“It’s for the best,” Seymour said. “There was a real angry troll stompin’ around there. Godzilla too, but Day ate him.”
Neil’s eyes widened.
“I’ll be fine,” Lou promised.
“You’d better be.”
Seymour bumped his shoulder against Sariel’s. “So, I guess this means me and you are goin’ to the bar?”
“It appears to be our only lead.” Sariel frowned. “If there aremostri ribellithere, we will be able to spot them very quickly.”
“How do you figure?”
“They will be the ones running from me.”
Neil and Seymourexchanged phone numbers before they left the flower shop, and Neil promised he’d come running with Buffy if they needed any help at the bar.
Of course, he only said this after Lou was already gone.
Seymour had a feeling Lou would be none too happy about Neil offering to run off and play hero, but that wasn’t any of his business.
Besides, given all that had happened today, it was nice to have someone else in his corner willing to go to bat for him.
Seymour called an Uber to take them back to his truck, and seeing his trusty vehicle was both comforting and a stark reminder of his strange new reality thanks to the giant claw marks in the tailgate. He made a mental note to ask Neil later if Lou had insurance because there was no way he was paying for that himself.
Once behind the wheel, Seymour got Day settled beside him. “All right. Here we go.” He waited for Sariel to get in on the passenger side to ask, “So, you know this Lovecraft place?”
“I am familiar, yes.” Sariel nodded. “Mr. Heiss has visited it to conduct business with Mr. Kalt.”
“All righty.” Seymour glanced down at Day. “You okay, lil’ girl?” He gave her a pet. “You been real quiet.”
“Thinking,” Day replied. “I… I do not feel confident about this bar. I could be wrong. What if I’m wrong? What if the talking puppy was wrong? What if?—”
“Hey, hey, it’s okay!” Seymour smiled gently. “If you’re wrong, no biggie. We’ll just try some other place, all right? Can’t be too many places that smell like chicken and candy perfume and pickles in Somerstown.”
Day purred, but it sounded distraught. “I suppose not.”
Sariel scratched Day’s ear. “All will be well. We are together, and we will most certainly triumph over any obstacles we face.”
Day pouted. “How can you be so sure?”
“You are a beautiful and strong nekomata, and I am a very powerful angel.”
“What about Seymour?”
“Seymour is rather handy with a golf club.”
“That is very true.” Seymour chuckled, waiting for traffic to clear so he could pull out on the street. “Kinda wish I’d kept that damn thing. Might come in handy later.”
“I am sure we can find you a suitable weapon should you desire one.”
Day perked up. “I do know where to find a magical sword.”
“Let’s hold off on magical swords for now. Hopin’ not to get in any more damn fights today.” Seymour looked over at Sariel, noting he was staring at Seymour’s hand on the wheel. He smiled and placed it on Sariel’s knee.
Sariel smiled, lacing their fingers together.
Day put one soft paw on Seymour’s arm and the other on their joined hands, and her purring sounded much more cheerful.
