Chapter 11
The smell of fur and dirt is comforting me as I sit in the visiting room at the shelter. Delilah is off cleaning cages, or at least pretending to while she plays with the puppies, so I sit and dangle a fake mouse in front of two cats. We’re allowed to do so as much as we like, as long as we make sure their cages are clean and bowls are full of water before we leave. It’s a slow day, with the only people in the building being the volunteers. I glance out the window to see what the receptionist is doing, and find she is completely alone.
A small orange tabby jumps down from a scratching post to chase the fake mouse. I twirl it around me, and he happily dashes after it. I let go when his claws sink into the fabric. A sigh escapes my lips just as the front doors open and in walks Beth.
She agreed to let me borrow a book on demons, and even now I can tell it’s an old book. A textbook, is more like it, she had told me. It belonged to her grandmother, and it is the accounts of her lessons. It’s strange to think that people have been taught how to hunt demons.
Not all are as kind as I am, Ithinara sneers. I lock her away in my mind, using what little energy I have left. Beth comes into the visiting area looking nervous.
“You don’t have to,” I tell her.
“I want to,” she admits, sitting beside me with the book in her lap. It looks old, the pages beginning to tear away, and the cover strangely burned. “I should have done this years ago.”
I grab a piece of rope and dangle it in front of a kitten, but it seems unimpressed with the action. It’s hard to look at Beth. “It isn’t your fault.”
She’s quiet, and I wish Delilah was here to fill the silence. Our relationship has been so strange lately and I wonder what exactly went wrong. The Steele’s, I answer to myself. If none of them had come to Wayward I would be happily living my life. Sort of.
“Will anyone miss it?” I question.
“Not for a while,” Beth says. “It’s been in my room for months now and nobody has asked about it. Honestly we all have it memorized. Willa…you’re sure you want to read this? There’s a lot you don’t know about…about demons and everything. Maybe it’s better if it stayed that way.”
I wonder what could be so bad that Beth doesn’t want me to read the book. I shake my head. “That’s why I need this; I need to know. I can’t be ignorant anymore. She’s getting worse.”
Fatigue is weighing me down and I’m not sure where it’s come from. The cats crawl away from me, their fur spiked into the air. I ignore them and ask to see the book. After a moment’s hesitation, Beth hands it over. “I’ll be careful with it,” I promise, “I won’t even let my dad see it.”
Beth nods, biting down on her lower lip.
Delilah bursts through the door. “I. Love. Puppies,” she says with a wide grin. I smile and laugh, shaking my head. The little bell over the front door rings again as someone walks in, and a chill runs down my spine. Every hair on my arm raises, even the ones on the back of my neck. It takes a lot of energy just to look out the window and see who came inside.
A woman in her late forties stands at the counter, purse tucked tightly under one arm and a gentle smile resting easily on her lips. I’m instantly interested, but I don’t know why. She unsettles me.
“Oh, no,” Beth breathes, “hide the book!”
“What?” I question. Delilah is confused, her eyes darting between us and the woman. Beth’s hands are firm as she grabs the book from me and tosses it into the nearest cat tower; it lands inside easily, and is completely hidden from sight.
“Who is that?” Delilah asks. I turn towards the woman and see she’s waving at us. Delilah gives a hesitant wave back, and Beth smiles brightly. My brow furrows as the woman is led into the visiting room.
“Good afternoon, Beth,” the woman says. “I didn’t realize you volunteered here!”
“Oh, I don’t really,” Beth replies while Delilah sits beside me, “I’m just here with my friends. Mrs. Steele, this is Willa and Delilah. Guys, this is Mrs. Steele, Cain’s mother.”
My heart drops, and I understand why Beth was so eager to hide the book. I now feel protective of the cat tower, wanting to block it off to ensure Mrs. Steele can never find out the book is there. Delilah doesn’t seem to notice the atmosphere.
“Please, call me Ariel,” she says. Her voice is soft and non-threatening, but I sense something just beneath it. There’s a cross around her neck, and she instinctively touches it. I’m grateful my scars are hidden beneath my sweater, but I go to hide the fresh burn from days earlier. My hair manages to cover it.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, hoping my voice is clear and not as shaky as I think it is.
“Same,” Delilah says.
