Page 89 of This Blood That Breaks Us

“Oh. What is all this?” I asked.

“I’m restocking the pond. I’ve been put in charge of all of it. Want to help? Sirius said I could name all the animals if I want. I’d love the company.”

“What do you think, Thane? Do we have time?”

“I’ve got all the time in the world.”

We made our way to the pond and helped Connell unload his crates. Half were ducks and ducklings, and the others were filled with fish in plastic bags. The overcast of clouds left a chill in the air, and the soft wind from the nearby sea blew the green algae covering our pond.

Our pond.This was my new home. Taking care of the grounds was something I’d need to get used to.

“You see any that are calling to you, sir?” Connell said.

A large white duck sat in a crate surrounded by her ducklings, and I leaned over to see them cuddled together.

“Welcome home.”

“What the fuck are you doing?” Zach’s shadow blocked the sun.

“Here. Meet Cindy.” I plopped the mother duck into his arms. “Isn’t she cool? I named her.”

“It’s a duck,” Thane said.

“Yeah, I see that.” Zach held out his arms to get her away from him.

“There’s one more if you want to name it.” Thane kneeled and scooped up a little yellow duck.

“Come on. It won’t kill you to name a fluffy animal,” I said.

“It might.”

I placed Cindy on the shore, and Zach got handed his little duck. Her ducklings pooled around her in an excited flurry.

“Fine. What about Cerberus?”

“That’s perfect, sir.” Connell put Cerberus next to Cindy, and they waddled toward the water. “Zach, The Just, bestowed you the highest honor, littlest sir.”

“What did he call me?” Zach whispered, and I held in my laughter.

The ducks waded into the water. Cindy’s white coat stood out in the bluish-green water.

“I had an actual reason for being here. I’m looking for Will. I can’t find him anywhere. He was supposed to be waiting for me outside the door when I was with Sirius, and he vanished.”

“We’ll all help look!” Connell said.

Zach’s smile faded. His worry was felt in the pit of my stomach. We all split up. Connell went back into the castle while the rest of us scoured the grounds. The grass was muddy and wet from yesterday’s rain, and I spotted a pair of prints leading from the castle and straight through the garden. Whoever it was made a beeline in one direction, walking through the mud and smearing it all over the stones in the garden.

As I followed the steps past the maze, I knew where they were headed. The old church’s door was wide open.

“Will?” I called out as I reached the doorframe.

There was a soft stirring, and when I walked inside, he was sitting on his knees in the corner with his forehead pressed firmly against the mural. With no sun, the old church was dim, only illuminated with burning candles.

“I found him!” I called out, and went to Will’s side.

His eyes were black, and he mumbled incoherently into the wall.

“Hey, it’s okay.” I placed a hand on his back.