Page 6 of Crave Me

Only for the whole establishment to explode.

This game of hide-and-seek is growing tiresome,I thought at the wandering enchantment.Maybe I’ll just go to the portal nearby and learn how to manipulate that magic instead, hmm?

It wouldn’t be too hard. I’d just have to circumvent the portal guards, which I could do with a few well-placed shadows.

But I really needed to change into a more appropriate gown first.

Rather than shadow, I meandered around, searching for an open store. But the late hour left them all closed. Not that I had much in the terms of currency to barter with. The beings of this realm used strange things like blood and saliva instead of money.

Sighing, I opted to phase into a nearby store to shop after hours.

I’d leave some stardust behind to help boost the shopkeeper’s sales. It would be akin to a bout of good luck that she or he wouldn’t be able to explain. That should make up for stealing a garment from the shelves.

In other realms, they would see it as an honor just to have a goddess enter their store.

But not in this world. Not when supernatural energy was so openly used.

There were actually very few humans left, as the magic had essentially infected most of their kind. The remaining full humans had all been reduced to slaves, the supernaturals of the world being superior in every way. Some treated their mortals well. Others did not.

I hummed as I drew my fingers along the various fabrics, searching for the right texture. Not too heavy. Not too light. Something flexible.

This,I decided, pulling a pretty black gown off the shelf. No sleeves. Thin straps. Low back. Slits up to the thighs.Perfect.

I grabbed a bag at what I assumed was the checkout desk.

“Thank you so much for your hospitality,” I said to the store and left a sprinkling of stardust behind for fortuitous prosperity.

Then I wrapped myself in shadows again to phase to a nearby hotel.

It took three tries to find a vacant room, but once I did, I shed my clothes and showered. They had complimentary bottles of shampoo, just like the last hotel I’d stayed at.

Or I assumed they were hotels.

They might have been random apartments.

But this place felt like a hotel with its sparse decorating and clean linens.

Regardless, I almost felt immortal again once I finished. But not quite.

I just need a short nap,I decided, the magic from the explosion earlier having left me a bit drained from all the cleanup.Then I’ll continue my journey.

I hung my new dress up in the closet, pulled on a fluffy robe—thank you, hotel—and sprawled out on the bed.

Time to sleep with the moon,I thought dreamily, my night-driven power dwindling as the sun took over the sky.See you in a few hours.

* * *

A jolt of power stirred me from my rest, my eyes flying open to assess my unfamiliar surroundings.

Window. Light. Closet door. Dress.I blinked.Hotel room.

I pressed a palm to my head as the events of hours ago returned on a whoosh of energy, the explosion pulsating in my vision. Not my version of an ideal night.

And I still didn’t have my medallion. Or whatever form the enchantment had chosen to take whilst in this realm.

I will find you, I promised it.

A shimmering energy responded, one that made me think the magic was laughing at me. Only it didn’t dissipate. It remained. My lips curled down as I lifted my hand toward the humming substance.