Chapter 7
"Sure Cameo we can talk and bake at the same time." I smiled at her as I preheated the oven for the pie crust. "Whatcha wanna talk about?"
"You've been going into town every day and didn't hear anything about hunters coming here? I can hardly believe that you didn't know." she said simply. Cameo's voice carries all the misery in the world so the longer she talked the more you wanted to stab your ear drums into nonexistence. So needless to say she keeps her conversations short and to the point.
Rolling out the dough I looked over to her, astonished. "There is no way you believe that I was involved with them coming here, because I'm not."
"It seems a bit suspicious don't you think? Hunters have never tried to infiltrate the fortress during the day, they came in on the patch of land that you use where there are no traps, and you just happened to come back here with out a scratch."
"Look Cameo," I said, the pie now forgotten, giving her my full attention. "I can see the suspicion in the whole scenario, but I have never nor will I ever have anything to do with Hunters. Why would I want to? I'm not human and they kill non-humans, that's what you all taught me or have you forgotten that?"
"Perhaps you made a deal with them and you're Bait. Wouldn't be the first time one of us died because of a woman." She shrugged nonchalantly like we were having a normal conversation and not accusing me of betrayal.
Shaking my head in disbelief, "Why are we having this conversation. I've already defended myself about this. For the last time I.. am.. not.. Bait. I didn't know Hunters, Bait, gods and goddesses, or even demons actually existed until I was here for a few days. Besides I would never hurt Torin like that." I said through gritted teeth.
At the mention of Torin, Cameo grinned, a terrifying smile that would put a wolf to shame. Having that look directed at me I got the feeling that I was the prey instead of the predator for once.
Shifting uncomfortably under her gaze I asked "What is this really about? No one else thinks I'm working with Hunters. Is this about Torin?"
"I knew you were smart, that you would get it eventually." She sighed. "We know practically nothing about you or your past. You just showed up out of nowhere. Torin did a background check on you but and came up with nothing. You don't exist."
I cringed and felt my face go pale at the mention of my past, but also Cameo's voice was starting to get to me.
"Ah-ha there is something, isn't there." Moving around the counter top, Cameo stalked forward, backing me up against the sink. I fought my urge to change and lash out against her.
"We are a family, we've known each other for far too long. I will not let anyone hurt my family. So give it up. What do you really want with Torin?" Her glare fixed on me promising a whole world of hurt if she doesn't like my answer.
Taking a deep breath, I straightened my back, refusing to be cowed by her. I began my tirade. "First off," Thrusting a finger in the middle of her chest, "my past is exactly that, my past. I left that life behind and started a new one. If Torin was truly concerned about it he would have asked me and I would have answered him." My finger still pressing into Cameo's chest I pushed her back slightly.
"Secondly, I like everyone here, why would I want anyone I care for to get hurt? Thirdly, what do I really want with Torin? Nothing he hasn't already given me. I just want to be with him. I love him." As I said the last I knew with out a doubt it was the truth I really do love him.
The kitchen door crashed open. Cameo turned away from me me going into a defensive crouch. All I could so was stand there trying to make sense of what I was seeing. Torin stood in the doorway, snarling like a beast, eyes trained on me. His eyes blood red and glowing.
"Emi get away! It's not really him. His demon is loose." Cameo shouted at me when I started forward toward Torin.
I stopped and looked from Cameo to Torin and back. "What do you mean his demon is loose and why are his eyes red?"
"His eyes are red because his demon is in control and it's pissed." She whispered, "Keep still and don't draw attention to yourself." Slowly coming out of her crouch, Cameo kept watching Torin for his next move.
Torin, watched Cameo and continued to snarl at her as he slowly came forward towards us. "MINE!" he yelled and lunged for us. Cameo sidestepped away from him, trying not to touch him because she would then be infected. Torin though didn't seem interested in her except to get her out of the way. He grabbed me, both of us falling to the ground.
He turned his head to face Cameo growling, the roared "MINE!" again. Cameo stood, her Bowie knife in hand. I called out to her from under Torin " Uh, Cameo? I think he's trying to protect me. He must have been watching us and flip when you cornered me, maybe?" Having said that Torin snarled again at Cameo. He lifted me from the floor, threw me over his shoulder and started out the kitchen. All of this happened in a matter of seconds.
As we went through the door and towards the stairs Cameo started laughing softly before she said, "I think you're right, that's exactly what happened. Seems he's about to claim you . Have fun." With that she started cackling. He voice following us up the stairs making me cringe.
