Hooked

CHAPTER TEN - DINNER

"You did what?" Talia's horrified expression rankled my nerves as she rounded on a startled Peter.

We had come back to a grand reception.

Talia immediately started to shriek at Peter while I slipped back into the room that held my clothes and changed. They were completely dry and I felt a little more at ease when I put them back on.

Seth and four other boys sat on the floor in an uneven semi-circle, gazing at the exchange intently. Their noses twitched as they nervously whispered to each other, moving their heads with small, jerky movements much like Seth did. I wondered if they were squirrels too, but couldn't bring myself to ask; if I saw one more unexplainable occurrence tonight, I was sure I would have a mental breakdown.

Not that I was certain I hadn't had one already.

"How could you show the treasure to a stranger? Do you what this means? You've put us all at risk, Peter. And for what? A girl who you don't even know! What is wrong with you?"

She gestured wildly with her hands, as if her message wasn't clear enough - I do not like this girl, therefore being nice to her is forbidden.

Peter narrowed his eyes.

"I will show the treasure to whom ever I want. It is mine, after all."

Talia opened her mouth as if to argue, a dangerous gleam in her eyes.

"Talia."

Something in Peter's voice changed, and suddenly the whole room was silent.

The silence went on for several long seconds.

"When's dinner?"

All heads turned to the youngest of the boys, a skinny redhead of about twelve with doe brown eyes. A smattering of freckles covered his nose, making him look even younger. Immediately, my heart went out to him. He looked lost, and I found myself wanting to... mother him.

He ducked his head down, embarrassed.

"Sorry. What I meant was, uh...well, when are we going to eat?"

And just like that, the tense mood in the room evaporated. Peter smiled.

"Right now. Seth, where's that Jabberwocky?"

"Oh." Seth jumped to his feet and darted out of the room.

He came back a few moments later, hauling a large bundle behind him.

I gasped when I saw what it was. A small, scaly creature lay sprawled on the floor where he'd dropped it, a trickle of its blood oozing a trail across the earth.

The animal looked like a large lizard, complete with four short, stubby legs all the way down to a long, skinny tail.

The only thing that was different was its head. A long snout protruded from where the small nose and mouth should have been.

Shuddering, my eyes trailed down the rest of its body for a second time.

It was then that I noticed the twin stumps jutting out of its back. They were small, and not very apparent, but they were definitely there. I didn't ask what they were. I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

The shiny crimson of its scales matched the blood seeping into the ground, and all of a sudden, the room around me started to spin.

Its glassy eyes bore into me, imploring me to do something - anything.

I struggled to breathe.

"What the hell," I choked out, turning my head in the vague direction of Peter, "is that?"

Peter's voice sounded concerned as I heard his footsteps coming closer.

"Rena, it's just-"

"Dinner!" Squealed the little boy excitedly.

"Finally! I'm starving."

That was the last thing I heard before my legs gave out from under me.