Chapter 18

A gloomy pall hung over the inside of what had once been a video arcade. Black candles, many burned down to little more than stubs, guttered out a smoky glow. The plate glass windows at the front of the main room were so covered with graffiti that little light passed through them at all. The smell of cloyingly sweet incense hung heavy in the air. Lolling about on putrid bits of mismatched furniture were dozens of dark shapes that occasionally moved, but for the most part, lay still as death. Occasionally, a form would move into the available light, more than likely, a Goth street kid was what appeared out of the gloom.

Fighting not to cough, Erin took delicate steps in an effort not to trip over anything on the floor. Not so, Mordrant’s flunkies, who kicked out at anything that got in their way, be it moving or not. Jenny and Anna followed silently in her wake. Eyes wide with fear, Erin fought to hang onto both her dignity and the contents of her stomach.

Mordrant lounged languidly on what Erin supposed to be a throne. Whatever it was, it was covered in animal hides that smelled all the way across the room. Or maybe it was simply the room that smelled so rank. Either way, the assault on her senses was almost overwhelming.

“Your Highness, your Queen awaits” said one of the flunkies with just enough sneer in his voice to set the horde of street kids shrieking with laughter. As the laughter reached a nerve-jangling crescendo, Mordrant finally moved. For the most part, the laughter stopped, although one of the less with-it in the room continued until someone thumped him into a gurgling silence.