Why Should I Tell You Anything? COMPLETED

A Direct Approach

Gideon leads me up the metal stairs talking brightly like an overly enthusiastic tour guide. His golden brown hair shining under the dimmed lights, curling at the ends making him look girly. But God knows if anyone ever told that to his face they'd end up buried under a pile of leaves with their eyes gouged out. Or perhaps longer hair is the style here. Wherever "here" is.

All I know is that we are in some kind of forest filled with monsters and deadly trees. There are various areas of the forest that are dedicated to something. They told me that they are near a Sarin Tree area and a Shadow Forest where color lacks and the trees slant to give Shadows better hiding spots, if you manage to find one.

"This is the first level where the kitchen lies," Gideon explains dramatically gesturing to the thick door. We walk onto the small balcony before continuing up the winding stairs of the cylinder-shaped room. "Adrien likes to cook and come up with all kinds of combinations for us, I never set foot in there because last time-" he laughs, "-I set the stove on fire and Adrien nearly killed me."

"I remember that," Shiloh comments from behind, his obsidian eyes glinting like coals in the light. "You were making Reshful, weren't you?"

Gideon nods before flashing me a smile, "Never leave something to cook, it'll burn if you don't stir it all the time."

I offer him a smile, "Yeah, I feel you."

Suddenly, Gideon makes a face. Then he smirks, "Oh, so you want to feel me? Goodness Eve, you aren't en loust but I guess humans are a bit feisty when it comes to that."

I stare at him blankly. I quickly shake my head knowing he's trying to be dirty. I'm becoming a bit annoyed with these types of conversations when he's trying to make fun of me or be smug about everything. I'm exhausted from running, I'm confused, I'm stressed out, and I don't have the energy to deal with Gideon's games. "Silence yourself, Gideon. It's an expression, it means I understand and I know what you're talking about. And what does en loust mean?" My voice comes out tired as I almost stomp up the stairs, my legs heavy as lead.

Gideon watches me, unsatisfied with my dry response. He looks ahead continuing to walk, "It-It means..." He mumbles something under his breath before repeating en loust and a series of other words in their language. I noticed that the letter sounds are a bit similar to English but I can't be sure.

"It means 'my lover'," Shiloh answers for him, "lovers mean that you are in love or lusting over each other in some way or another. Lovers are the only ones who can call each other by their first given name."

"First given name?" I ask curiously before looking back at him. "Wait so Shiloh isn't your first name."

"Technically, it is," Gideon answers for him, "since he was human before. But mine isn't." He skips a step in a long stride before gesturing to a new door that is above the second level which is my way out. "This is our washing room," he explains, "it's where you wash off and wipe off." He shoots me another wicked grin, as if he were hoping for me to yell at him or laugh. But I give him a blank stare, too tired to truly react to his dirty jokes. I sigh and nod, "Alright."

Gideon frowns before looking beyond my shoulder at Shiloh. "Hey! Is she broken? What's wrong with her?" he asks bluntly.

Shiloh gives him an incredulous look, tugging his long cloak across his chest to wrap himself inside of it. "She's exhausted. She's been running from monsters all night, not to mention the stress on her body from changing back to her normal age."

He hit that right on the nail. At least Shiloh still has knowledge on what it's like to be human. Just ten minutes ago, they made me drink a tonic that restored me to my former age. I had a choice to become older or younger but I wanted to remain seventeen for the sake of familiarity. Aging didn't hurt... but my body feels like a lump of limp muscles due to running and from the change. I'd give anything for a hot shower, my warm bed, and to see Mom's face again. But I'm not sure that will happen as soon as I'd like. I just have to keep pushing on and keep quiet until I can find another opportunity to escape.