“TIMES HAVE CHANGED, AND SO HAVE WE.”
WELLNESS AND WONDER ABOUNDS IN FORMER PLEASURE HALL OF THE GODS! MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONTODAY!
Aiden looked around the hall, frowning.
“Are we in the right place?” asked Rudy, deflating. “What about all the dancing? The—”
“Gorgeous apsaras?” suggested Mini.
“Yeah!” said Rudy and Brynne at the same time.
“I mean, no?” said Rudy when Mini raised her eyebrows.
Just then, a figure rose from the floor. She was just over four feet tall and made of clouds. A thick veil of mist formed her long dress. Her eyes were nothing more than depressions in the fog, but they still managed to feel warm and friendly. When she spoke, her voice was gentle and soothing, but it reminded Aru of one of those automated recordings.
“Welcome,” she said. “I’m a cloud attendant. How may I assist you?”
“We’re here to speak with Menaka,” said Aiden.
“Do you have an appointment?”
“Well, no, but—”
“I would be happy to assist you in making a reservation,” said the cloud attendant. “The next available appointment is in”—she paused, and her voice turned robotic—“three years. Would you like to book a massage, a facial, a sound bath, a private meditation, or—”
“No,” said Aiden calmly. “We need to see Menaka today—”
“We also offer private music lessons with Tumburu, celebrated gandharva of the ages, and private dance instruction! Converse with your ancestral heritage through art! Discounts are available—”
“Stop!” said Brynne loudly.
The attendant blinked. “Welcome,” she said. “How may I assist you?”
Aru felt her eye twitch. Brynne looked like she was about to explode.
“We need to speak to Menaka,” said Aiden again.
“Do you have an appointment?”
“That’s it!” said Brynne, brandishing her wind mace. “I will render youmist—”
“Make it stop!” moaned Rudy.
“Do you have an appointment?” repeated the cloud attendant. “If not, I would be happy to assist you in making a reservation.”
“I WANT TO SPEAK TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE!” yelled Mini.
A faint glow appeared in the hollows of the attendant’s eyes. Aiden grabbed her hands and pressed the musical note into it. “Show this to Menaka immediately.”
“Please wait by the Fountain of Compliments and someone will be with you shortly,” said the cloud attendant.
“Fine,” said Aiden.
A moment later, the attendant disappeared into the floor.
“How’d you know what to say, Mini?” asked Aru.
“Yeah, nice work!” said Rudy.
