She was okay with that. She wanted a three foot space between her and anyone else in this hellhole.
Male and female servers, both Elder Races and human, carried drinks and trays of chips for people to buy, dressed only in waist chains and dog collars. While Seremela wasn’t a prude by any means, she didn’t like strangers’ dangly bits paraded in front of her without warning, and she jerked her gaze away with a muttered curse.
A human server approached them with a bright smile, although Seremela noted that he came up on Duncan’s far side, staying well away from her. “Want to buy some chips?”
“We want a manager,” Duncan said.
His smile never faltering, the server said, “Yeah, good luck with that. It’s a busy night, but they’re all real busy. Days too. Gehenna never closes, no matter how hot it gets. Offices are straight ahead.”
“Thanks,” Duncan said.
They barely took three steps forward when a female Vampyre, flanked by two Goblins, shouldered through the crowd toward them. The Vampyre had short blonde hair and was dressed in black fatigue pants and a black tank top, which showed off her muscled torso. She wore a semiautomatic in a hip holster and she moved like a fighter. She also looked intelligent, and she stopped right in front of them.
After one comprehensive glance at Duncan, the Vampyre focused on Seremela. “If you want to stay in Gehenna, you have to wrap up your snakes. You’re disturbing the customers.”
“We’re not here to gamble and we have no intention of staying on the floor,” Seremela said quietly. “We’re here to talk to Malphas.”
The Vampyre rubbed the back of her neck and studied them both under leveled brows. “You’re here about the girl, aren’t you?” she said. When neither of them confirmed nor denied, she shook her head. “Follow me.”
Dismissing the two Goblins, the Vampyre led them through the crowd to the back of the tent. Then, without stopping, she led them outside through another opening. Behind the tent several modular buildings had been set up, the area surrounded by a nine foot high barbed wire fence. Seremela looked around everywhere as they walked. She knew in her bones that Vetta was very close, probably in one of these buildings.
“She’s here,” Seremela said to Duncan. “I know she is.”
He moved as calmly as ever, hands loose at his sides, but she noticed how his sharp gaze roamed over the scene. “I believe you,” he said. “I think she’s here too.”
Their Vampyre escort was apparently not much for idle chitchat, for she didn’t say a word until they reached the last modular building. Once there, she propped open the door and flipped on an inside light. Duncan looked in but didn’t step inside. Seremela glanced in too. The interior was totally empty and lit by a single naked light bulb.
The Vampyre said, “If you want to talk to Malphas, go in and call him. He’ll come or not, as it suits him. If you’ve changed your mind, leave. Either way, the hanging is at dawn.”
Seremela clenched her fists and started after the Vampyre, snakes hissing. She ran into a barrier as Duncan’s arm shot out to block her way. “Easy, darling,” he said quietly to her. Telepathically, he said, “Don’t waste your energy on her. She doesn’t matter. We’ve got more important things to focus on.”
She sucked in a breath and struggled to rein in her temper. He was right. This Vampyre didn’t matter in the slightest. She gave him a curt nod, and he dropped his arm and stepped inside. With one last glare at the Vampyre, Seremela followed.
Inside the building was just as bare and unadorned as her first glance had told her it was. Metal walls, metal floor, metal ceiling. No chairs, no carpet, no wall hangings or desks.
After they had both turned in a circle, Duncan shrugged at her and said into the apparent emptiness, “Malphas.”
At first nothing happened, and a raging despair threatened to take Seremela over. He had to come. He had to.
Then black smoke slid into the building through the open door, and the air began to compress. Power built and built. It pressed against them so that Seremela’s breathing felt constricted and she had to swallow hard. This was a very old one, possibly a first generation Djinn. What was a first generation Djinn doing at Devil’s Gate?
The Power coalesced into the form of a tall, golden haired man, with an angelically beautiful face and two supernovas for eyes. Those piercing twin stars fixed on them, and the beautiful man gave them a deadly smile.
Malphas said, “Welcome to Gehenna.”
Chapter Six
Love
“What can I do for you?” the Djinn asked.
Danger breathed along the back of Duncan’s neck. After one glance at him, Malphas turned to Seremela, who regarded him with a calm yet tense expression. Her snakes draped across her arms and shoulders, and all of them watched the Djinn too.