Collected: A Coveted Novella by Madison Shawntelle

Author:Madison, Shawntelle [Madison, Shawntelle]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-09-30T07:00:00+00:00

As we drove toward the plant, my mind drifted to thinking about my ex-boyfriend, Thorn. What would he think if he saw me like this? Manipulating my brother and two other guys to get some new antiques for my collection? Teetering on the edge of eternal slavery with a vodyanoy?

Pain sliced across my forehead. A tension headache threatened to overwhelm me.

Had I fallen so far that I needed these things, these trinkets? That I was willing to risk myself and my friends to add to my collection? But there was no backing out now with the malevolent water spirit’s threat. And I hated to deny it, but the very thought of holding that nutcracker made my palms warm and placed a happy grin on my face. I’d waited years for something like this. I could buy another figurine online, but the same one wouldn’t be as old and in such pristine condition. People didn’t take good care of their valuables anymore. I was doing a service for collectors everywhere by taking good care of the antiques I found.

I nodded to reassure myself. It was that easy on most days. Maybe not so easy tonight.

Less than an hour later, after a quick stop for gas and a camera memory card, we pulled up to the factory. A single checkpoint was all that stood between us and the parking lot. Using Stan’s ID badge, Alex got us inside. The gate had been open a few hours ago when I’d shown up, but now that it was evening, the night shift had to scan to get in.

All those security lights I’d seen earlier were now glowing, bathing the forest around us with light. The parking lot wasn’t as full, but there were enough cars here to help us blend in.

“You got any ideas on what we do next?” Alex asked.

“The display is in the administrative building,” I said.

The factory continued to rumble with life, but the bottom floor of the attached administrative building appeared dark, locked, and quiet. No one could just saunter in and take pictures.

“Does the factory have any back hallways into the administrative building?” I peered over my shoulder to ask Stan.

“Two of them. One is the main hallway, where payroll gives checks. I’ve heard others say there is another one, but I haven’t been able to see it. Most likely hidden by them leprechauns. They’re sneaky fuckers, but they pay good.”

With the cash from their pot of gold, of course.

I said, “When I went in earlier today, I could see through their magic.”

“You’ve seen them?” Stan jumped out of the back and leaned on Miles’ window. “I haven’t seen them before. Just smelled ‘em.”

Alex sighed. “This whole place smells like chemicals. I don’t smell a damn thing.”

“You’d have to work here for a while. There are a couple of packs with folks here. When they come round, some of them stink of leprechauns.”

My nose wrinkled. Did people smell goblin on me from my job? Was that smell under my skin? ‘Cause I sure didn’t notice it.

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