Isis turned her attention back to where Jade was talking to the tiger. The large orange tiger approached her, looking her up and down. He then moved over to Alex and repeated the same cursory glance.
“She’s expecting us,” Jade explained. “Last time I checked, Alpha wasn’t fond of waiting.”
The tiger looked back at her and snarled, but trotted back to his spot at the door. Jade nodded to the other three and opened the door. The moment the door was open, hard rock music blasted out. Isis cringed at the sudden assault of sound, reluctantly allowing her cousin to pull her inside. They were immediately engulfed in darkness and Isis had to blink a few times before her eyes adjusted to the dim blue lighting. Jade led them over to what used to be a front desk. Two identical women, dressed in red bellhop uniforms, stood behind the desk. The dark blue light made their skin look almost green and their hair was jet black.
“Welcome,” said one.
“I’m Morgan,” said the other, lifting her right shoulder to better show her glowing nametag, which was pinned just above her breast.
“I’m Tabitha,” said the first, mirroring her sister’s action.
“May we,” began Morgan.
“Take your coats,” finished Tabitha, as both women smiled at the Four. Jade dropped her coat on the desk and the other three did the same. The first woman pinned a small slip of paper on each coat, tearing off the bottom of the paper and handing it to the second woman. She in turn handed the strips of paper to the owner of each coat.
“Is it your first time?” began Morgan.
“At The Lair?” finished Tabitha. Isis was beginning to get a little freaked out by the way the twins talked. She and her own sister were identical in appearance, but had never completed each other’s sentences. Then again, they had been raised apart for the first twenty-eight years of their lives.
Isis looked around at the darkly lit club. Shape shifters and humans were everywhere. Most locked lips in passionate kisses and many looked incredibly androgynous. Isis could barely see any indications of gender. Everywhere she looked there was brilliantly colored hair, so bright it was almost blinding. The neon shades glowed even in the intense darkness. Splatters of glowing liquid coated the walls like bizarre abstract art. The odd blue lighting seeped into everything: walls and clubbers alike. It softened their features and added to the overall surreal quality of the club. Light beams traveled down the halls, outlining the occasional person who walked past. The rock music continued pounding throughout the hallways.
“She’s in her office.” Isis could barely hear the twins’ voices. She looked back to where Jade was still talking to the two at the front desk.
“Second floor,” finished Morgan.
“Feel free to explore,” said Tabitha.
“There’s something here for everyone,” Morgan added with a grin. Jade stepped away from the front desk.
“Enjoy,” both twins called after them, waving their fingers in sync.
“I feel like I’m in Dali’s imagination,” Isis mentioned to Alex as they started for the stairs.
“I’m sure there’s a room for that,” Alex responded.
They struggled to get through the crowd. A number of neon-haired rebels kept crossing between them, a few pausing to look the four women up and down. Many of them had spiky hair and numerous piercings. They moved and swayed their bodies to the loud rock music. Shae soon mirrored their movement, dancing with a pair of rebels, easily finding the rhythm of the music. Someone smacked Isis’ arm and she turned to see Jade motion for her to get Shae. They had business to attend to.
Isis turned and grabbed Shae’s arm, tugging her. Shae glanced over at her, annoyed by the interruption. Isis nodded over her shoulder toward where Jade was standing behind her, pointing to her watch. Shae turned back to the pierced dancers and gestured she had to go. One rebel waved and the other blew Shae a kiss before they disappeared back into the crowd of people.
As they made their way to the large staircase, Isis looked into the room next to the stairs. She was surprised to see the floor seemed to be made of glass. It almost looked like the people were dancing on water. Many were dancing so close it was difficult to differentiate one body from another. There was a bar in the back of the large room where two women were doing impressive flair bartending.
There were shape shifters sitting on the steps, some of whom appeared to be under the influence of drugs of one kind or another. Isis couldn’t tell whether they were stoned or tripping or both. Some appeared to be in a state of absolute bliss and contentment while others were running their hands over whatever surface was nearest them.
