Page 30 of Dark Stars
All the same, Bobby didn't relax, ready torun like hell the moment they were spotted. Next to him, Alejo wasstill and quiet, but tension ran like a taut cord through him,ready to snap at any moment.
Eventually, finally, the cultists withdrewfrom that part of the forest, and Bobby relaxed ever so slightly."Didn't think they'd be this persistent."
"I mean, you did steal their precious milk,and if they know you gave it to your grandfather… You said she'd bepissed, right? That this would cause all kinds of drama?"
"Oh, yeah, for sure. Shub-Niggurath andCthulhu are probably battling it out right now, and dragging therest of my family into it. Would be hilarious to watch."
Alejo frowned. "Wouldn't they drag you intothe fighting, for causing it to begin with?"
"I'm not to blame for offering a gift."
"But you offered it precisely to start afight."
Bobby shrugged. "I made a sincere offer ofsomething powerful to an Old One. Motive doesn't matter, onlysincerity of purpose. I was quite sincere in making Cthulhu happyand in causing trouble."
Alejo looked cross-eyed for a minute beforescowling at him. "You're giving me a headache. I'm never bitchingabout my family's antics ever again."
Snickering, Bobby looped an arm around hisshoulders and drew him into a soft kiss. "Broadly, the less senseit makes to humans, the more sense it makes to us. You'll get usedto it, though ideally you'll also rarely have to deal with myfamily. I do want you to meet my father at some point, though."
"Not your mother?"
"You'll meet her no matter what any of uswants, and her reaction could range from not caring to wanting toeat you."
"Lovely," Alejo muttered. "Can we get out ofhere, yet?"
"Soon," Bobby said. "It sounds like they'releaving, going to search for us elsewhere." He frowned. "I don'tthink we can go back to the hotel."
"Can't you just use your primordial arcanato make them forget about us, or forget the hotel room, or convincethem we went further north, orsomething?"
"I could, but if I do it anywhere in town,Shub-Niggurath will feel it. Hell, some of her worshippers mightfeel it—I don't know how capable all of them are. I haven't sensedanyone that powerful yet, but it doesn't mean they aren't around,staying under the radar just like I am. Come on, I think we're atleast safe to get out of this tree." He turned so Alejo could climbonto his back, holding him securely as he jumped off the branch.Alejo gasped in his ear, but before he could say anything, theylanded smoothly on the ground, Bobby taking care to ensure thelanding wasn't jarring. He released his hold, letting Alejo slowlyslide off his back, then turned around to hold him. "Allright?"
"Fine," Alejo said. "Believe it or not, I'vejumped from higher places by myself, though there was water at thebottom. But the water was frigid and the whole day sucked, so if Ihave to keep jumping from high places, I do prefer you do thework."
Bobby laughed and brushed a soft kiss acrosshis mouth. "Come on, let's get out of here."
"Back the way we came?"
"Probably the surest way, if not thesafest."
"Let's get going, then."
"Stay close." Bobby led the way through theenormous forest, absently admiring various flora and fauna alongthe way, itching to linger and study. One day, when he'd cleanedout the rot.
When they reached the altar, everything wasthankfully clear, not so much as a single guard. It was only as hestepped around the altar, though, that he saw the body.
Alejo hissed. "What the fuck?" He dropped toone knee by the body. "Throat was slit, but there's burns aroundthe edges of the wound."
"Sacrificial knife. Poor bastard was offeredup in apology, sucked dry by dear great-grandmother. Well, as thestart of an apology. To appease her for this slightandgetmore milk for whatever the hell they're up to is going to take awhole lot more dead bodies." His mouth flattened. "Includingchildren, even babies."
"That can't happen!" Alejo said. "I won'tlet them."
Bobby grabbed his flailing hands and pulledhim in close, looping arms around his shoulders and nuzzling hischeek. "I would never let them do something so horrendous. Rightnow, though, we need to get to a place of safety. The longer westay here, the more danger we're in." He hugged Alejo tightly, thenwithdrew, increasing his pace as the entrance they'd used came intoview—and then stopped, hastily yanking them back deeper into thetrees. "There's someone at the door, just inside where you can'tsee them from here."
"Damn it," Alejo said. "How the fuck do weget out of here, then?"
"Try the opposite side of the cave, Iguess."
"We have to walk back all the way we justcame and thenmore?" Alejo asked. "I'll be getting in enoughsteps for the whole damned week."
