Jericho Lott - Chapter 18 (Patreon)

Of all the things I’d imagined he’d ask for, that one had never crossed my mind. I’d imagined him demanding money, or for me to steal some rare painting he wanted, or even a favor. Coming for what sounded like a sleepover, though? I couldn’t make sense of the request, let alone why he’d ever want such a thing. It had no obvious value. I was, at best, something of a natural antagonist to him. At worst, I was exactly the kind of person that would probably kill him one day, for some offense or another. Jessie and I traded a confused look, which we both then turned on Corban. He gave us a bemused smile.

“Why?” He asked, naming our thoughts.

I nodded. “It does beg the question.”

“No one ever comes here, except to ask questions. Oh, they’re grateful for the answers and reward me for them. They also can’t wait to leave.”

“Why us?” Jessie prompted.

He gave her a perplexed look. “Because you’re interesting. Because there’s no subterfuge. I know where I stand with both of you. I’m perfectly comfortable with honest dislike. It’s refreshing. I’ll guarantee your safety, body, mind, and soul. You’ll be here under formal truce. Even I wouldn’t violate that.”

I knew damn well that Gran would hate this deal. Her feelings about the Corrupted Oracle had been made plain. On the other hand, it seemed like a small enough price to pay. I looked over at Jessie. It wasn’t enough for me to be on board with all of it. She gave Corban a long, hard look. He met her gaze without trouble, which seemed to satisfy her. She looked at me.

“I’m game if you are,” she said.

“Alright,” I said, “one favor, one kiss, and one day a year. Deal.”

Corban smiled at the two of us. It probably should have been creepy, but he just seemed pleased. He nodded as he walked over to his desk. He opened a drawer and retrieved a notebook that he flipped open. He grabbed a pen, seemingly at random, and began rapidly sketching in the notebook. Even from my chair, I could see he was drawing a man’s face. He worked for five minutes before lifting the pen and studying the portrait. He scribbled at the bottom of the page and tore it loose from the notebook. He held it out and Jessie took it from him. She glanced at it before she passed the picture to me. I studied the picture. For a five-minute sketch done with a ballpoint pen, there was a chilling amount of life in that image. It showed a square-jawed man in his prime. The eyes almost smoldered with raw power. I kept waiting for him to open his mouth and speak to me. His hair was cut short and looked to be professionally styled. Scribbled under the picture was the name Pierce Carter.

“Right now, he’s in Los Angeles,” said Corban, and then lifted a hand. “He’ll be gone before you can get there. He’ll be in Seattle briefly tomorrow, then a few other places, Boise, Salt Lake City, but your best chance to intercept him will be in Denver, three days from now. He’ll be flying in, oh, early afternoon. Around two, I think.”

Jessie made a face. “You think?”

Corban gave her a glare. “Do I criticize how you stir your cauldron?”

“I don’t have a cauldron,” Jessie huffed, “but point taken.”

“There,” said Corban, “I’ve fulfilled my side of our bargain. Now, it’s time for you to fulfill your side, witch.”

Jessie looked a little taken aback. “Right now?”

“Yes, my dear. Right now.”

Jessie glanced at me.

“You said you would,” I offered.

She blew out a breath and then stood, unconsciously smoothing her shirt and straightening her jacket before she noticed she was doing it. She gave her hands the same look you might give a traitor. Corban glided around the desk on silent feet, his motions impossibly graceful. He stepped right inside Jessie’s personal space and looked down at her. She didn’t step back, but she didn’t look as certain about the whole idea as she had when she agreed to it. Corban reached out and cupped the back of her head in his hand. Jessie flushed. Then he leaned in and kissed her, long and deep. After a second or two, I started to get uncomfortable as Jessie got caught up in the moment, her mouth working against Corban’s. I wasn’t big on public displays of affection at the best of times. I reminded myself that, technically speaking, we weren’t in public. I just felt that way because I was the third wheel in the room. I got very uncomfortable when she reached up and grabbed a fistful of his hair. I looked away when she slid a hand around and grabbed his ass. That was definitely not a kiss meant for public consumption. I heard a crackling noise and whipped my head around to look at them again. There were literal sparks jumping between the two. That escalated into tiny incandescent lightning strikes that surrounded the two of them like an electrical halo that threatened to set the room on fire.

“Holy shit,” I whispered.

They didn’t notice and, fortunately, they also didn’t set the room on fire. By the time they split apart, Jessie was breathing heavily, and Corban’s cheeks were flushed. He smiled at her and even offered a little bow.

“There,” he said. “That wasn’t so bad, now, was it?”

Jessie didn’t miss a beat. “Nobody ever said being evil made you a bad kisser.”

“No, I suppose no one ever did,” he said with a little laugh, and then he looked at me. “You’ve both come a long way. If you’ll take it, I’d offer you my hospitality for the night. It won’t prevent you from getting where you need to be, should you stay.”

I hesitated, but Jessie answered. “Much appreciated.”

“Um,” I said.

“The bargain is struck,” she said. “He can’t collect if he harms us.”

Corban eyed Jessie up and down. “I do so love smart women. She’s quite right, young man. I’d only be harming myself if I damaged you now. You can’t collect favors from dead men. Usually.”

With my curiosity piqued, I could resist the urge to ask the question. “Usually?”

“Special circumstances. Trust me, they don’t apply here. Unless you’re a god and it slipped my notice.”

“Oh,” I said, trying to wrap my head around that. “Nope. Not a god.”

“I thought not. Come. I’ll show you to your rooms,” he said, walking us out into the hallway and taking us to an elevator.

We stepped onto the elevator that appeared at almost the moment Corban hit the button. There was music playing. It was unfamiliar, composed largely of what sounded like a lone harp. I glanced up at the speaker but didn’t ask. Corban pressed the button for the third floor and the elevator started moving up silently.

“There’s someone in the kitchen around the clock if you get hungry. Press two on your room phone and they’ll bring up whatever you like, assuming it’s in stock.”

I smirked at Jessie. “You should feel right at home.”

She cheerfully gave me the middle finger and said, “Blow me.”

Corban gave us an amused look. “Language is so much more colorful now than when I was your age.”

I studied his face. He didn’t look that old, just into his thirties if I was guessing. “When was that?”

His brow furrowed. “1100 BC, give or take. It gets fuzzy. You keep changing the calendars on me.”

I was stunned by this revelation. Had I casually threatened some kind of god and not even known it? That wasn’t a heartwarming thought. I seriously needed to start doing more research before visiting people I didn’t know. Jessie gave me a look full of sudden comprehension.

“No wonder he’s such a good kisser. He’s had three thousand years to practice.”