Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 106003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106003 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
I lower my eyes when the first lady of Vulture Hollow pins her intense gaze to my face, but I believe she only wants to help. I’ve never felt judged by Brigid. I know I’m strange, but she’s different too, so maybe that’s why she always encourages me to be myself. She paints her nails black, wears clothes she sews herself, and doesn’t care that when she visits local towns, God-fearing Christians cross the street to avoid her.
“I’m making a friend. Maybe.”
Her inquisitive eyes scan me from under long black lashes, and I fear I might have already said too much.
“Someone outside the village?” she asks. “Is that who the amethyst was for?”
I nod because I’m unable to lie to her. The caves are technically outside the village. “Just don’t tell Prophet. Or Road. Or anyone really. Especially not Rooster.”
“Oh, so it’s that serious…” she muses with a curious expression. “Shall I make some tea and find out what the future holds?”
Actually, I’d love to find out, but Angel is waiting for me, and that feels more important than my selfish needs. Or is going to see him as soon as possible selfish because I want to see him smile at me so badly it makes my stomach twist?
“Tomorrow?”
Her eyes are deep like two wells leading straight into the underworld. “Are you seeing him today?”
I nod before I can question how she guessed the person I’m befriending is a man.
“Are you taking him out somewhere?”
“No, we’re staying in. I… I’m not sure how to entertain him.”
“Does he like board games? I could lend you Celestial Monopoly. You enjoyed it last time.”
“That’s perfect. Thank you. He will love it. Now I just need to pick up some food for us.” I stand up with new vigor, excited to show Angel the game.
Brigid whistles, and when Luna, her daughter, calls out from another room in the house, she shouts, “Could you bring us the Monopoly, honey?”
Without waiting for a response, she stretches in her antique throne and offers me a smile. “Treat him well. I’m sure he deserves it,” Brigid says just as Luna steps into the living room with the colorful box. She doesn’t speak much, and maybe that’s why I always felt at ease around her despite the long blonde hair reminding me of my four cousins.
She even packs the game for me in a bag, and I’m off. At this time of day, the village is bustling with activity, so it’s easy to stay unnoticed as long as I stay behind the trees on the outskirts. I’m not trying to be invisible, that would have taken more effort, but I do avoid the places where people gather, like the playground, or the garage.
But if I want cooked food, I do have to visit the canteen, which is the busiest place of them all. I have a good relationship with Rhonda though, so she doesn’t mind me coming in from the back to pick up what I need. Others would consider it skipping the line, so we don’t tell anyone about it, and in return I share the juiciest gossip with her. The kind you pick up when others don’t notice you’re eating lunch on their roof.
Armed with the game, fresh clothes for Angel, and our food, I head back into the caves. Since I’m carrying so much, I take the main entrance. Yeti, one of my club brothers is on watch by the entrance, and his caterpillar-thick brows rise at the sight of me. The man is big, hairy, boisterous and incapable of stealth. The antithesis of me in every way, but while we have sometimes gotten on each other’s nerves, even I can admit he’s the barbeque master of Vulture Hollow. Too bad he now only has his phone to entertain him.
“What do you have?” he asks, eyeing my bags. “Anything for me in there?”
I pass him a massive BLT sandwich, because I anticipated this, but I don’t stop for small talk, and he doesn’t mind.
I know the way to my home so well I could get there with my eyes closed, so fifteen minutes later, I’m at the door. It’s too late when I realize that maybe I should have knocked. After all, I never had a guest here. Especially not one so lovely.
Angel’s on the bed, hands curled close to his chest, legs bent at the knees. His gorgeous hair is scattered over the pillow I’ve never used as he opens his eyes to look my way.
I don’t know what I expected.
It wasn’t full-fledged enthusiasm, nor him running across the room to greet me, but he seems unusually low on energy. Has he just woken up?
He utters a soft grunt and rolls onto his stomach, using his elbows to drag himself closer to the edge of the mattress. “Is that you, Creep?”