Chapter 5
We retreated to the hotel for now, for lack of a better option. I dried Gwyn’s tears, and she calmed, but I could tell she was upset still. I wasn’t sure how to help her, but I could at least try to settle her some.
“Now, Gwyn, I don’t know how to put this, but you’ve basically signed up for an adventure.”
She lifted her head, still sniffling, but managed a smile. “I have?”
“You have. We jet all over the country, sometimes outside of the US, to handle ghosts. You’ll be traveling a lot for years to come, so I hope you like travel.”
“I haven’t really traveled much, so it sounds fun to me.”
Hopefully her attitude stuck. “Between cases, we stay at home, which is in Tennessee. You’re going to love Brandon’s family. They live nearby, and they’re the parents everyone wishes they had. You’ll have nothing but support and help from this point on, ma petite. I promise you.”
She sniffled some more but her smile turned more genuine. “I guess I really am a protagonist, then. I have the shitty, dark past of the MC and I’m about to gain my found family while I learn how to harness my awesome powers.”
I laughed. “You’re not wrong. Just know, ma petite chère, if something hurts you, scares you, you can call for us. We’ll respond immediately.”
“Yeah.” Her expression softened, and I saw nothing but belief. “I know. You already do, often before I can even ask.”
I’d certainly tried. I didn’t know how good I’d be as a pseudoparent, but I’d do my best. Really, I couldn’t be worse than her own parents.
Brandon spoke from the front seat. “We’ve got multiple psychics in the family, too. Mack’s not unique. They’ll be delighted to have another apprentice join in, so you can look forward to meeting them.”
“What other psychic types are there?”
I let Brandon fill her in because my thoughts were on something else entirely.
Frankly, my team. I was about to throw a curveball at them.
It was one thing to take on a mammoth task like Black Rock and its ghost town affiliate, it was another to do it with a completely untrained Medium in tow.
I owed them a heads-up and an explanation, at the very least.
Afterward, well, I’d see who was comfortable helping with Gwyn. Surely Beau would help me—he loved training kids. I wasn’t as sure about everyone else, though.
Some part of my brain freaked out over the realization I suddenly had a whole human being I had to protect and care for.
Me, who had never even had a pet. To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I’d be any good.
With Gwyn’s age, I’d be more than a mentor and teacher, I’d be something like a father figure, too.
And I’d never had a good father figure in my life growing up.
My own father had been a waste of space. It had been almost a relief when he died, that was how bad he’d been. Not that I remembered much of him, thankfully. Beau would be the closest I’d had to a father, but I was already an adult when I met him, so that dynamic didn’t really happen either.
Thankfully, I had Brandon. He had an amazing father, a caring nature, and would surely step in when I faltered. Thank god for my other half, truly.
Also, maybe I should call Kanye and ask for some pointers. Yeah. Smart idea.
The hotel lobby had enough space for two couches and not much else, but still, that was where I found everyone.
We were barely through the door when Quinn caught my eye and relayed, “Lachlan’s cousin Davina has a bad bout of food poisoning, so she’s out for the count, probably for the next three days or so. Lachlan’s stocking up on things for her before he leaves with you, and hello, who’s this?”
I sensed Gwyn behind me and half turned, sliding an arm around her shoulders to support and encourage her forward. Everyone rose, studying Gwyn with rampant curiosity.
Gwyn sucked in a startled breath, eyes fixed on Eli. I knew why, of course. Eli’s aura was quite distinctive even in direct sunlight. Anyone with the Sight would be caught on her aura. I leaned in a little to tease, “She’s bright, isn’t she?”
My Medium-in-training nodded dumbly.
Eli was pleased with this praise but equally fascinated by Gwyn. She came in closer, head angled a little as she did her own study. “Who’s this darling?”
“This is Gwyn,” Brandon introduced, putting a hand on her shoulder. “We just took her in as an apprentice.”
“Dammit, how come you guys always find the cool people?” Eli made a face at me before focusing on Gwyn again. “Hi. I’m Eliana, an Exorcist and Medium with the FBI.”
“Hi.” Gwyn was more than a little breathless, eyes still wide. “You are supernova bright, my god.”
“You’re pretty bright yourself, kiddo.”
“Gwyn,” I said, continuing the introductions, “these are some of the best people you’ll ever work with. This is Quinn, an anchor. He’s married to Eli, and their husband and anchor, Booker.”
