Page 14 of Light Leech

“Kind of the same thing,” Abbas said.

“Piss off,” Boyband scoffed.

“We have to be patient with this one,” Ralia covered Boyband’s mouth. He fought, but her strength proved superior. “Real hands or not, I can still feel your tongue. I told you before that I like it. You’re staying like this until you learn to behave.”

I eyed Naoma. Both of us laughed. Relieved from the anxiety that racked us both, though temporary the reprieve would be.

“Go on,” Ralia told Denji.

He took a second to focus. Perhaps we were too much even for him. He might possess knowledge of Gong and the spirits of light, but that did not mean he had experience with them. If he was unnerved now, it would only get worse when I chose to explain Naoma’s therapist’s apparent gui-adjacent spirit.

“Right,” he said.

Ralia nodded, forcing Boyband to as well. “Go on.”

Denji smiled. “So, we need you to go to Water Hills and do as you do. Work your way up, figure out who owns whom, and so forth.”

“Zeg, you really have nothing new to offer?” Ralia said, letting go of Boyband.

Boyband spat on the ground.

Ralia kicked his shin. “Don’t make me grab you.”

“Why did we come here again?” Boyband asked. “We have what we need, unless you’re offering a place to stay.”

“Where have you been sleeping?” Abbas asked.

Boyband and Kuni looked at each other and shrugged. Boyband spoke. “Where we could.”

Naoma glared at me as if I were responsible.

“We’ve been crashing at one of Naoma’s old studios.” I said, then was quick to add, “In separate rooms.”

“Akna and I have been siphoning some lumens from one of Deleon’s old accounts to stay in a hotel.”

“I’m still in league with Haven,” Abbas said. “I’ve still got my old apartment.”

“And you didn’t at least offer your couch?” Boyband whined. He pointed at Kuni. “Look at how desperate this kid is!”

“I had no idea you were living like fixed-out bums!” Abbas defended.

“Wait.” Naoma pulled Abbas’s shoulder. “Haven’s still intact?”

Abbas tilted his head from side to side. “They’re scrambling for a foundation. After Delighty Liu’s death, now Cuttrin’s, they’re figuring out how to best proceed without public upheaval. I’m doing my best to keep things intact while keeping the blame of Cut’s death far from me. The only other witness was Nichley, and he hasn’t said anything. Then again, to do so would compromise his secretive undead state.”

“Don’t we want them to fail?“ Boyband asked.

Abbas shook his head. “Not while I have a hand in their work. If they fall, we’d have to fight to get our hand in a politically influential sphere.”

Denji was quick to work his way back into the conversation. “Which would be more difficult, noting that Entertainment is fighting for the next spot in the upcoming election. Rumors of issues with Haven Heath are arising, the public just needs enough evidence to push them into complete failure. You better figure out a way to patch up Cuttrin’s death or figure out a good excuse for it.”

“I’m working on making it some medical accident,” Ralia said.

“Wait,” Akna asked. “Entertainment? Techbone is still a problem, right?”

“Oh, it is,” said Denji, “but no one has a solution right now to keep the public hopeful. The last person to threaten Haven’s success on that front was Osteolyte, and hearing how they were connected to your little cadre, it looks like they pose no threat.”

“Then who is the new Entertainment titan?” Akna asked.