Looting the 13th Floor 2, page 8
part #2 of Looting the 13th Floor Series
“It should be fine.” I nodded. “Stan is still the guard for now. Let’s hope whoever replaces him is just as chill.”
“I’m not looking forward to being so close to gargoyles.” Kali shuddered. “But I am excited to be part of the mission!”
“A vital part,” I said with a firm nod. “Any idea how tough the banshees are? What are my odds like in a fight?”
“You will defeat any who cross your path,” Cleo purred. “I will also slit the throats of those to try to harm you. It is my oath.”
“I know,” I chuckled as I stroked her tail. “But give me a clue as to what these wrinkly fuckers are capable of.”
“They are more powerful than they look,” Kali said. “I have never been close to them, though.”
“Me, neither.” Cleo shook her head. “But I have heard stories of how terrifying they are. They managed to steal all the magic and spells, so they are very powerful. We must be vigilant.”
“Understood,” I said. “I’m going to head to bed soon. We’ll need all the strength we can get for tomorrow.”
The girls yawned in agreement as we started to get ready for bed, and my mind was racing with thoughts about our next trip.
I couldn’t wait to step back into the magic realm once more.
Kali got set up on the sofa, and I longed to pull her into the bed with me and my cat-girl lover, but I kept myself restrained as I offered her a soft smile. Cleo kissed my cheek as we climbed under the covers together, and she curled up beside me with a warm purr.
As I laid my head down on the pillow, I fell into a dream of swirling green skies.
My phone alarm woke me up with an unbearable screech as it vibrated on the nightstand. I groaned as I grabbed it to shut it up, and Cleo yawned as she curled into my chest.
“Morning,” I sighed as I finally silenced the beeping.
“Mmm,” Cleo purred as she snuggled in closer. “Do we have to get out of bed?”
“I’m afraid so,” I chuckled as I kissed her forehead. “We need to get into the office early so I can leave a note on Roberts’ desk. That way he thinks I’m really taking you guys on this training day from work, and not just calling in to play hooky. Dealing with that awful shithead is worse than the gargoyles. At least I can shoot the damn gargoyles.”
The cat-girl sighed as she slowly sat up, and her ears twitched as she rubbed her eyes. She mumbled something about slaying Roberts with her sickle as she wiggled into her black dress, and I smirked at my sexy and deadly lover.
Then I pulled on some clothes and opened the door to find Kali was already up. She was standing in the middle of the living room with a determined scowl on her face.
“Hey,” I said as I came out to join her “Everything okay?”
“Good morning,” she said. “Oh, yes! I was just practicing my disguises for the market.”
“Oooh,” Cleo said as she came out of the room. “Remember we have adventure clothes, too.”
“Adventure clothes?” I asked as the cat-girl grabbed the huge shopping bag of clothes.
“Yes,” Cleo said. “I thought we should have something good for moving around and fighting in.”
“I will be wearing a disguise in the market,” Kali said. “But these will be great for the rest of the trip!”
“Let’s put them on!” Cleo said as she rummaged in her bag.
She threw a couple of clothing items at Kali, and I quickly turned away so the girls could change. I knew Cleo would be happy for me to watch, but I wanted the nymph to be as comfortable as possible.
My neck did heat up slightly as I heard Kali pulling fabric off and on, though, and I tried not to focus on the fact that her naked body was just inches away from me. If anything was going to happen, it had to be on her terms. I didn’t want her to think she owed me anything for saving her life.
She was already so overwhelmed by my kindness.
“Ready!” Kali said happily, and I turned around to see the girls in super cute sportswear.
Cleo was in black leggings that clung to her sculpted calves perfectly, and she flexed her legs to demonstrate the stretchy fabric. The waistband had a dip at the back for added sex appeal, but it worked as the perfect shape to let her tail through. Her toned abs were on display with a black crop top that just managed to contain her impressive chest, and she had pulled on her trusty leather boots.
She looked like a seriously hot bank robber. Or maybe one of those hot runner girls who’d never so much as glanced my way before on the streets.
