Veiled Shadows

Chapter 8 Pt. 1

"Can I get some more tea?" Martha calls from the living room.

The sound of her voice bounces around my skull like a jackhammer.

"Coming right up." I answer.

She's been here all afternoon helping us track down Kravimik. She's not just a whizz with fake ids, she's also a master sleuth. With just a first name and hair colour she's been able to track down more men than I care to admit to sleeping with. I wonder if that's a satyr skill or just Martha.

Depositing the fresh tea on the coffee table I quickly scamper off muttering vaguely about using the bathroom. I've already washed and folded all the laundry, put away the groceries she brought, and cleaned my kitchen top to bottom. I'm running out of excuses to avoid her. It's not that I don't want her here. In fact, I'm blessed to have such a wonderful, smart, useful person in my life who's willing to help her fugitive friend. But the taste of her magic is driving me insane. Every time I try to take just a little bit I feel my control slipping. I won't risk hurting her so instead I'm biding my time until she leaves and I can eat the last bits from my crystals. After that I'll have to figure out a longer term solution.

This is the longest I've gone without feeding in... well, forever, I think.

I splash some water on my face and stare at myself in the mirror. My eyes are bloodshot and my cheeks look hollow. Standing up straight I feel lightheaded and the edges of my vision go dark for a second before I regain my composure and push open the door.

Eko is sitting on the couch next to Martha, staring at her screen in awe. "I believe she has found him."

His head is turned towards me and Martha takes the opportunity to waggle her eyebrows suggestively at me while simultaneously pointing at him and mouthing the word 'hot'.

I give her a look that says, 'there's no way in hell.'

Is Eko still shirtless and gorgeous? Yes. Does being next to him do things to my body that I can't explain? Absolutely. Is he also the single most annoying and aggravating person I've ever met in my entire existence on this earth? One hundred percent.

I plop down next to Eko and peer across his lap at her screen. She has an article up about two kids that went missing earlier this week. The site of each abduction was covered in blood and the Guard believes the children are dead.

"And what does this have to do with Kravimik?"

"Ogres feed on the young," Eko says as casually as if he were talking about picking daisies or going for walks.

"You think he's eating children?" I gasp.

Martha's also upset by the thought and I have to shift in my seat to put some distance between us as her magic flares in response. I clench my fists and try to keep my breathing even.

Just a little longer.

"Three others have gone missing in this area recently," she says, unaware of what her proximity is doing to me. "I did a search and found two abandoned buildings where he could be hiding. Both are within a few blocks of each of the disappearances and both back onto unmonitored alleys with sewer access. That's how we think he's getting around unseen."

"If he's travelling by sewer why wouldn't he widen his net a bit? Why take kids so close to where he's staying?"

"Ogres are not very intelligent." Eko shrugs. "He is hungry so he finds food. He likely does not understand the consequences of his actions."

"And what are these articles about?"

I point to her screen where a dozen tabs are open with articles about everything from petty theft to murdered dogs.