“Shaney,” Hudson said softly. He was either really good at faking, or the concern plastered on the man’s face was genuine.
Shaney shook his head.
“What’s this energy you’re speaking of?” The white-haired man glanced sideways at Hudson, who ignored his inquiry. Guess that left Shaney to answer.
“When I stepped into that fucking circle—which I heard you’re responsible for drawing—thanks by the way—something happened. Caleb said some kind of energy entered my body. Captain Liar over there told me I’d been electrocuted.” Shaney ignored the hurtful look Hudson gave him. “There were some freaky side effects, so my friend Todd ‘hooked’ me up”—Shaney sniffed as he made the air quotes—“with his friend Caleb who then got his kicks out of chaining me to a wall and pretty much trying to kill me with geometry. Funny coincidence because geometry class almost killed me in high school, too.”
Shaney thought he saw a smirk tugging at Hudson’s lips. Damn, if that man didn’t push all his buttons. Unfortunately, Hudson had pushed the biggest one of all. Shaney was tired of being someone’s toy, a thing to use and toss aside. This time Shaney was doing the tossing first, and didn’t that just rip a hole in his heart and spill his blood all over the floor? Hurt like hell.
Silas chuckled, shaking his head. Shaney was glad he could provide the creepy man some amusement. “Stupid fool. Caleb has no idea what he’s dealing with. You see, Shaney, this meeting has been fated for over nineteen years. Predestined on that day in September. Right here in this very barn, in this very room. Quite poetic, actually, since this is the very place of our first meeting.”
Shaney frowned and crossed his arms. “I’ve never met you before the diner.” Shaney would have remembered ever meeting the elderly version of Lurch from the Addams Family. That was one of his favorite shows.
“Oh, but we have. I remember it well.” Silas raised a crooked, knobby finger to his chin and looked past Shaney. “Lovely fall day. September 18th, 1993.”
Shaney could feel his brow furrow. “That was the day I was born.”
A fond, gleeful look covered Silas’ face and softened his hard eyes. “I was not only there, lad, but I was the first one to hold you in my arms. Such a tiny miracle. So much like my own son. God rest his soul. I named you for him.”
Shaney wondered if his expression mirrored the confused disbelief that he saw on Hudson’s face. What Kool-Aid had this lunatic been drinking? Shaney had heard enough.
“Yeah, you believe what you need to buddy. I’m just gonna head out of this insane asylum.”
Before Shaney could move a muscle, Silas said, “It will kill you, and I’m the only person on this entire planet with the knowledge to help you. Only I know what powerful forces are contained within you, and only I can teach you to take control, to use that power, instead of being destroyed by it. And when your mind is finely tuned, you will be the most powerful being in the world, the universe. You need me.”
Shaney shook his head. “In your dreams.”
Silas raised an eyebrow. “Such a recalcitrant son I have. If I had been able to raise you, a firm hand would have cured you of that. Hyrum was so short-sighted when he took you away from me.”
“Stop saying that. You’re not my father! You know that. You know my mother and you knew my father apparently, too. You’re crazy.” The entire conversation made Shaney want to throw up. His father had died, had been taken from him, and he sure as hell didn’t need a replacement. “I don’t even look like you.” Thank God.
Silas stiffened, and Shaney cringed at the vehement look that crossed the man’s aged face. “You can deny what you will, but, in the end, the truth remains.”
Shaney scowled. “Your version of the truth. Everyone keeps telling me shit they think they know, and I’ve had enough shit to last a lifetime from e-ve-ry-one,” Shaney stressed, looking directly at Hudson.
The man’s shoulders hunched and his face paled. Shaney wondered if Hudson was going to throw up, too. He could puke on Shaney and then they’d be even.
Shaney swore he saw Hudson mouth the words, “Baby, no.” But he’d never been much of a lip reader.
Shaney closed his eyes, fighting back the clawing need to race into Hudson’s warm embrace and escape the madness. Fuck, he’d lost big time, again.
He turned to Silas. “How about the Cliffs Notes version of why you were there the day I was born?” Shaney asked losing what little patience he’d had left.
“Well, there’s a little problem with that,” Silas said with a toothy grin.