Mystified in Music City by Kristen Painter

Author:Kristen Painter [Painter, Kristen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sugar Skull Books

This was not good. I was not good. Chad was becoming a serious drain. The more emotion that churned off him, the more my energy was being sapped.

I had two options. Deal with it as best I could, which would also mean explaining to Jayne what was going on and making her worry. Because she would. There was no way around that. And I loathed doing anything that could affect her health or stress levels.

The other option was to use my abilities as a necromancer and exorcise him. Which would cast him back into the limbo he’d come from.

That wasn’t generally how I preferred to treat the dead. I needed to think. And possibly sleep for a few hours.

Chad was in a bad place. He was leaking emotion like a punctured balloon. The news that he had a child he hadn’t known about had caused him so much pain that I’d nearly doubled over in Slim’s office.

I really didn’t want to add to that by brusquely stripping his spirit out of my body.

I rested, vaguely aware of Jayne talking to Birdie. Then of her programming an address into the GPS, starting the car, and driving us somewhere, but that was it. I just sat still, kept my eyes closed, and tried to preserve some energy. Maybe, hopefully, even get some back.

“Sin,” she said softly. “Are you sleeping?”

“No. Just resting.”

“You’re not okay, are you? Because of Chad not being okay, right? Whatever’s happening to him is happening to you. Is that it?”

That was close. “Something like that.”

“Are you going to be all right?”

“I … I don’t know.” I filled my lungs with air and exhaled, wishing I could expel this exhaustion as easily. “He’s wearing me out physically. His presence. His emotions. It’s very draining.”

“I can imagine. What can I do to help?”

“Nothing.” I took another deep breath. “Just something I have to work through.”

Not entirely accurate, but I didn’t have the bandwidth to fully explain.

I’m draining you?

I knew there was a chance Chad would overhear. I was still reluctant to answer the question, seeing what he’d been through already today, but lying to him wasn’t going to help. Yes, you are. I know you don’t mean to.

I’m sorry. I really don’t want to hurt you. I’d leave if I could. But I don’t know how.

I know. Chad felt like a dark abyss that swallowed energy as soon as I produced it. But that wasn’t his fault.

If there’s anything I can do, just say the word.

Thanks. I don’t think there is. I couldn’t very well ask him to rein in his emotions. Or could I? I had nothing to lose. Do you think you could be less emotional? I know that’s a lot to ask, considering what you just found out, but it might help.

I can do that.

You can? Not the response I’d expected.

Sure. I’m a performer. I know how to compartmentalize. I’ll do my best.

Once I’m asleep, you can feel everything you need to. Be as sad or angry or upset as you want to be.

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