The Underground City (The Lily Harper Series)

  The car seemed to go from zero to sixty in only a few seconds. I watched the speedometer hike from sixty to seventy to eighty and then ninety. It gripped the road remarkably well as it took a few turns, and the scenery outside my window faded into a blur.

  “Seatbelt, nips!” Bill called out from the backseat as I heard him buckling himself in. I immediately nodded and reached for the belt, securing it across my chest and lap, just as the car came to a screeching halt and smoke wafted up from the tires. With my heart in my throat, I glanced over at Tallis to make sure he was okay, and caught him already looking at me with a smile on his face.

  “Aye, perhaps Ah will git one o’ these fer mahself,” he said with a chuckle as he ran his hands around the leather-wrapped steering wheel.

  “To drive in your forest?” Bill piped up, shaking his head. “You need a four-by, dude.” Then he started nodding vigorously. “Screw that; you know what you need? You need ta move!” Then he started rubbing his chest as if it were sore. “Dude, this frickin’ car gave me niplash.”

  The doors to the Jag suddenly opened, indicating that we’d arrived at our destination. I unbuckled myself and stood up, pulling my seat forward so Bill wouldn’t have to climb over the center console again. Then I turned around and noticed we were now parked in front of another high-rise building, surrounded by more concrete and asphalt. This part of the Underground looked exactly like the part we’d just left. Now, however, I noticed there were many more Watchers, walking back and forth, paying particular attention to us.

  Watchers looked like mummies, well, that is if someone were to unwrap a mummy from its cocoon. They didn’t have any hair and the skin on their faces looked like spaghetti. They dressed in business suits and patrolled the Underground, and were generally considered to be Alaire’s eyes.

  The moonlight overhead seemed to spotlight us as Tallis reached for my hand and pulled me up close behind him. Then we started for the building directly ahead of us. It was a good six stories high and the only lights that were on came from the very top floor.

  “Besom, dinnae show any weakness when ye meet Alaire,” Tallis whispered down to me, tucking me in tightly beside him.

  “We passed across the shadows, which subdues the heavy rain-storm.”

  – Dante’s Inferno

  EIGHT

  As to Alaire’s “headquarters,” it looked like some sort of high-end office building. When we walked through the front doors, I immediately noticed the circular interior of the building and then the floors. They looked like a checkerboard, courtesy of alternating black and white marble tiles. In the center of the room were six concrete columns that formed a circle around what I supposed was the lobby desk. The columns extended all the way up to the sixth and top floor. We continued past the lobby desk which, coincidentally, wasn’t being manned by anyone. The fluorescent lights overhead bathed the room in a strange, unnatural glow and the fake plants decorating the walkway to the bank of elevators added a level of plastic to the room. The walls in the hallway were painted blue and interrupted with white, wispy brush strokes which reminded me of clouds. I couldn’t shake the feeling that whoever was in charge of the interior design of the building clearly missed foliage and warm summer days. This was merely a cheap reproduction.

  Tallis pushed the button to call the elevator, looking completely out of place in his kilt, sporran, and “Jesus” shoes. With his sword strapped across his chest, he looked more like a Highlander birthday gram sent to some lucky lady.

  “Where the hell is everybody?” Bill asked as he glanced around and shrugged. “It’s like we just walked into the Twilight Zone or some shit.”

  Bill had a good point. We hadn’t seen one person, creature, or demon inside the building since stepping foot into it. No one was working behind the desk in the lobby, and so far, the only “people” we encountered were the Watchers who continued to patrol outside. Tallis didn’t respond and just stared straight ahead, expressionless.

  “Is this an office building?” I asked Tallis after I couldn’t stand his silence any longer. My nerves were on high alert and my heart was beating so quickly, I was afraid it might shut down from fatigue.

  “Aye,” he answered finally, his jaw so tight it looked like he might crack a molar. His eyes were narrowed and troubled as he stared straight ahead while we awaited the elevator. I almost felt like Tallis had forgotten that Bill and I were even there. His entire posture was completely rigid, which put me on edge. Whenever Tallis seemed uncomfortable about something, there was usually a very good reason for it.

