Ravyn gaped at the name that was meaningless to Susan.
"Nick Gautier? The New Orleans Squire who went missing?"
Savitar gave him a droll look. "He's obviously not missing. Open your eyes, man. He's standing right in front of you."
Ravyn scowled. "No offense, Savitar, but this is a really bad time. I'm kind of in the middle of a situation here."
"Yeah, I know. You're basically screwed. But Nick can actually help you with this matter. Not to mention the fact that you're missing a Dark-Hunter. He can be the replacement. "
"Can I ask one question?"
Savitar gave a heavy sigh. "I know you, Ravyn. I've known you for centuries, and Nick is a special member of this world. There's no one else I would trust to train him."
Ravyn wanted to protest, but one thing he knew about Savitar was that he didn't like to be questioned. As he said, he tended to kill things that annoyed him, and questions definitely annoyed him.
Savitar moved to stand beside Nick. "You've been entertaining, Gautier. At least most of the time. And you play a mean-ass game of pool. Before I leave you, I have two quick things I want you to keep in mind. One, stay away from the Charonte demons. They're really bad for you."
Nick didn't appear amused by his words of advice. "And the second?"
A wave of energy peaked in the room as Savitar's face lost all humor. "Is the life you seek to take worth the one you could one day create?"
Nick scowled. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You'll learn." There was something in Savitar's eyes that looked like regret as he clapped Nick on the back. "Remember, Nick, there are only two people in the universe I care for... and you're not one of them."
"Damn," Ravyn said, with a hint of humor. "Savitar, that's cold."
Savitar took that in stride. "No one has ever accused me of being anything else. For good reason, I might add."
Ravyn nodded. That was certainly true. He glanced to Susan, who seemed to be completely subdued by Savitar's presence. "Before you go, can I ask one last question?"
"You can ask."
"Do you know where Acheron is?"
Savitar answered without hesitation. "Yes."
He waited for Savitar to continue. When he didn't, Ravyn prompted him, "And where would that be?"
"He's tied up at the moment."
"Tied up how?"
"Double-knotted to a bedpost, not that it's any of your business. That boy was always too trusting for his own good. You'd think by now he'd know better. But no. He's got to be stupid. Personally, I'd tie the bitch up, muzzle her, and ride her around the room with spurs on, but no one ever asks my opinion, do they? No. What do I know? I'm only omniscient."
Was any of that supposed to make sense? Before Ravyn could ask anything more, Savitar vanished.
He stood there with Nick standing between him and Susan. The air around Nick was rife with anger and agitation. It was obvious the man wanted to be anywhere but here.
Ravyn released a perturbed breath. "This is awkward."
"Yeah," Nick agreed. "I'm really getting sick of being dumped on strangers."
He could just imagine. "So why isn't Acheron training you?"
Hatred flared deep in the Cajun's eyes as he curled his lip. "You'll have to ask the bastard that for yourself. Seems he's not man enough to face me after he screwed me over."
Ravyn sucked his breath in between his teeth. He only knew Nick vicariously through the Dark-Hunter bulletin boards that Nick had run as a Squire. In those days, Nick had been friendly enough, if not a bit acidic at times. Then one night, about two years ago, Nick had gone missing. No one had known what had happened to him.