《Stormstruck》Vertigo
Advertisement
There's a surge of adrenaline and a sensation like having a great weight dropped into my stomach. My head reels with vertigo and confusion—expecting an immediate drop but finding something solid and unseen where thin air should be. For a few wild heartbeats I panic. Then my brain makes sense of my surroundings.
The "basement" is a crescent-shaped room made entirely of glass or some other strong, clear material. Reinforced by steel panes and supports, it cups the waterfall where it issues from the mountain. Its two points meet the mountain's face at either side of it, one of which is where I now stand.
For a minute or two I'm frozen, trying to get my bearings and fighting back nausea. Ahead of me at the center of the crescent, the metal latticework comes together in tight, complex patterns. There's lanterns, tables, seats...and what looks like a full bar. A dozen or so people are gathered already, most of them looking my way. One of them breaks from the group and comes toward me down the curving hall.
"Ashwyn? Are you alright?" E.J.'s face is knotted up in concern. "Oh spirits, I'm so sorry," her speed increases to almost a jog. A second later her arms are around me. "I've never surprised anyone with it before. I didn't think—"
"It's ok, I'm ok," I insist. But I feel cold, and I look terrible, if E.J.'s expression is any indication.
"I'm so sorry. I'll help you back upstairs." Her arm curls around my shoulder and she turns with me, but I put a hand up.
"No, please. I want to join everyone. I just needed a minute."
"Alright," she says, looking doubtful. She moves her arm to my back, keeping it there as we make our slow way down the hall. I'm grateful for the support because I genuinely need it...but I'd pretend to even if I didn't.
"Here, sit down," she says, guiding me through the throng to one of the plush leather armchairs. "Can I bring you something to drink? Some food? We always just do a bunch of appetizers for these parties, but—"
"Yes," I say. "Pick for me, please? I just need to...to adjust for minute."
"Of course."
She glides off. Breathing deep, I spread my arms across the supple leather of the chair and attempt to ground myself. Then I look out over the night-veiled mountains and trees. A river snakes away from the shattered pool at the waterfall's base, shining silver as it catches intermittent flashes of moonlight. Heavy clouds build on the horizon, crowding closer.
My hostess returns with a drink—which turns out to be dark rum mixed with ginger beer—and a loaded plate in her hands. Setting them on the little glass table before me, she takes the seat beside my own. The other guests begin to coalesce around her, around us, drawn in as if by gravitational pull. I nibble my way through sweet meats while she introduces me to each one.
Advertisement
Hornsby is one of the first, but he cuts her off with a merry "We've already made one another's acquaintance." After that I meet the Keeper of House and Grounds and Head of Security, Ms. Creed—a fit middle-aged woman with red hair and scars cutting across her right temple. She smiles warmly at me. The crow sitting on her shoulder caws.
"You can call me Kat," she says, before popping some fried calamari into her mouth. "And this is Abraxas," she adds, feeding a bit of crispy tentacle to her feathered companion. He caws again. "Shush, 'Braxy. Be polite."
The chef's name turns out to be Thesas Gray—fittingly dire. He acknowledges me with a grunt. Almost everyone after him is introduced by name alone, with no mention of their role in the household. All-in-all there's around thirty-five of us in attendance, and I can't help but wonder—not for the first time—why E.J.'s part-time home needs such an extensive staff. If all of them even are staff, which I'm not sure they are.
Eventually Hornsby takes a seat at my other side. As E.J. gets caught up in conversation with other householders, he strikes one up with me.
"How are you enjoying your stay at Stormhaven so far?"
"Oh, wow. I...didn't know it was called that." I pause as I try to decide how best to answer his question. "It's amazing here."
He grins. "It is, isn't it? I'm pinching myself every day over this job, and I've been here for three years now."
I take a drink while I consider that. "I've actually been curious. It just seems like kind of a large staff for a part-time home. Or are some of them family?" I choose my words carefully. I don't want to seem like I'm prying too much, though somehow it feels like I am.
His eyes widen, surprised by the question. "Oh, you don't know? Almost everyone here is assisting Ms. Butler with research and development, or working on independent projects. And they're all personal friends of hers too at this point, family as far as any of us are concerned. She provides them with room, board and all the equipment and funding they need."
"What kind of research?"
Hornsby's eyes light up. "All kinds," he says. "There are specialists in technology and engineering, umbrology, biology, ecology, and chemistry. Not just research for Umbratech, but anything Ms. Butler finds worthwhile."
"Oh," I breathe, looking over at E.J. where she talks animatedly with a cluster of her people. Her colleagues and friends. Her family. I can feel myself falling further in love with her by the second.
