He was going back to Hell.
Drew forced himself to eat breakfast, even though it sat heavy in his stomach. He couldn’t allow Zach to believe anything else was wrong other than Kensington’s impending visit. Drew listened with one ear to the conversation, nodding and making the oddhmmin a show of participation, but his mind was whirring. He’d need to go as prepared as possible. He didn’t know his way around, and there was no guarantee he would arrive exactly where he planned to. Drew would start his search where they battled with the Shadow Blades, then work his way back to the inn if needed. He’d need food, a change of clothes, and possibly a weapon.
Oh, and chicken feed.
Once they’d eaten, Zach gathered the laundry hamper and disappeared downstairs to load the washer. Drew hurried into the kitchen and pulled open the cupboards, loading his arms with any non-perishable food that would sustain him without being too heavy or that would require full kitchen facilities. He loaded up on granola bars, a packet of jerky, several tins of tuna, and some pre-cooked rice sachets.
Taking it all back into the bedroom, he dumped it on the bed and then searched their shared walk-in wardrobe for his old backpack from high school. It was larger than the one he used for university, as most of his textbooks these days were eBooks. Drew packed the food into the backpack, added a zip-lock bag of poultry mix and a small water bowl for Leila, then filled the rest of the bag with a pair of jeans, a warm hoodie, two tees, extra underwear and socks, and a small throw blanket. He found a small flashlight, then hesitated over the compact first aid kit they took with them when hiking. Deciding it was better to be safe than sorry, he added that in as well.
The doorbell rang, signalling the arrival of the Grand Master of the Nightingale Collective. Drew took a last look around the room, trying to think of anything he might have forgotten. “Shit,” he swore, slinging the backpack over one shoulder and scooping Leila up to cradle against him. “I need my water bottle.”
He rushed into the kitchen, aware that he could hear Zach and Kensington conversing in the downstairs hallway. He needed to be quick or they’d prevent him from going. His reusable water bottle was on the bench, and luckily, it was full. He grabbed it, not wasting the time it would take to put it in the bag. Instead, he forced himself to calm down, taking a deep breath as he sought his centre.
The front door snicked closed.
Drew began to draw on his power, and the barometric pressure started to drop.
The voices got closer.
In his mind’s eye, Drew pictured clearly the base of the rocky outcrop, a safe distance away from the ravine he’d left behind.
There were footfalls on the stairs.
Drew opened his eyes just in time to see Zach appear at the top of the stairs. “Drew?” he cried in alarm. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I left something very important behind.” Before either Zach or Kensington could do anything to stop him, Drew said, “ad inferos me reduc1.” And clutching Leila securely, he jumped into the vortex and was gone.
1. 'Take me back to Hell'
Chapter 11
Baby, don’t leave me, don’t leave me, woah
Once the washer was loaded, Zach realized there were still towels in the dryer, so he got them out and folded them. He wanted to give Drew a little privacy, since no one liked to be hovered over when they were expecting a scolding. He really didn’t believe Kensington would go too hard on him. Like a parent, he’d gotten angry because he’d been worried and scared. Once he assured himself that neither Drew nor Zach had been harmed, Kensington would calm down.
Once the towels were folded and the lint trap had been cleaned, Zach leant against the wall and allowed his mind to drift to Andras. He hoped he was okay, and that the urco hadn’t eaten him. Though if it were true, and Andrashadlied to them about why Lucifer had sent the Shadow Blades after him, he might deserve to get a little chewed on. Maybe not fully eaten and digested, but at least a little gnawing.
He sighed. He had never expected to see Andras again, and he certainly hadn’t ever expected for him and Drew to meet. Zach would need to check in with his boyfriend later on, once this current storm had passed, and make sure he was okay with the entire thing. Drew had been totally inexperienced when they’d met, so Zach had never had to deal with meeting an ex before. Some people were fine and realized the past was in the past and didn’t let it affect them. Some people, though, felt jealousy and insecurity.
There was absolutely no reason for Drew to be insecure, as Zach was so head over heels in love with him he was never letting him go. Emotions could be fickle things that liked to play with your mind, so he definitely wanted to check in and make assurances if they were needed.
The doorbell rang, and Zach went down the short hallway to open it. Kensington was there, and even dressed relatively casually in black business trousers and a polo shirt, he was an intimidating presence. His bald head was freshly shaven, as was his goatee, but there were dark rings under his green eyes that spoke of his concern.
“Good morning,” Zach greeted him and held open the door.
“Zachariel,” Kensington said. “It’s good to see you in one piece.”
Refraining from rolling his eyes, he stepped back and allowed the Grand Master to enter. “It really wasn’t as bad as you’re imagining it to be.”
Kensington arched a brow and gave him an imperious look. “Oh? So, at no point were you or my protégé in danger?”
“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” Zach said, brushing aside his concerns.
“Your ability to prevaricate needs work, angel.”
Zack closed the door a little harder than necessary. “Not an angel anymore, thank you. And I’ll have you know we managed both an urco and a meeting with the Shadow Blades admirably.”
Kensington closed his eyes. “For the love of all that is holy,” he muttered to himself. “I’m going to need a stiff drink when I get home.”
