Page 42 of Caretaker

Clayton stepped between Rhys and the creature, his hand up. “It’s the Jikininki. Rhys, you know Jin.”

“I do,” Rhys said, a little hoarsely. “Sorry about that, Jin.” He put his blades away. “Trinity, Jin came through two years ago and has yet to leave. Most of the souls who appear are only passing through on their way to…” He shrugged. “Wherever they’re headed.”

“They never show themselves when humans are inside,” Clayton said.

Rhys nodded. “Jin must think you’re pretty special. Or,” he added, “not human.”

“What keeps the humans from touring the place when they make the weekend rounds?” I asked. “I wouldn’t like that.”

“They have heard stories, of course,” Rhys said, “but when humans come around, they see nothing. That gets boring fast.”

“Jin isn’t dangerous to them?”

Rhys hesitated. “He is, but not even he would bring the wrath of the humans down on the way station. Supernaturals have learned caution, Trinity. Even the ones who don’t live here.”

“Some of them,” I said, and glanced surreptitiously at Clayton. The demon inside him hadn’t been very cautious.

“Jin will keep your house clean,” Clayton said, ignoring my glance.

“Does he also cook?” I quipped. “I’m not much of a cook, I’m afraid.”

Clayton and Rhys stared at me—as did the creature.

“You’re not afraid of him?” Rhys asked.

I nodded. “Terrified. But I want to live here.” I grinned at him. “A way station for a house? How cool is that?”

He laughed. “Pretty fucking cool.”

I’d felt an affinity for the house the moment I’d seen it. I felt it in my bones. In my heart. This was my place. It was as though I released a breath I hadn’t even been aware I was holding.

“Who owns this property?” I asked.

Clayton walked toward the door. “He’s coming now. I hear his car.”

“You must have amazing hearing.” I followed him. “I don’t hear anything.” But almost before the words were out of my mouth, I heard the rumble of a car engine.

Jin had disappeared.

“So that…guy. That creature. He’ll live here if I move in?”

“Yes,” Rhys and Clayton answered at the same time.

“And there will be others like him—some worse—showing up,” Clayton said.

“They’ll likely leave again,” Rhys said, “but sometimes they hang around. Sometimes you might have to…encourage them to leave.”

“Or help them,” Clayton added.

I looked from one man to the other as they spoke.

I couldn’t tell if Clayton approved of me moving into the house or not. His face was blank, as usual. Finally, I shrugged. “When I think about leaving, it makes me want to cry. I need this house. I need to be here.”

And neither man looked at all surprised.

We watched as a black car rolled up the long driveway, and I squinted in confusion. “Is that a hearse?” I asked.

“The owner of this property is a tad bit eccentric,” Rhys said.