Page 80 of Vampire's Cupcake
Carry things?Carry them where?From where?
“Eli, there is a crowd.Maybe, if you open the shop, you can sell part of the stock.They're frightened about what this will mean, and while it's terrible to take advantage of people's fear, you only have two days to get rid of the inventory."
Open the shop.
Eli blinked.“The shop is being evicted?"
Elijah frowned.“Yes, I told you.There is an eviction notice on your door.It says you've fraternized with the enemy and have been evicted."
“What?"Was there a law about enemies?
Elijah looked pained.“I'm sorry."
“Can they do that?"They couldn't, right?Eli rubbed his neck.His hand shook, but he did his best to ignore it.“There is no law forbidding us to talk to the others.We don't because it most often means we'll die, but there is no law."
“I don't think it's about laws, I think since the board owns the building, they decide the rules."Elijah grimaced.“Larry Lawrence was killed yesterday, off the paved road."
The image of the female vampire attacking the man pointing a gun at Romeo's car flashed before his eyes.Had it been Larry?Must've been.
“I think the others are pissed, and I think we're gonna notice."
Eli nodded.
“The men working the border gate--"
“Since when do we have a border gate?"He'd gone through it, so he'd seen it with his own eyes, but it was so hard to take in.
“Since yesterday, I think.I'm not sure.I try not to leave the hotel unless I have to."
But he'd come here.Had come to tell Eli, to warn Eli, to help Eli.
“They said the body was dragged by something invisible."
The female vampire.“Vampire."
“Can they really turn invisible?I believed they moved so fast we couldn't see them, but not that they...disappeared."
“They don't disappear.They're there, you can touch them, hear them talk."Eli looked around and lowered his voice.“Thano?Are you here?"
The air flickered, and Eli's heart sped up as joy washed over him, but it wasn't Thano who appeared next to him on the doorstep.It was Emeric.“Do you want me to get him?"
Elijah was gaping.
“No, no need to bother him.I'm sure he's busy."His heart cracked into tiny pieces as he spoke.
Emeric's expression gave nothing away.“No one has been in your shop.Thano said to hunt down anyone who broke in.No one has broken in."
Eli shouldn't have felt warmth over his words, but he did.Thano might not be here, but he was looking out for Eli in his own weird way.“Thank you, Emeric."
“Vampires and crows are patrolling the wasteland between Last Hope and the ranch.If you need to step outside the border, call out and say you're Eli the shopkeeper."
Emeric glanced at Elijah.“If you say you're the hotel owner, you might live, but it depends on who reaches you first."
Elijah gulped.“I'll...eh...I'll hide in the hotel.I think it's safest."
Emeric frowned.“It depends on who else is in the hotel."
Fuck.Fear washed over Eli.If the others would do anything, they'd most certainly go after the sheriff.“Eh...Could you wait two days?"