Kali was as cute as ever, too, in tight purple shorts with a little bralette to match. She had hidden her wings already, and she looked like the most adorable yoga instructor to walk the Earth. Blue sneakers were on her tiny feet along with a silver ankle bracelet, and I bit my lip to try and keep my smile from getting way too dopey.
But fuck, I was lucky.
“You guys look so good,” I said.
“Look how much I can move,” Cleo hissed as she delivered a high kick above the sofa.
“Impressive,” I chuckled. “Looks like we’re ready to go and steal from some banshees.”
I swung the rucksack of guns over my back, and we headed out into the stairwell. The heavy weight of the weapons on my back was weirdly comforting now. Despite the fact that I was wandering down the street with a shitload of illegal weapons, I felt safe.
The girls learning how to shoot had been a huge weight off my shoulders, too, and I knew they were now even more capable of looking after themselves in the terrifying world of Hollowfell.
Life was pretty damn good.
We were buzzing with energy as we hurried along the sidewalk, and the girls twirled around in their new outfits. My mind was focused on the quest at hand, but I couldn’t help getting slightly distracted by their tight figures. Cleo grinned at me as she walked ahead, and she made sure to shimmy her ass every once in a while for me. Kali just skipped along in her usual way, but even that was enough to draw my eyes to her tight little purple leggings like a magnet.
It felt like no time at all had passed when we finally arrived at my work building. It was just before eight, so the morning rush hadn’t started yet, and there was only one guy outside puffing an electric cigarette as he spoke on his cell.
Kali took a steadying breath before she stepped into the revolving door, and Cleo confidently strode in behind her. I came in behind the girls to find Stan was pacing the lobby as he sipped a coffee cup.
“Hey,” he said as he gave me a wave. “What are you doing here so early? Don’t tell me that asshole has you pulling extra shifts?”
“Training day,” I said as I gestured to the girls. “We wanted to get in and set up before the crowds began.”
“Fair enough,” Stan said as he sipped his drink. “I’m just stretching the old legs before the day starts. These joints aren’t what they used to be!”
“Bullshit.” I grinned. “You could tackle anyone who walked into this building.”
“You are a warrior,” Cleo agreed seriously. “I know you can fight ruffians when you need to.”
“True,” Stan said with an amused look. “But I’m looking forward to retired life. I’m going to book myself a cruise first thing! Maybe not one of the super pricey ones, but something sunny with less damned smog.”
“Sounds great,” I said. “Send me a postcard.”
Stan chuckled as he carried on pacing, and I ushered the girls over to the elevators.
“What is a cruise?” Cleo asked as we waited at the silver doors.
“A big boat,” I said. “You get a pool, and loads of food, and you sail around different parts of the word. Rich people do it.”
“Oooh!” Kali said. “That sounds amazing.”
“We should cruise,” Cleo said as the elevator pinged open. “I like the sound of this boat. Now that you are a rich person, you must do rich person things.”
“Noted,” I chuckled as we got inside. “As long as you wear the tiniest bikini you can find.”
“Bikini… Bikini…” the cat-girl murmured studiously. “I will tell the market people of Earth to find me a tiny one.”
Nobody else got into the elevator as we sailed up to the eleventh floor, and the lights were all off when we stepped into the hall. I flicked the switch so the fluorescents buzzed on to illuminate the bright whites of the walls. Then we strolled down to the office, and I grabbed a notepad and pen from my desk.
“I’ll tell Roberts we’re working on another floor,” I said as I scribbled a note. “That should work to give us the whole day away.”
“This place feels weird when it’s empty,” Kali said as she looked around. “It’s a bit creepy.”
“You come from a land of actual monsters,” I snorted. “But I agree. This place is depressing enough to be scary.”
Roberts kept his office door locked overnight for some stupid reason. He had nothing of any value or interest in there, but he always liked to seem more important than he was. I broke off a bit of blue tack from someone’s desk and stuck my note to his glass door.
