Page 42 of The Night Vision
“You probably came across it when you were reading about the Dagda. That’s what they called him, thegoodgod. It's thepart that’s always been within Nox, that loves the earth and humanity.”
Silas sat with that for a moment, struck by the magnitude ofwhatNox was, versus who he chose to be. He had thought that Nox’s townhouse was a touch on the extravagant side, but it was actually understated for a living deity. All things considered…
“So… What’s it like?” Silas asked.
Nelson raised a brow. “What?”
“What’s it like having a witch and a god…” Silas rolled a hand vaguely, searching for the right word because Nelson was a hell of a lot more than a boyfriend and husband was too superficial to describe their relationship. “For a partner?” he said with a shake of his head. “Nox says you’re his soul’s mate.”
“I am,” Nelson said. “It depends on when you ask me. Today, it’s an honor but I’m concerned about the toll this is taking on Nox. He’s sensitive to other people’s emotions and discomfort, except for Smoak’s. He knows that Tighe is suffering and feels responsible because Dùbhghlas’s grudge is against him, not the Ossors. A lot of people have been hurt, like Howard and Tighe, thanks to people like Julian and Dùbhghlas. Nox carries their pain and grieves for the other victims deeply.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Healing others heals Nox,” Nelson said simply. He was quiet for several moments. “It’s exhausting during the spring equinox and I often feel like I’m being tested because sometimes, he can be an insufferable shit. Don’t get me started on Merlin.”
“Ah,” Silas answered, frowning. “Why is it exhausting during the spring equinox?”
“It’s Nox’s birthday but it’s also when his powers are at their peak and he can barely contain himself. He’s radioactive and bounces around the woods and our tent like a solar powered, neon tennis ball.”
“Wow.” Silas nodded slowly. “I can see why it would be exhausting, but also a lot of fun.”
“It’s fine.”
Chapter Eighteen
Tighe had a wonderful time and learned so much about blending, steeping, and serving tea while Silas and Nelson were away. But he dropped his tin and ran from the kitchen as soon as heard the front door.
“Did you find him?” Tighe asked and Silas gave him a hesitant wince.
“Yes and no. The FBI is aware of the Ossors and they havea lotof intelligence about most of the active members and former elders. The FBI wasn’t sure what they were looking at—a radical paramilitary group, extreme survivalists, a cult, wild Mennonites…—so they’ve been watching and recording as much as they can from a distance.”
“That’s about all they can do. Ossors won’t talk to outsiders,” Tighe said but Silas grinned, gesturing for Tighe to follow him and Nelson into the study.
“The FBI still managed to put together a thick dossier on your brother. We have pictures.”
“Pictures!” Tighe’s voice cracked, he was so surprised and elated. “You have pictures of Eoin?”
In the study, Nelson began taping photos and reports to Tighe’s board. “Eoin Ossor came out of the woods four years ago and married a woman named Deirdre O’Reilly.”
“He’smarried?” Tighe felt lightheaded and worried he might faint. “We don’t— Ossors don’t marry. And why did he leave the pack so early? He should have been with them until there was gray in his beard.”
A wide smile spread across Silas’s face. “Eoin was an elder but it looks like he gave up the Ossor way of life and left the pack. He took several of his brothers with him and most of them married and started families.”
Tighe’s eyes stung as they blurred with tears. “He made it! He’s free!” he mouthed as he studied the pictures on the board. They still looked like they could be twins but Eoin was a burly beast of a man. There was a photo of Eoin in a parking lot, carrying a little girl and walking and laughing with a woman. “Is that his…” Tighe couldn’t even bring himself to say it, he was so overcome.
“That’s Eoin’s daughter, Fiona, and his wife, Deirdre,” Silas said as he stepped behind Tighe, kneading his shoulders and kissing his hair. “They have a small organic dairy farm and he meets with a handful of former brothers at the pub every Friday night to play music and share stories. He plays the flute,” he added and Tighe nodded.
“Aye, like an angel.” He swiped the tears away from his eyes, laughing at the picture of Eoin with his family. “Aren’t they beautiful?” he asked, so proud of his brother and filled with love for a sister and a niece he had never met. “He looks happy.”
For Tighe, it was a miracle and put to rest years of doubt and worrying. Everything had happened so fast and the final decision had been made for him, but Tighe hadwantedto go and was relieved to be free. He cherished the peace and freedom and told himself that Eoin was better off without him, yet Tighecould never shake the nagging feeling that he’d failed his brother and disappointed their mother.
Nelson frowned as he held out a report. “We’d like to confirm that for ourselves. No one’s seen Eoin Ossor for two days and his wife has gathered the other former Ossors and Eoin’s friends to search for him.”
“We’re remaining optimistic,” Silas added quickly. “Your brother was a highly respected elder, even after he returned from the woods and started a family. He’s still a leader because he’s strong and wily, but he never stopped being a wild man and is known to wander off for a few days if the mood takes him. He could be tracking a bear that got too close to his farm or gone inland to make contact with a pack of Ossors,” he offered cautiously but Tighe shook his head.
“Trust his woman,” he said as he tapped the picture of Eoin with his family. “If she’s worried, she has good reason and I know my brother’s heart. He’s a savage at his core butnothingmeans more to him than his blood. He loved me more than our pack and he left it so he could have them.” Tighe nodded at the photo. “Shewould know if Eoin went off to track a bear or see the other Ossors.”
Silas nodded, turning to Nelson. “Alright, let’s see what we can do to expand the search. They’ve got plenty of people on the ground up in New Hampshire, but let’s get the FBI and the parks involved.”
