“Yeah, but we’re not exactly bosom buddies or anything. She’s powerful, I know that.”
“Human?”
Shiloh laughed. “Oh, definitely fucking not.”
DEFINITELY NOT
Seymour grimaced. “Great.”
“Do you know which Mostro brother she reports to?” Sariel asked curiously. “That would at least narrow down what type?—”
“Oh, definitely Q. I’ve seen him up in there talking to her before.” Shiloh took a big gulp of coffee. “So, you know… Nothin’ great.”
“You mean somethin’ with, uh, tentacles?” Seymour asked.
“Look, it means she’s dangerous, okay? So, I’m sorry she gave you a weird ass reading or whatever, but I would not mess with her.” Shiloh shook his head. “Not many beings from the Other live here. Q. makes sure of it.”
Neil looked back at Shiloh, frowning. “Wait. Who else is there?”
“There’s Marsha and uh, oh, what’s his fuckin’ name.” Shiloh groaned. “Mr. Plastic.”
“Is that really his name?”
“You ever meet ’em, you’ll get it.” Shiloh lifted his mug toward Seymour. “Best thing you can do right now is keep your head down and?—”
“Yeah, so?—”
“—try not to die.”
“Workin’ on that.”
YOUR MORTAL BODY IS VERY SQUISHY
YOU MUST TAKE EXTRA CARE OF IT
“On it, Izba.”
“Has Mr. Morénas-Mostro shared any information that might be helpful?” Sariel asked politely. “I have attempted to contact Absolis and Vilanos, but they are, I believe the expression is, leaving me on read.”
“Nope.” Neil finished up with the flower pots and set the empty tray on the counter. “But I know they’re worried. Lou’s been out all damn night with Dagobert and everybody else.” He sighed. “Fuck,I’mworried.”
Shiloh reached over to give Neil’s shoulder a comforting squeeze.
“We’re doin’ everything we can,” Seymour said firmly. “We’ve all got a lot at stake here, okay?”
“Yeah. Of course.” Neil rubbed his eyes. “Oh! He did tell me they found more of those crystal beacon things at almost every location on that list from Talos. So, yeah, it’s… it’s pretty bad. There might be more, but they’re not sure.”
“I heard some chatter on my crystal ball this morning.” Shiloh shrugged. “Might be nothin’, but somethin’s supposed to be goin’ down at the Aquarian’s Knee.”
Seymour was going to question the crystal ball thing but instead asked, “What’s that? Is that one of y’all’s monster places?”
“Nope. I’d never heard of it.”
Sariel frowned. “Neither have I.”
“Maybe it’s, like, a code word or somethin’. Or maybe a place in Faerie?”
Shiloh scratched his beard. “Possible. I’ve been to Faerie a few times, but that place is so huge there’s no tellin’.” He eyed Seymour. “And you’re certain you heard bluebells over at the Inferno?”
