Blackbird

Chapter 12

It was dusk, and me and Ilva decided to step indoors.

I walked into Arbor's plush living room, and plonked myself down on an embroidered cushion. Ilva, of course, sweeped into the room and gracefully sat down. Typical Ilva.

Arbor came in and sat down. This was our routine. We would sit here and talk peacefully about nothing until I went to bed. Arbor and Ilva loved teasing me about how early I went to bed, but it was only because they both went to bed freakishly late.

We sat silently for five minutes, until Arbor put down his newspaper and asked me, "Do you enjoy it here?"

I was slightly weirded out by the random question, but answered, "Yes, it's a very nice here. Your treehouse is lovely."

Arbor laughed. It was a surprisingly lovely sound. "Not the treehouse", he said, "About living in a treehouse with two assassins."

I glance at Ilva, wondering if I was being mocked.

Arbor caught the glance and added, "Honestly."

I looked him straight in the eye and said flatly, "It scares me to death."

Ilva started but Arbor smiled. He had straight teeth, I observed. And nice eyes. I told myself not to get carried away.

"Clever girl," he said, "Never feel too safe." He made to turn back to Ilva but saw me grimacing and smiled comfortingly at me, "Unless you have Ilva as your soulmate. She would rip out my throat before I got anywhere near you."

This was as comferting as it was true. I grinned at him.

James took this moment to walk in.
He saw us and almost walked out, but Ilva pleaded with him to stay and talk with us.

"You can't avoid us forever, unfortunately." She smiled, trying to look as friendly as possible.

I tried not to laugh.

"So James, how has your stay been so far?" I asked him. He seemed comfterble talking to me.

"Good, thank you. I was just reading a book about pond wildlife. It's really fascinating", James responded, enthusiastically.

I saw Arbor's face look up from his newspaper.
"I actually have a hobby of collecting wildlife." He says, "Mabye you would like to see some?"

James' face lit up.
"Yes please!" He beams.

Arbor looks pleased at his interest. There his eyes go again. They entrance me.
"We can go and look at my collection now?" He offers.

"I'm not sure James will want to go right after he's eaten", Ilva says.

"No, no, I want to go", James insists. He looks really at home.

Arbor gets up and him and James walk out the room.

Ilva smiles and also leaves to play the grand piano in the next room, leaving me to wonder about Arbor's eyes.

Author's note: Picture of James above :)