“Yup,” Seymour confirmed. “I didn’t know what it was until later when we heard the crystal doodad makin’ its jingle jingle, but that’s definitely it.”
“We can head on over and look around if you want.” Shiloh finished off the last of his coffee. “If we find bluebells there, I can cast a spell that might open up a portal?—”
“Okay, great!”
“Or blow us up.”
“Well, shit.”
I WANT TO GO
“Why?” Shiloh chuckled. “You wanna see me get blown up?”
YOU WERE INSINCERE ABOUT MY CUTENESS
SO YES
Shiloh laughed as he stood, grabbing a large satchel from under the counter. He picked up a Rolodex from next to the cash register. “Fine, fine, you can come.”
Neil looked worried. “Hey, Shi? Are you sure about this?”
“What? I’ll be fine!” Shiloh scoffed. “We’re just gonna take a lil’ look around, that’s all! Fuckin’ swear. Get kidnapped one time and everybody treats you like you’re made of glass.”
“I am also concerned,” Sariel said carefully. “My priority is to protect Seymour. Having an additional person, especially a human, could be a strain on my?—”
“Oh, lighten up, feathers.” Shiloh clapped Sariel’s back with a hearty laugh. “I can take care of myself. Besides, I’ll have Izba with me!”
Seymour stared at the Rolodex. “Is he… coming in that?”
The letters on the topmost entry wiggled around to form new words:
YES
YES I AM
I WILL PROTECT YOU ALL
I PROMISE
Neil frowned. “Still kinda feel like I should tell Lou what you guys?—”
“Go for it! Just tell your wolfy man not to wait up!” Shiloh waved, shoving the Rolodex into his satchel. He nudged Seymour. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” Seymour glanced at Sariel to confirm. “I reckon we are.” He smiled when he saw Day was playing an impromptu game of tag with Buffy. “Hey! We gotta run, kitty girl.”
Day meowed, pouting. “Can we come back?”
“After we try to save all the monsters in the city, okay?”
“Oh, of course.” Day grinned sheepishly. “Right.”
“Let’s roll. My truck is outside.” Seymour reached into his pocket to get his keys. He was wearing the new clothes fromZolrya again, and he had his phone, wallet, mysterious pouch from Marsha who may or may not have tentacles…
Huh, he really needed to see what that was?—
“No, no. I’ve got this.” Shiloh grinned and pulled out a piece of thick glass, half of which was wrapped in leather cord. He drew a square in the air, grabbed the top of it even though there was nothing there to grab, and then pulled down as if shutting a window.
There was an audiblethunk.
