30 Dolls Lane (1/2)
We stepped through the gazebo metal grill-gla.s.s doors and stepped out onto a bustling sw.a.n.ky city street of the Second District.
Gla.s.s fairy b.a.l.l.s of white light whizzed and weaved through our s.p.a.ces as we stood before a redwood door, which formed a side entrance to a large marble-stone building with rows of stone columns that balanced a triangular roof with a winged lizard gargoyle perched on the roof's apex.
”What the?” I glanced about the elaborate fas.h.i.+on parade of sorts strutting past me.
Crowds of stylish men, common workers and fas.h.i.+onable women strutted past us or came and went through the swinging gla.s.s doors at the top of the building's grand steps and front porch.
My eyes caught sight of the bank's name glowing with silver light against the white stone.
”Oberon Bank.” I causally noted. My eyes went wide. ”Hey Jensen, this bank.”
”Yep. It's run by Gavin's family. His situation is similar to Saku's.” Jensen answered my question.
His voice rambled on with more knowledge about Gavin's family and town businesses that ended up in War and Death's ears.
My attention was diverted to the vrumming sounds from top-down breezers and less impressive flivvers automobiles that drove up and down the cobblestone road.
The smell of fuel and musk mingled with a concoction of pa.s.sing perfumes made me slightly dizzy.
”Um, is there somewhere we need to go?” I prompted Jensen back to the reason of being here.
”Delicate Ethel.” Jensen grumbled under his breath that made War give him a stern look.
”Whatever. Princess, follow.”
”Four-eyes Prat.” I answered to Jensen's name calling, which made the guy chuckle.
We weaved our way through the pa.s.sing crowds, navigating our way to the end of the street and across the road to the start of a narrow lane. Two tall cast-iron pillar posts, with frosty gla.s.s lanterns at their heads, were stationed on either side of the lane's dubious entrance. The lane's silence and coldness from its shadowy path unnerved me.
No one moved in and out of the lane. People pa.s.sed the lamp posts and lane like they weren't there.
”Um, we're not going there right?” I gulped.
Jensen answered my question when he stopped before an eerie looking lamp posts.
”h.e.l.l no!” I blurted that scored some disapproving frowns from people pa.s.sing by.
”Sorry.”
This seemed to appease the frowns, slightly as they moved on.
”Sergeant Ashdown. Are we truly entering this lane?” Death cordially asked.
He frowned with concern, his eyes moved about the lane and lamp posts.
”Yes.” Jensen sighed.
He focused on the s.p.a.ce between the lamp posts. We did the same.
I noticed a haziness of the air between the posts. A feeling of static energy made my fingertips tingle with warmth.