Convergence - The Last Science #2.2 - Heroes and Villains

B2: Chapter 33 - Self-Made - IV

  "Thank you," she said tersely. "Though I daresay I've never had the pleasure of a visit."

  "Of course. I do apologize for any lack of hospitality in the past. I'm glad we can accommodate now, when you're in such dire need," said Cinza.

  Jesus, they're worse than the fuckin' politicians. Jeremy spoke up before the veiled insults started cutting past the surface. "Nice place."

  "Thanks," said Cinza. "And welcome to you too, Lily."

  Lily shrugged. "We wouldn't be here if we had any other option."

  "I'll choose to take that as a compliment," said Cinza, though Jeremy could feel Ruby bristling from across the room. "Honestly, I'm quite happy to help for as long as I can. Ruby, would you fetch Nikki please? I feel like we'll be wanting her assistance here shortly."

  Ruby left, though not without another dirty look at the Laushires. "We'll need our own cabin with a good connection," said Kendra, unperturbed. "A substantial transfer was wired into your account this morning. I trust it will more than cover any living costs we might accrue."

  Cinza nodded. "We're incredibly grateful for the support."

  "We oughta use this as a base of operations," said Jeremy, glancing around. "Start trackin' down Hendricks for real."

  Both the Laushires and Cinza glared at him. Cinza was the first to speak, her strange voice echoing far too much around the wide hall. "Do you think we haven't been trying?"

  "The man poses a great threat," said Kendra. "Both to our lives and our reputation. We cannot get the world to accept magic while they still assume us responsible for the golem attacks."

  "Why haven't you told everyone about him yet?" asked Cinza.

  Jeremy narrowed his eyes. I did. Nobody fuckin' believed me. And now I'm tied up in too many goddamn conspiracies that I don't know where to start on who's tellin' the truth. "...I'm workin' on it."

  "Cinza, Ruby said you—" Nikki cut off with a huge sneeze, accompanying a gust of cold wind through the open door. Ruby hurried in after her, a scarf pulled tight around her neck, followed by a similarly bundled up brown-haired woman with a camera dangling in front of her. Behind them...

  "Lani?" Jeremy gaped at him. Lani nodded back with a sheepish smile. He was wearing the same grey robes as the rest of them—minus the young woman with the camera—and looked way more comfortable than Jeremy ever remembered him being, even back in the office.

  "Hey."

  "Your partner came to us three weeks ago," said Cinza, and she sounded a bit too smug for her own good. "He's helping build a better place, for the good of us all."

  "For the good of us all," Ruby echoed quietly, somewhere behind Jeremy. Fuckin' hell. I've seen cults, and this sure as shit is one of them. At least they ain't proposin' to burn me alive... yet.

  Wait, if Lani's wearin' the robes... "Lani, you're—"

  "Awakened, Jeremy." Lani held up his hand, and a little flame burst into life in his palm. He grinned. "You think they'll give me a promotion if I'm the first agent who can use magic?"

  "I think they'll fuckin' suspend you right along with me for going AWOL," Jeremy muttered. He walked over to his partner and gave him a bear hug. "Jesus, Lani. Don't ever pull that shit again."

  Lani hugged him back. "You got it." He let go, gesturing to the brown-haired woman. "Jeremy, this is Riley."

  "Riley Emick— er, Riley Emlick." She coughed, face glowing red. "Emrick. God, what is wrong with me today?" Riley stuck out a hand, and Jeremy shook it. Shit, that's a firm handshake. "I've heard a lot about you, Mr. Ashe."

  "You and the rest of the world," he grumbled.

  Lani laughed. "I really dodged a bullet, huh?"

  "Lani, you not dodgin' the bullet is what lead to this clusterfuck."

  He laughed even harder, which left Jeremy feeling warmer than the fire crackling in the stone chimney could hope to achieve. Good to have you back, man. "Come on, there's a lot you gotta see. This place is amazing."

  "Mr. Ashe," called Cinza, before Lani could drag him away. Nikki sneezed again, and excused herself into one of the back rooms. Cinza shot a curious look at the Laushires before she continued. "Will you be staying with us tonight? I'd like to draw up one of the guest rooms and plan out dinner accordingly."

  Jeremy shrugged. "I'll take the dinner, but I should probably get back soon. It's gonna be morning in London in three hours."

  "London?" asked Lani, surprised.

  "Hailey," he said simply, as if it explained everything.

  Lani didn't seem to follow, but Cinza sighed. "Of course. If you need anything on that front, don't hesitate to ask. We all want the same thing."

  Still ain't sure of that... but I fuckin' hope so. Jeremy nodded. "Thanks."