The Morrigan's Apartments

Chapter 1

Nyla

Being desperate makes you do stupid things—like accepting the keys to a supernatural apartment building called Morrigan’s Apartments.

A dark building that seems to stretch above the clouds and pierce the sky. I pray to God I’m not at the top. Amazon would raise hell delivering my packages.

I have nowhere else to go since my mother kicked me out. Her new boyfriend decided to pick multiple fights with me, and God forbid I stand up for myself and say some “out of pocket” things. But it was a pressure cooker of emotions waiting to boil over.

My mother never found love after my father disappeared.

There were men coming and going, but none ever stayed, so my life has been fatherless for as long as I can remember. I know she loved me as best as a broken woman could. But once I turned eighteen? She went on a dating spree and found Bill.

I put up with it for four solid years.

Bill knew my mother was desperate for any kind of attention and took advantage of it. She didn’t want to see it. But I did. And once I called it out... I was the one who got shoved out.

Barely any money and nothing but a suitcase of clothes. Apparently, life decided to throw me a bone because this little newspaper ad led me here.

Supernaturals were well known in this world. They mixed with us humans all the time. But this building? It made me shudder. Elegant black gates surrounded it, lined with planted red roses. A stark contrast to the darkness of the building itself.

The manager of this place called himself Elder, and he gladly accepted my application a little too eagerly. But beggars can’t be choosers, and I’d rather not sleep on the streets even if I have to put up with some supernatural nonsense.

But if someone tries to sniff me, I’m backhanding them.

I barely make it to the gates before they swing open as if they sensed me.

“Okay...” I walk through them cautiously, as if the roses might bite me. I pull out a piece of paper with my apartment number on it.

Number 666.

...Son of a bitch.

If that isn’t an omen, I don’t know what is. I might just scratch that last digit off myself and make it 66 for my peace of mind.

Please don’t let me live with a devil. I already did that once, and I cussed his ass out before stomping on his foot. I might get my blood sucked dry if I attempted that here.

I exhale heavily and walk inside. The inside of Morrigan’s Apartments is nothing like the outside. If anything... It looks like a five-star hotel. It’s not until I see the giant Naga in a tailored suit slithering by that I remember this is an apartment building for supernaturals.

The fountain in front of me is golden and flowing with a crimson liquid I’m praying isn’t blood.

White marble floors gleam beneath my worn-out sneakers, and I’m pretty sure I left a trail of dirt behind me. Crystal chandeliers overhead slowly rotate in a perfect circle. Cream and gold colors make this place look completely different from the outside.

It’s absolutely stunning. White roses decorate the tables. Art that has to be centuries old hangs on the walls. There’s even a receptionist’s desk, which confuses me since this place is advertised as an apartment building.

I walk over to the woman whose name tag says Callie.

Her hair is moving...

And when I see a tiny serpent head curl around her neck, I jump back. A squeak of terror escapes me and echoes off the walls. My heart tries to sprint for the exit, but it’s trapped between my ribs.

The big Naga was one thing. But snake hair?

Oh God... there are too many.

It isn’t until I see the look on her face that I start to feel bad.

Then she smiles at me. “Have you ever seen a Gorgon before? Don’t worry. They don’t bite unless I tell them to, and they aren’t poisonous.”

I take a few calming breaths before stepping forward again.

“Right...sorry. Frankly, I’m not well acquainted with snakes by choice.”

AKA... I can’t see one without feeling the overwhelming need to run. The Naga has a human torso. I can deal with that. But tiny snakes on your head? That’s going to take me a while to grow a backbone for.

“Oh, it’s fine. So, are you the new tenant? Nyla Gracy?”

She starts typing on her keyboard like a pro.

“Yes. Elder said I’d be in room—”

“666,” she says happily, making goosebumps rise along my neck.

Who says that number without getting freaked out?

“Yes.”

“Great! I have a couple of forms for you to fill out. Since you’re human, we have a lot of supernaturals here with abilities—or prey preferences—that could possibly endanger you. So I need your signature acknowledging that you could become prey or be taken advantage of by the abilities of the supernaturals living here in Morrigan’s Apartments. Therefore, we will not be liable for anything that happens to you within the building.”

She clicks her pen for dramatic effect.

I stare at the paper.

Then back at her.

She’s so carefree, as if nothing is wrong with what she just said.

From my point of view, this sounds like:

“Oh, by the way, we need you to sign this acknowledging that, at some point during your stay, you’ll be the only prey animal living here and could possibly die at any moment.”

That’s what I heard.

I swallow hard and take the form from her.

For some reason, this Elder guy gave me a break when I told him my situation. I gave him every dollar I had to my name.

A whole whopping five hundred dollars... and got a place to rent.

I guess things could be worse.

I sign my name on the dotted line and take a copy of the lease agreement. I know I should’ve read everything and stayed overnight to finish it, but I’m not that patient right now.

Is it something I’ll regret later?

Yup. Most definitely.

“Oh! And I’ll have to send you up to the top floor to meet Malik. He’s the manager of Morrigan’s Apartments. Elder is the owner.” She rounds the counter in pretty nude stiletto heels and a white pencil skirt that pairs perfectly with her pink blouse and golden-scaled snake hair.

Meanwhile, I’m wearing ripped jeans, a red crop top, sneakers, and my dark hair is shoved into a messy bun.

Oh yeah. We definitely clash.

I follow her to the elevator, and I don’t miss the looks from the tenants lounging nearby.

One, with dark red eyes, slowly licks over his fangs while giving me a dark smile. Another, with pointed ears, drums his claws against the armrest of his chair.

They are definitely not giving off “Let’s be friends!” vibes.

They’re giving off “I’d like to eat you” vibes.

We step into the elevator, and to my surprise, one of my favorite songs is playing.

Water, by Tyla.

Despite my situation, I find myself absentmindedly swaying from side to side.

Then I notice one of Callie’s little snakes bobbing its head to the beat.

I freeze.

It freezes.

I sway again.

It sways too.

...

Damn it. That’s cute.

I turn my attention to the button Callie presses.

Penthouse.

It feels like forever, but when the elevator doors finally open, I’m hit with pressure.

Heat. And something that makes every primal instinct inside me scream.

Run.

The hallway has only one door.

Dark red with intricate gold carvings. Ancient. Expensive and Powerful.

That’s what this feeling is.

Power and it’s dominant.

Callie presses an intercom beside the door. She clears her throat. “Mr. Malik? I have the new human tenant, Nyla Gracy, here with me. May I send her in?”

The voice that comes through the speaker is deep, lethal as sin, and has absolutely no business making my body shiver.

“Send her in.”

Callie turns to me. “Great! Just so you know, Malik is a Dragon, and he doesn’t like people touching his gold, okay? Actually... don’t touch anything. It’ll probably save your life.”

Wait...

Dragon?

Did she just say Dragon? Like the holy grail of lizards?!

Oh God.

Callie starts walking away. “Oh, wait! Do you, by chance, have a fire extinguisher!?”

“Good luck!” She shouts over her shoulder.

Great. Now I just have to pray I don’t piss off a Dragon.