Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
LORELEI
I ’ve spent a few nights at Phenex’s apartment and it’s been incredible. Sometimes he and Samael blow my mind with orgasms, others they just hold me in my sleep. I have to go back to my apartment today, and I’m dreading it.
Phenex and Samael aren’t forcing me to, I just feel as if I should. I do live there, my descenting spray works now, my clothes are here, there’s no reason for me to avoid it.
Sighing, I find the front door to the room unlocked and cracked open, as are many of the dorms in this building. Opening it, I find Adares and Thorley cooking together in the kitchen. Their heavy gazes follow me as I step inside, and I make a point to shut the door fully.
I don’t understand this trend of leaving doors open. Maybe it’s because they feel safe enough to keep them that way, but I certainly don’t. The difference in privilege is huge between us. Locked doors are what keep me safe.
“Long time no see, stranger,” Thorley grunts. While the food smells good, I had a big lunch with Samael and I’m still full. I have no desire to dawdle with them. “Did you forget where you live?”
“Ah, no I didn’t,” I reply. “Is that a problem?”
“Whore,” Adares fake sneezes into his arm, making me roll my eyes.
“That’s cute. I didn’t know that monsters were as judgmental as humans are,” I say. Actually, I did because Valaria is a cunt. “Slut shaming is beneath you, as is assuming that I am one.”
“Assumptions are all I have because you’re never around,” he says, watching as I walk to my room and unlock it. The lock turns effortlessly, and my heart settles at something that is so familiar to me.
Pushing the door open, I ignore him as I enter the room I’ve long avoided and swing it closed on his judgments. There’s nothing that says I need to hang out and play nice. In the beginning it was because of my fear of my scent being detected, and now I’m just tired.
I don’t want to argue with people about myself or my values. I shouldn’t have to.
Turning on my lamp, I glance around to see everything appears to be the same at first glance, except for my closet door which is hanging open. Frowning, my feet feel heavy as I walk toward it. I know I closed this door.
Who the fuck was in here? My breaths begin to hitch as I gaze unseeingly at the contents. My breaths are short and jerky, the blood roaring in my ears as my knees betray me and buckle. I barely feel the sting of pain biting at my skin as I struggle to pull oxygen into my lungs.
There’s an odd smell in my room, though it’s not unpleasant. I simply don’t know why it’s in my space. I chose every scent that I wanted to allow in my room and closet. It’s why I have Phenex and Samael’s t-shirts in my closet and one of Samael’s sweatshirts in my dresser. I wanted them to be close to me while I went back and forth between places.
Now, the scent I’m smelling is nutty and sweet, and I recognize it as chicory. I had some coffee recently that was made from chicory root while driving through Louisiana to get here and I enjoyed it.
I simply don’t understand why it’s in my room, and why I want to wrap myself up in the scent. Shaking my head as my brain screams that I need to find whoever this is, whether monster or person, I whine at the realization that one of my scent matches was in here without my permission.
Three fucking scent matches. The fortune teller didn’t tell me how many I’d have, so I’m simply running on instincts and adrenaline. Fate is a cryptic bitch.
I want the safety of my closet, but it doesn’t feel safe right now, and I can’t slow down my heart rate. Everything is spinning and my backpack falls off my shoulders to the ground as I scoot my back against the wall.
I feel violated, and my eyes move over my things to see if anything has been moved. One of my dresser drawers isn’t all the way closed, the sheets on my couch are messed up, but everything else appears intact. Even my bottle of lotion is where it should be, as well as one of my hair brushes on the nightstand.
God, I feel loopy, focusing on things that don’t matter.
A fist pounds on the door loudly, making me squeal with fright.
“Dinner is ready if you want to eat,” Thorley yells through the flimsy wood. “The professor will probably be joining us as well.”
“Thanks, but I already ate,” I lie, my head beginning to hurt as breathing gets even more difficult.
