Running with Shifters (completed)

Chapter 20 Meg-Elaine

Chapter 20

Meg-Elaine

I can tell I kind of stunned him and he takes a minute to find his voice. "Uh... What do you want to know? My name is Elias Montgomery, my birthday is October 22..." he trails off when he sees my face and hurries to continue, knowing what I was about to say, "I know we missed it but don't worry about it. With all the traveling I've done over the years I rarely get to actually celebrate. Let's see- I'm... twenty-three this year." He gives a little smile and I can't help but be surprised.

Twenty-three? He's five years older than me?! I know it doesn't really matter (and truly I could care less) but still, that's surprising!

He continues and I tune back in. "I'm definitely more of a dog person, which is kind of ironic, considering I'm Feline. My favorite candy or food is pretty much anything with cinnamon in it..." he trails off yet again, "this isn't what you meant, is it?"

I wring my fingers before jamming them between my knees to stop myself. I don't remember ever being this nervous before, except maybe when I asked Iz what happened to her in New York. It's just... I've never had to ask anyone their story before. Everyone that I've ever been close with I've grown up with so I already knew everything about them.

"Not really, even though that's all good to know. I meant more like..." my voice trails off and I'm stuck hoping he knows what I mean.

Luckily he does. "My story?" All I can do is nod and he gives a little chuckle as he squeezes my shoulders in a hug. "Well... as you know my parents were murdered by vampires when I was three. I don't remember them or where we lived, only the red eyes and fangs. Someone found me toddling around and took me to an orphanage. Given that I was so young I found a home quickly... and then another, and another, and another. I kept telling people what happened to my parents and apparently people don't like getting stuck with a supposedly insane little boy. Because don't you know vampires aren't real."

I don't say anything, I have no idea what I'd say anyway, and just hug him closer. He sighs into my hair before continuing. "When I first Shifted I had no idea what was happening but I somehow luckily managed to keep the family I was with at the time from finding out. I needn't have worried, they barely paid attention to me anyway and I wasn't with them for long.

"When I found out I was being moved, yet again, I finally got fed up and ran away. I was running through a field one day in my Tiger form and an elderly farmer saw me. Before I could run away he Changed and caught me quickly. Greg, the farmer, explained what I am and let me live with him until he died and his son took over the farm. Folks in the town nearby knew me by then and I got a job as a florist's assistant. That didn't last long, though, because I met Kate soon after. She was a tailor's assistant and when I found out what she was (don't ask, I don't want to think about it, it's too horrible!)" he says this last part so overly dramatic that we both burst out into near-hysterics despite the somber subject of just a second ago.

"So anyway, I found out and told her what I am and before I knew what was happening she'd somehow persuaded me to run away with her. Not in the way you'd think, just us Shifters away from the close-minded humans. It wasn't long after that that we met Romulus and Lanny. I still don't know how they met, they've never been willing to tell anyone, but I don't pry. Almost a year after we ran into the brothers (Brad hadn't started Shifting yet) and we've been together ever since. Then, about six months ago, I met you."

He finishes with a sigh and looks down at me tenderly. What does he expect me to say to that? I say the only thing my mind supplies, "wow."