THE STOLEN PIECE

CHAPTER 30 - DESPERATION

GABRIEL

I sat where she used to be and saw everyone's eyes on me. 

    -What's wrong?

They all looked serious, even the twins.

    -We have been wandering this city for about two months now… and we haven't found any clues.

    -What about the fields?

    -Well only that.

Lucas seemed concerned as he spoke to me.

    -We think it's time for us to move to another place.

    -But I will stay behind to keep an eye on the fields…

I turned to see Maria, I stood up.

    -No you aren’t! We are not letting anyone behind!

.    -Gabe please let me do this…

    -No Maria it’s not an option we are not parting ways to find clues.

    -I think that’s our best option…

I turned around and saw Lucas.

    -Well Lucas it’s not an option…

    -But we think….

    -This is not a democracy, I’m in charge!

I felt the heat surrounding my body. I heard whimpers from the twins and when I turned around they had their heads down and Maria looked terrified. I tried to calm down.

    -We are not splitting, and we are also not leaving this place.

Then I walked to the door and left the apartment. I started wandering the place… I was trying to process everything that was going on. I touched my head and my ears were still showing, so I messed up my hair a bit so it would cover them. I walked for a while, then When I felt more at peace I decided to go back. I tried to open the department door but something was blocking the way. I pushed harder and heard some whimpers. Then The twins stood up, they were lying against the door.

    -What are you doing here?

    -We were making sure none left…

    -They were not so happy when you left and we were just making sure your orders were disobeyed.

Both had sleepy eyes and their voices were huskier than normal. I smiled at them and petted them in the head.

    -You did good, now go to your room and sleep.

They both left and I walked towards the couch, I heard a door opening and saw Maria coming from her room. I sat on the couch and she sat next to me.

    -I’m not changing my mind, Maria.

    -Gabe…

    -We need to be patient, if what you want it’s a wolf, I will shift and look for them through the city, so they are forced to come out.

    That’s…

    -Dangerous? Risky? all of the above? Well, your idea of splitting makes less sense to me.

She looked at me with pleading eyes.

    -I disobeyed Dad and left, I’m not doing something that could put you at more risk than what we are already doing. I can’t live with that.

    -I… Okay Gabe, we are staying all here. I promise I will not run away or anything, so please let the twins stay in their room, they don’t need to keep guard on us.

    -That was their own choice, I didn’t ask them to.

Maria had a surprised look.

    -Really? I could have sworn that you ordered them through the link, both of their cats were about to take control… We should take them… and you to a place where you can shift, it’s been a long since the last time.

She then kissed me on the forehead and went back to her room. I lay on the couch. She was right, it's been a long time since I shifted… and weeks since I talked to Zeus… He is just… His temper is getting stronger and his presence feels different… It’s just overwhelming. I closed my eyes and slept. I woke up to the sounds of Eva making breakfast and noises, but I didn’t open my eyes or move… Then I remembered that I had a job now and needed to be there on time. I stood up, saw the clock, changed my shirt, added some cologne, and left the place. When I arrived I saw the girl carrying the tables outside. I took the table from her and placed it in the place where it always was. Then she was arranging the chairs which I also needed to go and take them off from her hands and arrange them. She just looked at me. When we were done, she entered and sat on a chair, she looked exhausted.

    -Are you feeling alright?

    -Yes it’s just that I couldn’t sleep much last night and yesterday was so intense that my body is barely working.

Then she suddenly stood up.

    -I’m so rude, I’m sorry, what is your name?

    -Gabe Brown.

    -My name is Crystal Evans.

    -I know.

    -How?

    -You have a pin with your name, just as John did.

She looked down and blushed a bit.

    -I forgot about that… I would need you to fill in this information…

She passed me a piece of paper.

    -I don’t know all of this…

    -It’s okay, you can give it back tomorrow. Can you prepare the coffee machine… Do you know how to do that?

    -Sorry I never saw John doing this stuff.

    -I will show you… And also I will show you how to charge the items in the register, o that I just need to come and handle the money okay?

    -Alright.

