Page 43 of The Night Vision
“On it,” Nelson said as he opened his laptop and started typing.
Merlin hummed in agreement. “I’ll check with our intelligence apparatus and see if anyone’s heard anything,” he said and raised a brow at Nox. “Perhaps Smoak could send his spies again,” he suggested.
“I think I can convince him,” Nox replied, turning toward the study door as the twins, Everly and Fletcher entered.
“Any news?” Fletcher asked, earning stoic nods from Nelson and Silas.
Nelson gestured at the board and held out the latest report. “We located Tighe’s brother, Eoin. He has a wife and a child but Eoin has been missing for a couple days. They’re mounting a search for him in New Hampshire and we’re going to do what we can to help from here with our resources.”
“We might see if Tony has seen or heard anything,” Merlin told Nox and he nodded slowly, eyeing the new photos on the board.
“I’ll message him but Tony would have already been in touch. You know how he is,” he said, turning from the board and pointing at the twins. “Why don’t you take Shelby for a run? He’s been climbing the walls since we got back and his trip to the Hoover Building with Nelson wasn’t as productive as he was hoping.”
“I told you to stop reading my mind,” Silas muttered but Nox waved it off.
“I didn’t read your mind, it’s written all over your face and I’d be frustrated too. We were on a roll, thanks to your sketch, and now we’ve hit a wall. It’s a game of ‘wait and see’ now and you’d rather be hunting,” he said with a knowing wink.
Silas nodded. “I want to find this warlock and settle this business so Tighe can go back to the Trail, where he feels safest. He’s not happy here.”
“I’m happy with you,” Tighe said quietly to Silas and he smiled.
“Me too. We’ll find someplace perfect, together,” he added warmly but Tighe got chills, it was so similar to the promise Silas had made in his dreams.
“We’ll find it together,” Tighe said and tamped down his delight so Nox or any of the others wouldn’t pick up on it. They were all a team and a family and while Tighe admired andappreciated their bond, he was only in it for Silas and would follow whatever path he chose for them. But like Nox, Tighe sensed Silas’s frustration and disappointment. “But you should go, again.” He rolled his eyes. “I survived the morning without you, what’s a run?”
“Are you sure?” Silas asked hopefully. “I’m sure you feel cooped up too but there’s a lot of cars out there and you’re safer with Nox and Merlin.”
“Go ahead,” Tighe insisted. “At least one of us will be getting some fresh air and exercise.”
Nox put an arm around Tighe. “Want to go back to the stream from the vision? I’ve checked since we found you and you aren’t there anymore, but it might be fun and you might notice something we missed,” he said and Tighe nodded quickly.
“You can show me?”
“Sure!” Nox said. “It’s just focused meditation, for me, and tapping into your subconscious so you can come along,” he explained as he turned them toward the stairs. “Enjoy your run,” he told Silas and the twins.
“Enjoy your run!” Tighe waved back at them as he went up the stairs with Nox.
Tighe was shown to the chamber at the end of the hall and led to a bright white bathroom with a massive skylight. For Tighe, the sunshine was soothing and Georgetown faded as they sat on the tile floor opposite each other. Nox held Tighe’s hands and guided his breathing until he was utterly relaxed and drowsy.
“That’s it. Let go and come with me,” Nox whispered, then touched Tighe’s forehead softly.
Tighe nodded faintly but snapped his eyes open when he smelled and heard fresh, running water and trees stirring with a cool, mountain breeze.
“I’m home!” he said as he looked around, amazed at how real the sandy bank and the trees were.
“We’ll send you back as soon as we can,” Nox said soothingly, putting an arm around him. “You feel like a fish out of water with us, like you’re lost and suffocating. I’m sorry for that and I promise I wouldn’t put you through this if there was any other way.”
“I understand and I do trust you,” Tighe said, making Nox chuckle.
“Not as much as you trust Shelby and that’s the way it’s supposed to be. I had hoped that you would adjust and choose to stay with us, but the two of you belong together and you belong out there.” He gestured around them and smiled. “Just like Tony belongs on Pooles with Ronan. You’ll still have a place with us and we’ll keep looking out for you and Shelby. That’s what friends do.”
“Thank you for understanding,” Tighe said. “I’ll always be grateful and owe you for bringing me and Silas together and for saving me from whatever Dùbhghlas has planned. If there’s ever any way I can help, I’ll come. Even if I have to go in a car.”
“I appreciate that but I’ll do my best to inflict as little car travel on you as possible.” Nox laughed and gave Tighe’s arm an affectionate squeeze before releasing him. “Knock it off with this business about owing me. It’s my job to stop Dùbhghlas and to protect the innocent from dark magick. Saving you put a big kink in his plans—you’ll see—and it was the right thing to do.”
“I’m still grateful,” Tighe replied, then winced as he checked the shore and the trees for anything out of the ordinary. “I wish I could do more to help the cause but all I see is pristine, peaceful nature.”
“That’s all there is to see,” Nox said simply and flailed a hand dismissively. “Youwere the big clue here and the purpose of the oracle’s vision. You’re not in danger anymore so there won’t be anything here.”
