He grunted and carefully climbed down from the tank. Eli was the last one down.
“That leaves us with Aiden’s truck as transport, and it only seats five,” he said.
“Six,” Aiden said, “If you count the small holding area in the back.”
“Which I’ll preemptively assign to Monty,” Ashworth said. “Eli and I are too old.”
Monty snorted. “I like how your age very conveniently comes into it in a situation like this, but not others.”
Ashworth’s grin flashed. “You’re just annoyed that you didn’t get in first.”
“Actually no, because you’re forgetting one point—I’m the only one who can trace the first soucouyant using the second, and I need to be able to communicate directions.”
“Oh for God’s sake, I’ll get in the back,” I said. “I’m the shortest anyway, so it makes sense. Can we just get moving?”
I didn’t wait for an answer. I just turned and headed back to the truck.
“I guess hiding the younger soucouyant was a bit of a waste of time,” Monty said as he caught up with me.
“Not necessarily.” I waved a hand at the house. “I suspect you four would have ended up looking like that if you’d had her with you.”
He frowned. “The force of our combined spells around the jerry can might be waning, but they still should have been enough to stop the original from sensing the other.”
“My gut says otherwise.” I hesitated. “I really think we need to take the time to reinforce—”
“We haven’t got the time,” he cut in. “Not if we want to stop her killing someone else.”
“Yes, I know, but—”
“Liz, I won’t have the strength to track down and kill the original soucouyant if we reinforce the contained one.” His expression was grim. Determined. “If for any reason we can’t find her, then we’ll reinforce. The magic should hold up until that point.”
If it didn’t, we were all in trouble. But there was no point in saying that or arguing any further.
Ashworth squeezed my shoulder in sympathy but didn’t say anything as we moved back to the truck. Once the jerry can was retrieved from the lake, Monty wrapped a tracking spell around the container—something I felt rather than saw, thanks to my rather basic perch in the back of the truck—then started spitting out directions.
Trust me, Belle said. You’re probably better off where you are. Drenched men lead to drenched seats, and my ass is getting wetter and wetter.
I smiled. What are the restraints around the jerry can looking like?
She paused. Not good. The heat is becoming quite fierce.
But Monty’s having no trouble tracking her?
Not at the moment. She paused. I’ve got a bad feeling this is all going to go to pot, though.
It’s usually me getting the bad feelings.
I know. Her unease drifted down the line, stirring mine to life. But the soucouyant’s actions when she saw you suggests she’s not afraid of witches, and a whole lot cannier than Monty is giving her credit for.
Most older spirits are. That’s how they get old.
She chuckled softly. My spirit guides may or may not have just said something very similar.
I don’t suppose they also offered any advice when it comes to dealing with either soucouyant?
Yeah, don’t get in the way of their flames, because they’d hate to see us crisped.
Helpful. Really helpful.