A Month of Midnights

XII

    "He's such a cutie, Blyss. It's a shame you only got two days with him," Minnie giggled. I rolled my eyes and laughed. I knew she had been dying to ask me for more details since Rudy and Upright had left only minutes ago to gather more wood to feed our campfire. Between Rudy and me, we managed to give a coherent explanation as to what happened to us while our group was separated. Of course, our discussions by the fire, in the room of bodies, and out on the patio were conveniently skipped over. Minnie, though, could detect the holes in our story. While our explanation seemed to satisfy Upright, the perky faery was not so easily fooled. Though she worked tirelessly to get me to spill juicy details, I resisted. Rudy and I had already made a pact to conceal the details we had divulged to each other.

    "Two days was plenty fine," I said with an impish smile. Minnie pouted.

    "Don't expect me to believe that nothing interesting besides the Bluebeard encounter happened while we were separated," Minnie reminded me. I lifted my hands in surrender.

    "Nothing happened," I swore. "How many times do I have to tell you this?" Minnie's bright eyes narrowed.

    "You're hiding something, Blyss Bannon. I can see it. When you and Rudy look at each other, there's definitely something you two know that you're not saying." I shrugged.

    "Even if there was and I told you, I'd have to tell Upright, no? Surely, you can understand why I wouldn't want that to happen," I reasoned with a grin, knowing this was my ticket to victory. Minnie conceded.

    "Alright, I supposed you make a valid point. But could you tell me one thing? One itty bitty thing, please? I promise I won't tell a soul. Not even Avon," she pleaded. The horse looked up curiously, as if it knew we were talking about it.

    "I don't know. Avon might overhear us," I jested.

    "Please!" Minnie persisted. "Before they come back!" I bit my lip and looked at her warily. In Chorio I had no close friend to confide in, even if it was over trivial things. It seemed Minnie wanted a confidant just as much as I did.

    "Okay, one thing!" I said. Minnie was already squealing in delight. She hovered closer.

    "Go on!" she urged. I didn't know what I was going to tell her. All of it seemed so private, and I didn't want to betray Rudy's trust. Thankfully, I didn't have too.

    "So, you're saying if I slaughter a pig in front of other pigs, it'll come back to haunt me later?" I heard Upright ask somewhere nearby. I rolled my eyes at the sound of the familiar topic.

    "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying!" Rudy answered. The two broke through the trees.

    Upright said, "You know, I actually can agree with that. One time, I had to-what are you two doing?" Upright and Rudy looked between Minnie and me. I'm sure we looked suspicious, both of us hunched over towards each other as if we were plotting something devious.

    "Nothing now," Minnie complained. Rudy shot a wary glance to me. I didn't say anything, don't worry, I thought as I shook my head slightly. It appeared that Rudy understood. Slowly we were improving our silent looks to each other since the incident at Bluebeard's dining table. It was obvious we still communicated better through his thought projection though.

    Rudy and Upright set their gathered wood in a neat stack close by but far enough away from the fire.

"You think he'll stay?" Minnie asked me with worry. I looked at Dane, still glowing and possessed by something neither good or evil, who was tied to a nearby tree. We hadn't figured out a way to get him to stop walking, so our best option was to prevent him from doing so. His legs still kicked weakly in the dirt as they tried to walk forward.