  The elevator doors dinged as they opened wide and the three of us stepped inside. Tallis hit the button for the sixth floor and none of us said another word as we passed all the floors, ending on the sixth. I was too nervous and anxious to speak, and instead, just focused on the interior of the elevator, feeling strangely detached from myself. It was almost as if I were watching a movie of someone who looked like the new Lily Harper as she rode the elevator in silence, wondering what possible fate awaited her on the sixth floor. I figured that was due to the intense stress my body was experiencing.

  “Dudes, my gut’s startin’ ta feel funny,” Bill said as he frowned at me and rubbed his stomach. “It’s all rumbling like it’s cranky an’ shit.”

  “You’re probably just nervous,” I said, feeling something similar in my own stomach. I tried to smile at Bill in order to console him, but my lips were twitching with uncontrollable nervousness so I was pretty sure my smile came out as more of a wince.

  “Pro’lly right,” Bill responded as he swallowed hard and faced me again. “I guess meetin’ the head honcho of hell makes you feel all bloated almost like you got the shit sweats, ya know?”

  I just nodded, trying to ignore the “shit sweats” as well as my own unraveling sanity. I decided to ask Tallis more about the building again. “If this is an office building, how come no one is working here?” I asked. “Is it nighttime or something?”

  “’Tis always night,” he answered stonily, still facing forward and giving off the appearance of someone who didn’t want to be bothered answering silly questions. Well, I was two steps away from having a mental breakdown because I was so tense about this meeting with Alaire, so I didn’t care if Tallis didn’t want to talk to me.

  “Right,” I said as I wondered if there was a better way to phrase my question. “Well, is it past working hours right now or something?”

  “Noo one works in headquarters, lass, as Alaire has verra few visitors,” Tallis replied quickly as he turned to face me with an expression of impatience. Clearly, he was preoccupied with other things.

  “Hmm,” I said with a frown. “Then why does he have his own office at the top of the building if no one works here? That seems a little strange to me.”

  “Ye an’ yer bludy questions,” Tallis grumbled before eyeing me quickly with a discouraging frown. Facing the elevator doors again, the elevator stopped and a second or so later, it dinged, indicating that we’d reached the sixth floor. “Alaire is naethin’ boot pomp an’ circumstance, lass,” he answered hurriedly as he started forward with Bill and me following close behind him. He glanced back at me and his jaw was tighter than before. “Remember, Besom, show nae weakness.”

  I inhaled deeply without responding to his warning because I was too busy trying to calm my frantically beating heart. Taking deep breaths, I reminded myself of Tallis’s lessons, breathing in deeply for a count of five and exhaling deeply for a count of five. Amazingly enough, my breathing exercises did manage to alleviate some of the anxiety now flowing through me.

  Bill and I followed Tallis out of the elevator and down the hallway, which led to a pair of double doors painted glossy black. The hallway was about six feet wide with charcoal grey walls and black lacquered hardwood flooring. It gave the place a clean, modern sort of look. Very obviously lacking, however, was any artwork on the walls, or any windows.

  When we reached the double doors, Tallis took a breath and rapped o
n one door with his knuckles. His shoulders were so tight, they actually appeared narrower than usual. “Alaire,” he called out. His tone seemed caustic, almost abrasive.

  There wasn’t a response right away, but a few seconds later, the right door began to open on its own accord. Tallis stood up straight and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, but didn’t unsheathe it. With the other hand, he gripped my arm and pulled me closely behind him. I had the sudden desire to unsheathe my sword. So, figuring I should go with my gut instinct, I pulled my sword out. I held it with the tip facing down as I followed Tallis through the door, with Bill just behind me.

  “Ah, the Bladesmith,” a man’s voice rang out from the far side of the room as soon as we entered it. The voice was deep and slightly accented, sounding almost Scandinavian.

  “Alaire,” Tallis said without inclining his head. His tone of voice was flat; and judging by the way he was holding his shoulders, he appeared to be very uncomfortable.

