Page 48 of Treasure and Tarot

“What?” Law’s voice rose, and it had nothing to do with drama, he thought. Not for TV.

“No one did, Boss.” That was Iago, and he was shining the flashlight all over the place, his hand clearly shaking some.

“Okay, shut it down.” He made the cut motion with his hand.

Law cut the camera, and Iago turned on the lights.

They all groaned while their eyes adjusted to the light. “Okay, so what the hell is going on, you guys. No one was supposed to have the axe out for public consumption.”

Law shook his head. “When were we supposed to get the axe out? We haven’t been apart. Hell, has anyone taken a bathroom break yet?”

“Why is this thing even in Bastian’s house?” Colton growled. “My daughter lives in this house. I’m not amused.”

“It’s going to be okay, boss,” Mason said. “We’re going to fix this.”

Suddenly a cold wind blew through the landing, and Colton saw a shadowy figure seem to fly down the hall and disappear into Abby’s room.

“Goddamn it, Law! The fucking camera’s off.” How did they always miss this crap? It was like the spirits knew.

“I’ll turn it on.”

“Good. Mason, you get that axe.” He was going to take charge and deal with this shit. “I don’t want anybody touching it. I want to talk to Sebastian about giving it to Hank Vargas over in Secret Springs for the museum; I don’t want it in this house.”

Mason went for the axe, and Colton went for Abby’s bedroom. Law followed Colton, and he wasn’t sure what the hell happened to Iago. He might be hiding in a closet. There was just no telling.

The figure was standing at the foot of Abby’s bed, shaking the frame hard enough that the headboard knocked against the wall. It was undeniable. The omega stood there in a white nightshirt, his short black hair and little beard clear as day.

Okay, Colton. Do your job. “Jeremiah. Jeremiah, is that you? Are you looking for your children? Your babies are gone. They’ve passed over.”

After all, no one—literally not one person—had seen or sensed a single child in this place.

The bed shook again, and suddenly, Colton could hear it.

“Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry.”

The whisper was huge, even as it was barely audible.

“Can you hear that?”

Law nodded to him. “I hear it.”

“Where the hell is Mason?” He needed his right-hand man. “He was supposed to get the axe. Where’s Iago?”

Law shrugged. “I’m not sure he was okay, boss. I don’t like this.”

“I don’t either. I’m calling it until the medium gets here. I don’t want anybody hurt.”

“Okay. I’m going to keep rolling until we find them, though. Just to have a record.”

“Not at the expense of your neck, okay? No falling down the damn stairs.” Colton headed back out to the hall, his cane thumping as he moved at speed. “Mason! Iago! Where the hell are you?”

Mason stood at the end of the hallway, holding, weirdly, the head of the axe with one hand, the handle sticking straight up. The other hand was pushing Iago back. “I’m not going to let you hurt him. He’s my friend. Back off.”

Iago seemed frozen, just standing there, and Colton couldn’t see whoever or whatever Mason was glaring at, but he’d be damned if he distracted Mason and got his buddy hurt.

“I’m serious, dude. Back the fuck off. You don’t get to mess with my friends. This is my crew.”

A deep sound like the buzzing of a thousand wasps seemed to fill the air, and the lights—which were on still—seemed to dim.

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