They reached the top of the stairs and found a long hallway with doors lining the walls on both sides. Jade shook her head and went to the left, the other three following close behind. She opened the first door on her right and stepped inside, followed by the other three. When the door shut, the blasting music from the first floor became muffled.
The room they had entered looked like a scene out of a Fitzgerald novel. Shape shifters and humans were wearing twenties fashions, sipping tea and cocktails. Even the furniture looked like it was from that era. In the corner of the room, an old jazz tune played on a phonograph. The walls were a mural of a sunny spring day and the lighting reflected the weather. The people in the room looked up at the four women who entered, staring at their clothes in puzzlement. The room was more like a suite. There was even a second level, where more people dressed in similar fashions stared down at them.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Jade mumbled under her breath as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
“Good evening,” Shae stepped forward. “We’re looking for Alpha’s office. Could you point us in the right direction?”
“Very end of the hall, in the Honeymoon Suite,” a rotund older man answered in a jovial tone, raising his cocktail to the four women. Isis exchanged a look with Alex, unsure what to think of the Lair.
“Of course it is,” Jade said under her breath.
“Thank you,” Shae said politely. They left the room, Shae closing the door behind them.
“What is your deal with rebels?” Shae asked Jade.
“Used to come here, years back. I still do visit on occasion. Alpha is Sly’s lover and I get along with her well enough. It just frustrates me how rebels don’t care about anything other than what’s happening in their clubs,” Jade replied. “Like I said, they’re glorified hedonists.”
“And I suppose being lock-step conformists would bring about world peace?” a husky voice asked, surprisingly clear over the throbbing music.
Isis looked behind her to where the voice had come from. A woman leaned against the wall a few feet back. She wore a simple loose-fitting black tank top with a skull and crossbones painted on and tight jeans. There were black fingerless gloves on her hands and thick black cuffs on her wrists. Black studs pierced her ears and one nostril as well. Rings adorned all the toes on her bare feet. Short black cropped hair hung messily on her head, as though she had just rolled out of bed and hadn’t bothered to tame it. The woman held herself confidently, her shoulders back and chest up, her spine as straight as a rod. Kohl-lined eyes observed the Four, pausing momentarily on Isis. She arched one dark eyebrow and looked at Jade again.
“I was on stage in the Metal room,” the woman explained, moving toward them. “Jade, it has been too long. How are things in your life of servitude?”
“Alpha,” Jade responded evenly. Alpha gave a half-smirk and continued down the long hall, motioning for the women to follow. Isis continued to look around, noticing how widely spaced the dark doors were. The rooms had to be huge, most likely suites. She stepped aside when a man dressed in a leather Santa suit hurried past them. Looking to her left, Isis noticed a pair of shape shifter men dressed in vintage military uniforms passionately kissing outside one door. The large gold buttons glinted in the dim light and the tan fabric looked black in the dark. A tall woman with silver blonde hair dressed in an elegant purple
and silver gown, passed by the Four, heading in the opposite direction. Isis blinked a few times when she noticed the woman had distinctly pointed ears.
At the end of the hall, there was another dark door, but it was much larger than the others were. Curvy gold vines were painted in the dark wood and the name Alpha had been carved at the top of the door. A track light was pointed at the door, making it stand out in the otherwise dark hall. Alpha removed a key from a chain about her neck, sticking it in the doorknob and unlocking the door. She pushed the door open, stepped inside a large room, and moved aside so the Four could enter.
Isis looked around Alpha’s office. There was a large desk in the back. An enormous window overlooking the Lair’s grounds dominated one wall. Lights set in the high ceiling and various lamps illuminated the office. Hardwood floors glistened in the warm glow and the entire space smelled faintly of cinnamon and jasmine. Old pictures covered the bright red walls, showing the hotel throughout time. The pictures started in black and white, gradually becoming color in more recent years. Isis noticed women were front and center in every picture. Alpha closed the door behind them and the office was immediately quiet. She moved over to her desk and leaned against it, drumming her fingers on it once.
