Chapter 29
Devon
I’m going to catch this thief. Enough is enough. I stomp up the street, occasionally spotting another piece of something that has been missing. Finding my keys was the icing on the cake. My temper ignites and soars.
I let out a growl.
“Devon, do you know where we are heading?” Elijah hisses, glancing back at Sofia.
Of course, I know where I am heading. I hate it. I don’t want to believe it.
“We can just pretend we found it,” Mack murmurs.
“No, we can’t. We need to know who is doing it. If there is something wrong with one of them, we need to know.” Before anyone else finds out there’s something wrong.
I’m too scared to look behind me. To look at her. She’s going to kill me when she finds out what I’m thinking. I would kill me.
I turn into the yard and see a gold watch in the middle of the lawn.
“Sofia,” I say.
She glares at me. “No. Not until we’ve spoken to them and found out what’s happening. I will not believe it.”
She jogs up to the house and disappears inside.
Elijah comes up to me and glares. “We just got her back; don’t blow it.”
“I’m trying not to, but if Grandma or Grandpa are in trouble, we need to help them, and the trail does lead here. It’s all a little suspicious.”
Mack purses his lips and looks around the yard. “We need to find them, and quickly.”
Sofia jogs down the steps, frowning. “They aren’t here, but there’s a coffee cup on the bench, and it’s still warm. I’m really worried. Where could they be?”
I look at the shed and make my way towards it.
“Whoa!”
I look over my shoulder at Elijah’s soft hiss.
He’s looking behind us. I turn and find that our path into the yard is surrounded by white bodies. They have landed in a flutter of wings. Seagulls study us with alien gazes. The perplexed tilts of their heads are unnerving, but the sheer number of them is terrifying.
“What the hell?” I mutter, turning so I’m facing them.
I instinctively step back before I remember I’m an alpha, and these are just birds.
A couple rush us, flapping their wings and screaming.
“Um, there was a movie like this, right? What was it called?” Mack whispers anxiously.
Sofia gets the giggles, which turns to cackles, and then morphs so she’s almost doubled over howling with laughter. Seagulls rush us, and I grab her and put her behind me. I’m not scared exactly, but I’m cautious.
“Stay behind me, Sofia. I’ll save you.”
That really sets her off.
“They might eat me?” She crouches on the ground, trying to hold herself up, swiping at tears.
I glance over my shoulder at her. “Really?”
She laughs so hard she snorts.
I step back. They advance.
“Death by bird was not how I planned to go out. Tell everyone we fought well!” She says in between hysterical laughter.
We retreat step by step. I have to admit, I’m getting panicked. Danger barks at the end of his lead, and Elijah swoops in and lifts him to the safety of his arms.
“We need to get in the shed!” Elijah says.
“Get the door open,” I say as even more gulls arrive.
Elijah and Mack drag a still giggling Sofia to the shed. The seagulls scream in protest.
“It’s locked!” Mack says in alarm. The screaming of the gulls is deafening.
Elijah bangs on it as hard as he can. “Grandpa! Help!”
A seagull swoops down; it’s bigger than the rest.
“Hello, Sullivan, my old rival,” I mutter. “You aren’t going to win this war!” I warn him.
He tilts his head to the side, calm amidst the screaming chaos that are his brethren. I slide my foot back, and he responds by shaking his feathers and opening his beak to let out a truly intimidating shriek.
“Get in here!” Grandma shouts.
I whirl and rush towards the door, getting inside just before they can follow us.
Sofia is doubled over, her hands on her knees, laughing so hard she’s crying. She can’t seem to stop.
“Grandpa, your army is impressive. Are you planning world domination? Is this a test run?” Sofia gasps out.
“I was just hoping for a cute little photo,” he mutters and folds his arms over his chest and sulks.
“Seymour, I swear to the first alpha himself, if you don’t tell me the truth,” Grandma narrows her eyes, and for one second, I think I might be safer outside with the birds.
“It was just a little food; they were hungry.”
Grandma throws her hands up in the air and lets out a shriek. “Why am I not surprised you didn’t listen to me?”
Grandpa pouts. “They were hungry, what was I meant to do?”
“They are wild birds, and they can catch their own food.”
“Instead, now you have a flock of gulls spreading like the gull-pocalypse,” Sofia adds. “I wonder if this is how humanity ends, with white feathers and the shrieks of seagulls. Someone lie and tell everyone we went down fighting.”
