Graveyard Watchman (Book 1)

Chapter 44

                 

"Appropriate name..." Aunt Kelly says before stopping.

I watch as something catches her eye through the window. She squints as if to get a better view and her mouth opens slightly, like she can't believe what she's seeing. Her face turns to me and I jump out of my chair, almost tripping on the carpet to see for myself.

And there he is--his black cloak waving slightly in the wind. He's standing with his legs slightly apart and his hands grasped together about two hundred feet away on a small hill just beyond the parking lot.

"That's him!" I say a little louder than intended. "That's the Watchm...I mean, Dominic."

"Oh, I believe you." she confirms. "But, why is he showing himself?"

"What do you mean? I see him all the time."

"In broad daylight?" she clips back.

"Well yeah, sort of. There's usually some daylight left when I see him at the cemetery." I answer, wondering why she's even asking.

Her face turns to me and she says, "Have you ever seen him in the early afternoon outside your motel room?"

Okay, she's got me there.

"Well, no. But I guess he's doing what he's supposed to be doing-- watching out for me."

"Kate, he wouldn't be making it obvious unless he was trying to get your attention."

Shit.

"O—Okay, I'll get dressed, hang on." I say, frantically trying to find my other pair of clean jeans and a long sleeved shirt.

"Here." Aunt Kelly hands me a brush as I slip on my black hoodie.

"Thanks." I say, walking toward the bathroom as she turns back to the window.

"Okay, he's still there." she calls to me. "And it doesn't look like he's moved." she says, as if giving me a play-by-play of his actions. I quickly brush my teeth, then swipe a few times at my lashes with some mascara before putting on deodorant and chapstick.

"Shit! He's gone! H--He just disappeared!" Aunt Kelly whisper-shouts. I know she's trying to keep it down because Uncle John is sleeping in the other room but she's clearly frazzled.

I run out of the bathroom and grab my keys as I shove my phone into my back pocket. "I'll drive to the cemetery." I tell her. "Maybe that's where he's gone."

"Okay." she pauses. "And Kate?" her eyes already welling up. "B—Be careful, honey."

I smile and nod as I reach for the door. "I'll try to text you."

Running as fast as I can to get to my car, I come extremely close to slamming into a black shape standing just before me. Suddenly, what feels like large hands slip around my waist and I immediately look up to see Dominic's yellow-brown eyes staring down at me. At first I smile because if I'm being honest, I missed his smell and his touch. But before I can say a word, he swoops me into his arms and my world goes black...