I lay out the whole truth about banishing demons to Cody as clearly as possible. I can see this answer doesn't reassure him; it only clarifies that he's powerless in this situation. He occasionally twirls the handle of his cup, listening intently to everything I'm saying. When I finish, I glance at him.
"So, I'm completely helpless. All that's left is to wait until one of them kills me," he says, his voice bitter.
I struggle to respond. In part, he's right. But saying so would be too harsh.
"Cody, demons are terrifying, but that's why we're here. Our main task is to hunt them," I say, hoping to offer him a glimmer of hope.
Unfortunately, my words seem to make things worse. Cody's head jerks up, his eyes flashing with anger, distrust, and despair. He takes a deep breath, as if barely restraining himself from an outburst.
"I can't just sit here, hoping you and your friends always show up on time. I don't want to die doing nothing, waiting for some rescue that might never come," he says, his voice low but intense, making sure only I can hear him.
I understand his position completely, but there's nothing else I can tell him. I don't have a magical solution for this unique situation either.
"I know," I sigh. "But you're still here, right? You said demons have been chasing you for a while. It doesn't have to end like this."
Cody looks into my eyes, and I notice a strange glint. It takes a moment to realize he's holding back tears. He quickly turns away, staring into the distance.
"Yes, I'm still alive. But not because of you, or your friends. I fought them myself. I survived, but that's all. I'm constantly running, with no end in sight."
*
Cody left the bookstore a while ago, but his words still echo in my mind. The more I think about it, the more I understand his feelings—sadness, anger, fear, despair. I understand it all more deeply than I'd like. I know how terrifying it is not to understand why certain things happen.
But for Cody, it's at least five times worse. He's just an ordinary guy who shouldn't even know such things exist, let alone face them. His life is hard, not because that's just how it is for normal people, but because he knows and sees too much.
As I wipe the counter with a cloth, I sigh deeply. I don't know how or why he ended up in this mess, but I feel immensely sorry for him.
"Still thinking about that kid?" Arthur's voice breaks my thoughts.
He's sitting on the other side of the bar, his hands resting on the countertop.
"I have to admit, yes. I can't understand why he's caught up in all this," I confess.
Arthur sighs. "That kid's life is insane. But I don't get what Balthazar expects from us either. We can't drop everything to watch over him 24/7," he says, then suddenly straightens, his eyes hardening with resolve. "I think it's time we question him a bit."
Before I can respond, Arthur closes his eyes and nearly slams his head into the bar. I catch his forehead just in time, cursing his impulsiveness. Deciding I should be there too, I quickly pull up a chair, close my eyes, and follow Arthur into the other realm, unconcerned about my own head.
When I arrive in the white room, Arthur is already questioning Balthazar. Balthazar notices me, smiles, and strides over as if Arthur isn't even there.
"Nathaniel," he greets me with a wave. "I wasn't expecting visitors today."
"I didn't plan on visiting either, but someone has to calm him down before he turns your office upside down," I reply, nodding toward my agitated colleague.
Balthazar laughs heartily and pats my shoulder. "How many times do I have to say it? This isn't an office; it's a place where two worlds meet. Bardo," he intones, emphasizing the word.
I roll my eyes. "Call it whatever you want. I work here, so it feels like an office to me," I respond, half-joking but also serious.
Balthazar just smiles and shakes his head. "Whatever you call it, what brings you here today?"
"I already told you—it's about that kid, Cody!" Arthur calls from across the room.
"Oh, right," Balthazar says as if remembering. "What about him?"
"I don't understand what we're supposed to do with him. He's neither a hunter nor a demon. Why are we responsible for him?" Arthur asks, his frustration evident.
I shoot him a glare, but he ignores it completely. Here we go again.
"I know you've already met him. I'm not sure how much he told you, but I trust you understand the gravity of the situation. For some reason, demons are after Cody," Balthazar explains.
"And? Tell us something we don't already know," Arthur interjects impatiently.
Balthazar clears his throat. "At the moment, I don't fully understand what's happening either. However, I've been instructed to keep a close eye on him and offer protection if needed. That's the directive from higher authorities. Unfortunately, they haven't disclosed any further details."
Arthur snorts, shifting in his seat. His tense posture betrays his irritation, and I don't blame him. We're both grappling with confusion, left to piece together a puzzle with no clear guidance. It's frustrating, and Arthur's reaction reflects that perfectly.
"Great. And how exactly are we supposed to manage that? We're already stretched thin as it is," Arthur presses.
"I understand your concerns," Balthazar says, his voice firm. "But you'll need to make time for this as well. It's necessary until we can find a solution. In all my years in the spirit world, I've never encountered anything like this—a human, an ordinary human, who can see demons. I have to admit, it frightens me as well."