He sighed, “Let’s swap coats.” He said, “Mine has a hood.”
After I had put on Jack’s coat, I tied my hair back and hid it in the hood as I pulled it over my head. We headed out of the room and downstairs where Samuel Bludvok nodded to us as we left and stepped into the snow outside where I kept my face hidden.
Chapter Sixteen
The Black Bird
It was easy to go unnoticed through Frost Arch today. The wind and snow was so harsh that by passers shielded their face against the wind and the figures on the street were just a mass of unisex coats. Jack and I had no trouble walking the high street towards the slums, for no one cared about anyone but themselves.
“I expect the fliers will be put around Frost Arch through the night.” Jack said wiping away the snow that was beginning to melt on his face.
I wasn’t sure what I would do with myself if we couldn’t find Hawthorne today. Would I go into hiding within Frost Arch? Or would I simply abandon the search and go home? I fretted about this through most of the walk, and Jack kept silent, obviously thinking hard too.
I was severely cold yet I kept my complaining and chattering teeth to myself. As we reached the edge of the forest that would wind and lead us towards the manor Jack and I glanced at each other momentarily before stepping into the density of trees.
We walked for hours, backtracking and going in circles, looking up into the branches, and poking sticks at large mounds of snow just in case Hawthorne was hiding underneath its mass. Luckily Jack had packed enough food and water to keep us going for another few hours, and by the time my stomach was rumbling from hunger once again, the sun had begun to set. I knew we would have to stop searching soon. My legs ached and I fell over often on branches hiding under the snow. Jack grabbed me by the back of my coat and hauled me back onto my feet several times.
Finally, after hours upon hours Jack and I were both exhausted and could look no longer. Jack had started complaining several hours ago, but I had begged him to keep looking.
Yet it was to no avail. Hawthorne was nowhere to be found, and it was clear that he was no where within this forest for it felt as though we had covered every inch of it.
I asked Jack where else Hawthorne could possibly hide where no one else could find him.
“There really is nowhere else in this city that is safe for him. The forest would give him the most cover.” Jack said, jumping slightly as a bird called out from the branches above, breaking the silence.
“Jack.” I began slowly “What if someone found him?”
The realisation that this might be true hit me hard.
“Now, wait a second.” Jack began.
“What if someone saw him, and took him?” I began to fret.
“I don’t think-”
“I knew there would be no way Hawthorne would leave me.” I said angrily, “Someone has taken him, I know it! Jack, what do we do?”
Jack sighed then smiled, and I looked at him annoyed.
“Sorry.” He said shaking his head, “But the idea of someone actually over powering Hawthorne and hauling him back to their place is actually quite amusing.”
“You think it’s funny?” I hissed.
“Avalon, no one took Hawthorne.” Jack said seriously now, “The thought is simply preposterous. He’d tear them in two.”
I bit my lip and looked around, less panicked now. Perhaps Jack was right. My baby was no longer a baby anymore, and I had to come to terms with that. It was hard as I felt like Hawthorne was my own child; someone that I needed to protect. Yet if anything, Hawthorne was more capable of protecting me than the other way around.
“Come on Avalon.” Jack said putting his hand on the small of my back, “Let’s go back to the Inn.”
I didn’t want Jack to know how much the thought of going back into Frost Arch frightened me, let alone going back without Hawthorne. The fact that we still had no idea where he had gone was tearing at my heart. I pressed my lips together and concentrated hard on a twig on the ground while my eyes began swimming with traitor tears. I nodded silently and bowed my head as we turned around to make the long walk back to the Inn. The intensity of the snow storm had died as the day wore on, but there was still a slight wind that whipped around us. Licking my lips I felt how cracked and dry they had become, and I was rather sure that they would be a very deep shade of blue by now. Even Jack who had grown up around this weather was shivering and had very pink cheeks.
I couldn’t believe that we were giving up already. Part of me still thought that perhaps Hawthorne had been taken. When I tried to bring that subject up again, Jack merely shook his head with a smile.