2. CHAPTER #2
“The ring and nothing more.” Mr. Heiss did allow his gaze to flick over Indy’s body, but it was very brief. “You’ll stay with me at all times. Being in possession of that particular item makes you very attractive—”
“So, you think I’m attractive, huh? You haven’t even seen how flexible I am.”
“Are you always like this?” Mr. Heiss demanded, his cool demeanor broken once more.
“You mean amazing?” Indy cooed. “And, oh, feet behind my ears. That flexible—”
“Annoying.”
“Oh, let me guess. You’re one of those monsters who can’t stand humans.”
Mr. Heiss was unreadable.
“I reckon he just doesn’t like anyone,” King whispered loudly. “He’s desperate to ride you though. I’ve seen it in me vision. Feet behind the ears though? Hmm, not too sure about—”
“Yes, like the vision in which you predicted where to find the ring?” Mr. Heiss grumbled.
“What?” King blinked.
At least, sort of. His glowing orbs flickered and Indy’s brain registered it as such.
“Was the ring not in the alleyway like I said it was?” King scoffed. “Because that young fella’s wearin’ it, so I’m gonna say I was right!”
“You said if I went to that alley at a specific time, then I would find—”
“Find the ring! Yeah! And look at this!” King groaned. “The ring’s here! So, unless yer blind, I was right. Because, sure, didn’t yeh find it on him!”
“I had to track this human back to his home—”
“Right, but it’s here now. So, I’m still bang on and amazing.”
Mr. Heiss rubbed his forehead.
“So.” Indy found he could at least cross his legs and did so, trying to get comfortable in the chair. “Desperate to ride me, huh?”
Mr. Heiss glared.
“I don’t do charity, but I’m sure Mr. Kalt will give you a nice discount.” Indy tilted his head. “Has he said anything to you about my job? I’m supposed to work tomorrow. Like, you know, for the rest of forever and all that.”
“Don’t worry yourself over such trivial things. I’ll have you back to Mr. Kalt as soon as possible. But the ring is the priority here.”
“Really?” Indy tried to glance back at the leshy. “Tree boy over there is that important to you?”
“You have no idea what it is, do you?”
“Guessing he’s not a normal, uh, undead leshy?”
“No.”
“All right, I’ll bite. Gently.” Indy winked. “What is he?”
“There was once a great wizard called Norbert,” Mr. Heiss replied, steepling his long fingers.
“It is said he traveled from this world and beyond, gathering spirits and trapping them within various objects. Whoever holds them, these Artifacts, will wield the power of the spirits inside. The ring you hold is the Memento Mori, a—”
“Yeah, yeah, remember that you’re gonna die or whatever. I know what it means.” Indy huffed. “You know, you could have asked my Gammy about this. I bet she knows a lot more than you.”
“Was that the ghost in your apartment?”
“Yup. She’s a pretty badass witch.”
“Noted.” Mr. Heiss leaned back in his chair. “Now, the exact number of Artifacts is unknown, but there are at least two others in the city right now. It is vital I take possession of the one you currently hold.”
Indy considered that for a moment. “Can’t bring a knife to a gun fight?”
“Pardon?”
“You said there’s at least two more of these things kickin’ around, right? You’re clearly worried about them, which means you probably don’t have them, so you want one for yourself.” Indy would have wiggled the ring at him, but his arms were still stuck. “Even the playing field or whatever.”
“The reason is not important.”
“Which means I’m right and you don’t want to admit it.” Indy batted his lashes.
“I like you, lad. I like people who’re right. Like me.” King cackled.
“Okay, that’s enough of that.” Mr. Heiss grabbed King. “Night night.”
“Hey! Let me go! I get at least ten minutes! Ten—” King yelped as he was promptly shoved back in the drawer. He sighed. “You shitebag fuck face.”
“Gotta agree with the skull.” Indy grunted as the invisible holds squeezed but then released him. “Definitely a fuck face.” He stood up to stretch, turning back to eyeball the leshy.
The leshy remained in the corner, his dark eyes fixed on Mr. Heiss.
“Hey, doin’ okay, babe?” Indy asked. “Need anything? Water? Miracle Gro?”
The leshy tilted his big head, and he seemed excited. “Grow?”
“Uh, no. You don’t need to grow. You’re good just like that. Doing great, sweetie.” Indy turned back to Mr. Heiss. “So. I can’t leave—”
Mr. Heiss scowled. Again. “No.”
“Right. I can’t go anywhere until I get this ring off, right?” Indy grabbed the edge of the desk and leaned forward.
“Correct.”
Indy smiled wide. “What if I want to get you off? Or you get me off? Really, I’m fine either way, but—”
“No.”
“What’s wrong?” Indy wiggled his hips. “Afraid you can’t handle all of this? Scared that once you have a taste of perfection, you won’t be able to enjoy fornication ever again?”
