Page 81 of Haunted Hearts

With that, the decision is made. Tomorrow, the hunt for the warlock is on.

Chapter25

JONAH

Ican’t sleep.

After Brock left for the evening, we all hit the sack. And while burying myself deep into Willow’s body helped ease the rising anxiety, it didn’t completely vanquish it.

So, here I am, hours after the others have fallen asleep, laying on the couch, staring into the fire that someone had lit. It’s practically embers at this point, but I stare at the small flames anyway. Just when my eyes begin to droop and sleep starts to take over, my heart skips a beat and I jerk myself awake. I let out a sigh as I sit up and push my hair out of my eyes. I need a haircut soon.

“Jonah?”

I look over my shoulder at the sound of Willow’s voice. She walks towards me, wrapping the belt of her robe around her waist as she does.

“Hey, what are you doing up?” I ask.

I turn all the way around, dropping my feet off the cushions onto the floor, so she can come sit beside me.

“I was out here to ask you the same thing.” She sits down and throws her legs over my lap with a tentative smile. “What’s going on, Jonah?”

I could tell her ‘nothing’. It’s really not all that important anyway. At least, to the others it wouldn’t be. But as I stare into Willow’s face, her eyes alert despite the late hour, I have a feeling it wouldn’t be nothing to her.

“Tomorrow, or I guess later this morning,” there’s no clock in here to know exactly what time it is, “we’ll be looking for the warlock that killed you. That’s killing spirits right now. I know the others are eager to find him but then what? Hekilledyou, Willow. I know it was Kwil’s hands that dealt the final blow, but it was ultimately Fulton who did it. And right now, he’s gathering and destroying souls.”

I stop to take a deep breath as my heart races. Willow remains silent as she waits for me. I love how she doesn’t hurry me or become impatient when I try to refocus and gather my thoughts.

“You have your power, Willow, and the guys have their weapons, strength, and training. But me? I have… I have nothing. I’m not a fighter, Willow. Maybe in time, with the other’s help, but I’m useless, and if I’m being completely truthful, I’m scared. I don’t want my inability to protect you, to be the reason you get hurt when we find Fulton. I keep seeing you stuck in that tree and I’m afraid it will happen again.”

Willow’s body gives a hard tremble, no doubt coming from that same fear. Her brows knit together. Rather than respond right away, she reaches over to take my hand. Her thumb traces the veins on the back of it as she mulls over what I’ve shared. The silence between us isn’t heavy. In fact, it’s quite comfortable. Willow’s taking me seriously and I appreciate it.

When our eyes meet again, there’s no condemnation or scorn in Willow’s expression. Not that I expected either. Not from her

“Fulton is dangerous and evil. It’s smart to fear him. If you didn’t, I’d be worried.” She tilts her head to the side as her eyes skim over my face. “But you know what I have, that he doesn’t?”

“A smile that makes others swoon? A banging body? A heart that could crush someone with all the love you hold in there? Laughter that makes angels jealous?”

Willow chuckles.

“I was going to say people who love me.” Her fingers weave through mine and she gives my hand a squeeze. “If any one of us, including myself, had to go toe-to-toe with this asshole, there’s no question that we’d die. He has experience, no morals, and nothing to lose. That’s a dangerous combination. Together, we all bring something to the table that will help us beat Fulton. I have my powers, Brock has his knowledge of both realms, and the other three have experience with fighting. But you, Jonah? You’re the powerhouse of the six of us. You’re the one that, when we’re feeling down and out, lift us up with your charisma and tenaciousness. Jonah, you’re the constant reminder that while everything around us sucks, there is still good to fight for.”

The heat rises in my cheek. Twinkling in Willow’s green eyes is love. There’s so much that I can practically feel it wrap around me. I can’t handle it. I break eye contact to stare down at our hands.

“You don’t have to be good with a sword, or scythe, to be a badass. You have overcome a rough life, a horrible curse, and dying. Who else can say that?” Willow adds softly. “Be the rock I can lean on or the sunshine that cuts through all the darkness that seems to be surrounding me all the time. I don’t need any more warriors.”

I watch as my hand tightens around hers. I’m shaking and I’m sure she knows it. How does she always know what to say to make things better? It takes a moment for me to blink away the tears in my eyes and to get my heartbeat to slow, but when I’m under control I look back up into Willow’s face.

“I’ll be, whatever you need me to be, Willow.”

Her smile grows. “Just be you, Jonah.”

* * *

Gathered around the scrying pool,I watch as Willow’s brows furrow in concentration. The milky white liquid ripples as her fingers dip into the bowl.

“Show me Fulton Noir,” she orders.

The water ripples again, harder this time. The water shifts from white, to dark gray, to jet black. I move closer, watching in awe as the blackness lightens and an image appears. When the water finally stills, we’re all staring down at the tops of hundreds of trees. The view is from way up in the air, as if we’re birds circling overhead. None of us say a word as we wait for the image to show us Fulton next.

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