I found them standing at the outskirts of the graveyard, watching the sky. Watching for me. I came up behind them. They looked so human, even though I knew two of them weren’t. But three were…Cornelius, his white hair reflecting the starlight; and James and Miri, hand in hand, their heads bent together in shared whispers.
“I have it,” I said softly. Miri still jumped.
Her hair stuck up at weird angles and she wore her pajamas. I’d practically forgotten that normal people were still asleep at this hour. I looked away from Miri, regret - again, always - making me wish she’d never met me. The sky had turned a navy blue, brightening with the new day that wasn’t far away.
When I looked back at the group, I found Longinus looking at me. His shoulders sagged with relief while his gaze traveled hungrily over the spear in my hand. He licked his lips and his fingertips twitched, but he dragged his eyes to mine and nodded tersely.