I’m on the edge of panic and conspiracy theories, trying to figure out who the fuck was in my room. It wasn’t Adares or Thorley because they don’t smell like chicory. It’s a thick, cloying scent in my room, as if it’s trying to get under my skin.
My phone buzzes in my jeans pocket, and I close my eyes as I struggle to regulate my breathing. I can hear Thorley’s heavy footsteps as they move away from my door, but I can’t get my body to stop freaking out.
I’m not safe, I’ll never be safe, fuck, fuck, fuck!
“Lorelei,” a voice barks, ripping through my panic as my chest heaves, forcing my lids to crack open. “What’s wrong? Why… What’s that scent?”
“I don’t know,” I gasp. Samael is crouched by my body, no doubt coming to investigate the unanswered phone call. “My closet was open when I came home, and everything is wrong in here. Someone was in my room.”
My voice ends in a whimper, and Samael snarls at the sound of my fear. Lifting my body, he moves to seat himself where I was and pulls me tightly to his chest. I shove my nose against his skin, breathing deeply to replace the foreign scent. Just because the chicory scent is screaming that it belongs to me, doesn’t mean shit right now.
There’s been an interloper inside of my nest. It’s my space, my domain, my?—
“Deep breath, Baby Girl,” Samael reminds me, purring. “I got you. I’m not sure what the fuck is going on, but I’m here.”
The deep purring in his chest helps regulate my body. Every nerve has been telling me to run, the adrenaline dump making me slightly nauseous.
“You’re not staying here,” he says. “If you don’t feel safe, it won’t get any better with time. Someone came in here without permission, violating your space. Dammit, I’m not helping. I’m trying to make sure I keep it together for you, baby. Fuck it, pack a bag because we’re leaving. You’re not coming back without me, so don’t leave behind anything you’ll need.”
It takes me a few minutes to get my body moving, but I’m able to finally push myself up to stumble toward a duffle bag. Making a face as I pack things, I shudder. Someone touched my things.
Does that mean every item I pack is tainted now?
“You can wash everything when we get to Phenex’s,” Samael says, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Bring your laundry detergent with you.”
Nodding, I continue to pack before glancing at the door with a sigh. I can hear voices out there, as well as a third that has joined them. I really don’t want to walk past the kitchen to leave the dorm.
“Don’t worry about them, we’re not going out that way,” he says, pointing at something to ask if I need it. Together, we finish packing and he hooks the strap of the duffel bag over his shoulder. “Grab your backpack, Lorelei.”
I’m working off of pure autopilot as I do as he says, taking his hand when he offers it. I don’t know what the plan is, but I know he has one. That has to be enough for now.
My laptop is still at Phenex’s, as are most of my books. I only came home to change for work. Pulling me tightly into his side, he wraps his arm and tail around me.
“Hold on and don’t let go,” he says, waiting for me to wrap my arms around his body before the world simply disappears. My gasp is inaudible as the invisible particles of our bodies move through space and time at a much faster rate than I’d ever have thought possible.
I’m still dazed as Samael materializes our bodies in Phenex’s living room, and I sag heavily against him.
“What happened?” Phenex asks, scrambling up from his spot on the couch.
“Someone’s been rifling through her shit,” Samael grunts. “She’s not going back to her dorm. I hope you enjoy having two new roommates.”
Phenex simply shrugs, though his forehead is furrowed with concern. I guess Samael is moving in too.
“Someone broke into your room?” Phenex asks, moving to help take my bag from me and toss it to the side. He picks me up to snuggle against him on the couch, his hands rubbing over my newly chilled skin. I guess traveling the way Samael and I just did causes me to be cold.
My teeth are even chattering.
Samael sits as well, my duffel bag left on the armchair so he can take my boots off and rub my feet.
“I always lock my door,” I explain. “Whoever it was relocked everything afterward, but didn’t put everything back in its place. My blankets on my couch were all askew, there was a drawer still open, and I could smell them in the air. Even my closet was left open. It smelled like chicory. The problem is that my body reacted to the scent. Whoever this is, they’re also my scent match. I fucking have a stalker!”
