I couldn’t possibly tell him I slept here last night. Swallowing the lump of panic choking me, I collected my thoughts the best I could, choosing words carefully.
“Before breakfast. I swept the floor in here. Now, I need to clean it again.” I pointed at the dusty square patch of the ground that had been covered by the crate before, pretending it was the extra work that made me so upset. “See?”
Leslo shrugged. “So. Clean it again. As if you have anything better to do.”
He turned to go on his way, but I hurried after him. “Do you know where that crate is now?”
“On its way to the airport, I take it.”
“Airport?”
“Yeah, we’re going to England next. Don’t you know?”
Of course, I knew about the move and that some of the menagerie cargo was being shipped earlier. Dez and a few others went ahead to arrange things with the new venue in London. Dez spoke to me earlier, leaving instructions on how to feed the voukalak beast in his absence.
“Yes, but not until next week, right?” I clarified. “Aren’t all live exhibits supposed to stay here until then?” That was what Madame had said.
But maybe she didn’t consider Kyllen fully “live?” Without my giving him water, he would’ve been in a near dying state, after all.
“Right. But we sent some stuff ahead early. Some bulky equipment and inactive exhibits, like the dragon statue and the gorgonian.” Leslo tipped his head back toward the storage room where Kyllen had been held.
We exited the tent, and Leslo turned toward the bracks’ trailer.
I had to jog alongside to keep up with his long strides. “What is all that stuff going to do in England?” This was more than I’d ever spoken to Leslo. Thankfully, he appeared more annoyed than suspicious.
“The same thing they were doing here—absolutely nothing.” He scoffed. “They'll be sitting in a warehouse somewhere until we pick them up next week. Fucking freeloaders.” He spat through his teeth.
I pressed my hand to my chest, waiting for my heart rate to return to normal as my panic subsided. They didn’t get rid of Kyllen. He’d just been moved. I didn’t lose him for good, just for a few days.
Leslo stopped in his tracks to stare at me. Did I make him suspicious after all?
“Well…” I sank my chin into my scarf, backing toward the tents. “Thanks. I’ll go sweep that room again, then.”
He shook his head, probably calling me a weirdo or a lazy freeloader in his head, then went on his way.
I dragged my feet, walking back to the tents. Kyllen was no longer there, and without him, the place had lost its soul. Everything magical, beautiful, and fun he’d brought with him disappeared.
I stopped in front of the tents and took a good look at them.
Dark and scary, the menagerie had been the only home I’d ever known. I used to see it as a place full of mystery, the gateway to another world. But for the first time in my life, I saw it for what it was—a bunch of dusty tents and beaten up trailers, ran by a heartless, egotistical deity. The place of constant fear and little comfort.
It could never be a true home to anyone.