Jo popped in, gave a quick knock before opening the screen door. She had a vegetable casserole in her hands. "I just wanted to stop by and see how you're doing."
Evie was huddled up on the couch, the big, medium and small dogs all curled up on the floor. Evie's eyes were red and her face showed salty tracks where tears had been.
"The coroner won't let me see Gran. They won't give her to me. They won't tell me anything."
Jo deposited the casserole on the hall table and rushed to Evie.
"Is your lawyer having any luck?"
"No," she howled at the ceiling and reached out for Jo.
Jo hugged her to her chest. She was instantly drenched.
"Have you been back to St. Anthony's at all?" Jo asked, rocking her. "Karen must be worried sick."
Evie heaved and sobbed. "All I can do is think of Gran, locked up in a refrigerator, freezing, alone. She should be here with me."
"Oh sweety, I know it hurts." Jo patted the limp red locks. "I'm so sorry."
"I can't sleep. I can't eat. I just want to go home."
"You are home."
"Not anymore. Gran isn't here. This is hell."
Evie lashed her arms over her head and drew her legs to her chest. Lemon lifted her head, but couldn't see anything out of her blind eyes.
"You could come over to my house. Dylan would love having you. It'd be like having a big sister around. If he doesn't wear on you too much," Jo teased.
Evie picked up Lemon, cuddled the little bag of wrinkles to her chest. With that, Cassie and Tess nestled into Evie's lap too.
"What about my animals?"
Jo said, "You can come back tomorrow and check on them."
Cassie growled and Tess and Lemon barked. The last thing Jo needed was to have those three mongrels in her house. Evie snapped her fingers and the three dogs bent down.
Jo helped Evie up.
"Go grab a few things, toothbrush, a nightgown."
Evie wandered down the hall. Jo flexed her hands, stared at the letters delivered by demon spell scattered all over the floor. The direction varied, to Aoibh, Mhor, Banrion, Chumhachtach, Dearg. Jo didn't speak the Irish demon tongue, but she recognized it from Knox's papers.
Before the chill took her, Jo called out, "Sleep in Brantley's bed tonight, then tomorrow we can see how you feel."
YOU ARE READING
The Lamb and the Gray Battle
FantasyEvie has spent the last 575 years on the North American continent, now called America, the Pure and Clean. She smiles, volunteers and makes cakes and pastries for her neighbors, hiding away her demon blood. She wants nothing to do with her estranged...
