I waited a half-hour for good measure before heading down to the front desk. Adie was working and I noticed her eyeing me as I made the card.
“Is there a problem with your room key?” she asked suspiciously.
“Eh, no. I just need to be able to check something out for my dad,” I muttered as I finished up. “Have a nice night,” I called and waved as I walked away towards the elevator. Fortunately, the elevator was empty when it opened.
I inserted the key card, and pressed the basement button. This time it lit up. “Okay, that was easy,” I said to myself as the elevator descended. Considering how easy it was to figure out, I started to feel silly for even bothering to snoop.
The elevator doors opened into pitch-blackness. I hadn’t even considered bringing a flashlight. I reached for my phone in my back pocket. Using the illumination from the screen, I stepped out and heard the elevator doors slam closed behind me.
Barely able to see a foot ahead of me, I inched forward, reaching a hand out before me to brace myself. Before long, my palm hit onto to something hard and cold. I realized it was a door. Using the light from the phone to search for the handle, I yanked the door open, half expecting it to be locked. It wasn’t, and light flooded through the doorway.
I felt the wings before I saw them, but it was the sight of so many black birds that made me jump. As the flapping died down, I moved through the doorway and turned around. Lanterns lit the interior space beyond the door and I watched five crows facing me from the side of the door I had just been on. Levi had told me they were originally crow shifters, but these birds in front of me seemed creepier than the Pterons. I wondered if Levi could communicate with the regular birds. I’d have to ask him. That is if I made it through my search of the basement first.
Letting the door close behind me, I tentatively stepped forward again, but I was distracted by the rich marble floors and walls around me. Detailed carvings that looked a lot like hieroglyphics were etched into the marble slab. In the dim light I made out a bunch of different animals, but most of the pictures were of birds.
I wrapped my arms around myself. Now that I could see, I realized just how cold it was. I walked down the corridor, a little spooked by the flickering lights of the lanterns. I noticed a number of doors ahead of me. Selecting the nearest one, I opened it, relieved that the lighting continued.
Entering the large circular room with rows of stone seating built into the side, I was struck most by carvings of two large birds on the marble floor. Rubies were inlaid in the pictures, giving the birds a majestic feel. I’d never seen gems used in flooring before, but it was gorgeous.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
I startled, turning around to face the source of the female voice.
“Natalie, umm hi,” I stuttered.
“I’d ask you why you were down here, but really it was bound to happen with you dating Levi and all.”
“You know Levi?”
She smiled. “Yes, I know Levi.”
“Wait, so are you a—”
“Yes, I’m a Pteron. I had a feeling he let you in on the secret, but I wasn’t sure.”
“Wow. Umm, so I’m guessing this whole place down here has something to do with you, right? I mean all the bird stuff?”
“Of course.”
“What’s this room for?”
“For meetings. I really can’t tell you more.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not my place. You should talk to Levi if you want answers.”
“Why does it have to be him?”
She hesitated. “Because he’s the one who’s brought you in.”
“Brought me in? You mean like in on the secret?”
“Yes, he must really think you’re special.” She smiled.
“I guess, but I don’t know what makes me different from the rest of the girls he dates.”
“The key word is dates. He has never really dated anyone seriously as far as I know. He’s usually more of a one date kind of man.”
“You mean he’s a player?”
“That’s one way of putting it.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I know that, I’m not letting myself get too attached.” I hoped my words were true.
“I’m not telling you that to scare you off. I’m letting you know he’s been different with you, that’s all.”
I chose to press on with my own question, ignoring Natalie’s implication. “Are you going to tell Levi I was down here?”
She looked towards the door suddenly. “I won’t have to.”
“What do you mean?”
“Doing some exploring?” Levi materialized through the doorway, walking towards us at a quick pace.
I tried to come up with an excuse but realized it was pointless. “All right, you got me.”
“Natalie, can we have a minute?”
“Sure. I’ll see you at work tomorrow morning?” she asked.
“Allie won’t be at work tomorrow, we have plans.” My mouth dropped open as I listened to him order her around. I waited for her rebuff. It never came.
“Of course. Goodnight.”
I stared after her as she left, debating whether I should just follow. My curiosity got the better of me.
Levi closed the gap between us, standing directly in front of me. I couldn’t help but shiver. I knew it was just Levi, but somehow he seemed a little scarier now that I was all alone with him in a room below ground that wasn’t even supposed to exist. His next words did nothing to alleviate the growing unease.
“What am I going to do with you? You ever heard the saying ‘curiosity killed the cat’?”
I said nothing, watching him carefully, repeating over and over to myself that the guy who kissed me so intensely the night before wasn’t suddenly going to turn on me.
“I think I know what to do.”
I tensed.
“Are you afraid?”
“Maybe.” I said in barely a whisper. I shivered again.
He leaned towards me and I held in a breath. Confused and at a loss of what to do, I closed my eyes. I opened them seconds later when I felt his lips on mine. I pulled away, and he laughed.
“You were actually scared, weren’t you?”
“Give me a break, Levi, it’s creepy down here and I really know almost nothing about you. Of course you scared me.”
“Well, you’re not going to learn anything down here, let’s go upstairs.”
“At least tell me what this room is for.”