Page 56 of My Little Doe
“I don’t know…”
The following morning, he was awake before me. The smell of bacon filling my room woke me up. I was a sucker for bacon. Once I made it out of the room, he’d finished his plate and was washing it in the sink. I made myself a plate and sat at the table. I could tell by the way he was standing there that he wasn’t in a great mood. After he was done, he walked outside.
Last night, I ran again right as the sun was setting. I didn’t want to be weak again. I wouldn’t be weak again. Izayuh would motivate me to be strong. I walked outside to go on another run. Quinn was still not to be seen. I carried on and headed to the river. Once I got to where the eagles' nest was, I stopped and looked up at them.
Loud chirping came from overhead. Butterflies rushed through my stomach. It was one of the most joyous sounds to listen to. I sat on the rocks, staring up at the nest. I saw part of one of the eagles in the nest bowl. I knew from the nest back home that fresh eaglets stayed under their parents for several weeks before they came out.
The babies must have settled in, as the chirping slowed down and then stopped. I finished running the bank, turned around, andran all the way back up the other side. It was a cool morning, even with running, I was cold.
I headed to the house and walked inside. He wasn't inside, or anywhere I could see outside. The truck was still here, though. I knew that when he usually left, it was closer to sunset, and surely he wouldn’t have left without actually saying bye. Did I care if he didn’t say bye? I shrugged my shoulders.
I headed for a shower, wanting to get rid of the post-run smells. I took way too long in the shower, enjoying the extra hot water. As I’d turned the water off, I heard the door close. My heart skipped a beat. It had to be Quinn, but part of me worried that it wasn’t.
“Zalayuh, it’s me,” he called out.
It was like he knew I was panicking. Then I remembered how he could smell my fear. He must have smelled it. Surely, he couldn’t have heard my heart through the door. My heart started slowing back down as I got dressed.
“Where’d you go earlier?” I asked.
“Exploring the area,” he said.
“Is there anything I should know about tonight?”
“Don’t go outside alone?”
“I can’t leave the house?” I said, my eyes widened at him.
“No, I’m pulling your leg,” he said.
“I’m being serious,” I said.
“I told you, we aren’t interested in eating humans. Most of us don’t even eat or hunt other animals. This is some curse that has been put on us,” he said.
“So, if you’re outside turned, and I’m outside, you wouldn’t try to eat me?” I asked.
“Definitely not…” he said.
“Okay, okay. Good to know,” I said.
“Do I need to take you into town to get anything?” he asked.
“Hmm… I don’t think so. If I need something, can I drive your—”
“No,” he said, cutting me off.
“Doesn’t hurt a lady to try.”
“Yeah… I’ll be hiding my keys,” he muttered.
“What if there is an actual emergency?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “Call 9-1-1.”
I blinked my eyes rapidly at him. “Whatever.”
“Lina’s number is written on the paper next to the fridge,” he said.
I grabbed the book I’d been reading and plopped into the light blue chair. He paced around the house, going outside, then back in. I was used to this. I didn’t fully understand it before. I hadn’t seen this in the cellar, but I had when we were at the Lupo house. He would pace and be agitated on the nights he shifted, with the full moon being worse. I learned to keep to myself, not pry or pay much attention to him.
