Hunter

Chapter 19

        Daylight had started to show in the horizon when we finally went back home. Night had been long for all of us. Nonetheless, even if I was exhausted by two sleepless nights, I could not sleep. If only I had been able to see this warlock better. The few things I remembered were a blur, but something bothered me and it was impossible for me to know what. "I am looking for something." he had said. What?

Laid on my back on my bed, my arms crossed under my head, my mind was going in a loop, searching for the answer, as if my existence depended on it. It was a weird and mostly worrying feeling.

"What's going to happen now?"

I turned my head. Arthur stood on the doorstep.

"I don't know."

"What if Henri discovers what I am?"

I opened my mouth before closing it back. I wished I could have hid this from him.

"Don't lie." He added.

I searched his eyes for a long time. Outside, the sun ruled again.

"He will kill you."

I could feel him shiver when he heard these words, yet his eyes expressed no surprise.

"You should get some sleep. We'll talk about it later."

He nodded and disappeared without protesting.

        A few days went by. My colleagues had left me four days off after our misfortune of the failed localisation, although they had kept me informed: the living-dead had not appeared again. The wizard would change tactics to find what he was looking for. For the rest, the investigation went in a circle, the mage had not given anymore signs.

I had decided to enjoy these days of rest to finally empty my head. I spent precious time with my children: fishing day with Arthur while Agate ran after butterflies, strolls in the woods, walks with Ul... I was more than frustrated to go back to work, but relieved to know the zombies and magic would not be at the center of it all.

That was strange, and yet, Arthur's sleep had regulated, no more bleedings, no more nightmares... Thus, we completely forgot about his state of half-wolf half-man. At least, until the next full moon. All the questions I had about the strange factors surrounding Arthur's transformation resurfaced, still answerless. Would it happen during day again? Or would it wait for the moon to rise? Why had his body started another mutation the next day? With this new day, my anguish had come back. So I watched over my son the whole day with an increasing anxiety, expecting the beast to reappear any time. I could also feel Arthur's uneasiness. I could read a strong worry on his face, topped with an infinite fear. He knew what day it was.

We did not exchange a word of the whole day since our throats were dry with anguish. Then, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon:

"What if Henri comes by tonight?"

I quickly rose my head.

"You will be locked in the basement, so..."

"But, what about the noise?"

"I will find a way to make him leave. And anyways, he won't come."

Even if I affirmed it, I had doubts. Henri was far from being a genius, but he was obstinate and tough. The fact he did not buy our burglary story for a second increased the risks of an unannounced visit.

Probably because we feared that evening, the day went by in a flash. Not long before the Night star began its ascent, Arthur and I went down to the basement.