Case: 0 (Annalise Storm Chronicles Book 1)

by May Freighter

  “Easier said than done!”

  “It’s either that or we won’t find Todd. Are you willing to put your case on the line because you can’t let loose?”

  She gaped at him. “I would never!”

  He grinned, taking her hand. “Then pretend you are my lover for the night.”

  Annalise couldn’t ignore the gymnastics her heart did at that thought.

  5

  Macabre

  The stretchy skirt relentlessly rode up so, for the millionth time, Annalise tugged it down. Passing through the Red District ungoverned by law made her cringe. The modded displayed their affection against buildings and in alleys dark enough even sunlight would not be able to irradiate them fully. Her mouth unhinged when she witnessed a woman kneeling in front of a short man with spiky hair. In a drunken stupor, he fumbled with his zip, and she diverted her attention elsewhere. She would never watch his weather reports again without grimacing.

  Up ahead, a bright blue and red neon sign read “Macabre club”. She ran her shaking hand through her loose black hair.

  Mavel wrapped his arm around her shoulders and bent down, saying, “It’s okay, Anna. I will take care of everything.”

  She bit her lip. This had to be her most idiotic idea ever. She was dressed like a ‘modded whore’ as her father would put it. Because of the breeze, the horripilation on her legs wouldn’t go away. Perhaps the wind was not the only problem she had. Stories of the Macabre club travelled all the way to the Golden District. Modded volunteered to participate in sexual intercourse with their clients to earn some money. During yawn-inducing socialite events, she overheard her father’s acquaintances saying the modded would fornicate on the floors or on the ceilings, if they wanted to, with the help of pirated anti-gravity technology.

  Mavel placed his hand on the small of her back and led her to the entrance. Above the entrance, a scanner activated. Blue lights ran the length of their bodies and the glass doors glided open.

  Behind a reception desk stood a woman in a black crop top and a pair of leather pants. Long platinum dreads cascaded down her back with crimson and black strings woven in them. It was hard to tell what she was as dark sunglasses covered most of her face.

  She grinned at both of them, and Annalise stilled.

  “You seem nervous. Your first time?” the receptionist asked and licked her glossy lips.

  “We just started dating, and she wanted to see the best club in the district,” Mavel said.

  The woman’s dark brow rose. “This pureblood bundle of nerves wants to party here tonight?” She smirked. “Are you sure your parents won’t be mad at you?”

  Whatever discomfort Annalise suffered earlier had vanished. Balling her hands at her sides, she glared. “Are you going to let us in or what?”

  Mavel pinched her side.

  To hold on to her surprise, she forced a smile. “I’m sorry. It’s my first time, and I don’t know what to do,” Annalise said in a sugar-sweet voice.

  The woman rested her elbows on the table. She lowered her sunglasses, revealing a pair of assessing scarlet eyes. “What are you really doing here?”

  Annalise swallowed. Seeing a single flare in one day was a rarity, but two? The odds of that were almost comical. Her brain scrambled for what she could do or say to diffuse the receptionist’s caution. Without her badge’s protective shielding against the flare’s abilities, she could be in a lot of trouble.

  Mavel let out a heaving breath, drawing the woman’s attention to him. “I didn’t want to do this, but…” He shifted closer to the desk. “I’m looking for Todd Green. He’s a good-for-nothing squanderer who owes me money. Lent him over two grand and never seen him since. And this”—he pointed to Annalise—“is my girl.” He lowered his voice. “She is a piece of work. Innocent and kind of fun to watch. Must be why I still keep her around.”

  Blushing, Annalise pretended to be interested in the holo-projection painting of a mountainside.

  “That basilisk doesn’t just owe you,” the receptionist said. “He owes us, too. His tab is reaching the limit where I’ll have to send ‘The Butcher’ to kindly help him remove a few essential organs. If you want to get your hands on him first, I can’t complain if you cover his bill first.”

  “Done,” Mavel said.

  Annalise grasped his elbow. “You can’t possibly—”

  “Don’t worry, love, I’ll still buy you some pretty gems later.”

