“Are you hurt?” “No.” “Then why are there bruises all over your face?
Under the cut!
You pray that the rain pouring outside will drown out your footsteps. Holding on to the wall you slowly move forward, trying not to stumble, especially with all the lights off. You grimace, holding back a groan as your foot twists and a sharp pain pierces through your leg.
Senkias are particularly nasty creatures. But some part of them belongs to the spiritual world - or so you've been told. So even if Dakota, Castillo and Cristina told you to stay put (you can vividly remember Castillo saying “If I have to, I will tie you to a fucking radiator.”), of course you had to do something. And if this something means sneaking out in the middle of the night to hunt down the senkia on your own? Then so be it.
Unfortunately, you haven’t thought about the other part of the monster – the one that isn’t tied to a spirit. Your bruised body, a, most likely, sprained knee and a few cuts are enough to tell you hunting the senkia alone wasn’t one of your best ideas.
Reaching to the bathroom door handle, you almost congratulate yourself when you hear a sharp click and suddenly you can see a light to your side. You freeze, your other hand immediately going to the gun at your hip.
“What are you doing?”
As you release the air you were holding, you slowly turn around, your shoulders relaxing.
Castillo’s seating in a plushy chair, a mug of hot tea in his hands. He sips on it while pinning you with his eyes to the spot you’re standing in.
You feel like a teenager caught by their parent while sneaking into the house from a party.
Making sure to stay away from the light, you shift your weight to your other leg. “I couldn’t sleep. Went for a walk.”
“Oh really?” he raises his brows and you know he doesn’t believe you even for a second.
And then something catches his attention. Castillo’s whole face changes when he stands up and in a few strides he’s in front of you. Shit.
“Are you hurt?” You can hear something in his voice – concern. And fear.
Turning your head down so it’s harder for him to see you lie, “No.”
His hands are on your cheeks, bringing your face up. “Then why are there bruises all over your face?”
“…It’s dirt.” You almost cringe at the questioning tone of your voice.
You can see a glimmer of amusement in his eyes, only for it to be overwhelmed by worry the next second.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
His fingers comb through your hair while he checks you for other injuries.
“You can’t do that again. Do you know how dangerous and irresponsible it was? Senkias are not your ordinary ghost. And…”
“I’m okay,” you try to stop Castillo before he starts his rambling.
“…what would happen if you were killed? Or worse? Because, let me tell you, I’m not hunting your dead ass. Especially if you’d become a senkia.”
“I’m–“
“Do you know how much of paperwork we’d have to fill out? And…”
“Daniel.” It finally shut him up. He looks at you unblinking, like a scared deer caught in the headlights. You bring your hand to his cheek and he sighs. “I’m okay.”
He shakes his head and brings you closer, kissing your temple, his warm, safe arms encircling you. “At least wake me up next time.”
You smile into him, instantly regretting it when you feel the sting of your cuts.
Castillo leans back, taking another look at you and shakes his head again. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up before Dakota sees you.”
