Chapter Four - Part Five

“Yeah, I’m ok.” I assured. “He didn’t hurt me. But I have to go with him tomorrow, to see the witch.”

“Are you crazy?” Adelle said, now looking just as incredulous as Ethan. “It could be a trap – Naomi you can’t.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a trap. I have to go and try to deal with this. I can’t risk this getting out.”

“Fine,” Ethan interjected, eyes flat and hard. “Then I’m coming with you –”

“No,” I shook my head. “Just me. He made it pretty clear that I shouldn’t get anyone else involved.”

The three of us stood silently together, close, but somehow distant at the same time.

“I just want this night to be over.” I admitted, with a deep sigh. “Take me home?” I said to Ethan.

Because suddenly I was dog-tired, and I honestly didn’t think that I had any more fight left in me that night.

But the look that had taken ahold of Ethan’s usually sweet face was one that I had yet to see before. It was indicative of the kind of pain that is masked with the fury of a volcano.

“You know, I can smell him.” Ethan said in a low, dangerous voice as he looked me in the eye. “He’s all over you.”

And then there was the crunch of Ethan’s feet on the grass as he walked away, alone. Addy and I watched as he slid his keys from his pocket and we heard the chirp of his car as he pressed the unlock button. He didn’t bother with looking back as he climbed into his car and sped away. Shell-shocked, I turned to Addy and she enclosed me in her arms like a true friend, reminding me again why Ethan was a distraction.

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