“Sure, I will. When we get back from seeing the gargoyles,” Reed replies with a grin.
It doesn’t take us long to eat, and as we all make our way to the bottom of the stairs where we all dumped our bags, I can’t help but glance down the hallway that leads to the side of the house where Zephyr is in the basement. We’re going to be gone for a couple of days at least, and he’s going to be all alone again.
I should have apologized to him when I got the chance.
For some reason, I really don’t like the thought of him being alone here, and I know that it doesn’t make much sense because I’m pretty sure that he’s been alone here for a really long time, possibly since before I even came here, which is weird to think about. But because he’s been here for so long, he’s probably used to being alone.
Actually, scratch that, I think I remember Ethel saying that it was a fairly recent thing, because of the whole being hunted thing. I’m going to have to fact-check that at some point. I think I would prefer it if it were a more recent thing.
Chapter Fifteen
Neith
Anyway, just because you’re used to being alone doesn’t mean that you like it.
“You guys go ahead, I’ll catch up,” I tell the others.
“Alright, Nene,” Van says. “Don’t get too distracted.”
“If I’m not with you in like fifteen minutes tops, then come and find me because I’ve gotten distracted,” I reply seriously.
Van grins, “You got it.”
I smile and then turn around and head back the way we came while the guys disappear down the hallway that leads to the portal. I decide that since I’ve taken a detour anyway, and I have to walk past the kitchen to get to the basement, that now would actually be a good time to ask Ethel. Who knows when I’ll remember to do it otherwise.
“I thought you had left, dear?” Ethel asks as soon as I step back into the kitchen.
“I did, I just had a quick question, and wanted to ask you before I forgot,” I explain.
“I will answer it to the best of my ability,” she replies.
I smile, that’s a fancy, Ethel way of saying that she won't necessarily answer my question.
“How long has Zephyr been stuck in the basement?”
“He is there of his own free will, and for his safety,” Ethel replies. Reconfirming what she has already said. Before I can say anything else, or ask the question again, she continues, “He hasn’t been here for that long. He arrived just before your last visit.”
Huh, that’s not what I thought she was going to say.
“Thanks, Ethel. I’ll see you soon,” I say as I head toward the door and my original destination.
“Be safe,” she calls out after me.
“I always try,” I reply.
It’s the best I can do. I can’t promise anything.
I stop outside the wall where the basement door appears.
“Zephyr, I still don’t know if you can hear me when I talk to you like this, or if House is the only one that can, but I wanted you to know that I’m really sorry about what I said last night, I didn’t mean to offend you,” I start, and then jump as something nudges my foot, I grin as I scoop up Bitey, “Hey, Buddy, I wondered where you got to I haven’t seen you since last night either.”
Bitey nudges my hand and asks for pets. I think he’s more of an occasionally we see him kind of creature, rather than a creature who is under our feet all the time. I guess, although he behaves like a dog, he has the ‘leave me alone unless I decide I want attention’ attitude of a cat.
He wriggles, and I put him down again, trying not to laugh as he does his weird shuffle run back down the hallway. Fuck knows where he keeps disappearing off to, but he’s obviously happy, and that’s all that really matters to me.
I turn my attention back to the wall. There’s been no response from Zephyr, so he’s either mad at me, can’t hear me, or asleep.
Still, I feel the need to try one more time. “I also wanted to let you know that we’re going to be gone for a few days, but we will be back soon. I didn’t want you to think that we’d just up and leave you without saying goodbye.”
