Bound to Earth

27: Porpoise

My hands were shaking as I fumbled through everyone's suitcases, looking for weapons. There were none, not even a fucking butter knife. Alistar's bag, the damn fae who always had a blade on him, was empty of anything dangerous.

I couldn't carry a lamp or wooden chair throughout the forest. What else was I supposed to use? The pillows? And smother a Wendigo to death?

So, I was about to follow what was left of Malachi's scent, into wherever, with only the clothes on my back. If I had no other choice, I'd use my powers. I'd eaten another large meal before coming here, so I'd be set so long as I keep my body out of harm. Healing wounds took too much power.

I followed the faint trail of cinnamon down the halls until it abruptly stopped, in the lobby. It was if his scent had faded within the walls of the resort, leaving me standing there, pissed.

"Excuse me, Miss. Can I help you?"

I turned, startled by the receptionist. "Um, yeah. Have you seen my boyfriend? He went through here not too long ago." She had to have seen him. I've seen no one else but workers here, all day.

"I'm sorry, but a lot of people go through here." She smiled at me, completely unconcerned and emotionless. "Would you mind describing him?"

This bitch. There was no one, hasn't been for hours. "He's this huge black guy. You can't miss him."

"I'm sorry, but we have so many people walk in a day. That could be anyone." She smiled wider, her teeth shinning.

I slammed my hands on her desk, not even drawing a flinch from her. I didn't have time for this shit. "6'4, shoulder length dreadlocks, silver eyes, and super dark skin. He was wearing dark blue jeans, a gray crew neck shirt, and black sneakers."

She pretended to ponder all of the two people—me and Malachi—that have walked through this lobby, in the past hour. "Oh, I did see him." She pointed down a brightly lit corridor. "He went looking for your other boyfriends down there."

I sprinted down the hall she pointed too, not bothering to listen to what she said. My nerves lit on fire with each pounding step. The hall seemed to be endless, carving down into the mountain in a series of twists. The building didn't appear to extend this far into the forest from the outside.

Too soon, it seemed, when I could see the end of the corridor. A solid, dark wooden door stood out from the rest of the resort. Its wood was old and splintered, the light brown tan-lines peaking through like thousands of tiny needles.

The door was locked, only adding to my frustration. "Shit." I turned, looking for anything to lead me to my mates, my nose barely picking up on a mix of scents.

"I'm sorry, Miss, but that area is highly restricted." The receptionist stood a few meters away. Her hands clasped in front of her, that same emotionless smile plastered to her face.

"Fuck." I jumped at the sound of her voice. "Sorry, I'll get going."

She didn't move, or even shift her gaze to me, as I walked past her. Her hand snatched out, catching my wrist. The creepy bitch slowly turned her head, her gaze finally focusing on me. "I'm sorry, but I can't let you go down there either."

I pulled at my wrist, completely uncomfortable with the situation. I was five seconds away from panicking. "I need to make a phone call. I have family expecting to hear from me."

She clicked her tongue, no other part of her body moving, including her finger around my wrist. "I can take care of that for you. All you have to do is come with me. We can reunite you with your family."

There was clearly no we, only me and her in this corridor. She was a psychotic serial killer, clearly suffering from some form of schizophrenia, and I'd fallen into her trap.