Lethal Blow: (Succubus Hitwoman Book 2) by Eliza Hendrix (best motivational books to read TXT) 📗

He reaches for the handle, and when the door doesn’t open, he brings in his other hand and hops up and down. His face turns beet red, and a squiggly vein pops out on his left temple.

“You need help?” I ask.

“It’s… it’s jammed.”

I fight the urge to smile. I doubt it’s jammed—the guy looks like he’d strain a muscle trying to lift a twig.

He hops hard one last time, using his tail to hold him up, and a loud clicking sound fills the air. Glancing into the kitchen with his mouth wide open, he nods fast. “Okay, hurry.”

I can’t see anything behind the door; it’s pitch black. He wants me to go in there? Whatever. What choice do I have? My succubus eyes will adjust. I step inside, and he shuffles behind me. His breath is short and fast as if he finished running a marathon moments ago or suffers from a deviated septum.

Or maybe both.

To be honest, it’s irritating. I hate the sound of heavy breathing unless I’m the cause of it.

I’m tempted to tell him to shut up, but I don’t have the time. Behind us, the massive door slams shut and I flinch. I blink hard to bring my succubus eyesight into play, but it doesn’t work.

I can’t see shit.

“Where are we?” I hiss.

“Where do you want to be?”

Now he’s asking for it.

“What’s your problem?” I say. “I’m not in the mood to play mind games.”

He must sense that I’m about to deck him. I might not be able to see him, but I know where’s he’s standing and with those big ears of his, it wouldn’t be hard to get a good grip on my target.

“You’re in the Hall of Hollows,” he says like it’s some big secret.

“Is that supposed to mean something?”

“You’ve never heard of it?” he asks.

I grind my teeth so hard they squeak. Who leads someone into some weird-ass place with the assumption that they already know about it? What he should have done was explain everything to me before we set foot inside this Hall of Whatevers.

“It’s a creation ground,” he says.

“Explain faster,” I order.

“All you have to do is put forth an intention of where you want to go.”

“So basically, you’re telling me I can teleport anywhere.”

“Technically speaking, it isn’t teleportation—”

Although I can’t see him, I can picture his big teeth moving up and down over his lower lip. It might have something to do with the fact that I can hear his massive overbite.

He continues. “I heard you were looking for—”

Impatient, I wave a hand in the air, and although I can’t even see my hand, the sound of my jacket chafing must have been enough to shut him up.

“I know who I’m looking for,” I say. “How do I do this? Do I picture finding her and click my shoes together three times?”

“Why would you click—” he tries.

Rolling my eyes, I let out a sharp breath. “Give me instructions.”

When he doesn’t respond, I snap, “Now!”

He lets out a squeal so high-pitched I reach for my ears. “Dude, what the fuck was that?”

“S-s-sorry,” he says. “You startled me.”

Instead of saying anything this time, I shut my mouth and wait for his instructions. At the moment, he’s my one option for finding this Devania lady. The last thing I want to do is scare him away.

“With your mind, put out your intention,” he says. “Imagine where you want to be, or why you want to be there. If the Hall of Hollows thinks you’re worthy enough to continue, it’ll guide you.”

I’m about to make some smart-ass remark about it being impossible for space to think, but by now, I know that anything in this universe, and every other-dimensional version of it, is possible.

So instead, I close my eyes and my mind strays toward me kissing Veerka’s bare chest, her hips, her thigh—

Shit.

Clearing my throat, I try to think about how I’ll find my way back to Veerka. She told me to find a woman named Devania Arkis, and that this woman would be the one to help us fight the battle against vampire corruption. And the only way for me to get Veerka back is to ensure Lucius loses his reign, hence why I’m going through with this mission. The problem is I don’t know what this lady looks like, or where she might be, but what I know most of all is that I need to find her.

The blackness around me turns into a bright white light, and I turn in time to see Peter smiling up at me, his slimy front teeth looking even more yellow than I remembered underneath this blinding light.

“Good luck with the trial,” he says.

“Trial? What the f—” I don’t have time to finish. At once, the light disappears, and I’m standing in what looks like an abandoned warehouse.

I turn toward Peter again, but he’s gone.

Great. Fucking great.

“Yeah, right there,” someone says.

I swing the other way but realize this warehouse-looking place is full of people. Most of them look like witches from centuries ago—pointed hats, long suede cloaks, staffs, and spell books under their noses.

What’s going on? I intended to find Devania—the leader of the underground rebellion. Why are there witches here? And fae? I assumed the rebellion would be made up of vampires. Maybe I have this all wrong. I’m assuming Devania is a vampire, when she might be something else entirely.

I wish I could teleport back to where I was and strangle Peter for giving me such shitty instructions.

I move forward, the wooden floorboards under my feet creaking, and observe everyone around me. They’re all hunched over old-looking tables like they’re playing scratch cards. Why are they so focused? Two young witches with