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I checked the bathroom next. Another room with a fresh coat of paint with basically everything else removed from it, save for a dirty towel hanging off the counter and a lone bar of green soap in the shower.

Romero really needed to stock him up with some basic necessities. Who washed their hair with a bar of soap for goodness’ sake?

Binx obviously wasn’t in the bathroom, so I turned the lights out and closed the door behind me.

Dash’s things had been removed from his room and replaced with a twin bed and no headboard. The comforter and pillows were boring and white.

That was where I found Binx.

Sometimes it was still a shock to see him with white fur and those little tiny black spots. I didn’t think it was something I’d ever be able to get used to. He blended in with the comforter.

“Hey, Binxy boo,” I cooed in a super girly voice. “I’ve been looking all over for you, boy.”

I sat down on the edge of the bed and placed my bag beside me. I dug around in it, looking for the vials of blood that I’d taken from Julian’s plant room in the basement. He had a refrigerator down there, and I had stumbled upon the vials of blood when I’d been nosing around through his things. I hadn’t told him I’d taken them because I hadn’t wanted him to tell me no or try to stop me.

Though why he had vials of everyone’s blood was beyond me.

Mine had been the only one missing, but I had no problem bleeding myself for a good cause.

“Finn,” I yelled without looking away from the inside of my bag. “I found him. Get up here and help me.”

I only kind of knew what I was doing, but I figured if anyone would be able to help me, it’d be Finn. He had plenty of experience when it came to spelling blood.

I wanted to use it to tie Binx’s lifespan to that of the members of my coven. That way we’d never have to lose him. He could be our mascot or something ridiculous like that.

“Who the fuck are you?” Finn shouted from the stairs.

Perhaps I should have taken my own advice and locked the damn door after we’d arrived. On the plus side, if it was some type of serial killer who’d walked through the door, I was thankful they’d run into Finn first. He’d already survived one serial killer, so I was sure he could find it in himself to live through another encounter.

“I know whoyouare,” Romero growled. “Get out of my house, boy. You’re not welcome here.”

Welp, not a serial killer then. Just a crazy man. It was hard to tell which was worse.

I sat the vials on the bed, making sure to do so gently because I didn’t want them to break. It wouldn’t do to get blood all over Romero’s boring white comforter, and then I’d have to steal more blood, and that would just be ridiculous.

Binx still had not moved or woken up.

This was weird behavior from him, and it sent a chill creeping down my spine. He always greeted me. He didn’t like many people, but he loved me very much and wasn’t afraid to show it.

“Binx,” I called out hesitantly as I reached for him. I ran the tips of my fingers gently along his spine.

Still, he did not move.

He.

Did.

Not.

Move.

His body did not rise and fall with every breath he took because my beautiful Binx was no longer breathing.

“Binx,” I croaked out, choking on the emotion clogging my throat. “Come on, pretty boy, open your eyes for me.”

What was that dripping down my face? A nose bleed? No, I was fucking crying again.

I didn’t want another reason to cry.