Sun Broken (The Wild Hunt #11) - Yasmine Galenorn Page 0,57
retrofitting, they were no longer victim to the tidal vagaries of the Sound, and they were shored up with enough load-bearing walls and beams to prevent the weight of the city from caving in.
The Catacombs went down at least four or five levels—I wasn’t sure how many, to be honest, and I doubted anyone except the vampires actually knew. The lower the level, the more dangerous for those still breathing. There were other creatures in the Catacombs besides vampires, ones far more deadly.
The vamps had agreed to forbid entrance to minors, so the city officials turned the other way when it came to questionable activity. There were warning signs posted at the official entrances, warning that anyone entering the Catacombs was knowingly taking a risk and wouldn’t have any legal backing if they wanted to press charges for something that happened down there.
Raven led us to a back alley entrance near the Viaduct Market. The place looked grungy, dank and a little dangerous. There were at least a dozen streeps camped out in the alleyway, their cardboard homes made out of old appliance boxes and plastic tarps. We skirted around one man, an elderly gentleman with white hair and a long stringy beard. He coughed, then gave us a foggy glance. I saw a bottle of Nite-Ease in his hand, a cough suppressant, and my heart sank. I turned to Raven.
“Do you have a few bucks? I just have my credit card.”
Without a word, she opened her purse and handed me a ten-dollar bill.
I knelt beside the old-timer. “Here. Take this and get something to eat.”
He stared at the money, then gave me a toothless smile. “You have a good heart. So does your friend.”
“Be safe, and put that where nobody can steal it.”
As we walked off, I thought that at least it was warm. I glanced back to see the old guy shuffling toward the back door of a convenience store. Whether he bought food or booze, at least he’d have some comfort for the night.
There were a lot of homeless around—mostly human, though also some shifters. The Fae who were homeless tended to head out in the forests or they crossed over to Annwn.
Tent cities stretched along the freeways, and although the United Coalition was working on the issue, they weren’t working fast enough. Though the poor might always be with us, there were things that could be done to mitigate some of the harsh conditions, but that cost money. And the arguments about how to raise that money, and who was responsible, usually axed any actions that might be forthcoming.
“Here we are.” Raven glanced around.
Though the alley was lined with streeps, most of them paid no attention to us. Two buildings down, a small group of younger kids in their late teens were gathered around a burning barrel, warming their hands.
The building Raven had stopped in back of was a tall brick walkup. There were steps leading down below street level to a door. A bouncer leaned against the door, wearing no shirt, a pair of black tuxedo pants with red suspenders that stretched over his mammoth chest, a bowler hat, and he carried a very large cane that looked wicked enough to beat up a giant.
“Here we go. When we enter, just follow my lead.” She motioned for us to follow her down the steps to the bouncer, who held up one hand.
“They’re with me.” Raven produced a golden key from her purse. The bouncer motioned for her to move to the door, and she unlocked it. He stepped back, allowing the three of us to enter.
The club was dimly lit, and it took over the entire bottom floor of the building. There was a stage off to one side, with a couple strippers performing under one spotlight. Over beneath another light a blond woman was spanking a very large man who was crouched over her knee. He was wearing a ball-gag, a chest harness, no pants or underwear, and he was blindfolded. The blonde seemed to be enjoying her job. She was dressed in what reminded me of a baby-doll nightgown.
The bar itself was crowded. As my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting—provided mostly by battery-operated candles—I could see the leather and lace–clad patrons lining the polished mahogany counter, drinking and talking, some leisurely watching the strippers, while a few others had their eyes on the man being spanked.
I cleared my throat and gave Raven an inquisitive look.