“That’ll do,” I said. “Okay. Let’s go and do our real work.”
“Yes,” Cleo said as her eyes glinted. “I cannot wait to spill some banshee blood.”
We hurried back out of the office and into the stairwell. Kali sang to herself as she scurried up the steps, and I hoped Lidia from the dating app company wasn’t in for an early morning shift. Luckily, the twelfth floor was dark and silent as I slowly opened the door that led us to the reception area. Kali turned the light on so we could see, and she peered over at the heart-shaped desk.
“Aww,” she said. “That is so nice!”
“Hmm,” Cleo said. “It is very bright. Maybe more black leather would be good.”
We turned the corner and passed the elevators as I made sure all the offices around us were empty. I knew there was nobody around, but I wanted to triple-check before we snuck off through the secret doorway. We were so close to having the thirteenth floor locked off just for us, and I wasn’t going to risk anything taking that away.
I flicked the lights back off as we made our way into the next stairwell, and we raced up to the hallway door.
“Yes,” I muttered as we stepped into the glowing landing.
It always gave me a feeling of deep purpose when I walked down the corridor to Hollowfell. The thrill of being inches away from another world never got old, and I was itching to see that chaos-filled sky once more.
“Okay,” Kali said as we approached the entrance. “Time to disguise myself!”
The nymph furrowed her brow as her hair became darker, and her curls fell into straight brunette strands. Her workout gear glowed as it was suddenly replaced by a drab gray dress that stopped above her ankles. A brown cloak covered her tiny shoulders, and scuffed boots finished off the look. She was still endlessly beautiful, but she was much less noticeable in her muted tones.
“I look like a farm girl,” Kali said as she looked down at her dress. “Goodness, this really is a dull outfit. I miss my colors!”
“You look very plain.” Cleo nodded. “But your face is still the most beautiful of all the faces I have seen.”
The nymph blushed at the compliment as she pulled the hood over her dark hair.
“We still have to get down to the city,” I said. “I don’t want to let Kali go that far alone. So we need to be hyper-aware of everything around us. I’m guessing our wanted posters are still nailed to every tree in the forest.”
“Aww,” Cleo purred. “Our outlaw love is displayed for everyone to see! They must be jealous of us.”
“Let’s get armed,” I said as I swung the rucksack off and pulled it open.
“Yes!” Cleo said. “I hope we get to use our guns on some banshees…”
“These are a last resort,” I clarified. “We’re going to be right near the middle of the city. If we draw attention to ourselves, then we’re in big fucking trouble. There’s more High Society members there than we could kill, and if any news has traveled about the weapon I used last time we were there, the sound of our guns will be a big tip-off that we’re in Stormgulf. We keep noise to a minimum unless we absolutely have to.”
I passed the women their Glocks, and Kali her Micro Roni. Cleo had adjusted her new belt with a holster around her waist, and Kali carefully slung her Micro Roni inside of her cloak. The girls smiled down at their guns as I swung one of the rifles over my shoulder with the newly fitted strap, and I made sure I had spare magazines for everyone filling the pouches I had attached to my belt. We had picked up a couple of hunting knives with sheaths from a camping shop that we could use for close quarter fights, too, so Cleo had her sickle, and now Kali and I had sharp blades as well.
“We get an opener,” I said. “Then we get straight back here to use it.”
The girls nodded, and I glanced at the pile of spells Cleo had neatly organized near the wall.
I couldn’t wait to see how they worked.
Then I grabbed the lock pick set that was left beside the door, and I crouched down to get to work. I pulled the silver pick and tension bar out and carefully slotted them into the keyhole. The movements of unlocking the portal had become second nature to me as I felt each pin click as I moved the tools expertly.
I placed down the kit, and I pushed the door handle downward as a rush of adrenaline raced through my veins.
“Ready?” I asked, and the monster girls smiled in agreement.
My heartbeat quickened as I carefully pushed open the door, and we stepped out into Hollowfell.
