I set off for home, as relaxed as I’d been for months.
"You’re in a good mood," Cosmo said when I brushed my teeth.
He nudged the bathroom door open.
I motioned him out.
For once, he followed my instructions and waited patiently on the bed.
"Great evening?" he asked.
"I’d say so."
"Good. Because I’ve only been waiting for an update for ages. You never know, I might be on my second-to-last life. But yeah, just take your sweet time."
Was he grinning at me?
"Don’t you feel relaxed now that we know it’s as good as over?" I asked him.
"I do." Cosmo listened to my retelling with rapt attention and lots of nods. Then he agreed to let me sleep.
Before I drifted off, I remembered one niggling thing that I had meant to ask him.
"There are no wee folk about, right? Or werewolves and vampires? Aunt Violet always had garlic in her kitchen, but that’s only for cooking."
"Of course," he said. He paused to groom himself a little. “Naturally.”
Why did it take him so long to answer?
No, I thought. I mustn’t read something into every single pause he made.
All I had to do was to let him give me a complete list of paranormal or supernatural beings or entities I might encounter, after we had restored my aunt’s reputation and solved her murder.
I closed my eyes.
Thump.
I woke up with a start, with a heavy weight trying to suffocate me and my heartbeat so fast it drummed a staccato against my ribs.
Cosmo stared into my eyes.
"Was that you that went bump in the night?" I asked as he moved from my chest to the spot next to me.
"Very funny. I told you, you need training."
Now I was wide awake. "You’re kidding me."
Instead of answering, he jumped onto my dresser and from there—back onto my chest. "Ouch," I said. "That hurts."
"It wouldn’t have if you had slowed me down."
I glared at him, too tired and too sore to think of a witty retort. "When I’m asleep? Don’t do that again," I said.
He flicked his tail against my nose, left my bed, and snuggled into his basket.
I turned on my side, trying to get back to sleep.
Then, what seemed like a minute later, I opened my eyes to see him coming towards me. I crossed my arms over my chest.
