Free The Tears of Elios by Crista McHugh

body now heavy with age. She lay down, pulled the covers up to her chin, and turned her face away from him.
    Gregor contemplated what had sparked her melancholy. Just when he learned something about her, he opened some wound from her past. Perhaps she was more fragile than she pretended to be. “I'm sorry if I made you remember something you would rather forget.”
    She faced him, and he breathed a sigh of relief when he saw no tears in her eyes. He had never been able to withstand a crying woman. “Why would I want to forget anything?”
    “I don't know. You just suddenly seemed sad.”
    “You read too much into things, Gregor.”
    She picked up her book and began reading. He had learned enough in the last few days to leave her alone when she did that, but his mind burned with a single question he had wanted to ask her from the moment he discovered she was a shape-shifter. “Ranealya, since you’ve been alive for cent—”
    She looked up from her book, scowling.
    “—for quite a while, perhaps you can answer one more question, and I promise I'll leave you alone for the rest of the evening.”
    She set the book down and waited.
    “There are two legends about the origin of shape-shifters. One, that they were always present, like the elves and dwarves. Another, that they were created. I was hoping you might be able to answer that question.”
    Her mouth formed a tight, thin line. “There are some things no human should know,” she said, each word dripping with anger. “Don’t ever ask me that again.”
    She returned her attention to her book.
    What caused her to react that way to my question? Is she not going to tell me because she doesn’t want to? Or is there something in the shape-shifter code of behavior that forbids her from revealing their origins? Once again, one question spawned dozens of other questions.
    Gregor delved into his work, incorporating his new knowledge of sepharium into his notes. It wasn’t until Duke licked his elbow that he realized how much time had passed. It was dark outside, well past Sal’s bedtime. He’d missed his opportunity for a hot meal, but he was happy to see she set some bread and cheese for him outside his door. So predictable.
    He started to offer Ranealya some of the food, but the calm rise and fall of her chest informed him that she was fast asleep. He watched her as he chewed, tossing scraps to the dog. “Duke, what does she do at night when I'm gone?”
    “ Deer-not-deer sleeps. Always wakes up, sometimes screams when she sits up .”
    “Why does she scream?”
    “ Duke not know. After she plays with Duke, walks around room, plays with Master’s things .”
    He frowned. What other kinds of things had she discovered in this room? He ran his hand under the desk and felt the trap to the hidden drawer. As curious as he was about her nocturnal wanderings, he doubted she would go about her normal activities with him watching.
    The mirror on his mantle flashed in the moonlight, and Gregor’s lips curled up into a smile. Perhaps he’d gain some answers tonight.
     
    ***
     
    Gregor bolted up in bed when heard Ranealya gasp in the next room. He fumbled for the small hand mirror beside him and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
    The objects in his study slowly came into focus in the glass. Ranealya sat on the bed, trying to slow her breathing. Something in her dreams must have startled her. Her eyes were green and cat-like as she scanned the room.
    Then she moved to the table in a fluid motion, grabbing a chunk of bread and an apple before going to his desk. She sat in his chair and scanned his notes while she ate. By the time she finished her apple, she seemed to have grown bored and began reaching under his desk.
    Gregor's heart skipped a beat, and his mouth went dry.
    Her body tensed, as if she heard the pounding in his chest, and she surveyed the room once again. Her eyes lingered a bit too long on the door to his room, but she eventually relaxed in sync with him and