Page 59 of Blood Moon
Thatelicited something in me. I forced a bite of my potato.Breathe, just breathe.“I—I actually do have more questions.”
“Yeah?”
I took a sip of my drink, wiped my hands on my legs in an attempt to stop my feet from bouncing. “I know you can track animals, but does that mean you can track people, too? For instance …” I stammered, forced a swallow. “Like, say you needed to find me, c-could you?” I wanted to know what my real chances were of getting away from here unscathed.
He wiped his mouth with a napkin, a smirk hidden there. “Sort of?” Julian read the question on my face. “I can track most people, but your scent is different.”
“Different?” I dropped my head to check myself. A few whiffs in, and all I could smell was the food on his tray. “What’s that supposed to mean? Is that bad?”
“Depends on what you consider bad.”
I leaned in. “Wait, be serious for a moment … do I smell?”
He laughed. Covered his mouth. “No. I promise.”
I nodded.But if Julian was …I couldn’t even allow myself to think the word. Butif he was… how did it work? I shifted my gaze to his, measuring him. There was a person in front of me—not a monster.
“Essentially, you can track anything with a heartbeat.”
“Yeah.”
It was setting in, and I wasn’t ready for the smoke to clear. I needed that thick, murky air to keep me tucked into the safest corner of my mind. I didn’t want to give in,to know …
“And you’re dangerous?” This, I was well-versed in. I knew the answer he’d give. He’d said it over and over again; the sound of it was ringing in my ears now.
“Very.”
My food stared at me as I spindled deeper into thought. The word was right there, dancing on the tip of my tongue—any sudden move, and it’d fly right out—but I needed more time.
We walked our trays to the dish conveyer and proceeded outside. Five minutes had passed, perhaps more, and still, I was unable to say anything. I imagined I looked disheveled and pale, or possibly green from nausea while we strode the sidewalk.
“What building are you going to next?” Julian asked. His voice was soft, but it startled me. I’d almost forgotten he was there, blocking the sunlight from hitting the side of my face.
“Stewart building again,” I mumbled, staring off into space.Julian was …I shook my head.No.I needed more from him. I cleared my throat. “What else can you do?”
He shrugged.
“Can you fly?”
He laughed. “No.”
“Can you read minds?”
“I wish.”
“Would you say you have good hearing?”
“Yes.”
“How good? Like, if I was standing in O’Porter Stadium, and you were outside of the Student Center, could you hear me?”
“Not if you whispered, but I could make out most of the words.”
“What about vision?”
“20/20.”
“Can you climb up buildings?”