  And I will take those gems and shove them up your… Annalise stomped her foot. She fought the urge to grab him by the ear and drag him out of there. Fuming, she watched him place his wrist comms over the scanner built into the desk.

  “I will deduct three thousand four hundred and seventy-five credits from you now. Can I have your voice confirmation?” the flare asked.

  “I confirm,” Mavel replied.

  Annalise covered her gasp. That amount was nearly four months’ salary for a servant. He was insane to hand over such an excessive sum to this place without confirming a refund with their Chief.

  The transaction completed, and the flare grinned. “Please proceed to the left.” As she said it, a mirror turned into a glass door, revealing a hallway. The lights on the floor lit like a runway. “And, I’ve included a bonus. Since you’re new here, you get room 201 for free for an hour.”

  “We are only looking today,” Mavel added.

  She winked. “Don’t worry, your girl will be ready for you in less than five.”

  Annalise frowned and proceeded inside, not wanting to spend another moment there. If she had her badge, she would be able to search for Todd without Mavel spending almost four thousand credits. Then again, if she did, she would be old news in this district.

  As they advanced further into the corridor, her breathing grew laboured and strange heat spread throughout her body, tickling her insides. Breaths became pants, and she sought out the support of the nearest wall.

  Mavel caught her and electricity shot through her.

  “Are you alright, Anna?” he whispered, worry filling his voice.

  She swatted at him, but he didn’t let go. “What’s wrong with me?”

  He lifted her into his arms. The warmth of his breath on her neck began driving her insane. Annalise stifled a moan when he adjusted his hold, and they entered their assigned room.

  “You need to stay here. The flare must have stimulated your sex drive,” he said, seating her on the mattress.

  His arms began retreating, and she grasped them, digging her nails into his forearms. It was as if her lifeline was disappearing. She couldn’t let him abandon her.

  “Don’t go…”

  With each passing second, her body became harder to control. The only thing she could think of was climbing on top of him and taking off the pesky clothes he wore. Her hand glided along his arm to his biceps, and she bit her lip.

  Mavel grasped her shoulders, forcing another moan out of her. “Listen to me. Anna!”

  His lips moved in a tantalising manner, keeping her attention and demanding to be kissed. Annalise closed her eyes, seeing images of his mouth on her. Her neck tingled as she visualised him sucking on it and trailing his tongue along her vulnerable throat.

  “Kiss me…” She stole a peek at his distraught expression with hooded eyes.

  “I have to go or you will regret this for the rest of your life!”

  Annalise shook her head. She was too far gone with the need to have him and become one. But, he wasn’t doing anything to help her!

  A frustrated grunt escaped her. She jumped on him and encircled her legs around his waist.

  Mavel tried to peel her off, but she clung to his neck and drew him in for a kiss.

  When their lips locked, he let out a groan. She didn’t know if he was enjoying it or not. She no longer cared. Stars exploded in her mind. His tongue entered her mouth, she was ready to give him anything and everything he wanted.

  While his large hands roamed her back, Mavel’s hot breath mingled with
hers.

  “Damn it, Anna. This isn’t right,” he said, tearing her off him.

  She landed on the mattress and bounced on the spot. Her body screamed at the sudden loss of contact. She grabbed him once more. The fire in her burned brighter, making her feel like she was at the epicentre of an erupting volcano. She glanced at her attire. Her clothes were in the way. She needed to take them off.

  Mavel grasped her face and held it a few inches away from his. “Fight it! You have to fight the drive or it will make you do something you don’t want to do.”

  Annalise frowned. Why was he still talking and not taking off his clothes? Isn’t it hot in here? Didn’t he say I was his lover? And, why were his damned clothes still on?

  “Please…touch me.” Once the soft words left her lips, he jerked his hands back as if she had burned him.

  “Anna, fuck! You don’t know how hard this is for me,” he snapped. “I’m going to leave, I have to or—”

  The thought of him departing made her launch off the bed and wrap her arms around his waist.

