Chambers

Five

Baz

After leaving the hotel, I run. I run fast because I can't feel my feet so why not? I'm on the cusp of madness because I'm hungry and heartbroken.

All the lightning, it's painful to look at. America just has to go over the top with everything, even the weather. Apparently, this is the prime weather for tornadoes: massive cyclones to descend from the sky and destroy everything in their paths for hours. Of course, it bloody well is. We're stuck here and it fits the mood.

"You're so white now."

I'm thirsty, yes. I'm starving for Crowley's sake, but the stress that comes with getting dumped, or almost getting dumped, (I don't fucking know!) it doesn't help. It's still here, making my half-dead heart race and my blood pump like never before (and Snow and I fought a dragon). I thought I was losing the love of my life, that he was no longer enamoured with me like I still am with him. Maybe I have. Again, I don't know if I've lost him. He didn't outright say it. That's all he would need to do to get rid of me forever. Perhaps he will. Maybe that was just a warm-up. I could end up walking back into that Hampton Inn absolutely sloshed and Simon will tell me that I'm the worst thing in the world and he never wants to see me again. He could do that. Everything from my bones to my heart might as well shatter on the spot, but he's broken both before.

Luckily, Kentucky has a lot of countrysides. I didn't have to go far to find a farm, but the sky is less menacing. There's more sunlight but it's off in the distance, an ugly mix of orange and yellow that Simon would actually like. The black clouds and forks of lightning still took up most of the sky.

I'm walking along a barbed-wire fence. I assume this is all one farm. It stretches for miles, which is almost impressive, except for the fact that all I'm looking for is a single cow. Maybe two? Cows are hard to kill but easy to drain. They're slow, lumbering creatures but I've found that they fill me up the most. I could easily go a full week without hunting if I filled up on two cows, but only if I were peckish.

Unfortunately, I'm more than peckish. Is that why I've lost my footing and pricked myself twice on this fucking fence? Maybe. Another reason might be because I'm walking on a strip of uneven terrain that divides the property from a dirt road (I followed the first road I found that veered off the motorway, and the pavement eventually led to dirt). Also, I'm wearing dress shoes for Merlin's sake and my feet are cramping.

The air has been hot and humid since we left the airport. Not just this, but the wind is chilly. Honestly, how? I'm genuinely curious. If I end up sleeping in the other hotel room, I'll ask the Normal about it.

I walk for a while, still have yet to find a cow or any animal. And a flash of white-hot light is all I see before a clap of thunder shakes the ground like the gods themselves felt like having a laugh. I pick myself up when the lingering rumbles finally cease. My knees have grass stains. Wonderful. I've been outside for 15 minutes. Still no cows.

Looking around, some of the houses in the distance that once had lights are now out. Shame. Hopefully, they're safe. I don't know if there are vampires in this part of America. I'd assume not. I hear gay people don't even really like Kentucky or the south in general.

Thunder rumbled again, but that wasn't what nearly threw me off my feet. I caught myself, pushing my hands into the dirt road before standing back up. My left ear is ringing and I cover it. "For snakes sake!" I yell (no one can hear me. No one's fucking out here). I turn toward the barbed wire fence, finding a horse that whinnied straight in my ear. I'm almost tempted to kill it because I just want to drink and get indoors, but the horse is already terrified. It's clopping around like it's ready to escape, but it knows what the fence is made of. I catch my breath. It's looking right at me, letting out quick neighs. "Crowley, just calm down," I said. I put my hand out, petting his muzzle before rubbing up the bridge of his nose. "Shhh..." It makes its typical horse sounds, but it is calming down.

I pet him with both hands (yes, him. I saw). "See?" I tell him. "You're okay." If Simon were here, he'd be having a field day with this. I don't think he's ever seen a horse before. He'd be telling me to get him an apple or a carrot, a sugar cube, to magick up something because he would want to feed him so badly. I let out a tsk. "I can't drink you," I said to the horse as if he could understand. "You're too pretty." I don't know anything about horses. Even though I grew up in a mansion, I didn't fall fully into the rich kid stereotype. The kind that has a ranch in the back full of purebreds racing each other. Apart from Mordelia, we aren't exactly animal people. But this is a beautiful horse. I can see why others like them.

There's more thunder, but it's further away this time. The horse still fidgets a little. "I hope you're allowed to go inside." 

He nickers and snorts at me.

"It's only going to get worse out here, you know?"

Mordelia would love a horse like this. Daphne would get her a horse like this if she could really convince my father to buy one, along with fencing and a barn. So most likely no.

"Morty!" I heard. "Morty!" It's a girl's voice, but I can't see her. The horse though, Morty, I'm assuming, backs away from me slowly, until I can't touch him anymore. He returns to the field and I see a barn off in the distance.

I could help Daphne and Mordelia convince father. There are worse animals out there.