There was no lie in either his voice or eyes. But his gaze did linger on the collection of pictures of the pack that was still open beside the video. I watched Evan stare at the pictures for a moment before I reached across Adam and maximized the page. Adam stiffened beside me, but let me continue. I pointed to the words below Adam's picture.
"You wouldn't happen to know what these say, would you Evan?"
He didn't even bother to look at the words themselves. He simply nodded. "It's the description of the wolf. Color, size, things like that. Why do you have my flash cards?"
Adam and I just stared at him. Neither of us was entirely sure what to say to this at first. It wasn't until we were silent for a while did Evan's expression get confused.
"Did I do something wrong?" There was disappointment and a touch of fear to that question.
Adam was quick to reassure him he hadn't done anything wrong. Then asked, "Evan why do you have flash cards of the pack?" He deliberately included Evan in the pack.
"Mom had me memorize everyone in case I got separated from her. She said she wanted me to know both man and wolf so I could recognize one of the pack and know I was safe. She said if a different wolf approached I was to try and leave and find someone from the flash cards."
Adam and I exchanged looks. Then Adam leaned down and asked gently, "Do you know where your mom got the flash cards?"
Evan grinned with pride. "She made them. She can make stuff and tells good stories." Then his mood turned somber as he remembered everything from the previous day. "Did you find her?"
"We haven't found her, but we think she is hiding out while she gets better. However, Tony came by with your stuff." Adam grabbed the bag from off the table and held it out to Evan.
He looked at it with no small amount of happiness and relief. He took it from Adam and held it with one hand despite the bag being easily almost his same height. Then he pulled it open and rummaged through it until he pulled a collection of clothes that looked like they had been wrapped around hard objects. Greedily, Evan unwrapped them to reveal a small collection of painted wooden figurines. The first was a dragon, which was a pale green color. The dragon was soon followed by a collection of werewolves, all of which had different coats. Then there was a creature that looked like a werewolf that way half way between wolf and human. The last two were humans. One was a pale boy with scraggly hair while the other was man with some features that made him look like he could have been Evan's much older brother.
Evan brought all the figures over to the counter and lined them up. It was clear the a very gifted hand had fashioned and painted them. "Mom made these for me. She said they were our family, so I should know them."
Adam sat and listened to Evan as he pointed and named each creature. They paused just long enough for me to ask if they wanted pancakes, which of course they did. Pancakes were one of the few breakfast foods that were easy to make and very filling, so it was a staple in a house of werewolves. I got to work making food and was most of the way done with the first batch when I heard a truck pull into the driveway. I paused to listen and after a few seconds realized it was Warren. The man himself came in a few minutes later with a grin on his face.
"Morin' Boss, morin' Mercy. Something smells good." Then he saw Evan and smile got even bigger. "Morin' kiddo. Whatcha got there?"
Evan excitedly babbled everything he had just finished telling Adam. I brought the full stack of pancakes over to the table along with six plates to the table. Warren walked with Evan to the table. All the figures were gathered up in his arms before he dumped them and then rearranged them across the table in between Warren and himself. I noticed Warren was looking at the dragon thoughtfully almost like he recognized it. But it was gone as butter and syrup was passed around.
After two more batches had been devoured Warren looked up at me and it seemed he just then realized I was wearing Adam's shirt. He did his best not to chuckle. "So I take it you'll want a minute to change before we leave?"
I looked down at the shirt and sweat pants I wore then looked back at Warren with a slightly raised eyebrow. "Are you saying there's something wrong with my clothes."
Warren chuckled. "My momma raised no fool. I'd never question anyone's choice of clothin." The amusement in his eyes made me wonder what choice of clothing Kyle had worn to put that much amusement in Warren's eyes. "Besides darlin', you're your own boss, you can wear whatever you want to work. However I'm sure the Boss-man might want his clothes back unscathed."
Adam chuckled now too. "Mercy can do what she likes with my clothes."
