Page 61 of Hospital for Immortal Creatures

Mikhail figured this was as good a time as any to pull out the medallion from his jeans pocket. He placed it on the counter.

Lilly stared at it and her jaw dropped. Without uttering another word, she called over one of the waitresses, asking her to take over for a moment. Next, she disappeared through a black door behind the bar.

The new waitress had bright-red short hair and a choker with spikes around her neck. She stuck her tongue out at Mikhail, demonstrating her piercing. “You wanna go for a ride, grumpy pants?”

“He’s mine, princess.” Viktor growled, forcing the witch to step back.

By that point, Mikhail was ready to trade him in for information. Or, better yet, just donate him to the witches.

Lilly returned ten minutes later, her lips pursed in a straight line. Without a glance at them, she focused her attention on cleaning the counter. “She’s expecting you.”

“Is everything all right, Lilly?” Viktor asked.

Lilly didn’t answer him. Instead, she gestured towards the door. “I have a job to do, boys. Just go.”

Mikhail took a long look at her. Her rigid stance and clenched jaw sent a message to not ask further questions. A message that seemed to extend even to the unsuspecting mortal who snapped his fingers at the bar to attract her attention.

Leaving Lilly to her work, Mikhail spoke firmly. “Let’s go.”

They circled around the bar and slipped through the door Lilly had used. The moment they crossed the threshold, the warm, inviting atmosphere of The Witch vanished, replaced by a damp, cold space. They found themselves on a narrow, steep staircase that descended so far, the bottom was out of sight. When the door closed behind them, it plunged them into complete darkness.

“Not entirely welcoming…” Viktor said. “Didn’t you find her reaction strange?”

Mikhail started down the stairs, lowering his head to avoid hitting it against the low ceiling. “Of course. She realised her new best friend Ken was lying to her.”

Was the space narrowing or was Mikhail imagining it? He lifted his hands to the sides, but he couldn’t extend them all the way. The stone walls were ice-cold against his fingers.

“Smells like trouble, brother,” Viktor murmured behind him.

Mikhail wrinkled his nose. “Smells like mould and magic to me.”

He wanted to be done with this as soon as possible, and get back to the Hospital. Even if he did walk out empty-handed, at least he would have tried.

The staircase led them to a cramped tunnel, with a faint light glimmering at the far end. Warmer air crept over Mikhail’s skin while they moved forward, hidden in the shadows.

The tunnel opened into an underground chamber, dimly lit by floating candles. Dozens of witches were scattered across the stone floor, gazing trance-like at an altar – or throne – where a black-hooded creature sat. A dark robe concealed its body, making it impossible to determine its gender. At least until it spoke…with a woman’s voice.

“And now, my children, how about that joke I promised you earlier? So… A manticore and a lycanthrope walk into a witch bar.”

***

“Will they take long?” Diana spoke for the first time since they had sat down.

Constantine followed her line of sight to the witch behind the counter, whose movements had suddenly become too abrupt and precise, her face somehow rigid.

“As long as they need, Diana.” He ignored the red-headed waitress hovering around their table, leaned back in his chair and turned to the vampire. “Sexy suit, dove. A lot of the women I date wear those.”

“I’m not a dove.” Diana bared her teeth, eyes glued to the door that Korovin and Volk had disappeared behind ten minutes ago.

Constantine smiled. “But they usually have a whip, too. Which reminds me… Please tell me you don’t intend on leaving your sword at the ice cream shop.”

She finally tore her attention from the door and took a sip of her cocktail. “I asked the waitress to keep it safe while I did an interview for a magazine nearby. Why?”

“I would like to see you wielding it,” he said, attracting her curious gaze. “I’m sure there’s a lot I can teach you. Especially if you’re naked.”

She furrowed her brow. “I can’t believe that’s what you’re thinking about right now.”

“And I wouldn’t believe it if you say the thought hadn’t crossed your mind as you were following me.”

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