Homesick Book 2. The Secrets of Blackthorn Manor

The Fear of Drowning

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Chapter Eighteen

The Fear of Drowning

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'Prince? Prince!' Adrian dropped to his knees. 'What happened?'

Daniel shook his head. 'I'm not sure! I think he got hurt fighting that thing! He just sort of... collapsed.'

Adrian touched the soft white fur. The cat didn't move. He watched, desperate for any sign of life: a twitch of his long whiskers, a movement from the snowy tail. Anything.

'Can familiars die?' Daniel rasped.

'No, not whilst their practitioner is still alive. I'm sure of it,' Lyndall said, but she sounded scared. The group huddled over the little cat even as the gremlin in the cage continued to shriek and rattle the golden bars. The sound of it was maddening. Adrian screwed his eyes shut. He tried to reach down the link he shared with his felines, but he couldn't piece it together. His mind was suddenly like thick soup. His head was swimming.

'Is he breathing? Do familiars breathe?' Daniel whimpered.

'I..I don't know!' Adrian rasped. He placed his palm on the little cat's chest. He could feel a heartbeat, but of course, he had no idea if that meant anything!

The creature in the cage kept yelling, screaming, screeching. Adrian needed quiet; he couldn't concentrate! He couldn't think!

Adrian spun, his magic flaring violently like a fire doused in kerosine. 'Shut up!' he roared. The entire room trembled. The cage holding the little beast rattled wildly. It did stop screaming, its eyes narrowing as it began to growl instead.

'Adrian.' Owethu's deep calm voice penetrated the panic trying to wiggle its way up Adrian's throat. He looked back at the naga who had risen to his full height. The man reached out, drawing Adrian to his side and squeezing his shoulders. The firm touch helped ground him.

'You okay mate?' Daniel asked, his eyes darting around the room. Several of the old notebooks on the writing desk appeared to be trembling. The air felt alive with electricity and magic.

'Not really,' Adrian admitted weakly, trying to ignore the burning in the corners of his eyes. He hated seeing the tiny white cat so still. Like he was... Those hands squeezed his shoulders again.

'Try to reach out to him again,' Lyndall said. She sounded like she had a head cold. Adrian nodded, feeling like there was a small pebble lodged halfway down his throat. He closed his eyes. It wasn't easy. His connection with his familiars had been shaky at best. It was like trying to grab hold of a strand of silk on a windy day. He might have quickly given up if not for the firm golden presence of the naga in the back of his mind. Owethu's calm was like a blanket, soothing Adrian's terror and bringing him back to the present moment.

Finally, Adrian felt something. It was barely there at first, like the first curls of smoke. He followed it and finally connected with what he now recognised as Duchess. The black cat wound around him. He felt her body weaving around his legs. Without opening his eyes, he crouched down and scooped her up. The practitioner held her tight, willing the connection to open wider.

Ouch.

'Prince?' Everyone had gone quiet, even the little beast in the cage.

Ouches.

'His eyes are opening!' Daniel yelped excitedly.

'Shh!' Lyndall hissed.

Please tell me you're alright, thought Adrian.

I am if you let me. Adrian opened his eyes. He looked down at the white cat. Duchess wiggled out of his arms and went to sit next to her feline brethren. Prince's mismatched eyes were open, and he was looking up at Adrian. Both he and Duchess stared at Adrian with odd expectancy. There was no blood on the soft white fur, but Adrian still didn't know if a familiar could even bleed. He didn't understand. Was something he had done preventing Prince from healing? He asked this question to the room.