Ch. 18

They all stare at me as I move toward the snake.

Tears poke at my eyes. "Is that you?" I reach out towards it and it rears back. I look into its eyes. " It is you, it is you!"

The sparkle in its eyes comes through and seems to shrink slowly. It hisses softly and wraps itself around my arm and rests its head on my shoulder.

I gently pat its head and look at what he was protecting. My pups are hiding in a bush, scared to death. I walk up to them and open my arms. "Thank goodness they found you, I was so worried."

They run up to me crying. "Mommy!" All three of them jump into my arms.

"Let's bring you home, we have a lot of work to do."

Once we get home, Arkell gives us all a hug. "How did you tame a Spirit Snake?"

"I'm not sure"

The snake moves to my other arm and circles around my Fox mark.

"I get it now, it's our connection. I just hope that I'm not keeping him here. I want him to move on after all of this." I gently pat his head.

Arkell sighs. "You have such a kind heart." He wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead. "That's one reason I love you."

My face heats up and I smile. "Thank you."

Comac hisses protectively.

Arkell backs up. "Alright then, I'll be back later after talking to Junko."

I glance at Comac and his eyes change.

They're no longer the same sparkly wonder I know and love. They look feral. It's almost like he turned evil.

Fear builds up inside of me as I watch him slowly slither off my arm. "Arkell?"

He quickly grabs him behind the head. "Well, it's not often a Spirit Snake confirms your suspicions. We will be right back."

They both leave as Damien walks through the door. He looks at my shocked face and rushes over." What did I miss? Your pale, are you okay?"

I nod "Yeah, you missed a lot." I explain everything that happened and how Comac is now a Spirit Snake. I also tell him that my Fox pups are home and safe.

"I didn't think that he was capable of that much hatred," Damien says after a while of silence.

I look at him confused. "What?"

"When someone dies and they have so much hatred for something or someone, they come back as a snake to seek out their revenge. Cormac's spirit must be angry that he was taken away from you and his pups."

I sit down and try to process everything I just heard. That explains why he came to me so easily.

Damien nods. "All we can do now is wait to see what Arkell tells us."

"Before I forget, where's Miranda?"

"She went home, but she's been updated on everything. She sends her condolences."

"Thank you." I lean back against the wall and rub my temple. My head is starting to pound from all the stress of today.

Damien smiles. "Go rest, I'll bring the pups."

He lifts them and holds out his hand.

I take it and stand.

"Let's go to the spare room for now. At least until this is all taken care of."

We both walk past our bedroom.

I stop for a second and look inside. There are two males on their knees scrubbing the floor and the wall.

We lock eyes for a moment, and I duck my head and walk away.

"Did Nobu take him?"

Damien is silent for a moment. "Yes. don't worry it's not until tomorrow. If I may ask, what would you like to do with his body?"

We get to the spare room and set the pups down beside the bedding.

I sit down and Damien sits next to me. " I don't know." As I say that an idea comes to mind. It's how they buried their loved ones in a movie I saw. "Is there a place where we can get a young tree? Maybe one that bears fruit?"

He looks at me confused. "What do you need a tree for?"

"When we bury him, we will plant the fruit tree. He will feed the tree, helping it grow and be fruitful. The tree will feed us and his children, that way he can still help us even though he's gone."

He looks away from me, with tears in his eyes. "That sounds beautiful, I think he would love that."

I smile and lay down. "I hope Arkell comes back soon."

Damien lies next to me. "He'll be back soon, hopefully with answers." He wraps his arms around me and strokes my hair.

I curl up close to him and he's really warm. Almost immediately I fall asleep from the stress and exhaustion.