Page 24 of Orange Lake
How come I can’t take my eyes off you?
I shivered. Was that just sweet talk or he feels the same pull that I feel for him?
Then he opened the door and dragged me inside. I enjoyed the way Coone had his mouth wide open in shock. He caught me looking. He closed his mouth in a tight line and glared at me like I had no business being in this room with all the important people in this town.
I hadn’t been inside this room. There are giant windows that almost reach the ceiling. The sight is gorgeous and visually appealing to one’s eyes. The moons are out and I can see the solar lights lighting up the garden near the windows. Zirc let go of me and went to the giant wooden table that screamed executive conference table, complete with high ergonomic chairs. No wheels though. The chairs are floating off the ground.
The wall panel behind him though is a huge contrast to everything inside the room. The chairs looked like leather but there are soft pillows, big and small, scattered around for lounging. Everything is both soft and hard at the same time.
How typical if they really are related to the felines, that they like soft things. The wooden panel is probably a scratching post? I snickered. I ignored the sharp looks given my way.
I went to a huge pile of pillows. Then luxuriously went down with my arms wide open, belly up, face towards the ceilings. I tried to imitate how to make a snow angel. They all smell nice. It smelled more of the woods outside, it smelled clean. I can sleep here all day.
“What are you doing?”
I lifted my head a little and peered at Coone, surprised his face is only a few inches from mine. He looked curious.
“I like the soft pillows.”
“I don’t think you know what you got yourself into,” now he looked curiously morbid.
I stiffened. Had I crossed a cultural boundary?
Slowly, I pushed myself up but it was kind of hard because the pillows are all soft. I managed to turn myself on my front but my arms and legs are all over the place. I refused to ask the help of Coone. I glanced that he looked smug all of a sudden.
I tried to untangle myself with the pillows that suddenly turned into a quicksand. A cloud of soft pillows that I don’t really mind to get out of.I can hide in here while they do man business or whatever it is they needed to meet for.
All of a sudden, I saw Zirc to my right side. His face looked thunderous. Both his arms are in front of his chest but they looked strained. As if he is preventing himself from reaching out to me.
“What?” What did I do wrong now?
“Oh,” I heard the sound of Roqs beyond this mountain of pillow.
“Now Zirc,” he warned.
I looked at Roqs just beyond a huge neon violet-bordering-on-pink mountain pillow. Zirc’s face transformed to super scary Zirc. The one I saw when those gang tried to kill us.
He pulled me up so suddenly I honestly thought my arm flew off the window. I oomphed and bumped into a nearby sofa. I did not see this sofa before hiding behind the pillows.
I saw his rigid back and he was slightly shaking. Coone is not moving but he is not relaxed either. His muscles strained. He is only a few feet away. His short tail is agitated. Swishing back and forth. It looks cute but I sensed something was not right.
Nobody was moving. The only sounds I can hear is the harsh breathing of Zirc. I can barely hear my own breathing and realized I was holding my breath.
I tried to stand up but Coone sent me a sharp look that made me freeze. Something is happening with Zirc and they look almost afraid of him.
Seconds went by. Then minutes.Is he trying to control his beast? This meeting is more serious than I thought. It’s been hardly just a few moments since we entered this room. What set him off?
Then we heard a deep inhale then a long exhale from Zirc. He did it again for five times. I noticed that Coone visibly relaxed. I saw Roqs walking quietly until he is beside Coone. All of them have very light feet.
“Don’t move yet Brynn,” Roqs warned when I tried to move towards Zirc.
We were all shocked when Zirc reached out and aggressively pushed Roqs. He pushed so hard that Roqs tumbled way back towards the windows. That must be like ten or fifteen feet? So many things happened at once in a short amount of time.
Coone moved to block Zirc from advancing to Roqs. Roqs recovered and took an aggressive stance. His teeth snapped towards Zirc, making his features harsh. I stay rooted on the spot. I must have stood up at some point but did not move away from the sofa. I can see Coone’s back is straining to stop a 250 pound of pure muscle to reach Roqs.
Jigen and Volks entered the room and helped Coone in restraining Zirc. But that seemed to trigger something in Roqs who attacked Jigen. It turned into a full blown fist fight, or cat fight, literally big cats with howling and hissing. Coone was kicked out violently of the circle but I can’t follow who did it. He glared at me first before he jumped back into the melee. The huge conference table got pushed back several times. Chairs skidded even though they have no wheels to the walls and windows. Good thing the windows are sturdy. There’s no broken glass. Yet. I try to sit this one out and literally just sat back again on the sofa.
Crix entered. The Master of the house. He looked shocked. Then he too glared at me. I hunched even though I’m like why me?
