Page 82 of A Curse On Black Lake (Black Lake Gothic Cowboys #1)

Chapter sixty-one

Eliana

Eddy drives down the street, and I can barely keep my eyes open as I direct him to Eden Ranch. But then I realize he won’t have a way to get back to where he’s staying.

“Wait, you need to get to where you’re going. I can drive, go back to where you’re staying and I’ll take myself home.”

Eddy shakes his head and pats my thigh. “No, don’t worry about it. I’ll call someone or I’ll walk. You need help, Eliana. Please let me do that for you,” he says. His eyes are genuine. They always have been.

I sigh. “Fine,” I mumble.

I don’t know how Killian will feel about having him at the house, but what choice do I have? It doesn’t help that Eddy is right, I can’t drive, and I’d probably end up crashing.

“Thank you,” I rasp.

He nods.

“Your next left,” I say, pointing to the street.

Killian is right. I’m going to get a shower, check on the animals, pet Tiny for a bit, and sleep.

I feel like I could sleep for a year. I’m all cried out, but I’m sure more will come later.

My entire life went up in flames, and it’s not like I created a backup plan.

But then again, it won’t much matter — I’ll be dead. I still need to write that will.

Leaning my head against the window watching the fields pass us, I notice the Spirits are oddly quiet, which usually only happens when Killian is with me. Weird.

“Eden Ranch on the left,” I mumble.

Maybe I need to accept that I can’t find the real killer and handle the curse at the same time. In theory it would have worked, but I was a fool for thinking that the killer would come out on my terms. He’s been acting on his own the whole time.

Hanging myself out to dry was never going to work.

If Wyatt isn’t the one orchestrating all of this, maybe we can get him to see that Killian is being set up. And if I told Wyatt about the curse, it might help show that the killer is using it as a potential means of motivation.

There aren't many people in this world, let alone this town, who know about the curse because it disappeared into the forgotten history of this town. Maybe Wyatt will see that … assuming he believes me.

In any case, I can’t keep thinking about the curse. I have to do things one at a time, and Killian is my first and only priority.

The curse on this land cannot be controlled. It has wreaked havoc upon Black Lake for over a century. You may be chosen, but you do not get to choose when.

“Thanks, that was so helpful.”

“What?” Eddy says, pulling up next to the house.

“Nothing,” I mumble and hop out.

“Do the Spirits still talk to you?” Eddy asks.

I huff. He was the first to know about them, and it strangely didn’t scare him when we were kids. “Oh yeah, they never stopped.”

Eddy blinks a few times, and his body language changes.

“Are you alright?” I ask him.

“Yeah, fine, but do you want to go for a walk? It might help you calm down a little,” he suggests.

“Thanks, but no, I’m going to head to bed. I’m tired, and I need to get to Killian first thing in the morning. Are you sure you’re good to go back into town?” I ask him. I don’t even care that it’s only five. I want to sleep, and I want Eddy to say goodbye.

He takes a step closer to me, and I automatically step back.

The hair on the back of my neck stands at attention.

The Spirits start screaming.

“Walk with me, Eliana,” he says darkly.

I take a step back, and he takes one forward. “What are you doing?” I ask him.

“Come on, it’s been a while. I want to talk to my old friend, and I haven’t seen the lake in a while.”

“Nothing has changed since you left,” I tell him.

“I’m sure it hasn’t. Come on,” he says, gesturing.

The front door is locked. There’s no way I could get in the house before Eddy catches up to me, and the car keys are currently in his hands. I could get down to the barns, but even then I don’t know if I could get a horse in time.

All I know is, this feels wrong, and Eddy has something to do with it.

I look towards the hill. It’s worth going for it. Maybe Sunny can help me out and kick Eddy in the face.

“Eliana, please don’t make me ask again.”

“But why are you asking?” I take a step towards the hill that goes down to the barns.

“Come on, you’re not stupid. You’re one of the smartest people I know,” he says with a triumphant grin.

My skin gets cold, and the sour taste of fear fills my mouth.

I guess it’s not Wyatt.

“It’s you,” I whisper.

The Spirits go silent.

I’ve never seen a face of evil before. But Eddy’s features transform before my eyes. His sweet disposition disappears, and his eyes go dark. He stares at me with terrifying, deadly intent.

“You can run, my love, but there is no place you can go that I wouldn’t find you,” he says, tilting his head like a predator to prey.

“What do you want with me?” I ask him, legs itching to run.

“I want you to cooperate, and then this will all be over,” he says.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I will make sure Killian doesn’t leave that jail cell alive if you don’t come with me now.”

“Why?” I scream.

“Because you’re mine!” he roars, and rushes me, grabbing my throat and squeezing so hard my feet lift off the ground.

I gasp for air, scratching at his arm, but he doesn’t budge. Edward is not the small boy I used to play with anymore. He’s a grown man with an extra hundred pounds on me.

“Please,” I rasp, my vision starting to tunnel.

His hand loosens, and I fall to my knees coughing, trying to get my bearings, but he grabs my arm, pulling me to my feet, forcing me towards the lake.

Black Lake curves around Killian’s property, and there’s a section closer, about two or so acres from the house.

I try to jerk out of his grasp, but he yanks me back, nearly pulling my shoulder out of its socket, and he cuffs my arms behind my back.

“Where the hell did you get handcuffs?”

“I’ve been preparing for you for a long time, Eliana. I knew you’d fight me. As you should, but because I know you well, I’ve prepared and planned for every possible outcome when it comes to you,” he says.

I glance at him over my shoulder and try to take a step to the side. Maybe if I can get him to think I’m cooperating, I can run.

“What was there to plan for? I don’t understand what this is all about?”

“You’ll understand when we get there.”

“Eddy, please, I’m begging you. Whatever your plan is, we can talk. We’re friends, right?”

“We’re so much more than that, and you know it,” he says in my ear.

I fight the vomit crawling up my throat and keep trying to wiggle out of his hold. What in the world is he talking about? I haven’t seen him in over ten years.

Yesterday, I would have given in, but today I’ve had enough. I have to see Killian tomorrow. It can’t end this way. I wiggle a little more, and then I feel a sharp tip poking my ribs.

“Ow!”

“Keep trying to get away and I’ll slice your achilles so you can’t run. Your choice,” he says.

I still in his grip.

“Are you going to kill me?”