“Good sound proofing,” Shae observed.
Alpha shrugged. “Everyone needs a sanctuary. This office is my sanctuary within a sanctuary.”
“I thought this was a club,” Isis mentioned. Alpha looked at her for a moment before pushing off the desk and approaching her. Isis watched the woman, a little unnerved by Alpha’s attention.
“It’s whatever my patrons need it to be. Most of them are outsiders of one kind or another. All races are welcomed at the Lair, supernatural and human, mortal and immortal,” Alpha explained, her gaze never wavering from Isis. “The rebels have served as a sanctuary to outcasts for centuries and will continue to do so for many more.”
“Supernatural races?” Isis looked over at Jade. Jade continued watching Alpha. She obviously wanted to get down to business.
“Oh my dear, they haven’t told you much have they? Yes, there are many supernatural races. Shape shifters, members of the Seelie Court, lycanthropes — we’ve even had an exile from the Magic Orders,” Alpha explained. “But I must admit, we’ve never had one as interesting as you. Isis, is it?”
“Yeah,” Isis said, not enjoying the scrutiny. “But I’m not that interesting.”
Alpha let out a short laugh. “You’re one of only two known hybrids in existence, the only guardian-shape shifter on Earth, raised by humans, completely unaware of her heritage, and now one of the infamous Four. You have a foot in both worlds. I dare say you underestimate just how interesting you are.”
“She’s also Gray-A,” Shae added. “My cousin is just all kind of unique.”
Isis shot her a withering glare, but Alpha just chuckled. Isis remained quiet, not wanting to get on a potential ally’s bad side, which she seemed to have the unfortunate habit of doing.
“How do you know so much about her?” Jade asked the rebel. Alpha looked over at Jade.
“Sly has told me a little, but there isn’t a shape shifter alive who doesn’t know of the Four. Isis is particularly known among the rebels,” Alpha responded, glancing back to Isis. “We’ve always been fans of your biological mother. She’s one of the only guardians who has earned our respect. I do hope to make her acquaintance one day. Seems she’d be the interesting sort to have coffee with.”
Alpha sauntered over to a large glass table that was off to the side. Eight large chairs were arranged around the rectangular table. Alpha held out a hand, inviting the Four to have a seat.
“I hope you don’t mind a couple of my advisors sitting in,” Alpha mentioned as the Four sat down. Isis looked over at the door when it opened and two women stepped inside. One had dark tan skin and blondish brown hair. Her eyes were dark brown in color. She wore a lavender shirt and dark pants. The other woman was tall and black. Her curly brown hair fell to her shoulders and she dressed in neutral shades. Her clothing looked to be leather, but Isis assumed it was made of some other material. Most shape shifters she had met avoided animal hide, which they found to be tasteless. The women sat across from the Four and Alpha sat at the head of the table.
“Ladies, meet Wylie and Amber. They tend bar downstairs and also work as my advisors,” Alpha introduced the two rebels. “Amber, Wylie, meet the Four. They’re here on behalf of Jet and Lilly, to negotiate a truce between protectors and rebels.”
“That’s rather historic,” the woman in lavender, who had been introduced as Amber, stated.
“It has been many, many years since any protector leaders have wanted to negotiate with the rebels,” Alpha agreed, looking back to the Four. “Probably even before my grandmother was the leader of the rebels.”
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the glass, smiling as she looked at Isis. “You see, Isis, rebel leaders have always been women. Women are more suited to rebel against the status quo. We have more to gain and much less to lose. Not so with the other shape shifter groups. They tend to favor patriarchal rigmarole, though I will grant that the protectors at least require spouses to hold equal rank and title. Still cliché if you ask me. Protectors are almost as bad as the guardians with their positively archaic way of life.”
