Page 15 of Changeling
“Night, Dominus.”
I leave in a hurry. As I’m shutting the door, he says, “Next time I want to see your tail.”
His words send a shiver low in my spine where tail and torso connect.
Damned faerie.
CHAPTER5
Sebastian
This is goingto be a very long two weeks if I don’t make a friend soon. I’d like to visit Leonas, but he’ll already be on duty, so I shouldn’t pester him.
My sleep schedule is still entirely out of sorts, for which I blame vampires. I spent most of the day in bed, and the brothel is already open for business. I can tell by the sounds.
Oh, the sounds!
Heat warms my neck as I remember the knock at my door and Dominus’s knowing gaze as he dropped off provisions. But what can they expect when the moans of pleasure can be heard so easily through the walls?
Take me harder. Please it’s so big…
Really, one can only bear so much before matters must betaken care of. I refuse to be embarrassed about it.
At least that’s what I tell myself to gather enough courage to leave my room for the night. I’m not supposed to socialize with clients or staff, so my plan is to head back to the market. Perhaps I can find a pub to sit in for a few drinks. I won’t be able to understand anyone, but listening to conversation is infinitely better than being stuck in my mind.
I step into the hallway and nearly bump into an older woman who’s rushing past.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, though it was her who hit me.
Rather than continue on her way, she stops and looks me over, her expression rather amused. She smiles and speaks to me, but I don’t understand any of the words.
I shake my head. “I’m sorry. Do you know any Greek?”
She shrugs as if this doesn’t matter and lays a hand on her chest. “Rizpah.” Then she lays a hand on my chest and waits.
“Sebastian.”
“Sebastian.” Her smile widens.
I like the way Rizpah says my name, even though I don’t know what she wants. She beckons with her hand, afollow memotion, and I catch on.
I can’t exactly tell her I’m not supposed to be talking to anyone. That would be rude. Besides, she’s already walking away. What can I do but follow?
We pass through a door to another flight of steps and head down into a kitchen area. The savory smells of cooking hit my nose and go straight to my stomach.
I’m surprised to see ovens. We’re at least two stories underground, so they must vent through chimneys rising from the dwelling that stands above The Twig. It occurs to me I don’t know what that house is used for. Does Dominus own it too? He must. He doesn’t seem like the type who’d risk nosy neighbors.
Next to a large, well-stocked pantry stands a rectangular table, its surface a thick butcher’s block. On the other side are sinks that look as if they feature running water. But how? My mouth hangs open as I admire the modern conveniences.
Rizpah pats a stool at the table and says, “Ülj le,” which I take to mean,have a seat. Hopefully, I’m right.
I follow her instructions, but I’m unsure what to do with myself. If Dominus finds me here, he’ll be angry, and I don’t want to make him angry. But how do I explain that to Rizpah?
“I’m not really supposed to be speaking with staff,” I say, though it’s no use. She’s already bustling around, ladling stew into a bowl with a bit of bread plunked in the middle. She puts this in front of me with a smile and pats her belly.
An appetizing aroma floats into my nose. No way am I turning her down. “Thank you,” I say and dig in.
My mouth is full of the delicious mix of vegetables and meat in a thick tomato sauce when footsteps sound on the stairs.
