Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 137871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 689(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 689(@200wpm)___ 551(@250wpm)___ 460(@300wpm)
Juniper frowned at the wrappers and crumbs covering his chest. He looked like death and smelled worse. When Adriel jostled him again, and he still didn’t move, she worried he might actually be dead.
“Is he breathing?”
“He’s fine. I can hear his heartbeat.”
Juniper flipped a switch on the organ, and it hummed to life with a low vibration. She struck a key, breaking the silence as the instrument's drone blasted through the eight-foot pipes and echoed off the cathedral walls.
Dane bolted upright, sputtering and wrestling his way out of the tablecloth as the wooly timber cut off. Crumbs drifted from the stubble of his jaw, and a glass bottle rolled into the pew.
He stilled and frowned. “Adriel?” His gaze shot left. “Juniper?” His confused stare bolted about the church. “What…? How…?”
Juniper laughed. The spell actually worked! Holy shit. “You smell like hot garbage.”
“And look worse.” Adriel bent to pick up the bottle, sniffed it, and drew back with a frown. “Did you steal this?”
“What are you guys doing here?”
“I’m a fucking sorcerous!” Juniper broke into a touchdown dance.
“Take it easy,” Adriel warned, gathering the trash off the floor. “Did you rob the tabernacle, Dane?”
“I was hungry. How are you here?” He brushed off his shirt and shoved the tablecloth onto a bench. “I’m so confused. How are you two together? Why are you in Boston? And what the heck are you wearing?”
Adriel’s fair skin darkened to a scorching red as she pulled at the hem of her knee-length dress. “There have been some changes.”
Juniper scowled and protectively stepped in front of Adriel. “Don’t mind how we’re dressed. Did you go on a bender of Jesus crackers and booze?”
“I ran out of money.”
“Why Boston?” Adriel asked.
Dane shrugged. “Why not?” Something sad flashed in his eyes. “Where else should I go? I have no one. I couldn’t stay on the farm. I couldn’t even keep my dog, so I gave him away to a family with twin boys.”
“You gave Colby away?” Adriel said, voice rich with empathy. “Oh, Dane.”
“I knew you needed help. I could sense it.” Juniper stuffed the grimoire back in her bag and closed the flap. “We’ve been crashing with a little old lady named Ruth. You can come back with us. She won’t mind. I don’t know about the dog though. We have a stray cat. I call him Jasper.”
“Colby’s in a good home. It was the right choice. I can’t take care of him the way he needs. But you really think I can come with you?” Relief showed in his voice and eyes.
Adriel nodded. “There’s no reason for you to do this alone.”
“I haven’t been doing much of anything. A few random jobs here and there so I can eat, but nothing lasting.”
“Well, we have plenty of food, but we must return before Juniper’s energy runs out. Come along. We have a motor vehicle.”
“You’re driving a car?”
“No, Juniper is. Thankfully it has safety belts and handles to hold onto. She drives like a blind woman in a rush to fulfill a death wish.”
Over the next few hours, while driving back to upstate New York, they brought Dane up to speed. Though he looked and smelled like something dredged out of a sewer, his spirits were high.
“You actually found me with magic? That’s pretty badass, Juniper.”
“I know.” She smiled, glancing back through the rearview mirror as she drove. “We found a decent book of spells online that’s been super helpful. I think the creator was a mage. It’s like I’ve opened up a portal inside of me. The more knowledge I consume, the more manageable my power becomes. It’s a total high. Soon I’ll be limitless!”
“We’re all just grateful it hasn’t gone to Juniper’s head,” Adriel teased.
Dane leaned forward, wedging his body between the front seats. “I barely recognize you, Adriel. In street clothes, you look so…young.”
Juniper smothered a laugh. If he wasn’t careful, he would find himself hitchhiking the rest of the way.
Adriel drew back and covered her nose. “Sweet heavens, Dane. When’s the last time you bathed?”
He sat back. “It’s been a little rough.”
Beneath the shag of his overgrown hair, his eyes creased with lines of worry. Dirty, gaunt cheeks gave away his hunger. Reaching into the center console, Juniper pulled out a granola bar. “Here. You look hungry.”
“Thanks.” He took the bar but didn’t open it.
Adriel looked back at him with concern. “When’s the last time you fed?”
Juniper’s head jerked, her stare snapping to Adriel’s. Sometimes she spoke about things too casually.
“It’s been a few weeks.”
Juniper frowned.
“You should feed,” Adriel said. “You both should.”
At that, Dane’s stare bolted to Juniper. “Wait, what?”
“Thanks, Adriel.”
“Why is it a secret? If we’re going to be living together, we need complete transparency. Dane, you need to feed. I can offer my vein, but you must block your thoughts at all times. Cerberus is still out there.”