Page 88 of The Hunger
“Which means it’s not really safe,” Kelsey said, directly meeting my gaze.
“I have lapses more often than I would like. You saw what happened to Eugene in the pool.”
She nodded. “That’s one of the reasons we stopped going there. You helped us see how out of our depths we were. And it’s why Ashlyn loaned us these books.”
She pointed to a stack of what looked like six leather-bound journals sitting on the table. I picked one up and thumbed through the pages of handwritten notes.
“It’s information she’s gathered on all the different species,” Kelsey said. “A lot of it was from her uncle. She started taking notes whenever he told her stuff because she knew druids could make her forget things. There are more books that she promised to loan us in her house. If she ever comes back.”
I set the book down and didn’t bother hiding the pain I felt at the reminder.
“I really hope that’s soon,” Zoe added. “I am so bored.”
“Bored, but fed and warm and not worried about being raped at night,” Kelsey said with a warning glare.
“Yeah, yeah. I know. Be grateful for what we have, and live in the moment.” She turned off the TV and looked at me. “As you can tell, we’re tired of each other’s company and are desperate for a little outside conversation.”
I smiled slightly and took a chair to settle in for some conversation. Kelsey and Zoe were fun to talk to and animated about what they’d learned of the Mantirum world. While I could sense their underlying wonder, I also felt their very real fear, and reiterated the rules that would keep them safe.
“You’re honest and open with us, and Ashlyn trusts you. How do we know who to trust and who not to trust?”
“Everyone should be on the do not trust list.”
“So trust can’t be earned?” she asked.
“I wish I could tell you it could, but I think that would be a disservice to you. So many creatures here will attempt to win your trust, not because they want to be your friends but because they have some other goal.”
“Like eating us or forcing us to make out with them?” Zoe asked bitterly.
“Yeah. I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t be. We’re just coming to terms with the fact that we’ll be lucky to go through life with one or two friends. We’re okay with that. And now that Megan’s back, I’m sure things will be better.”
I wrinkled my nose, which Kelsey saw.
“What?”
“Megan’s gone again. But hopefully, only for the day.” I filled them in on Megan’s visit to the Oracle—they had so many questions about that one—and her need to find mermaids on the coast to talk to the Kraken and get information about how to appease a god.
“Are we going to be offered up like some kind of human sacrifice?”
I grinned at Zoe.
“Megan already put her foot down. She said there would be no human sacrifices.”
“Good,” Kelsey said.
“Well, it still bites, though,” Zoe said. “Here, I thought we might go back to attending classes instead of watching for signs of our new neighbor.”
“You have a new neighbor?”
“As of this morning,” Zoe said. “Until then, the only creature we’ve ever seen coming and going was a goblin at night. We know he’s generally harmless to our kind and watch him.” Zoe shrugged. “Sometimes it’s good entertainment. Anyway, he was walking around the yard this morning and looking over the house instead of leaving. We saw why when this guy in a black leather jacket fell from the sky. I nearly peed myself, and not because he was hot, which he was. I got away from the window fast.”
Kelsey rolled her eyes at her younger sister and added, “He spoke with the goblin then went inside. Haven’t seen him since then. Do you know who he is?”
“More importantly, do you know what he is?” Zoe asked.
“I don’t, but before I leave, I’ll find out.”
