The sound of the storm reached me through the pipes, distorted by the metal and echoing the wrong way. It made the dungeon feel tighter. I paused to grip the side of one doorway as I walked past into the lab.

It was littered with half-finished alchemical experiments. Test tubes, and stains. The scent of something spicy. Colorful jars and bottles with scribbled labels. Little bits of dried plants and powders that hadn't been properly cleaned yet.

The cold grey stone was lit by wall sconces filled with green and purple electric lights, and by a high domed skylight. Access to moonlight. And sunlight, if you came in at the right time. It made the storm sound far more natural. I sighed at the relief of the preassure of the dungeon.

The lightning once again flashed, painting the lab black and white for a moment and leaving me dazzled. It took perhaps two seconds for the thunder to roll across the place. Close, but perhaps not close enough. 

I heard someone else enter as I stood there, their footsteps light and soft.

I looked down as I blinked the lingering images out of my eyes.

"Hello, Princess," I told the long, sleek white cat who had come in.

Princess brushed her face against my leg, looking up at me with her bright blue eyes. Her tail and ears flicked momentarily, and she continued further into the lab. I followed on her tail to the table near the side wall, where she hopped up to curl on a pile of papers.

"Lucky you."

I just stared at Princess for a minute before finallly sitting down on the stool next to the table. I rested my arms on the table and put my head in my arms, still looking over at Princess. 

"It was a dark and stormy night," I muttered.