Until now.
Susan gave him a sympathetic smile. "I take it you and Acheron aren't on the best of terms."
"You think?" Nick looked around the room as if trying to place it. "Where am I?"
Ravyn exchanged an awkward glance with Susan before he answered. "Seattle."
Nick frowned in her direction. "And who's she?"
Something about that look and his tone greatly perturbed her. "You know, I am right here in the room, not outside looking in, and to answer your question, I'm a Squire."
"Bully for you," he said coldly. Nick curled his lip. "What's the date?"
Ravyn felt a stab of reluctance go through him. From his past when he was a member of the Omegrion, he knew that Savitar's home, which was a floating island, existed outside of traditional time. Nick most likely had no idea how long he'd been gone or, more to the point, what had been happening in New Orleans over the last few months. "June 3, 2006."
Nick's mouth dropped. "I'm missing almost two years of my life."
"No, Nick," Ravyn said quietly. "You're missing two years of your death."
He grew quiet at the reminder.
"Let me get Dorian," Susan said, her blue eyes filled with sympathy for a man she didn't even know. "I'm sure he has some place to put you." But before she could move, the back door opened to show Otto coming in with a large box in his arms.
He took one look at Nick and froze in place.
Time hung still as the two men faced each other with a shared look of stunned shock. It was obvious that they never thought they'd see each other again.
Nick was the first to recover himself. "Otto? What are you doing here?"
"Me? I thought you were dead..." He set the box down as he approached Nick like a man seeing a ghost for the first time. He offered Nick his hand and when he took it, Otto pulled him against his chest for a man hug.
When they pulled apart, Otto's gaze narrowed on the bow and arrow tattoo on Nick's face. "Jesus, it's true. You are a Dark-Hunter."
Nick's features hardened as if he hated that fact. "Why are you in Seattle?"
"I-uh... I got transferred up here."
"Why?"
A veil fell over Otto's face. Ravyn had to give him credit, he had the best poker face he'd ever seen. Otto, along with a whole crew of New Orleans Squires, had been evacuated out of the city just before Katrina hit. Since then, they'd been slowly moving back to Louisiana, with Otto, Tad, and Kyl being the last to go. They'd been kept here a little longer while the New Orleans Council recouped. Not to mention that the Daimons hadn't been very active there since the hurricane.
"Council's orders," Otto said in a bland tone.
Nick nodded as if in understanding.
Otto's brow furrowed as he continued to stare at Nick like he was a bad science experiment. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm supposed to train him," Ravyn said.
The poker face slipped as Otto's jaw went slack. "You?"
"Apparently."
"What about Ash?"
Nick cursed. "He's recused himself." There was so much tension in the air that it was tangible.
"We need to find Nick some place to sleep," Susan said, trying to alleviate the unspoken hostility.