I’m angry. All the panic and fear is turning into rage very quickly.
“I don’t know that they’re stalking you, but they obviously don’t have a problem with invading your space,” Phenex grunts. “Samael is right. You live here now. If you need something from your dorm room, he’ll get it for you, okay?”
“Is the lighting going to be a problem?” Samael asks, surprising me. “We’ll get blackout curtains for the bedroom.”
“Should we get curtains for the bed? I can order some,” Phenex muses. I feel as if they’re speaking some kind of secret language. They shouldn’t know that I like this stuff. “I don’t want you sleeping in my closet, Baby Girl, but I can mimic that kind of vibe.”
“Who… how do you know any of that?” I ask, wide eyed as my eyes bounce back and forth between them.
“Your room says a lot about your needs,” Samael says easily.
While that may be true, they both seem to be holding secrets.
“Why do I feel like it’s more than that?” I ask.
“Give me a little time and I’ll explain it fully,” Phenex murmurs against my temple. “For now, let’s make my apartment look like somewhere you can call home. Don’t argue, please.”
Picking up Phenex’s laptop, Samael says, “You need more blankets. You left them all on the dresser.”
“What if he touched them?” I ask, shuddering. “I only went home because I have to go to work tonight. It’s my first night. Thank God I thought to pack what’s essentially my uniform.”
“You never mentioned where your work is,” Phenex says, his stare heavy as I glance up at him.
“Ah, I didn’t?” I ask, knowing neither of them will like it. Oh well, I’m not going to freeload off either of them. “It’s the only place that was hiring in town. I’m bartending at The Siren’s Lounge and begin tonight. I thought I was getting ghosted since I expected to start sooner. The manager texted to confirm I could start this morning.”
“The Siren’s…” Phenex looks hard at me, his swirling blue-green eyes getting cloudier by the second.
“I’ll go with her,” Samael says immediately, shrugging as I sigh. “At least you won’t see me, and I can scare the shit out of anyone who tries to pull anything inappropriate, Lorelei. Take the gift that this is. Phenex is right to be unhappy with this job.”
“I’ve worked shittier jobs than this,” I say, getting up to pick up my duffle bag. I really need to get moving.
“Maybe so, but you don’t need to do so unprotected,” Phenex grumbles. “We aren’t stalkers, we’re barnacles on your cute ass. If we could follow you everywhere, we would. Unfortunately, I have a university faculty event with the Dean that I can’t get out of.”
“That means I get to be your barnacle,” Samael says, smirking. “Go get ready, I’ll just be over here spending Phenex’s money.”
Chuckling, I shake my head as I turn and walk away to shower and change. I wasn’t originally planning to shower, but now that I don’t have to worry about avoiding my roommates, I’m going to use the opportunity to freshen up.
A scent check shows that my work clothes weren’t affected by whoever came into my room, and they just have a hint of cherries attached to them. That’ll dissipate with the descenting spray. I’m okay, or at least I will be soon, and I’ll be able to get to work and have a decent shift.
My eyes close happily as the shower flows over me. My hair is tied up and out of the way so I won’t need to fuss with it, and I can feel the fear and smell that comes with that, beginning to melt away. It’s a metallic, sour scent because I was covered in a cold sweat while I was freaking the fuck out.
Scrubbing away the fear feels good, and the knowledge that I won’t need to return to my godforsaken bedroom at the dorms is even better. Fuck, what were they thinking putting me with all male monsters?
Phenex told me he took it upon himself to call the head of housing to ask about my placement, and the reality of things is that there was nowhere else to put me. I suppose I should simply be grateful the university accepted me at all, or I would never have met Phenex and Samael.
The thought puts me in a reflective mood, and I finish my shower soon after. Ten minutes later, I’m dressed and ready for work. I’m wearing a low cut dark long sleeved blue cropped shirt, a pair of leather pants, and my trusty combat boots. My makeup is on point, my hair properly scrunched.
