Only the Devout

by Amanda M. Lee

  “That’s not what I was doing. I’m just curious how your interest in this subject began. I don’t think it’s a rude question.”

  “No?” Titus cocked an eyebrow. “I suppose, from your perspective, you can say whatever you want and I can’t claim malice because I don’t know you. What I said before, I was serious. I can feel the other side. There are people there, souls who desperately want to return to this side, and they call to me. They’re asking for my help.”

  I was one of the few who had actually crossed the gate threshold and lived to tell the tale. I knew there were no souls floating on the other side of the gate waiting to be saved. In fact, there was nothing there. It was more of a lobby — but with nicer scenery than you would find at any hospital.

  “And what do the voices say?”

  “I just told you. They want my help.”

  “I see.” I ran my tongue over my teeth, considering. “Do you hear these voices often?”

  His frown became more pronounced. “I don’t need to be mocked. I don’t make fun of your beliefs. Why do you feel the need to persecute me for mine?”

  That was a mighty leap, but I understood why he went there. He was the sort of man who hurled accusations of bullying to cover his true motivations. Yes, I’d definitely seen things like this before.

  “You know a lot of buzzwords,” I noted. “You’re comfortable using them.” I glanced around to see if anybody was listening. Several of his followers kept casting curious looks in our direction but none approached us. That was for the best.

  I lowered my voice. “I’m not sure what your end goal is here,” I admitted, holding his gaze. “I don’t know if you’re looking for attention, or perhaps money to fuel whatever lifestyle you think you deserve. I’m not one of your followers. I don’t believe simply because you have charisma.

  “This is a place of business,” I continued. “People come and go from this island because they’re looking for a fun afternoon, or an escape from their busy lives. Someone died here last night. A young girl who had her whole life in front of her. Let’s not lose sight of what’s really important.”

  This time when his mask shifted I saw the man he truly was beneath — and it wasn’t a pleasant sight. There was anger there, and maybe a little bitterness. He was frustrated that he couldn’t utilize his normal tactics to cloud my thinking. To him, that made me dangerous. He had no idea how dangerous I truly was.

  “I don’t have to explain myself to you,” he shot back, his tone clipped. “We have a permit. We have every right to be here.” Now he raised his voice. “It doesn’t matter what methods you use, I know what’s here. The fact that you’re telling me otherwise only convinces me more. We will eradicate the wall between the living and the dead. We will reunite families that have been torn asunder. We will make this a brave new world.”

  I couldn’t swallow the laughter that bubbled up as I pushed myself to a standing position. “That’s an interesting load of hogwash. I commend you for spouting it with a straight face.” A hint of movement to my right caught my attention, and when I glanced that way I found Griffin crossing to me. He looked concerned.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked, looking between us. It was obvious he was looking for a reason — any reason — to come down on Titus. I had nothing to offer him.

  “Everything is fine,” I reassured him. “Mr. Weaver and I were having a discussion about his goals.”

  Griffin arched an eyebrow. “And?”

  “And he’s trying to convince these people of a narrative that doesn’t ring true,” I answered, enjoying the way Titus’s face filled with rage. “I’m not sure what his end motive is, but I bet it becomes obvious fairly quickly.”

  “I don’t have to take this.” Titus’s scowl never wavered as he stood. “I have a right to be here. You can’t remove me.”

  “I have no interest in removing you,” I said. “Your presence will draw curious people from all over the area. After a few minutes of watching you guys walk in circles they’ll get bored and want to purchase tickets to the aquarium. That’s a win for me.”

  “There’s a saying about those who do protest too much,” he seethed.

  “I’m familiar with the saying.” My eyes bounced back to the crowd. “I’m still curious about where Andrea went.” I refused to let it go. For some reason, it felt important. “Did you send her away? Did she flee in the night? Are her parents still here?”

  “I already told you that I don’t know anybody by that name,” Titus gritted out. “There was no young girl with that name in my group. If you’re trying to cause trouble, you’re going about it in the wrong way.”

  “If you say so.” I was done with the conversation — for now. “I need to head back inside anyway. This was just a brief break for me.” I turned to find a gleaming Rolls Royce had pulled into the parking lot. “More acolytes?” I rolled my eyes. “It looks like these have money. Maybe your true motivations will become apparent before the end of the day after all.”

  Titus didn’t immediately respond. He, too, was focused on the car.

  “Izzy, I don’t think they’re here for him,” Griffin started, his expression tightening.

  “What do you mean?”

  He inclined his head, and when I focused on the opening door I almost fell over — and not from delight.

  “Oh, geez,” I muttered when I realized who had come calling.

  “Mary and Emmet,” Griffin said dryly, his eyes darkening as he watched the couple climb out of the car. “This won’t be good.”

  He stole the words that were trapped on the tip of my tongue.

  Nine

  Seeing Emmet and Mary in front of the aquarium caused me to freeze. I had no idea what I was supposed to do. I waited, expecting Cormack to exit the Rolls as well. When he didn’t, I slid a questioning look to Griffin.

  “What are we supposed to do?”

  He looked as flummoxed as I felt. “I have no idea. I’m considering saying my goodbyes and leaving them to you.”

