“I brought it,” Ethan tells me and starts the Jeep, turning up the heat. He doesn’t try to start a forced conversation or tell me how things are going to be okay on the short drive to the barn, and it’s one of the things that he just gets about me.
“Let me check things out before you get out,” Ethan says, and as soon as he opens the door, Hunter shifts into his black shadow spirit form and moves out of the Jeep.
Definitely didn’t imagine that.
Rain is still falling, forcing the chill to set deeper in my bones. I curl my fingers into my palms, feeling heat prickle my fingertips. Not wanting to set the barn on fire, I get out of the Jeep and close my eyes, letting rain fall on my face.
When I open my eyes, Bob is only a few feet from me, staring off into space.
“Dammit, Bob,” I mutter, jumping once again. Little embers fall from my hands, sizzling as soon as they hit the wet gravel. Hunter shadows over, shifting back into dog-form. He can see Bob too and lets me know he doesn’t think he’s posing any risk.
“Where are your keys?” Ethan asks.
“I left them in the car,” I say with a shrug. Bad idea, I know, but it’s not like I cared at the moment, and I’m still finding it hard to care. My car getting stolen is nothing compared to losing your life. “I’m going to check on Mystery.”
“I assumed you would.” Ethan takes my hand and Hunter runs ahead, waiting for us by the door. Everything is quiet and as it should be in the barn. Mystery is laying down resting, and I don’t want to wake him up. Sundance nickers softly when he sees me, and tears immediately spring to my eyes.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper to him. Animals grieve the loss of their humans in a similar way as humans do, and Sundance has been Leslie’s horse since he was only three years old. Remembering Ethan’s words that it’s okay to not be okay, I don’t try to stop the tears from coming, and break down when we get to our cars.
Ethan envelops me in his arms, holding me as I cry. Sniffling, I bring my head away from his chest and let out a shaky breath as I look at the forest.
The demon is out there, watching and waiting. Don’t confuse my tears with weakness, because no one messes with my friends or family and gets away with it. I’m coming for you, motherfucker.
I wake with a start, heart racing. I was in the woods again, being dragged over damp leaves. I’m so cold, warm blood spills from my wrists. It’s two AM and Ethan isn’t in bed with me, but Hunter is, taking up too much room at the foot of the bed.
“I’m okay,” I tell him. “It was just another dream.” I let out a breath and look for Romeo since the bedroom door is open and I left his cage open. I haven’t been able to play with him as much as I normally do, but luckily, he’s sleeping soundly tonight, or at least for now.
“You’re up.” Ethan comes into the room and closes the door behind him. He sets a glass of water on the nightstand. “I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“No,” I say as he gets back under the covers. “I had another dream about having my wrists slit and bleeding out in the forest.” I sigh. “I’m fine.”
Ethan pulls me to him and I resituate, resting my head on his chest. “You feel hot,” I say, pushing up on my elbow and put my hand over his forehead. “You are hot. I’m going to take your temperature.”
“I’m fine,” he insists but then turns his head to cough.
“You didn’t take your antibiotics today, did you?”
“The wound is healed. I don’t need to anymore.”
Swinging my feet over the side of the bed, I shiver as soon as I’m away from Ethan’s body heat. My thermometer is in the bathroom and there’s a good chance it’s out of batteries. I rustle through my very full medicine cabinet and find it. The low battery warning pops up, but it has enough juice to let me know Ethan has a fever.
“I’m going to get you some Advil,” I tell him and turn on the light. “Your scratches don’t look infected. Does your arm hurt?”
He shakes his head. “I’ll be fine. Come back to bed and I’ll sleep it off.”
“It’s a fever, not a hangover, and if you’re coming down with something, it’s best to treat the symptoms right away so you can recover faster.”
“Hot water, a splash of lemon juice, half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper, and a shot of whiskey is the tried-and-true hunter cold remedy.”
“That sounds disgusting.”