Page 190 of A Curse On Black Lake
Wyatt’s expression twists. “What do you mean,dead?” he asks.
I open my mouth and hesitate to tell him, watching him carefully. But what’s the point? If it is him, then he’ll know it’s open season on me. I’m ready. “I’ve been having a … stalker issue.”
Wyatt coughs on his peppermint, eyes wide. “I’m sorry, what did you say?” he asks.
I can’t tell what kind of surprise this is.
“IsaidI’m having a stalker issue. Someone has been coming onto my property and watching me and…” I trail off.
“And you think Killian’s case and this stalker are related?” he asks me.
He stares back openly, either because he is the one doing it, and very good at hiding it, or he’s genuinely curious. I can’t tell.
“Yes,” I say.
Wyatt tilts his head, tonguing the peppermint. “Eliana, if this will help Killian’s case, you should tell me,” he says gently.
“Even if I did, it won’t prove anything enough to exonerate him,” I tell Wyatt.
“But it could—”
“Please … can you please do this?” I ask him.
Wyatt frowns and dips his head. “Yeah.”
“Great,” I mutter, and spin on my heel out of the station.
As I walk out, purpose settles on my shoulders. The sky seems duller, as if it knows what I’m about to do. But I don’t see any other way.
A price must be paid for the lives of many.
I don’t care what the Spirits say. I don’t care if they don’t believe this is my job.
Killian ismine.I will protect what is mine.
The vision of blood in the water fills my mind, and part of me knows it was an omen. It wasn’t a vision. It was a reminder that blood will be spilled — my blood.
After I took care of the animals, gave them a little extra feed, I went back to my house. Going so far as to park Killian’s truck on another street a mile from my house. I act normal aside from crying for a few hours. The pain of missing him shouldn’t surprise me, but it does. My only grounds for comparison is Grams, and she’s gone — has been for a few months, but at least I’ll see her again sooner rather than later. That will be nice.
I hate that I have to leave Killian like this.
They might not catch my stalker right away, but he’s hanging around, otherwise he wouldn’t be constantly looking at me through my windows, or breaking into my house when I’m not home, only to take one of my dresses, and put it on a woman he killed.
This is an obsession so dark the devil himself must be its creator, and I’m prepared to look him in the eye.
The full moon brightly casts its white light over my shredded garden. I’ve showered, put on an old nightgown and decided to sit out back to stare at the bones of my shredded garden. The few plants that Killian was able to replant, some are hanging on by a thread. The rest of them have been baked by the Texas sun and I’m sure would fall apart at the lightest of breezes. Wiping the tears from my eyes, the plants remind me of the reality of life. The erosion of our love was certainly faster than I anticipated, dead before it could consider thriving. I didn’t know I’d have to let him go so fast.
But everything dies. Everything has its end date, either because another human has the hubris to steal it, or because it was simply time.
For the first time in my life, I had hoped with Killian we could have something that both of us were proud of. We could build a life despite the death. But instead, we have to sink further to end it all.
I was fooling myself. I know that. But I finally had a chance to dream of more because of him.
I left the shotgun inside and flipped the light off to detract bugs.
This is foolish, child. This can only end in more heartbreak. If you truly care for him, you will find another way.The Spirits say.
“Then tell me what it is because I don’t have time, and this is all I could come up with.”
