Apple of Discord: Chapter 4
Tree comes rushing back into the room, with a wild look in his eyes. “You okay?”
He crosses the room and looks under the bed, unsheathing his saber at the same time. Then he crosses the room to check the closet and bathroom. Looking satisfied that the room is empty he turns back to you.
“I didn’t see anyone in the hallway. I was trying to cut them off before they could get away and tell their boss about the Watcher.”
“Yeah, that was a diversion. Fulgar showed up here while I was busy fighting the last Dracaenae. He surprised me, spun me out of my backpack, and took everything.” you say, slumping to your knees.
“He was too fast. His lightning rod tattoos transform into actual lightning rods. Real ones with electricity running through them.. He’s dangerous, Tree…”
Your breathing turns ragged as you struggle with the implications of losing everything in your backpack. Tears well up in your eyes and roll down your cheeks in hot, stinging streams.
Tree kneels down next to you. “Hey, how can I support you best?”
“Sorry, I just got overwhelmed. Must be an after effect of the Apple piece.” You wipe your eyes with the back of your hand and clear your throat.
“You did say you wanted to be whelmed.” Tree smiles.
“I hate you.” You shake your head, disapprovingly.
“Now you’re delirious.” Tree shrugs. “Baby steps.”
You get to your feet, remaining bent over while you catch your breath. “We’ve gotta get next door to the Littlefield building. Fulgar and his crew are probably already there.”
“After you.” Tree bows with one arm out toward the door.
The Littlefield building lobby door is unlocked. There is a lone security guard sitting at a desk in front of you. She sees Tree in his Security Guard uniform and flashes a crooked smile.
“You lost, Mr…?” She scans his uniform for his name tag. “Cal-ee-woop-ass?”
You unconsciously snort at the way she sounded out the name. The name tag reads ‘Kaliwhophas’. Oh universe, you never disappoint.
“Sorry.” You snort again for good measure. “My allergies are acting up.”
“I believe your building is next door.” The security guard smirks.
You make a quick scan of the building directory, looking at the 8th floor entries and see it. Triumvirate Holdings. Time to take a chance.
“I’m visiting my dad. He’s an executive with Triumvirate Holdings. I’m from out-of-town.” You chuckle, trying to really sell it. “Mom remarried. It’s his three weeks with me, but the electricity is out at his place, so I came down here to find him. He still comes in during the week to work even though he should be staying home with everyone else,” you lie.
She gives you a sympathetic look and then raises her eyebrows at Tree.
Tree puffs out his cheeks, listening to you go on.
“I got a little lost and wandered into the hotel first. Mr. Cal-ee-woop-ass was kind enough to walk me over here himself,” you say, gamefully punching Tree in the arm. “Such a great guy.”
You scan her name tag. It reads Wynn-Jones. Her expression immediately softens. “How nice of you!” She smiles at Tree, brightly. “You new? I don’t remember seeing you before?”
“Well, thanks Mr. C! Thank you, Ms. Wynn-Jones. I’m going to take the stairs. Not too excited about being in an elevator if the power goes out here too. Know what I mean?”
Ms. Wynn-Jones calls out to you. “Want me to call up ahead for you?”
“Thanks, but, nah. He likes it when I surprise him.” You smile broadly. “Stairwell’s this way?” You point to the corner of the building you think shares the alley with the hotel.
Tree adjusts your finger toward the sign that reads ‘Stairwell’.
“So observant,” you say, bounding off toward the stairs.
Once in the stairwell, you take the steps two and sometimes three at a time in your rush to get to the… what are you going to call it, you wonder.
The seventh-and-a-half floor? The haunted half floor? The ghostly grotto? Wait, in order to be called a ‘grotto’ does there need to be water involved or does it just need to be cave-like?
Mmmm, water. You’re thirsty. You’re hungry too. Are hotdogs sandwiches or a sneaky type of taco made with bread?
By the fourth floor your mouth is dry, your stomach is growling, and you have to stop and catch your breath. Okay, definitely more cardio and fewer Poptarts in your diet.
Other concerns come to mind. Namely, what to do about the lookout stationed at the door above you. You can hear the hiss of breath above you and smell the reek of serpent. More Dracaena.
You take a quick inventory and realize it’s just you and a sword. The likelihood that there are Dracaena stationed at every door from here on up is very high.
What’s the best option here? Maybe throw your sword and hope you get lucky? Nah, Master Da’Mon would likely kill you if he found out you threw your only weapon away. That’s if you both survive this.
“I can tasssste you on the air, little hero,” comes a soft female hiss from above. “Are you extra crunchy? I hope ssssssso.”
Well, now that’s a question you never want answered.
Your legs are shaking. So are your hands. You grip your sword and...