  “This isn’t the time for this,” he said in a cracking voice. “We have a case to get on with. Remember work?”

  She groaned. Why is he going on about work when all I want is right in front of me? Her hand slipped under his tank top, and she stroked his chest, enjoying the smoothness of his taut skin.

  “You are not blaming me for this afterwards, you hear me?” he growled, his silver eyes reflecting the pink lights in the room.

  He lifted her and carried her to the bed where he settled above her. His hot lips pressed against hers, and she moaned as his hand slipped between the folds of her top. Mavel’s hair fell forwards. His loose locks tickled her cheeks when he moved his head to deepen their kiss.

  Annalise’s mind grew blank, and she revelled in everything he did to her. Every time his fingers brushed her breasts, her breath hitched. His heavy, warm body felt like a protective shield that would keep her safe from the world beyond. No more parents and their expectations. No more detectives who see her as someone lesser than them.

  One moment he was on top, and the next he was lying beside her. Mavel kept their lips sealed and snaked his arm across her stomach. His fingers glided downwards, brushed the skirt that was now around her waist, and travelled to her thighs.

  He parted her legs, and her panic rid her of any arousal she had. Her eyes flew open. She pushed at him until his hand retreated, and he shifted away.

  “Mavel, I—” she whispered.

  Without another word, he marched out of the room.

  The haze in her head cleared and her heartbeat stabilised. Never in her entire life had she forced him to do anything like this. Servants had to obey their owner’s commands. They either did so or lost the contract and became workers. With a breach on record, there was no possible way of getting another contract initiated.

  “Mavel!”

  His eyes remained focused on the purple carpet as he stuck his head back in the room. “Get your clothes sorted out, Annalise. We have to find Todd.”

  Dumbfounded, she stared at the closing door. After being together for almost two decades, she lost one of her best friends because she couldn’t control her urges. Fighting the tears, she clambered off the mattress and rearranged her dishevelled outfit. No wonder he didn’t want to look at her. She was fully on display.

  Annalise swiped at the single tear and squared her shoulders. The case depends on my ability to think clearly. I just have to apologise to Mavel and try to make it up to him…

  She found him with his arms crossed over his chest in the hallway. He rested his back against the wall.

  Taking a long breath, she approached him. “I’m sorry.”

  “We don’t have time for that. Let’s get on with it.” His cold tone made her heart sink.

  Mavel headed further into the club. Following him, she passed numerous corridors branching off the main one with more numbered doors. When the lights along the floor ended, they came to an archway. Loud neo-punk music blasted through the speakers, and she contemplated closing her ears to combat the distasteful noise.

  “Is he in there?” she shouted.

  Mavel nodded, taking her hand.

  Surprise registered on her face.

  “I don’t want us to get separated,” he explained and led her into the crowd of dancing people.

  She bumped shoulders with a couple of dancers, but they didn’t seem to notice or care for her apologies.

  Mavel yanked her forwards, making her slam into his side. “Stay close.”

  Annalise rubbed her aching nose and shot the back of his head a glare.

  It didn’t take long for them to wade through the ocean of partygoers and reach a giant circular bar located in the middle of the dance floor. Colour-changing lights were suspended from tall pillars that supported the roof. When she studied her surroundings further, she saw two flights of twisting stairs on either side of the room, leading to the first floor, where a few more of the numbered rooms were. The only difference was that they had glass doors.

  Who would want to have intercourse in front of everyone?

  “That guy matches the description Samson gave me,” Mavel shouted in her ear and pointed to a skinny man with a sickly, green skin tone and short, sleeked-back hair. He sat on one of the hover stools at the bar with an almost empty glass of blue liquid.

  Todd swayed a little. Could they get any useful information out of a drunk?

  They approached him, and Mavel tapped the guy on the shoulder.

  When he turned his head, Todd’s face morphed into a frown. “Wha do oo want?”

  Annalise rolled her eyes, reaching for her jacket’s pocket. Her badge wasn’t there, and she groaned. “We need to have a little chat with you.”

