Sheep to be Slaughtered

~Chapter Fourteen~

            Oh no... no this wasn't supposed to happen at all. I stood before Zander, unable to move. What should I do? What should I say? I couldn't explain this... I couldn't tell him what I was up to or risk his safety... and I couldn't linger outside Founder Marco's back door either...

          "What are you doing?" Zander asked.

          If only I had acted quicker. If I had passed it off as a late-night walk... he hadn't a clue I had been inside the house... right? I mean, I could tell him I was just worried about Founder Marco... but would he be convinced?

          "I... I-um, I was just checking to see if Founder Marco was still awake... I... I wanted to talk to him about what happened..." I tried to make myself sound convincing, but between the stuttering and hesitation, I knew it was unlikely Zander would believe me.

          He looked unconvinced as I predicted. He looked from the back of the house to me... shaking his head the whole time. "What were you really doing here, Eleyah?"

          That tone was frightening. That was the tone he used when he caught me about to walk into the woods the other day... he was angry... and I understood why. He had always tried to look out for me and here I was... sneaking into Founder Marco's house and acting more than a bit suspicious.

          I glanced back over my shoulder. We couldn't talk here. "Come back to my house... it's better to talk there."

          "Why?" Zander challenged, folding his arms over his chest. "I thought you were just paying Founder Marco a visit?"

          This was stupid for both of us. He clearly knew I had been there for another reason. The longer we lingered, the more dangerous it became for both of us. He was pressing me for answers, expecting me to cave.

          I was stubborn too. My eyes narrowed and I finally realized just how strange it was he had even showed up... at the back of Founder Marco's house. "Why are you here?" I asked, an accusatory tone in my voice. "What gives you the right to demand answers as to my business when you're here as well? Have you been following me?"

          For but a moment, I saw the sudden look of guilt flash across his face. But it was quickly replaced by that stoic, unforgiving face I knew well. "Is it wrong for me to worry about you?"

          "No, but it is wrong for you to stalk after me like a predator of some kind," I snapped and dared step closer. "If I catch you following me about again, I shall question whether you respect me at all. I would think that after all these years together, you would at least think enough of me to give me space and time when I ask for it." I shifted passed him and began my walk back to my house. My anger and the sense of betrayal that had hit me overpowering my logistical senses, preventing me from considering whether I needed to plead for his secrecy... as far as I was concerned, all he needed to know was I had tried to pay Founder Marco a late visit. That was believable enough and I trusted him to keep silent about the matter.

           I felt a hand latch onto my arm.

          "Stop it, Eleyah," he ordered, pulling me to a halt.

          My eyes grew wide with fury. Why did he always think he could just grab and pull me about like this? Because he had the strength to? Because he just could?

           "I saw you go inside," he said.

          I froze and refused to look back at him. I would not change my story.

          "You cannot ask me to keep something like this from him, Eleyah," he groaned in frustration as he released me and put both of his hands into his hair, pulling it fiercely. "If he finds out I did, it's my family he'll come after!"