Page 114 of Even Robots Die
“Isn’t he old? Like centuries old?” Elodie asks, and for once I’m relieved that the question isn’t about me. That I can answer.
“He’s older than Dad,” I say and I leave it at that.
Elodie looks at me like she swallowed sour lemons, but from the other side of the line in front of me Juliette is doubtful. I can’t really blame her for it, Brice has been doting on me since I got wounded, and even if I know it was because of the bloodlust, the kiss we shared in my workshop still plays on repeat in my mind.
“So, when are we going home?” Elodie asks again. “And how long do we have to wait for Dad?”
She doesn’t sound concerned at all now that she knows he’s still alive. But that’s the thing with this family, isn’t it? As long as the family members are still alive, we’re supposed to be alright I guess. Or at least it’s how it feels.
“You’re all staying here in Notre Dame for a little while,” I say to the room.
I know they won’t like it. Knowing you’re spending a night in Notre Dame is one thing, not knowing when you’re going back home is a whole other thing, and I haven't even started on the fact they can’t go to school either. Except for Juliette, I’m sure they won’t mind—they’re not huge fans of school—but it’ll be another thing that will uproot their habits and I still don’t know how they’re going to react.
From the way they look at me, they’re not happy but they probably discussed the matter already because none of them complain out loud.
“How long is a little while?” Amélie asks softly.
I stuff one of the cookies in my mouth so I don’t have to answer immediately.
Coward, cough, cough.
When I’m done, all eyes are on me, waiting for my answer.
“I know it’s not what you want to hear, but it would be safer if you could stay here until I’m back home and things have died down a bit.”
What I don’t tell them is that I don’t see things calming down for a long time, not if we do nothing for the birds to stop. I’m not sure how they would take it, and maybe it’s wrong of me, but I don’t want them to worry too much.
I’m hoping after a few days or weeks in Notre Dame they won’t mind staying, not permanently, but maybe for a few months.
It’s wishful thinking I know, but at this point I don't know how to protect them any other way.
It’s my fault they’re not back home with a normal life. If I didn’t come home earlier today, their life wouldn’t have been uprooted and they would still live a blissfully boring life. Or as much of a life under constant watch by the bird-shifters can be.
“At least we don’t have to cook and the food is good here,” Coralie says before adding lower, “I could live without tasting Amélie’s cooking ever again.”
“I heard that,” Amélie answers her with a slap on her shoulder and an amused chuckle.
“And Juliette can daydream while watching the warriors,” Elodie says with a loud laugh.
Juliette turns as red as a tomato but doesn’t fight Elodie on this, so it must be at least a bit true.
I take note that I should talk with her later about it but let the girls joke about all the things they’ve discovered in Notre Dame since they arrived.
Before I know it, it’s one in the morning and I’m getting antsy from the lack of any news from Dad, so I force the girls back totheir rooms—not having to share a room was something they found amazing—and go in search of Brice.
64
Brice
Ismell Florentine before I hear her arrive at my door. Ever since I tasted her blood—even if it was only a couple drops—it’s like I smell how far or close she is to me. This is a strange sensation, but it helped with leaving her on her own in her room with her sisters.
The primal part of me wanted to shift and sneak into her room, to hear and see what was going on with her sisters, but knowing she wasn’t far and that I would feel it if she got away helped with the growing tension inside of me.
I didn't rest, though. I have this feeling that the day is far from over even if we’re well into the night.
It's been hours since Florentine sent the money to her father and we still haven’t heard from him, and if my intuition is good, this is exactly why Florentine is currently at my door debating if she should knock on the door and enter.
I don’t give her the time to think any longer about it and open the door at the same time her arm raises in the air.