The corner of Mr. Heiss’s mouth actually twitched up into a smile. “I will take you to your lodgings.”
“My lodgings? How about you just take me home?” Indy looked down at the ring. “If this thing is as important and magical as you say it is, then that means other people are looking for it, right?”
“You’re safe.” Mr. Heiss stood. “After all, I was able to get into your apartment. Even with your badass grandmother there.”
“Okay, you didn’t give her a chance to kick your ass. Trust me. She probably could.” Indy crossed his arms, cocking his hip out as Mr. Heiss strolled toward him.
The way Mr. Heiss moved, liquid and graceful, was very much giving big jungle cat about to tackle a helpless little gazelle.
But Indy was hardly helpless.
He rubbed his thumb over the nail of his left ring finger.
Wait, shit. He’d already used the salt.
Okay, left middle finger.
Mr. Heiss grabbed Indy’s hand.
Indy tensed, expecting another attempt to cut off his hand, and he heard the leshy growling from behind him.
But Mr. Heiss’s touch was oddly gentle, his gaze only curious as he looked over Indy’s nails. He paused on the broken one and smirked. “Clever. What substances are in the others?”
“Piss me off enough and maybe you’ll find out,” Indy replied. “Unless you’re secretly a masochist, and in that case, well, just tell me when you’re ready for a hurting.”
Mr. Heiss smiled and it was positively wicked.
Indy hated how his body shivered in response.
It truly was a law of the universe that the sexiest men were always giant bastards.
“We’re leaving now.” Mr. Heiss hadn’t let go of Indy’s hand. “You are going to stay there, behave yourself, and I will be back for you very soon. Do you understand?”
“Everything except the staying there and behaving part.”
“You do realize I could crush you into a pile of bone and viscera with a thought?”
“You could definitely try, but I’m pretty sure this manicure and my new best friend, the Jolly Green Giant, would have something to say about that.”
The leshy growled in what may have been agreement.
Mr. Heiss eyed the leshy for a moment and then looked back to Indy. “You are staying, and yes, you will behave.”
“Why? Are you gonna punish me if I don’t?” Indy grinned. “Because that might have the opposite effect you’re going for—”
The office vanished in an unfocused flurry like before, and Indy now stood in the middle of a simple living room alone.
The space was open, with white walls framed by big wooden beams, ugly brown furniture, and a bookcase with one shelf of books.
There was no other indication a human presence had ever existed here, and the energy weirdly reminded Indy of a dollhouse.
Well, other than the big skull in the middle of the coffee table.
“Oh! I’m not in the drawer. That’s good.” King looked around slowly. “But I don’t know where I am at all now… Right, less good.”
“Hey. King, right?” Indy headed to the front door to see if it would open. Of course it was locked with some more magical crap. “Nice of you to join us.”
“I am very nice. That’s true. I’m Somhairle. King Somhairle, yes. Samm. Sammy. To me friends.” King eyed Indy suspiciously. “Who’re you again?”
“Indy.”
“Ah, right. You’ve got a whip, good man yerself. And that big green fella?”
The leshy was here too, curiously peering at the books. He turned to peek at them over his shoulder and then waved.
“I guess he’s not much of a talker.” Indy went for the windows next.
Outside was nothing but a thick forest.
Great.
Probably a stupid pocket dimension or something, which meant Indy wouldn’t be able to escape. Even if he could get out of the house, he had no way of teleporting back to the city from here on his own.
“Do you know where we are?” Indy asked King.
“In a house,” King replied.
“No, I mean this is some kind of other world, right? Another dimension or something?” Indy waved around them as he headed to the couch. “We’re not in Somersville, that’s for sure. Can’t seem to leave, so?”
“It is… a house.” King seemed to frown. “You a bit slow in the head?”
“Just forget it.” Indy flopped face-first into the couch and groaned loudly. “Oh my God, I want to die. I am trapped with no cell phone, no drugs, no nothing. This is stupid.” He wailed in frustration and smothered his face into the cushions, screaming muffled obscenities.
The leshy must have thought the couch was going to eat him or something because he was suddenly there and lifting Indy up, shaking him worriedly.
“Whoa, whoa!” Indy spun over on his back, holding out his hands. “Hey! I’m fine. Easy now, baby. See?” He gestured toward his smiling face. “Totally fine!”
The leshy huffed.
He did not appear certain, casting a wary look toward King.
King stared right back. “Howeyeh!”
“Hey, you can have a seat. And also, yeah, you can let go of me.” Indy lightly patted the leshy’s arm. “Relax a little. Chill. I don’t think the skull is gonna hurt me.”
The leshy frowned deeply as he withdrew.
“It’s all right, babe. Promise.” Indy chuckled. “You, uh, got a name?”
The leshy cocked his head and pointed at himself with a questioning look.
“Yes, you. I’m Indy.” Indy tapped his chest. “Indy.” He gestured toward the leshy. “And you are?”
The leshy shook his head.