The Night's Champion Collection: A supernatural werewolf thriller trilogy by Richard Parry

Author:Richard Parry
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Mondegreen
Published: 2017-10-22T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

“I guess I wanted to circle back around,” said Rex, “and make sure we’re all on the same page.”

“Old timer?” said John. “I know it’s a lot to take in, especially if you’re not used to change—”

“What the hell,” said Rex, “is that supposed to mean?”

John blinked at him. “Well, you know,” he said. “Baby Boomers, right? You guys can’t set the time on a microwave oven.”

“Right,” said Val. “Twelve o’clock flashers.”

Rex looked between the two of them. “Are you speaking English?”

“It’s nothing personal,” said John, showing some kind of brilliant smile that Rex just knew would make a woman swoon. He hated the man for it, just a little, if he was honest. “It’s just every place I’ve seen that’s been owned by a fossil has all the digital clocks set at double-oh, double-oh.”

“A fossil?” Rex felt his face getting hot. Relax, Rex. Relax. Boy just needs some of the silly knocked out of him. “You think I’m a … a fossil?”

“You prefer leatherface?” said John. “It sounds a bit Jack-the-Ripper, is all I’m saying, but we can go with it.”

“John Miles,” said Sky, “you behave.” She placed a cool hand on Rex’s shoulder, leaning in to kiss him gently on the cheek. “He’s just feeling unmanned and has issues when he’s not the center of the universe.”

“I am,” said John, “the center of the … what do you mean, unmanned?”

“I mean,” said Sky, “that this fossil managed to work with me to get Just James—” and here, she jerked a thumb over her shoulder at the kid, playing on that portable game gadget “—here, alive, in the middle of a war zone. Isn’t that your job, hero?”

“Hey,” said John, that brilliant smile coming back again, “I ain’t no hero. I’m, what do you call it, I’ve got my own spin-off series.”

“Like Angel,” said Just James, not looking up.

“Like Angel,” said John, nodding. “Exactly.”

“What?” said Rex.

“From Buffy,” said Just James, casting a wearied eye at Rex. “Don’t you watch TV?”

“I watch TV,” said Rex. “I don’t watch kid’s shows.”

Sky pulled her hand from Rex’s shoulder. “Are you … what’s wrong with Buffy?”

“What?” said Rex. God damn, I am definitely too old for this shit. “No. Hey. Wait. Let’s try again,” he said. He rubbed a hand over his face, as if he could reset the last minute’s conversation. Hell with it. “What I was trying for, is to see if we’re all … if we’ve got a plan.”

“No,” said Val.

“No?” said Rex.

“No, we don’t have a plan,” said Val. “I — and by I, I mean, John and I — are going to find out what’s going on.”

“We are?” said John.

“And,” said Val, looking Rex in the eye, “you are not going to come with us. Because you will die.”

“Son,” said Rex, “I’m pretty close to dead anyway, how the clock is running these days. I think you’re overlooking one small issue.”

“Okay,” said Val, “I’ll bite.”

“That’s just it,” said Rex. “You won’t.”

“What?” Val blinked at him.

“You’ve lost your powers, son,” said Rex.

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