Phillip said,“My source believes the spell used on Gregoryhas resulted in a large,tangled ball of neural pathways rather than a melting of the brain.It takes precision and precision to sort out such a jumble without collapsing his mind entirely.
Krystansnorted. “Sounds like trying to unknot a tangle of necklaces. Major pain in the ass. I usually just throw out the jumble if it gets too bad.” ThenKrystanpaled as she looked up at Gregory.
“They assured me they would do their best to sort Gregory out,”Phillip saidsoftly.
Krystan’shandshadstilled on Mr. Smith’s lapels. “Who is this ‘they’?Agroup of people? Or do you not know if it’s a man or woman?” Her eye brightened. “Or are they genderneutral?”
Phillip’s eyes darted to me a moment.
Crap.
I instantly recognized that look, and I didn’t like it. I dropped my arms and took in a deepbreath.Whatever he was about to say, he knewKrystanwasn’t going to like it and he had sent me a silent plea for help.
“My source requested that I reveal nothing of their identity,” said Phillip.
Krystanshrugged. “That’s okay, I can wait to meet them.”
Phillip’s eyes fell to the groundas if steeling himself.“I will be taking Gregory alone. No one else is permitted to accompany us. And the process may last for some time.”
Dark clouds rolled overKrystan’sface as her brows dipped and she planted her feet firmly on the ground and stuck her hands on her hips.“You want me to just hand over my best friend’s mentally compromised dad for an indefinite amount of time?”
I jumped in before she could wind herself up anymore. “Come onKrystan, be reasonable—”
Before I could finish, I knew I’dalreadysaidwith the exactwrong thing.
“Be reasonable?” Her voice hit a decibel that would havepaineda dog. I winced, and Philliptook halfastep back. “Why don’t we just let Phillip takeMr. Smith whocan‘t quitethinkfor himself yetto this powerfulanonymousgroupor person? Who,I’m betting is from one of the Orders, which wouldautomatically makethemself-absorbed jackasseswith some sneaky-assagenda.”’
“Krystan, I know you want Mr. Smith to get better,” I said.
“Stop acting like youcare,” she snapped. “You didn’t even know him. I’ve known him my whole life, so excuse the fuck out of me for caring about what happens to him.”Her eyes cut to Mr. Smith with a guilty expression when she used the word fuck, like a naughty kid.
I held my hands up in surrender, while she linked her armthroughMr. Smith’s who’d twisted his head to try and look out the window over the small cluttered desk.
“Phillip is trying to help,” I said, trying to keep my voice as even as possible though she was expert at pressing my buttons.OnlyKrystanwas able totakeme from completely chill to screaming in thirty seconds. “Don’t you trust Phillip?”
Krystannarrowed her eyes at Phillip as if regarding him as the enemy. I sighed and shook my head. “Seriously,Krystan. Do you wantGregoryto stay like this forever? Helpless? If there’s even a chancewe could get backsome of hisability to reason,don't you think Emma would jump at the opportunity?"
What little colorwas inKrystan’salready paleface drained away at the mention of her best friend. Her arm released Mr. Smith’s,and I saw the defeat in her eyes.
Not that I enjoyed having to talk down aferal, throat-slashingjungle catevery two seconds, but Iwascertainly getting better at it.
“Fine,” she said. The fight had deflatedfromher; she just soundedhollownow.
Phillip’sstancerelaxed next to me, like he wasn’t scared of her attacking him anymore. “I’ll take excellent care of him,” he reassuredKrystan.
Her face hardened back into a mask ofdefensiveness,but she took Mr. Smith by the hand and began to lead him to the stairs. “Yeah well, make sure he gets some time outdoors. We go to Cheesman park on the weekends so he can watch douchebags play frisbee and look at flowers.” She added in aquieter, disgruntled tone, “He loves flowers.”
As she brushed by me, pulling Mr. Smith along, I stepped back, pressing my handshard into thesideof my thighs.I wanted to reach out and pull her into my arms.Tell her things were going to be okay.
And get my face ripped off.
At night,Krystansnuck into Mr. Smith’s room to talk to him when she thought no one else was up. I tried not to eavesdrop butthe few times I happened to pass by on my way to or from the bathroom,I couldn’t help being caught by theunguarded and honest way she spoke.Never had Iheard her speak withoutrazor blades rolling off her tongue in every direction.With Mr. Smith, she was an entirely different person.
I didn’t know what tomakeof that.Krystanhaving a softer side.
Phillip followed them down the stairs and I trailed behind.Krystanhugged Gregory at the door and threw several more threats atPhillipif he didn’t keep Gregory in perfect health.
When the door shutbehind the two men,they tookmost of the air with them.Energyhung awkward and tight between us like a rubber band about to snap and break. I wanted to say something. Something meaningful and assuring. My arms were gawky and unsure. Should I hug her? For all that her personality and attitude was mega-sized, the few times I held her, I was shocked to realize how slighther body wasin my arms. Like she might break.
