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And so, what could I do except step into the room and listen to the lock being set.
* * * *
Ryan
It took an hour and a half to resolve the issue enough I felt safe letting Etta out of the gunroom, and we came damned close to having a Slayer battle. Pat was the voice of reason, thankfully, because Gideon and Ruth were ready to resort to violence to protect Etta. I was, too, but I was smart enough to let them be the ones to make the threats. I was the vampire-fucker, so my opinion wouldn’t matter.
I understood that all too well because I’d discounted everything positive Blade had told me about Augustus, thinking he’d taken over her mind.
I’d had to talk to Marco on the phone, because the shielding on the gunroom meant Etta’s cellphone wouldn’t work from inside. We could still telepath, though, so she knew I was in contact with him, and that the pilot knew to stay away until I gave the all-clear.
Once the Slayers who’d come to defend my parents were gone, I called Marco again as I walked towards the gun safe. We had around twenty minutes until official sunrise, but the sky was already lightening in the east.
“I believe we’re clear, but under the circumstances, I’d feel better if we waited until she’s awake and at full power before transporting her.”
“I agree. Kirsten has offered to flash to Etta and bring her back with her eagle. Alternatively, she can bring the three of you back, and she tells me you understand how that works. I need you to move Etta somewhere Kirsten can come without causing problems politically.”
Right. She could hold two people’s hands and teleport them. She’d teleported an entire barge full of people during the Big Battle, though.
“There’s a sofa on my back deck,” I told Marco. “We’ll move it away from the house proper. Three minutes. Maybe five, but no longer. I’ll call you when it’s safe for her to come to me.”
Ruth had unlocked the gun safe, and Etta heard the conversation, so she came out with her eagle, we ran next door and collected our bags, and came out the back door to discover Ruth and Pat had the sofa on the beach, far enough away from the house the spell placed on it wouldn’t put Kirsten into a jail cell three blocks away when she tried to teleport in.
I called Marco as soon as we were on it.
He answered with, “Clear?”
“Clear.”
Kirsten appeared before me, smiled, walked behind the sofa, and the next thing I knew, the ocean and sky were replaced with walls.
“Welcome to Homewood,” Kirsten said, and Marco stepped around a corner into view, walked to Etta, and pulled her into a hug.
The two of them walked away, and Etta told me, Time is short. We’ll speak when I rise. Stay safe, Ryan, and try to get some sleep.
We’ll talk when you rise. I’m happy Marco arranged to bring you somewhere we know is safe for your repose.
“Thank you,” I told Kirsten.
She held a finger up, flashed away with the sofa, and returned without it ten seconds later, so I assumed she thanked Ruth for the use of it while she was there.
“You’re welcome,” Kirsten told me. “I’m sorry the night went sideways for you. I’m sorry to hear about…” she sighed. “I don’t know what to say. It seems wrong to say I’m sorry for your loss, but it’s true, isn’t it? You’ve lost your parents, and worse, you were forced to end their existence. I can sense you feel as if you’re okay right now, but if you aren’t later, while I can’t be your therapist, I can absolutely be a friend. Feel free to call me, anytime, day or night, if you need to talk.”
“Thank you for that. Any chance I can catch a ride with someone going into town? If not, I can call for my own transpo.”
“I can provide you with a secure room. You need to sleep, and you need to be here when Etta rises. We can keep you safe.”
Staying at Homewood to sleep went against everything I’ve been trained for as a Slayer, but if I was ever going to break those rules, trusting Kirsten was a good place to start. She’s a friend, when I hadn’t expected her to be. It helps that she was still human when I met her, but still, I trusted her absolutely — well, so long as I don’t threaten anyone she loves.
“I’ll give you the room across the hall from my bedroom,” she told me, “and I know you’re aware exactly where that is, but I’m choosing it because there’s a saferoom within it. C’mon. I’ll show you.”
I followed her upstairs and, sure enough, there was a bed and loveseat in the room, and the walk-in closet had been turned into a secure saferoom I could lock from the inside, complete with a twin-sized mattress on a little platform.
“Mordecai and I can get in once it’s locked, because we can flash in. No one else can, and I know you can sense the truth in my words.”
I hugged her, and I could tell I surprised her, but she hugged me right back with a happy little chuckle. “She’s good for you. Your energy is bordering on happy. I’ve sensed you as being pleased before, after a successful mission, but never happy. Let’s get you fed before you turn in. We have some chili in a crock pot so it stays warm, or you can have eggs and whatever meat we have on hand.”
Chapter 30