I bite my lip, trying to hide my smile. Grandpa glares at her.
“You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“Na-uh, that’s Sebastian. I’m on Grandma’s side. Your seagull anarchy is very much a you problem.”
“Horrible child.”
“You love me.”
“I do love you, but be kinder to an old alpha.”
I sit down on a chair and stare at them. “How did this happen?”
“The history books always ask that, too,” Sofia says, wheezing.
“Some bright spark thought it was a good idea to feed the birds after midnight.”
Sofia loses the plot, sobbing for breath and laughing until she’s red in the face.
Grandma sits down and puts her hands in her lap primly. “How do we get rid of them?”
“Why are you looking at me? Dad was a fisherman. We didn’t have to deal with birds. Different species,” I say before I can stop and think.
Grandma hisses. I flinch and take a healthy step back.
“I think what Devon means is that the-” Mack says soothingly.
“-Nuclear fallout? Army of the damned?” Sofia adds unhelpfully.
“-bird problem is a bit bigger than we could have anticipated.”
“It’s so bad. Maybe we need a cat-astrophe to stop gull-maggeddon.” Grandpa high fives Sofia, and they both dissolve into giggles.
“You are banned. No more talking for you,” Grandma growls.
Sofia falls back into her chair, giggling helplessly.
It’s adorable.
“Stop making eyes at my idiot granddaughter and focus. How do we get out of here?”
“Sorry, Grandma,” I say quickly, but I can’t look away from her completely.
“Do you have any food?” Elijah asks as he peers out one of the windows.
“No,” Grandpa sulks. “Someone threw it all out.”
Grandma growls. “Feeding them is how we got into this situation in the first place.”
“All right, that won’t help us. Have you tried scaring them off?” Mack asks it gently, but judging from the glares he gets, it was a stupid question. To his credit, he doesn’t look scared.
“It was working right up until Sully showed up. He taught the others to be brave, and now they are all ignoring me.”
Sofia blinks. “They have a master? Like an alpha seagull? It was planned?” she asks with theatrical joy. “The Lord of the Skies?”
Mack slaps a hand to his mouth, but his eyes dance.
“They are organised,” Grandpa says unhappily.
“Why didn’t you call for help?” Elijah asks.
“Because that bird is a-”
The sound of a seagull screeching hits from just outside.
“What is that?”
“That is Sully,” Grandpa whispers. “He’s the evilest seagull I have ever met.”
“Have you met a lot of them?” Sofia asks with a completely serious expression. “How can you tell them apart?”
They ignore her, but I see her grandpa’s lips twitch.
“All right, let me get this right. You started feeding seagulls, ended up with a flock, and then Sergeant Sully came and took over, leading a coup.”
Sofia wipes at her eyes. “The Gull Rebellion will be seen as a dark day in human history. Grandpa, I’m sorry, but future generations will curse your name.”
Grandma sighs and squeezes the bridge of her nose. “I can’t believe this is even happening to me.”
Elijah sits down, watching like it’s a TV drama. Mack is studiously watching the wall.
“And they have somehow managed to get all of us holed up here, in terror of them? This is ridiculous.” She paces back and forth, but no one will meet her eyes.
Sofia covers her mouth with a hand, her eyes dancing with mirth. “Diabolical,” she whispers.
She’s so cute. I’m not even hiding my smile anymore.
“I underestimated their love of food,” Grandpa admits.
“You haven’t ever turned on a TV?” Grandma hisses.
“I’m sorry, Rachel.”
She huffs.
Mack pulls out his phone. “Hey, Sebastian. I need you to listen. This is really important.”
He explains the entire situation and, at the end, pauses.
“So, can you send help?”
“Do you think I’m a moron?” Sebastian asks. “How absolutely ridiculous. If you don’t want to come to the Valentine’s Day celebrations, just alpha up and say so. But the birds ate my homework is not going to fly with Mum.”
Sofia howls, sinking down into the couch she’s perched on.
I snatch the phone. “We really are-”
“Enough. You think I’d believe that? It’s not even a very good story.”
Sofia snickers.
“He hung up,” I say in frustration.
Sofia stands up, her eyes gleaming. “Enough of this nonsense.”
She hands Danger’s lead to me and walks outside before I can stop her.
She claps her hands. “Enough, there’s no food. Off you go.”
The gulls watch her.
“Go away!” she snaps.
