werewolf thoughts

“This seems way too easy,” I muttered. “If it’s a prison, shouldn’t this be locked?”
Andi let out a low growl, and I could sense her agreement and suspicion.
My mouth still tingled, much more strongly now. Thomas was close. “Guess there’s not a lot of choice here.” I opened the door, slowly and quietly.
The door didn’t open onto some kind of dungeon. It didn’t open up to show us a vault, either. Instead, Andi and I found ourselves staring at a long hallway every bit as opulent as those above, with large and ornate doors spaced generously along it. Each door had a simple number on it, wrought in what looked like pure silver. Very subdued lighting was spaced strategically along its length, leaving it comfortably dim without being dark.
Andi’s low growl turned into a confused little sound and she tilted her head to one side.
“Yeah,” I said, perplexed. “It looks like … a hotel. There’s even a sign showing fire-escape routes on the wall.”
Andi gave her head a little shake, and I sensed enough of her emotions to understand her meaning. What the hell?
“I know,” I said. “Is this … living quarters for the svartalves? Guest accommodations?”
Andi glanced up at me and flicked her ears. Why are you asking me? I can’t even talk.
“I know you can’t. Just thinking out loud.”
Andi blinked, her ears snapping toward me, and she gave me a sidelong glance. You heard me?
“I didn’t so much hear you as just … understand you.”
She leaned very slightly away from me. Just when I thought you couldn’t get any more weird and disturbing.
I gave her a maliciously wide smile and the crazy eyes I used to use to scare my kid brothers and sisters.
Andi snorted and then began testing the air with her nose. I watched her closely. Her hackles rose and I saw her crouch down. There are things here. Too many scents to sort out. Something familiar, and not in a good way.
“Thomas is close. Come on.” We started forward, and I kept my face turned directly toward the tingling signature of my tracking spell. It began to bear to the right, and as we got to the door to room 6, the tingle suddenly swung to the very corner of my mouth, until I turned to face the doorway directly. “Here, in six.”
Andi looked up and down the hall, her eyes restless, her ears trying to swivel in every direction. I don’t like this.


Brief Cases, Bombshells Page 253-254