Page 14 of Cry of the Damned
The others joined me, and we quietly went after the magistrates. We followed them to the edge of Lux City, an area of town that had always seemed quiet and unassuming. At this hour, however, the windows in every building were illuminated, and the chatter of animated conversation flowed out of them. There was also music—not loud enough to be heard in the adjacent streets, but its sultry quality only helped reinforce what we already knew.
Depravity had a cozy place in Lux City.
Unseen, we returned to our hotel, each taking a different route and climbing in through the balcony and open windows. We reconvened in the living room where Ila and Bethel were waiting for us, watching television, of all things.
Ila used the remote to turn off the device and welcomed us with relief. “I’m so glad you all are back. How did it go?”
I shrugged. “No luck, but I know the entrance is there, and we will find it.” I didn’t know how, but we would find it.
CHAPTER 5
Thenextmorning,Ila,Bethel, and I left our room and went downstairs, intent on figuring out a way to get money to pay for rent and food. I exited through the balcony and went in as Bethel rushed past me, eager to be in the fresh air.
In the lobby, Mrs. Clarice was squatting by the door, struggling to pick up a box from the floor.
“Let me help you with that.” I rushed to her side and hefted the box. “Where do you want it?”
“Thank you, dear. Right there, by the printer. It’s paper. Just got delivered.”
I marched behind the counter and set the table next to the printer.
Mrs. Clarice fanned herself, looking flushed. “Gosh, you’re so strong you make it look easy.”
“I always eat my vegetables.” I smiled.
I had always been strong. The Academy training had made sure of that, but now, with my wolf traits, I was much stronger than a regular human.
“I was wondering,” Mrs. Clarice said, turning to Ila, “Will you stay past Sunday? I need to do a little planning. We are repainting some of the rooms, and I have to come up with a schedule.”
“Um…” She hesitated and glanced toward me.
We would certainly still be in the city after Sunday. The problem was, we didn’t have money for rent. Not yet, anyway. Hopefully, after our excursion this morning, that would change.
“Yes,” Ila answered finally. “We will still be here. We are enjoying Lux City very much.”
Mrs. Clarice nodded and smiled knowingly. I scanned her face, wondering why she looked like she knew something we didn’t. Ila frowned, as if noticing the same.
“You girls have a great day, then. I’ll be seeing you later,” she said the last bit in a singsong voice, then turned toward the counter and walked away.
Ila and I exited the building and closed the door behind us.
“Boo!” Bethel jumped at us from the side.
Ila slapped her shoulder. “Don’t do that.” She grabbed the witch’s arm and pulled her down the sidewalk. “I think she’s onto us.”
“Who? That clueless desk squirrel?” Bethel made a face, crossing her eyes and baring her front teeth like a rodent.
I hurried away from the hotel. “Something tells me she’s not so clueless.”
“You noticed that too?” Ila asked.
I nodded.
“Noticed want?” Bethel asked.
“I dunno.” I shrugged. “Maybe we’re paranoid and imagining things.”
A teenage girl carrying a backpack and wearing a cropped top hurried past us, probably headed to school. Bethel frowned at her discount T-shirt, pulled it out of the waistband of her jeans, gathered the bottom, and tied it in a knot. Instantly, with her midriff bare, she seemed to fit in better. Her hips swayed as she walked with that hypnotizing cadence she had. She still wore many bracelets on her wrists, though she’d removed the ones adorned with bones, so no one would suspect she was a witch. Her wavy jet-black hair hung loosely around her shoulders, and she had completely embraced makeup. Her eyelashes were heavy with mascara and her lips crimson with lipstick. She looked beautiful.
