I’m not sure if it is a rhetorical question or a serious one because I feel like the answer to these questions is fairly obvious.
“You have no idea what’s really going on.”
I look around. Take it all in. “I think I know, Pell.”
“Not here, you simpleton. In the wide world.”
“OK.” I put up a hand. He’s getting on my nerves. “I understand that you have a superiority complex, Pell. But I’m not simple. In fact, I’m very, very complicated. And I think we should table the self-pity for lunchtime so we can go into town, buy hay and grain, and then come back here and feed the monsters. Shall we vote? All in favor, raise your hands.”
I raise both my hands and declare the motion passed.
Meanwhile, Pell has walked away.
CHAPTER FOUR – PELL
I have to admit that I have not really thought about the tombs in the past. Until Pie came, I never questioned why new ones were constantly appearing. It’s just always been this way. It was normal for them to appear. In fact, if they had stopped appearing, that would’ve been unusual.
But after we brought the forest monsters back with us, things about this place didn’t make sense anymore. If we’re supposed to save monsters, then why are all the tomb monsters still locked up?
And if the curse hasn’t been broken, why can I now leave?
Pie tried to explain her visit with Ostanes and how she said the boundaries of the curse had been shifted… but why? Why do we even need this curse? Tarq has had Ostanes’ book this entire time. And from what Pie says, he uses it. Has it locked away in some secret safe in his office.
Should he be doing that? Isn’t that book too powerful for a mere monster?
No. Something is very wrong here.
“Pell!”
Tomas is calling me. But I keep walking. I go right up to the statue of the monster in front of the new black tomb. At first glance, he pretty much looks like all the other satyr chimeras in the cemetery. In fact, his statue looks a lot like Tarq’s with one exception. The obsidian black is complemented by gold accents. His horns are gold. His hooves are gold. And so are his eyes.
Tomas has caught up with me and now we’re standing shoulder to shoulder. I ask him, “What do you make of this?”
“Make of what?”
Gods above. Why does my curse partner have to be so fucking clueless? “The statue, Tomas. The fucking statue. Have you ever seen one with gold accents like this?”
“Is it real gold?”
I reach up and scratch a horn with my claw. Little flakes come off. “I think it is.”
“Hmm. So. Some sculptor or whatever made this obsidian statue and then added gold leaf to it?”
“Looks that way.”
“Well, he must be important.”
“Yeah. I’m getting that.” I turn to Tomas. “How do we find out who he is?”
“Well, obviously, we ask the hallway gods. They know everything.”
I inadvertently glance at the cathedral. “Do you think he’s up there? He just got here.”
“I’m not sure. I would love to help you figure this out, Pell. It’s just… we have duties right now. We need to go into town. And I need driving lessons.”
I sigh, then give in. “Fine. We’ll go to the feed store. But I’m not teaching you to drive today. I can’t think straight about anything right now. I’m worried about Pie, and the tombs, and the curse—”
“All right, all right, all right. We will table the driving lessons. But we agree that I should learn to drive, correct?”