Wait...love?
"She's somethin" Hornsby agrees, raising his glass in tribute before downing the rest of it.
A loud tink-tink-tink draws our attention to Kat, who holds her fluted glass high while Abraxas taps it with his beak. "Your attention, please," she calls. She has it almost immediately. Everyone falls quiet as she steps aside so that E.J. can take her place. Someone whose name I don't remember moves through the crowd, handing out glasses of sparkling wine from a tray.
Advertisement
"Thank you all for gathering here tonight to celebrate my glorious return." She pauses, making way for some groans, jeering, and a few cheers. "Oh, and for the anniversary of our good Hornsby's entrance into the world too, of course," she adds after a moment, smirking and winking at the individual in question.
"I'm so pleased with his general existence, in fact, that I've decided to promote him."
There's a sudden intake of breath beside me and cheers from all around us. "To the man of the evening and my brand-new, one-and-only personal assistant, James Timmison Hornsby!" She raises her glass high, and we all follow suit, clinking our drinks together with whoever's close enough before tossing them back.
Uproarious cheering and applause ensues, in which I enthusiastically join. By the end of it, my ears are ringing and Hornsby's cheeks are bright red and shining with happy tears. He couldn't look more pleased if he tried.
It takes me a few moments to notice my own complete lack of jealousy. I'm proud of myself—and more than a little shocked. I don't care about the job anymore. I've wanted a place in her life from the moment I met her...but I already have that now.
And I might—might—be just a little gratified that even though I didn't get the job, none of the other interviewees there that day did either.
Hornsby gets up to accept his congratulations and a pile of gifts. At some point, Chef disappears and then returns with a massive cake on a silver platter. It's salted chocolate and lavender with silver and gold candles. Hornsby blows out the little flames in one go, then takes it upon himself to cut and pass out slices.
When I get mine I move to the outer edge of the gathering space, taking a new seat. I let the sounds of happy conversation and laughter wash over me as I savor the cake. My eyes wander back and forth between the nightcloaked mountains all around us to E.J, entranced by both.
Eventually our host catches my eye and makes her way over to me. "Are you alright over here by yourself?"
"Oh yes," I assure her. "Just...enjoying the ambience." I wave a hand to indicate our general surroundings.
"Is there anything I can do for you, get for you?"
I shake my head. "I'm great. Don't let me keep you from everyone."
"I'm exactly where I want to be," she says, and my heart melts into a puddle. Heat rushes to my face, and I don't know what to do other than to smile up at her. She takes the seat beside mine.
"I know you didn't come here under the best of circumstances, or even by choice...but I hope you're enjoying your stay. I'm sorry I've had to leave you alone so much."
"I understand why you have to, it's alright. And Hornsby told me about all the research you're funding. I think it's incredible."
She shrugs. "I just have a lot of money. I try to put it to good use. It's not all philanthropy, though. A lot of it's for Umbratech."
"As if your products don't improve people's lives,' I say sardonically, pulling my companion from my pocket and waving it at her. E.J. gives me a weak little smile. It's gone the next instant as a violet light flashes across the sky to the north. Her gaze jerks towards it, her lips drawing together in a hard line.
"Speaking of my business, I have some which I'm obligated to attend to," she says, standing up. "I hope you enjoy the rest of the party." Then she bends at the waist and—taking me completely by surprise—gives me a quick kiss atop my curls. She lingers for half a heartbeat before pulling away. "And don't be afraid to talk to people, alright? Well, except maybe Chef," she adds with a laugh.
Then she's off, and I'm left with a large group of near-strangers and a view that any artist would kill for.
~*~
I'm not sure what it is, exactly, that keeps me to myself for the rest of the night. Intimidation, most likely—and a sense like I don't belong. I'm just an undeserving intruder in this family of brilliance. Kat edges over to me at one point, doing her best to make conversation. She even lets me pet Abraxas. He and I become quick friends.
Aside from that and a few more little chats with Hornsby, though, I'm on the outer edges looking in. Learning what I can about this vital part of E.J.'s world. And of course, taking in that view.
Spirits, that view.
Periodically the thunder rolls, and another bolt of violet lightning illuminates the landscape from a new angle.
I can't tear myself away from it. Which is why, by around two a.m., I'm still here. The last to leave. I've spread out on a love seat, slowly finishing off one of the bottles of sparkling wine as I lose myself in the present. There's still a good deal of food left over, and a bathroom just one floor above which I've already made use of more than once. The rhythmic rushing of the waterfall has become a soothing backdrop to my thoughts.
