Page 30 of The Night Vision
It was a lovely kiss and Silas was just about to suggest they find a more private spot when it began to rain.
“Let’s go!” Tighe laughed as he grabbed Silas’s hand and towed him back up the terrace steps.
“Sorry about the vacuum. Feeling better?” Nelson asked when he got the door for them.
“Much better,” Tighe replied and went to pour himself a cup of tea from the pot on the coffee table. “I made this pot myself!” he boasted before taking a sip.
Silas and Nox traded grins. Both had noticed that Tighe didn’t mind learning how to weigh out herbs and flower petals and use the tap and stove when Merlin showed him how to make tea.
“We’re working on a list,” Nox said as he held up a yellow notepad. He had kicked off his Converse and was sitting on the desk cross-legged. “Appliances, electronics, tools…Anythingthat might be loud or startling for Tighe. That way, you can explain and introduce them to Tighe before he encounters them,” Nox told Silas. “I already have champagne bottles and canned biscuits. Nelson almost gave me a heart attack when he was making breakfast a few weeks ago,” he said as he cut his eyes at Nelson. “You should have warned me. I thought a gun had gone off.”
“I forgot,” Nelson said flatly, but his lips twitched as he looked down at his little notepad. He always had it out, unless he was eating, driving, or operating a vacuum cleaner.
“Sure you did,” Nox replied, then became alert when the doorbell rang. “I smell sulfur and sense a demon outside my gate,” he said as he slid off the desk and signaled for everyone to stay back as he approached the front door. “Why have you come to my home, Lord Smoak?” he called, sending Merlin scurrying to the corner by the terrace doors.
“I’m ready!” he said as he brandished an elaborately carved staff. It was topped with a large, dark, jagged crystal and Merlin came around and stood in front of Silas, Tighe, and Nelson.
“Stand down, we mean you no harm,” a voice whispered, light as smoke as it swirled around the room. “We’ve come to ask for your help.”
Nox waved for everyone to relax. “Niall is with him and I’m not afraid of Cenn Cruach.” He jogged to the front door and opened it, laughing as he pulled Niall into a hug. “How are you, buddy?” He leaned around Niall and said something under his breath that Silas couldn’t make out. “You can cross,” he called to Smoak, then clapped Niall on the back. “I thought you said you’d never come to Georgetown.”
“Trust me, I intended to keep my distance,” he said and Silas quickly noted that Niall looked well. He also noted that Cenn, or Curn, or Cruach, or Smoak… Whatever his name was, was in his hot biologist form as he joined Niall in the foyer. “Something scary happened and we thought that you and Merlin should know.”
The staff lowered as Merlin hurried forward. “What happened? Don’t just stand there, Nox, let them in!” he insisted and raced back into the study so he could shove the staff at Nelson. “Put this away!” Merlin whispered, then spun and clasped his hands together. “Come in and tell us all about it.”
They were shown into the study and it was surprising how much Silashad changed since he had last seen them. He had heard that Nelson and Nox, along with their friends, were helping Niall plan his eco-friendly dream house and acclimate after years of hiding on a lonely summit in Shenandoah National Park. He no longer looked like a man who needed to be saved and Silas washappyto see Niall glowing and thriving.
Perhaps Silas was imagining it, but there was a true aura of happiness around Niall. “Hey, Shelby! What are you doing here?” he asked excitedly. He was as sweet and open as always but the demon looked concerned and extremely uncomfortable as he perched on the armrest next to Niall.
“Nox and Nelson asked me to help them find someone. This is Tighe,” Silas said as he put an arm around Tighe.
“It’s nice to meet you!” Niall said with a cheerful wave but Tighe was staring at Smoak.
Tighe’s nose wrinkled—the way it usually did when he didn’t like something—and he leaned close so he could whisper out of the side of his mouth to Silas. “I would have picked you.”
“Thanks,” Silas whispered back, winking before turning to Niall. “Are you okay? You said something scary happened?”
Smoak cleared his throat, looking around the room and ducking as if something was swarming around his head. “Can we make this quick? Despite MacIlwraith’s welcome, the ambiance isn’t exactly…cozy,” he said tightly, making Merlin chuckle.
“There’s only so much you and Nox can do to counteract decades of strong warding and counter-hexes.”
“We’ll work on that,” Nox said dismissively, lowering to a knee in front of Niall. “You seem…different, but you’re obviously healthy and happy. What’s the problem?”
Niall laughed nervously. “I’mgreat.That’s the problem. My line frayed and snapped while I was saying goodbye to my secret salamander spot yesterday evening. I broke my leg and my left arm was covered in road rash.”
“You broke your leg and injured your arm?” Nelson repeated slowly, raising a curious brow.
“Yup!” Niall nodded. “Cenn was going to fly me to the nearest hospital but everything had healedin seconds.”
“No way!” Nox whispered breathlessly and popped up onto his feet.
Merlin’s jaw hung for several moments before he gave himself a shake. “Check his soul, Nox! See if he still has all of it.”
Smoak’s face twisted. “Go ahead. His soul is intact,” he said and Nox nodded.
“It’s even stronger and clearer than it was before.”
“Told you,” Smoak muttered at Merlin but Nox held up a finger.
