(BL) Hunting The Field Guide novel Chapter 443

Chapter 443: The other shoe has fallen

Kellen was wearing his Field Guide black for two reasons today.

One was in solidarity for his people who were on the front lines, and the second was because it was a black outfit and he was hoping to be able to pop in with his Dad to join the funeral. Even if it was only for a few minutes, it was something that he wanted to do, to support his family.

The funeral was happening near the end of his first class, and Charlie was also going to go to the funeral as well. That meant Kellen wasn’t planning to push him too hard today so that he wasn’t all sweaty when they both joined his Dad. He had already briefed his class yesterday on the plan for today and since they were in the simulations, they had told him to just go. A few of the Espers that hung around had said they would keep an eye on the group.

Kellen was grateful for the people around him that just stepped in, no questions asked. Kellen had a few of those kinds of relationships on the front lines, but not many had come from his colleagues, and not so easily. Kellen was beginning to see why people joined Guilds right away. This kind of reliability was addicting.

His Dad texted him, letting know when the stream was starting and Kellen, thankfully, had already sent Charlie off to take a quick shower and get into his ’black clothes’. It was a suit that Kellen’s Dad had lent him, and then they had rushed off to the elevator. They were doing it in one of the smaller conference rooms since it had the set up, and it was just easier. Rhys had offered it up this morning, and Kellen’s Dad had gratefully accepted it.

Kellen tied Charlie’s tie in the elevator so that when they arrived they were both dressed fully. Kellen’s Dad was already crying, a box of tissues nearby. It only took Kellen a few seconds to feel his own eyes water.

Aunt Dina looked...drained. Like every ounce of happiness had been drained out of her at the loss of her long time partner. Kellen couldn’t fucking blame her. The weather was either working in their favour, or a hindrance. It was raining, the sky behind them miserable. Kellen slid up on one side of his Dad, looping his arm through his while Charlie sniffled on the other side of his Dad.

"Who’s filming?" Kellen asked quietly and his Dad sniffed.

"One of her Lieutenants. You’ve met him. Jeff Parker. A good guy. He was...he was the one who introduced them." His Dad whispered carefully.

A voice spoke on the camera, and Kellen forgot that this was a live stream and that it worked both ways.

"I don’t regret it." A deep voice said. It held a lot of grief and Kellen felt his eyes water.

"You shouldn’t." Kellen’s Dad tried to sound firm, but his voice was wavering. He grabbed Kellen’s hand, squeezing it for strength. "They had a beautiful relationship. I don’t know how Dina is going to recover." His Dad said and Kellen nodded. He didn’t know how she was going to do that, either. They hadn’t imprinted, but that didn’t mean anything.

Watching the shell of his Aunt Dina walk around, her age showing on her face, Kellen couldn’t stop the tears running down his face.

"Oh Aunt Dina." Kellen murmured and his Dad squeezed his hand again.

"She’ll be okay. We won’t let her..." His Dad gulped. His eyes watering, spilling over. The white pressed dress shirt he was wearing underneath his black suit was already stained, soaked with his tears. Kellen knew what he was saying, what he was trying to say. A thick, hard bulb stuck in Kellen’s throat.

"We won’t let her make a stupid decision." Lieutenant Parker said. "We’re keeping an eye on her, and helping her track down the fuckers who did this." His voice was dark, low, and a little unhinged. Aunt Dina’s Guild was probably pissed. Aunt Dina before this had been relatively hands off. Her Guild had focused less on the monster side of things and worked more on ways to advance their society through the findings inside of gates. They were researchers, inventors, with so many life benefitting patents under their belts that they didn’t have to do anything else.

However, Aunt Dina was a good person. She only patented her things so that she could tell ’bad guys’ to go fuck themselves. She didn’t like monopolies and used her power for good in that regard. She was a good, good person. This couldn’t have happened to the worst person.

A cell phone dinged and the three of them heard Lieutenant Parker curse.

"Sorry. One sec." The angle shifted as the man grabbed his phone to check it. He wouldn’t have left his phone sound on for just any alert. Kellen’s Dad clearly thought the same.

"It’s okay, Jeff. Take your time." His Dad murmured and then they heard him swear.

"Oh fuck." That wasn’t a good thing.