So I’m unsurprised when my scent matches salivate as I walk back into the living room. Damn, maybe I should put a little more care into my appearance.
“Did you spray your descenting spray yet?” Samael asks, wide-eyed. “Please say no or I’m going to lose it. All I can smell is cherries right now.”
“It’s still in my backpack,” I say with a smirk. I’ve begun to bring a small atomizer with me at all times in case I need to quickly reapply during the day. It’s given me the ability to stay confident that my scent is remaining under wraps, even while Phenex eye fucks me in his class.
Nodding, Samael digs through the front pocket of the bag to find it before thoroughly dousing me with the spray.
“Okay, my shift runs until two in the morning,” I say as I pull out a small messenger bag and load it with my keys, wallet, atomizer, and cell phone. The weather has gotten significantly cooler, so I throw a black jacket over it all.
“I’ll be up,” Phenex murmurs, coming over to kiss me gently. I can tell he’s trying not to rile me up so my descenting spray will make it through my shift. “That’s a really long night, beautiful.”
“I know,” I sigh. “I’m working three nights a week, but it’ll help me buy what I need throughout the semester.”
There’s a heavy pause in the air because I’ve never made it longer than that before at a job or higher education institution. I’ve always been forced to move by the clawing need to find my scent matches.
“Something tells me you’re done running, Lorelei,” he says, as if he can read my mind. “Have a good first day at work.”
Even though he may not approve of my place of work, he’s not arguing with me about it. Gracing him with a wide smile, I walk out of the apartment with Samael to head toward my car.
“I like when you’re happy,” Samael murmurs as we walk together. I’m parked halfway across campus still since I’ve been bouncing between my dorm room and Phenex’s apartment.
If I’m staying full time with Phenex, then I’m going to need to find a closer parking lot for students that allows overnight parking.
“I feel like my emotions have been all over the place in a very short period of time,” I say. “I can’t explain how helpless I felt when I saw all of my things moved around. Why did you decide to come by?”
“You didn’t answer your phone,” he states. “I decided to come over and explore the reason for it. Your safety is paramount to Phenex and I. We're never going to stop worrying about you.”
“That sounds exhausting,” I tease him. I can see the parking lot from where we are on the sidewalk, which means I’ll actually be a couple of minutes early as long as traffic cooperates.
“Eh, not really,” he says, his fingers lacing with mine. “I will happily worry about you, check on you, and work to ensure your happiness.”
“It’s hard to believe you’re real,” I murmur.
“I am, and I have the pitfalls that follow it,” he says with a smirk. A dark look moves over his face before it disappears. “I’m feeling a little hungry, maybe I’ll be able to grab a snack while you’re working.”
“Oh?” I ask, wondering who he’ll be scaring. I meant it when I said I didn’t mind being his food source. I just don’t know if he believed me.
No one likes a stage four clinger, so I hold my peace as we get into my car. It makes a terrible sound as I crank the engine. Wincing, I groan.
“Come on,” I sigh. “You’re becoming a really expensive artifact, Bertie.”
“That’s an interesting name for your car,” he says. “Have you had a lot of trouble with it?”
Blowing out a breath, I whisper a prayer in my mind before I try once more to start my car.
“Fuck yes, that’s a good girl, Bertie,” I rasp as the engine turns over.
I can feel Samael’s amusement before I glance over at him with my brow raised.
“Bertie has a praise kink,” he says, grinning as I huff out a laugh.
“She’s not the only one,” I say under my breath, smirking as he chuckles.
Thankfully, Bertie behaves as I put her in reverse and back out of the space.
“To answer your question, yes, she does misbehave often,” I tell him. “I got stuck in a tiny town on the way to the school for three days while they fixed her up. She just refused to start. I was worried I wasn’t going to make it here. She ate up a good chunk of my savings, and I’m attached to the bitch.”
“Well, maybe we can get the starter fixed at least,” he says.
