Chapter 10
I listen to nothing but excuses on the ride home. "I regretted leaving you the moment I was out your door" "If it hadn't been for the weather I would have been over there every single day" "You have no idea how worried I was when I found out you were gone."
I tried to smile. I mean I wanted to believe him; wanted to think that he actually cared for me, but the ache left behind by the last two weeks was too much now.
"Vaun what happened to that baby lamb Mitch gave me?" I had just cut him off from another ramble about how awful his life was before he found me.
"Its back at the house I think? Unless one of the boys finished it off already."
I could feel my skin squirm at the image his words brought. "I want it."
"Really, it's probably dead already, I'll just have Mitchell bring you another."
"No," I said no longer acting the part of his sweet and gentle fiancé and he knew that, "I want that one."
"O-okay?" We drove the rest of the way in silence till I heard the tires grade against the gravel driveway.
I jumped out of the car without waiting till it stopped. "Anniel!" he called out but I pretend I don't hear him.
The rain has beginning to subside now, becoming nothing more than a fine shower of mist. Inside young men where running around in their boxers, getting drunk, and starting another round of blood filled army video game. Seeing me barge into the room was like a young boy sneaking looks at an adult magazine when suddenly his mother walks in. They froze, some hiding the liquor, some hiding their bare skin. One actually jumped in front of the tv, keeping me from seeing his latest kiss replay on the screen.
Vaun was close behind me and they all gave him a frightened look. He mumbled something and they all scattered like rodents in the night running back to their festering rats nests.
"You should have waited, you didn't need to see that." He looks more embarrassed that this was going to be my first impression of this place than anything else.
"Its okay," my voice seams suddenly weary as I feel the impact of what has happened today finally begins to sink in.
We make our way upstairs and find the poor creature collapsed in the corner of the room. It's snow white fur was soaked in it's own blood. How it was still alive I had no idea. "Do you have a towel or something?"
"Ya," he looks at me hesitantly before he disappears then comes back carrying on of his embroidered golden stitched towels. I grab it from his hand and wrap it around the little lamb that suddenly begins to wail in pain when I pick it up.
When I begin to walk down the stairs with it he runs after me "Where do you think your going with that? Anniel I said where are you going with that?"
I take a deep breath and turn to face him trying to remind myself that I need to love this man. "I'm going to nurse it back to help my dear. Is that all right?" at the sound of his pet name he simmers down a bit.
"Ah, you silly woman. Sure I suppose you may." I thank him and we return to the car and drive back to my home. Our thoughts drowned out by the creatures sorrowful wails.
~*~
Home alone I am at a lost at what I should do for this crying animal. For the sake of the poor thing I close my eyes, pick up the phone and dial the number my fingers have known since I was seven.
It rings and rings but all I get is the answering machine. I sigh, hang up and call again. This time he picks up after the fourth ring.
"What?" he growls into the receiver.