  “It has been too long,” Alaire said as he stood up from his Henry Miller-looking swivel chair. He was sitting behind a large, black desk in a room that shared the same dark tones as the hallway. The walls were painted the same dark charcoal, and the only thing brightening the space was the spotlighting that was inlaid into the ceiling. Two large, black couches sat before Alaire’s desk, and just beyond them was an enormous pool table. It, too, was painted black and had black felt lining. Above the pool table hung three crystal chandeliers. But what I found most interesting were the framed prints hanging on the wall. They were images of 1940’s pin-up girls. The other three walls didn’t display any pictures because they were comprised of multiple floor-to-ceiling windows that revealed panoramic views of most of the Underground City.

  “You’re the devil?” Bill asked, in a tone of voice that echoed the doubt in my own mind. Even though Alaire obviously wasn’t the devil, he didn’t exactly look as though he were the keeper of the Underground either. He had blond hair, which was cut short, large blue eyes, tan skin, freckles on the bridge of his nose, and dimples on either side of his mouth that made him look decidedly handsome. There was a charming youthfulness about him as well, and I guessed he couldn’t be much older than thirty-five. His height was impressive (standing almost as tall as Tallis) and his body was trim and muscular, judging by the swell of his biceps when he crossed his arms over his chest. He was wearing dark black slacks and a crisp, dark grey, collared shirt that contrasted nicely with his bright hair and white teeth. The first few buttons of his collar were unbuttoned, exposing his tan skin beneath.

  “I am hardly the devil,” Alaire answered, his voice sounding amused. With another practiced smile, his gaze settled on me. “And you must be Ms. Harper,” he said the words softly as he strode up toward me and reached for my hand. As I beheld the smooth skin of his fingers, something inside me cracked. Before I even understood what I was doing, I drew my sword in a fraction of a second, resting it right at Alaire’s throat. Apparently, I had deftly perfected the art of putting my enemy “on point.” The surprised expression that registered in Alaire’s eyes was priceless.

  “What the hell, Lily!” Bill railed out at me, his tone revealing his shock. “You’ve lost your flippin’ mind!”

  However, my attention wasn’t on Bill, but it was narrowed on Alaire as he speared me with his gaze, his mouth lifting up into a smile. His smile conveyed that he wasn’t threatened by the fact that I could run my sword him through at any minute. It was a smile that promised he had other tricks up his sleeve. I didn’t drop my sword, but continued to hold it at his throat. As smooth and handsome as this man was, he was also the embodiment of corruption and malevolence. He symbolized everything the Underground City stood for, and because of that, I hated him.

  “My, my,” he started in a low pitch as he studied me, his smile growing wider. “She is even lovelier than the preliminary reports alleged,” he started as he studied my face. “Isn’t that so, Black?” he asked Tallis, although his attention never left my face.

  When Tallis didn’t respond, I did. “I don’t know why you ordered us here,” I said, in an acidic tone. I was surprised by my own courage and rather proud of myself, even though I was well aware that this moment could be my last. I was pretty sure that Alaire wasn’t accustomed to being addressed in such an impudent manner.

  He chuckled, seemingly uncaring that my blade was resting on his carotid artery. “I thought Grashnelle informed you, my beautiful lady, that I wished only to make your acquaintance.” He smiled even more broadly as he brought his hand to the blade of my sword. “As we are both civilized individuals, perhaps we can continue this dance without your sword pressed against my throat?” Without waiting for a response, he simply pushed the blade down. I allowed the tip of the sword to drop onto the floor, but wondered what Alaire’s next move would be, and whether or not I’d live through it. For all I knew, maybe he was really an uberdemon that could destroy me with no more than a glance.

  “Please don’t kill her, dude,” Bill said as he took a step forward and stuck out his lower lip, looking like he was about to cry. “She’s completely lost it, yo! Either that or she’s like channelin’ the ghost of Xena or some shit.” He glanced at me and shook his head, as if he still couldn’t believe the stunt I just pulled. “I ain’t never seen her do nothin’ like this before, man.”

  Alaire reached for my hand again, and this time was quick and firm as he took it. His eyes never left mine as he brought my hand to his face. “I have no plans to kill her,” Alaire answered Bill, although his attention remained on me. “On the contrary, I quite enjoy her … gumption.”

