Wilt and Wither

Chapter 8

I breathed a sigh of relief when the edge of the woods comes into view. The rot was spreading I needed to find out quick how to stop this. I needed to talk to Landon.

He was the reason I was in this mess.

I practically sprinted to the house ready to put this night behind me. I at the very least narrowed down the suspects. I just needed to find out what we were dealing with and find a spell to send it back where it came. We walked in and Daniel sat on the couch with Sam curled up on his lap sleeping.

"What did you guys find out?" His voice gravel thick with fatigue.

"Nothing good, mostly really bad." I whispered not wanting to wake Sam up and having her hysterical.

So not what I needed right now.

"What is it?" Daniel carefully scooped Sam up and laid her on the couch. She barely even registered what was happening. I wish I could sleep like that. I haven't slept soundly since my parents tried to play a clumsy game of operation with me.

"Sleeping pills." Daniel says like he's reading my thoughts. "I slipped them in her drink so she would sleep, is that wrong?"

"I...I don't really know how to answer that." We walk to the kitchen and I wondered were Jackson was then chastised my stupid brain for even giving a damn.

He was dangerous I needed to find a way to break the barrier stop the portal and get the heck out of here before he turned.

Easy peasy.

Cole poured some bourbon and offered me a glass. I shook my head. "Tequila girl through and through." He reached under the sink, weird place for liquor, and grabbed a bottle of Jose and poured me a shot.

Sweet. "Thanks." I tipped it back the burn a welcome feeling.

"So what's up?" Daniel eased against the counter, he was shorter than Cole by almost a full foot, he held an no bullshit air that commanded respect. Where Cole was a fox, Danny was a wolf.

"I'm thinking it's a demon that escaped from hell though usually demons do their thing and leave but this one is here with a purpose. Demons and demonic creatures can't survive long term on earth. Demons will cling to human bodies when some of the lesser demons get trapped here. They want to get exercised back to hell no joke. They can't survive on earth." I earned myself a dirty look when I said I didn't know exactly how to beat this thing.

"How do you not know isn't that what were paying you for." Daniel snapped.

"Oh now you are paying me because I was under the impression Jackson's aunt was and now she's dead so actually no one is paying me Mr. Man. And besides I would like to figure this out just as much as you seeing as I am trapped in this literal hell hole of a town." I gave him my best set of crazy eyes. "I will beat whatever, whoever this is. I mean it's a demon. I've seen enough exorcism movies to last a lifetime its child's play... but not literally like child's play because I'm terrified of dolls."

"I think I love you." Cole chuckled into his glass taking a swig.

"Yeah... anyway, I'm going to go out by myself." I look to Cole. "I need to talk to Rory I'm going to start visiting her in the mornings. I'll ask her to be my eyes in the water. I don't know what will happen to her if it spreads into the lake." Light hit Cole's eyes I had his complete attention like I knew it would. "No you can't come." I quickly say.

"Whatever." Cole pushed past the two of us leaving Daniel and I shrouded in awkwardness. Ugh I hated awkward silence it was like being slowly choked with just enough air left in your lungs to keep you alive.