"Oh my god, she's adorable!" Tobi's voice rang out below her. "I just want to hug her and squeeze her and call her George!"
Beth's ears flattened against her head in annoyance. Wheeling around mid-flight, she dove straight for Tobi's head. Her small but sharp claws extended as she landed right on top of his intricate Viking-inspired hairstyle, snagging and twisting in the complex tapestry of thin braids woven through his longer hair, disrupting hours of careful work.
"Ow ow ow!" Tobi yelped, ducking and trying to dislodge her. "Get her off! This isn't funny!"
Tyr's rich laughter filled the room as he watched his brother dance around, trying unsuccessfully to remove the winged mini leopard from his head without getting scratched.
"He said that about you the first time he saw you in your shifter form, too," he told her.
With a tiny roar of triumph, Beth launched herself off Tobi's head and fluttered over to land neatly on Tyr's shoulder. She settled into place, her miniature self nestling snugly against his neck as if she'd perched there a thousand times before. Hervelvet-soft wings folded gracefully against her sides as she lifted one diminutive paw, proceeding to wash it with exaggerated care. Her tail, a perfect miniature of her clouded leopard's, curled possessively around Tyr's neck.
His shoulder shook with quiet laughter beneath her small form. The scent of his skin filled her nostrils - a complex mixture of leather, night air, and something uniquely him.
"Serves you right," Tyr said to his brother, reaching up to scratch behind Beth's ears. His fingers found exactly the right spot, making her purr despite her attempts to maintain her dignified pose. "Calling a fierce predator 'adorable' - what did you expect?"
Tobi shot them both a wounded look as he attempted to salvage his thoroughly mussed hair. "My braids - they're ruined! Do you know how long it takes to get these things done?"
Beth paused in her grooming just long enough to give him her best feline smirk before returning to meticulously cleaning her paw, her tail tightening slightly around Tyr's neck in smug satisfaction.
Tyr nudged her. "Okay, Change back. There's more we need to show you."
After nipping his ear to show her displeasure, Beth leaped off Tyr's shoulder, and shifted back to her human form. He steadied her with one hand as she regained her balance.
"Okay, pay attention, this is important," Tyr said, moving toward the ornate wardrobe that dominated one wall. He pulled open a drawer and revealed a sleek keypad that seemed oddly modern against the antique wood. His fingers danced across the numbers in a practiced sequence.
A soft click echoed through the room, and the entire wardrobe began to swing away from the wall with silent precision. Beth's eyes widened as she stepped closer.
"Cool! A secret passage?"
Tobi's grin widened. "Even better. Just wait."
Beth peered into the revealed opening. What initially appeared to be a dark shaft resolved into a circular space with a gleaming metal pole running vertically through its center. The polished surface caught the dim light, disappearing into shadows below.
Before she could ask what it was for, Tobi launched himself at the pole. His hands gripped the metal as he swung his body around it with fluid grace, vanishing downward with a whoop of joy.
Beth ran to the opening, laughter bubbling up as she looked down. "A firehouse pole? Seriously?"
"After you." Tyr's eyes sparkled with amusement as he gestured toward the pole.
Beth grabbed the cool metal with both hands, the thrill of adventure coursing through her as she let herself slide into the darkness below.
Tobi's hand shot out, yanking Beth aside just as Tyr slid down the pole behind them. His quick movement saved her from being knocked over as Tyr landed with vampiric grace.
A soft click drew Beth's attention to where Tobi pressed a recessed button on the wall. Above them, metal whispered against metal as the wardrobe slid back into position.
"Security measure," Tyr told her, noting her curious expression. "That locks the entrance upstairs. Even if someone manages to crack the keypad code up there, they can't get in until I enter the release sequence down here."
Beth turned in a slow circle, her mind reeling. The underground expanse stretched before them - impossibly vast, easily the size of the warehouse above. She'd expected a simple basement. Not this massive complex. High ceilings disappeared into shadows despite the excellent lighting, making her feeltiny in comparison, and the air held a pleasant coolness that reminded her of wine cellars she'd visited.
Multiple doors lined the walls at regular intervals, their solid metal surfaces marked with subtle symbols she didn't recognize. Each door seemed to lead off in a different direction, creating the impression of a hub with many spokes radiating outward.
"This is amazing." Beth turned slowly, catching the faint hum of hidden ventilation systems, the way sound bounced differently in the vast space.
She ran her hand along the nearest metal door, marveling at the cool, smooth surface beneath her fingertips. Subtle variations in the metal hinted at reinforcements or security measures.
"How far down are we?" she asked, still taking in the vast underground space.
"About fifty feet," Tyr replied, his voice echoing slightly in the cavernous room. "Every vampire and Blood Sworn chamber has an escape leading here. This is our emergency escape route if needed."
