Flint takes a deep inhale and sighs. “Damn. If that’s not my favorite smell in the whole world...” he observes longingly.
Alder chuckles deeply, and I breathe in too, tryin’ to scent what it is that has Flint behavin’ all dreamily. I smell swamp and freshly cut grass. Not the best smell, but not the worst either. I shrug, and my irrational jealousy deflates a little as we continue down the path, accompanied only by the sound of cicadas and a breeze in the trees.
“To answer your question, I don’t know that we can say what’s typical,” Alder tells me. “The Gate has never called females before to guard it. Delta is a first, and if you’re like her, then you’ll be an enigma too.”
“I think that Delta was drawn not only to the Hellgate but to her Guardians too,” Flint adds. “The fucking between them is a choice, though, Peaches. It’s not part of the job requirement unless you want it to be.”
I look over at him, expectin’ to see teasin’ flirtatiousness in his features, but instead, I find that he’s lookin’ at me intensely.
If I am this enigma, are they hopin’ things between us progress like they did with Delta? Or are they worried that’s where it might go? This is all so confusin’.
They’ve been subtly and not so subtly checkin’ me out, flirtin’, and takin’ my measure, but maybe that’s not because they’re truly interested. Maybe they’re doin’ it because they think they might be stuck with me and they wanna see how this is gonna work. I very well could be readin’ all of this wrong and they’re simply tryin’ to gauge whether or not I’ll suffice with the two of them.
I look away from Flint, not sure what to think and too wrung out to figure it all out right now, but at least I’m gainin’ more information. That’s about the best I can do at this point. Listen and learn.
Up ahead, I see the dark shadows of a couple of buildings. One is on a hill across from us, and the other one seems to be the bar. Both are quiet and dark, not a soul in sight. My eyes focus on the unfamiliar buildin’. “What’s that up there?” I ask, changin’ the subject.
“In there is how we get to Hell,” Flint answers easily, as if it’s the most natural thing in the world to have a Hell entrance practically in his front yard.
“What are all those small shadows around it?” I ask, squintin’.
“A graveyard,” Alder replies. “Hallowed ground is a necessity when it comes to housing a Hell portal.”
“Course it is,” I murmur. I could really use that drink right about now.
Like he’s readin’ my mind, Flint flashes me another smile. “Don’t worry, Peaches. Almost there. And if we’re going too fast for ya, just let us know.”
I nod at his words, grateful that they’re willin’ to let me learn at my own pace. The three of us veer away from the hill that takes us to the Gate, and we head toward the dark bar instead. Thank the Lord.
“So, if I was...drawn to the Hellgate and such, how do we find out if you two are gonna be stuck with me as a coworker?” I try to joke, though it comes out flat. “And how long are y’all assigned this Guardian job, anyway?” I ask.
Flint traces my features with his eyes, like he’s picked up on my conflicted thoughts. “Forever,” he says, like he’s wishin’ I didn’t ask that question quite yet. “Once you’re a Guardian, you guard the Gate until you die,” he explains.
My stomach does a belly flop at his answer. “Oh.”
I’m more than a little taken aback by that information. So if I am what they think, and I’m supposed to help them guard the Gate, then that means I’m tied to this place and to them, forever?
Why do I suddenly feel like I’m on a first date and the nice guy I’m just gettin’ to know has gone off the rails and asked me to marry him, bent knee, ring, and all?
This is all movin’ just a little too fast.
There’s a part of me that likes it. I can’t deny that. I mean, I just got swept off my feet and shown an entirely new side to this world that I never knew existed. It’s excitin’ and it feels right in my soul, and it makes me feel less...alone.
But then there’s another part of me that’s like, hold the phone there, buddy boy, we just met! And that part kinda wants to tuck tail and run back home to Mama and Daddy and pretend this all isn’t real.
“To answer your question,” Alder starts, interruptin’ my polarizin’ thoughts, “we’d have to take you to Hell to confirm our suspicions first. But we’ll be smart about it and take you right to Nihil. That’s what Delta is and what we think you will be too. We’ll talk to the other Guardians about it first to get advice.”
I swear, if they never mention Delta again in comparison to me, it will be too soon.
“We’re waiting to hear back from Rafferty or one of her other Guardians to see if they have a better option or more information for us, but we’ll have to wait and see until they get back to us.”
We all grow quiet as the bar looms closer. Maybe they’re just waitin’ to see what I’ll want answers to next. A thought raises its hand and wiggles in my face like some grade-schooler who can’t wait to be called on.
“How did y’all get to the club so fast tonight?”
“We were in the neighborhood,” Flint replies with a sardonic smirk.
I shoot him a look. “Y’all followed me, didn’t you?”
“It ain’t as creepy as you’re makin’ it sound, we promise. We could sense demons in that club, and we just wanted
