Probing deeper, Wren could slowly feel its frantic heartbeat like it was his own, its staggered breaths and confusion filling his chest and head as the curse attacked an unsuspecting and vulnerable body.
Through their connection, Wren followed the curse to its source, seeing everything like there was an X-ray lighting up underneath the fur—bones, veins, organs. He found the curse clinging to the raccoon’s nervous system like a parasite. He watched it pulse and grow with every passing second, and Wren knew that if he wasted any time it would be too late to remove it.
Opening the cage door, he reached in and laid his hand over the area, ignoring the sting of a fierce bite on his forearm through the fabric of his hoodie as the raccoon broke eye contact and acted in self-defense. Wren didn’t pull back as the bloodspilled, stoically gritting his teeth as he forced his magic into the affected area, covering the parasite and burning it out instead of tugging.
The raccoon struggled, biting and scratching more, but Wren held firm, wanting none of the curse left behind to grow again.
He could feel the skin around his eye get hot, blinded by the glow until he had to close his eyes tightly.
He and the raccoon both slumped against the cage as the curse burned out.
Wren’s heavy breathing was loud in the night, the raccoon’s whiny chirrups joining it.
Blu flew over and perched on a bar, nuzzling Wren’s cheek in concern. “I’m fine, Blu.”
When he’d gathered enough energy he grunted and forced himself upright, glancing into the cage to see the raccoon exhaustedly sprawled amid blood and foam.
Sparing only a glance at the throbbing mess that was now his arm, he anxiously checked the raccoon over.
Breaks were harder on animals than humans. That sort of magic wasn’t supposed to be used on them, and their bodies often gave out under the stress.
This little thing seemed like a fighter though. He could only thank the universe itself that he’d been able to get here in time.
“You’re safe now, darling,” he whispered, giving a small stroke between its eyes, which fell half-closed in exhaustion. “I’ll take you somewhere you can get looked at, okay? But first…” Setting his jaw, Wren turned his righteous gaze toward the house. “I need to teach someone a lesson.”
After closing the cage, Wren used his good arm to carry it back around the side of the house, then he banged on the front door without remorse leaving blood smears everywhere.
“What is the meaning of—” The woman cut herself off, first seeing the blood and rearing back, then looking at the raccoonin the cage. She cleared her throat, glancing at the surrounding houses again like she was ready to perform for an audience. “Oh…you caught it.”
Caught. Like it hadn’t been locked up in the first place.
Wren continued to glower.
“Well…” She smothered the guilt well, but Wren had good instincts. He could see the sweat on her brow and scent her stress in the air. “Good job. You can take the thing to be exterminated, and I’ll let the neighborhood know everything is fine.”
His lip curled next. “How about I take you instead?”
She blinked. “I’m sorry? What did you say?”
“Were you aware that your side gate was damaged? And your side light is broken?” he asked. “There’s even evidence that someone tried to enter through the window.”
“Y-yes,” she stuttered. “Yes, it’s all damage caused by that thing, of course.”
She was lying through her teeth.
“That’s impossible.”
“What’s impossible? It was cursed! Stranger things have happened.” She was still glancing around, like she was afraid someone was listening in. Or…no, like she washopingsomeone was. The nervousness had the lick of anticipation to it.
Wren didn’t know who or what she was protecting, but she wanted them to believe her little trick and pony show.
“An animal can’t try to pop your window open in the dead of night. The lack of opposable thumbs usually hinders that a little. Raccoons are dexterous and intelligent, but despite the cartoons dressing them up as criminals, they’re not actually running a crime ring that’s casing your house.”
“I don’t understand what nonsense you’re trying to spew. The raccoon is cursed. It’s destroying my property. I think I would have noticed if there was a man out here doing that instead.”
“I never mentioned a man.”
She froze.
