He nods, ‘It will take time to restore my magic, but yes. I would have to spend some time here to build up that power again, but during the short time you’ve been asleep, I’ve regained some already.’
I’m frozen in my spot again as I take in what he just said. There’s a chance he might get back his ability to shift, but does that mean we will have to stay here? Maybe we can find a way to unlock his magic and get back home. I miss Lynx being able to shift even though it’s all in my head. I’m torn between the two. On one hand, Lynx is everything to me and I want to put his ability to shift first. On the other, I need to get home.My family will go nuts if I don’t show up soon.Damnit! I can’t think of this right now.Okay Purgatory, here I come.
Squaring my shoulders, I open the door, walk out, and immediately bounce off a brick wall. Lynx hisses as I stumble back into him.
Cursing under my breath and rubbing my sore head, I look up and meet a solid body. Straining my neck to see what decided to block my escape, I continue my inspection.
Nope, not a wall, try a damn mountain.
On top of the massive mountain is a big head glaring down at me, I think. I’m horrible with measurements. Just ask my Aunt Patty. She was at the store and forgot what the measurements were for some fabric she wanted. So, I needed to give her my best estimate. Let’s just say, instead of her getting a full-length skirt, she now has the best looking tube top in the state of Indiana. So, needless to say, this thing is enormous. I’m pretty sure two of me would not have reached his shoulders. That’s saying something since I’m 5' 9".
I tilt my head even further and gawk. If the goose egg on my forehead has any say about it, the mountain’s skin is made out of rock and is the color of stone. Dark black splotches run across his naked chest and down its arms in swirling patterns. Shadows play across his face, blocking his features, but I could easily make out the glowing yellow eyes.
“Watch it, mutt,” he growls, reminding me of how the gravel driveway back home sounds while flying down it in my car. But who knows, it might be his polite voice.
Taking a step back into the door frame, I watch in fascination as the mountain lumbers by. In his wake, I find myself frozen, taking in another world altogether.
Following the Jolly Gray Giant with my eyes, I notice the dark blue hallway and checkered tiles changing to fluorescent orange colors. Looking down the other way, those walls are a deep red and white. Well, I see they couldn’t decide on a single color scheme.
Looking up to see how tall this place is to hold a walking mountain, I immediately lean against the doorframe and close my eyes tight. My head's spinning. I let out a deep breath, and beg my pounding heart to stop racing. The ceiling is freaking moving!
Yep, you heard me right. The ceiling is at least five stories tall, and I swear it’s moving!
That’s it. If I ever get out of here, I’m never trusting my friends to fix me another drink again. They must have drugged me to the moon and back for the effects to still be working.
Glancing back up, I notice things flying around at different speeds, shapes, and colors. They dart and twirl around, out of reach of each other as they aim for what I assume are tiny portals because they disappear when they enter them in what looks like the Milky Way. The Sistine Chapel doesn’t have shit on this work of art.
I finally take my eyes off the mesmerizing acid trip, squeeze my eyes tight once more, and knock my heels together.
There’s no place like home.
There’s no place like home.
There’s no—
‘Really? So are we Dorothy and Toto now?’Lynx chuckles.
‘Shut up!’ I hiss.
I feel the familiar prickles of tiny claws climbing my pant leg and look down. There’s a hitch in my breath as my eyes tear up at the sight of Lynx’s transformation. I haven’t seen his Marten form ever since that fateful night. Lynx now looks like a bigger and fatter weasel or ferret. His long legs allow him to grasp my pants to pull himself up as he makes his way up to my shoulder to perch like a damn parakeet. Less exciting is when his bushy tail smacks me in the face as he gets comfortable.
Voices bring my attention back to the hallway where creatures are now flooding the corridors. Tall jagged shadows weave along the walls and floors between the other supernaturals. Little winged critters zip by, and mythical creatures that I’ve only seen in storybooks walk past, barely sparing me a look. I watch as ordinary humans—if their height wasn’t double mine—walk over and pull themselves onto the second-story balcony. Sprinkled throughout are beings like Emer, swaying down the hallways with drastic skin colors and long pointy ears. Elves. Isn’t that what she said?
A few saunter past, making Emer look like a damn nun. I would do anything for their body confidence, or maybe they don’t know the word modesty. Either way, they didn’t have a problem flaunting what they had. I watch as a couple of males walk by, giving me appreciative looks, and I can’t help but return them with a wink.
How did I know they were males you ask? Dark sheer pants are worth it if you have nothing to be ashamed of... and they don’t. It’s like the upgraded version of gray sweatpants. Yes, please! I’ll take two.
“Damn!” I purr under my breath. What can I say? I’m a thirsty bitch.
‘You know, Rez, they’ve got nothing on me,’ Lynx says while rubbing against my cheek. ‘I can break the world’s record in length and girth.’
‘Suuure, we would need a magnifying glass and tweezers to even find yours.’I chuckle.
‘Be in denial all you want, chica. You know I can prove it. I’m confident in my masculinity.’
I have no comeback for that.‘B to the itch said H-3, right? Do you have any idea which way we need to go?’I ask, changing the subject.
‘Nope,’ he says, popping the P.
