Terminal (Terminal trilogy #1)

4: Bookside

I was proud of myself for waking up the next morning at nine, bright, ready, and as always, slightly sore. My bed was bad and bodies really aren't supposed to sleep for as long as I had learned to.

Blake was weary and stiff, but continued to obey, and after watching the morning's gossip and eating breakfast, I walked him to the cross section of offices and half lights that housed my office.

I stared at the doorway. Above it was a little libra sign, the part of the zodiac that had be appropriated to Kell's position. It was a bit more forbidding than it had any right to be.

He wasn't technically an accountant, it seems necessary to note- his proper title was 'executive of finances' or something, and his job was managing Hell's fragile economy. A lot was managed in-house, but Hell still needed to import much of their food and almost all their material goods. This was significantly difficult to achieve, and Kell's job involved traveling around Earth to various rich families Hell had a demon in, making sure the money kept flowing, aid was coming in on time, and various world governments kept off Hell's tail.

Calling him an accountant was a bit of a joke. I'm not sure what else we'd call him. Important seemed to be one word for it.

After taking a few steps forward, I paused, and looked to Blake behind me.

He raised his eyebrows. "As wonderfully exciting as this morning has been, I'm disappointed to learn you're going to just shuttle me back to your room again. That is what that look is for, right?"

He was correct. I wanted to have this conversation with Kell in private. Whenever that was going to be, of course. I dropped off a grumpy Blake to my room, promised him it'd be the last time he'd have to stay there, and went to Kell's office.

Christina was sitting at her desk, and Kell was absent. "Hey Mannie," Christina said. "Kell's at lunch. You should try coming here at a different time of day."

"It's way too early for lunch."

"He said he was going out for lunch. I think it might be codeword for 'having a secret meeting', but usually it's around lunch time, so I can't really say."

"When will he be back," I said dully.

"Eh," Christina responded.

"Right."

"I haven't seen him this morning, so he could just be lying as an excuse for being late."

"He's been claiming to have been at lunch since eight? Kell is so..."

"Like I said, it's probably some secret thing. Or else just a really bad hangover."

"Ugh. This is really slowing my plans down."

"What are your plans?" Christina asked with genuine interest.

"Quitting."

"Oh yeah, right. Kell's a pretty understanding guy, you know, he'd probably be fine with you just writing him an email. Besides, you don't technically... work for him...?"

"That's why I want to do it in person." I nervously knocked on the wall, a bit jittery with built up energy. I had a lot of patience for waiting, but only when it was expected. "I'll wait here."

"Okay." Christina shrugged, and soon focused again on her computer. I sat on the floor by Kell's desk, and stared straight ahead. This lasted for an hour and seventeen minutes, right until I heard footsteps outside the door.

Kell entered, looking exhausted enough that I briefly considered Christina's hangover theory. "Mannie." He examined me with heavy eyes. "I need to speak with Christina in private."