Adena pushed her sunglasses up and rested them on the top of her head and took a deep breath. Her eyes didn't take long to adjust as the same brilliant sunshine that was sparkling outside, was washing the restaurant in a warm peaceful glow. It was an illusion of sorts as the long and narrow building was wedged between much larger buildings that allowed little to no sunlight.
There were apartments on the upper floor so you couldn't even put skylights in to capture light from above. Adena and Caleb had sprung for specialized lighting in the space, large square lights, framed in what looked like a window sill sat flush with the ceiling, giving the impression of skylights. The lights were brilliant, and due to the LED technology gave off a white radiant light that mimicked the same tone as the sun. It had transformed the minimal space from claustrophobic to open and airy.
The brightness of the space made it easy to transition from outside to indoors without the blinding darkness that usually came from walking in a building from outside. Adena especially loved the evenings. There was a dial located in each room that with the turn of a knob could turn the brilliant white into a smoldering sunset of pinks and oranges.
She had played up the aging brick, letting it show through and accenting it with colors that gave the building an almost runes of ancient worlds meets New York chic feel. The brilliant lighting allowed it to feel like you were outside and so Adena had played up the earth tones and deep greens, scattering real plants around to give the air a fresh smell while allowing it to covertly filter the air and aid in the illusion of the outdoor feel. When everything was said and done, she had transformed the minimal space into an open, airy space that was warm and inviting, almost intimate without being suffocating.
She ran her hands over the front desk with a smile. The smooth, creamy texture of the handcrafted wood was Caleb's work. He'd fashioned the top of the desk and set it in a deep and rich mahogany color that sat in contrast to the brick that wrapped around, forming a solid base. The brickwork perfectly matched the rest of the building in age and color. They'd been lucky as a large brick fireplace had once stood in the building but had been taken down during a remodel years ago. Instead of hauling the brick out, the workers had just left the rubble in a large pile in the middle of the space.
Caleb had spotted the pile of debris with enthusiasm. Scratching his chin he'd circled it several times, turning this way and that while he contemplated what he could do with it. The result hadn't been anything less than impressive. He'd taken the abandoned brick and create something that looked like it had always been one with the building.
Adena tapped the wood, looking around and wondering where the hostess was at. Before too long, she heard a sing-song voice call out from across the restaurant in greeting. Adena turned to see a short and slender woman with silver-white hair and warm honey almond-shaped eyes walking towards her briskly. Her waist-long silver hair was free-flowing today and tiny purple highlights peeked out from underneath as she walked. Her bronzed skin stood in stark contrast against her bright white smile as she approached Adena.
"I thought you had today off, boss," Kit said stopping short of Adena, hands on her hips.
"Unfortunately there is never any rest for the wicked," Adena retorted with a mirrored smile. "I'm here to see Enid, she called about trouble with a vender."
Kit looked around, suddenly her body was alert as she looked back at Adena, "Which vender?" She asked directly.
"Keinuka is what Enid said," Adena answered, looking around.
"Andelle and Alec are off today, should I call them in?" Kit asked, her mood suddenly serious.
"Not yet, I don't even really know what Enid has to say yet. I just know she said that it was something that needed to be discussed in person," said Adena.
"Let me know if I need to get them in okay?" Kit asked, "Enid is in the back, last I knew she was cussing about something with her chilies," Kit said, her smile was small but genuine.
Adena smiled and nodded walking towards the kitchen without another word. She could hear Enid cussing before she saw her. As she pushed the doors open a smile spread over Adena's face as she spotted Enid. The old woman stood perched on a stool to be able to stand over top of the large industrial pot in front of her. Short and round with a long white braid to her knees she stood fuming as she took a spoonful of stew and grimaced in revulsion. Adena could see the lines that time had etched into her face deepened by disgust and displeasure as her wrinkled lips puckered.
"Becky these chilies are not fresh! That man was a god, damned liar! I've tasted bell peppers with more heat! I swear I will hex that man to the deepest fires of hell. Maybe then he'll get a lesson on real heat!" She said, finishing with a sharp click of the tongue.
"And here I thought you were a good witch," Adena said sardonically.
"Child, even the best witch can be pushed too far," Enid retorted wiping her hands on her apron in disgust.
Once her mind was made up to discard the slop she turned to Adena and her face transformed. The lines of age were still carved deep when she smiled but it made her look less intimidating and her golden-brown eyes warmed. Then, as though remembering why Adena was there a far more serious look settled over Enid's face.
She stepped down from her stool and shot an order to have the stew thrown out and Becky to fetch real chilies from the market over her shoulder as she turned to the back office, motioning for Adena to follow.
Adena followed obediently but the other woman's sudden shift in mood sent a tight feeling through Adena as a stone settled in her gut. She repositioned her purse and walked the short distance to the office. When they were both inside, Enid closed the door with an abrupt motion and crossed to the desk. She plopped herself into a chair next to the desk with a deep sigh as the weight was lifted from her limbs.
She waited a second until Adena sat down and leaned forward, opening the desk and fishing something out of one of the drawers. As her hand reappeared she had a large bottle of Tequila that she set down and reached back in, pulling out two glasses that she set on the desk as well.
Adena eyed her, "So you've been prepared for this talk then?"
"No one is prepared for this talk," Enid said, her gravelly voice registering the fatigue her face suddenly showed. "We all knew this wasn't going to last forever."
"So he's back?" Adena asked in a shaky voice. The color had drained out of her face and a tremor had begun to shake her body.
"It's more than that," Enid said, avoiding looking at Adena she began to pour the liquor into the glasses and pushed one over to Adena. "According to Jikon, he's taken Topan," Enid said and grimaced as the fire from the Tequila bit her tongue.
A small squeak escaped Adena's throat as her heart slammed into her ribs in response. She had to lower her head between her legs as she forced air into her lungs. Fear and desperation crawling over her skin.
"She's not ready," Adena forced out in a hoarse whisper.
"We don't have a choice anymore Adena," the older woman said. "From what the spies have reported, he doesn't know where she's at yet but it's only a matter of time, you know that."
"What if she hates us when she finds out what we've done?" Adena asked, her voice barely audible.
"You couldn't have kept her there, Adena. He'd already got to her once, you only had one option. If he gets his hands on her…" Enid said as her voice died out. "Regardless of her feelings towards all of us, we're going to have to break the binding spell. As it is, she's been under it for too long. It's going to take time for her to come out of it safely. She needs to have most of her wits and strength before we can move."
"She will never forgive us…" Adena said.
Enid shrugged with a sad expression, "We had to protect her. Hopefully, she'll understand we didn't have many options."
Enid leaned forward and pressed a button on the phone. Her eyes flickered as someone picked up on the other end, "Yes, call in Andelle and Alec we need to have a meeting right away," she paused, listening, "correct, we need to make our extraction plans."
Enid didn't wait, she just hung up and looked back at Adena who sat in her chair, cupping the glass of Tequila like a woman who's world had just come crashing down around her.
Adena's eyes blinked and a hardness fell over them as though deciding something she looked at Enid, "Should I have Caleb come in as well?"
"No. Obviously, he's going to have to finalize the plans but I think you can relay to him what we have and he can come in later when we have some ideas," Enid said softly.
Adena nodded in agreement