Mythical Link ▸ Link Neal {Book One}

Twenty Seven

     Rhett face palmed at the carelessness of Link's thinking. Link was typically thorough when it comes to his thought processes, and that alone was enough to convince Rhett that something was seriously wrong with him. "You realize we're going to have to make dinner incredibly awkward so we can get out on time to stop a girl from turning into a werewolf, right?"

     Link shook his head, his chin wrinkled and his brow furrowed like he wanted to cry. "I'm just screwing everything up! What's the use!" He buried his face in his hands.

     Rhett looked at Link with concern and leaned toward him. "Pull yourself together, Neal. You're a hell of a lot stronger than you're giving yourself credit for."

     Link pulled away from his hands to glare at Rhett. "You're biased! An average joe looking at me would label me clinically insane. I have this stupid 'gift' that I never even asked for, I just found out that werewolves actually freaking exist, and now I'm putting our families in danger because I'm too stupid to even think clearly—"

     "Hey, you stop that nonsense talk right now! You are not stupid! Yes, you're not thinking clearly, but that's because of your gift. Yes, it's a gift man and you need to embrace it. Look at it with a different perspective. If Charles Lincoln Neal III didn't have this gift, how many lives would be at stake? Our families? Whether you want to believe it or not, you are protecting our families."

     Link pulled his wedding band off of his finger and twirled it between his index finger and thumb. "We have to call this off. We can't have Jessie and your kids come over Sunday night—"

     Rhett shook his head in disagreement. "We'll find another way to keep them safe. If we suddenly call this off, they're going to suspect that something is up. Especially Christy. I'm sure she's already noticed that your car hasn't been in the driveway since last night."

     Link looked up suddenly. "My car! Oh crap, I forgot all about my car! We have to go get my car!" Link fell out of his seat and stumbled to his feet. 

     Rhett rose to his feet gently and took Link by the shoulders. "Alright we'll go get your car, but you have to promise me that you're going to be okay man. I'm really worried about you." Rhett searched Link's eyes with desperation. Link sucked his bottom lip into his mouth and all he could do was nod his head. 

     That wasn't enough to console the storm that raged within Rhett, the one that tore through his insides with conflicting emotions like a tornado through a trailer park. "No brother, come on. Promise me." He gave Link a little shake.

     "I promise," Link stuttered. 

     Rhett heaved a sigh of relief. "Let's go get your car." 

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     As Rhett was driving, he had asked Link to explain a little more about the full worm moon. Mainly because he wanted to distract Link to keep him from becoming his own demon, but also out of sheer curiosity and how that would play into them stopping Terra.

     "The full worm moon is at the beginning of March. What happens on the full worm moon is that the earthworms rise from the soil of the earth to the surface in the wake of Spring. It's a chance for them to manifest, much like the werewolf that'll be manifesting in my childhood acquaintance." 

     Rhett pressed his lips together as he appeared to be deep in thought. "We need a plan. We can't just show up on her doorstep with solar lights in our hands like baseball bats and say, 'hey it's the full moon and you're turning into a werewolf and if you try to hurt us we're going to electrocute you with solar energy.'" Rhett's comedic light shone through bright as a diamond and it drew a chuckle out of Link.

     Link had to admit that Rhett had a good point. She would look at the two of them like they'd just told her she had actually taken residence in space instead of on planet earth and call the police. He took a few minutes to deliberate. He wanted to force himself to think more clearly this time, without putting him or his friend in immediate danger. "Let's try talking to her first. We'll ease her into the topic with our smooth talk, and hopefully she won't go werewolf on us and rip our throats out." 

     Rhett nodded his head. "Good plan." He didn't sound convinced in the slightest bit but in all honesty, there was really nothing else they could do. They pulled up in front of Terra's place and Link's car was right where he had left it. He jingled his keys in his coat pocket and stared at his car, unable to swallow. Unable to blink. Memories flooded his conscious of the discovery they'd made and that was all he could think about. "I'll follow you to your house to make sure you make it home safe, then I gotta get home to Jessie and the kids."

     Link could only nod his head before he brushed his fingers against the handle of Rhett's door.