Dagger's Point

Chapter Five

"What they hell are you doing?" My head is still spinning from where I hit it on the floor, a dull throb sending waves of pain across my forehead. He watches me with calm eyes, showing nothing in his face. The fear is there for a fleeting second when Dagger rages to the front of his stall again, crashing into it, his good eye on Jasper.

"I didn't think anyone would be down here."

There is no apology there, blue eyes, shrouded by the hood on his jacket as it casts a shadow over his cheeks. There is nothing but confusion and anger for me as I take a step toward him, wanting to get some sort of reaction out of him.

"What did you do to him?"

"Nothing he's just insane."

"I was in there grooming him just a second ago. He is not crazy."

"You just got here, you don't know anything."

His voice is dark, face morphing into a deep frown, it is enough to make me want to step back, though I don't.

"Then tell me."

"No." He casts another look at Dagger before turning on his heel and striding off, leaving behind a demon horse that trembles in the corner of his stall. Part of me wants to know everything, from the beginning to present, though something tells me that it is not going to be that easy. I want to ask Dad, but the thought of having an actual conversation with him is as unappealing as walking on a bed of nails.

Dagger makes his way to the front of his stall, head high and nostrils flaring, Jasper's scent most likely still lingers in his nostrils. He looks to me then, a black orb regarding my face, and staring into my very being. He doesn't scare me, but at the same time something twinges in the back of my mind, and it is not my headache. I approach the stall, dropping my shoulders and not looking directly at him. I don't want to set him off again, just to calm the nerves that show the white of his eye.

There is a shifting in his stall but I don't look at him, even when I feel hot breath through the bars, shifting my black hair. Then I glance at him, the white is still there in his eye, but he feels less intense. I wait until the white recedes before I slide open the door, watching as he steps backwards, though they are the calm movements of a sane horse. I pause there, my eyes tracking along the slopes of his body, from the mane that is long and unhealthy to his tail, nothing about him is healthy. It is all a mixture of power, without muscle, fury with purpose and a single eye to watch everyone with.

Shaking his head he steps towards me, working his lips, head slowly lowering; this here is more of a victory then grooming him. A nose extends towards me, pressing against my chest, the whiskers poking me through it. I don't breathe, not wanting to disturb the moment as his lips go upwards, bumping awkwardly on my chin, and then he is gone. He backs away with slow steps, moving into the depths of his stall. I don't pressure him, stepping back out and gathering the grooming tote. We have done more than enough for one day and I don't want to press my luck, especially if Jasper makes a mystery appearance again.

As I walk back through the tree lined lane I catch tidbits of Dad's voice drifting from one of the outdoor arenas. Instantly I stiffen, a deep frown destroying the buzz the being with Dagger has given me. I can remember the last time he had given me a lesson, it was full of loud yelling and the throwing of his hat onto the floor, all because I had been unable to get one of the younger horses to counter canter to the best of her ability. He was furious with me, enough so that I left, dismounting and leading the filly away. I had told him earlier that I thought she was too young to really start work, but he of course, didn't listen. That was the last time I rode, I didn't even sneak on any rides with Award, just let him take time in pasture.