Page 46 of Vampire's Cupcake
Eli didn't fit in his skin.Every time the door opened, he jumped, and it opened a lot.The rumor about new produce had spread through the settlement.That was good.The fish and leafy greens wouldn't stay fresh for long, but every time there was a lull in customers, Eli moved nervously through the shop.
It didn't feel safe today.The shop had always been his haven, the business he'd built.He was the core of Last Hope, the place everyone visited.He knew most of the people by name, and the chattier ones he had a deeper connection with.He might not call them friends, but this was his home.
But today, there was no peace.
The door opened again, and Rosie walked in.She didn't have a basket.It was Friday, but maybe Gerald hadn't been paid yet, though it was soon time to close for the day.
Her gaze jumped around."Anyone here?"
Eli shook his head.
"Lisa-Mae and I rowed over to Fisherman's Lake today.Martha Pretty sold us some wool."
"Good."
She gave a slow nod."When we got back, there was a man I didn't recognize on the dock."
"The sheriff?"He was the only one Eli had seen who didn't belong.
"No.I had the pleasure of meeting the sheriff this morning."She looked as if she'd eaten something rotten."It was someone else.He told us as of today, there is a fee for mooring your boat to the dock."Her eyes flicked to Eli's."Lisa-Mae rowed past him and moored at Chester's, her brother's, little jetty.We rushed off the boat and carried the wool inside Chester's house."
"Did he come after you?The man?"
"He knocked on the door, but Chester was at work, and we pretended not to be there.Lisa-Mae promised to talk to him, and we'll do what we can to keep him out of trouble, but Eli...what are we going to do?"
"I don't know."He rubbed a hand over his mouth."I...were you able to warn Mrs.Pretty?"Eli believed Martha Pretty was Finn's mother, but he wasn't sure.He didn't know the people of Fisherman's Lake as well as the people in Last Hope.
Rosie shook her head.
Before Eli could say anything else, the door was yanked open and a naked Byrd rushed in.Rosie made a surprised sound and averted her eyes.
"Byrd, it's not safe for you to be here.Didn't Thano speak to you?"
Byrd looked confused."Not since I asked him about being allowed to trade at the market.He was going to ask the board."
There had been a lot of happenings since then."They've forbidden others to come into town.I'm so sorry.You're not safe here."
Rosie gasped and turned to look between Eli and Byrd, seemingly forgetting Byrd was naked.He was clutching what looked like a lunch box in his hand.
"They have done what?"
Eli grimaced at her."Thano was by earlier, he'd come into town to talk to the board, and they'd told him Others weren't allowed within the settlement limits anymore."
Rosie wrung her hands."This is not good."
"No."Eli couldn't agree more.He walked over to the counter and pulled out the balloon whisk from the shelf underneath and placed it on the counter.Byrd put the lunch box next to it, and Eli opened the lid.It had a box inside with three compartments, and fasted to the lid was a knife, fork, and spoon in plastic.It didn't look to have been used."This is nice."He smiled at Byrd.
"So we trade?"
"If you're happy with what you're getting."Eli believed a lunch box was worth more than a whisk.
Byrd snatched the whisk from the counter and grinned at Eli."Ha!I got your shiny."
Eli couldn't help but laugh."You sure did."He placed the lunch box on the shelf underneath the counter where it wasn't visible to the customers.He'd bring it home when he closed.
"Byrd?"
He looked up from the whisk."Mm."