She was explaining to me all of these chores but at the second she seemed tired. Humans are as weak as I expect them to be. Then she left me and went inside the kitchen. The number of customers was bigger than I thought. I prepared the coffee and checked them so Crystal only had to come and charge for them. She kept coming with pastry filling the showcase, today she only prepared one item for breakfast, french toast. I think she was overwhelmed just as I was. I tried to not speak much to the customers, I knew I wasn’t good at speaking with humans, and still, some of the customers saw me and I could smell the fear in their system. That did make me feel awkward.

    -Here this is the last plate of french toast we are selling, now for lunch, we have a hot turkey sandwich with french fries and a chocolate cupcake as dessert…

She walked towards me and grabbed my shirt. I took some steps back and swallowed.

    -Your shirt! It has a stain.

I looked down and saw splashes of coffee.

    -Don’t worry it’s…

She left running into the kitchen. I continued preparing the coffee for the customer, when I heard the kitchen door, and saw her opening some drawers.

    -I knew I had an extra!

Then she came walking towards me and passed me something. I grabbed it and unfold it.

    -Are you kidding?

    -It’s the only one I have.

    -I’m okay without it.

    -No you aren’t and... I think this will make you look more approachable.

She smiled at me and left. I looked at the apron that was brown and had the face of a bear on it. It also had some ruffles on the neck slats.

    -Or do you want to use mine?

I saw her pink apron with cupcakes.

    -The bear is okay. 

I put it on, and continue. Now every time a customer approached the counter I could hear giggles. The scent of fear was no longer appearing, but the giggles were worse for me. I was exhausted, and finally, we were having the shop without customers… Well,l some were eating in the store but no one was ordering right now. I walked into the kitchen and saw a complete mess, Crystal was on full speed mixing something.

    -Hi.

She almost jumped at the sound of my voice.

    -Hi.

    -I was just wondering, can I make a coffee for myself? You can deduct it from my paycheck.

    -Yes, don’t worry.

Then I went and drank an espresso… I searched for a glass full of ice and went into the kitchen once again.

    -Can I have a lemon?

She looked at me as if I was crazy.

    -Yes…

I went and took one and left again. I added some lemon juice and some slices of lemon to the glass with the ice and then served the espresso on it. I also added a bit of honey. It was delicious, just as  Mom made it. A lady that was eating stood up and walked towards me.

    -Hi…

    -Hi, what would you like to order?

I said as I put down my drink. She seems to have started.

    -I want… that.

She pointed at my glass.

    -Let me ask, we don’t have this thing on the menu.

I was walking towards the kitchen…

    -It’s okay, you can charge me extra.

I turned around and saw the customer smiling at me.

    -I’m still not sure about the cost…

    -Don’t worry, You can prepare for it… I am in no rush, we can wait for the lady to come, you don’t need to call her.

I was uncomfortable with her, her smile the way she was looking at me, just wasn’t right… Could she be a werewolf? If she was a werewolf why wasn’t I smelling her scent… The coffee scent was strong so maybe if I get close enough. I went to the espresso machine and started preparing the coffee.

    -I haven't seen you here, are you new?

    -Yes, today is my first day.

I kept trying to smell her but nothing.

    -Are you gonna be coming here every day?

    -Probably, but Sundays it’s closed…

She started laughing.

    -You are so funny.

The wolfsbane makes wolves act strange? Should I call Maria and ask her? Then I started walking towards the kitchen.

    -Where are you going?

    -I am going for the lemon.

    -Okay, I will be here waiting.

Waiting? didn’t she say she was not in a rush? I entered the kitchen and while I grabbed another lemon I looked at Crystal. She was still mixing, but now the place smelled like cookies.

    -I have a question, a girl asked me for an espresso with lemon and probably some honey, but it’s not on the menu, so…

She looked at me and then nodded.

    -I will handle it, let me just clean my hands.

She washed her hands and then walked out of the kitchen.

    -Hi, is it going to be only the espresso or are you getting something else?

    -Only the espresso

The girl looked at me even though the one speaking to her was Crystal. I continued preparing the drink, I saw the girl paying, and then Crystal went back into the kitchen. As I walked towards the customer I tried to give my full attention to her scent. I even inclined a bit towards her and closed my eyes while I took a deep breath but nothing… She was human. When I opened my eyes her face was close to mine, I took a step back, I saw her blushing.

    -So you will be here tomorrow?

    -Yes. 

I said as I walked away to clean the machine. I thought she could have been a werewolf! And that we were about to find our first real clue!