“Are you here to adopt?” Beth asks, keeping the conversation casual. I want to grab the book and run, feeling like there is guilt written all over my face.
“Yes!” Ariel’s voice is suddenly loud, and we all flinch back. “Oh, sorry. You see I’ve been trying to convince my husband to get a cat for years, and he’s finally agreed this morning. I thought I should hurry and adopt before he has a chance to change his mind.”
Ariel’s eyes are showing excitement as they search the room for a potential pet. She seems much more human to me than Nico or even Cain.
“Scar has been here the longest,” I tell her as she stares at the cat on the highest tower. He’s a black cat, and tends to ignore everyone. “I think it’s been about two years now.”
“Scar?” she repeats. “Is he friendly?”
“He’s indifferent, really,” I admit. “He won’t scratch or bite you.” I stand and lead her to see him. Reaching overhead I roll him towards me and catch him just as he’s about to fall. Like usual, he doesn’t react, and gives me a lazy glance.
“Here,” I say, “wanna hold him?”
Ariel looks nervous, but quickly nods. She sets her purse on the ground and opens her arms to Scar. I pass him over, and she lights up. “I love cats; I’ve wanted one ever since I was a girl.”
“Why’d you never get one?” Delilah asks.
“My parents were allergic,” she says. “And so is my brother. And by the time I moved out I was living with my husband and he hates cats. But not anymore!” She strokes Scar, and he begins to purr. “Oh, he’s a darling.”
My eyes drift towards the cat tower that holds the book. Beth continues the conversation with Ariel, but I’m not listening. I’m not sure how long I stare at the tower for, but I only snap back to attention when I hear my name.
“Willa Queen?” Ariel asks. “You’re the girl that tried to steal Cain’s car? I should have known by the cast. How are you feeling?”
“Fine,” I promise. “And I wasn’t trying to steal it—I was just—”
“Don’t fret,” she orders, giving Scar another stroke. “I understand completely. Cain can be so stubborn, just like his father. When he wants something he doesn’t think about anyone else.” She sighs. “Sometimes I think we’re too lenient on him.”
“He’s really nice though,” I find myself saying. Where are these words coming from? “He’s helped me out more than once—and he didn’t want to have me arrested for the whole…car thing.” I still don’t believe anyone about that.
Ariel smiles, genuine and soft. “Thank you. You know, how would you girls like to have dinner with us this Sunday? I’m planning a large meal, and I don’t think my husband and Cain will be able to finish it all. What do you say?”
I try to think of an excuse not to come, because Sunday dinner with the Steele’s is what I think is my own personal hell. But Delilah jumps at the opportunity for me, anything to make sure Operation King stays on track. “We’d love to!”
“Wonderful,” Ariel agrees. “Sunday at six then. I’ll see you all there. And so will Scar.” She cuddles the cat closer to her face, already moving towards the door. I’m still in a state of shock,
but I manage to pull it up and call to her.
“Your purse,” I say. As she thanks me and takes it, I feel the familiar searing of a cross against my fingertips. Ariel doesn’t notice as I retract quickly, hiding my fingers behind my back. The pain isn’t too deep. “See you Sunday,” I manage.
When she’s gone the receptionist says we need to leave. Delilah doesn’t notice the glares Beth and I send her as she trots out the door.
Beth and I sit a while longer with the cats while Ariel fills out the proper forms. She’s taking her time making sure everything is done correctly, and for once I don’t appreciate someone doing what they should here. We can’t get the book out until Ariel is gone!
Another half hour goes by, and the receptionist pokes her head into the room. “Time to leave girls; we’re closing early.”
“Oh, but we’ll just stay until—” I begin, but she cuts me off quickly.
“Sorry, but you need to scoot,” she says. She doesn’t explain why it’s so important we leave, and only glances at her watch.
I bite down on my lower lip, looking to my bag that hangs by the front door, and the cat tower.
“We can come back,” Beth says, “it’ll be fine.”
“But what if someone finds it?” I ask.
Beth stands and pats some cat hair from her blouse. “It’ll be fine.”
I don’t think she actually believes that, but I have no choice. Ariel is still filling out forms and if she sees the book she’ll know something is going on.
We grab Delilah and head out, praying that nobody will find the book before I can come back and get it.