  “Oh,” Bill said. “Then, Lils, pretend ta slice his throat off again so’s we can get the hells outta here, for chrissake!”

  “We’ve done what you asked,” I said to Alaire between my clenched teeth.

  “Yes, you have,” he said while continuing to study me as if I were a rare painting. He brought my hand to his mouth, but instead of kissing it, just closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of my skin. A smile glossed over his lips as he did so, giving him the expression of someone high on drugs. “She smells of the ocean air and warm sunshine.” He opened his eyes and studied me. All I wanted to do was yank my hand away from him. “That is a scent I have not experienced, in … oh, a good three thousand years at the very least.”

  I gulped, unable to form another response.

  “Alaire, we’ve done yer biddin’,” Tallis suddenly piped up, apparently ill at ease with Alaire’s affectionate ministrations. Perhaps, nearly as much as I was.

  “Yes, you have, Black,” Alaire answered as he seemed to gather his senses about him again. Dropping my hand, he turned to face Tallis.

  “Then we will be oan our way,” Tallis finished, eyeing Alaire narrowly.

  “Tallis Black, is that any way to treat an old friend?” Alaire asked with a counterfeit smile.

  “Ye are nae friend o’ mine,” Tallis responded as he folded his gargantuan arms across his chest and frowned.

  “Perhaps not now, but you and I share a similar past, one which you cannot deny,” Alaire continued as he approached the pool table and pulled a cue stick off the wall. He picked up the cue chalk, which was sitting on the edge of the pool table, and chalked the tip of his cue, the blue chalk powdering into a small pile of debris between his feet. “Much though you do not wish to admit it, Black, you and I are cut from the same cloth.”

  “You and the Yeti know each other?” Bill demanded, his face contorting into a confused frown.

  Alaire faced Tallis and chuckled. “Yeti?” Then he cocked his head to the side and nodded. “Original.” He put the cue chalk down and faced Tallis again. “One game of billiards, old friend, and you and your comrades can proceed on your way.”

  “Ah dinnae care ta play with ye,” Tallis responded, shaking his head as he eyed me with what appeared to be intense concern.

  Alaire nodded and faced me. “Perhaps you, Ms. Harper, would care to join me then, in lieu of
your fellow traveler?”

  Tallis took a few steps forward and gripped one of the cue sticks from the wall, apparently wanting to play more than he wanted me to. “One game,” he announced tersely.

  Alaire simply nodded, his attention still riveted on me. “I must admit, Ms. Harper, that I am curious as to the nature of your … acquaintanceship with the so-called Yeti.”

  “’Tis none o’ yer business,” Tallis piped up.

  But Alaire didn’t drop his gaze from my face. Instead, he pretended like he didn’t hear Tallis. “Please enlighten me, Ms. Harper. Is the Bladesmith your guardian? Or perhaps … your lover?”

  I swallowed hard and didn’t respond because I didn’t know what Tallis expected me to say. Well, referring to the guardian part, that is.

  “Aye, Ah’m the guardian o’ the lass,” Tallis announced firmly.

  Alaire shook his head, but the smug smile didn’t vanish from his mouth. “Hmm, based on your reaction, Ms. Harper, I do not know if such is truly the case.” Then he inhaled for a few counts. “Of course, I was merely teasing you about the lover bit.” The smile dropped right off his face then. “I could sense that your pristine innocence is still very much intact.”

  My stomach felt like it dropped to the floor; and suddenly, I became unnaturally self-conscious. Alaire chuckled, apparently at my clumsy silence, and then smiled at me again. “Although I do find it interesting that an innocent, such as yourself, is able to breathe the tainted air of my city without experiencing a very … uncomfortable death?” He narrowed his eyes as he studied me. “I can only hypothesize that you must have contaminated yourself with the blood of one who is not quite so innocent?” Then he glanced at Tallis before his eyes found mine again. I chose not to respond and, with a shrug, Alaire refocused on Tallis. “Why don’t you break, Bladesmith?”