All the Stars and Teeth(35)
With the edge of his boot, Bastian scoots the necklace off to the side. “Let’s keep moving.”
Ferrick nods and follows him to the back wall. I glance over my shoulder, ensuring they’re not paying attention as I wrap my hand in one of my shirts to hide my exposed skin. I scoop the necklace back up and tuck it safely into the stolen boots.
The chance to study Zudoh’s magic has been handed to me, and I don’t intend to pass it up.
I follow the boys to the back wall of the shop. The wall looks no different from the others, except for the tiny markings of crossbones. Bastian knocks on them once. Then twice, and suddenly the wall splits clearly down the middle and opens like a door.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Ferrick and I stumble back in shock as an alarmingly tall man knocks the hangers back and peeks out from behind them. He wears a rich lavender suit that looks as though he’s pulled it straight from the constellations. A shooting star flies across his legs and onto his vest, shimmering through the sky that winks with his every step.
“Evening!” he says pleasantly, as though there’s nothing strange about standing in the middle of what was a solid wall only seconds before. Then he squints at Bastian, and his lips curve into a grin. “Well, now! I didn’t think we’d see you any time soon.” He stretches a long arm out to push the wall open wider, as if opening a door. On either side of him, trousers tilt askew on their hangers. “Welcome, welcome. Come on in.”
The wall continues to stretch until it reveals a room of a dozen colors, enchanted lights swirling behind him. When the man steps back, those colors reflect off his cool umber skin in shades of pink, orange, and then a vibrant, sharp red.
My body tenses with uncertainty, but there’s no denying the echo of soldiers somewhere nearby. I force myself to follow behind Bastian as he steps into the strange lights, and with a nervous glance, Ferrick does the same.
The wall slams shut behind us.
The air is hazy with pungent cigar smoke and raucous laughter I somehow couldn’t hear only a moment ago. My eyes widen as I take in the enchanted interior. The marble floor shimmers an iridescent turquoise that darkens and stretches like the ocean before it shifts to a deep violet. The farther in we venture, the louder the music of piano and horns becomes.
Aside from the man in the star suit, the only ones inside this strange place are women who do not don the typical Ikaean style I’ve grown accustomed to. While the colors remain shades of soft pastels, the dresses are shorter. Tighter and simpler. Two women with pink hair cropped to their chins and matching satin dresses kick their feet and dance with the quick rhythm of the music, sipping from tall flutes of effervescent or deep goblets of wine. Others spend their time smoking cigars that puff sweet violet smoke and chatting, while more fill the back booths, sitting with their bodies pressed too closely to only be having friendly conversation. A few of them wear attractive suits tailored to fit their bodies perfectly, something I’ve yet to see any woman in Ikae wear.
Across the floor, behind the piano, a glass wall overlooks Ikae’s bay. And though we can see people as they pass by, no one seems to be able to see us.
“This is impossible,” I whisper, breathless. “How did we not see this place before?”
“Because it wasn’t there before.” The man in the star suit laughs. “It was covered by an enchantment. When you find the entrance to our club, that’s when we lift the veil. And we never use the same entrance twice. Now, let me help you with those.” He rests his hand atop my pile of clothing, and the trousers at the top lift in the air. I choke on my breath as the other pieces follow, folding themselves into the trousers and shrinking. Shrinking, shrinking, shrinking, until the entire stack is no larger than my pinkie. He draws a small teal ribbon from his pocket and swiftly ties it around the miniature trousers before handing them to me.
I promptly tuck them into my satchel. Beside me, Ferrick rubs his eyes in disbelief.
“Just untie it when you want them,” the man says, only smiling at the strange expression I’m surely making. “What’s your name, lovely?”
“We’re not here to chat, Liam,” Bastian interrupts. “We’re here to talk to Shanty about a job.”
“Shanty, huh?” Liam sets his hand atop Ferrick’s pile of clothing and repeats the enchantment. “Let me guess, this has something to do with all those guards running around outside? I suppose they must be looking for Princess Amora, don’t you think? I heard her ceremony was one for the books; it’s a shame I missed it.” His silver eyes flash to mine, and the smile on his glittering lips stretches.
Magic clenches my gut as I instinctively set a hand upon the dagger beneath my cloak.
Liam gently shakes his head. “There’s no need for that. We make no judgments here at Barracuda Lounge. This is a place of … opportunity.”
“Barracuda Lounge?” My skin crawls as I think back to Bastian’s conversation with the woman at the tavern. “Just what is this place, exactly?” Liam is no longer the only one paying attention to us. Behind him, dozens of women examine us with keen interest.
“This is where you come when you need the type of help or information you can’t find anywhere else.” It’s a girl who answers—a beautiful blond with generous curves. She wears a slinky red satin dress that clings to her body and leaves little to the imagination. Her eyes are the same color, as are her lips, which pucker sourly as she glances at Bastian.