39

I made it to the bed just in time. Green smoke swirled off the lock of the door, thicker than I had seen it before. Then the door opened.

Cleopoda stood on the other side, her face betrayed nothing and her smile held the same warmth it did earlier. I returned the smile but knew at the back of my mind that I looked suspicious as heck.

I forced myself to breathe normally and that in turn helped me to control the insane beat of my heart. My palms were sweat up a storm but I forced them to stop shaking, clenching my fists together until my knuckles cracked.

Cleopoda looked down at the tray. She walked slowly into the room. Her shoulders were the only indication that she knew something was out of place. They were tensed, the muscles bunched up.

"You finished your breakfast."

I listened to the cadence of her voice and tried to detect any signs of anger and suspicion but she was playing her cards so close to her chest that it took a lot of effort for me not to cave in and confess that I had