A sad expression crossed his face, and he sagged for a moment before managing a wry shrug. “I’ve tried. But I’ve never had a relationship last three months, and trying to find someone who can watch my back as I need them to is a very tall order.”
He reminded me so much of Mack. There was no hope of an anchor, and it had been deemed a pipe dream and set aside.
I hated that for Seiji. He was well worth protecting and deserved the same comfort and love any psychic did.
Hell, I knew for a fact, if he and Lachlan worked out as a couple, Lachlan would be an anchor for him without blinking. His protective instincts rivaled mine.
“When I first met Mack, he wasn’t invested in finding an anchor because he deemed it a fantasy,” I shared with Seiji.
“Then I came in out of nowhere, saw him, and pretty much decided on first sight I was going to keep him. Don’t give up, Seiji.
Hell, if you need help, let me introduce you later to Jon.
He’s the best Reader in the country. He can help you find someone. ”
He did look bolstered by this and smiled tentatively. “Thanks. I’ll take the help.”
“In the meantime, let me gather up some people, tell them how we can help you. Do you have all the elements you need?”
“No, I need a million tent spikes or something similar. I have to make the charmed spikes.”
“Ah. Then I’m going to send you and Lachlan to the store to buy what you need.” I waggled my brows, feeling quite mischievous. “Maybe a little alone time will get you two talking.”
He looked amused by my eyebrow waggling, a grin lingering about his mouth. “I’m fine with that.”
Really, we moved around in one big group most of the time, so it was hard to catch anyone alone unless you were sleeping with them.
“Sit for a second, I’ll send Lachlan to you first.”
I knew he was sneaking in a little equipment maintenance while we had some downtime. He’d probably pass on polishing a sword if he could have time with Seiji.
Fortunately, he was on the back patio alone, as everyone else was taking the chance to relax while they could. It was a prime moment and I took it.
“Lachlan,” I greeted, sliding the door shut behind me.
He paused in the re-oiling of his claymore. Holy oil, eh? Yeah, probably a good addition to your blade in this crazy place.
“Yeah, mate?”
“Seiji has informed me he could really use some help figuring out how big that locker is, and he needs a crap ton of tent spikes to pull it off. Can you go to the store with him to buy everything?”
He shrugged and set the sword aside. The little curve of his mouth said to me he was eager for a chance to have Seiji alone.
I put a hand on his shoulder to stay him, leaning down a little to meet his eyes. “Listen to me. When you’re out, ask the man on a date. Be direct about it.”
He froze, and the hope in his hazel eyes was almost criminal. “You’re taking the piss.”
“If you listen to me, you’ll have what your heart desires. So please use the one brain cell I know you have, okay? I gave it back to you this morning for a reason.”
“Fuck me, mate, what do you ken?”
“A lot. I just had a very interesting talk with Seiji. Now, ask him out, then ask him about the conversation, and you’ll be in the Land of Opportunities.”
“No need to tell me twice.”
Aaand he was off! I think air just vacuumed in his wake. Damn impressive, how lust could push the speed of sound. I enjoyed a mastermind chuckle as he left the patio.
So this was what it felt like to Know Things other people didn’t, eh? Wow, the power kick was kinda insane. I now realized why Jon was so insufferable sometimes. It was really heady stuff. I’d get a kick from doing this all the time too.
Now, Lachlan, don’t screw this up. I set you up, please come through like I think you will.
I kept walking, as there was a shaded area farther into the yard, and I saw Gwyn had made friends with some of the mutts on the property. One was flopped on her feet, belly up, tongue dangling, getting all the love.
I wouldn’t say anything to the others about Lachlan and Seiji, as that was their thunder, not mine. But I could alert everyone else to the mammoth task I’d just volunteered us for.
Eli, Quinn, Davina, and Booker were hanging out back there as well.
Some had drinks in hand, others were just kicked back and chatting.
There was a little firepit built into the center, but of course, in this desert heat, no one was tempted to put a fire together.
Maybe later tonight, after it had cooled way down.
I waved as I approached to get their attention.
“Hey, all, just had a talk with Seiji. He’s asked for ground support.”
Quinn immediately asked, “What does he need?”
“He needs to know the size of the locker. He’s not sure how far out from the ghost town it goes.”
Booker let out a drawn out, “Oh yeah. Shit, didn’t think of that. We really don’t know how big the area is. Just that it ends before you hit Black Rock.”
“He’s got this method with tuning forks and tent spikes to trace it all out and mark it, it just means a lot of walking. It’s too much for him to do alone, so I offered to help.”
“We should all help,” Eli agreed promptly. “Our hosts have at least two four-wheelers, you think they might let us borrow them?”
“Damn, that’d be great if they did. You wanna ask?”
Eli was out of her seat immediately. “I’m going to ask.”
I waved her on because even one four-wheeler would be super helpful.
Booker’s inner geek was shining. “I definitely want to learn his method. I wonder if this is something Gwyn can learn how to do?”
“I didn’t think to ask.” I should have, though. “Gwyn, make sure you ask him once we start in.”
She saluted me. “Bet.”
Now, this batch had been updated. Where were the rest? “Where’s everyone else?”
People shrugged ignorance, so I pulled my phone out and called Mack as I headed back inside.
He picked up quickly. “Oui, mon trésor?”
I was far enough away from the group no one could hear me, although I did glance back to check. “Mack. Mack, I have the answer! Seiji is absolutely not straight.”
He went from mildly interested to “If you’ve tea, you best start pouring.”
Mack did love a good story. Came with being Creole, far as I could tell. “Just had an interesting chat with him. Work related too, so we’ve got things to help him with, but he asked me if Lachlan was straight. He couldn’t figure out if the man was flirting or not.”
“I think he was still trying to suss Seiji out.”
“Could be why it came across as uncertain, then. Anyway, I told him Lachlan was trying to figure out if he could flirt and Seiji turned immediately hopeful. I promised to kick Lachlan in his direction, which I have done.”
“Such an excellent pot stirrer you are,” Mack crooned.
I was still pleased with myself, so I snickered. “Damn tootin’. Oh, and I told Seiji straight up I’d love to be friends and he’s so happy. Apparently, ours is one of the friendliest groups he’s ever worked with and he’s really wanting to be friends.”
“Well, now, he shouldn’t have said such to you, cher.”
“Why, ’cause there’s no escape now?”
“Damn straight.”
I laughed again, so full of happiness it felt like it overflowed. “Well, hopefully this all works out. In any case, where are you?”
“Our room. We got enough time for a little cuddling before Seiji drafts us?”
“It’s a short window, but sure.”
Frankly, after the insanity of the past week, cuddling with Mack and taking it easy for an hour sounded amazing. I’d take it.