Page 107 of A Monstrous World: The Complete Series

Chapter Nine

Nadia

M y eyes flick up to the dilapidated building and back down to the piece of paper I haphazardly scribbled the address on when I talked to Octavia this morning. She assured me I didn’t need to keep my hotel room, because the council would be putting me up somewhere in North Falls.

This is where I’m supposed to be. Unless I wrote it down incorrectly, which I don’t think I did. Something about this place is sending my hackles up.

My magic immediately perks up, taking notice. The ward around North Falls is so thin, it’s nearly undetectable, but even then, I should be in and out in less than a month.

The front door opens, and a man stumbles outside, still righting his shirt. Okay, so it’s a hotel or possibly apartments. Which is good. This place is entirely too massive to have all to myself.

You know what I’m not expecting to find as I saunter through the front door?

A sex club.

Four women immediately swarm me. It’s much different from the atmosphere back home at The Den, but it is familiar enough to make me smile.

“I’m not a customer.” I stifle a laugh. They’re quite friendly with their touches. All except one back away with a huff.

“Are you Nadia?” the petite blonde asks. She’s wearing a thong and a corset and not much else. She’s got on a killer pair of heels strapped up her ankles, and she’s still not as tall as I am. I’m fairly certain she’s a nymph.

“That’s me,” I agree. “So, this is where I’m supposed to be?

” My job back in Haven isn’t a secret, but I almost wonder if it’s a dig at my employment preferences.

Like, maybe they know I’m a sex worker, so they put me up at the local sex club?

That’s kind of insulting, since it’s clearly not the job I was contracted to do.

“Yeah, I’m Scarlett. It’s great to meet you. Come on, I’ll show you where you’re staying.” She starts down the long hallway, and my eyes have trouble not glancing into every room we pass.

The sex in the air feeds my magic. Not to the level blood would, but it provides a nice little buzz of energy.

There’s a massive orgy happening in a room to the left, and a large glass picture window opens into what can only be described as a torture chamber.

Holy shit. That monster knows just how to land the leather flogger he wields with god-like precision. I’m a little jealous of the female he’s punishing. She’s dancing around on her tiptoes, and it’s clear she’s loving and hating every second of it.

It makes my heart twinge as I think of Sam. We were supposed to have an appointment tonight.

It’ll be the first one I’ve missed.

I follow Scarlett through the hallways until she opens a door that leads to a flight of stairs that head down. Okay, that’s a smidgen creepy. I’ve only ever seen stairs like this leading to a basement.

“This is one way into the apartment,” she says, grimacing a little. “It’s not necessarily the door you’re likely to use, but I did want to show you that it exists.”

“Thanks.”

“Okay, so, follow me again.” Scarlett leads us out onto a large patio and out the door with zero concern about her state of undress.

There’s a pool with random people milling about and doing other things.

It’s like ten in the morning... I’ll bet, similar to The Den, this place never sleeps.

She follows a small gravel path to a door and nods at it before handing me a small keyring.

“You can use this key to get in through here. Or you can come in the front. We’re open all the time.

” The gravel path dead ends at the parking lot that must be at the rear of the building.

“You can park down there, and it’ll be much closer for you to bring in your stuff. ”

She fidgets around a bit.

“Thank you.” I try to smile. My face fails at its job. It ends up feeling more like a grimace.

“No problem, we’re so happy to have you,” she says, rushing me. My magic swirls around us in a light gray shimmery stream, but Scarlett is just a huggy person, and my magic is severely overreacting.

I pat her back placatingly and try to disperse my shadows before she notices them.

“I’ve got to get back to it.” She nods back the way we came. “If you need someone to show you around town, just let me know. I’m happy to do it.”

“That would be great,” I agree. “Do you know where I can find the council building?”

She blinks like a deer in headlights for several long seconds. “You know...you should probably call and schedule an appointment. Or find Echo...Echo will help you.”

Who the hell is Echo? I don’t even get the question out before she’s scurrying away. I stare after her, open-mouthed. All right, that wasn’t weird or anything.

Christ, maybe I should call Octavia? This sanctuary city is nothing like any of the others I’ve been to over the course of my lifetime. Maybe they need to clear out the town council and install more effective leaders, if this is how the place is run.

I vaguely wonder what my friends think of this place.

