“Oh, Girl!” Steve starts. “Don’t even get me started! Your hair is a little dark for that style, honestly. I’d go with a much more modest caramel balayage to match the warm tones of your skin! Like, you would look totally fantastic! Want me to explain?—”
“No,” Locke growls. “I’ll tell her later. Please. I can’t stand anymore talks about hair.”
Steve sniffs. “That’s why your hair is so choppy.”
Locke shoots the Ophanim a glare and storms away toward the food area.
I glance at Stevie. “I bet you’d have amazing hair if you had any.”
“I know, right?” he says, and does a little shimmy in the air. “See? You get me. Soul sisters!”
I laugh and follow after Locke, picking from the small plates and snacks offered. In the Velvet Underhall, there isn’t a restaurant. It’s more of a table laid out with a bunch of food options, most of them small enough to pick up with two fingers. I’m not going to lie. I destroy the food I manage to get, especially the little dishes called deviled eggs and the finger sandwiches. Thankfully, I no longer get sick from eating too much. My body has adjusted by this point and I can eat until I’m so full, I feel like I have to be rolled out of the speakeasy. Locke and I avoid any of the mysterious liquor altogether, both deciding we should head to the next section and continue trying to level up. I still need plenty of XP. Until I’m a Tier Two, I’ll continue to be a risk, especially now that Locke has leveled up. I flip open my stats.
TIER 1 – SCAVENGER’S BOND
Wastrel, entry-level
STRENGTH: 10
AGILITY: 11
VITALITY: 10
WILLPOWER: 11
CHARISMA: 10
LUCK: 10
BOND LIMIT: 1
BOND STRENGTH: 30%
CORRUPTION: 5%
CURRENT XP: 602
CURRENT MANA LEVEL: 10/10
CURRENT TITLE: Female Rage Incarnate
I need one thousand XP to level up to a Tier Two. I have half the Harrow Coins needed and a few of the animal byproducts, but I need three more of those and one more Shard. The grind is really starting to wear on me. How the fuck did Locke manage to level up during the yeti when Cipher had been clearly not giving him XP? Something must have changed. Or maybe that boss fight was just more intense. It certainlyfeltintense. I was certain we were both going to die in that snow. I’d even prepared myself for it until we’d triggered Stevie’s Guardian Angel buff.
Once we finish stuffing our face with foods, we both decide we should head for the first Minor Boss. There isn’t one in this zone of New Babel, so we’re forced to go over to the next. The moment we step out of the darkness of the Velvet Underhall into the sunlight, I squint around for any sign of Havoc.
Nothing.
The street is busy like usual, but people aren’t as thick as they were at night. I’m able to see through the crowd right now, enough to look for any sign of Havoc’s dark hair or the large sword he carries on his back.
“What are you looking for?” Locke asks as he steps off to the side.
“Oh,” I say, realizing I hadn’t clued Locke in on my plan.
“I invited Havoc to come with us,” I admit. “I thought he could be helpful.”
Locke raises his brows, like he’s going to question my decision, but then he makes a face and nods. “He’s a Tier Three. That’s a good call. We could really use some more help.”
Surprised, I eye him closely. “You’re not mad at me?”
