Page 68 of Deadly Avarice
Aurelia’s head cocked to the side and her Caribbean blue eyes narrowed. “I do not believe that is completely accurate.”
I felt my eye twitch. Since when had Aurelia become so observant? “I’m resting my body. My brain hasn’t gotten the memo yet.”
Aurelia moved, shifting around the coffee table before circling it and perching on the edge. She’d started coming closer to me, as if she were finally comfortable narrowing the space between us. I still wasn’t certain how I felt about that. Aurelia didn’t need proximity to harm me. I think it was more instinctual wariness than anything else.
“You speak a language I am well versed in and yet I often do not understand what you say.” Aurelia sat with her legs spread and her elbows perched on her knees as she leaned toward me, gazing at me as if I were a complicated puzzle.
“I often think the same thing about you,” I answered. That wasn’t strictly true. I understood what Aurelia said. I often didn’t understand why.
Aurelia remained silent, her eerie gaze boring into me until I simply couldn’t take it any longer. Frustrated, I said, “I don’t like it when you’re here and don’t show yourself.”
Aurelia’s eyebrow ticked upward. “I am showing myself currently.”
I blew out a huff. “Yes, I’m aware. But you didn’t yesterday.”
This time, Aurelia’s eyes scrunched. “I do not believe I was here yesterday, though I am uncertain.”
“How can you not know for sure?”
Aurelia waved a dismissive hand in the air. “Time is irrelevant and difficult for me to grasp.”
I’d heard that before and still couldn’t understand it. Just like Aurelia couldn’t understand why keeping track of time was so important to most species, especially those as short-lived as humans and necromancers.
“Regardless, I have not done that for what you would most likely consider a lengthy time interval,” Aurelia said.
“Done what? Been here and not made me aware?”
“Yes. You told me you do not like it, and I have attempted to uphold your request.” Aurelia’s tone was matter-of-fact.
I started to argue. I’d definitely gotten the feeling someone was watching me yesterday and yet, I’d never known Aurelia to lie. She didn’t need to. If anything, Aurelia was unabashedly blunt and honest. I didn’t think she knew how to be otherwise.
Swallowing my argument, I felt the tingle of unease slither down my spine again. Because if it wasn’t Aurelia, then who was it? My gaze flicked to the shadows dancing around the fireplace and the odd location I’d seen the stationary shadow yesterday. I’d chalked it up to my eyes playing tricks on me, but what I’d seen yesterday definitely wasn’t there today. It could be that the play of shadows simply changed with the fire. That would be the perfectly simple and sane explanation. It was an explanation I didn’t completely buy, no matter how much I wanted to.
Swallowing hard, I asked, “Aurelia, can you tell if anyone else is in the house?”
Aurelia’s seemingly perpetually bored facial mask slipped into something more intense. “The creature is here.”
I sat up, my heart racing until I remembered that’s what Aurelia called her pet. “You mean the hamster?”
Aurelia nodded. “Yes. Do you mean something else?”
“I do. I’m not… I’m not certain, but I’ve gotten the feeling recently that something is watching me. I thought it was you.”
“It is not,” Aurelia sternly answered.
“Yes, and I believe you. And if that is the case, then perhaps there is something else. If there were, would you be able to tell?”
“Most likely,” Aurelia answered, her expression revealing nothing. She also hadn’t said if therewassomething else or not.
Begging Gaia for a little patience, I asked, “And would you be willing to let me know if there was? As always, it is your choice.” If there was a magic word with Aurelia,choicewas it.
Aurelia’s stiff body relaxed a fraction. “I believe I would do so, unless I found it more interesting not to reveal their presence. As for now, there is no one here beyond you, me, and the creature.”
Said creature rolled into the living room. Aurelia gave the moving ball a scathing look. “I do not like thispet. I have informed Peaches he needs to find it another home. I refuse to name such a worthless creature.”
“And what did Peaches have to say?” While I didn’t want a hamster, if Aurelia’s patience with the thing was at an end, then I’d take it off her hands if only to save it. I wasn’t sure that Aurelia would end the hamster’s life, but I also didn’t feel like chancing it.
“Peaches will comply. He asked me to take care of it until he finds an appropriate home.” Aurelia huffed. “I acquiesced. I promised to care for it in the interim. Peaches promised it is a top priority.” With narrowed eyes, Aurelia said, “We will see if he keeps his promise or if he yet proves to be like other masters.”