  Todd’s cracked lips stretched into a smile. “For oo, sweet ‘icks, I ‘ill be ‘eady in doo.” He lifted his hands, showing her two fingers.

  Mavel grasped the collar of his shirt. “You will not touch her. Now, let’s go find somewhere quiet.” He jerked the protesting man off the stool and dragged him through the crowd to the rear emergency exit marked by a bright green downwards arrow.

  Annalise pushed through the swarm of swaying bodies. This time, she stumbled since Mavel wasn’t there to be her shield. Someone pinched her ass, and she let out a yelp. When she whipped her head around, she couldn’t tell who the culprit was. Instead of pursuing the matter of sexual harassment, she chose to ignore it and waded through the remaining crowd to where Mavel pressed Todd against the wall.

  “Let’s go out for a breath of fresh air,” Mavel said.

  “I ‘ont ‘onna go! I ‘onna stay!” Todd screamed, flailing.

  Ignoring his protests, her partner ushered Todd, none too gently, out of the club.

  6

  Basilisk

  Mavel escorted Todd by the neck to the outskirts of the Red District. On the way, he borrowed—which was what she was going to write in her report—a thermal can of ice water from a bystander.

  They came to a stop in an alleyway between two abandoned buildings. From the shadows they hid in, Annalise could see the entrance to the rest of the slums. If anything happened, they could get out fast, find their car, and return to Silver.

  Mavel helped Todd sit on the ground and poured the chilled contents over his head.

  “What’s wrong with you?” the man screamed, swinging his arms around in a feeble attempt to block the flow of water. Todd’s drunken stupor was replaced with annoyance as he peeled his drenched shirt off his chest.

  Annalise took a step forwards. She activated the recording function on her wrist comms. “Todd Green, we are with the HPD. We need to ask you a few questions about Robert Fern.”

  He glowered. “Never heard of him.”

  “That’s not what your co-workers said,” Mavel interjected.

  “Well, that’s what I’m telling you. Go bother someone else with these pointless inquiries,” Todd replied, attempting to climb to his f
eet.

  Mavel grasped his shoulder, forcing him back down. “I’m not in the mood for an off-record interrogation, but if I must—”

  “Mavel!” Annalise said in mock warning. He was trying to intimidate the guy, and with the way Todd’s eyes bulged out of his skull, it was working. “We can’t possibly go through such an ordeal again. What will the Chief say?”

  After adjusting his hold on the man, Mavel bent down so they faced one another. “Tell us what you know or I’ll beat—”

  She deactivated her comms. If this recording was ever played back, it would send Mavel to the incineration chamber, and she would be kicked off the force.

  Todd stared at him. “I know my rights, and if you are from the HPD, I want to see my lawyer!”

  She measured him with a long stare. “What century do you think we live in? And, since when can a worker afford a lawyer?”

  “I got friends in high places.”

  “What kind of purebloods can tolerate you?” Mavel asked.

  Todd licked his lips. His tongue turned from pink to a deep green as he did so.

  “Mavel, look out!” she yelled, but it was too late. The basilisk had already bitten Mavel’s forearm.

  Her partner cursed and fell back, landing on his ass. “You have just assaulted an officer.”

  Todd shook his head. He scrambled to his feet and ran.

  She rushed to her partner’s side, automatically reaching for her gun. Just like her badge, it wasn’t there. Annalise grunted and spared her partner a look. He was already growing pale and sweat beaded on his forehead. According to statistics released by the Divinity Medical University, he had less than fifteen minutes until his heart stopped.

  “Damn,” she muttered under her breath and started chasing Todd. She picked up her pace, slowly gaining on him.

  He dove into a pitch black alley, and she nearly missed the turning. There were no lights to illuminate where he could have gone.

  Mavel’s dying. I have to do something…

  Her laboured breathing was the only noise that bounced off the brick walls. In the distance, faint music played from the clubs. They were too far out from anyone to hear them—or help them.