Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
“Isn’t DC that way?” Silas asked, turning in his seat to check for street signs when he noticed they were heading west.
“Have to make a short detour to Adelphi to pick up something for Merlin. Won’t take too long, unless Howard goes on one of his tangents.”
“Howard?” Silas had heard the name mentioned a few times in the study and had been curious.
“He’s a good friend. He owns Bippity Boppity Books, an occult bookshop. I drop in once or twice a week to pick up Merlin’s and Nox’s orders.”
“Bippity Boppity Books,” Silas said with an amused snort. “I love it already.”
“It’s fine,” Nelson said in his even rumble.
But he seemed pleased when he parked in front of the charmingly spooky storefront and scanned the window display. The theme was Samhain and numerous books, candles, crystals, teacups, and skulls were skillfully arranged in cozy-looking piles as paper bats and stars dangled from above.
“That’s cute,” Silas declared, earning a nod from Nelson.
“It is, but Nox will be disappointed because he’s been looking for a few hours to sneak away and help. The Samhain display is his favorite and Nox feels like he’s been neglecting Howard and the shop.”
Silas groaned, feeling somewhat responsible. “We have kept him busy.”
“It’s for a good cause,” Nelson said as he went to get the door but it opened before he could grasp the knob.
A bouncing elderly man with downy white hair greeted them. “Hello, Agent Nelson! Come in!” he hopped and raised his arms and Silas bit down on a grin as Nelson dutifully lowered and allowed the old man to kiss his cheek.
Silas used the moment to admire the store’s romantic goth decor.
The walls and ceilings were black as were most of the store’s fixtures and bookshelves, but an elegant seating area in rich purple upholstery invited guests to sit as candelabras and a cauldron-shaped wax warmer gave the space a comforting glow.
Silas smiled at an embroidered throw pillow that said “Sit For A Spell!”
The other end of the store boasted a vast collection of crystals and stones, with the largest on the top shelves to glass jars of glittering shards on the bottom.
They were arranged by color, like a rainbow, and looked more like an art installation than a merchandise display to Silas.
He wished Tighe could see it and wondered if there was any chance he’d be up to a visit.
“Who is this?” Howard asked, adjusting his spectacles as he examined Silas. “A fian! As I live and breathe!”
“Something like that,” Nelson murmured. “This is Agent Silas Shelby. Shelby, this is Howard Sherwood.”
Howard reeled for a moment before taking Silas’s hand and shaking it. “It’s very nice to meet you, Agent Shelby! Where are your people from? Scotland?” he guessed but Silas’s cheeks puffed out as he shrugged.
“My grandparents’ parents were but I couldn’t tell you much else. I was too stupid to ask them about our ancestry when I had the chance and I don’t know anything about my father’s side.”
“As is often the way,” Howard said with a forlorn sigh. “You aren’t lost anymore, though, are you?”
The question caught Silas by surprise, he wasn’t expecting Howard to be so oddly perceptive. “Not at the moment, no…”
Nelson coughed and nodded at the window, rescuing Silas. “I see you got the display done.”
“Oh, yes!” Howard turned to it and nodded.
“Heidi and I managed rather well, don’t you think?
You just missed her, I sent her to the bakery for fresh treats,” Howard said with a delighted titter, then threw up his hands.
“But you’re not here to admire our window or discuss pastries.
Come this way!” he waved and hurried to the counter with Nelson on his heels.
Howard headed around the counter and rested his hand on a large, dusty, dog-eared tome.
“Hopefully this will have what Merlin is looking for, in regards to the nephilim. It took several phone calls and a lot of searching but Patty McManus had it in his root cellar!”
“People still use root cellars?” Silas mumbled to himself but neither Nelson or Howard seemed surprised or found it strange to store a book in one.
“Thank you for tracking it down, I’m sure it will help,” Nelson said as he lifted the tattered book and supported it with both hands instead of tucking it under his arm.
“Nox sends his love and promises he’ll be by soon and Merlin wanted me to remind you that he still has your seraphinite.
He says he’ll return it as soon as he’s figured out what’s going on with our friend, Niall. ”
“No rush at all!” Howard insisted as he came around the counter and scrambled to get the door for Nelson and Silas. “I’ve managed to find another one! My dear friend, Nikola, in Serbia is sending it to me. He’s a lovely man and a practitioner of white Vlach magick!”
“Wow,” Silas said, assuming that was impressive from Howard’s reverent affection for Nikola. Howard seemed like a good judge of character.