The chaos and noise was overwhelming as my ears and eyes adjusted. Green sky and purple clouds swirled above us as screams and howls echoed over the tall black trees. Gray rock stood in the place of the doorway, and I was relieved that nobody from Hollowfell had found it. As much as I wanted Roberts to get eaten by a monster, it would be a fucking disaster if anyone ever realized the portal was there.
But there were no footprints around to suggest anyone had been snooping, and I couldn’t see any gargoyles flying overhead. It seemed that the hilltop doorway was still a secret.
A soaked picture of Cleo was stuck to one of the coal-colored trees nearby, and the cat-girl flicked her hair with a grin when she spotted it.
“My outlaw queen,” I chuckled. “Let’s get going.”
We hurried down the hillside as we kept low amongst the twisting and grim trees. I kept my eyes peeled for the slightest hint of movement as we raced through the shadows. The creatures of this world could be sneaky and concealed if they wanted to, and I needed to be ready for danger coming from any direction.
“Gargoyles,” Cleo hissed as she pointed to the sky, and the slow flap of leathery wings rang out in the air.
I grabbed the girls and pulled them close against the cover of the nearest tree. Two male gargoyles slowly flew over the dark forest, and their breathing was heavy and rattling. I shuddered as we stared up at the beasts. It was still jarring to see such vile things in real life.
They looked like bulging, winged dinosaurs that had broken into a king’s closet. Their wonky snouts had crooked fangs sticking out, and their velvet robes were bursting at the seams over their wide bodies. Curled horns stuck up from their scaly skulls as beady eyes roamed down over the ground. Golden necklaces hung down over their bellies, and each chunky finger had a thick ring above the talon.
They snorted and grunted as they put all their strength into flying, and I felt a jagged twig dig into my back as I pressed against the blackened tree trunk. I was ready to grab my rifle and start shooting, but the bulbous monsters kept flying over us without stopping. It was always tempting to mow down every one of the fuckers in sight, but I had to keep my head in the game.
We needed to keep as low a profile as possible.
“I wonder if they were looking for us,” I whispered as the sound of wings finally faded.
“Maybe,” Cleo said. “There is still a big reward out for us. Because we are deadly outlaws…”
“Yeah, I think I remember something about that.” I smirked at my proud lover.
We continued to hurry down the hillside until we could hear the bustle of the city just beyond the trees. I guided us over to a thick trunk beside a clump of thorny bushes, and we hid behind it to peer out at Stormgulf.
Stone turrets stuck up into the sky, and ivy-covered buildings sat nestled between cobbled streets. The marketplace inside bustled with activity as all manner of bizarre creatures wandered around. Hundreds of gargoyles waddled along with gold and jewels dripping over every scale. The women had terrible wigs pulled down between their horns, along with makeup that could have been applied by a toddler.
Leviathans walked down the street with their eerie, disjointed movements. In their human forms, they almost looked like real men, but they were really part snake. Their faces were dotted with blue scales, and their dark eyes gave them away as something evil. They all wore expensive suits and gripped jewel-topped staffs as they strolled along the market.
All of the stall owners watched the High Society warily as they offered out food, cloth, and woven baskets. There were a good few common-looking folk shopping amongst the rich, but they made sure to scurry out of the way when any gargoyles got close.
Kali would blend in easily enough as long as nobody studied her pretty face for too long. The nymph bit her lip as she stared out at the market, and I reached down to take her hand in mine.
“You’ve got this,” I said firmly. “Nobody knows who you are, and I’m right here with Cleo if you need us.”
“We will protect you,” the cat-girl said fiercely. “Nobody will lay evil eyes on my nymph friend and live.”
“Thank you.” Kali smiled. “I know I can do this! It’s just a little frightening to be amongst so many of those horrible creatures! If they knew who I was–”
“They don’t,” I said before she could spiral. “Just one step at a time. Two cloaks. That’s all you need, okay?”
Cleo slipped a silk pouch from her leggings pocket and handed it to Kali.
