Umbra

Chapter 9

They weren't woken up.

Jason took the first and only watch, not needing any sleep after resting on the dragon. Emilia was glad to be able to open her eyes on her own terms, stretching her legs and sitting up to see that everyone else was stirring, too.

They broke camp and started down the tunnel. Piper's ankle was better, and she made no complaints as they followed the bricks, twisting and turning and seeming to create an endless path. Emilia wondered if they were going the wrong way numerous times.

But they reached an end. They were met with polished steel elevator doors, each one engraved with a cursive letter M.Next to the elevator was a directory, like for a department store.

"M for Macy's?" guessed Piper. "I think they have one in downtown Chicago."

"Or Monocle Motors still?" asked Leo. "Guys, read the directory. It's messed up."

Emilia's instincts told her to run. What mall had its entrance at the sewer level? What kind of mall had kennels? Why did they sell magical appliances, weaponry, potions, and poisons?

But given this might be where the winds had gone, they had no choice. They had to capture them to receive information from Aeolus. Emilia made sure to summon her spear before they even walked into the elevator, the group deciding to start at the fourth floor.

As soon as the doors slid open, the scent of perfume wafted into the elevator. It was painfully obvious that they weren't inside a Macy's. What Macy's looked like the inside of a kaleidoscope? Who designed a store with a ceiling of stained glass mosaic showing astrological signs around a giant sun? Maybe it would fit a store in Las Vegas, but not somewhere like Chicago.

The upper floors made a ring of balconies around a huge central atrium, allowing them to see all the way to the ground floor. Aside from the stained glass ceiling and the elevator, there were no other windows or doors, but two sets of glass escalators ran between the levels. The carpeting was filled with bright patterns and colors, and the racks of merchandise were as bizarre as they expected from the directory.

"Check it out," said Leo, stepping to the railing and looking down.

In the middle of the atrium, a fountain sprayed water twenty feet into the air, changing color from red to yellow to blue. The pool glittered with golden coins,a nd on either side of the fountain stood two gilded cages. Inside one, a miniature hurricane swirled, and lightning flashed. The storm spirits were imprisoned, and the cage shuddered as they tried to get out. In the other, frozen like a statue, was a short, buff satyr holding a tree-branch club.

"Coach Hedge!" exclaimed Piper. "We've got to get down there."

A voice behind them called, "May I help you find something?"

She'd just materialized there. A beautiful woman– maybe fifty years old– with an elegant black dress with diamond jewelry looked over at them, her long dark hair swept over one shoulder. Her face was thin and haughty and cold, and her long red-painted nails resembled talons.

The alarm bells shut up abruptly. Emilia could've sworn her instincts had still been telling her to run up until two seconds ago. Now, she could think of nothing but how beautiful this woman was.

"I'm so happy to see new customers," said the woman with a smile. "How may I help you?"

Jason looked just as dumbfounded. "Um, is this your store?"

She nodded. "I found it abandoned, you know. I understand so many stores are, these days. I decided I would make the perfect place. I love collecting tasteful objects, helping people, and offering quality goods at a reasonable price. So this seemed a good... how do you say... first acquisition in this country."