California Gothic

Chapter 11

When Colt arrived at Apartment 161 on the night of the Chronicle Christmas party, after getting lost looking for the mislabeled second-story apartment, he stood at the door in an all-black suede suit with a forest green silk tie that matched his emerald skin. His beard sculpted and head clean-shaven, he was as handsome as he'd ever been. The robust cologne he wore intoxicated and aroused Morgan, not that either was hard for her to achieve around him. She took his hand and he lead her to their ride.

She was in a long red gown with a single strap and glittering thread woven throughout. Two long slits went up to either side of her legs, revealing the blue butterfly on her right hip. Her legs were clad in her most sheer pair of tights and lifted herself with her favorite red pumps. Her hair was curled and styled meticulously, making her look like what her aunt called her: a princess. Her eyes were shadowed with a dark, defined crease, a contrast to her pale skin; her lips were as red as the blood she drank.

The town car Colt rented was already more than what Morgan was expecting; spacious, lush, and capable of closing off the front seat with tinted glass. They sat in the quiet for at least half the drive, a certain childish meekness fell over them. Morgan didn't mind, she simply held his hand and smiled. Most of the time he was smiling back.

"I'm really glad we're going tonight." She said at last.

"I am too." He smirked "I'm not entirely sure why you like me but I'm grateful for it."

"There's a lot to like about you." Morgan said, "Are we going to... make the step tonight?"

"I think so." Colt said scratching the back of his head.

"When?" She asked eagerly.

"Well... unless someone sees us get out of the same car I don't think we'll have to tell the news the moment we walk in the door" Colt said, looking onward.

"You do want to take that step, right?"

"Yes... I do." Colt said, with a brief smile before returning his gaze out the window. Something about him was off. Morgan knew it but she couldn't begin to understand why.

"Okay," Morgan said, leaning forward to roll up the partition glass. "I found something strange... A new development. Like, I don't even know how to describe it."

"Should we be talking here?" Colt asked.

"I don't think we'll be safe talking at the Chronicle either..." Morgan said "Ziusudra has eyes and ears everywhere. Remember the watchdogs? It goes deeper than that. They have... ways of getting around normal security conventions... But he seems to be fond of me, giving me a lot more slack and forgiveness than any of his other servants. He lets me come and go unopposed... and then there's that strange something."

"Go on." He said, his interest peaked.

"He's got a massive spa in his penthouse..." She began

"Must be nice." Colt joked.

"It's not. It's hellish."

Colt blinked hard and cocked his head.

"It's not an ordinary spa. It leads to somewhere." Morgan struggled to recall the details of the otherworld "I th-think it's a gateway: to another plane of existence."

"Damn he must give you that good shit." Colt laughed aloud, holding her hand closer as he tickled himself. Until he looked over and saw Morgan's thousand-yard stare. "Wait... Really?"

"I was... attacked." Morgan confessed.

"Oh my god, Morgan." He replied his brow drooping "Are you okay?"