Page 13 of Monsters of Midlife

Ratchet’s laughter filled Caroline’s living room. “I think they are more concerned with what you are actually doing here. I thought we discussed this. Being here isn’t a good idea.”

“Then don’t be here,” I snarled. “I don’t take instructions from you. You can keep an eye on me all day, but I don’t take commands from them or from you.”

Ratchet held up his hands and backed away from me a step. “Not doing anything, brother. I’m not worried about the job. I only took it with your permission, so it is what it is. Maybe if you told me what we were looking for I could help you look for it. We could get out of here quicker.”

I took a deep breath and exhaled. I wasn’t paranoid, but I didn’t like trusting others. It wasn’t on purpose; it was just the way I was built and even Ratchet, my best friend, required me getting used to this sharing thing.

“I need to find her wedding ring. The cambions had mine, which mean they know about her. She isn’t safe.”

“Right, so we are here to check on her. She’s fine,” Ratchet shrugged.

“The rings are made from almanite,” I said.

Ratchet raised his eyebrows. “What’s that?”

“A powerful metal from my father’s home. The two rings together wield a lot of power. I separated the metal I had, which belonged to my father and made them into two rings. The idea was that it would keep it safe. When Typhon had it, the metal was a single sphere he wore that granted him great powers.”

“So, you gave your human wife a supernatural metal ring?” Ratchet looked dubious.

“Her ring alone has no value but the two together can permanently open any rift on the planet.”

“Even after a dybbuk blood spilt?” Ratchet asked, impressed.

“Yes. It can seal any also.”

“Then why haven’t we been using it?” Ratchet looked confused, his brow furrowing.

“Every time you use the metal, it calls my father back.” I grimaced.

“Typhon?” Ratchet looked incredulous. “Back here to Earth?”

“It’s why I separated the metals out.” I said. “So, that couldn’t happen.”

“Typhon on Earth, not a good idea.” Ratchet pointed out. “In fact, a terribly bad idea.”

“No shit,” I shook my head. “So, I need to find her ring, we have mine back and then we can protect them and keep them safe.”

“Did you look at the jewelry box?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I nodded.

“What about upstairs?” Ratchet gazed upward. “Does the place have an attic or a basement?”

I nodded. “It has an attic, no basement.”

“Why don’t I go take a look up there? There’s got to be boxes or something. Is there any place you remember hiding things when you were married?” Ratchet asked.

“I looked at all those places,” I said. “There’s got to be some new hiding place.”

“Why do you think she’s hiding it?”

“How the hell do I know what human women think?” I asked. “Maybe she wants to never see it again. That’s most likely the case.”

“Isn’t that sweet,” Ratchet grimaced as he lifted up a vase and looked under it.

“I don’t think her ring’s going to be under the vase,” I said.

He turned and his gaze bored into mine. “But tell me why you even thought to do it.”

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