Eli froze.
A second later, there was movement to his right.He turned to see Theodore Carner holster a handgun."Got it."
It took a few seconds before Eli could find his voice."Got what?"
Theodore crossed the street and grabbed a crow by its feet from within the narrow passage leading to the shop's back door.The air froze in Eli's lungs."You shot it?"His voice was no more than a whisper.Who was it?
Theodore shook the bird a little.A drop of blood landed on the ground, and Eli's stomach threatened to turn.
"Should teach them not to come in here."
"You can't shoot birds."Fuck, if it was a shifter, they'd all die now.Thano might have acted like a civilized person this morning, but if someone killed his people, there would be a blood bath.
"Sure I can.The sheriff has put a bounty on every bird shot in town."
Eli turned.There was no use in getting milk or butter.There would be no cupcakes.There would be fear and death instead.
He hurried back the way he'd come, almost colliding with Lisa-Mae.She was pale as she tilted her face to meet Eli's gaze."Was that a gunshot?"Her whisper almost got eaten by the spring morning.
"Yes.Theodore Carner shot a crow."
She gripped his arms."A crow or acrow?"
"Don't know.If people start to die in a bit, we'll know for sure."
She stared into his eyes."What do we do?"
"The sheriff has put a bounty on birds shot within the town limits."
Her hand flew to her mouth."No.No, they can't.We'll die."
They would."Stay inside.I fear more idiots are walking around with guns.I'll try to...talk to Thano."
She nodded before turning around and hurrying down the street.Eli followed her, continuing on when she turned into her house.His street was deserted.It was only he and the Gallos who lived there, and Romeo had made sure to get them out of town already.
He followed his own example and went inside to wait for Thano to arrive.
It took forty-five minutes before there was a knock on the door, and when it came, Eli wasn't sure he could face the reality.Slowly, he went to open.
Alice was waiting on the landing.Her smile fell when Eli only stared at her.
"Is Thano with you?"
An invisible hand cupped his elbow, and he almost jerked away."Inside."He looked up and down the street while he waited for Alice, and most likely Thano, to enter.He couldn't see anyone watching his house, but if they were crouching by a corner, he wouldn't be able to.
"What's going on?"Thano's voice filled the room, and a second later, he was visible.Dressed in a black suit that fit him perfectly, a white shirt, and a dark red bow tie.Eli wasn't sure he'd seen him in a bow tie before.He kept staring at it.
"Eli?"Thano's voice softened.
"Theodore Carner shot a crow."
Thano might as well have turned into an ice sculpture.The air grew frigid around him."What?"
His fangs were always there, but they were more or less prominent.Eli believed they elongated when he was about to use them, but his teeth were never entirely human.He was good at hiding them when he wanted to.The tips often peeked out when he spoke, which Eli suspected was deliberate.Now they were on full display, and a chill went through Eli.
"Jack Ambrose, the sheriff, is offering a bounty for every bird shot within town limits.I was heading to the shop when I heard a gunshot.I stopped, and Theodore was there, outside my shop.He shot a crow who'd been pecking at something in the small walkway leading to the back door.It's dead."
Alice made a sound, but Eli didn't look at her.His eyes never left Thano.
