I ignore the stinging in my chest at the thought of him.
Before I head downstairs, I wander around my new room for a little longer.
The bathroom is modest, but has all the necessities. Even functioning water. The large copper tub is inviting. My Yursus studio doesn’t have a tub. Last time I had a bath was with Daegel at his estate with his hands all?—
Stop it, gods damn it.
After inspecting every corner of the room, I head downstairs. The main room is empty, but one of the doors is left ajar. Voices come from that room. I follow them.
I’m surprised to find a small home tattoo studio. It’s a bare room, with only a tall padded wooden bench in the middle anda small table next to it. On top of it lies a naked girl on her stomach. The one I met earlier, Hojo.
Vera is leaning over her back, a large metal needle with a wooden handle in her hand. The part of Hojo’s back Vera is tattooing is scarred, the flesh rough and uneven. Similar to mine.
There are two more people in the room, but all of them have their backs to me so they don’t notice me immediately.
“Glad to see you’re making it official.” A tall, broad-shouldered fae is leaning against one of the walls. Every inch of his skin is covered in tattoos. Even his bald head. My stomach sinks when I notice a few red-ink tattoos. “It’s about time. I was starting to think you got cold feet, Dollface.”
A blond fae standing next to the tattoo bench looks at him. “We’ve been training for two years. I’ve never been more serious about anything else in my life.”
The tattooed guy chuckles. “Relax, Dollface. I’m just teasing.”
Vera clicks her tongue. “Tanaka, Bart, enough of this bickering.” She straightens her back and looks up. Our eyes meet. “Oh, Phoenix. There you are.”
Bart and Tanaka turn to look at me. They both greet me the proper way, but Bart does it much more lightheartedly than Tanaka. I can’t stop staring at the red ink on Bart’s skin. He notices, but says nothing.
“What do we have here, huh?” Another girl enters the room. Human. Her hair is white as snow, and her eyes…they’re red. “You’re the infamous Ezkai Phoenix? I’m Hel. Honor to meet you.”
She greets me proper way, too. I’m stunned to see another human. Let alone a human who’s a Caetra.
“Phoenix, this is my crew. My apprentices,” Vera says. “They all live and work here with me. We’re a big happy family.”
“Pleasure to meet you all,” I say.
“Oh, the pleasure is all ours,” says Bart, cocking his head to the side. “You’re much thinner than I expected. And taller. Huh.”
I blink at him. “Sorry to disappoint?”
He barks a laugh at that. Vera returns to tattooing Hojo. Three pairs of curious eyes are on me. I’m so used to being stared at in Ekios that I don’t mind anymore.
I watch Vera work. “So, are Caetras tattoo artists, too?”
Vera’s hand is steady. She’s slow and precise when she draws lines on the skin.
“No. It’s not my craft. I’m more of a hobbyist. It’s always been my passion, but never my calling.”
I jerk my chin at Bart. “Did she tattoo you?”
Bart looks over at Vera with the biggest smile on his face. “Fuck yeah. When she met me, I was almost bare as a baby’s butt.”
This time around when he notices me eyeing his Caligos ink, he says, “Ask me.”
I meet his eyes. There’s nothing but amusement there. “You’re Caligos.”
“WasCaligos,” Bart says. “Got out a long time ago.”
I narrow my eyes. “I hear that once you’re in, it’s for life.”
“That’s how it usually goes.” Bart looks at Vera. “Not everyone’s got Vera in their lives.”
