Outbreak: Spellslingers Academy of Magic (Sentry of the South Book 3) by Annabel Chase

Author:Annabel Chase [Chase, Annabel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Palm Press LLC
Published: 2018-08-22T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Blackwell Industries was located in a beautiful historic building in downtown Silver Moon Springs. The stone facade reminded me of a romantic castle in miniature form. Each structure in town seemed to be competing for the title of ‘most charming,’ but Blackwell’s clearly served as the jewel in the crown.

Peter and I went straight to the small desk, where a receptionist was finishing a phone call. The elf set down the phone and stared blankly at us.

“We have an appointment to see Mr. Blackwell,” I said.

She scanned the paper in front of her. “You don’t look like a Mr. Zilla.”

“That’s because I’m Mr. Zilla,” Peter said.

The elf squinted at him. “You said you want to meet with Mr. Blackwell about a business opportunity?”

“Yes, I also run an import and export business,” he said. I stifled a laugh and he pressed his foot on top of mine to silence me. “I’m hoping we might be able to do some work together now that he’s back in the quadrant. I hear he’s a great guy.”

The elf smiled dreamily. “Mr. Blackwell is my savior. When I was down on my luck with two kids and a dead husband, he took me in and gave me this job. He rescued my family from a horrible situation.” She shook her head. “No idea where I’d be now if he hadn’t stepped up.”

“That’s very admirable,” I said.

“Mr. Blackwell is so generous,” the elf said. “He donates to all sorts of charities. You couldn’t ask for a better boss. I get all my weekends off.”

“Good to know,” Peter said. “I like my professional relationships to have a touch of the personal.”

“Oh, you’ll definitely get that with Mr. Blackwell. You’ll become family before you know it. Take winding staircase number two to the third floor and he’ll be waiting for you.”

I surveyed the large stone lobby until my gaze rested on the middle of three spiral staircases. “Thank you.”

Peter and I climbed the narrow stone steps and I was careful not to lose my footing. “Well, he treats his employees well,” Peter said. “That’s a positive sign.”

“No, a positive sign would be ‘water witches held in the dungeon.’ That way, we could find Bryn and bring her home.”

Peter cast a glance over his shoulder. “Let’s not assume everyone we meet is the culprit.”

“I think that’s part of the job.” We couldn’t rule Blackwell out simply because he was nice to his receptionist. Maybe the elf reminded him of his single mother and he felt compelled to help her. That didn’t mean he had no connection to Bryn’s disappearance.

“This winding staircases make me dizzy,” Peter said. “Is it too much to ask for an elevator?”

We arrived at the third floor, which emptied directly into Blackwell’s office. The room was, in fact, the entire third floor. That was probably the reason it had a dedicated staircase.

As promised, Blackwell was already on his feet, waiting for us. With his lionlike body and scorpion tail, he looked remarkably like the mechanic. The main difference was the human head.

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