Hatching

"And now you're back!" I exclaimed when I saw Ethan sitting cross-legged on top of the table while eating some bananas. "Where did you even went? And why did you suddenly disappear?"

"I went to see Vlad."

"That's it? That's all you're gonna say? Are you even aware it was chaos there a while ago?"

"Of course. That's why I came to visit you." I can't believe how laid-back this guy is.

"Then why did you make me carry you in a sling all the way to the venue if you're just gonna go see Vlad anyway?"

"I had plans but things didn't go well. Anything else?'

"What?"

"Any more questions?"

"I have a lot of questions! A lot of them so don't you dare disappear. I'll be back in five minutes." I told him before I went to the shared toilet in this apartment. I was lucky that there was no one there the moment I came. I locked the door and called out to Ombre.

"Ombre, come out. I have something important to ask you."

For now, it was only Ombre who knows about my secret as Sean. There's nobody else I can ask about this matter without raising suspicion.

My shadow wriggled and squirmed as it took the shape of a devourer.

"Yes, Sean? You really are stubborn, aren't you? I already told you not to go out today but I bet you'll go out tonight anyway to meet that lanky man," he said.

"Why did you advised me that? Were you aware the game will be canceled?"

"I can't see the future, Sean."

"Then, were you aware of that thing at the front gate?"

"Hmm… Something like that." Ha! Just like I thought.

"Was that a work of a devourer?"

"Devourers always get blamed, don't they? To answer your question, no."

"Then what?"

"Won't tell you."

"Why won't you tell me?"

"Just because." And he disappeared back into my shadow.

"Fuck!" In my frustration, I almost punched the wall. I know he doesn't have the responsibility to tell me but it's frustrating.

I marched back to the room. Ethan was cleaning his mess on the floor.

"Oh! You're back."

"Yes I'm back and we're gonna talk."

"What are you so irritated for?"

"Don't ask me. I don't know."

He shrugged and went back to sitting on the table. "So what're you gonna ask me, mister?"

"First, did Vlad say anything about me?"

"Yes. He said he wanted to meet with you tomorrow."

"Anything else?"

"Nope!"

"I see. Did you know anything about the things at the front gate earlier? You know, the red paint and the doll."

"Sure I do."

"Tell me."

For some reason, Ethan acting all obedient answering my questions with no hint of sarcasm doesn't sit right with me.

"No need. You're gonna know about that tomorrow anyway."

"Can't you just tell me any hint at all?"

"Sure! That's the work of those nasty devourers."

As soon as those words left his mouth, I can feel a wave of fury rippling inside my shadow. It only lasted for a split second. But that split second was enough for me to understand that it wasn't the works of the devourers and that Ombre wasn't happy about Ethan accusing them. If this topic continues, I don't know what might happen so I decided to ask another question.

"And by the way. Why did you meet with Nero?"

"Nero? Who's that?"

"Oliver's pet. A dog with a human face. He said he met you and that you even told him your name which was Nathan according to him. I thought you're Harley?"

But he didn't answer for a while. He was silent and there was an obvious shift in his countenance. His brows knit together, his jaw was clenched, and the nonchalant expression on his face vanished.

"It's none of your business," he said but seconds after, as if what I saw moments ago was a joke, he smiled making his eyes turn into half-moons, and told me using his usual tone which has a hint of sarcasm in it, "This rabbit needs some privacy too, you know?"

"Y — You're right."

And all of a sudden, we heard a soft crackling sound. It was coming from the drawer where I hid the vulture egg Mr. Vlad gave me.

Since Ethan was on the table, he took it out. The egg now has a lot of cracks in it.

"It's about to hatch," Ethan said.

"Yeah I know."

We waited for a while but it didn't hatch.

"Should we help it?"

"No, let it be. I remembered Franx didn't hatch until three days."

"Franx?"

"Mr. Vlad's vulture."