Page 20 of Ensnared

6

The next morning, I’m up by dawn. The cell towers may be down, but somehow, the grid’s still up, and the water’s working too. I charged my useless iPhone and brushed my teeth. Thank goodness. Even if my phone’s now the most technologically advanced alarm clock I’ve ever had, it’s a comfort that it’s still alive.

Sammy, Coral, and Jade are all still sleeping, but I’m pacing by the door. I was told to stay put, but it’s dawn, and there’s still no sign of Axel.

An hour later, Jade’s awake and using the sink as a shower like I did, and I’m about to leave in spite of the orders, just to see what’s going on out there. Did Axel die? Is the government doing anything? What’s going on? I walk back and forth in front of the doors just to make them open so I can get a peek outside.

Not that I’ve seen anything helpful.

Axel apparently picked the most remote spot of their camp for his stupid den. There aren’t even any dragons milling about like there were on our trip here yesterday.

I’m about to leave and brave the consequences when the doors finally open. Gordon looks irritated, which I can tell easily, because he’s in human form. “Here.” He holds out several bags.

“What is all that?”

His nostrils flare. “His Highness made me go into a market and pick out things I thought you’d like to eat.”

As if he has any idea what we’d eat. I tremble at the thought of what might be in the bags. “Um.”

“Just take it.” He drops them.

I catch most of them, barely. Which is a good thing, it turns out, because one of the bags has a jar of pickles in it that would have shattered. There’s also a container of mustard, a box of Ramen noodles, a loaf of bread, a watermelon, cans of beans, which we can’t open without a can opener, and several bags of candy. Also, there’s a box of tampons. I wonder what he thinks those are for.

It’s like a blind person waltzed up and down grabbing one thing from every aisle.

I realize that’s probably exactly what he did.

“Next time, how about I go with you?”

“I have strict orders. His Highness is very, very preoccupied right now, so it’s critical that you all stay inside. Once he’s settled things, he’ll return, and he’ll see that you’re trained at that time.”

Settled things? As in, once all the pesky humans who fight back are dead? Oh, heck no. “How about I come with you and I can help him?—”

“No.”

“But—”

Gordon growl-roars, and the odd sound coming from a human-shaped throat wakes the other two kids. Sammy whimpers.

“I’ll return later with more food. If you tell me what you like?—”

“Milk. Cereal.” There’s a fridge in the break room, assuming the power’s on in the store and the milk isn’t spoiled yet. “More bread. Peanut butter and jelly. Eggs, if they have any.” Sammy will eat those cooked in a microwave, which thankfully the break room has. I drop to a whisper. “We can tell the kids they’re free range even if they aren’t. At least it’s protein.”

“How much of this do you think I’ll remember?” Gordon arches one irritated eyebrow.

“Bread. Eggs. Peanut butter. Jelly. Cereal. Milk. Granola bars, if you see any.” I pause. “Can you remember that?”

He shrugs.

“And if you have time, ask his royal fanciness again if I could please be allowed to leave this furniture store prison to collect some food myself. I would really appreciate it.”

“Request denied,” Gordon says. “His Highness is in a difficult position right now, leading the shock troops as well as rounding up humans for the other ensnared to control.”

“He’s what?”

Gordon swallows, his eyes bugging a bit. I’m guessing he wasn’t supposed to share that part. “Just stay put. Got it? Or I’ll eat one of your kids.”

“Again, they aren’t my kids. They’re my siblings—my mom and dad’s children.”