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The Gift

Edward's Storyline, Chapter 8.1

copyright comidacomida 2019

I woke up at my own pace in the morning since I'd remembered to turn off the alarm before going to bed. I'd also called the voicemail for the junk yard before going to bed to let Brent know that I wasn't feeling 100% so I'd check in mid-morning to see if I could manage a half-shift. Considering it was almost 10:30 when I finally got up I was just in time to check in. Tre, who had been laying half-atop me while I slept pulled away and gave me space to do just that.

While I dialed, he commented "I enjoy laying with you, Eddie... it's relaxing and peaceful and the feel of you--"

Rather than try to listen to him and speak with Brent at the same time I held up a hand to quiet the Wolf when I got a response from the phone. While we were technically supposed to identify the junk yard before ourselves, not everyone at work had the whole phone thing down... specially not George. "This is George."

I got straight to the point. "Hey, George-- this-s Edward. I needta talk to Brent-- can ya get'im for me?"

"Sure... hold on a minute."

There was a certain casual tone we used at work, which changed the way I talked when I was around George or Roy or Carlos. Brent picked up the phone. "Hey, Ed. How are you? Feeling any better?"

I didn't use the same casual tone with Brent that I did with my coworkers. "Yeah, thanks. When do you want me in?"

There was a pause from the other end and I could hear that George was speaking but I couldn't quite make out what he was saying. Brent finally answered my question after George went quiet. "It's quiet today, Ed-- go ahead and take the rest of today to make sure you're better. If you're worried about the hours, George said you can work Friday for him. His girlfriend's son has some kind of fieldtrip thing and he'd like to join em."

Tre's ears were perked in my direction and I could tell when one twitched and he nodded that the Wolf could hear both sides of the conversation. Considering I needed the hours, the idea of picking up a day of work in exchange for the whole day off didn't seem like that bad an idea. "Okay. Tell him sure... if it's okay with you."

There was a hint of humor in his response. "I wouldn't have passed it on if it wasn't. I make changes to the schedule and--"

He paused when George said something else. I heard what sounded like him covering the receiver of the phone and muffled talking for a moment before he spoke up to me. "George said you missed a visitor that came to see you at the yard today."

I didn't exactly know how to respond to the statement; nobody I knew would have a reason to visit me at work and I definitely didn't encourage that kind of thing. Honestly, I preferred to keep my personal life and work life separately. Regardless, I didn't exactly take the time to make many friends in Cherry City. Who would have come to the junk yard looking for me. "Did he say who it was? My grandparents live a few hours away and they wouldn't--"

George said something else while I was talking and Brent passed along the info. "Well, according to George it wouldn't be a grandparent. He said something about giving you a hard time for going after jail bait."

That only confused me more. "Jail bait? I--"

Brent elaborated. "Young girl... probably fifteen or sixteen. Purple hair?"

My mind froze at the simple description, not because of how vague, but because of how exact it was in creating an image in my mind; it was the Human-looking Spirit girl... and she'd chosen to reenter my life. "Fuck."

I hadn't really meant to speak the word aloud and, by that point, Tre had already made for the living room, most likely to discuss the turn of events with the rest of my Spirits. Brent, unaware of her significance, kept things light with an almost playful tone. "Sounds like you weren't expecting her to track you down. Should I be worried?"

Although I mulled over a few possible responses to him involving playing along with the idea of her being a friend I've never been much for lies, so I kept it simple, and 'mostly' truthful. "I should. She's kind of a stalker... I told her it wouldn't work out between us and that I didn't want to get involved, but I guess she won't take 'no' for an answer."

Brent just chuckled. "Heh... teenagers. Alright, Ed-- if she comes around I'll tell her to get lost."

It wasn't a bad idea, of course, and it would have made it easy for me to duck the Spirit without having to deal with her but, at the same time, I'd already seen that she wasn't above hurting Humans. Did I really want Brent to put himself in danger unknowingly just so I'd be able to avoid her? No... no I didn't. "Nah... that's alright, Brent. If she shows up again and I'm there I'll tell her off myself."

He didn't push the issue. "Alright. Anyway, you take care, Ed and get some more rest. 7:30 tomorrow, yeah?"

"Sure. See you tomorrow, Brent."

I hung up, then stood, got dressed, and headed out into the living room into what looked like an argument between four very unhappy Spirits. Medved, who appeared to be playing peace maker between Tom and Tre, was standing between the two addressing the Rhino. "We cannot know how she found out where he worked, but it is not the Wolf's fault."

Tom wasn't willing to let his anger go. "No... not for her appearing at his place of work, but for the distraction. Now is not the time for--"

The argument came to an abrupt end (or, more specifically a pause) when I walked in. "I guess everyone knows that the War Spirit chick showed up at the junk yard..."

Medved stepped out from between the Rhino and Wolf and toward me. "Good morning, Edward. Yes... Treboada has informed us."

One of Tre's ears flicked and he corrected the Bear. "Tre. Edward calls me Tre now."

Tom took hold of the nearby end table and hefted it into the air, flinging it over his shoulder in a blatant display of rage. The piece of furniture stayed right where it was but a perfect Spirit replica hurtled through the air until a red furred coil caught it nimbly. The Ancient One's back undulated, rolling the table along the length of his body with an almost corkscrew-like motion until it had returned to its original place.

He set it down right over the physical version and the two merged, and then glanced to the Rhino. "Are you calm now, or will you attempt another unhelpful outburst?"

The Sentinel flopped his entire mass down onto the sofa; fortunately he didn't actually weigh anything or it would definitely have exploded. Tom's eyes finally left the Wolf and shifted to me. "What were you thinking, Edward?"

It was one of the few times he'd actually called me by name. The change was enough to get an answer out of me than my usual statement about being old enough to make my own decisions, but not enough for me to actually take it at face value. "I was thinking that it probably wasn't any of your business. What I do with--"

Medved interjected. "It is our business, Edward... we are all your Spirits. What you do is up to you, but it still affects us all."

Green wasn't very helpful, choosing that moment to take over The Ancient One's body, his forked tongue sliding from one corner of his scaled muzzle to the other. "I do not mind, but I wish to know when I get my turn."

Tom's fists shook. "Does no one here have any focus? This is about my Nehed's safety, not about an extra helping of Spirit Energy or your own private time with a Seer!"

The Bear knelt down beside the sofa, resting a hand on the Rhino's shoulder. "Then let us end the bickering and consider where to go from here rather than focusing on what is in the past. It is our duty to protect Edward, so let us do that."

Letting out a deep breath, Tom slowly nodded. "Agreed..."

Tre, who had been standing in the middle of the room nodded as well, and went to take a seat in his usual spot. "Good... I was thinking the best--"

The Rhino spoke over him. "...as soon as Edward apologizes to all of us for his actions."

I've always considered myself man enough to admit my mistakes, and acknowledging when you're wrong is a sign of maturity. I--