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So you tortured Dru? Paige accused, waving her hand. You keep us prisoner? Use us against one another?
The world is an unforgiving place, one that has no care for the weak. I won’t allow it to do the same to you.
“You just thought you’d break me yourself,” I muttered under my breath and she cast a sharp glance at me.
“I saved you,” she replied tautly. “A dozen times before your first birthday.” I stilled as she swallowed. “People reject those that are different. Their cruelty knows no bounds.”
“I….I didn’t know,” I stammered.
“Nor should you have,” she said crisply. “Let’s go home,” her voice echoed in my head and ears, bringing the conversation back to Paige.
We exchanged a glance. That’s it? I couldn’t disguise my shock, positive Gran had some terrible punishment planned for us.
Her mouth formed a moue of displeasure, her gaze flickering to the forest where Caleb and the others had gone. I hear there’s a lovely boar for us to enjoy. No since in it going to waste. She spun on her heel and marched back toward home, leaving Paige and I to trail behind her, baffled by this new side of Gran.
The walk home was long, Gran unerringly stepping over every single trap, but I found myself glancing over my shoulder every few steps. The further we got from the border the more my feet dragged. The urge to go back intensified and I faltered. Paige’s hand slipped into mine, squeezing gently. He’ll come back, she assured me and the churning in my stomach worsened.
That’s what I’m afraid of, I replied tartly, straightening my back. He’s going to get himself killed.
I don’t know, Paige mused. He seems to have more lives than a cat.
I snorted, amused in spite of myself. He is unnaturally lucky.
He must be since he won your heart, Paige chortled, dashing away when I swiped at her.
A few minutes later, we entered the village to find everyone gathered around a spit. The smell of roasting meat filled the air and my mouth watered. Greetings filled the air when they saw Gran, several bobbing their heads toward her. She smiled, the queen amongst her subjects as they parted, eager to have her in their midst. Paige followed in her wake receiving welcoming smiles that quickly faded as I brought up the rear.
Plates appeared piled high with succulent meat which Gran accepted graciously, passing one to each of us as the villagers gave me a wide berth. I used my fingers to stuff several bites in my mouth, the meat burning my tongue, but too starved to slow down.
Gran sighed impatiently when she caught sight of me and Paige hid a grin, daintily using a knife and fork. Awkward silence fell over the clearing, several casting wary glances toward me. I paused mid-bite, the meat falling from my fingertips as my appetite disappeared.
Ignore them, Paige pleaded, covering my hand with hers. Stay and they’ll get used to you.
I looked up, the sky above blurring for a second. I doubt that, I commented, striving for a light tone, but falling flat. It’s been thirty years. I don’t think one more meal is going to change anyone’s mind. I stood up, the motion too fast to be human, and one of the women skittered backwards, the plate in her hand falling to the ground. Everyone stared at me and Paige pressed her lips together, regret shining in her eyes as I slowly backed away. I’ll be at home, I told her and she nodded, this time not bothering to stop me. I took the plate with me, finishing it off before I’d reached the house.
I dumped the empty dish in the sink and stood there, staring at the wall blankly. Again, I asked myself if I was doing the right thing by staying in a place where everyone feared me. Did I really think Gran would make Paige suffer for my absence?
This morning, I would have unequivocally said yes, but now I wasn’t so sure. Today, a crack had appeared in the shell Gran had maintained for most of my life, and I was starting to realize my existence was more complicated than I’d ever imagined.
I pressed the heel of my palm against my eyes, cursing their differences and my inability to do anything about it. I lowered my hands, grime coating my fingertips as I rubbed them together, and sighed. I debated heating water for a bath, but decided it would take too long. A cold shower would be sufficient for me, but I went ahead and filled the tub, starting a fire underneath so the water would be hot when Paige came home.
I set the shower to a trickle as I scrubbed my skin roughly, working under my fingernails and toenails, and combing the soap through my hair. My skin pebbled in the cold air, but I didn’t stop until every inch of me was clean. I turned up the water, letting the ice cold water drench me, the filthy water swirling down the drain under my feet. My toes curled but I stood under the water until it ran clear. The rusty knob screeched as I twisted it off and I grabbed a worn towel to dry myself. The rough cotton scratched my skin, turning it red as I vigorously rubbed it all over me, warming myself.