“A very wise and kind man. Much like our Nox.” Howard pushed the door open and offered Nelson his cheek. “Give him my love and tell him not to worry about us! All is well here.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks, Howard,” Nelson said as he kissed his cheek, holding the book in front of him.
“It was lovely to meet you, Agent Shelby. Please come back soon!”
Silas planned to and couldn’t wait to tell Tighe all about Howard and the shop. “Definitely.”
With the book safely secured in Nelson’s trunk, they headed for DC and the Hoover Building.
Nelson wasn’t much for small talk but Silas chuckled to himself as he replayed their visit to Bippity Boppity Books.
With the exception of the awkwardness about Silas’s parents, it had been a pleasure.
Silas thought it might be a nice, safe, place to take Tighe, if he ever wanted to visit a store.
Silas had a feeling he might one day. He was brave and rabidly curious and was fascinated by the more primitive, Druidic aspects of Nox’s practice.
Plus, Howard would understand and appreciate Tighe’s sensitivities and limitations, being close friends with Merlin and Nox.
And a strong witch like Merlin, if Silas’s suspicions were correct.
“Why do I know Howard’s name?” Silas asked. It had itched at his brain from the moment they were introduced.
There was a hard sniff and Nelson’s grip tightened around the wheel. His jaw twitched and his nostrils flared, a big reaction from someone as stoic as Nelson. “Howard is the father of Julian Sherwood.”
“Julian was involved with The Moon Murders,” Silas recalled, his stomach sinking as details of the investigation came back to him. Julian had been responsible for the kidnapping of six young women and the death of another. “That poor, sweet man!”
Nelson nodded. “He’s family and we do our best to look after him.”
“He seems to be doing well now, thank goodness,” Silas said but Nelson’s lips tightened into a hard line.
“Howard has his good days and his bad days. He’s been through the worst hell a man can suffer. He lost his child twice—to a manipulative asshole and in death—and Howard blames himself for all the damage Julian inflicted on his victims and their families.”
“That’s not fair.” There was no doubt in Silas’s mind that Howard was completely innocent, incapable of harming a soul.
“You can’t reason away that much empathy and compassion.
Howard loved Elsa Hansen and helped create the literacy league that Julian used to attract and prey on his cult’s victims. It was supposed to be about white witches, teaching teens and adults how to read in a safe environment.
Howard did it out of love for others and to support small shops like his and libraries, but Julian was brainwashed and betrayed his father. ”
“It was good of you all to stand by him and show him he still has a family.”
“Nox makes sure a friend is always there to keep an eye on Howard and so he isn’t alone. That’s how Nox works. He cares deeply about all of us and it’s in his nature to heal and restore balance. He’s…the good god,” he added with an awkward flinch.
“The good god? Merlin’s said that a few times. What’s that about?”
“You probably came across it when you were reading about the Dagda. That’s what they called him, the good god. It's the part that’s always been within Nox, that loves the earth and humanity.”
Silas sat with that for a moment, struck by the magnitude of what Nox was, versus who he chose to be. He had thought that Nox’s townhouse was a touch on the extravagant side, but it was actually understated for a living deity. All things considered…
“So… What’s it like?” Silas asked.
Nelson raised a brow. “What?”
“What’s it like having a witch and a god…
” Silas rolled a hand vaguely, searching for the right word because Nelson was a hell of a lot more than a boyfriend and husband was too superficial to describe their relationship.
“For a partner?” he said with a shake of his head. “Nox says you’re his soul’s mate.”
“I am,” Nelson said. “It depends on when you ask me. Today, it’s an honor but I’m concerned about the toll this is taking on Nox.
He’s sensitive to other people’s emotions and discomfort, except for Smoak’s.
He knows that Tighe is suffering and feels responsible because Dùbhghlas’s grudge is against him, not the Ossors.
A lot of people have been hurt, like Howard and Tighe, thanks to people like Julian and Dùbhghlas.
Nox carries their pain and grieves for the other victims deeply. ”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Healing others heals Nox,” Nelson said simply. He was quiet for several moments. “It’s exhausting during the spring equinox and I often feel like I’m being tested because sometimes, he can be an insufferable shit. Don’t get me started on Merlin.”
“Ah,” Silas answered, frowning. “Why is it exhausting during the spring equinox?”
“It’s Nox’s birthday but it’s also when his powers are at their peak and he can barely contain himself. He’s radioactive and bounces around the woods and our tent like a solar powered, neon tennis ball.”
“Wow.” Silas nodded slowly. “I can see why it would be exhausting, but also a lot of fun.”
“It’s fine.”