“There are other beings here in Whisper that would also desire to see the end of the world. Such beings believe in the Imelda view of the world and want to send us all into oblivion. But if you are asking who else knows that might have an interest in our cause, you’re kinda looking at the whole Save the Humans fan club.”
Grace shrugs and offers an apologetic smile. Sailor sighs, closing her eyes as if in defeat. After a moment of looking around the room, she looks back at me again.
“Fine, my next question then. Since you all didn’t really answer me last time, let’s try this again. And don’t bullshit me. I just defeated some crazy-ass bull demon thing and nearly drowned, so yeah, I am not in the mood. How am I expected to kill the horsemen?”
This time Mel steps up. She is our best public speaker after all. Once again, I am saved by my team. But from the look Sailor is giving me, I can tell she isn’t all too happy that I am not the one answering. What does she expect? I made it clear to her I’m not the questions guy.
“You need to start with focusing on the first horseman. That is War,” Mel says as she walks around the group of us like a professor at a podium.
“Yeah, War is a real bitch. And like any good quest, there’s a weapon you have to find, little grasshopper,” Jinx interrupts with another chuckle.
Ya-Ya goes to punch him, but he ducks and she hits the wall behind him, leaving a dent in the concrete. She isn’t even fazed.
“What does he mean? Am I about to be sent on some Indiana Jones-Lara Croft mission, because I can tell you right now, I don’t have the mobility or upper body strength for any of that,” Sailor says, and sits back down now that the near fight has broken up.
She winces as she takes a seat, but straightens her back and holds her head high. A warrior’s pose. And a damn sexy one too.
Stop thinking about the Paradox like that, Rye. Focus.
“What Jinx is saying is, well, yes you are going to have to go on a, well, whatever you said type of search, but I don’t think you need to worry about your endurance for this one. The Dagger of Dumont is the only thing that can kill War,” Mel explains, back on her podium.
“And that would be what? Or, should I say, where?” Sailor says as she sits forward, listening to Mel.
I know Mel is loving this.
“The Dagger of Dumont is a curved blade used in the 1701 murder of Count Vic Le’Monde,” Mel begins.
Jinx scoffs.
“More like Count Dracu-le-monde,” he interrupts.
Mel glares at him. I take a step toward him, but Ya-Ya beats me to it.
“Seriously, Jinx? Time out,” Ya-Ya says, shoving him out the door.
I breathe a little better with the space opened up from their departure. Even Sailor seems to relax with the number lessened. We can make it through this without them for a few minutes. I will just fill them in later. It’s not like they don’t know the history of the blade anyway.
“Seriously, Jinx is so damn annoying. Aptly named really,” Sunday mutters.
Grace nods, while Aziza is standing with her back against the wall by the dent Ya-Ya made, one leg up with her foot resting on the wall, watching the shit show around her like a casual observer. Cool, silent, deadly Aziza.
“As I was saying,” Mel continues. “The dagger killed the count and disappeared for a century. It resurfaced in 1812 when a merchant sold it to a British soldier. In 1815 it changed hands and went to none other than America’s fourth president, James Madison.”
“Sorry, Mel, but do you think you could skip to the where part of my question? I don’t mean to be rude; this is a really enthralling history lesson, but I kinda don’t care if the pope has it. I just want to know how to get my hands on it,” Sailor says.
I see the flicker of disappointment in Mel’s eyes and I have to bite the inside of my lip to keep from smiling. Another one not interested in her history lesson.
“Sorry, right. It disappeared again, captured by someone, or well, something otherworldly. Basically, even if the dagger is still on this current plane of existence, it is going to be really difficult to get in or out with it and survive.”
“Of course it is. So, who is looking into the dagger?” Sailor asks.
Aziza raises her hand.
“Me and Az are,” Sunday jumps in. “We have been looking into it for a while now. Our next stop is the Avo section of the library, where the rare and forbidden books are hidden. We might get some better leads there.”
I’m starting to worry about what Ya-Ya could be doing to poor Jinx when the door opens and we all get quiet. Hackles rise momentarily, until their familiar faces resurface. Jinx has one black eye and Ya-Ya looks unconcerned. I shake my head. I will have to have a sit-down with the two of them.
“Carry on. Don’t let us interrupt your proceedings,” he says and winks at Sailor.
“Miss anything pertinent?” Ya-Ya asks me.
“Mel is giving her the rundown on how to kill the horsemen, Sunday is looking into the Dagger of Dumont’s location with the help of Aziza, and that’s really it. So, no need to brief you guys later.”
I move closer to Sailor, who is eyeballing me hard.
“Look, you are going to have to start training, whether we have the dagger in our possession or not,” I tell her quietly.
“He’s right. We can start tonight if you are up to it,” Mel agrees.
“No, she needs to rest,” I argue. “I wasn’t suggesting we start tonight.”
“I said I am fine,” Sailor huffs.
She glares at me, those eyes burning through
