Thano grabbed salt, happy to be able to do something.When Eli sprinkled some onto the egg and then dug his spoon in, Thano almost gagged.Slimy eggs.
Eli watched him, a low laugh slipping out."Not a fan of eggs?"
"They're...sloppy."
Eli laughed louder.
Thano watched him scoop out the rest of the egg.At least the white was solid.He suspected Eli would've eaten even if it hadn't been.He couldn't afford to waste food.Thano had to feed him better.
"I'll go back to the ranch and then come get you."
"It's not safe."
"I'll ask someone in Romeo's coven to drive."
Eli nodded, but slowly."We have a problem."
More problems?"We do?"
"Several."
Thano pressed his lips together."What?"
"I have eggs and flour.You have baking powder.We need milk and butter and something for taste."
Right."Can we get it from the shop?I'll pay you on Monday."If he still had any money.Had the board emptied their accounts now when breed weren't allowed in town?Tuur would not be pleased.
Eli shrugged."I guess we could go in through the back so no one sees us.Or I can go while you go back to the ranch.The other problem is cupcake liners."
"What?"
"What are we going to bake the cupcakes in?"
Crap."Glass?"Thano held up a drinking glass, but Eli shook his head.
"I don't think they're oven-safe."Eli frowned."Cans?"
"Do you have cans?"
Eli got up and walked out of the kitchen, leaving the plate on the table.Thano followed him.He went out the front door and Thano hesitated.He still wasn't dressed.He gathered the shadows around him and followed.Eli looked back at him."Are you there?"
"Yes, but hurry.It's cold."He shivered, but Eli was unable to see it.
At the back of the house, there was a slanted door leading into a cellar.There was gravel on the ground, the walls bare concrete, but there were a few shelves along the sides.Eli headed over to one of them and grabbed six cans where the top had been removed, most likely when someone had eaten the contents.
"I was gonna use them as pots for my plants, but I was reluctant to put holes in the bottom."
"Perfect."
"Okay, we're good to go then."
* * * *
Chapter 12
Eli walked from his house toward the shop.The streets were deserted.He might not have cared on any other day, but now it left him nervous.Where was everyone?Even if the bank and the shop were closed on the weekends, people milled about.Weekends were when they had time to visit friends, time to work in their gardens, and most often there was a lot of borrowing each other's tools or helping each other with one project or other, but there wasn't a single person in sight.
He rounded a corner, and the shop came into view, but the moment he stepped onto the street, there was a bang.A gunshot.
