Misfortune Market: A HASEA CHRONICLES STORY (BOOK 1.5) Read Online Free PDF Page B

the Victorian era, but there it was – alive and well.
    “This is worse than I could have imagined,” whispered Scarlett, her face drawn back in a mask of horror. I had to agree. It’s one thing to hear the stories about Misfortune Market. It’s another thing entirely to experience it.  
    It didn’t take much longer before we found what we were looking for.
    A large stage covered the entire back area of the cavernous room. It was an arrogant structure of mismatched wood and metal that seemed to impose on its surroundings, making them yawn outwards to accommodate. The back section was closed off by a set of ivory curtains similar to the drape that had covered the entrance to the market. A wonky pedestal had been set up near the front, and standing behind it was a bizarre figure.
    The man wore a flamboyant purple suit with gold trims and a matching tophat, ringed by a number of feathers. His face was hidden behind a mask that resembled a china doll – but covered in cracks and with what looked like real teeth, which were drawn back into a macabre smile. He was holding a white cane in one hand and a grubby journal in the other, which he was studying with great interest. The way he moved across the stage showed an air of arrogance and unchecked self-importance. It was quite clear who the man was.
    The Overseer.
    Several guards surrounded the Overseer, helping to set up the stage in preparation for the beginning of the auction. They were a mix of species – mainly Oni and Skinshifters using bulky imprints. However, the guard that drew the most attention stood like a statue next to his leader – not a single muscle moving, apart from the steady rise and fall of its dark chest.
    A Devil.
    The creature worse no mask, and I could see that its exposed goat-like face was pitted with scars that shone pink against its black fur. Its horns were decorated with beads and dangling adornments and it wore a nothing but a once white loincloth, which was now stained with dried blood and dirt. Two bone blades were fixed to a single leather belt tied around its waist.
    “That must be Zaris,” whispered Gabriella.
    “A Devil? We’ll that’s ah day ruined,” said Delagio.
    “A particularly nasty one too by the looks of things,” I added.
    Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Scarlett doing something odd. I turned and saw that she was leaning forward, her silver eyes narrowed and nose wrinkled.
    “What’s wrong?” I asked.
    “The Overseer’s scent,” she whispered. “There’s something…familiar about it.”
    Gabriella frowned at her. “Do you know him?”
    Scarlett closed her eyes and breathed in deeper. “I don’t know. Maybe. There’s so many overpowering scents in here it’s hard to focus on just one. I think I’ve at least been in the same room as him at some point. Maybe a long time ago.”
    “He’s a Vampire then?”
    She nodded. “Most definitely. His scent is a Bloodling’s.”
    Gabriella clicked her tongue. “That’s not good. If he catches your scent too, then he might see through the belt’s magic. If he knows who you are and makes you, we are screwed.”
    “Agreed. Do you want me to leave?” Scarlett asked.
    Gabriella paused for a moment. “No, we need every Guardian we can get. There must be something else we can do to help us blend in more.” She looked around her, eyes narrowed and searching. “There.”
    I followed her gaze and saw a stall not too far away, where a twitchy Trollite was selling a number of old masks and overalls like the ones that everyone around us wore. Without another word we all walked over to the stand. The Trollite looked up at us through his oversized features – his disproportionate eyes glistening with a layer of mucous and his guitar pick teeth twisting and pressing for space inside a mouth that filled half of his crooked face.
    “Buy?” he asked, his tongue slipping around his mouth like an agitated snake.
    “How much for five masks and five overalls?”