Page 7 of Cry of the Damned
“I was.” I figured denying it would only make things worse.
Mrs. Clarice frowned, then waved a hand in the air. “Dear, I forgot to mention to your friends that I’m required to register all visitors with our authorities. It’s just standard procedure. Nothing to worry about. I notified them yesterday, and they’re here today to… say hello.”
“Um, hello.” I waved at them with two fingers. “They’re…” I pointed in the general direction of the bedroom.
This was so messed up. Why had Ila and Bethel left? Why had I pretended to be a local with Mrs. Clarice? I should’ve kept sneaking out through the balcony. If these guards asked me where I lived, our charade would be over.
“I can go get—” I started.
“May we come in?” the tall one asked. He didn’t wait for an answer. He just pushed past Mrs. Clarice and me and marched into the room.
You all have to get out of here!I pushed the thought out, letting my panic ride with it.
Mrs. Clarice’s mouth twisted with displeasure. It was clear she didn’t like the guards treating her customers like this.
“Is this really necessary?” she asked.
The second guard followed in, and they both glanced around the small place with distrust. Almost immediately, their gazes homed in on the closed bedroom doors. One of them popped open, and Ila strolled out, wearing a towel wrapped around her hair and another one around her body. She shrieked when she saw the guards and ran back into the room. The guards had the decency to look embarrassed.
“Oh, dear!” Mrs. Clarice exclaimed. “Officer Orbis, please, why don’t you leave these young ladies alone?”
“Who’s in the other room?” Officer Orbis asked.
I shrugged, my heart starting to climb up my throat.
Mrs. Clarice finally stepped into the room. “Like I said in my report, two young ladies are staying with us.”
Please don’t mention I’m not one of them. Please don’t mention I’m not one of them!
Ignoring her, the guard marched to the other bedroom door.
My heart tumbled. “No, wait!”
The man threw the door open and waltzed into the room, a hand on the hilt of his sword. The room appeared empty. Where had the guys gone? Were they under the bed? In the closet?
Officer Orbis glanced back at me, narrowing his eyes.
“Um, it’s polite to knock,” I mumbled.
He huffed, stomped to the closet, and opened it. From where I stood, I couldn’t see inside, but the man’s reaction told me he hadn’t found anything. Next, he unsheathed his sword and used it to lift the sheets. He peered under the bed, and this time, even I could see there was nothing there.
Looking disappointed, he strode back into the living room, heading toward the other bedroom.
“Now, that’s enough!” Mrs. Clarice exclaimed. “You cannot barge into a lady’s bedroom like that, especially when… when… you know.”
Officer Orbis paused and glanced over at his friend, who shook his head adamantly to indicate going into Ila’s room would be inappropriate. Officer Orbis nearly growled in discontent, then faced me full on.
“A concerned citizen expressed some concerns about you and your friend,” he said.
“You mean the girl I spilled coffee on this morning? I told her I was sorry. It was an accident.”
He frowned. I was counting on the fact that most men weren’t very observant of things, such as coffee stains on ladies’ blouses. If he thought that Veraminta had been mad at me for ruining her outfit, maybe he would assume she’d made up a petty story.
After giving it some thought, Officer Orbis sneered, looking less than convinced. “Lux City is a peaceful place.”
Only because you bring your violence elsewhere,I wanted to say, but bit my tongue.
“Anyone spreading misinformation will find themselves thrown out,” he threatened.
