Demon Blind, page 2
He hadn’t spoken to the child’s mother the previous day, but I knew he hoped to speak with her today. When they reached him, Greyly, the tiny female, lifted her plate high, and Abi smiled. It wasn’t uncertain.
“Did you bring your baby?” Greyly asked Noru.
He tore his gaze from Abi and gazed at the child.
“I did. Will you show me how to care for her again?” he asked.
The little girl nodded, and Abi set a hand on the child’s head while she held out her plate. He gave them each a roll and watched them walk away.
“He is smart,” Fallor said. “He lets her come to him.”
I glanced at Apryl again. She inched forward with the line, a step at a time, and huddled within her jacket. She was closer to the serving tables now. Closer to me. Rather than wait there for her, I went inside the shed.
“I will take your place,” I said when I reached Noru.
“Thank you.” He stepped away from his position and strode across the space to where Greyly and Abi ate.
I focused on the next person and deposited a roll on his plate.
He mumbled his thanks for the food and hurried away to claim a seat. I picked up the next roll and repeated the process, trying not to look down the line to where Apryl waited. Angel said that women could sense desperation, and it turned them off. Yet, I was desperate and craved the day a woman walked up to me and spoke first.
Anticipation filled me as Apryl neared. I wanted to see her pretty brown eyes and full lips curving in a smile for me as Abi’s had for Noru. However, Apryl didn’t look up when she accepted her bowl.
This was it. This was my chance. I handed Sam her roll and watched Apryl move into position before me.
“Do you like rolls?” I asked, holding out the soft circle of bread.
“Yeah. Thanks,” she said, reaching for it.
My fingers brushed her soft palm as I placed the food in her outstretched hand.
“Thanks,” she said again. Then, she turned away to hurry after Sam.
I stared after her for a moment and fought not to smile. She hadn’t cringed away from my touch and had thanked me twice.
Before the moon rose, I promised myself.
CHAPTER THREE
APRYL
Stew for two days in a row. Real chunks of meat and vegetables sat in my bowl, not the watered-down version we had at my house. I took a bite and closed my eyes in a state of bliss. If the scent of it had made my mouth water, the taste nearly did me in.
Chewing slowly, I savored the meat then opened my eyes to go for the next spoonful. Not being able to clearly see what I spooned up made eating a bit of an adventure. Kind of like eating bridge mix. Sometimes, the piece of chocolate-coated something was good. Sometimes, it was a damn raisin. Not that there was anything raisin-level in my bowl now. The stew was all goodness. It was just the type of goodness that surprised me.
The blurry orange lump on my spoon gave away the carrot before I tasted it. I almost hummed in satisfaction. It’d been ages since I’d had a chunk of carrot like that. Definitely before the world collapsed. And I was pretty sure I hadn’t savored it then.
Things changed. Sometimes too fast to keep up with it. Like how I’d bailed on Sam, choosing the first empty seat I’d spotted instead of following her. She didn’t seem too upset by it. I could hear her chatting and laughing just a table over. I’d probably just played right into my shy label.
The man next to me started wiping out his bowl—hopefully with his rolls and not his fingers.
“Are you going to eat that?” he asked out of the blue.
“Yes,” I said without looking at him. It didn’t matter if he was pointing at my bread or my stew. I planned to eat it all.
“Just figured I’d ask since you’re eating so slow. Thought you might be getting full.”
I’d only taken two bites. He knew darn well I wasn’t full.
Ignoring him, I took another bite of stew and kept my roll tucked close to my bowl.
He got the hint and left. Unfortunately, another guy took his place. This one wolfed down his food with a few grunts and didn’t ask about mine. When he left and another person claimed that seat, I knew I was taking too long and hurried to keep up with my new companion.
I scraped the bottom of my bowl at the same time they did then waited until they stood to follow them to the dish return and the exit. Following someone was the best way to ensure I didn’t run into anything as I left the shed.
Although things were blurry, I could see colors. That’s how I knew what was road and what was yard as I walked the neighborhood. And keeping my eyes on the ground in front of me made me less approachable for conversation if anyone was nearby.
I knew Tenacity pretty well by now to recognize the house colors on any given street. The yellow door on the blue and white house I currently called home served as a beacon to guide me down the unshoveled walk. Several sets of footprints marred the white snow.
Veering toward the garage door, I let myself in and found the shovel. Clearing the walk wasn’t exactly helpful, but it was something I could manage…if I took my time. After I’d accidentally torn off the little metal strip from the spare plastic shovel on a crack in the cement, I’d learned not to rush.
My hands were numb by the time I finished and let myself inside. I heard movement in the kitchen and hurried to my room, only a few feet inside the front door. Less conversation was better at this point. I’d probably only annoy whoever was home by either outright not helping or by trying to help and messing up.
Slipping out of my boots and inadequate coat, I hung it on the back of the chair and sat on my twin bed. The room didn’t have much in it. The dresser held two t-shirts, two pairs of jeans, a spare set of socks—those were in high demand—and three very frayed and unattractive pairs of thigh-cut underwear that liked to crawl up my ass.
