Chapter 6 Vada #2
Sinbad leaned forward, eyebrows bunched.
“Things are different here on Earth. Your feeding habits can be satiated, but unlike my father’s level of Hell, everything here on Earth must first be consented to.
I saw you in the bar feeding off those humans’ lust. Be careful.
There are some council members here tonight.
If they weren’t wasted, they likely would have noticed what you were doing.
That could have significant repercussions for all of us. ”
Just then, a chorus of shouts and laughter rang out as the doors to the pub opened and beings spilled out.
The noise distracted me from the conversation, and I homed in on Adaela amongst the group.
She was hugging a tall man whose long, dark hair was tied back at the nape of his neck, and jealousy flared through me as I watched her eyes light up, her laughter ringing out across the patio.
She had a husky laugh that matched the lower timbre of her voice.
As they neared us, I realized it was one of her best friends, Loki. I relaxed a little. Loki’s power was more subdued than Adaela’s, but it was still like a punch to the gut. He turned away, and I decided it was time for me to take my leave.
Finishing up my drink, I stood up, adjusting my dress so I didn’t flash the crowd.
“Well, thank you for the advice. I will keep that in mind going forward. It seems I have a lot to learn about this new version of Earth. I am going to head home and try to get some sleep before I really dig into things tomorrow.”
The nightlife here was vastly different to the Demon Realm’s, which should’ve been expected. It still threw me for a loop. Even with attempting to mentally prepare myself for a whole different world, nothing could have prepared me for this. It was going to take some getting used to.
As I was walking back toward my place a few blocks away, I heard something in the alley on the side of my building.
Always curious, I went to check it out, summoning Vindicta in case I needed her.
Next to the side of a building, I found Adaela retching and two men I didn’t recognize lying dead beneath her feet.
Not good. I surveyed the area, trying to find her friends, but they were nowhere in sight.
“You look like you’re struggling. Do you need some help?” I asked.
Beautiful tri-green eyes wet and makeup streaked down her striking face raised toward me, face radiating misery. “I’m fine, you can leave me alone here. This isn't my first rodeo.”
“Well, sweet girl, you’re in the middle of an alley only gods know how far away from your people with two dead men laying at your feet. Were they bothering you? Let me at least help you find your friends. Do you have a phone you can call them on?”
“I’m okay. I—” she bent over to retch again.
I grabbed her hair where it had fallen over her shoulders, the elastic tying her hair back earlier in the night nowhere to be found, and held it back for her. I couldn’t help but rub her back as she dry heaved again, sparks dancing down my fingertips. I wondered if she noticed them, too.
“You’re not okay. Where’s your phone? I will make the calls for you and stay until someone is able to help you out,” I said.
“Damn whiskey,” Adaela muttered as she fumbled for her phone in her back pocket.
She handed it over to me. She was too inebriated to tell me what happened to the men, so I made note of the security cameras in the alley and told myself to figure out what happened as soon as I was able to get her to safety—not that she needed it, from the state of things.
“It’s dead. You don’t happen to have the kind of magic that will power this thing back on, do you?” I asked, braiding her hair so it’d stay out of her face. I didn’t have anything to tie it off with, so the loose braid would have to do for now.
She made a sound of frustration, “Ugh, no I don’t. You wouldn’t want to help me find my friends, would you? I tend to do an Irish Goodbye when I’ve had too much to drink. They—” she hiccupped “—likely have already called a rideshare home.”
“Well, you’re certainly in no state to drive. Can you get yourself home by any other means?” I asked. I didn’t know the protocol for finding a Pax leader in an alley with two very dead bodies sitting next to her. Would she get in trouble with the Pax? Did I need to report this?
“I don’t—” Hiccup “—have teleportation magic either,” she responded, a grimace crossing her face.
“Neither do I. I’ll tell you what. I’m new to the area. I can either call you a rideshare to get home if you are comfortable telling me where you live, or you can come crash on my couch and sleep this off. For now, are you feeling well enough to get out of the alley?” I asked her.