A handful take off. She walks out further, smacking her hands together and ordering them to leave, and, by some miracle, it works. They leave.
I follow her out, unable to believe my eyes. Sofia is magic.
“Are you a seagull whisperer now?” I ask.
She shakes her head. “No, but I did learn how to command a room from Marla.”
Grandma squints as she looks around.
“There’s only one left.”
We all turn and find Sully sitting there unhappily. I can’t tell if he’s looking at us like we’re really dumb or if he’s plotting our downfall. Either is scary, and I really just want him to leave.
Sofia approaches him. “Go!”
Danger barks, and he lifts into the air, screaming before he, too, disappears.
“Well, that was impressive,” Grandpa murmurs. He turns to Grandma. “Why didn’t you think of that?”
Grandma lets out a shrill sound like a boiling kettle. One problem solved, but we still need to deal with the situation with the thief.
“Come on, we need to go inside and talk,” I say softly.
Grandma glares at me. I shift in my seat, unable to sit still while she sends laser beams into my brain.
“I am not a thief.” The words shoot out of her like bullets.
“I’m just asking, I’m not accusing.”
“It sounds like an accusation,” she snarls.
“It’s not. It’s just if it were one of you, maybe there might be-”
“Might be a what?” Grandma shouts.
“A medical reason,” I say gently.
Grandma scowls. “It’s not us. We’re fine.” She pauses, glaring. “I am glad you are concerned, but I’m trying hard not to be offended right now, Devon.”
“I’m sorry, Grandma,” I say contritely, and I really am.
Sofia is leaning back in her chair, looking out the window, but she’s not really focused on the conversation.
“Do you have anything to add, young miss?” Grandma asks.
“No.”
“No?”
Her gaze flicks to the matriarch. “No? Am I supposed to have something to say?”
“No more jokes?”
“Nah, I got that out of my system before.”
“Do you think I’m a thief?” Grandma asks cuttingly.
“Nope.”
“Nope?”
Sofia looks back, focusing on us. “No, I don’t.”
“My favourite grandchild,” Grandpa says proudly. He picks up his cup of tea and sips while his eyes dance. “Such an exciting day.”
Grandma closes her eyes and mutters something that we all politely pretend we don’t hear.
She reaches out and fingers the gold watch. “I guess I can understand why you would think so, but it’s not us.”
“This is so frustrating,” Elijah murmurs. “Who else could it be? Do we have any suspects? Does anyone hate you?”
Grandma laughs. “We’re in Sunshine; everyone loves everyone.”
Elijah grimaces. It’s true, everyone does love everyone. It’s hard to think anyone might be a thief.
Sofia gets up and walks to the window, looking down at the beach. I don’t know if she’s concerned about the rogue seagulls or not, but I am. I’m going to have nightmares.
She turns around to face us and purses her lips.
She opens her mouth, closes it, opens it again, and stops. She’s watching Danger, not us.
“Are you impersonating a fish?” Grandma snaps and sets her coffee cup down hard.
Sofia shakes her head. “Oh, that would be diabolical.”
“What would?” Grandpa asks.
“If I’m right, the answer would be.”
“What answer?” Elijah says in concern.
“Talk to us,” Mack demands.
Sofia laughs.
“Are you going to share with the class?” I ask.
She sidles up to me and hugs my side. “You’re going to love this and probably hate it, too, but I think it’s absolutely hysterical.”
“Uh-huh.”
Danger starts to bark. I turn around and let out a yelp when I see that monstrous seagull peering into the house like it’s got us on radar.
“That’s Sully, isn’t it?” Sofia asks.
“Yes, that’s Sully,” Grandpa says with a shrug of his shoulders. “He’s a big bastard.”
“I knew it had to be him.”
“Had to be him?” Elijah asks in confusion, and I’m glad I’m not the only one.
“Now, I’m going to open the window. I don’t want anyone to react, just sit still and don’t move.”
Sofia slides open the window really carefully. Sully pauses and then steps one webbed red foot over the barrier and comes into the house in a move that I have never seen a wild bird do.
He wanders around, then hops up on the table, glaring at us curiously before he goes to the pile of recovered items and snatches up a gold ring in his beak. He takes off, spreading those massive wings and soaring out of the house.
I cannot believe what I’m even seeing.
“The seagull did it?” I ask faintly, still staring as he disappears. “The flippin’ seagull did it?” I shout.
Sofia grins. “Bet you didn’t have that on your bingo board.”