Something Darker; Chapter 11

My mind is still reeling when Janice walks out of V's room. The cat Zanthus is watching me. He seems oddly calm. "I thought you had to do some kind of ritual to get the marks."

Yes, that's why we've been traveling about looking further into this. V wants answers.

"And you?"

His tail flicks. Curiosity.

Janice looks between us. "She'll be fine. Probably. The wound is deep. Mum did her best to seal it, but there's no promise it won't get infected."

The cat nods.

The door opens again. Its mum. "Jax, come help me move her to the bed."

I push off the ground. I notice Zanthus look at Janice and I see her nod as I follow my mum back into the room. Zanthus is probably going to tell her what he told me.

I gently lift V off the floor and carry her to the bed. Mum pulls back the sheet, and I lay her down. Mum proceeds to tuck the sheet up around her chin.

"What's her story?" Mum asks.

I look up at her. "All the cat would tell me is that she wasn't born with the marks. He says that they just appeared on their own. She ran away from home, looking for answers, and that's how she met the cat. They've been traveling together since, and he's been teaching her."

"And I take it she's noble?"

"Most likely, but the cat wouldn't say. According to him, that's all that was his to tell. The rest is up to her," I say motioning to her.

Mum nods, reaching out and placing her hand on V's forehead. "There's no sign of a fever yet, which is hopefully good." She drops he hand away, shaking her head. "I feel that we should let someone know, but that wouldn't end well at all." She looks up at me. "Come on, let's try to get some sleep."

xXxXx

The next day, rumors of the Shadow Slave running about last night are flying around town. The total dead are six. A farmer, a guard, and a family of four. The guards found him dead at the edge of the woods, but the rumors say that none of them killed him.

And I don't doubt that. If I had to guess, it was V. She ran after him, and they fought. She got the winning blow but was injured in the process. Hence her laying in her room, still unconscious according to Janice's last report.

Zanthus is laying on the counter, in a patch of sun by the window. I'm pretty sure he's sleeping, but every now and then I hear what has to be a purr, so I'm not entirely sure.

Eren keeps trying to get him to play and chase a string, but the most he gets is the occasional glance when Zanthus chooses to open an eye.

When evening rolls about, the main room fills. Everyone still chatting about the events of the previous night, but in hushed tones, the deaths still hanging in the air. I hear there's to be a collective funeral tomorrow.

Mum comes down from V's room. She pauses by my side long enough to whisper, "She's awake."

I watch her walk into the kitchen, come out with food, and head back upstairs. I have a feeling that there's something else she didn't say. I glance over at the cat. He's sitting up, ears flat, eyes narrowed.

He stands up and trots after mum. Janice walks out of the kitchen and looks at me.

It's too soon to be sure, but it looks like she might be getting a fever, the cat's voice whispers in my mind.

I see Janice's eyes widen, so I know she heard him too. She heads up the stairs. I wish there was something more we could do.