I'm considering just staying the night down here when I hear it. Something scrabbling at the door down the hall. My breath catching in my throat as my eyes fix on the door. The latch twitches, turns, then bangs open as whatever's on the other side throws its weight against it.
Advertisement
- In Serial106 Chapters
Exterminator Dungeon
A factory super-A.I. core wakes up to find itself in a fantasy world. It doesn’t have any other motive other than to finish its only instruction: Produce anti-mana. With nothing but a few metal puppets to its disposal, Custodian will have to adapt to change; whether for peace or for total extermination of every organic being to achieve its goal.
8 198 - In Serial49 Chapters
The Primordial Tower [Re]
The Eternal Lion, Conqueror of the 98th floor, Lord of Destruction watched in horror as his companions were slain, one by one. Humanity had made a fundamental mistake in assumption from the beginning, for this was no fair trial. His rage knew no bounds, but alas it was to no avail. The only reason he still drew breath was because of a being stronger than even God offering him his twisted pity, making him watch as his companions, his sworn comrades, were slain one by one in front of him as a punishment for daring to affront Him. He only saw one final glimmer of hope to overturn this accursed outcome, which lay in the reward for completing the hidden piece on the 98th floor. [The Inheritance] Allow your knowledge and experience to flow back in the river of time, back to the beginning of the Primordial Tower's awakening on Earth. Entrust the fate of humanity to one of your kind. Cost of Activation: Erasure of existence from the river of time. To think that all his efforts would only lead to becoming a stepping stone for another. With a final roar in defiance, he activated the skill. "Let the roar of the eternal lion tear through the boundaries of time." Get ready for one hell of an adventure. Now do it all over again! Follow Noah Smith's journey, a young man struggling to find a job in a sluggish economy, as his life gets overturned and the fate of the world is suddenly thrust upon his shoulders! One opportunity to change his very perception of reality, will Noah rise to the occasion and give Earth the savior it needs, or will he watch from the sidelines as it heads to damnation? Sometimes, an ant can see what the mighty lion, in hubris, overlook. Updates Friday.
8 183 - In Serial6 Chapters
The Gods' Game (An epic fantasy LitRPG)
The start of an epic LITRPG fantasy adventure...Of a game played between gods where the playing field is the world itself and the pieces, living beings. A young man is caught unwittingly between, in a strange world, without allies or help, and must battle for survival using his wits and magic alone.Pawn or Player...his fate is his to decide...which will he prove to be?Accidentally summoned from Earth to the world of Myelad, Kyran becomes embroiled in an eons-old war between the gods. Earning their ire, he is sentenced to die. To escape the gods’ trap, Kyran must become a player in their game that even the gods would learn to fear...For those who enjoy epic tales of fantasy, this is a coming-of-age story of Kyran Seversan, a young man from Earth, stranded in another world where magic not only exists, but is part of an elaborate game between immortals.Enter the world of Myelad and join Kyran on his epic journey! Book 1 - 5 of the Gods' Game have already been released on amazon. You can grab them here! Or you can wait to read the story on Royal Road as I release chapters of Crota, Book 1 of the Gods' Game over the next few weeks. Hi, I am Rohan Vider and the author of the Dragon Mage Saga and the Gods' Game, both of which have been previously published on Amazon. If you want to support my writing, you can find the Gods' Game here! or followe me on Patreon. I hope you enjoy the story. Happy reading! Release Schedule Book 1: Two per day going forward.
8 112 - In Serial14 Chapters
All Things Must End
Milo thought he always lived an ordinary life. He had always seen miraculous occurrences but never put them to mind. Milo will discover that he is from one of the few families that have a Singula. Some will view him as being weak others will see him as strong, but only he knows the truth. What is a Singula? It gives its user spectacular powers and makes them "super men." How will Milo live in this world that he has newly discovered, follow along with Milo as he goes on an adventure as he strives to become the one who knows all.
8 436 - In Serial7 Chapters
Of Blood and Bones
In a land filled with terrible behemoths and towering leviathans, what place will man take? Will he hide high in frozen mountain fortresses eaking out a survuival amongst the frigid peaks? Or will he build and defend great nations surrounded by walls that reach to the sky? What does a people, or an individual, do to survive in this strange and hostile world? What powers may be found by those willing and brave enough to harness the blood and bones of the very gods that walk among them?
8 93 - In Serial8 Chapters
JASON VOORHEES X (WEREWOLF) READER
ummmm....the title says it all hehe !!!! :D
8 189