It felt like a lifetime ago that I’d had a walk-in closet full of pretty clothes. Dresses. Underwear that fit. Nice things a girl might take for granted…
Sighing, I lay back and settled in for a long wait until my watered-down portion of dinner.
“Was that Apryl? Did she go straight to her room again?” I heard Michelle ask from the kitchen.
“Yep,” Doug, her husband, said. “You told her she can’t stay here, right?”
Did they think I’d closed my door?
“I did,” Michelle answered. “But maybe we should reconsider. Matt’s going to make everyone go on supply runs, and she doesn’t cause any trouble. We could do worse.”
“She wrecks stuff, Michelle. I don’t like kicking her out, but we need to preserve what we have.”
A tight ball formed in my chest because he wasn’t wrong. I’d tried to help more in the beginning and had caused so much damage. The worst was when I’d burned myself and the food, trying to make dinner. That was the last time they’d let me cook. The runner-up to that was the time I’d tripped over the vacuum cord, trying to clean. I’d broken the vacuum and almost lost a leg. Not really, but it had felt like it.
“Besides,” Doug continued. “Preston and I already found two people willing to share her room. The man is used to going out on supply runs and has experience gathering wood. His grandmother helped do whatever was needed around the house.”
“Two capable bodies in the place of one? When do they want to move in?” Michelle asked, at least having the decency to sound troubled about it.
“They understand we’re giving Apryl a few days to find somewhere else. I’m hoping she doesn’t take that long, though. Folks are going out of their way to talk to the supply-run regulars. I heard some outrageous offers were being made. So far, none of them are being swayed by those promises, but I don’t want to lose out. Bram and his grandmother are as level-headed as they come.”
They already had people lined up? I rolled onto my side and blinked until the urge to cry passed. Tears wouldn’t do me any good. Figuring out where to live would. I’d thought I had more time. Today to brainstorm. Tomorrow to research. Then find somewhere before the end of the week. Obviously, people were committing a lot faster than I’d anticipated.
Getting up, I dressed again and slipped out the front door. I wanted to kick myself for not sitting with Sam earlier. She would have been my best resource for finding out if any other fey-human couples were willing to sponsor a human. Without time to come up with a useful skill to contribute to a household here, sponsoring was likely the only solution that would work. Well, one that might work.
The fey didn’t hide the fact that they wanted sex and a lot of it. And If I were a human woman newly coupled with one of the fey, I wasn’t sure I’d want a third wheel around to witness any of that.
Besides, no one wanted a freeloader. Not even a new couple.
Where did that leave me then? Even if I went to Matt and admitted I couldn’t see, he wasn’t in charge of the housing. He was letting everyone pick for themselves.
I needed to start thinking outside the box. Or with my box.
I hated the idea of pimping myself out, but sex was one thing I could do well, even mostly blind. If I hooked up with a guy and then let Matt know I’d be a liability if I went out, maybe then I wouldn’t be assigned a rotation.
“We’re looking for one more,” someone called to my right.
Breaking my cardinal rule, I lifted my gaze from the ground. The colorful blur in the direction of the shout looked like a house. I couldn’t see any movement around it, though.
Who had yelled then?
“We have three openings in my house,” someone else called. “Experienced supply runners only, please.”
Several voices overlapped after that. Crap. Was there a meeting in someone’s backyard?
I looked down at my feet again and debated fumbling my way over there. If I went slow, I’d be fine. Probably.
Turning, I walked until the blacktop ended and the white began. Transitions were tricky. I lifted my foot and stepped down cautiously, unsure if there was a curb. Subconsciously, I must have expected one because I stumbled when my foot went down past where a curb would have been.
“Careful.” A big hand that matched the manly voice closed over my arm and steadied me.
“Thanks,” I said, shrugging out of his hold without looking up.
I didn’t offer any excuse. That would be an opening for conversation that I didn’t want.
Wait. No. I did want conversation.
Rather than continuing forward, I paused and angled my body toward the guy without looking at him.
“Sounds like a big meeting. When did it start?” I asked.
“After the food ran out. Are you looking for a new place to live too?”
“Maybe,” I said, pretending to study the house. “Depends on the accommodations. Is there an open room at your place?”
“Yes,” he said, sounding a mix of hesitant and surprised.
“Are you looking for someone specific, like an experienced supply runner?”
“No. Nothing specific.”
My pulse started to pound with excitement. “That’s great. I haven’t gone out yet, myself. But if there’s an open spot at your place, I’ll take it. Do you need to talk this over with anyone?” I turned my head away from him as if looking down the street for someone else.
“No.”
“Okay,” I said, trying to keep my cool. “How soon can I move in?”
“Now?”
I couldn’t believe my luck. No skill required, and I hadn’t even needed to offer sex. Trying to keep my composure, I nodded.
“Great. I’ll go pack up my things and let my housemates know. Would you mind meeting back here in an hour?” It wouldn’t take me long to pack, but I wasn’t sure if anyone was home to tell.
“I don’t mind. Take your time. I’ll be here waiting.”
He sounded so nice. I desperately needed nice. And patient. And understanding.