Shelby and Carina moved here a few years ago. I was annoyed when they didn’t choose to move to Haven, but Shelby wanted somewhere with cooler weather, and North Falls definitely gets that.

I know they rented a small shop space somewhere in town, and they have a rental property.

Come to think of it, staying with them might be the way to go.

Letting myself into the small apartment, I take everything in.

It’s not nearly as run-down as it appears from the outside.

A small set of stairs off the entryway lead me down to a lower level with a bedroom and bathroom.

It has dark wood paneling, which makes it look dated, but the furniture is obviously new and the carpet is clean.

The upstairs area is small, but it does have a kitchen, a dining room, living room, and a half bath.

I toss myself into one of the dining room chairs and bury my face in my hands. I need to call Nan and check in.

A loud, repetitive banging draws my attention to the back door. Or maybe that’s the main door? Who the hell knows? Because I don’t.

There’s no peephole, so I yank it open.

My jaw falls. It’s not Scarlett, that’s for damn sure. There is a preternaturally still man standing poised to knock again. His dark hair is thick and long on top. It falls over his forehead in a purposeful way. The sides are shorter and clipped the same length as his beard.

“Echocio Diamonte,” he says in a droll tone. His thick lips purse, showing his displeasure with this entire exchange.

“That’s a fun fact,” I tell him once I’ve finally located my brain cells. “If you’re here for services, you’ve got the wrong office. I’m not on the books...” I pause to check him out again, and my mouth forms a word of its own volition. “Yet.”

Echocio takes a step back, the bored look finally faltering into straight-up confusion. Snorting a laugh, I move to close the door. A pale hand wraps around the edge before it can click closed.

“I’m afraid this conversation isn’t over.” He pushes the door open so that he can see me. The man hasn’t even pretended to breathe while in my presence. He’s a vampire; there’s no other possibility.

I don’t let myself think too carefully before uttering the words. “Well, come in, then.” I head back to the small dining table near the kitchen. I take a seat and look at him expectantly. “So, you told me who you are, but why are you here?”

Echocio takes a seat without making a single sound.

It’s unnerving as hell. Most vampires that I’ve interacted with do their best to blend in with humans.

They fake the shit humans do that becomes noticeable when they’re missing.

..like blinking and breathing. He does neither, which means he’s an ancient vampire, or he just truly does not give a single fuck.

Come to think of it, neither of those are great signs, considering I just invited him into my home. Or rather, the place I’m staying for the next undetermined amount of time.

“You may call me Echo. I’m your bodyguard for the duration of your stay,” he says in that tone that indicates he could not be more displeased with our newfound relationship.

“That’s unnecessary.” My eyebrows rise, and I grimace while simultaneously trying to force a polite smile.

Faking excitement isn’t one of my life skills.

Doing stupid shit?

I definitely get a gold star in that department, as evidenced by the fact there is a vampire at my table.

“Apparently, it’s fucking not,” he growls. “I’m your vessel, so use me as you wish.”

My jaw falls open, and I stumble back as my chair slides wildly behind me.

“Oh, fuck no.” I jam a finger at his stupidly strong and unmoving chest. “I’m not that kind of witch.

See yourself out.” My magic spills out in a dark cloud, swirling around me and again being overly dramatic.

It looks way cooler and more impressive than it is most of the time.

It also clearly shows when I’m on edge. It’s hard to have much of a poker face when your magic gives you away at the most inopportune times.

Echo studies me with a predatory intensity that rivals the alpha wolf. It might be more intimidating, because this fucker is legitimately deathly still. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Would it kill you to pretend to breathe?” I ask as I take my seat.

“I’m your council appointed protection during your stay in North Falls,” he says in a firm tone. “Whether you choose to take advantage of my services or not...” He shrugs. “We’re stuck with each other.”

“Okay, well, I’ll take it up with the town council. I’ve never needed a spy at my side before... What is up with this town?” I run my hands over my face, pulling back my hair from where it’s falling into my eyes.

“I’m sure you’ll find out before long,” the vampire guard muses, stretching back in his chair. “I thought all blood witches creamed their panties over having a live vessel.” He smirks. “Well, in my case, semi-alive.”

“You’re just a bundle of fun to be around. Has anyone told you that lately?”