Page 48 of Dead Air
Cenn tapped the side of his nose. “If he knows about the threefold death, he probably knows how to break the deal. I’m going to bluff so he thinks it’shisidea to cancel it.”
Merlin blinked at him. “That’s it?”
“I can be very convincing.”
Nox made a serious sound. “I say the odds are 50/50 that he buys it but I think you can take Hugh in a fight, if he doesn’t.”
“My thoughts exactly,” Cenn said.
“Hey!” Niall protested. “I don’t want you to fight this Hugh Douchebag guy.”
Cenn pressed a finger against Niall’s lips and he immediately felt calmer, sleepier. “I’m not worried about him. Neither should you,” he said in a lulling whisper.
“Stop that!” Niall swatted Cenn’s hand away. “I told you to leave my emotions alone.”
“They were upsetting you!”
“Isn’t that remarkable?” Merlin said to Nox. “Young Niall has tamed the savage beast!”
“You can kiss my ass, Oglethorpe,” Cenn said over his shoulder, then smiled at Niall. “I had a little epiphany while I was out with the bears, reflecting on our episode with Al and Buck.”
Niall shivered and squeezed his eyes shut. “That’s awful, Cenn. How is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“I’m inside his head now and I’m in control.”
There was a dubious hum from Merlin. “I hope so and you’d better do somethingsoon.I fear that the Douchebag is growing impatient with you and could send the demna aeóir to finish the deal.”
“What is that exactly, the demna aeóir?” Niall asked with a pained grimace, not entirely sure he wanted to know.
“It’s Gaelic for ‘demon’ or ‘dead’ air,” Nox said as he watched Cenn. “It’s almost like a weather phenomenon. Except instead of thunder and lightning and heavy winds and rain, you get a sky full of angry demons. Dùbhghlas has kept Smoak’s horde of sold souls and demon minions as collateral and he could send any or all of that army to collect him at any moment.”
“No.” Cenn held up a finger, smiling. “That's one thing that has been misunderstood or has changed meanings over time. You think it’s a phenomenon, but it’s a means by which we travel. We can move as smoke, slow like fog or as fast as a bullet. If we wish to go faster, we use the demon or dead air.”
“Dead air? Like, radio dead air?” Niall asked and Cenn cheered in approval.
“Yes! In radio and television, it is that unintentional moment of silence between sound or picture when nothing is being transmitted. You have those moments of absolute, accidental silence in the natural world, when all things pause to catch a breath and collectively blink. In that speck—that sliver of peaceful emptiness—the veil between worlds thins and we can slip right through and come out wherever we want.Thatis the demna aeóir, our dead air.”
Nox was riveted, fixated on Cenn’s every word. “How do you find it?” he asked in an awed whisper.
“Not a chance, Junior.” Cenn scoffed as he shook his head. “You already know too many of our secrets. They would literally crucify me in the waste if they found out I told you how to apparate.”
“Surely not?” Merlin asked, confused. “Why crucify a demon? I think it would be more appropriate to hang you like Judas.”
“No one’s sense of humor is more twisted than a demon’s and a hanging would suggest regret. Crucifixions are about atonement for your sins and salvation. That’s something a demon will never find, not even nailed to a cross.”
“Keep your secret, then,” Merlin replied. “How do you propose to find absolute silence here? It’s as loud as a festival out there.”
Niall had wondered as well. The sounds of the twins' horse playing, Dr. Bixby’s and Everly’s laughter, Agent Nelson’s pacing, and Shelby’s low murmurs were a tad unsettling. Early spring was Niall’s favorite season at Shenandoah because he practically had the summit to himself until the park fully opened at the end of March.
“It is busy up here tonight,” Niall agreed quietly. “It could be hours until it’s quiet enough.”
“Try days. This one snores,” Nox said, pointing at Merlin but before he could defend himself, Cenn snapped his fingers and both of their mouths were covered in duct tape.
Niall covered his mouth with both hands and swallowed his laugh, earning a pleased chuckle from Cenn.
“Good boy. As for the rest of them,” he whispered, then cleared his throat.“I require silence!”he bellowed, his voice shaking the cabin and carrying through the night. Everyone sucked in a breath, blinking in surprise, and Cenn had vanished in that fraction of a second.
Twenty
