Prophet steps back, holding his arm out in front of him to stop me.“She’s okay, just give her a minute.”
My heart shatters at the sight of Grace, her tiny body shaking in his arms, her fur matted with blood.I can’t breathe, can’t think.“What happened to her?We need to call a vet!”
Prophet doesn’t answer right away.Instead, he continues to mutter his chant, his face grim.He shifts Grace carefully, making sure she’s tucked securely in his arms before he meets my gaze.“She’s alive.That’s what matters right now.She’s been through something, but I’ll take care of her.”
“How?She’s bleeding.She needs medical attention.”
“Hannah, you need to trust me.I’ve done this before, but it takes a lot of concentration.She will be fine...I just need time.”
My breath comes in ragged gasps, and I nod, barely able to focus as my eyes stay locked on Grace.There’s blood staining everything around me.It’s all over my bed, on the floor.How can such a small animal lose this much blood and still be alive?
I’ve never felt so helpless.
Prophet looks at me with steady eyes, his voice calm but insistent.“You need to call Blade.Tell him someone broke into your home and hurt your cat—”
“Her name is Grace,” I interrupt, the sharpness in my voice surprising me.
He looks down at Grace, his lips curving into a small, approving smile.“Fitting.Tell him I stopped the bleeding, and she’ll be fine, but he needs to get here.”
A rush of emotions hits me.“You stopped the bleeding?”My voice wavers as I reach out, wanting to touch Grace, but Prophet steps back, his stance protective.
“Yes.I just need a few more moments with her.Hannah, I need you to call Bladenow.”
Nodding numbly, I turn toward the door, my thoughts clouded with panic.“I left my phone in your truck.”
Prophet’s gaze never leaves me as he moves to my bedroom doorway and continues into the living room.“Go get it.I can watch you from here.”
I hesitate for a brief second, but there’s no time to waste.Taking a deep breath, I hurry out of the house, my heart pounding in my chest.
The cool air hits me as I step outside, the weight of the situation sinking in.The truck sits out the front on the road, the engine off, but the door is still open.Grabbing my purse from the passenger seat, my fingers tremble as I pull out my phone, unlock it, and search for Blade’s number.
Finally, I press the call button, holding the phone to my ear, my breath shallow.The ringing stretches on, each second dragging longer than the last.
When Blade picks up, his voice is gruff.“Hannah, did Prophet drop you home?”
“Blade, someone broke into my house.Grace...she’s hurt.Prophet’s here, and he stopped the bleeding, but I can’t see how.He said you need to get here.She’s in bad shape.Prophet says she’ll be fine, but I want to take her to a vet.”My voice cracks as I speak, the words tumbling out in a rush.
There’s a brief silence on the other end, and then Blade’s voice is more urgent.“I’m on my way.Stay with Prophet.Let him do his thing.I promise you, Grace will be fine.”
“How?”
“It’s complicated, but, babe, Prophet knows what he’s doing.”
“Hurry, please.”My fingers grip the phone so tightly my knuckles turn white.
Turning back toward the house, I close the door softly behind me.Prophet is already back in the bedroom with Grace, his attention focused on her.I take a steadying breath before walking over to him.
“Blade’s on his way,” my voice shaky.“He’ll be here soon.”
Prophet nods, his face unreadable.“Good.Now, we wait.”
I step back, carefully watching Prophet as he tends to Grace.A cold, heavy silence fills the room, the only sound is the soft murmur of Prophet’s voice as he continues his chant, his focus unwavering.
“Hannah, could you put on a pot of coffee?”Prophet’s voice is steady, almost calm, as he shifts his gaze from Grace to me.
“Now?”I ask, still trying to process everything happening around me.
“Yes,” he replies, his tone unyielding.He doesn’t ask, he tells.
