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“I guess it isn’t something infernals know.” She twisted her lips. “Actually, I think it might be a regional thing. Around here we call a blanket bed on the floor a pallet.”
“Oh.”
She turned and went into the bathroom, giggling to herself. “I’m surprised you knew about forklifts.”
Had she forgotten Elyrdin had nearly every human creation and then some?
I made quick work of bringing several thick blankets to her room, laying them on the floor next to her bed. I’d never heard the term “pallet” before. She seemed amused by that. If it helped her cope with the earlier fear, I could deal with a bit of embarrassment.
She returned from the bathroom with a full glass of water, placing it on her nightstand. After looking at her phone, she set it down and crawled beneath the covers.
She hadn’t taken her pants off, and I didn’t suspect she would with me in the room. I doubted I could handle her half-naked and so close anyway.
Once I settled under the blanket on the floor, she looked down at me with a tired smile.
“Thanks for staying with me,” she said, reaching up to turn the lamp off.
“Anytime, Rae.”
It didn’t take long before I regretted my choice to sleep on the floor. I still wouldn’t go back downstairs and leave her alone.
I turned to my opposite side, muscles aching. I felt like a rotisserie gornak, turning every ten minutes.
The light blinked on.
“Are you okay?”
I squinted as my eyes adjusted to the lamplight. “Yeah. What’s wrong? Nightmare?”
She huffed a laugh. “Not likely. I haven’t fallen asleep yet.” She grabbed her phone. “It’s only been an hour.”
I wasn’t conceited enough to think I could help her sleep, but I hoped having someone’s presence would ease her nerves enough to get a decent rest.
She collapsed back against her pillow and groaned. “So what do you do for fun in Elyrdin?”
I glanced at the bed, no longer able to see her. I hadn’t expected a question like that. “When we’re not working for the council, I watch movies or play video games with Zeke.”
“What kind of movies do they have down—uh, I mean… over there?”
I chuckled. “Same as Earth. We don’t make them, but we enjoy the ones humans make. We never expanded the entertainment industry beyond music or televised live events and news.”
“You at least have regular jobs, right?”
“Well, yeah. Whatever is needed. School, banks, grocery stores…”
She leaned over the side of the bed, resting her chin on her arm. “You have school?”
“It’s a little different from here, but we need an education just like humans to keep society running. Math, languages, Earth history, Elyrdin history…”
“That’s pretty cool. So, what’s your favorite movie?”
“Pirates of the Caribbean.”
“Seriously? I was a baby when that came out. Now I get it though.”
I propped myself on my elbow. “Get what?”
“Your hair. It reminded me of a Viking, but pirates work too.”
