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two wizards, was not someone you ever wanted to cross.
 Fine, I m sorry, I know I should have helped Daniel sooner but
business...
 Business, you have to say business. How much damn money do
you need? You poor spirit walker was left high and dry. No one was
told about him so they could help. You just left him.
 I told Kash, Enda said in his defence.
 Told him what, to research Daniel s past so you knew everything
about him right down to his inside-leg measurement. Percy was
fuming.
A gasp came from behind Percy, and Enda could see Daniel s
frightened face.
 You had me researched? he whispered.
Enda couldn t lie to him. It went against everything walkers stood
for.  We just checked your references, love. I just wanted to know
you were who you said you were. With so many paranormals we have
to be careful. We have to keep our world a secret.
 It s not my world, and the more I hear the less I want it to be.
80 Ellen Quinn
 I think it s time you left now, Percy said, giving Enda a hard
stare.
 How much does he know about Daniel? Enda thought.
 What about Daniel? What are you hiding? Daniel almost
screamed in his head.
 Please give me a chance to explain, love. I m so sorry this has
happened this way. We re spirit walkers. You have to understand how
special this is.
The door closed in Enda s face. He growled like the hounds of
hell were after him, running at the door. For all his supernatural
strength the door did not budge. Whatever spell those two meddling
wizards had come up with was not going to break down anytime soon.
He sprang off the stone steps, shifting while flying through the air,
and racing through the back streets till he could enter the forest. He
did not care if anyone had seen or heard him he just had to get away.
He d barely gotten inside the tree line when he was met by Jez, Kash,
and the rest of the pack, who had all heard his anguish and had come
in support. Two huge bears lumbered up beside him as he ran. They
would all keep him sane and bring him back when exhaustion finally
obliterated the pain.
* * * *
 Don t be too hard on him, sweetie, William said as they sat
back down.  We spend a long time looking for our soul mates
knowing we only have one.
 Yes, and sometimes we look so hard we miss what s right in
front of us. Percy looked at William with so much love and devotion
in his eyes Daniel didn t know where to look. Was that what he and
Enda could have? He had to be honest and say that the way Enda
looked at him was very similar. He just hadn t really understood what
he was looking at.
Spirit Found 81
Okay, Daniel said to himself, let s face this thing head-on.  All
the films you see about this stuff, is that all true?
 Oh, God, I hope not, Percy said.  They re just people s
imaginations going off on a walk in the wrong direction. I m a
wizard, and I flatly refuse to wear a pointed hat with a cloak,
especially if they were covered in silly symbols and glitter. At my
height I d look ridiculous. Daniel couldn t help laughing at his
friend.
 Oh, I don t know, love, if you wore nothing underneath it, well
that has endless possibilities. William leered at Percy.
 Oh, stop it and be sensible, the boy needs our help, Percy huffed
with no menace in his voice at all.
Daniel made his decision then and there if this type of relationship
could be possible with Enda he would try and give this supernatural
thing a go. William and Percy had such an amazing rapport with each
other, for all they argued and teased each other it was all laid on a
foundation of love, respect and a joy to be in each other s company.
 Can you explain more about werewolves, please?
 Of course, sweetheart. William, could you please just open the
shop? It s nearly ten, and we need to look like we want to do
business.
 No problem, my love. Why don t you rustle up some breakfast
while I m gone?
Daniel had no idea how he was going to open the shop and then
come back for breakfast when the entire workforce was going to be
up here eating. But hell, his wizard knowledge was even worse than
his werewolf, and he was going nowhere near demons and vampires
anytime soon.
 Could you put the cutlery on the table in the dining area,
sweetheart? And I ll bring in breakfast.
Daniel laid out knives, forks, and spoons, as he had no idea what
would be served. Their Sunday lunches had been a voyage of
discovery with dishes from all over the world. He need not have
82 Ellen Quinn
worried. Percy turned up with toast, bagels, cream cheese, tomatoes,
scrambled eggs, and bacon. William pulled out the plates and they all
sat down.
 Right, Percy said after tucking into his eggs.  Werewolves, you
know about the fact you only get one spirit walker and how they bond
with the mind, body, and spirit thing. They also cannot transmit any
human diseases, nor catch them, which is why no condoms.
Daniel gave a small sigh of relief knowing he was safe.
 I ve never been troubled by illness myself, Daniel mentioned.
 My brother caught everything. I even managed to skip chicken pox
when my brother was covered in spots. Though it also meant I had the
best attendance record at school, which wasn t quite so good. He
laughed as he remembered.
 Do you think that tells you something? William asked.
 Yeah my stepmother kept me on my five fruit and veg every
day.
William smiled.  Umm, maybe.
 Werewolves can regenerate themselves, most supernaturals can,
Percy continued.
 What do you mean regenerate?
 If they lose a finger a new one will grow back, William
answered.
 The only thing that can t regenerate is the head, though it may be
able to grow a new body. I m not sure on that, we all try to keep our
heads, Percy added.
Daniel wasn t sure which was worse, what they were actually
telling him or the fact he believed them.
 They have great strength and very good senses, some more so
than others, but on that part you ll have to ask Enda.
 What else? Oh, there is actually no such thing as a werewolf.
 Huh? Daniel mumbled in shock.
 No, they can either be a wolf or a man, not some Hollywood
version of half-and-half. And although they do hunt, it is only the
Spirit Found 83
same prey a natural wolf would go after, not humans or domestic
livestock, Percy finished.
 Well, that s a relief, Daniel said.
 That s all we know really, the rest is down to individual
traditions that they carry with them through the years, William
added.
 How long do they live? Daniel asked hesitantly.
 They re immortal, like the rest of us. We last as long as we stay
alive. Enda celebrated his two hundredth birthday last year. He s two
hundred and one now, I think.
* * * *
Percy looked across at Daniel after he d finished this last
statement to see the young man s eyes roll back as he slowly slid off
the chair into oblivion once again.
 How do you think he ll take it when he finds out he s one, too?
William asked his lover.
84 Ellen Quinn
Chapter Eight
 Hello, Daniel said rather sheepishly.
William laughed.  Don t worry, sonny, your secret s safe with
us.
 I ve turned into a wuss! Daniel muttered.
 So would I if I d have had to face all of this in just a couple of
days. Percy and I were born the end of the sixteenth century, so we ve
had plenty of time to get used to it. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]