Chapter 4 Cater to Me
Cater to Me
The faculty in the computer science department had the same things to say about Sage as Professor Howland—that she was a bright, industrious omega who broke their hearts when she dropped out so close to graduation.
There were still other leads to follow in Noctis before I went back to her hometown of Cindralis and checked out her family, and I needed to exhaust them all. Stopping by her previous place of employment was the logical next move.
I got in my car and drove halfway across town to the wealthy vampire district where Sable Mansion was located, sunrise still a couple of hours away.
Sable Mansion was an old home that had been turned into an “opulent event space,” according to its website.
Pictures of glamorous vampires getting married, dancing, drinking champagne flutes of blood, and other displays of good times covered the page, along with instructions to contact their office for their rates.
That was always code for “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.”
I drove through the towering wrought-iron gates, my tires crunching on the gravel drive as I approached a sprawling manor of pale limestone.
Its facade was bathed in the ethereal light of strategically placed lanterns that swayed gently in the evening breeze, and tall, arched windows along the side of the building were lit, providing a glimpse of the decadence that lay within.
I parked next to a marble fountain, the central figure covered in gold leaf and carved in the likeness of the vampire who probably built the place, then made my way up the stairs through the large front doors, my boots heavy on the parquet floors.
A smartly dressed vampire alpha in a skirt suit and stilettos, her hair pulled back tightly in a polished ponytail, came down the grand, split staircase, giving a tour to a dopey-looking couple.
Based on the cheap fabric of the woman’s dress and the scuff marks on her partner’s shoes, they did not look like the usual clientele.
“A lot of brides love to use these stairs for their entrance. Just imagine how this space will look filled with flowers and…” She turned around, finally noticing me. After one look at my horns, she frowned. “The employee entrance is in the back.”
Fucking vamps.
I took out my license. “I’m tracking down a young woman who used to work here; she’s disappeared. Can I speak with one of your managers?”
The tour guide’s eyes darted to the card, and then she plastered a fake smile on her face and looked at the couple. “I’m soooo sorry, this will only be a minute. Go ahead and look around, and really get a feel for the place. I’ll be right back.”
Her smile disappeared as she clicked her way towards me, gesturing for me to follow her through a side hallway.
Once we were outside of earshot, she turned to me, finger pointing in my face.
“Do you have any idea how many cancellations we had the last time a bunch of our employees disappeared?” she hissed.
“Keep your Sanguiel-damned voice down in front of potential clients!”
“The last time?” I asked.
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Yes, about five years ago, our whole catering team never came back after an event, and it took a long time to convince skittish, superstitious brides that it was okay to book their weddings here. Please, have some tact.”
“Wait, back up here,” I said, holding up my hands. “The whole team? Was Sage Hexwood one of them? She’s a witch omega.”
Her eyes widened slightly in recognition. “Witch omega? I wonder if she was the one who made the big commotion…”
I took out my phone, pressing the record button. “What big commotion? I’ll be out of your hair as soon as you tell me what happened.”
She looked nervously over her shoulder at the couple now bickering loudly.
We watched as the man shook his head, and the woman began to cry. Then he took her hand and led her out the front door.
The tour guide sighed. “I knew they were a waste of time. Okay, let’s see, around five years ago, one of our caterers, your witch omega maybe, made a huge mess at an event, spilling some blood flutes I think.
I only do weddings, so I hadn’t been there.
” She looked around to make sure no one was close by, then leaned over and whispered, “But then, apparently all the staff working that day, even the event coordinator, never showed up again. They all quit en masse.”
“They didn’t say why?”
She shook her head. “Nope. They simply collected their last paychecks, mouths shut. And the weirdest thing?” The woman leaned in closer, her voice lower. “Their employment records were all wiped from our system.”
“Do you remember any of them? Can I get in touch with them?”
“Not really, they weren’t on my team. And we get a decent amount of turnover—it’s the nature of the industry—so I can’t really think of anyone else besides the owner or myself who’s still here from that time. And he certainly wouldn’t know.”
