Free Rampant by Diana Peterfreund Page A

Phil up to my bedroom while Cory went off to figure out where to put her on a more permanent basis. Over my roommate’s protestations, Phil brought the “darling” Bonegrinder along, and proceeded to cuddle it on her lap in the middle of the floor. The unicorn was clearly in heaven.
    “Aren’t you a puddums?” Phil cooed, rubbing the monster’s tummy. Bonegrinder stretched, and her horn screeched along the floor.
    I gritted my teeth and decided not to tell my cousin about the raw cow haunch that the “puddums” had devoured for lunch. “But how did you get your father to agree to let you come?” I asked, incredulous. The U word was like an A-bomb in Uncle John’s house.
    “Summer abroad.” Phil winked. “I told him that I made a club exhibition team and we’d be traveling across Europe showing off our volleyball skills.” Since said skills had earned Phil a college scholarship, I could understand Uncle John’s willingness to let her take off. She leaned back against my bed and pillowed her hands behind her head. “We’re going to have such a blast here!”
    “A blast? You do realize what we do here, right? Kill things like that,” I nudged Bonegrinder with my toe. “Bathe in their blood for all I know.” Let’s see how that sat with her! Phil had been a vegetarian for as long as I could remember.
    “That’s old-school. Didn’t you hear that Jaeger guy? This is the twenty-first century. I’m sure no one here has any interest in the kind of irresponsible hunting practices that caused the last tragedy.”
    Funny. She called the first extinction of venomous, man-eating monsters a tragedy.
    “But I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t endorse responsible culling,” Phil went on, like she was reading from her Environmental Studies 101 textbook. “That’s all we’re dealing with here, I’m sure of it. We’ve got to do something to stop these attacks Aunt Lilith was telling me about.” She leaned in and lowered her voice. “There was a rumor going around campus that the attacks were because our government was testing some kind of bizarre new weapon. I’m relieved that it’s just animals doing what they do. So we have to act like responsible custodians of the planet, and I’m pleased to do my part!” She grinned. “Make sure the unicorns aren’t a threat to any human populations, keep them in check—then go have fun in Rome. Sounds perfect, right?”
    Cory entered, and her eyes narrowed at the site of Bonegrinder on our floor. I had nervous flashbacks to my first day, but she just clenched her fists and paused. Interesting. Perhaps two Llewelyns were better than one.
    “I’ve your room ready,” she said in a flat voice. “Didn’t have time to make up the bed, but…”
    “Oh, that’s fine,” Phil said brightly, standing and brushing bits of white, fluffy hair from her denim skirt onto the coral carpet. Cory’s face was a thundercloud. “Astrodome has made plenty of beds in her day, haven’t you, squirt? Come on—help me get unpacked.”
    But Cory blocked the door. “In the future, I’d appreciate it if you remember that the house zhi is not permitted in the residence hall.”
    “The what in the who now?” Phil said.
    “Bonegrinder,” Cory spat. “Not allowed up here.”
    “I’m sorry,” I said quickly. “I wasn’t thinking. I was just so surprised to see Phil here and I forgot…” But the excuse sounded lame to my ears. One did not forget what happened the last time the zhi got into this room, and Cory knew it.
    Phil glanced at me and her expression turned contrite. “Man, I’m sorry. Here for five minutes and already screwing up the rules. I’ll just take her with me. Thanks so much for understanding, Cory.” She brushed through the door. Bonegrinder and I followed, and as I passed, Cory caught my eye. Her expression was impossible to mistake.
    She was holding herself in check.
    In the privacy of Phil’s new room, my cousin turned to me. “Nice girl, but a little