I smirked because that statement gave me too much power. "So if I were to get rid of all but your clothes except-" Then I realized Evan was listening very expectantly to what I going to say and changed my answer mid-sentence. "pants. You'd go around in just those?"
Adam chuckled again, this one was deeper and huskier than the last. He knew damn well what I'd been about to say, and the light in his eyes had goose bumps going down my back. "Go get dressed before Zee calls to demand where you are."
I flounced out of the chair with my nose up in mock snootiness. "I am my own boss, and it's Saturday. I can go in when I want." But I belied those words by heading upstairs to change with the three of them laughing at my retreating back. Even I couldn't help the grin on my own face. On the other hand, I thought, he didn't say no. I seriously debated stealing all his shirts the entire time I was getting dressed. When I came back down, Darryl was manning the two griddles and had a whole other stack of pancakes going. While Ben was sitting at the table with Evan who was once again talking about his toys in great detail.
Warren saw me and asked, "Ready?"
"Yep." I said good-bye to everyone else and left with Warren striding beside me. We both got into my Vagoon and made it to the shop without incident. From the cars that were rearranged in the back lot, it looked like Zee and Tad had gotten a really early start on the cars that were all still awaiting my attention. Warren and I went into the front office to see Tad. Not even two full steps in Tad looked at me and pushed a knife across the counter to me.
The weapon was easily sixteen inches long from the top of the hilt to the tip of the blade. The handle looked like it was made of bone while the sheath was made of a battered dark brown leather. The sheath looked like it had been modified fairly recently so it could be worn on a belt or even strapped to someone's leg. Several straps came off of it. Each one was the same color as the sheath, but the leather was newer and smelled faintly of werewolf.
"Go ahead and pull it out. It's very... excited to meet you."
It was Tad's choice of words that made me more wary of it. I knew enough about items that were Fae in origin, magical, and old thanks to a fairy tale book; made by a Fae about Fae. Generally speaking, any item that was all three of those things was best left alone and untouched. However, this blade felt similar to the walking stick I had once had. Or at least how it felt before I had quenched in the blood of the River Devil; not my name for it.
The blade hummed as if reminding me I still hadn't said hello to it. Cautiously, I touched the hilt, that I was suddenly very sure was bone. Smooth bone warmed against my skin and gave me the sensation of satisfaction as well as purring. Though the knife neither moved nor made a sound.
"What's with the knife?" Warren asked from behind me. I had actually forgotten he was there. "Are you going to just hold it or take it out?"
I nodded and pulled the leather sheath down. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting but it certainly not what I found. Like Tad had said the blade was silver, but somehow the blade shone like a mirror. The whole thing was completely devoid of tarnished or dirt. Seeing my reflection in the blade was a little startling. Maybe that was partially because it was my reflection followed by bone, almost as if my face had erupted from it. Then suddenly there was a weird sensation that felt like my fingers were shocked. But instead of hurting it felt more like laughter, as if the knife was very happy with me.
Tad eyed the blade. "She likes you a lot."
Warren looked between the two of us . "I feel like I missed something."
Tad smiled at him in his usual cheery manner and with that same smile said, " A woman left the this knife here for Mercy to use to protect the woman's son from the Shadow." He said it with proper emphasis on the Shadow. "Then a man came in looking for whom I assume was that very same woman ad he used some kind of strange magic to prevent me and my father from remembering his face."
Warren looked at Tad for a moment then he swore. It was a sentiment I whole-heartedly agreed with.
Zee came into the front office and grumbled about people standing around when there was work to be done. I took that as my queue and slid the knife back into its sheath. I almost left it there except I got the feeling the blade would sneak its way back to me. It took only a second to strap the weapon to my leg, and I could have sworn I heard it chuckle in satisfaction.
"Mercy, I'll wait out here with Tad." Warren called after me.
Tad looked mildly offended. "I don't need a baby-sitter."
Warren smiled. "Mercy says the same thing. But before you get upset, keep in mind I remember you taking on a volcano god. I know who to hide behind."
Tad grinned.
