Maybe we can find something more hospitable for...
Maybe we can find something more hospitable for you While I'm
with you, at least, you don't really have to cram yourself into that little holeYou can sit in the
hall with me if you preferThough with Jared…” He trailed off
I listened to his apologetic words in wonder; this was so much more kindness than I'd hoped
for, more compassion than I'd thought this species was capable of giving their enemiesI patted
the hand on my elbow lightly, hesitantly, trying to convey that I understood and wouldn't cause
a problemI was sure Jared much preferred to have me out of sight
Jeb had no trouble translating my wordless communication“That's a good girl,” he said“We'll
figure this all out somehowDoc can just concentrate on white chloe bag healin' human folksYou're much more
interesting alive,I think
Our bodies were close enough that he was able to feel me trembleDoc's not going to bother you now
I couldn't stop shiveringJeb could only promise menowThere was no guarantee that Jared
would not decide my secret was more important than protecting Melanie's bodyI knew that
such a fate would make me wish Ian had succeeded last nightI swallowed, feeling the bruising
that seemed to go all the way through my neck to the inside walls of my throat
You never know how much time you'll have,Melanie had said so many days ago, when my world
was still under control
Her words echoed in my head as we reentered the big room, the main plaza of Jeb's human
communityIt was dior saddle bag full, like the first night, everyone there to glare at us with eyes that blazed
anger and betrayal when they looked at him and murder when they looked at meI kept my gaze
down on the rock under my feetFrom the corner of my eye, I could see that Jeb held his gun
ready again
It was only a matter of time, indeedI could feel it in the atmosphere of hate and fearJeb could
not protect me long
It was a relief to scrape back through the narrow crevice, to look forward to the winding black
labyrinth and my cramped hiding place; I could hope to be alone there
Behind me, a furious hissing, like a nest of goaded snakes, echoed in the big cavernThe sound
made me wish Jeb would lead me through the labyrinth at a quicker pace
Jeb see by chloe bag chuckled under his breathHe seemed to get stranger the longer I was around himHis
sense of humor mystified me as much as his motivations did
“It gets a bit tedious down here sometimes, you know,” he murmured to me, or to himself
With Jeb, it was hard to tell“Maybe when they get over being cheesed off at me, they'll realize
they appreciate all the excitement I'm providing
Our path through the dark twisted in a serpentine fashionIt didn't feel at all familiarPerhaps
he took a different route to keep me lostIt seemed to take more time than before, but finally I
could see the dim blue light of the lamp shining from around the next curve
I braced myself, wondering if Jared would be there againIf he was, I knew he would jumbo chanel flap bag be angry
I was sure he wouldn't approve of Jeb taking me for a field trip, no matter how necessary it
might have been
As soon as we rounded the corner, I could see that therewas a figure slumped against the wall
beside the lamp, casting a long shadow toward us, but it was obviously not JaredMy hand
clutched at Jeb's arm, an automatic spasm of fear
And then I really looked at the waiting figureIt was smaller than me–that was how I'd known
it was not Jared–and thinSmall, but also too tall and too wiryEven in the dim light of the blue
lamp, I could see that his skin was dyed to a deep brown by the sun, and that his silky black hair
now fell unkempt past his chin
My hand, grasping Jeb's arm in panic, held on for hermes tas suppo