Will firmly repeated. His eyes glanced past Vuk at me, but not my face. His gaze lay lower, on the locket he'd given me.
Vuk followed his master's gaze and his eyes widened. He pursed his lips and a ghost of a smile slipped across his normally stoic face. Vuk gently placed his hand on my back and gestured to the other side of the car. "If you would seat yourself around the other side, we haven't much time," he told me.
"Much time for-" My question was interrupted by a gasp from Will. I turned to him and saw his eyes were shut and he ground his teeth together in a painful grimace.
"Please hurry," Vuk insisted, and gave me a push toward the rear of the car.
I hurried around and slid into the far-side passenger seat. Vuk took the wheel, and sped forward into the nearest driveway. He reversed us with a force that nearly made me change seats to the front because I wasn't wearing my seatbelt. I quickly put on the belt and gripped the seats. A cold, clammy hand settled on mine, and I glanced down to see Will's hand covering mine.
Will rolled his head toward me and smiled. "Our first date seems to have been a failure," he whispered.
I weakly smiled and gave his hand a squeeze. "It's fine. I had fun. Well, until your illness," I replied.
He chuckled and faced forward. His eyes closed and his breathing relaxed just a little. In a few minutes we arrived at our cabins, and Vuk parked the car in the driveway. He hopped out and opened Will's door. Vuk slung one of Will's arms over his shoulders and half-dragged him toward the door.
I followed them. "Do you need help?" I asked him.
"Not tonight, Miss Grace, and do not worry for the Master. He will be fine," Vuk assured me.
I opened the cabin door and Vuk dragged Will into the entrance. Will grasped the door frame and turned to me. "I'll see you tomorrow. I'm sure I will be fine by then," he told me.
"Promise?" I whispered.
"I swear it," he returned.
"I'll keep you to it," I warned him.
He smiled, nodded, and dropped his arm to his side. Vuk dragged him inside and turned to me. "If you would please close the door," he requested.
I took one last, long glance at Will, and slowly shut the door. The heavy wooden portal closed on them with a dull thud and I was left in the dark in more ways than one.