#Chapter 10 – Ghost in the Hall

Damon The moment I stepped into the hall, the scents of perfume, nervous sweat, and lingering anticipation assaulted my senses. The masked women stood in perfect rows, their bodies tense as they waited for my approach. Zane stirred within me, restless, searching. Then, it hit me. A scent unlike the others reached me. It wasn’t the overpowering floral notes many of these women had drenched themselves in. No, this was different. It was unpolished, unaltered. Like the first breath of air after a storm. It was faint and wholly intoxicating. Rain-soaked earth mixed with jasmine and sandalwood. I found myself moving before I had even made a conscious decision, following the scent to its source. Zane rumbled with approval. That one, he urged. She smells perfect. Choose her. I stopped behind the woman. She stood still, her masked face turned slightly as if sensing my presence. The dim lighting of the hall cast shadows along the curve of her neck, along her arm. “What hap