36. Redd
The crisp air of Moonvale greeted me like an old friend, wrapping around my face and slipping under my flowing cloak with cold, but comforting tendrils. I felt lighter than I had in days. This was right.
Before I even dropped my bags off at my rental cottage, I went straight to Fiella’s Finds. I was regretting not speaking to Fiella before I had left, and I was afraid of what I would encounter.
Would she turn me away? Would she have someone new here? Would she be happy to see me? Would she even care?
The questions rattled around in my brain as I walked briskly to the trinket shop, dodging the attempts at conversation from the folk I passed. I was excited to see Fiella’s lovely face when I gave her the sculptures my Pa had made for her.
When I reached my destination, I was disappointed to find the front door locked. A glance in the windows told me the lamps were dark. The place was empty.
A bump against my ankle startled me into jumping. My heartbeat spiked.
“Meooow!”
“Fuck!”
Just Sookie. That gods damned cat.
With a sigh, I bent down to scratch her chin. “Hi there, you strange cat. Where is your mom?”
Sookie let out a trill, bumping her head against my hand.
“She’s not here, is she? Is she at Kizzi’s?”
The cat stepped back and looked at me blankly, her eyes trying to tell me something that I couldn’t decipher.
“Okay… Not Kizzi’s, I’m assuming. Is she in her cottage? Sleeping, maybe?”
The cat continued to stare at me, her tail swishing behind her. Somehow her gaze felt… condescending.
I stopped to consider that I was having a conversation with a cat, and that perhaps I had finally lost my mind. The critter had such intelligence in her gaze that it was easy to forget that she wasn’t another folk.
I tried one last time. “Can you show me where she is?”
At this, Sookie turned and took off running. Ignoring the strangeness of the situation, I followed. I only made it a few paces before I lost sight of the critter around the corner. Gods, that little lady is quick. Impossibly, she was much faster than my vampire speed.
The cat had disappeared like a wraith, leaving me in the midst of the town square with more questions than answers. I let out a deep sigh, the air coming all the way from my toes.
Feeling a little foolish and discouraged, I decided to freshen up at my rental cottage before continuing my search. I discreetly sniffed at my collar. A bath certainly wouldn’t hurt.
Perhaps Fiella was with Kizzi somewhere or taking a meal break. I was sure I would find her soon enough.
I owed a visit to Mayor Tommins as well. My long day just became even longer. It seemed I owed everyone in this town an apology or two.