Tide - By Daniela Sacerdoti Page 0,54

Mike.

“Jesus, another Midnight,” Niall blurted out, and everything went black once more.

26

Together We

There’s always more to things than meets the eye

Look closely and try

To read between the lines

When Niall woke again shadows were gathering in the sky and over the sea. The hall was softly lit from the stone fireplace in the middle of the main room, and by many little lamps scattered around. Sarah, Sean, Elodie and Mike were scattered on sofas and armchairs around him.

“I’m having some of that,” was the first thing Niall said, blinking and pointing at the whisky bottle on the low table in front of him.

“Sure!” Sean grinned, and grabbed the bottle to pour the Irishman a glass of the golden-coloured liquid. He had a very young face, Sean noticed, but lined, like someone who’d been through a lot. Niall sat up. It worked, this time. He managed to stay conscious and looked around him, groggy.

“Sorry about earlier, Niall,” said Elodie. Her eyes were mischievous. She didn’t look sorry at all.

“No worries. It’s nice to meet you. And a bit painful.” Niall rubbed his brow.

“It was just a small, tiny dose. You jumped on me.” She shrugged.

“You jumped on me first!”

“I didn’t recognize you. Sorry,” she repeated without a hint of regret, and she tipped her head back, smiling at him from beneath her eyelashes.

“Ah, well. Fair play to you. It was a good hit,” Niall admitted, and turned to look at Sean. “So, Sean Hannay. It’s a privilege to meet you at last, sir.”

“And you,” Sean exclaimed. He opened his arms, struggling for words, his gaze darting from Mike to Niall and back. “You’re alive. Jesus. I didn’t think … I kept hoping …” He was surprised at the wave of emotion he was feeling.

“Niall did die, actually,” Mike remarked. The light of the fire danced on his coffee-coloured skin, the terrible memory casting a shadow on his features.

“Well, sort of,” specified Niall. “I did drown, I’ll give you that, but Flynns can’t die in water, so here I am. You look terrible, Sean.”

Sean had paled hearing of Niall’s brush with death. He took hold of himself. “Now – introductions. Niall,” he said, “meet Sarah Midnight.”

“At last, Sarah!” Niall rose to his feet. To Sarah’s horror, he wrapped his arms around her. Her cheeks flamed scarlet.

“Hello,” she muttered, stiff, but after a few seconds she put her arms around him too. “So, the two of you are the mysterious friends Sean used to speak to all the time.”

“It’s us, yes,” said Mike, smiling kindly.

“What happened in Louisiana? Did they find you? Did they attack you?” asked Sean, leaning forward, impatient for details.

“We intercepted members of the Sabha talking to each other,” said Mike, shaking his head. “Harry was right. The Sabha is corrupted, Sean, there isn’t a shadow of a doubt. They were talking to each other about … about slaughter.” He shuddered. “About all the heirs they’d killed, and where, and the places they were still to hit. When we intercepted them, they sort of … saw us. A map of Grand Isle appeared on the screen, and then it zoomed in on our shack. We disconnected everything, but it was too late. They sent demons. From the sea.”

“Sort of jellyfish creatures I’d never seen before,” Niall intervened, “and I’ve seen a few sea demons. Prehistoric stuff.” He shuddered. “I hope I never cross paths with them again.”

“The Sabha are using Surari to do their bidding,” whispered Sean, horrified. “This is what it’s come to.”

“They were nasty things, I’m telling you. Had Niall not distracted them …”

“Mike would have gone the same way as me. Except he wouldn’t have come back.” Niall looked down in dismay. Sean read in his face the deep bond between them. Good. That’s what we need: loyalty. Harry was the best at creating ties between his people and nourishing them, that’s how we’re still here, his friends, still gathering around his memory.

Right at that moment, like a cold wind, Nicholas strode in. He’d gone for a walk while waiting for Niall to come to. He took in Mike and Niall’s presence and didn’t flinch, didn’t move a muscle. Sean studied his face, but he couldn’t figure out what he was thinking.

“I’m glad to see you’re awake,” he said to Niall. “Sarah told me about you,” Nicholas said. His tone was as expressionless as his face and belied the concern in his words.

“Thank you. You must be …” Mike began. Leaf. The guy with the ravens. That explains