Gwyn shook hands with both of them. “Hi, nice to meet you.”
“Hi yourself,” Quinn responded, looking her over. “Sorry to ask, how old are you?”
“Fifteen.”
“Oh-ho. That’s a great time to start learning the business.” Quinn inclined his head toward me and Brandon. “Not sure why you’ve got them, but you’re in very good hands.”
Eli pursed her lips, nodded, then linked arms with Gwyn before dragging her away. “You come with me. We need to talk about how a woman navigates the biz.”
Eli apparently would step in as a big sister mentor. Gwyn could do far, far worse. Also, thank god, please help. I needed a village right about now.
I heard Gwyn comment as they walked, “Your arm is so cool.”
“Thanks! Booker built it for me after I lost my arm. See, what happened was, I got challenged by this eighty-year-old grandmother to an arm wrestling competition, and boy did that not go well—”
The second they disappeared up the stairs, I realized I had two very curious men staring at me. I sighed and sat down, gesturing for them to do the same, which they did. Brandon and I took turns telling the story of what had happened in the past hour.
Booker whistled low when I finished. “Poor kid. She had an air about her of one hunted and hounded.”
I nodded grimly, agreeing. Yes, she unfortunately did.
“I realize this is a bit much to spring on you guys.” Brandon spoke slowly, with caution, studying their reactions. “And if you’d rather we keep her at the hotel while we’re working, or—”
Booker immediately threw up a hand. “No. Will it make it a bit more challenging to safeguard a teen while we’re working? Well, yes. But the experience will be invaluable to her, and I like kids. She’d be conversely safer with us than in a hotel room.”
The damn towns in this area were so haunted, he was unfortunately correct.
This hotel had two ghosts who lingered nearby, for that matter, although they’d had the good sense to leave our group alone.
I might have to deal with them before they could hassle Gwyn, though.
Depended on whether or not we stayed here.
“Beau and Hannah, when they hear of this, will absolutely help us with her.” I knew it as I knew I’d draw my next breath. “I haven’t had a minute to call them yet.”
“Let’s change plans for today,” Brandon suggested.
“I don’t think Lachlan will be comfortable going up to the mines when Davina might need him.
We can leave him here, or he can briefly join us in Black Rock.
How about we scope out the city today, get the lay of the land, and organize a meeting with the mayor?
At the same time, we can be teaching Gwyn some basic stuff so she’ll know how to safeguard herself, at least.”
He’d come up with a better plan, as our first one, as usual, had fallen apart quickly.
Quinn seemed to think it was valid, too, as he grunted. “I’d feel better doing that. Mack, take a second to call Beau. I’m going to call the mayor—I’ve got her number—see if she can meet with us today.”
Booker stared at the stairs, clearly contemplating something. “Mack, I think I can put together a go-bag for Gwyn with what I have in the car. You okay if I make her up something?”
Relief and gratitude tangled in my chest. “Thanks, man. This was so last second, I don’t even know where to start.”
“Get Beau on the phone, I bet he has a great idea of what a newbie needs, and come out to the car with me,” he said. “I probably have most of it, and we can grab what’s missing while we’re out today.”
I’d be a fool to pass up his help. I followed him out the back door to the very tiny parking lot while I also called Beau.
Beau answered. “Hey, boy, we’re closing in on ya. About six hours or so away now.”
“I’m delighted to hear it. For more reasons than one.” I quickly filled him in on what had happened so far this morning.
Beau made an incredulous sound. “You telling me Brandon literally tripped over this girl?”
“In a nutshell.”
“I’ll be damned. And you just talked about this last night? Universe decided you were serious, I guess.”
“Tell me about it. Anyway, I’m with Booker at his car, he’s offering to make her a kit. You know, an essentials workbag so she’s got something to work with.”
“You know, I’ve never met Booker, but I like him already.”
I winked at Booker, who could hear clearly. “You are on speaker, so you can tell him yourself.”
“I’ll accept the compliment,” Booker drawled, smiling that little quirk of the mouth he did. “Can’t wait to meet you both.”
“Same here. Heard lots of stories about you three. Now, as for what this poor child needs, she’ll of course need the basics. Salt, flashlight, extra batteries, portable lantern if you’ve got one—”