Chapter Text
I woke in a panic, startled by the green fizzle of brain activity downstairs. I drew a few shuddering breaths before flopping back on the bed, slapping a palm to my forehead. Sam had slept over. I'd already forgotten.
I took a second to consider the sad state of my affairs if having a person in my home when I awoke was this alarming.
Shuffling to the bathroom, I spared a glance in the mirror above my vanity. Hoo-boy. My whole face was puffy from crying and barely getting any sleep. I sucked a little air through my teeth and grabbed some clothes.
When I plodded downstairs, I heard the front door shut. I reached out with my mind and felt Sam moving towards the edge of the yard. O-kay, clearly he wasn't ready for morning chitchat. I poured myself a cup of coffee and stepped out onto the back porch. If he wanted space, I'd give it to him, but I was in no mood to sulk.
The outdoors made me gasp. The yard was in full bloom, and more vibrant than I'd ever seen it. I eyed it suspiciously, sure that there was some fairy influence at play. When I stooped to check my tomatoes, though, I checked my annoyance. I plucked a deep red beefsteak and smiled as I inhaled its scent. The letters “BLT” crossed my mind.
"I'm thinkin' about headin' into work," Sam called, making me flinch a little.
I stood and looked back at him. He was leaning against a pin oak, his arms crossed in front of him, his face a mask.
"You sure that's a good idea?" I walked closer, but kept my distance. "You're feelin' okay, I mean?"
He chuckled darkly. "I'm alive," he replied.
My mouth flattened into a tight line and I nodded, not sure what else to say. The moment lingered uncomfortably before Sam cleared his throat. "I'm gonna need a ride," he mumbled.
"Oh! I'll get my keys–"
Sam started to protest, but stopped himself. He pushed his lips to one side, and I heard him searching for a less awkward alternative. He was coming up empty-handed.
"It's no problem," I said, trying to sound friendly.
"I appreciate it," he said, sounding not at all grateful.
I pinched my mouth shut and stomped into the house. So much for not sulking.
We rode in silence. The air felt thick and smothering. Sam's mind was an incomprehensible–Word of the Day–tangle of anxiety.
I needed something to cut through the tension. “Radio?” He made a noncommittal noise.
We both reached for the tuner to turn the radio on at the same time, and our hands touched briefly. Literal sparks flew and I yelped. Electric fizzled in my fingertips as I pulled my hand away.
"What was that?" Alarm rang in Sam's voice.
My heart was pounding in my chest. "I think it was magic."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sam's eyebrows go up and his mouth hang. "Okay," he drawled. "What kind?"
"It could be fairy, maybe?" I sucked in a breath, remembering that Faery had been sealed off. "And now I've got no way to find out for sure. Shit."
"But what happened? What was that?" Sam's alarm was turning into panic.
"I don't know, but I'll do my best to find out," I sighed as we pulled into the gravel parking lot of the bar. I stopped the car and we looked at each other full in the face for the first time since I'd used the cluviel dor to bring him back to life. I realized that something in Sam's eyes seemed different, cloudy. His face was tense and he looked older beyond his years. He was pale. The warnings about the unexpected consequences of using the magic came echoing through my head. What had I done?
"I promise," I said, my throat dry.
Sam nodded once, then stepped out of my car. My eyes followed him the whole way across the parking lot. I waited there for fifteen minutes before I finally dropped my car in gear. With a last glance, I pulled away.