  I pinned him with a dirty look. “Don’t you dare.”

  “Hey, they’re obviously not here to see me.” The more he talked, the more his smile widened. “They couldn’t possibly have known that I would be here. That means they have a specific purpose for this visit, and it doesn’t revolve around me.”

  “You don’t know that,” I hissed, forcing a smile that I didn’t feel as Emmet held out his arm to his wife. They were focused on us, which meant interaction was coming, whether I liked it or not. “They might’ve called the station and tracked you down.”

  Griffin snorted. “And why would they do that?”

  “You’re married to their only granddaughter.” I was grasping, but desperate people will say and do anything to save themselves. I wasn’t ashamed to admit that I was desperate, and if that meant sacrificing Griffin to the gods of disappointed elders I was ready to succumb. “You’re the father of their only great-grandchild. It makes sense that they’re here for you.”

  “In what world?” Griffin was incredulous. “To them, I’m nothing more than the cop who somehow wormed his way into their family. You’re much more interesting.”

  “How so?”

  “Because you’re magical.”

  I frowned, annoyance bubbling up. “They don’t know that.”

  “Oh, no? I have news for you. The Grimlocks can’t keep a secret. Braden might not have volunteered information about your abilities, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know what you’re capable of. They strike me as the sort of people who maintain ties to the reaper world even though they retired years ago. They know exactly what this family has been up to.”

  He had a point. On a whim, I glanced over my shoulder to make sure Titus wasn’t listening. We’d drifted far enough away that he couldn’t easily overhear our whispered conversation. Curiosity lined his face as he watched us, but he didn’t make a move to get closer.

  “Well, are you just going to stand there?” Emmet demanded. I w
as certain he would walk up to us, but he remained rooted to his spot.

  “Of course not,” I said hurriedly, taking a bold step forward. “I apologize for not dropping everything and rushing over.” The statement came out more sarcastic than I intended, but there was very little I could do about it after the fact. “I’m just surprised that you’re here.”

  “You shouldn’t be.” Emmet’s expression was drawn. He’d yet to crack a smile since I’d met him, and I was beginning to think that unhappy was his perpetual state. “I once had Cormack’s job. I’m familiar with the property. I like to visit whenever I’m in town.”

  I risked another glance at Titus and found he’d inched forward. He was definitely trying to listen in. I couldn’t let that happen. “Well, then let’s go inside.” I strode toward the couple, pasting what I hoped was a welcoming smile on my face. “I’m sure much has changed since your last visit.”

  “I don’t know why that would be the case,” Emmet groused. “Things ran smoothly back then. It’s doubtful they could run more smoothly now. Change for the sake of change is never warranted.”

  He reminded me of a bad Harry Potter character, but I kept my opinion to myself. “Well, let’s see if you still agree after your tour.” I prodded them toward the door, slowing my pace long enough to look back toward Griffin. “Coming?”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m on duty,” he lamented. He appeared genuinely sad, but I knew him better than that. Even if his emotions weren’t rippling on the surface it would’ve been easy to ascertain his plan.

  “I’m sure you can spare a few minutes,” I pressed.

  “I wish I could.” He held out his hands. “I’m really sorry I can’t join the tour. I was looking forward to getting to know Mary and Emmet better. Our meeting last night was too brief.”

  “You can blame that on your wife,” Emmet groused, causing Griffin’s smile to slip. “She’s always gotten her jollies by being as inappropriate as possible. Do you know, when she was sixteen I had a special card game at Cormack’s house? I invited friends from work and Cormack arranged for a professional dealer and caterers because I was entertaining very important people.

  “He warned the kids to stay out of the room because there would be inappropriate conversation,” he continued. “There are certain things that should be kept from young minds, especially young women, if you know what I mean.” He waggled his eyebrows in my direction.

  “Actually, I’m not sure what you mean,” I said, my temper momentarily flashing. “Is there a reason girls should be treated differently than boys?”

  “Yes,” Emmet answered, not missing a beat. “Boys are stronger than girls. They understand how things work. Girls are more emotional.” His mouth twisted in such a manner it was impossible not to grasp his meaning. “Men like to talk about certain things. Women should never hear those conversations.”

  I looked to Mary to gauge her opinion on the matter and found her nodding. “So, you also think that girls are weaker than boys?” I asked.

  “I don’t know that ‘weaker’ is the correct word,” Mary responded. “In some ways I think that girls are stronger.”

  “Only in your head, my dear,” Emmet shot back, shaking his eyes.

  Mary didn’t back down. “Women may be more emotional, but they tend to suppress those emotions in times of strife better than men. And they can read a room better.”

  It wasn’t exactly the response I hoped for, but it was better than complete agreement with Emmet. “I think women can do anything men can do,” I argued. “I think how one deals with strife is up to the individual.”

  “Of course you do,” Emmet said. “You’re dating Braden. He’s just as emotional as Aisling. They were always my least favorite of the five — and that’s saying something, because the youngest boy is living with another boy and he hasn’t been cut off from the family finances yet.”

  My mouth dropped open. “Did you just say what I think you said?”

