Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Julian succeeds at not losing his mind over his current situation
Julian had nervously prowled the back hallway until he got a text saying they were on their way.
He handed Abraham his phone and slumped back into his booth in the corner.
He decided that Pinkie’s Bar was a hidden gem in Fishtown.
A divey-looking bar, with all manner of weirdos, but decent food and a surprisingly friendly atmosphere.
He felt much better. At least physically. The wound in his chest still ached but less so, and his bruises looked days old instead of hours.
For the time being, Nigel had been quiet. He was grateful for the respite, but his presence was just under Julian’s skin. As more and more people crowded into the bar, Julian kept his gawping to a minimum. Now that he knew about creatures, he couldn’t quit seeing them.
He was adding the bar’s number to his new burner phone when a familiar voice spoke from the closest barstool.
“Julian, you’re here. What a nice surprise.” The dark-haired man walked over. What was his name? Darren? Derek. Yeah, that was it. Of the three in Hunter’s place, Derek was the most normal-looking. Almost too beautiful to be human. Julian had decided he was not. Not at all human.
His adrenaline surged and he tamped down the fight-or-flight response. His muscle mass was much larger than the being in front of him, but he knew just enough about Derek to be cautious.
“Is it a surprise? Why? Because I should be dead?” Julian scowled, thinking of their last encounter.
“Of course not. Barry’s never hurt a fly. We were just messing with you. Sorry about that.”
While he didn’t agree that Barry wouldn’t hurt a fly, Julian hadn’t been talking about the giant specifically. He didn’t like any of these assholes.
“Just stay away from me, man.”
Derek’s assessing gaze changed to curiosity. “You’ve picked up a passenger. Are you aware?”
Oh, he is pretty.
Great. Nigel’s awake. Julian frowned. Hopefully he didn’t say that out loud. “How do you know?”
“I can see him.”
Yes, it’s me. I’m Nigel. Tell him. Tell him. The voice pitched up to an irritating level.
“Alright. For Chrissakes. He’s Nigel. He was a ghost at the hotel.” Julian frowned at Derek. “Wait. You can see him? Really? I can’t even see him. All I do is hear his yada yada comments all damn day.”
Rude!
Derek’s mouth twitched. He had that ethereal yet aloof beauty of a supermodel, with a side of murder face.
“Do you think you could get him out of me?” It was worth a shot.
As soon as the words left his mouth, his palms began to sweat; his heart rate ramped up and he couldn’t catch his breath.
He clenched and unclenched his fists, forcing his breathing to slow.
Relax. Was this the damn ghost? Shrugging one shoulder, he corrected his wording.
“Maybe not extricate but… is there a way to like, talk to this guy? I just get emotions flooding me all the time. It’s gonna give me a heart attack. God. Maybe that’s what he wants?”
Don’t be silly. Of course not.
Derek indicated the seat across the table. “May I?”
Oh yes, please!
If there was an equivalent of a kid jumping up and down in his brain, Julian felt it. He rolled his eyes and nodded.
Derek sat down. “My friends and I really didn’t mean to scare you the other day, but I sensed your intentions toward Hunter were not… friendly.”
Nodding, Julian pressed his lips inward. “True. That’s changed though. I have no plans to hurt him. Or Regge. Or anybody really. I just want to get out of this mess.”
Aw. You’re so kindhearted, Juli.
A growl rumbled in Julian’s chest. Derek’s eyes flicked up, studying him. An unusual, inhuman, blue green. How beautifully they shimmered in the bar lights and—
“Stop it,” he barked out. Derek sat back. “Not you. Him. He keeps…never mind.”
“He seems harmless.” Derek smiled, causing Julian’s breath to catch. “It can be tricky, sharing a vessel. I’ve seen it work, but it takes cooperation, a lack of ego, and practice. May I talk to Nigel?”
“He can hear you,” Julian said.
“Of course, he hears everything you do. But what I need is to speak to him directly. You’ll be aware of the conversation, but he’ll have control, if only for a bit.”
Julian hesitated. “I’m already sharing a body with someone I barely know, and you want me to let him have control? First, I have no idea how to do that, and second, I don’t trust you.”
Derek’s full lips twitched. “You don’t have to trust me. Do you trust him? I mean, he hasn’t given you nightmares or weird cravings or suicidal ideations has he?”
“No.”
“Then trust him. You’ll have to eventually.” He held a hand across the table. “Take my hand and relax. It will feel like going to sleep, but you’ll be aware. Relaxed. And aware.”
Even with his hesitation, Julian reached across to grasp Derek’s hand. It was rougher than he’d guessed it would be. Like a manual laborer. He blinked as Nigel smiled.
