Hiding from the Shadows

Chapter 3

Blood. Blood is everywhere. It's soaking my head to toe, pouring out of my cupped hands and dripping onto the ground. I can feel it streaming from my eyes, tears of red. It's warm, and sticky, and everywhere. It's all over the ground and flowing one way, towards a body lying limp on the ground. I walk forward, drawn toward the lifeless remains. The body on the ground at my feet has the same hole and the same black tendrils as the body from the alley. My eyes flick over the hole, not wanting my gaze to be caught there again. I stare at its eyes. The dead darkness in its eyes is pulling, pulling, pulling me into it, feeding me it's pain and blood and misery and—

I wake up screaming, my heart pounding. I squeeze my eyes shut, but still all I can see is the blood. Blood from the dream and the alley and the kitchen, all the memories mixing into a new, horrifying image.

I start gasping for breath, my thoughts sticky and trapped in a panicked circle.

"Hey, hey." Saar's voice trickles in through the dread. "Breathe, just breathe." He keeps talking to me until the panicked fog clears my mind and I can breathe easily again. I take one last shuddering breath before opening me eyes and smiling weakly at Saar.

"Thanks," I say, reaching out and rubbing behind his ears.

"Always,," he says in reply, curling up next to my chest. Despite being the independent cat he is, he always curls up with me at night. I put my arm over his and lay back down.

I don't fall asleep again. I can't. I'm remembering that one night, 12 years ago, when I walked into my kitchen only to find it covered in blood.

I blink back the tears threatening to fall. I will not cry. Not for her. Not after she left me. Not just her, but both of them, in two different heart-breaking ways.

I sigh, stretching and throwing the blanket off of me. Saar doesn't stir, so I let him sleep. I wish I had the ability to pass out and not wake up until I was good and ready. Must come naturally to cats.

I drag myself out to the kitchen and start making coffee and some toast. Sitting at the table, I nibble on my toast and start doodling on a scrap piece of paper that's laying on the table.

Today is Saturday, so I'll be going to dinner with the coven tonight. I'm feeling kind of anxious about it. Mostly because I'm worried that they'll make me feel too comfortable and I'll let my guard down rather than making a good impression. Although if I don't make a somewhat good impression, Rikki will be up my ass all night.

I sigh, my head drooping towards the table. Why does Saar keep pulling me into these kinds of situations? I guess it's only one dinner, but still. He could mind his own business for once.

After dinner, I'm going to tell them that I'm not interested in joining their coven and that will be that. Maybe I'll ask if they know a good mentor that lives around here. Then we can part ways, and I'll have the excuse that I already tried if Saar ever tries badgering me into joining a coven again. I just want to learn how to control my magic, not a social circle.

I set my head down on the table, studying the grain of my second hand table and inhaling the overpowering smell of floral perfume that is soaked into the wood. I lose myself to my thoughts, letting them bump into each other while I slowly wake up.

Saar comes out of the bedroom after a while, and by that time I'm sufficiently awake and just enjoying the silence of the morning.

He jumps up on the table and sits down. He's a little strange, as cats go. Yes, he's always jumping up on things and loves bells and feathers, but he never sits on me or knocks things over. He's self-centered and sarcastic, but also cares deeply, even if he doesn't show it. He's quite controversial. I guess that comes with being 600 something years old. I can't imagine living that long, and I don't want to. I'm good with my limited mortal life, thanks.