Page 81 of Unruly
“What?”
Raden looks up. “You.”
I’m not surprised he can detect my true nature. He’s far more than simply intuitive. He’s not a witch, but something else. Something nebulous.
“Okay,” he says, exhaling slowly. “You can find Calex in a house near the harbor. No address but you’ll know it when you see it. Be warned, Calex is not welcoming to strangers. Or acquaintances, for that matter.”
“I didn’t expect him to be. Someone I… care about is in trouble and I think Calex instigated it.”
“That sounds right.” Raden leans closer to me. “A tip? Don’t show even a hint of weakness. He’ll exploit it. Be clear on what you want and try to end your interaction as quickly as possible.”
“Great. Thank you. I was aimless before finding you.”
Surprisingly, Raden grabs my wrist. He closes his eyes and vibrates slightly for several seconds before snapping them open again.
“You’ll be fine dealing with Calex. He can’t harm you.”
“He can certainly inconvenience me.”
“Yes, and he’s likely to try, especially if what you say is true. If he’s cast some kind of spell, it’s because it favors him, and he won’t be thrilled to end it.”
“Good to know. I don’t need him to end it. I just need to know why. There’s a reason, and once I know that, I’ll have what I need to get my friend back.”
“Friend.” Raden smiles softly. “Good luck to you.”
“Thank you.” I nod, slightly flustered. There’s no hiding anything from this person. “I do hope you always use your powers for good. You may see me again someday.”
Raden salutes me. “I always use my skills to benefit others. Nice meeting you, Farnsworth.”
“You as well.”
After exiting the house, I orient myself and head towards the harbor instead of downtown. The air smells a little salty, a bit like old seaweed and rotting wood. The old sidewalks buckle and dip beneath my feet, raised from age and ancient tree roots growing unwieldy under the city that sprang up around them.
The closer I get to the water, the more I sense a dangerous presence lurking. It knows I’m coming. Calex knows.
My feet seem to guide me on their own down a narrow street to the end of the block, where a gray shaker-sided house sits all alone. It looks abandoned and easily ignored by the living, but anyone with any ties to the world beyond the veil could feel the energy pouring off of it. This must be it.
Remembering Raden’s advice, I set my shoulders and approach the front door confidently. When I raise my hand to knock, the door swings open and a blond woman with waist length hair and an ethereal presence greets me.
“Come in.”
“Thank you.”
I step inside, nearly choking on the thickness of the air. I cough and clear my throat, adjusting to the heavy energy in the space.
“I’m here to see Calex.”
“We know,” she says. “I’m Emma. Come this way.”
I follow her down the hallway and past a room filled with people lounging on large pillows covering the floor. The air smells of various drugs, cigarette smoke, and liquor, but there’s a hint of sex wafting about as well, though everyone seems to be clothed.
Emma leads me into another room with dim lighting, and it’s noticeably cooler than the rest of the house. Behind the table is a slight man, petite and young looking. Is this who I’m supposed to fear?
“Our visitor has arrived,” Emma says, backing out of the room and closing solid French doors behind her.
“Sit,” the man says.
“Are you Calex?”
