Chapter Thirteen #2
“That suggests that there is something going on at the other house, and that someone or something has stopped us from gaining access to it,” Van summarizes.
“We can’t send anyone back to the other house to check on it and see what’s going on, one because we don’t want to put anyone in danger, there’s a good chance that it has something to do with Casimir, and we don’t want anyone caught in those crosshairs.
The other reason why we can’t send someone is that no one knows where the house is, and it needs to stay that way,” Reed says.
“All true. So, I don’t know how we’re going to figure out what’s going on with it, or who is messing with it, and why Doc can’t go back,” Neith says with a frown.
“Which, from what you told us about the spirit guides, Neith, would suggest that they are most likely the ones who have something to do with it,” Coen adds.
“Agreed, I’ll try and call them again and see if any of them answer,” she suggests.
As she opens her mouth though, Raiden reminds her with a grin, “Remember, Winston said that you didn’t need to shout, you just needed to say his name.”
A glint of mirth lights up her eyes as she replies, “I know. I just like messing with him. He gets so mad, and it’s cute.”
“I don’t think anyone has referred to a spirit guide as cute before,” Ransom points out with a chuckle.
She pulls a face, “Come on. They may not have said it out loud, but I can guarantee that they thought it.”
“They definitely did,” River agrees.
“It might not be a good idea to say it to their faces though,” Raiden adds. “I mean, they look cute, but they’re extremely powerful. I wouldn’t want to piss them off.”
Neith grins, “Don’t worry, I won’t use it unless he’s pissing me off.”
“I don’t think that’s as reassuring as you think it is,” Van points out, looking amused despite himself.
She shrugs. “I’m going to yell now.”
That’s the only warning she gives as she shouts for Winston, Wallace, and Senka again. I do notice that she only really shouts for Winston, the rest of them, she’s not quite as loud about summoning.
When none of them appear, I say, “Maybe you pissed him off by shouting, and he’s being stubborn?”
“Winston does seem like he would be the kind to do that,” Coen adds.
Neith’s frown is deep. “He totally would, but that doesn’t explain why Senka and Wallace haven’t shown up. Now, I really am worried that there’s something wrong.”
I open my mouth to tell her that I’m sure everything is fine, when there’s a sudden flare of power that I don’t recognize, and before I can ask anyone else if they feel it too, there’s a giant bear standing in front of Neith and towering over her.
“Stop!” She shouts, holding her hands up in warning and somehow already knowing that we were all about to attack.
“He’s a spirit guide.” She explains, before adding with an adorable tilt to her head, “I am surprised to see you though. Usually, you stick to the woods, and I only catch glimpses of you.”
He nods his big head as he falls onto all fours, his landing making the room shake.
He is fucking massive. I have never seen a bear so big, but then again, he isn’t a normal bear, and bear shifters get pretty fucking huge, definitely bigger than normal bears, so magic obviously plays a part in their size difference.
The bear speaks, its voice a deep baritone that rumbles through the room, “I thought that it had been long enough by now that you would no longer be frightened of me.”
Neith smiles, “I was never frightened of you. You weren’t the bear that attacked me.”
The bear hums and nods his massive head again before speaking, “Thank you. I am Esben, but you may call me Ezzy. I prefer it.”
My eyebrows rise in surprise.
Neith however, doesn’t seem shocked that a mystical and immensely powerful spirit guide wants to be called Ezzy, and she just smiles and nods her head.
“You got it, Ezzy,” she replies, before her expression becomes serious again. “Are the others okay?”
The big bear huffs, “Yes. As Winston mentioned earlier, the creature that stole time from you is proving to be more elusive than we had anticipated, and they are still hunting it through the grounds of the other home. It is keeping them rather busy.”
He turns his attention to me, and I force myself to remain where I am. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he is an ancient, extremely powerful being who could end me before I even realize that it was happening.
I have no idea how Neith was standing there so relaxed while his attention was on her, although she had absolutely no fear of Reed, and the majority of people fear him.
I think that it’s highly likely that she simply doesn’t possess the fear gene, or likes the adrenaline rush too much, or something as equally out there and unexpected.
It’s Neith, I sort of expect the unexpected when it comes to her now, although that would make it expected, I guess.
“It is because they are hunting on the grounds that you were not able to transport back to the house. Although we were all extremely surprised that you almost made it through. We underestimated you.”
I nod in response, but I don’t really know what to say to him, and I don’t want to risk offending him, so I decide that respectful silence is probably the best way to go in this situation.
I am surprised that they locked the place down with their magic, and that I almost managed to get through it and to the house.
Although it does explain the adverse effects that I was experiencing though. Thank fuck.