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Kult grinned. “Feeling’s mutual. See you swamp scoundrels soon.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Hey! Mon frere!”
Bishop turned, recognizing Kult’s unmistakable tenor, finding the waving arm ahead in the small clearing. They made their way to the approaching brothers from estranged mothers that were continuously becoming more interesting and less threatening. That tug he always got in his gut when in the North Swamp was more present than ever. After learning what 8-Bit discovered on Rukem’s Dream Bridge, he had to wonder if these Creole Kings and the band of men before him somehow shared bio-signatures with him. Like a part of his family, he hadn’t met yet.
Bishop spotted a lil’ T-Bagio bundle in Kult’s right gun but the man’s eyes and grin were fully zeroed in on the containers of food they carried.
“Mah-Mah loaded us up,” Bishop announced.
Kult laughed in delight, angling his head at the trail of men behind him, hauling half the damn kitchen. “Well, hot damn,” he said, holding out his hand to Bishop. “I’ll bring Garbagio over tomorrowand thank her properly. He’s like the goddamn prince of the world,everybodyloves him.”
Bishop had to laugh at his obsession as he shook his hand, nodding at the baby. “I see he’s working with the men tonight.”
“Indeed,” he said. “In training. From the day he was born.”
The rest of the men exchanged greetings then followed them back to their place which turned out to be an open room the size of their Basilique with tables scattered everywhere. Maybe a study hall. Or lunchroom, though he didn’t see signs of a kitchen.
The room filled with laughter and murmurs about swamp life as they unpacked everything and got their northern brothers settled with food. He really did wish they were meeting for different reasons than they were. Everything seemed to be falling on their heads at once and he was gripping his faith with hands, feet and teeth.
He glanced at Seer, finding that serene look on his face still. He was his spiritual compass. As long as he wore that look, everything was okay. But he knew they were on a timer and sooner rather than later, his face would forecast trouble. And maybe it wouldn’t be doom, but it would be something heneverwanted to face.
Bishop found himself watching the triplets. Their eerie unison was something to behold even while eating. Symbiotic. He turned his attention toKult and T-Bagio. The memory of what happened to him at the last meeting had left a scar. The things he’d said. He’d wanted to ask one of them about the shit he’d said regarding the death of his entire family. Was that fucking real? It would surely explain how he ended up with those three personalities in his head. And what had he given to those triplets that he’d forgotten? Harlow was right. And Pain and Handy. Some things were better left forgotten. And if there was something worse than the tragedy he’d already suffered, then leave it fuckingburiedas deep as they could.
He recalled what Seer told him.Never experienced the power of God quite like it. It exploded through me and shot right into him. Had to hold on with both hands to keep the connection.
Bishop asked Samuel if he was allowed to say what he’d seen in the man. He’d never forget his answer, only because it took him a full minute to quit sobbing to give it.I wasn’t shown any details, brother. I was made tofeelthem. His past. His pain. His purpose. He’s here for many reasons and some of them will shred him. Some will shred us. I didn’t know it at the time, but God showed me later, it wasn’t just him that was touched. But that sweetbaby. His purpose is tangled up so tight in that man’s you can’t see where one begins and the other ends. All I know is… in the end, God wins. And son… that’sallI need to know.
Seer said he needed to touch all his brothers now, but was waiting for the right moment. Like not in the middle of one of Mah-Mah’s grand slam parties just in case they all had similar lives, and something told him they did.
Bishop wasn’t initially sure what drew him to Kult, but now he did. He’d always been drawn to those in some kind of trouble. Part of his fix it nature. His find a way nature. And if he couldn’t do that, it went to hiscreate a waynature.
He sure as hell needed every bit of that nature now. Which brought him back to thebat bitedecision he needed to make. There was something that didn’t sit right with him about it. He’d been over the details in his head a hundred times, trying to divide his fears from hard logic. Everything about it said it was fine. But… something in him said otherwise. He intended to talk to Seer about it that night, maybe when this mysterious meeting was over. All he was told was they had more problems that needed their immediate attention and so they packed it up and headed over. That was the new norm. Dropping anything and everything to deal with whatever the fuck needed dealing with.
Bishop took a seat next to Kult, checking in on T-Bagio. “I can hold him if you want to eat with both hands.”
“Mmm, brother,” he said, turning in his seat. “I don’t trust many people with him. Count yourself goddamn blessed,” he muttered.
Bishop grinned as they made the delicate handoff, his heart beating way too fast as he took the tiny thing and looked at his angelic face. “Mon Dieu, he’s sleeping like the dead in all this racket,” he marveled quietly. “Shaaaaa, peechay, he’s t-tiny.
“You want to know something funny?” Kult said, pulling out his phone. “I used to have a serious aversion to kids. I didn’t hate them, just didn’t like being around them, which is odd since they’re the most puzzling little fucks you ever laid eyes on. And now?” He held his phone toward him and he couldn’t hold back his laugh at the collection of T-Bagio pics. “Look at this,” he strained, scrolling on and on and on. He hit one, enlarging it. “I’m taking selfies with him!" he whispered, astonished. “I’m telling you, this kid hassuperpowers. And the second he’s old enough and it’s safe, I want to discuss his upgrade with your Alchemist. I trust him. I want him to have every defense possible,” he said quietly. “Because in this world, he’ll fucking need it.”
“Wow,” Bishop said, shaking his head, looking at the baby. “You’ve got more balls than I do. I can barely stand the idea of my wife leaving the house, I’m so protective.”
“Pretty sure you’reexactly,like me, you just express it differently.God, your Mah-Mah is my newfavorite woman, don’t tell Mary. Or your Pah-Pah,” he said, lifting the bowl and drinking the rest of his gumbo.
Bishop aimed his grin back at the baby. “I still can’t believe you found this precious little thing in a trashcan.”
He stuffed an entire fresh bread roll in his mouth, answering around it. “Kaphas and my other three brothers and their wives,” he added. “Found him.”
Wow. How miraculous and heartbreaking. “And he wasstillalive.”
“Just barely.” Bishop glanced up, finding one of the triplets eyeing him with his arms crossed on the table. “Kaphas brought him back from the other side.”
From the other side. What did that mean to somebody like him? Aspirit,they’d called themselves. The memory of Kaphas screaming and holding his dead wife in his arms returned to stab him in the chest.
Laughter erupted at the table, getting their attention.