My stomach churned in weird, twisted anticipation. Hearing about all these people in Sage’s periphery disappearing or dying was certainly nothing to celebrate, but I couldn’t keep myself from growing intrigued, because this case was far more interesting than I’d first thought.
And the more I dug, the clearer it was becoming that Sage was no mere thief, and I was practically foaming at the mouth at the thought of getting closer. Of finally tracking her down. Of the look on her face when she realized I had her in my sights…
“Who was hosting? What was the party for?” I asked, trying not to seem too eager.
A wicked, conspiratorial smile grew on her face. “That’s just it—all records of the event disappeared from our accounts, too. Isn’t that wild? It’s like it never happened.”
This couldn’t be a coincidence, and I needed to know who organized that event and what exactly happened, because it sounded like that might have been the last night Sage officially “existed.” Was that the night she stole whatever it was that would cause the Premier of Noctis to hire me, five years later?
“Do you remember the date?”
She flattened her lips and squinted in thought.
“Not exactly, but it must have been early spring. You know,” she added, looking down the hall to check again that it was empty.
“Some of the employees even left their stuff here. The owner’s a sentimental fool and felt too guilty throwing any of it out.
Do you want to see if there’s anything of hers? ”
Jackpot.
“Definitely.”
I waited for her to start walking but then her eyes raked me over. She chuckled softly, biting her lip and running a finger down my chest. “I’d be happy to show you. They’re in a supply room down the hall. And my next tour isn’t for another thirty minutes, if you’re not in any hurry yourself.”
I clicked my tongue in fake disappointment. “Sorry, I’m a married man.” I flashed the wedding band I wore whenever I was on a job. I needed to minimize potential distractions when I was on a deadline, and this was the easiest way out of these kinds of situations without offending anyone.
She pouted, bringing her lips to my ear. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
I took her by the chin and winked. “I bet. But what can I say? I’m a fool in love.”
Sighing, she batted my hand away and walked around me, heading down the hall. “Just my luck, I run into the only faithful demon in Lundaria,” she muttered to herself.
Ouch.
“Oh well, follow me.”
She beckoned me with her taloned finger and I obeyed like a good little boy, letting her take at least some satisfaction in my submission.
Alphas loved asserting their dominance whenever they could, especially over other alphas, and I certainly wasn’t going to get in a pissing match when someone was being helpful.
Besides, sometimes I liked being a good little boy.
She opened the door and turned on the light switch, fluorescent bulbs flickering and buzzing to life.
Racks lining the walls of the small room were filled with boxes of plates, napkins, and tablecloths.
A faint, sweet, familiar scent led me straight to the box of the employees’ things at the back, and I reached in, immediately pulling out a worn, cheap, fake leather bag.
“Oh wow, lucky guess,” she laughed.
No, it wasn’t luck, and it wasn’t a guess. I recognized the scent from the apartment where I’d met the Premier.
This was Sage’s.
I opened the bag and a wave hit me, causing my teeth and cock to ache all over again.
Ravaric, her scent was really doing something for me. Doing something to me. It was old and faded, so much so that I couldn’t even pick out the notes. Something fruity, a hint of floral…
But damn. Too good.
I shook my head to clear it, trying to rationalize the reaction.
She was cute, had a nice omega smell that appealed to me, and the more I heard about her, the more she seemed like the kind of woman I’d go for—if her capture wasn’t going to make me insanely rich.
Adding all that into the fact that I hadn’t gotten laid in far too long, it wasn’t surprising my body was confused.
Yes, that was it.
I pulled out a vinyl wallet, the front decorated with a picture of a cartoon cat from some animated show I’d maybe watched once or twice, and then checked the ID inside just to make sure it was hers. Even though I already knew whose bag I was holding.
“I need to keep this,” I said, holding it up to show the woman I had the right purse.
She shrugged. “Fine by me. And look, no offense, but if you’re done here, can you go out the back on your way out? You’ll scare the potential clients.”
Typical. I was good enough for a closet quickie, but not good enough to go out the front door.