Page 29 of The Night Vision
Chapter Thirteen
Later that day, Silas was contemplating a “nap” with Tighe. He seemed happy as he munched on an apple and read Thoreau but Silas was bored to tears with his book about Iron Age druids. Nelson also looked bored as he checked his emails and looked over a report but there was little to be done while Nox and Merlin worked outside. They came in and out of the study through the terrace doors with armloads of crystals, dented and rusty tins, jars, feathers, bits of red fabric…
“That should do it!” Nox said when he posted on the back steps with a shovel over his shoulder. He gave his black Converse a good stomp before coming inside but still left muddy prints on the polished wooden floors.
“Oh, dear! We have tracked in a mess, though,” Merlin noted while dusting off his hands and Nox chuckled.
“Looks like we carried half the yard in with us.”
“I’ll get the Dyson,” Nelson said as he strode from the study and returned a moment later with a cordless vacuum. He turned it on and there was a scream from Tighe as the vacuum’s motor blared.
“What is that?” Tighe covered his ears and ducked, looking petrified.
Nelson turned it off and held out a hand to calm him. “Sorry. It’s a vacuum cleaner. It sucks the dirt off the floor,” he explained but Tighe scowled at it.
“Why?That’s where dirt belongs: on the floor!” He turned, searching around him. “Why isn’t thereanydirt? Why doeseverythinghave to be so clean?” he yelled and shook his head, upset as he reached for Silas. “That was almost as loud as a helicopter. I don’t like it! Why is everything sounnatural?” he whispered, his panic and frustration were like a kick in the gut for Silas.
“I’m so sorry. Come with me.” He steered Tighe toward the terrace doors and led him out into the sunshine. “I’m so, so sorry. The vacuum is really loud but I promise, it can’t hurt you,” he said as he gathered Tighe in his arms.
“Everything is sostrangehere, Silas. There are so many terrible sounds and nothing smells right.”
“It smells fine to me—like orange oil and incense—but I can understand how it would all be strange and overwhelming for you,” he whispered and kissed Tighe’s hair. “But you see how much easier it is for Nox and Merlin to…ward this place. They can’t ward a forest to keep a warlock out.”
“I know but I miss the woods.” Tighe raised his head, his nose running and his lip wobbling as his eyes met Silas’s. “You said you lived close to the Trail in the mountains. Can we go there after we stop Hugh Dùbhghlas?”
“My place?” The thought of taking Tighe tohishome and sharing it with him made Silas lightheaded. “I wouldlovethat, Tighe! I’d take you right now if I was sure I could protect you.”
“We can protect each other if we had a poppet,” Tighe stated defiantly.
“That’s a really good idea but I don’t know how to fight a warlock, do you?” Silas asked, chuckling when Tighe shook his head. “I promise I’ll take you anywhere you want once Nox and Merlin are sure it’s safe.”
“We’ll be together? You’ll stay with me?” Tighe said as he glanced behind them at the study.
Silas turned Tighe’s face and cupped his cheek. “I can’t live outside like you, but I can be happy just about anywhere as long as I’ve got a roof over my head and plumbing. The question is: can you stay with me? You’re used to moving every day and sleeping by lakes and in caves.”
“I had nowhere to go before so I wandered, but I want to stay and have a home with you,” Tighe said, then wrinkled his nose. “Not like this, though.” He tipped his head toward the study and grimaced. “This castle is too big and too full of strange things. And I don’t like the way it smells here. I can’t find the scent of anything living, other than us, when I’m inside.”
“It’s actually areallynice house and I’m afraid to ask what it’s worth. Nox is far more sophisticated than I was expecting. I thought he’d live in an abandoned church, filled with black skulls and disco balls,” Silas confided in a whisper but Tighe blinked cluelessly back at him.
“I have no idea what most of that means but it would make as much sense to me as this place. What is a disco ball?”
“I’ll show you later,” Silas laughed as he kissed Tighe. “I have no idea how long it will take or how we’ll know that you’re safe. But bear with thisfor meand I’ll take you back to the forest and I’ll never make you leave again. Unless your life is in danger,” he added softly, making Tighe smile.
“I can bear this for you,” he said with a sigh, rubbing the end of his nose against Silas’s. “Thank you for being honest and helping me understand. Everyone has been kind and they want to help, but they keep telling me that things aren’t so bad andthat I’ll get used to this. You’re the only one who knows how I feel and you know that Ican’tget used to this.”
“You don’t have to.” Silas had to be out of his mind, but his heart was telling him that he’d been waiting for this and it was time. “Look, my grandparents left me a little money and I’ve been smart with my finances. What if I retired early and sold my house? I could buy a patch of land even deeper in the woods and build us a tiny house. I can put in double doors or a garage door so we can open most of it up so you have plenty of fresh air. I’ll get a big skylight so you can always see the clouds and stars. How does that sound?”
“Even better than my dreams. We can go inside now,” Tighe said, his smile easier as he leaned back in Silas’s arms.
“Are you sure you’re ready? It sounds like Nelson’s done vacuuming but we can hang out here for a while.”
Tighe looked up at the sky and took another deep breath. “Let’s go back in. They might be talking about the warlock and you don’t want to miss anything,” he said knowingly.
“I don’t,” Silas conceded with a sheepish smile. “I trust them but I don’t like being in over my head. I’m trying like hell to catch up.”
“Anyone would be overwhelmed!” Tighe said, exasperated again. “You’re caught up where it matters,” he added with a firm nod.
“Is that so?” Who cared if Silas wasn’t a god or a witch or a high speed FBI agent? Tighe thought he was good enough and that meant everything to Silas. “Maybe I would rather stay out here with you,” he murmured, lowering his head so he could steal another kiss.
