Page 58 of I Accidentally Hired a Shadow Walker
“Your energy. It's not nearly as chaotic as his,” Noville continued. “He usually surrounds himself with people who are just as wild in their spirit. People like your friend Jackie.”
“Um, thank you?” I frowned; I didn’t know what to think about his observation. I’d barely spoken since he'd been there, and yet he had already formed opinions about me.
Did he really just say my friend was more compatible with Raymond than I was? And why the hell does that annoy me so much?
“I hope you survive this. Most don’t,” Noville continued, and I immediately wanted to tell him to keep his thoughts to himself. “The shadow walkers are messy. You’d think they would be able to handle things better than they do, but their elusive nature often leads to them making mistakes because they think they can never be caught, despite all the times they have been in the past.”
“You really need to work on your people skills.” I sucked my teeth. “Are you trying to make me doubt myself?”
“I’m often told that.” He nodded. “I prefer to be honest, but I do apologize. That wasn’t my intention.”
“Be honest when your honesty is requested. That should help a lot.”
“Ofcourse.” He sighed.
“Can everyone in the Bane speak English?” I wanted to change the conversation but also avoid going back to the awkward silence in case he decided to share any more of hishonestopinions.
“No, and I don’t speak it either,” Noville responded.
“Maybe you don’t realize it, but we’re speaking the same language, and I damn sure don’t speak whatever is the natural tongue of your people.”
Noville nodded again before opening his mouth. He reached his boney fingers behind his back tooth and pulled out what looked like a piece of bark. He held it out to me and spoke a garbled language I couldn’t understand. As if satisfied with his display, he popped it back into his mouth. “This is what helps me understand you and you me.”
“Whoa.” I shook my head. Once again, he spoke perfect English. “So it’s like a magical translator?”
“Easier than learning new languages.” He shrugged. “There are many dialects and languages in our world, just like there are here. This bridges the gap, especially with new creatures coming to the Bane every day. There is no way we would all be able to communicate without it, not unless you’re someone like Raymond. That guy has a big brain; he picks up languages quickly. Last I checked, he knew over four hundred.”
“Four hundred?” I looked at his mouth a lot closer as he spoke and realized the movement of his lips didn’t match the words I heard. It was the same disorienting feeling of watching a foreign movie that had been dubbed. “How much does something like that cost, and how can I get one?”
“This is small talk, right?” Noville chuckled. “You don’t really care about this. Just trying to fill the awkward silence?”
“Okay, maybe you’re better at peopling than you’re given credit for.” I smiled. “But honestly, in my line of work, that would come in handy.”
“If we survive what’s to come, I’ll have one delivered to you.”
“Brace yourselves.” Cufio popped into the room. “The big guy is coming inside!”
“Damn it!” I shouted at him and clutched my chest. “Don’t do that. Are you trying to freak me out? And why didn’t I feel you coming?”
“Feel me coming? Why would you?” He looked genuinely confused by my question.
“I—nothing. Where is your brother?” I deflected, because his reaction made me second guess if I should tell him how I felt the temperature shift before Raymond appeared. Maybe there was something wrong with him. If that were the case, I wouldn’t be the one to expose it.
Cufio paused, looking at me for a moment before he responded. “Raymond’s bringing our special guest. He wanted me to come give you a heads up. Honestly, I think he just wanted to say something without me hearing it. Those two have a deep history.”
“Oh.” I looked over his shoulder out the window, where I could see Raymond approaching. “Is he dangerous?”
“Yes, but so are you, from what I’ve heard. But he’s on our side, so you don’t have to worry about him.”
“Help is on the way.” Jackie returned, waving her phone in her hand. “Didn’t take nearly as much convincing as I thought it would. Starting to think that man has the hots for me.”
“Perfect timing,” I pointed out the window. “They’re coming in now.”
“Great. We get to meet the mysterious new stranger!” She clapped. “You think he’s also a shadow walker, or something different?”
The door opened, and Raymond stepped in first, followed by a tall man with dark skin, a stern expression, and no horns. I swore they were therewhen I first saw him, but as he stood there, leather jacket, low collar, brimming with aura, I couldn’t tell he ever had them.
“Are you going to introduce us to your new friend, or are we just gonna stand here staring at each other?” Jackie was the one to break the silence.
