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“Actually…” An idea pops into my head that I can’t ignore. I wait until I have his full attention before finishing my sentence. “If you’re going to take me to my first club, I want to go to Underworld.”
Xavier’s jaw falls slack, and Parker glances sharply at me in the rearview mirror.
“Underworld?” Xavier hoots in amusement. “Girl, you’ve got a lot more spunk than I gave you credit for.” He smiles at me again, but this time it’s patronizing. “Baby, you are way too sweet for a place like Underworld. Hell,I’mway too sweet for that club.”
“It’s not so bad,” I insist. “A guy who comes into the garage I work at goes there all the time. He says it’s intense.”
“Nora, Underworld is dangerous. Crazy shit happens there. Unexplainable shit. They say it’s cursed.”
“Rumors.” I roll my eyes, faking a confidence I don’t feel. I don’t doubt the place is cursed, considering the creatures that run it and have their fun within its walls. Neither of the guys in this car knows what kind of true monsters frequent that nightmarish place. They believe humans are the only intelligent beings in this world. They believe we’re the most dangerous things out there. They’re wrong. I learned that for myself when I was only six. Since then, my awareness had grown thanks to the message boards and people like SorcererX.
X told me that Underworld is the central hub for the supernatural community in Detroit. Humans stupid enough to go there usually end up being some monster’s prey. With my gift, I’ll have a chance at getting out unscathed, but Xavier won’t. At least, that’s what I’m hoping for. Maybe it’s a cruel fate, but it’s no worse than the plans he has for me. “Are youscared, Xavier?” I taunt, hoping he won’t be able to refuse.
Parker finally speaks up. “Aren’t you?”
He pins me with an intense look that I can’t decipher. I don’t like the way he’s staring. I’ve made him suspicious, and it’s never good to have someone curious about me. There’s too much I can’t explain. Too much I can’t hide. I try to look impassive as I lift a shoulder and let it drop. “Not really.” Glancing at Xavier, I mutter under my breath, “Underworld is no more dangerous than my present company.”
In the rearview mirror, Parker’s eyes narrow and slide from me to Xavier for a brief moment, as if he heard exactly what I said and understands my meaning. He eventually returns his focus back to the road.
Xavier shakes his head. “All right, fine, but I’ll have to call a friend to help us get in.”
I frown at the thought that Xavier knows someone who could get us into Underworld. He even sounds like he’s been there before. Humans can’t get into Underworld on their own very easily—I was banking on my gifts to help us get in. I don’t like that Xavier hangs out with monsters who could grant him access to Underworld, whether he knows what they are or not.
Xavier misinterprets my frown to be confusion. “They’re really selective about who can enter,” he explains. “Without a regular with us, we’re not nearly pierced, tatted, or scarred enough to get in. Not to mention, you aren’t dressed slutty enough.”
“I can get us in.” Parker’s low voice is confident.
“For real?” Xavier asks. “I knew I liked you. Are you a regular there? Or a VIP?”
Parker ignores Xavier and meets my gaze. “If you’re absolutely certain you want to go there. Xavier isn’t wrong about Underworld’s reputation. Itisdangerous.”
I’m curious how Parker knows this. He seems to have firsthand experience with the place—which in itself is frightening—but since it’s what I want, I don’t press the matter. The thought of going there scares the hell out of me; no one knows exactly how dangerous that place is better than I do. I don’t want to have anything to do with underworlders, but the enemy of my enemy is my ally, so I steel my resolve and meet Parker’s solemn eyes with determination. “Yes. I’m sure I want to go there.”
He holds his stare a moment longer and then nods. “You’re the birthday girl.”
