“I’m sorry.” I blubbered, panting hard, “Oh, Jack. Something terrible is going to happen!”
Jack cautiously removed himself from me and helped me into a sitting position. I noticed how weak and cold I still felt, though I ignored it now and clung to his chest. He rubbed my back in a soothing manner and held me close.
“It’s okay.” He cooed, “Just calm down first, then tell me.”
After several minutes of incoherent blubbering, during which Camryn seemed annoyed at something and departed from the stables, I finally managed to splutter two recognisable words.
“Seth Swaggart!” I sobbed into Jack’s chest.
I felt him grow tense instantly and he growled angrily. Before Jack got the wrong idea I felt I had to explain the situation.
“No, Jack, you don’t understand.” I began breathlessly, “It’s not what you think.”
“What did he do to you?” Jack pressed.
I sighed angrily and felt like hurting him again, “You always assume the worst.”
“I have to when it comes to you, Redding. You’re a magnet for bad luck.”
Ignoring that remark I continued, “Swaggart didn’t hurt me at all, he just needed to tell me something. I wish he hadn’t though. He dragged me into the alley-”
“He dragged you?” Jack fired up.
“He took me into the alley. He wouldn’t let me see his eyes, he knew it would hurt me when-”
“He wouldn’t curse you? Then why did he grab you in the first place?” He shot.
“For God’s sake, Jack.” I fumed, wiping away at the tears clinging to my lashes, “Will you listen to me? Swaggart didn’t curse me. He’s never cursed anyone, it’s not what he does.”
“I don’t understand.”
I spent the next five minutes explaining everything that had happened to Jack. I was glad that Camryn seemed to have disappeared. As much as I liked Camryn, I did not feel the same bond with her, as I did with Jack.
I explained why Seth Swaggart followed people, I explained his power, which was also a great burden and curse. I told Jack about my own life line, which was apparently ridiculously short for someone so young. Jack’s face grew more sombre as I continued my explanation. When I had finally passed on all relevant information I took and great heaving breath and fought back more tears. Jack’s eyes were on the floor and he seemed to be thinking hard.
“Do you think we should believe him?” He muttered.
“It makes sense.” I wish it didn’t.
“He may be trying to lure you.” Jack hissed.
“Into what?” I said incredulously.
“We can’t trust him.”
“Be that as it may, something is coming for me, and I don’t know when.”
“He could have been lying.” Jack snapped.
I put my face into my hands and breathed heavily, ignoring the world. I was now feeling ashamed of my little episode earlier. I had reacted badly and owed Jack and Hawthorne an apology.
“I’m sorry I lost control.” I whispered.
“No harm done.” Jack sighed.
“Hawthorne, I’m-” I turned to search for my fox, but found no one behind me. I swivelled my head and searched for him but he was nowhere to be seen.
“Where-?”
“He ran outside.” Jack said softly
“Hawthorne?” I called as though he might answer me.
“Avalon, he’s not here.” Jack petted my hair soothingly, though it did not calm me.
“Jack, where is he?” I tried to get up, but my legs shook violently when I put weight upon them.
“He copped a few blows when you started thrashing.” Jack whispered.
I gasped, “No, I didn’t mean to-”
“I know, I know. It’s okay, I’m sure he will come back soon.”
I groaned, “Oh, Jack, we have to find him.” What had I done? I had harmed Hawthorne in my moment of insanity. My face was still wet from tears, and my heart still pounded with fear for my own life, yet my mind was on Hawthorne.
“Avalon, you are going to make yourself sick if you worry about anything else.”
“But he doesn’t know what it’s like out there!” I protested.
“Either do you.” Jack challenged.
I tried once again to get to my feet, this time with Jack’s help. I shook all over and my skin felt like ice.
My life had changed so much since coming to this strange city, changed in ways I had not predicted. The best and worst things in my life had occurred over the last few months, and I wondered if I would ever trade it up for something more normal.
“We’ve got to go looking for him. I need to apologise. I don’t believe I did that to him. Do you think he is okay?” I fretted, tears threatening to flow once again.
“It’s okay, Camryn went to look for him.”
“She did?” I suddenly felt an overwhelming fondness for my red haired friend, “We have to go and help her.”
“We nothing.” Jack disagreed, putting an arm across my shoulders and steering me to my stool which he picked up from the ground. Once it was upright he sat me upon it and pulled the rug tightly around me.