Watching my feet, I hurried away down the street. Nerves and fear had butterflies dancing in my stomach. I had another house, but for how long? I needed to figure out a way to be useful right from the start. Possibilities turned over in my mind as I walked.
CHAPTER FOUR
SCATH
Unable to believe what had just happened, I watched Apryl calmly walk away. She’d agreed to live with me. Me. I struggled not to smile. Or follow her. I really wanted to do both.
When I’d spotted her walking down the street, I’d told myself I would say hello and nothing else. But then she’d stumbled before I could. I’d moved quickly to steady her, not thinking how she might react, only worried she would hurt herself. The way she’d pulled away from my touch had pierced a hole in my chest. But then she’d started speaking to me.
She’d asked to live with me. Scath.
I was the luckiest fey alive.
The conversation played through my mind again, and her carefully worded “Depends on the accommodations” stood out. I needed to go home and ensure everything was clean, just like Mom taught us. And food. I should have food out. I saw how hungry Apryl was this morning.
Turning away from her retreating form, I started jogging for the wall.
“Scath,” Fallor called. “Where are you going?”
“Home. I will be back.”
He caught up to me and cleared the wall at the same time I did.
“I will go with you.”
I grinned.
“You hope to see Emily.”
“I wish to know what you are doing. Emily said we cannot give them extra food during this time of transition. I don’t want you undermining her efforts.”
“I understand her efforts and will do nothing to undermine them and risk our brothers’ future chances at females of their own.”
“You say that as if you already have a female.”
I flashed him a smile.
“I do. Apryl asked to live with me.”
Fallor made a sound of disbelief.
“I understand your doubt. I doubted it too. She truly wishes to live with me, but it will depend on the accommodations. I will clean my house and return for her in an hour.”
“I’ll help and return with you.” More than doubt laced his tone.
“Speak your thoughts,” I said.
“Hannah said many things she did not mean.”
“You think Apryl lied?”
Fallor shrugged.
“I will wait with you so you are not alone.”
Fallor was a good friend, but he was wrong. Apryl would be there. I saw the excitement on her face before she looked away. She wished to live with me. Didn’t she?
I thought of Hannah and how she’d let Shax believe she cared for him when she did not. She only wanted the supplies he provided. Did I care if that was why Apryl wished to live with me? For food? No. That is why Angel started talking to Shax, and she eventually gave him her heart.
Unbothered by Apryl’s motivations, I decided my goals hadn’t changed. I would get her to look at me before the moon rose. Even if Apryl only wanted my home and food, I would find ways to know her mind and then win her heart. After that, she would let me taste her body, and I would see our baby grow inside of her.
Satisfied with my plan, I ran faster and cleared Tolerance’s wall a few minutes later. Fallor followed me to the house I claimed as my own. It was large compared to my hut in Ernisi but much smaller than most of the surrounding homes with two levels. It had a large front porch with a rocking chair that James said was meant for sitting and watching people and sipping sweet tea. Inside, only one of the three bedrooms had a bed. But the living room had a comfortable sofa, and the kitchen was full of cooking implements and food.
Fallor vacuumed the entire house while I started a mid-day meal from one of the boxes in the cabinet. Emily had explained how to prepare these meals. Brown the meat. Add the packet and the water. Then add the noodles and cook. They were easy and filling, and humans loved them.
I selected a can of vegetables and opened it but didn’t add it to the pan.
“Should I make her one of the chocolate boxes?” I asked Fallor.
He shut off the vacuum and put it away in the closet.
“Do you know how?” he asked.
“No.”
“Then let her make it when she arrives. Human females love to cook.”
“Brooke does not. Hannah does not.”
“Fine. If Apryl does not like to cook, she can read the box for you, and you can cook for her. Why waste food if she is not hungry for it?”
I grunted in acknowledgment and closed the cupboard door.
As soon as the meal was complete, I turned off the stove and covered it. Then I looked around, considering the house. While I’d wanted a female of my own, I hadn’t thought it would happen so quickly. I had very little to offer her. Many of the houses were filled with furniture. My house was mostly empty, and I feared she would reject it as soon as she stepped inside.
“Humans are used to having more than this. Emily’s home has three chairs, a big couch, a tiny couch, a table in the middle, a plant, lamps—”
Fallor came over and clapped a hand on my shoulder.
“Do not worry about things that haven’t yet happened. When Apryl arrives, you will ask her what she would like in her new home. Then we will find it for her. First, we need to ensure she wants to live here.”
Thankful that he didn’t voice his doubt again, I nodded and strode for the door where I paused and inhaled deeply. The house smelled like food. Hopefully, Apryl would find it a welcome scent, and it would entice her to stay.
“Do you truly believe she won’t be there?” I asked.
“I hope she is. Every female who accepts one of my brothers prods another female to make the same choice.”
“And once we are all claimed by females, then Emily will focus on you?” I asked with a grin.
Fallor grunted and jumped over the wall. I hurried after him.
“What if Emily secretly wants one of the human men, like Garrett or Ryan? What will you do then?” I asked as we started running.
“Gather supplies for them and protect their babies when they are born.”