  “He did,” Griffin confirmed, all traces of a smile long gone. “And that right there is why I have no intention of shirking my duties.” He offered up a mock salute for Emmet’s benefit. “I hope you have a fabulous time on your tour. I pity Izzy for having to be the one to give it to you. I must tell you that my wife is a marvel. She’s not less than her brothers. She’s the best person I know.”

  “Let’s not go nuts,” I countered, earning a small smile from him. “She has a few weird personality quirks. But she’s just as smart as her brothers and, in a crisis, I’d always want her on my team.”

  “Of course you would.” Emmet’s expression told me he was quickly losing interest in the conversation, even though he’d yet to finish his Aisling story. I had a feeling I already knew where the story would end and I didn’t need to hear the end of it. “Women stick together. Their emotions prevent them seeing reason.”

  I opened my mouth to say something hateful but thought better of it at the last second. Starting a war with my boyfriend’s grandparents would benefit absolutely no one. “Let’s go inside.” I strode toward the door, no longer waiting to make sure they were keeping up. “I’m sure you’ll want to keep your visit brief.”

  “Think again, missy,” Emmet shot back. “I plan to be here all afternoon.”

  That was the last thing I wanted to hear. As I held the door for them, I looked back at Griffin. His smile was evident, but there was pity in his eyes.

  “You should flee now,” I suggested. “They might decide they know how to run a police investigation if you linger too long.”

  “I heard that,” Emmet complained. “I’ll have you know there’s nothing about police work that I’m not familiar with. I would make a great police detective.”

  “Wouldn’t that be a fun day?” I muttered, shaking my head. I found myself yearning for my grandfather. Our relationship had been on shaky ground since I’d chosen to return to Detroit, to the place where my life had been irrevocably changed as a child. This was the last place he expected me to come and yet it called to me. Our conversations since I’d left New Orleans had been terse — that is when he bothered to pick up the phone at all. That said, he’d always bolstered me as a child. He didn’t believe girls were less than boys and, in fact, taught me that I could do anything I set my mind to. In other words, he was the exact opposite of Mary and Emmet.

  “Well, are you coming?” Emmet called out to me, impatient. “I’m not getting any younger. I have a story to finish telling you about Aisling, too.”

  Ugh. I should’ve seen that coming. I sucked in a breath. “I’m right behind you.”

  “EVERYTHING IS THE SAME ... AND yet different,” Emmet complained once he’d been in the gate room for a grand total of ten minutes. To me, it felt like ten years after his Aisling story, which essentially amounted to her telling all of his friends she was convinced they had small penises because of the way they talked about women, for which Cormack grounded her, though I think she was secretly rewarded when Emmet was no longer around. I was so convinced I’d somehow fallen into a time loop that I almost jumped out of my skin when Oliver snapped his fingers in front of my face.

  “Are you going to answer him?” Oliver asked, his voice low.

  “He didn’t ask a question,” I pointed out, rubbing my forehead. “He’s just commenting on the general sameness of the room. If you think something else needs to be said about it, perhaps you should say something.”

  Oliver’s expression reflected puzzlement. “You’re crabby today. You weren’t that way when you disappeared upstairs an hour ago. What happened between then and now?”

  I gestured toward our visitors. “I’ll give you two guesses.”

  He smirked at my dramatic hand flaps. “I take it you don’t like the new Grimlocks.”

  “They’re not new,” I countered. “They’re old. Like ... so, so old. Even their notions of how children should be raised are ancient. Do you know that they actually told me that girls are more delicate than boys? They acted as if that was
a fact rather than ridiculous opinionated crap.”

  He pressed his lips together and shook his head, obviously trying to refrain from laughing.

  “It’s not funny,” I hissed. “They’re giving me a headache. A massive headache. I don’t know what a brain tumor feels like when it kills you, but that could be happening to me right now. That’s how much my head hurts.”

  Rather than play into my self-pity, he moved my hand from my forehead and rested his there. “You’re not warm,” he said. “Does anything else hurt other than your head?”

  “Is that a trick question? They make everything hurt.”

  “I think you’re being dramatic.” He was far too blasé for my liking. “Have you eaten lunch?”

  “I had tea upstairs.”

  “What about breakfast?”

  “I had coffee this morning.”

  He flashed a genuine smile that had me rethinking my bad mood. “You need food. Your blood sugar is low and it appears the world is closing in on you today. I think your conversation with the cult leader didn’t go well.”

  I couldn’t contain my surprise. “How did you know I talked to him?”

  “I know you,” he replied. “You’ve always been susceptible to crowds. You were a quiet child and liked calm surroundings. What’s happening upstairs right now bothers you because you feel as if it’s your duty to keep things here running smoothly.

  “You didn’t cause this,” he continued. “You’re not to blame. You didn’t kill that poor girl they found in the parking lot this morning. You didn’t invite those crazy people to walk in circles in the lot. You certainly didn’t invite the crabby Grimlocks to hang out.”

  He had a point. That didn’t mean I was ready to embrace it. “They’re horrible, right?”

  He smirked. “They’re ... set in their ways.” He watched the couple check out the library that up until several weeks ago had been hidden behind a wall. Now it was undergoing renovations to serve as a research center for reaper trainees. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it.