The back and forth carries on the same silly note for a while after which, I decide that I need some food.
Stumbling my way through the underground building in search of food, I forget about Louis and Carter. I hope they are not looking for me around.
After stumbling from room to room, I finally manage to find my way into the alcove that leads to the tear-drop room. From there are another series of corridors that lead in several directions. It's an underground maze. I could be walking around for days on end.
I call for Shay again and I find myself in Graham's bedroom just as he is about to pull his boxers on. Shit.
" I'm starting to believe that you're doing this on purpose," He smirks, and I roll my eyes at him.
" I'm hungry, " I state plainly, and he laughs.
" Ahh. I see now. You're grouchy because no one fed you today," He proceeds to put his clothes on, and tucks his hands in his pockets.
" Come on babe," He gives me a toothy smile, " I'll show you where they keep the good stuff. I bet you were close. How far did you make it?" He walks out of the room, and I follow.
" To the room, we all met up yesterday," I say a little out of breath.
Graham nods," From there you just go right down the corridor past King Davids's bust, and you're there. It's a pantry kitchen. This place is like a stopover. So there is no cooked food. You'll have to make do yourself. If you do not know how to cook. You'll be eating canned food for the next few weeks," I grimace at that thought. And all I can think about is Enid's food. My mouth waters.
We finally pass the little alcove, and onto the corridor past the bust in question. At the end, there are two slide-up doors slightly ajar. Rustling, and shushed voices trickle through. And I wonder who else is in Zareen with us.
Hunched over a kitchen island, are both Louis and Carter shovelling up food from what appears to be a jar, each holding a knife and a slice of bread.
They both freeze when we walk in, they slowly turn to us and grin with their mouth full. And here I was wondering if they were looking for me.
" Ease up boys. It's just us," Graham saunters around them and heads towards one of the walls lined up with shelves floor to ceiling. There are various selections of food to choose from, but most come in a box or a can. Wonderful. Finally, my dreams have come true. Enid would have a stroke if she knew that this was how I would be living for the next weeks. Maybe, I'm exaggerating.
" Take your pick. We will eat light tonight," Graham says with a grin but I'm savagely hungry. There will not be light in my vocabulary. Not today.
I make my way to the opposite wall to Graham and begin stacking up food in my arms and pile them on the island, while Louis and Carter look a bit fazed out.
I make my way to what appears to be a ladder and rummage through that for a while and bring out cheese, pickles, jam and whatever else my eyes fall upon.
We all settle on chairs, and I begin opening jars, and line them up in front of me.
" Are you going to eat all of that?" Graham asks, and I nod. It's not the greatest meal, but food is food, and I'm hungry.
" So," Louis begins between mouthfuls, " What did you do to end up in here?" I believe that the question is intended for Graham. So, keep quiet and begin cutting up the cheese.
Graham elbows me, and I raise my head. They are looking at me expectant.
" Oh. Uhmm....Mason believes that the Kallah have set their eyes on me," I don't believe. I know so. But I don't know how much Mason has told them. I still don't know nearly enough.
" They think you're her, huh?" Carter chimes in, and I nod. They know enough
" We followed a few trails looking for that girl more than a dozen times. Who would have thought that you were right under our noses," I look at Louis uneasy at that little comment. And I wonder if I have to worry about him too.
" We don't work for anyone, " Louis takes a bite of his food, " We make our own rules," Now that is both reassuring and slightly concerning at the same time. If you make your own rules, you can always change them as you please, and you see fit. What if one day they decide to change camps? Oh, brother.
" You're doing a fantastic job at freaking her out. Don't let us stop you," Graham chimes in and I blink, and Louis looks down.
" What I mean is we decide who we work for," Not better. Not even in the slightest.
" You're making it worse," Carter takes over, smiling.
" If Mason is on your side, then we are on your side," Slightly better, but my worries are not eased not in the least.
Graham grunts next to me, and snickers, " Boy, you two have a way with the ladies. Babe, you can sleep at night at ease. These two won't lift a finger to harm you or do anything that would endanger you. Do you know why?" I turn to Graham, blinking owlishly, because I know he will answer his question. He can't help himself.
" One wrong breath your way and they will join the fish at the bottom of the South Sea," That makes me feel slightly better. I nod and clear my throat.
" You've known us for two years, now. Have a little faith in us. We might be thugs but we honourable thugs," Carter says and I highly doubt that.
" There is no honour amongst thieves," I say under my breath.
" Yes, there is," Louis counters. "That is how we survive," I find it hard to believe. I truly have no faith in humanity. Either that, or there is a part of me that is so crotchety that doubts everyone's intentions. Perhaps it is a good thing, but it also gives birth to pathological paranoia. That can't be good.
I sigh and focus on eating my food. While the others do the same. Shay had made himself scarce. I suppose he is off hunting his dinner. At least he doesn't have to cook to stay alive in this place.