“I plan to,” I say, ignoring the ‘we’ in his statement. I don’t want anyone to call me a gold digger. “I just need to have a few good nights of tips before I can think about finding a mechanic in town.”
“You know, while it doesn’t snow in this part of the state, it’s still important to know Bertie isn’t going to break down on the road on your way home and strand you somewhere,” Samael says. “The school is a fair haul from town. That’s all I’m going to say about it.”
Nodding, I know he’s right. I’m just not in a position to be able to buy a new car yet. A whisper and a prayer is the best I can do.
The trip to the club is uneventful, allowing me to find a parking spot in a well lit area behind the building. As I bail out of the car, Samael disappears, simply going translucent as I close the door behind me. He makes it look so easy, and I’m sure that it is for him.
Turning the key to ensure the car is locked, I walk quickly toward the back door of the club. I can feel a tendril of something cool around me, and my body relaxes, knowing that Samael is with me.
I’ve spent so much of my life alone, I’m still unused to having anyone around that I can lean on. It’s a difficult adjustment, and sometimes I can feel myself going on the defensive before I remind myself that there’s no need for it.
Knocking on the back door, I wait for someone to open it.
“Yeah?” he grunts. The monster is built like a brick shithouse, his skin a light green, his hands reminding me of sledgehammers. God, he’s huge and scary, perfect for the job of bouncer he’s currently occupying.
“I’m the new bartender,” I say, proud that my voice doesn’t crack.
Nodding, he twists to allow me entrance.
“Hailee mentioned you were coming in,” he rumbles. “Head down to the bar, she’ll meet you there. All the way down this hallway. Ya can’t miss it.”
“Thank you,” I say, beginning the long walk down the hall. The overhead lights are dim, making it even creepier as I walk quickly.
As I walk into the main club, I see that the walls are black, the lighting blue and white, and make a beeline for the long bar in front of me.
Hailee is there, her long blonde hair up in a pair of space buns. She’s wearing a crop top, a suit jacket and black pants, and somehow appears to fit in perfectly. She told me she’s a shifter, appearing human for the most part. Hailee said that looking personable helps her be able to work with clients, but that if someone steps out of line, she is ready to bash some heads together.
I really like her style.
“Good, you didn’t change your mind when you saw Gregor,” she says, blowing out an explosive sigh of relief. “He means well, but he’s a lot.”
My lips twitch as I nod. “No cold feet,” I reassure her.
“Perfect. I’m going to show you where to hang up your coat and put your purse away, and then I’m going to have Kaila show you the ropes,” she says.
Kaila has magenta hair, blue and purple speckled skin, and waves as I catch her eye.
“Tonight is half priced drinks, and while I appreciate the extra tips, it’s a terrible night to work alone,” she says. “You’re saving our asses tonight.”
Not sure how to take that, I follow Hailee to put away my things before rejoining Kaila behind the bar.
“We don’t usually have anyone order anything too fancy,” she says. “It’s a lot of older men and college students coming in on a Thursday night to get their fill of tits and ass. We’re going to smile, make some small talk if necessary, while not giving them any hope that they can actually take us home. Is that clear?”
“Ah, yes,” I say, nodding. I can handle this. Stay busy, show some tits and ass, flirt a little.
Slice of pie.
I got here a little before the opening to the club, and I watch dancers warming up on different poles as the music turns on. There are shifted reptiles, demons, and other monsters that are wearing lingerie as they dance, all looking hauntingly beautiful.
“Oh, and several of the demons are succubi,” Kaila says, leaning in. “It’s also a fully nude bar, so at some point, the dancers will all be losing their clothes. Hailee and the boss have a policy that the dancers can negotiate ‘extras’ if they want, so prepare to see some fucking happen tonight.”
Eyes wide, I nod as the doors to the strip club open, and I have a strict conversation with my pussy. No slicking, getting turned on, or anything else.
I may have overestimated things in my previous thought that this would be an easy gig.