Page 74 of Hollow

“That so?”

“Yep. Absolutely no way could you handle a dicking like that. Obviously, I’m more powerful by default.”

“So you say.” Dimitri nuzzled into the crook of Jack’s neck, teasing him with nibbling kisses. “Perhaps someday soon I will have to show you exactly what I can take.”

“Oh?”

The couple rolled around in the dirt, smiling and laughing and enjoying life together. Dimitri didn’t know what was in store for him, how long he could keep this simple, happy life with Jack, but he would hold onto it with all his strength.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“Howdy ho, my creepy crawlies. It’s your boy, Jack Whoa Lantern.” Jack grinned as he talked into the camera. “I know, I know, it’s been a minute since I’ve posted. Y’all wouldn’t believe the bs we’ve been going through.”

Jack planned on posting some content to explain his recent absence for the last two weeks, but he didn’t really want to delve into the specifics. Mostly, this was Dimitri’s story to tell, one he undoubtedly would never share with his followers. Plus, it wasn’t like anyone was really going to believe a billionaire came to Sleepy Hollow intent on capturing Dimitri and killing Jack.

“Things are settling around here,” Jack said, rolling past any explanations and right into the pleasantries. “As you can see, Deer Daddy is up to his usual.”

Jack shifted the camera to face out through the window, recording Dimitri who sprinkled handfuls of seeds, grains, and small nuts in the front yard for the birds that swarmed. Well, for the crows who had returned. Any other birds that once frolicked in the area had been quickly run off by Nikolai and his troops. Flock. Murderous whatever.

“I swear, y’all think he doesn’t talk, but he does.” Jack zoomed the camera in on Dimitri, whose mouth moved as he spoke to Nikolai above all others.

And Jack knew it was Nikolai, because the bird was always the one to perch atop Dimitri’s antlers.

“He talks more to those birds than he does to me. I’m telling you, he can hold a whole ass conversation with them. Meanwhile, they’re just going caw-caw-caw, flappity flap flap chirp chirp bird speak or whatever.” Jack made a flippant gesture. “I’m sure there will be a bird watcher in the comments who can translate.”

Jack continued silently recording Dimitri, unsure what to say in the moment. Only Dimitri could leave Jack speechless. He smirked, keeping the camera steady as he half-started something quippy before realizing it wasn’t good enough, and he’d need to voice over this video later. Something worthy of Dimitri’s random musings.

It appeared that Dimitri and Nikolai had broken out into an argument. The rest of the flock stayed clear as the pair went back and forth, Dimitri waving his hands, Nikolai flapping his wings, and Jack laughing in the distance as he filmed.

Such a perfect, carefree moment. That was until the fog surrounding them shifted. It carried a warning in the air that sent a chill through Jack, the kind of sensation he hadn’t felt since his mother left with most of her warding spells.

The fog turned denser than usual. Jack felt the pull of the enchantment protecting him from intrusion. A last failsafe designed to alert him should the magic of the fog fail to keep out intruders, but such a thing had never occurred before.

Jack stopped recording and watched the edges of the woods where silhouettes filled every direction.

The crows cawed, flapping their wings, and circling above at Dimitri’s behest. His stance shifted, readying himself for the looming threat.

Jack’s muscles tensed at the onslaught of armed hunters who crept through the fog with their guns trained on Dimitri.

“Not fucking happening.” Jack raced outside furiously.

Shadows descended, preparing to eviscerate all the hunters. There were so many surrounding them. One by one, he used his shadows to gauge the headcount. He reached a hundred before someone cut through the crowd and interrupted him.

“You may wish to stay your hand, Horseless Headsman,” the finely dressed young man warned.

“Give me one good reason,” Jack tsked.

“Patrick,” Dimitri growled, his glowing green eyes locked on the man.

This must have been another member of the Hearst family, likely offended that Jack and Dimitri had slaughtered the head of their home. He looked like a younger, more muscular version of Gordon. His spine didn’t hunch as much, his suit fit more sleekly, and his hair both atop his head and on his face was fuller and thicker. Mostly, his blue eyes didn’t possess the same milky discoloration as Gordon Hearst’s. No, these eyes were sharp and menacing, locking onto Jack with malicious ire.

“I can give several,” Patrick said with the same cocky arrogance Gordon once spoke with. “But let’s focus on the most pressing reason.”

Patrick pulled out a small electronic box and flipped a switch. A red light turned on, and a high-pitched shriek whispered in the air. The frequency was one even Jack’s shadows struggled to hear.

“Aaaahhhhh,” Dimitri screamed, cupping his hands over his ears as he collapsed to the ground.

Jack panicked, frozen and unsure what to do.