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So I guess I was checking out the park.
With four inexperienced kids, my mortal enemy, and Minos in my head.
Great.
That wouldn’t be too crowded or anything.
It wouldn’t be long, though, until I was grateful for all of them…
CHAPTER TWELVE
Dale
By the time I made my way down toward the common room, not only were the kids gathered, but so was Marsh. Which immediately made me feel like I was late. Which was ridiculous, given that this was my case, not his.
“Did you guys get a chance to eat?” I asked, looking at the kids.
I’d consumed so much caffeine that I was too nauseated to eat.
They were an interesting group.
Three tall, almost identical brothers.
And one bright red-haired girl.
Even halfway across the room, I could feel the energy bouncing off of her. The brothers had lively eyes, but projected an outwardly calm demeanor.
Marsh, as much as I hated to admit it, was just as handsome first thing in the morning as he was later in the day when he had more time to put himself together. His somewhat bed-messy hair only managed to add to his effortless sort of attractiveness.
Meanwhile, I was pretty sure I looked as shitty as I felt.
Not that it mattered.
But, you know, you couldn’t shut up that insecure voice of your inner bullied child.
“Yeah. I got them up at six to run drills, shower, then eat,” Marsh said. My eyes must have flashed at him overstepping his bounds by taking charge of my kids, because he shrugged. “Gideon said it was important that we keep these kids on their toes,” he added, making me wonder if Gideon had shared his suspicions with Marsh as well.
It wouldn’t have been crazy.
Marsh and I were the best from our generation.
Whether I liked that or not.
It would make sense that if Gideon shared with me, he might have shared with Marsh as well. As much as my pride wanted me to believe Gideon and I had a special connection—and I genuinely believed we did—I had to be rational and realize I wasn’t the only person he trusted and confided in.
I guess because Gideon was all that I had, it was easy to think that I was all he had.
“Right. Okay. Well, I have a park to go check out,” I told them. “And Gideon thought it would be a good idea for you guys to all come along so you get some experience in the field.”
“What are you looking for at the park?” Maggie asked as she reached up to tie her hair back from her face.
“Well, I’m chasing a demon, obviously. And I have this feeling that this park is the center of all the abductions and the bones we found a while back. I just want to look around.”
“Do you think he lives there?” Maggie asked.
“No. I mean, anything is possible. I once found a demon sleeping in a hammock in the woods. You never know. But I’m more interested to see if there is anything supernatural around. Traces of a hellmouth. Any sigils or anything like that. Anything you see that feels like it doesn’t quite fit in at a park, that is what I need to know about.”
To that, Maggie gave me a firm nod. A young woman on a mission. And if I wasn’t completely mistaken, Marsh was trying to hold back a smirk.
“Go on, get into the van,” I invited, waving the kids toward the hall. “Are you smirking?” I asked, shooting Marsh small eyes. “Is it a ‘it’s cute that she thinks she is capable of being a demonslayer’ smirk?” I pressed.
To that, Marsh let out a sigh. Of the long-suffering kind. Like I was trying his patience.
“She’s eager. Maybe a little too eager at times,” he added.
“The boys just stood there and slow-blinked at me. I’d prefer eager and locked-in to closed-off.”
“Eager is good. If you are capable of taking a minute to think things through too.”
“You better not be making her life hell,” I hissed as I fell into step with him.
At that, Marsh skidded to a stop, towering over me a bit.
“I don’t tell you what to do with your charges, Dale. Don’t you dare tell me what to do with mine.”
“Who—“
“I get that you’re pissed that I got the girl. But tough shit. Life isn’t fair. Gideon wanted me to train her. Deal with it.”
With that, he charged off after the kids.
And me, well, I needed to lean back against the wall and deep breathe for a minute.
Not only because I was pissed at being talked to like that. But also because somewhere inside my head, I could feel the fact that Minos was aware of my anger because, well, I swear I almost heard a sort of snarl in my ears.
Which was crazy.
But also, in a weird way, comforting.
I was always, fucking always, on my own.
