Page 32 of A Curse On Black Lake
Grabbing the peppermint, lavender, and licorice root, I scoop some out of each to make a container for Killian. Tiny stands guard by the front door to the apothecary and watches me as I move back and forth.
I’ll be ready to open back up in a couple days. I’ve mixed a few more salves and tea options to change it up. We’ve always tried to stick with what the season gives us, and sweet mint and peppermint are loving the weather. Since it went from sweltering down to hot.
“Is this about the murders?” I ask the Spirits.
They pause as if they’re considering my question.
We cannot answer.
“Since when?” I ask them.
There are things not yet known to us.
I groan into the ceiling and drain one of my tinctures, bottling it into small amber ones, adding a little dropper in each.
“I keep feeling like I’m missing something, and it’s starting to annoy me.”
Yes, well imagine how we feel since you keep demanding answers we cannot provide.
“Great, you don’t know either.”
After I finish up for the night, I change my bandage, and rub some salve on my wound. It’s healing up well. Exhaustion weighs heavy, and the wind gusts hard, rattling the house. Something falls outside, making me jump. I glance at Tiny, and he’s staring at me, but he’s also at attention.
“Should we go check, Tiny?”
He makes a sound, and I take that as a yes. This time, grabbing my shotgun and flashlight, I put on my boots and follow him outside into the night.
Tiny dashes into the garden, and it’s so dark it’s hard to tell what direction he went. Using all my senses, I carefully walk through the garden until his stark white body catches my attention. He’s sniffing something.
Pulling my flashlight from my pocket, I shine it down where he was sniffing, and sure enough, there are boot prints. They look almost identical to the ones I saw the other day. I spin around, shining the flashlight around the property, wondering if I’ll catch him. A combination of anger and fear floods my veins. I’m getting tired of feeling like prey.
Tiny stays close to my side as I check the animals and go back inside.
He is coming for you,the Spirits say.
“Gee, thanks for the reminder. I’m not creeped out enough as it is.”
Killian can protect you.
“I mean, yeah, have you seen him? Oh, well — yes, he could, but that’s not his job, and I thought you told meIwas there to helphim.”
Can two things not be done at once, child?
“Y’all are getting catty,” I mutter.
I triple-check all the doors and windows in the house, and crawl into bed. Tiny curls up on the blankets I folded up for him next to me, and closes his eyes. It helps me feel better that he’s here. I think Tiny sensed something from me when Killian came up over the hill.
My heart nearly stopped at the sight of him. Not that I’m going to do anything with those feelings, but I might have forgotten my own name for a second.
Things are about to change. You must be prepared to do whatever it takes to see this through.
A knock at the front door echoes through the house, and I take another sip of my coffee. Tiny runs to the door wagging his tail, as if he knows it’s Killian. I peek through the window to check, and flip the deadbolt.
He stands there with a cowboy hat on his head, a snap-button shirt tucked in showing off his belt buckle, and boots that have seen better days. My mouth goes dry, and a warm ache settles in my bones.
“Mornin’, you ready?” he asks gruffly, and I can feel his eyes trail over my old overalls and tank top beneath. It’s cool this morning, but that will change quickly with the sun.
“Yours or mine first?” I ask him.
