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Nadir wove through the bustling crowd, searching for Erin amidst the sea of faces. She finally spotted her, radiant and laughing, at the heart of a group of admirers. “Erin!” she called, raising her voice above the noise.
Erin’s gaze darted around before finally landing on Nadir. Her face lit up with genuine delight as she made her way over. “Meri! I wasn’t expecting you! What brings you here?”
Nadir smiled back but couldn’t avoid the concern rumbling in the pit of her stomach. “Jackie mentioned this place, and I thought I see it for myself. Plus, I wanted to check in on you. Are you okay?”
Erin’s laughter rang like the sweetest of bells. “Oh, Meri, I’m more than okay! I feel so alive here. The energy, the people, it’s all so intoxicating.” She threw her arms wide, gesturing to the room. “I’m in my element!”
Nadir studied Erin’s face, trying to discern if her happiness was genuine or the result of the temple’s strange influence. “I’m glad you’re happy, Erin. But are you sure you’re okay? There’s something off about this place.”
Erin’s brow furrowed for a moment, and she looked away, taking in the temple's opulence. “I know what you mean. Sometimes it feels like it’s all a bit too much, but it’s also exhilarating, you know?” She met Nadir’s gaze, her eyes shining with a manic intensity. “This place has given me a sense of purpose and belonging I haven’t felt in so long.”
Before Nadir could respond, a group of people approached Erin, pulling her back into the fray. “Erin, come on! We need you for the opening ritual!” one of them called.
“Sorry, Meri. Duty calls,” Erin said with a sheepish grin before being whisked away.
Nadir watched her go, a feeling of unease settling in her chest. The energy in the temple was intense, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more sinister at play. She resolved to investigate further, hoping to uncover the source of her discomfort and the strange sensations she experienced upon entering the temple grounds.
As she moved through the crowd, her senses tingled, alert to every sound, smell, and touch. The temple was alive with the hum of conversation, the clink of glasses, and the rhythmic beat of drums from a nearby stage. Scents of fragrant flowers from the gardens wafted in through open doors, mingling with the more human aromas of sweat and perfume. She felt the press of bodies as she navigated the throng, the warmth and energy of the gathered people a palpable force.
Nadir was feeling overwhelmed when she spotted a figure lurking in the shadows near one of the many alcoves. The figure seemed out of place, their demeanor at odds with the revelry. As Nadir’s eyes adjusted, she recognized the figure as the elder daemon Ranna, whom she knew all too well. Wrapped around her head was a bright and vibrant scarf, matching the hues of her curling copper locks. The scarf covered up any hint of the elder’s small horns beneath.
Seated at a private, dimly lit table, Ranna raised a glass and toasted Nadir. A knot of anxiety tightened in Nadir’s chest, but she knew she had to confront Ranna and find out what she was doing here. Was this the danger to Erin that she’d sensed in her bones?
With a deep breath to steady herself, Nadir approached the shadowy figure. “Elder Ranna, I didn’t expect to find you here,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. She didn’t believe the elder intended her any harm, but still considered it wise to be careful with her words around someone so powerful.
Ranna turned her gaze toward Nadir, her eyes narrowing as she studied her. “Ah, Nadir,” she replied, her voice a cold, silky whisper. “Please, let’s drop the formalities. And I could say the same about you. You’re looking resplendent in your human skin tonight. Join me,” she asked, her smile revealing a glimpse of fang as she motioned to the empty chair across from her.
As Nadir sat down, she tried not to overthink the compliment coming from a daemon who used to wear her best friend’s skin as a haute couture.
“Enlighten me, my clockwork child. What brings you here?”
The tension between them was thick as Nadir weighed her options. Nadir wasn’t Ranna’s, but she didn’t think it would be smart to point that out to the Elder daemon. She knew Azimuth trusted the elder, and that Ranna was also a sworn ally of Belial’s. Nadir also couldn’t fully explain why she needed answers, except that she wanted to protect Erin, and her gut said things didn’t quite feel right.
Nadir took a chance and was honest with Ranna.
“I’m here because I’m worried about my friend,” she said, her voice firm. “I think there’s something going on in this temple and I want to understand it.”
Meri held Ranna’s gaze, determined not to back down. “Because you’re here, Ranna. And you’re not one for joining the party unless you have a reason.”
“You assume I have the answer?” Ranna’s expression shifted, a flicker of interest sparking in her eyes. “You can’t be implying that I am behind these shenanigans?”
Nadir held Ranna’s gaze, trying to get a reading on the enigmatic creature, determined not to back down. “I’m not implying anything, Ranna. I just figure you wouldn’t waste your esteemed time sitting around drinking at a human bar. You’re clever and calculating, so you wouldn’t join this party unless you have a reason.”
Ranna regarded Nadir for a moment, a predatory smile playing across her lips. “Very well. But know this, Nadir. Our conversation comes at a price. If you want answers, you’ll need to be prepared to give me something in return.”
Nadir hesitated, her instincts screaming at her not to trust Elder Ranna. But she couldn’t shake the sensation that something was wrong with Erin, with this temple, and Ranna’s presence here couldn’t be a coincidence. “I understand,” she replied, her voice barely more than a whisper. “I’m willing to take that risk.”
Ranna’s smile widened as she let out a dry, humorless sound that sent a shiver down Nadir’s spine. “I could ask you the same thing. It seems we both have our reasons for being here, don’t we?”
CHAPTER36
NADIR
Nadir took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of incense and wine before posing the question that had been burning on her mind. “Why are you here at Erin’s temple, Ranna?”
Ranna raised an eyebrow, her gaze contemplative. “You’re brash, but it amuses me, young one. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure why I came here. But I seem to have an innate ability to be in the right place at the right time. A nose for trouble, you might say.” The faintest trace of a knowing smile played at the corners of her mouth, her lips an alluring shade of deep red. “I suspect you do as well.”
Nadir frowned, her mind racing as she considered the implications of Ranna’s words. The sound of laughter and music filled her ears, but her focus remained on the Elder daemon. “I seem to,” she agreed. “Frankly, I’m surprised you’re not chastising me for mixing with the god-touched.”
