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"Not a priest," Thane reminded him, gesturing for Dahlia to toss over the cuff. "You really think a bracelet will work?"
"Dunno. Ask her to grab your arm."
Dahlia rolled her eyes and crossed the room, grabbing Thane's still-bare tattoo. Nothing happened - except that everyone got very quiet. She looked at them one by one, then back to the door. Cain was standing beside it. At her nod, he flipped the lock.
"So. Does anyone else want to see if this will keep the rest of you from getting burned?" She let her annoyance show.
Thane rubbed her shoulder. "It's ok. I expected them to hate me. I also can't blame them for it."
"I can," she assured him. "You're the reason we're all here. They owe you at least a little decency."
He nodded. "Right. Dahlia, goth-boy still has a point. I may not fry you, but they made sure these things kept the eidolon off us. Just because it doesn't botheryoudoesn't mean the rest of us aren't suffering. I feel like someone dipped my arm in poison ivy right now."
He moved to slide his arm into the leather, but Cain's voice stopped him. "Wait." Taking a deep breath, the elegant black man moved closer, then tilted his head to the Celtic cross. "You mind?"
"Nope, but I make no promises. Seems to hurt me about half as bad as you."
Cain smiled. "I think I'm ok." Then he trailed his fingers over the mark.
Thane's eyes closed and his muscles tensed, but Cain's smile only grew. Neither of them looked like it hurt. Dahlia knew why Cain had offered. He'd just proven that she wasn't the only one immune to the power of the Church. From the side of the room, Roarke stepped forward.
"How'd you two do that?"
Thane chuckled and rubbed at the ink. "They know there is no God," he said softly, pulling on the leather. "Not think, not guess, and not even assume. Those two believe that my God is bullshit. Christianity didn't always exist, and I assume you," he looked at Cain, "have been doing this a while?"
"Longer than her," Cain agreed. "All my gods cared about were hunting, harvesting, and babies." Then he offered his hand. "I know you're Thane. My name is Cain."
Thane's entire body stilled. "Temporary name?"
"Yes and no," Cain admitted. "I rarely spell it the same way the Bible does. When I was given it, we didn't have written words. And yes, my brother's name was Abel."
Thane slowly nodded. "Ok. Right. But then how are you still here? Hasn't someone, I dunno, summoned you just by talking about the Bible story? Or is it that they have to have your whole name to make it work?"
A few of the others in the room shifted like they were uncomfortable. Cain saw it and lifted his hand subtly. The gesture was enough to keep anyone from grumbling too loudly.
"In my day, we only had one name," Cain explained. "However, unlike most eidolon, I accidentally ruined the power of my given name. You see, the only way to come back from the abyss is to be summoned. Young boys often imagine beautiful women. The same isn't true the other way around. For us to come back, the easiest way is with our name, so I made sure to tell my story far and wide, making sure it would be repeated often. The goal was to always have someone call my name. The side effect just happened to be that with so many people doing it, I no longer feel compelled to follow it. I can if I choose to, though."
Thane's eyes darted over to Dahlia. "Which means there are ways around it. Good."
"Which we can worry about later," Dahlia reminded him. "Put that cuff on before someone else gets burned."
"Right." Thane began tightening the laces. "Least goth-boy has decent taste. No rhinestones or anything."
"It's Roarke." He shook his head, but looked amused. "Now lemme see your arm, priest."
"Thane, andstillnot a priest." He held it out, the leather thick enough that it should prevent harm. "I was born to an inquisitor, but my brother is the priest, not me."
The back of Roarke's hand touched the leather, then he turned and trailed his fingers over it. "I can't feel a thing; how about you?"
"It's been tingling since I got out of the truck. Just has a bit more zing when you get closer. Burns?"
"None." Roarke held up his hand to show the rest. "Which means you can start explaining why you're here."
Dahlia stepped up and motioned for the others to sit. "Everyone get comfortable. Sorry, I don't have much furniture, but the floor's clean, and I have a feeling this talk won't be quick. I've only been back from the abyss for about a week." She tilted her head to Thane. "Thanks to him."
"Why's he helping?" a woman asked.
Yep, this was definitely going to be a long meeting. "Thane? Grab the calums, or whatever you call them?"