She nodded, and I grabbed her by the waist to help her up off the ground.
Her body molded against mine, as if she were meant to fit against me perfectly.
What is this obsession I have with her? She had solid muscle underneath, yet she was so soft and pliant in my arms. My powers spiked again due to my ravaging hunger, but I forced them into a box.
It was inappropriate timing, and she was nowhere near sober enough to know who she was speaking with.
She was not even sober enough to make introductions.
“This is my apartment building. Where are you parked?” I asked her.
“In the lot here,” she replied.
“Well, the good news is that you don’t have to get behind the wheel tonight. Would you like me to call you a rideshare?” I started walking toward the front of the building, Adaela stumbling along at my side. I held on to her so she wouldn’t fall.
“I don’t think a rideshare would be able to enter The Sanctuary, and I’m not sober enough to stumble back to my house from a safe spot where they could drop me off,” she said.
I wasn’t sure what The Sanctuary was, but I assumed that was where she called home.
“Well, let’s get you back to my couch. I am still moving into my place, but you are welcome,” I said as we made our way toward the entrance to my building.
“Do you mind if I pick you up? It might make the trip to my apartment a little faster, so we can get some sustenance in you.”
She laughed, then gave the universal sign for uppies, moving her fingers rapidly against her palms. I smiled in amusement.
Her face held an innocence that melted my heart, but considering she just killed two men in the alleyway, I knew better.
I kicked off my heels and magicked them away into the pocket realm, then opened the door to the building.
I picked Adaela up, and she wrapped her arms around my neck.
I suppressed a shiver, pretending like this was any other normal day as I began walking her back to my apartment.
I took two steps into the building before Adaela promptly passed out in my arms. As I got Adaela and myself into my apartment, I gently toed the door closed and reset my wards.
I couldn’t help but rock her gently in my arms a bit as I walked her toward my couch.
She nuzzled her face into my neck, exhaling a deep breath.
I froze a beat, heart racing at the miracle in my arms. I intended to let her sleep this off while I figured out who the two dead men in the alley were, but I wasn’t quite ready to let her go just yet.
When she relaxed, I sat down on the couch and slowly pried her arms from around my neck, then laid her down next to me, tucking her into the fuzzy blanket from the back of the couch.
Sighing, I stood up quietly and tried not to wake her.
It was still pretty early in the evening, only about 9:30 p.m., so I snuck off to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge, and laid it next to the couch for Adaela when she woke up.
I wished I had some elixir for the hangover she would likely have tomorrow, but alas, I had nothing from the move.
I walked into the office that wasn’t quite set up yet and fired up my laptop. Since I wasn’t great with tech, I reached out to someone in the Goddess Faction who was. I fired off a text to see if she’d be able to help me.
Me:
Hi Medb. Do you have a minute? I might need your expertise.
Medb:
Anything for you, my dear. What chu got?
Me:
I need the cam footage from the alleyway in my new apartment complex from the last hour and a half.
Medb:
On it. Are you settling in okay?
Me:
Yes. It’s an adjustment but I’m learning quickly.
I sat back in my chair and waited to hear back from her.
She was one of the first demons I made friends with when I was cast away to Hell from the Garden.
While Medb eventually was granted Goddess status, her time in Hell with me was substantial.
We were on the same side of the coin, always protecting women in Hell when we could from the demons who would rather use them as non-consenting playthings.
Our early years of creation, while different, had been similar, as we were forced into subservience to men we abhorred.
Medb:
Got it. I’m sending over the file now.
Vada, this is serious. I need you to make sure this doesn’t get out.
I’m sending this on a secure server.
Me:
Thank you. I came to you because I knew I could trust you to keep this between us.
I will keep you apprised about it as I learn more.
Medb:
Anytime. I look forward to grabbing lunch with you soon.