Page 51 of Aberrant Monsters
“We had an open relationship,” Rake offered. “Dot knew that.”
“Shedidn’tknow,” Nandi said firmly, indignant on Dot’s behalf.
“So she chose to possess a coffee machine?” I was so confused.
Nandi sighed. “Turns out it wasn’t by choice. Dot tried to spell Rake into being hers alone. A spell to tie him to her. It went wrong and tied her to a coffee machine. By the time she found her bearings, she’d been dropped off at a thrift shop. No one could hear her calling for help.”
“Until you bought her.” I was still confused. “Why not tell you what really happened?”
“She was embarrassed,” Nandi said. “She says that she’s over Rake now, and her embarrassment isn’t as important as helping you.” She smiled.
“Aw, Dot.” I pressed my palm to her metal top. “Thank you.”
“This is so fucking weird,” Archie muttered.
“Wait, you’re over me?” Rake looked devastated.
Nandi rolled her eyes. “Puh-lease, I can see your harem lounging about the room semi-naked, dude.”
“Where?” Archie scanned the lounge. “Damn, why can’t I have othersight?”
Focus,Telarion ordered.
He was right, we’d come here for information, not to learn Dot’s love story gone wrong. “Rake, an eldritch came through a rift not far from here about six months ago. I saw its echo and it headed this way, but then I lost it. I need to know if you saw the actual thing.”
His mouth parted. “Big blobby thing?”
“Yes, that’s the one.” I had no idea what it was called. I hadn’t checked my cryptoguide yet. “Did you see where it went?”
“I sure did,” Rake said proudly.
“Oh, thank God.”
“It hopped onto a bus headed for the city and traveled straight out the gates.”
Oh, fuck.
* * *
What now?The creatures could be anywhere in the city. So much for them staying close to the rifts. What a crock.
We made our way toward the main gates.
“What do we do now?” Archie asked.
There was only one thing left to do. “Report to Quentin. Maybe he has some ideas.” I glanced up at the sky. The sun would be setting soon and Telarion would be free. “Telarion and I can do a sweep of the blocks surrounding the areas around the Underbelly before heading back.” My mind was ticking, thinking of solutions. “You guys need to get to the library before it closes. Freda should be there; check the news reports for the last six months, anything odd, weird deaths, maimings…”
“Good idea,” Nandi said.
A building came up on the right, bright glowing letters building the wordHospital.
My pace slowed. I needed someone to draw blood from me. Could I get that done here? Going to a hospital or clinic in the city would mean explaining why I needed the blood drawn and why I wanted to take it home with me, but here…Maybe there would be fewer questions asked.
“August?” Nandi frowned at me.
She didn’t know about my deal with Telarion, didn’t know I let him feed off me. “I’ll meet you guys back at home. We can regroup and swap information then.”
She looked uncertain, like she didn’t want to leave me alone here.
