***
A cold blast hit me, sending goose bumps down my back and arms. Flying over to Tonbo’s main office building had cooled me down considerably. Now stepping into the air-conditioned skyscraper was downright bone chilling.
The first thing I noticed, once my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, was the tile floor below me. Made up of thousands of mosaic tiles, the hues ranged between jade and sky blue, the swirling patterns within reminding me of ocean waves. It was beautiful… and vaguely familiar somehow.
I shrugged and plodded after Blake, who approached a large, square receptionist desk, in the center of the vaulted lobby. Glancing up, I counted ten levels before hitting the marble ceiling. Several enormous chandeliers filled the lobby with candescent lighting. That’s why it seemed so dim when we first came in. Flying over, Mack had told me this was twenty stories high. Wonder what’s above this? Tonbo’s secret lab where he concocts his serums?
Each level up had hallways wrapping around with doors leading to heaven knew what. I’d assume offices, but being so far out of my element, I had no idea. This could be a hotel for all I knew. Since there were no railings or side walls, the floor levels up looked like balconies or flat roofs from my point of view. Dragons and damsels shot to and from levels, and once they landed, they proceeded to shuffle all businesslike to the door they needed. Wonder what the hurry is? Even though I knew they couldn’t fall, seeing them hustle along a walkway with no rails was creepy. Guess there’s no elevator here, or emergency stairs.
The sound of water gurgling caught my attention next. I glanced over to gape at a tall fountain shooting water straight up, its dancing offshoots performing a water show. All that was missing was the music. There were so many large planters filled with vegetation and towering palm trees that I wasn’t sure if the lobby was more of a Grecian palace or a tropical forest. The only thing that seemed slightly out of character was the humongous, bush-like tree filling the entire left side of the lobby. It shot up perhaps fifty or sixty feet. Dark green, tropical leaves fanned out and cantaloupe-looking fruit dotted the entire thing.
“What’s that? I thought melons only grew on the ground, not in trees,” I asked, pointing.
“That’s a breadfruit tree. Tonbo loves the stuff. Personally, I think it’s rather tasteless,” Blake answered.
Four damsels in a business suits, albeit, button-up, backless tops and short skirts, sat at each side of the receptionist area, all facing different directions of the lobby. If I hadn’t been with the guys, I wouldn’t have known which one to approach. They all had a sleek piece of metal over one ear, which was not attached to anything I could see. Are those their phones? Wonder what kind of cell reception they get here?
We drew near, and their attention turned to us. I could feel four sets of eyes bearing down on me. I shifted my weight and bit my lip.
“Tonbo heard you were coming; he’s expecting you. He’s in his study like usual, Blake,” the damsel with long, brunette hair said with a tone of familiarity. She too wore a white blouse that left her back and shoulders bare and a short, black skirt and tall heels to match. Gorgeous and sexy all wrapped up in a petite package. I couldn’t get used to all the perfect people here.
When she turned to the side, her bronze-tinted wings shimmered back at me and for a split second, I could’ve sworn I’d seen them before. I studied her face. Did I know her? Who was she?
“Thank you,” Blake said, lifting off. I followed his lead.
“Thanks, Kate,” Mack announced, and I almost choked on my tongue.
Kate? Like the Kate that’s in love with Blake? The one Blake changed? My mind buzzed with questions, and I glanced to Blake for answers. The cringe he tried to hide told me everything.
I didn’t have time to react or even say hello to the damsel, the guys were already soaring up the levels. Is it just my imagination, or is Blake suddenly in a hurry to get away?
Hidden Monster Page 40