He felt his own lips stretch across his face, but it was different, like a fake smile. “Hello, Derek, I’m Nigel. How may I be of service?”
“Aren’t you lovely. It’s nice to meet you. You know what I am, don’t you?”
Julian felt himself nod. “Yes. I have seen your kind before. You won’t hurt Julian, will you?”
“No. I have no intentions like that.”
“Good. Because I quite like him.”
“Would it be okay if I asked you a couple of questions? Maybe? For Julian?”
“Yes.” Nigel perked up and got all fluttery. Julian saw his free hand skip across the table to fondle Derek’s hand. Shocked and embarrassed, he could do nothing about it as Nigel’s giggle came out of his mouth.
“Okay. So can you tell what Julian is thinking?”
“No. He wasn’t happy to see you, but I only know that because his blood pressure spiked a bit. And he growled. Did you hear it?”
Derek grinned. “Yes.”
“Isn’t he amazing? So tough. But I can tell he’s kind as well.”
Julian could do nothing but listen. But as he did, he felt lighter, almost fond of the voice coming from his mouth.
“Can Julian read your thoughts?” Derek asked.
He frowned. “I don’t think so. But he hears my words.
I try not to talk so much because he was hurt, you know.
Very badly. He needs his rest. Master Anu always said I have a tendency to talk sooo much.
There is simply so much to say. And to see.
” Julian looked around the bar, seeing it through Nigel’s eyes.
No longer the dim and dingy bar with sketchy drinkers, it was magical.
A place full of life and laughter where everyone seemed happy.
“You see, I haven’t been out of the hotel for a long time.
It was scary to leave. Too scary, but Julian will protect me. I know it. He’s so strong and smart.”
“So you definitely don’t want to hurt him. Put him in danger, take control?”
“I… I would never hurt him. I can’t imagine it.” Nigel’s gaze dropped to the table to where Derek’s and Julian’s hands were clasped. “If he means to eject me, I suppose I would go. Though I have no place. Back to the hotel maybe?”
Julian’s eyes watered, his breath caught on the lump in his throat. He wanted to rush into the conversation, to say no. No. Jesus. He was such an asshole. This poor guy. What was wrong with him?
Derek squeezed his hand. “You realize that when you get overcome with emotions, Nigel, so does Julian. And I don’t know him well, but I don’t think he’s much used to that. So maybe you could be calm? To not get too excited?”
Julian felt himself bobbing his head like an idiot. “Oh yes. Of course. I just got so… yes, of course. That makes sense. I’m sorry, Julian.”
“Do you think, if you really needed to… that you could leave his body? Just temporarily?”
“That would be so scary. I mean, where would I go?”
“I think it would take practice. I have seen it before with spiritual entities. They have a certain freedom that the physical body does not. So you could, for example, leave here, just for a moment, and buzz downstairs to see what’s happening down there and come right back to safety.”
Nigel frowned. “I don’t know.”
“I promise. Julian and I will be right here.”
“Really? You won’t leave me?” Nigel’s plaintive tone was hard to resist. Julian wanted to shake his head but couldn’t. His muscles tightened, as though getting ready to jump out of a plane or something.
“Right. Okay.”
Julian’s breath came out in a whoosh. He felt empty. Tired. His chest burned where the bullet entered. So fierce he got a little dizzy with it. There was a sudden lack of… something. He wanted to sink to the floor.
“How do you feel?” Derek asked.
“I feel like shit,” he said. He did. He could feel every bruise and scrape, every stitch. His eyes and mouth were dustbowls. “Why do I feel this bad?”
“Because Nigel’s spirit gives you a sort of extra energy. All entities have energy, and Nigel shares his with you, so when he goes, you are just you, a human. An injured one at that. This is how you would feel without him.” Derek’s eyes closed for half a second. “He’s coming back. Ready?”
He barely got the word yes out when Nigel slammed into him. Gasping in surprise, Julian flattened against the back of the booth. He took a breath, then another, instantly feeling better, almost more like himself.
That was so exciting! But scary too. Oh my, the green circle of power, the old wizard. And Abraham! Oh my, his eyes all aglow.
Nigel chattered in Julian’s head for a bit. Julian let go of Derek’s hand. “He’s back, nattering away about circles and wizards and shit.” He looked at Derek. “What’s in the basement?”
Derek shrugged. “What I’m here for.” He knocked on the table and slid out of the booth. “Good luck, Julian. Nigel, so nice to meet you.”
He slipped into the crowd of people heading toward the back hallway.
Wasn’t he pretty, Julian? But I wouldn’t want to be too close to him.
“For once, we agree on that, bud,” Julian grumbled under his breath.