“Are we going to talk history or can we start negotiating?” Jade asked. Alpha leaned back in her chair, raising one leg so she could rest her wrist on her knee. A smile played on her lips as she looked at the Four, slowly twisting her chair left and right.
“First, I want to know what brought on this sudden desire for a truce or alliance, whatever Jet and Lilly wish to call it,” Alpha began, glancing to her advisors, who also seemed intrigued. “The few times protectors have desired a truce with rebels, whether officially or not, it has meant ill-tidings, mostly wars. Lately, we’ve been hearing some rather unsettling stories.”
“Such as?” Alex asked. Alpha lifted her shoulders.
“Shape shifters have been talking about the sudden increase in disappearing bodies a few months back,” Wylie chimed in. “Some say it’s still happening.”
“Assassins have been acting unusually as well. Ever since the coup and the murder of Adara and Gia,” Amber remarked, tapping her fingernails on the glass. “Not many frequent the Lair, but the few that do have all but vanished in the past few weeks.”
“Then there’s the tales of your own exploits,” Alpha continued. “That nasty business with Adara some months back. Word is the protectors were also there, among others. I heard you had an ally with you that night, a strange nameless man.”
Isis tried to keep her face expressionless. She wondered whether or not she should ask Alpha about Coop. Perhaps he had been to the Lair. As if reading her thoughts, Alpha briefly glanced over at Isis.
“We’ve recently located the Key, or what we originally believed to be the Key,” Jade stated. “Jet and Lilly aren’t oblivious to the unusual incidents that have been happening lately. It’s part of the reason why they sent us. An alliance between our groups would be beneficial for both of us. We could combine resources and—”
“You say the Key has been found?” Alpha asked, looking over at Jade. “If that’s so, why do Jet and Lilly need or want this truce?”
“Like I said, there is some question about whether or not it is the actual Key. As you mentioned, there are strange things happening,” Jade explained.
“If the real Key has not been found, that means there is probably some kind of fight on the horizon. Not many would let that kind of power go unclaimed and it is a fairly recent prophecy. It’s going to lure out all kinds of unsavory types,” Alpha said. “And Jet and Lilly expect rebels to fight and die for them?”
Isis looked over at Shae. She was no diplomat and had never sat in on negotiations like this, but even she could tell it wasn’t going well. Jade calmly folded her hands on the table and looked between Alpha, Wylie, and Amber.
“Let me as
k you something. Do you allow separatists in the Lair?”
“You know I would never let that kind of speciest scum in the front door,” Alpha responded sharply, as if the very suggestion offended her. From what Isis had learned since finding out about shape shifters, separatists were considered the lowest of the low among most shape shifters. They believed themselves to be the superior species, higher than all others. Separatists felt there would be no peace until humans were wiped out and all the other supernatural species recognized the superiority of shape shifters. The only ones who interacted with them were assassins. As far as Isis could tell, both groups were relatively small. Still, they did manage to cause quite a lot of trouble. She suppressed a shudder. Just the thought of separatists getting their hands on the Key was frightening.
“I thought as much. Separatists have killed many shape shifters in the past, mostly rebels. They hold a particular grudge against them. Why is that?” Jade continued, bringing Isis out of her thoughts. She glanced over at the rebels, trying to glean their response to her teammate’s statement.
“Rebels have always had a soft spot for the human race. Easy money,” Alpha responded.
“Oh, I think it’s more than that. Rebels stand with the underdogs. You said it yourself: this place is a haven for outcasts of all sorts. Most humans have no idea of the other supernatural races, which puts them at quite a disadvantage,” Jade continued.
Alpha smiled. “I don’t deny my dislike for how humans are seen as a lesser species and frequently used as pawns or worse. But I wouldn’t go so far as to say rebels are protective of them. We merely recognize their right to exist.”
Through Storm and Night (The Shape Shifter Chronicles Book 2) Page 8