Sacred Ghost-Gods

2

 His presence was presidential, an interrobang of the moment based on charismatic conviction because he was there and he was a king amongst others. There were wire frames perched on the bridge of his nose, a feature unrecognized that Agnus had been cognizant of. Though, because he could never be too discreet when it came to his appearance, he wore a blue collared shirt--Evelyn informed that it was a polo shirt and Agnus had taken the moment to brand it as Lauren Ralph's--and impeccably white cargo shorts with blue-gray loafers. His hair was parted to the side and gelled to a tousled perfection.

Donny could have cared less of who he was, because if she wasn't informed, then it wasn't important enough to be known. But this was prior, because Agnus had mentioned the elephant in the room, and it was now apparent that she had to be versed of the obvious. Evelyn and Agnus already knew of who he was and were tumultuary to the fact that Donny didn't, so they filled her in.

Richard Campbell Gansey the Third was the son of Richard Campbell Gansey the Second who was the son of Richard Campbell Gansey the First. He was the son of a running Republican, his mother of whom neither Evelyn nor Agnus knew the first name of and instead addressed her as Mrs. Gansey the Third. He was a presidential candidate for the all-American dream-boy; was born rich and would most likely die rich as well. He was a student at Aglionby and Agnus's third and fifth-period classmate. He was obsessed with Welsh kings, and to this, Donny was very interested.

"But the thing is," Agnus continued, his gaze shifting to and from where Gansey stood by the front counter, "Gansey's been pretty open about his search for Glendower, about his research on the ley lines. But that was sophomore year, and now? He's completely shut up about it."

While Evelyn gulped down her Coke and slid the napkin Donny had drawn on earlier so she could see what was on it, Agnus eyed Gansey with doubtful scrutiny, his eyebrows drawn to form a crease between them. Donny stared out the window, ignoring when Evelyn lifted her head up to glower at her from across the table. Outside, standing out like a sore thumb compared to all the used Buicks and Toyotas and Jeeps and Nissans in the parking lot, was a timeworn Camaro. It was a dusky orange with two black bands parallel with each other down the hood and extending to the back.

Donny didn't know anything about cars, but her attraction towards antique equities established a sort of euphoric estate that left her wishing she hadn't wrecked her previous vehicle with the intention of an adrenalin-pumped high. Company names and structural dates didn't have to be memorized in order to floor the gas pedal.

Then she noticed that were people sitting in the car. At least, it looked as if they could be people. It was difficult to distinguish when she didn't have her glasses on. Something that had the mild feature of an arm was hooked outside of the back window, a shoulder that was attached to a dark body hidden in the shadow of the car, a face that was indistinguishable to make out--mottled by myopia. There was movement beyond that. So there was more than one person sitting back there?

Evelyn's voice brought Donny's attention to her. "Can you not while I'm trying to talk? Have your staring contests another time, but this is important."

She deemed it best to shelve her focus for the nonce and turned her mind to the matter of Evelyn, who presented a brighter picture of her absentmindedness. "What did you say? And I wasn't staring."

"I was asking," Evelyn pressed, "whether you've drawn anything lately."

"Why? I thought we were talking about Dick the Third, and how is that important?"

"Because."

Agnus, now insouciant and debonair, said, "We were, but you kept looking at someone in that car. Do you know them?"

"No?" Donny's diction marked her query tone. "Was there someone in there?"

"Jesus," Evelyn said. "How blind are you without your glasses?"

"Blind enough."

Without foregoing any acknowledgement, a party-size platter of half cheese and half combo pizza was settled between the three of them. The hand that had laid it out was brought to the attention of Blue, her apron now removed, a sumptuous grin playing at the corners of her lips.

"On the house," she said. "From Dick the Third."

The assumption that Blue had overheard their conversation had the tips of Donny's ears turning pink. But their apprehension was clutched to that of who stood beside her, a concession of wonder slick to the arc of his eyebrows, all their sagacity sharp towards the king.

Richard Gansey held up his hand in a gracious, halted wave. "Afternoon," he said. "Although I would love to prattle, I really must be leaving." He turned to Blue. "Jane, shall we go?" His accent was passive, a non-rhotic of Tidewater, the way the old of the South spoke.

The corners of Blue's lips curled ever so slightly and her eyes were lidded, chin tilted up. When the two of them turned to head out the front entrance, she glanced back at their table and gave a curt wave before Henrietta's warm breeze hissed by them and they were swept into the dog days of West Virginia.

Evelyn leaned back. "Shit, man. Shots fired." She grabbed a slice of combo and took a bite of the tip. "I 'ink we up'et 'im."

Between the Scouse and the chewing, Donny couldn't understand a word she was saying, but Agnus did, if ever so, and replied, "I don't think so. If he was upset, he would've been a lot more discreet. I think he's just being cautious."

"Cautious of what?" Donny asked. From her peripheral vision she saw Gansey and Blue walk to the orange Camaro, he opened the driver's side while she got in on the passenger's. They pulled out of Nino's parking lot in a clamor of muffled indignant music and a billow of churned dust.

Agnus took the last swig of his milk and shimmied a couple slices of cheese pizza free and onto his plate. "From what I recall, his search for Glendower. There's some big secret to him finding it, and I'm sure he wouldn't want us interfering."

"Whatever," Evelyn said. She hadn't eaten her crust and took another slice. "We got free pizza. I call this a win."

A win for what, Donny wasn't sure, but she followed suit and chowed down with her friends until the elderly couple behind them discussed their evening plans, insisting they leave within the next fifteen minutes because that was when they had to meet Angie and the kids. The three of them agreed to settle their meeting for now and left Nino's Diner.