Azrael

Nine

"This place looks so empty," Adira pointed out as they made their way further into the dark maze of corridors that were hidden below the club's basement. She had began to learn that there was a lot more to Kespen than the eye could see, hidden with wisps of glamour and deception.

They walked on red-tiled marble, but their footsteps made no sound as they made their way across the floor. Azrael took several turns that seemed random to Adira, going through blank doors that were exactly the same as the rest.

"What is this place?" She finally asked.

"It's a gateway," Azrael replied.

"Looks more like an abandoned hotel."

A low wail rang out behind them, sending shivers down Adira's spine and making the hair on her neck stand on end.

"It's not somewhere I would recommend you spend the night," Azrael added.

Adira reached out for the only thing she could hold-Azrael's hand. She felt the other woman flinch, growing still for a moment, and then resuming her explanation.

"Your world and ours are connected but not quite the same. This is one of several places around the world that can take you to Aetheria."

The went through another door, and this time there were bloodcurdling screams, sounding faraway and muted, but to Adira, edging closer.

"So it's also a way for what's in Aetheria to come up here."

Azrael nodded. "Luckily for us, this one is guarded. Even then, stay close."

"Okay. I feel like something's watching us," Adira said, glancing around, but seeing nothing beyond dark wallpaper.

"It always feels that way here," Azrael remarked, undisturbed by the sounds. "We most likely are. Those souls that never make it out here are trapped forever."

Adira felt Azrael's grip tighten slightly.

"Could you help them? With the same ritual you did for Blake?"

Her voice stuttered when she said Blake's name, but if Azrael had noticed that, she didn't show.

"No," Azrael replied, her voice low. I mean yes, but that would require..."

She stopped midway.

"Never mind. This leads to one of the more popular supernatural hideouts on this side of the world," Azrael pointed out. "Secrecy and privacy are paramount, but I am certain that someone keeps an eye on it all."

Adira glanced around at the shadows behind the doorways of the rooms they walked past, imagining someone or something hiding in one of them, watching them go past. "I saw what you did with those shadows to bring us here. Can others like you do it too?"

They entered a wide arched hall that looked more like a throne room than something you would find underground. Beams of dust-filled light shone out from the stained-glass windows, illuminating a large mural on the opposite wall. It depicted a sweltering red, fiery orange and charcoal black battle scene that appeared to burn on the wall. Pained faces of nameless warriors stretching all over the mural battled each other, and above them, a massive dragon breathed fire down on the armies.

"A few. Most frown upon using them, but in my experience shadows make fast travel a lot simpler."

Azrael suddenly put out a hand in front of Adira.

Adira followed her gaze, and she was looking up at an arch where a woman sat, precariously dangling her legs over the edge. Adira stood wide-eyed as she jumped down to the ground with catlike agility, landing in an elegant curtsy, from a height that by all means should have broken half the bones in her body.