Page 27 of Nexus
“As for why dragons find it so difficult to part with their hoard, I’m afraid I don’t have an answer,” he went on. “It’s instinct, like werewolves baying at the moon and werebears marking their territory by scratching their claws on trees.”
“And male werecats peeing on their doors,” I said, remembering the acrid stench I’d detected in my building. “Do male werewolves do that as well?”
“Only the less cultured ones,” he replied, lips thinning in distaste at the turn our conversation had taken. “The practice has become frowned on in recent decades.”
It was nice to know it wasn’t just me he disapproved of. He seemed to hate most beings he came into contact with.
Chapter Twenty-One
I CHECKED MY WATCH as Ruen started the car. Dawn wasn’t too far away, so he’d want to be safely ensconced in his apartment in the silver tower soon. He’d lived in Nexus for far longer than I’d been alive. He knew the streets like the backs of his pale hands. We didn’t have far to go to get to my building, since it was only five minutes away from Drake’s place.
“It was good to finally be given a job,” I said as we neared my home. “Do you think we’ll be sent out again soon?”
“How could I possibly know that?” he said acerbically. “I’m not psychic.”
“You’re in a cheerful mood,” I muttered and received no response. He pulled into my lot and didn’t bother to park in a vacant slot. “Thanks for the ride. I guess I’ll see you next time,” I said. I climbed out and he took off as soon as I closed the door. “Bye, Saige,” I said, mimicking his voice. “It was so lovely to see you again. You did a great job tonight, keep up the good work.”
One of my neighbors walked past me and gave me a strange look as he unlocked his car.
“What?” I asked belligerently, as if it was normal to be standing there talking to myself.
“Nothing,” he replied. Almost leaping into his vehicle, he pulled the door shut and locked it. Barely registering on my monster radar, I sensed he was a weak warlock. Only his ability to use magic set him apart from normal humans.
The elevator carried me to the fourth floor and I trudged to my apartment. Closing my door, I made sure to engage the lock, then slid the metal bar into place. Made of reinforced steel, even the strongest shifter would have trouble kicking the door down. Vamps would probably be able to punch their way through it, but by the time they did, I’d have a hundred stakes ready to skewer them with.
Speaking of my weapons, I took my machete out of my bag to clean it properly. Once it was pristine, I put it in its sheath and stuck it back in my kill-bag. I had a few shorter than normal machetes just like it. They could be strapped to my thighs, or shoved down the back of my pants or skirts when necessary. I left my bag on my trunk full of weapons, then took my wallet out of it.
“Time to test my new safe,” I said and crossed to my closet. I deposited the four gold coins inside, then locked it again. I was going to be in danger of running out of money eventually, unless I started getting a lot more jobs. “It’s a good thing Drake isn’t charging me rent,” I murmured, then sat down on my bed.
Pulling my boots off, I tossed them into the pile of footwear that was jumbled inside my closet. Contrary to the lesser demon’s insult, I didn’t need help to dress or undress myself. I easily peeled my leather pants off, then hung them up so they wouldn’t get creased. My shirt went into my laundry hamper in the bathroom, along with my underwear.
I stepped into the shower and the hot water helped me to relax and unwind. While I only needed a few hours of sleep, even I needed to recharge. After pulling on fresh undies and a t-shirt, I lay down on my bed and waited to sink into oblivion.
My new life of a bounty hunter didn’t involve much actual hunting during the next two weeks. I visited my mom regularly so we could game together. Ruen called me a couple of times and drove me to where my targets were located. Both jobs were less challenging than the missions mom had taken me on as a teenager.
When I had a collection of coins, I took them to Pierre’s Paraphernalia. The weasel was with a human customer when I walked in. He glanced up, did a doubletake, then grinned in recognition. “I’ll be right with you, lovely lady,” he said. Nodding, I turned to peruse the junk that filled his store.
His customer was young, twitchy and was giving off nervous vibes. “How much will you give me for this watch?” he asked.
I moved away from the door to take a look at a lamp that caught my eye. The base was pale green and the lampshade was light gold. It was pretty, delicate and would look good on my nightstand, once I bought one.
Hearing the door open stealthily, I glanced into a mirror to see another young guy enter. Pierre was hunched over, examining the watch with a magnifying glass that I doubted he really needed. “It’s an antique,” the wereweasel said, seemingly unaware of the second guy who’d entered. “I can give you fifty dollars for it.”
“Only fifty bucks?” his customer said, waving his arms around and moving around the counter so Pierre would turn to face him.
Pretending I couldn’t see the second guy as he began stuffing items into what looked like a pillowcase, I casually picked up an ugly ceramic frog. The knickknack fitted into my palm perfectly and I hefted it to judge its weight.
The thief kept sending surreptitious looks at Pierre until he’d filled his sack. He turned to sneak away and I spun around to hurl the frog at him. Whistling through the air, it smashed into the back of his head and shattered. Both Pierre and his customer whirled around as the thief crash to the floor.
“You killed him!” the robber’s accomplice wailed in horror.
“Nah, I just knocked him out,” I said as I sauntered over to him. “He’ll be fine.”
“You’re stealing from me?” the weasel said incredulously when he saw the pillowcase full of his property lying next to the prone burglar.
“I don’t even know that guy,” the customer lied, then bolted for the door.
“Let him go,” Pierre said when I reached for another knickknack to take him down with. “I’ve got their scents now. I’ll know it if they come back and they won’t be able to repeat this trick.” He tapped his nose to indicate he’d stored their scents.