Ninety-One

DIMITRI

The look in her eyes was fear. I had seen it on the faces of people more times than I could count. The question I had been asking myself these past few days was why the hell was the fear directed at me. I paused with one foot at the bottom stairs, taking care to keep my movements slow and deliberate. If I approached, she was sure to go stumbling down all in a bid to avoid me. She looked from me to the lower part of the stairs. I shifted closer to the railing so she could get a better view. I heard her sigh of relief the minute I was no longer half blocking her path. Valeria came down the stairs, taking care to keep close to the railing on the other side.

"Hi," she squeaked and immediately hurried past me as though she was afraid I would lunge at her or something.

I watched her until she was out of sight, then I continued climbing upstairs slowly. I sighed heavily. This was Valeria's attitude these days. She was now frightened of her own shadow. Being around me made her frig