Page 75 of Fallen Thorns
“I know. I’m just a little hyperaware at the moment.”
“Understandable.”
We continued walking.
We werea little further along the riverbank now, having reached the clearing where the path widened out past the old mill and the riverbank boat house. I could breathe clearer, knowing we were more exposed now — free from the shadows. Now all I could hear was the river and Mars, who started to run out onto the grass under the willow tree that stood weeping its branches into the riverbank.
“Cool at night, right?”
Do they just not feel fear?
Why would they? Nothing is after them.
“That’s one way of putting it. Lonely, perhaps.Dangerousbeing another way you could describe it.”
“We’re not going to find anything in a crowd of drunk students.”
“You never heard of hiding in plain sight?” I tried to suppress my mildly rising anger and the sickening fear that had arisen within my body as I looked out into the vastness with my hands firmly tucked into my pockets.
“Yes, but from what we’ve gathered, this thing doesn’thide.It shows itself whenever it wants to.”
“Only to me.”
“We don’t know that for sure..”
“You didn’t see it, though.”
“And you did?”
My shoulders dropped in defeat.
“Maybe you should leave me alone for a bit then,” I said, surprised at my own suggestion. But if we were going to do thisthere, we might as well have taken advantage of what Mars was claiming.Be a man.
Mars tilted their head in consideration. “Okay then.”
“I stay here. You walk away. You come back in an hour.”
“An hour? You’ll freeze.”
“Are we going to find this creature or not?”
“Okay,” they sighed, stepping away. “Only an hour.”
“One hour.”
“And you call me if you feel in the slightest bit of danger. Promise me that. Promise.”
I nodded. I trusted Mars at this point. Perhaps I always had done.
With one last look, they lowered their head and disappeared back onto the path and under the shelter of trees.
A few minutespassed where I allowed myself to stand and take in my surroundings, alone with my thoughts. The rush of water flowed all around me and the soft, proud glow of the cathedral buildings peeked through the copse of trees that rose up the bank. It put my mind at ease, and I focused on my breaths, and how they came out as little clouds in the midnight temperatures. I put my gloves on, despite the cold damage having already been done, but I felt it was the least I could do to maintain some body heat. The whole concept of preserving body heat as a vampire was utterly beyond me, but that was another question to add to the never-ending list that would continue for the rest of my life.If only we’d been studied.I scowled at the silly thought, its reasoning answering for itself.
Another five minutes passed, and I began to pace, walking as close to the riverbank as I dared. I looked out upon the other mill house on the opposite side. No lights on as usual. I sighed, not really knowing what I was expecting to happen.
I strolled over to the stone throne just to the side of the willow tree and sat in it for a moment. From the front, it looked like a grand but simple chair, yet during the day with light cast upon it, you could make out the cluster of misshapen gargoyle heads that burst out of the back like moles out of molehills. Strange in any context.
Staring out onto the bridge arches in front of me, I pondered on the different shapes I could make out in the dimmed lighting. Then I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath.
