Frost Arch by Kate Bloomfield Page A

happy to have a day of freedom.
    The morning passed in a blur, but the time came when I reentered my room, hoisted Hawthorn into my arms and carried him under my coat through the kitchen and to the back door. The sun was just rising now, casting an orange glow across the clouds.
    I put him down onto the ground where he bounced away instantly, almost invisible against the snow, to do his business. After a few minutes of bouncing around happily he came back to me, his startling blue eyes expectant.
    “I’m going into the city today.” I told him; though I had a feeling he already knew perfectly what was going on. “I want you to stay hidden and out of sight. Don’t let anyone see you.”
    Hawthorne’s head cocked to the side, his ears pricked up. I smiled, “Don’t look at me like that, just do it.” I now kneeled next to him, my brow furrowed as I decided what was best. “I don’t think I’ll be able to look after you much longer. You’re supposed to be free, not couped up.”
    Hawthorne’s tiny wings seemed to droop as I spoke. I felt awful.
    “I’m glad I rescued you from Jefferson, Hawthorne.” I petted him, “But you can’t stay with me forever. I’ll lose my job, or worse, they’ll find you and do something horrible.”
    Hawthorne whimpered and tried to clamber back into my arms. He stood on his hind legs and placed his front paws on my knees, trying to reach my face to lick me. I gave him a hug and stood up straight. “Until the day comes when we have to say goodbye, I’ll make the most of the time we have together.”
    Hawthorn whined and although I felt guilty it needed to be done. I knew from the beginning that I couldn’t keep him. I just wondered when the say would came that I would need to say goodbye.
    “For now I want you to enjoy a whole day outside.” I smiled at him, “I’ll come and get you tonight, okay? Just stay safe and hidden. Go and play in the forest.”
    Hawthorne did as he was instructed and bounded out of sight. He blended in with the snow around him now. Quite convenient. I made my way to the stables and saw Jack just emerging from them.
    I smiled and waved when he noticed me approaching.
    “Ready?” He asked.
    “Sure.”
    We took the trail that led away from the Forsythe manor, beyond the low wall that surrounded the property. Once we had rounded a corner and the mansion was no longer in sight Jack let out a sigh. It seemed he had a bit on his mind, but I kept quiet the whole way into town. We emerged onto the street where I had had my first horrible encounter with the infamous Seth Swaggart, and where I had first met Jack. Though now of course there was no deathly thin boy dressed in black anywhere. The thought of seeing him again made me shiver as I remembered the feeling that had coursed through my body when I had looked into his eyes. Like ice freezing me in place.
    I drove this memory from my mind and tried to keep pace with Jack’s long strides. The snow crunched under our shoes as we walked down the road. Not many people were about as it was so early in the morning. I wondered where we were going, and what errands Jack had to run.
    Before I got a chance to ask, Jack pointed to a small shop to our left. I remembered seeing this place when I first walked through here. It appeared to be a mail service. We walked through the door, a bell clanging loudly. Jack led me over the threshold and waited by a low counter. It was quite warm here, but cramped. The room was empty of any other people, and quite small. Beyond the counter I saw an adjoining room with several rolled up pieces of parchment slotted into different holes in a wall. Every now and then a hand would reach through from the other side of the wall to take a scroll of parchment. I watched rather interested.
    A second later a large, older woman with long, grey fly away hair bustled into view.
    “Hello, hello!” She addressed us in a rather booming voice, “Ah, Jack!” She crowed at the sight of him,