Blood Ties (NaNoWriMo 2015)

Forty-Six

We arrived at the hotel at about six in the morning, the sun barely starting to rise over the many brightly lit buildings of Miami. As I'd predicted, my wig was making me sweat like a pig. "You can take that off," Damon told me in an undertone as he dragged out luggage up to the front desk. "No cameras."

I glanced over to the nearest corner and pointed. There was indeed, despite his claims, a little white video camera pointed directly at us. "Those don't work Miss," the bellhop said, picking up both bags with ease, brass buttons of his coat shining just a little. "Wouldn't catch the clients anyway if they did." He flashed a smile at me and I caught sight of fangs.

"Well that does make a difference," I said. Damon and the clerk laughed at my comment as I removed my wing, letting my sweat-dampened hair fall about my face. Ugh, I was going to have one hell of a time brushing through this mess.

I heard the clerk gasp as did the bellhop and I looked from one to the other, realizing that my description might have passed along by word of mouth to other vampires. "Has anyone told you it's impolite to stare gentlemen?" My voice was stiff and formal, but I let myself smile so they'd know I was only teasing. I supposed it would be better for both Damon and I to have the word go around that I had a good sense of humor, instead of I had a bitchy streak. I did of course, but no one needed to see that just now.

The clerk continued to gap at me with an open mouth, fangs glinting but the bellhop through back his head and laughed. "You're funny Miss Hawthorn!" he commented and I grinned back.

"No," I replied. "I'm Ember, it's nice to meet you."

The bellhop laughed again and said, "You as well." And he scurried off, moving faster than my eyes could clearly follow off to bring out belongings up to wherever it was we were staying.

I looked back at the clerk who was still staring and squirmed, uneasy under his gaze. I understood curiosity, but the fact he was gawking at me like some museum exhibit was taking it a little far. "Sir, do I have something on my face?" I asked, copying Damon's line and hoping this guy would take the hint.

"Oh no," he said, seeming flustered as he handed Damon the room key. "Sorry, I just...enjoy your stay here at Hotel Layl!"

"Layl?" I repeated as Damon said thank you to the clerk and jiggled the key playfully at me.

"Arabic," he told me. "Means 'night'."

"Original," I commented. Hotel Night and it was a hotel run by vampires for vampires. The irony was not lost. "So what are they going to do about the windows?" I asked. The lobby had been grand for certain, white marble floors and columns to match, as well as numerous large windows that showed off the bright lights of the city. However, close encounters with vampires and sunlight mixing told me that the design was a poor design choice.

"They put heavy drapes over them around this time," Damon said. "If any humans ask, they say it was to help change the atmosphere for things in here for a nightclub atmosphere."

"And they buy that?" I said, amazed. That was such a flimsy excuse!

"Not everyone as your privileged insight Ember," Damon said. "Most humans accept the explanation because it makes sense. Much more sense than the truth. Tell me," he said as he hit the button for the elevator. "Would you have believed in vampires if you hadn't first seen one upfront?"

"No," I answered honestly. "I'd have thought I'd gone totally nuts and searched for an explanation that made sense. Like cosplaying or something."

"Cosplaying?" Damon repeated. "I've never heard of that."

"It's basically people that dressing up like it's Halloween every day." I didn't know anyone who did it, nor anyone who knew anyone that did it, but I'd come across the term during many a sleepless night on social media.

"Sounds like fun!" Damon said and the elevator came down, making a cheerful dinging sound and the golden colored doors slid open. "Ladies first," he said and I made a dramatic show of rolling my eyes as I entered the little space.

"So what floor are we on exactly?" I asked.

"Penthouse," Damon said and I felt my jaw drop. He grinned. "They didn't give me much choice on the room. It's supposed to be an honor so I couldn't exactly refuse. Try not to be overwhelmed okay?"

"Thanks for the warning," I said. This had surprised me but then again, I supposed it shouldn't have. Robur was the largest of the Twelve covens and Damon had not yet declared his own personal loyalties. Now would be a good time to lay on flattery and hope to turn him in whatever the desired direction was. Damon yawned and I laughed. "Tired Mr. Lockwood?" I asked.

"Exhausted, I am ready to go crash and rest up for tonight. Yourself?"

"Same," though it wasn't late right now, my mind was fried from the stress of the flight and the lack of sleep from the day before. "You won't hold it over me if I snore right?"

"Only a little," Damon promised and the door dinged once again as we arrived on our floor. Instantly, I was hit with the strong smell of chlorine-they had a pool. I felt a little stupid for not remembering that. I'd read it in the pamphlet Damon had given me.

We walked a few feet, the plush carpet sinking with barely a touch from either of our feet. "Here we are." My eyes scanned the number, three-eleven, I needed to commit that to memory. Damon opened the door for me, gentlemanly like always and I gasped. The room was huge! Soft white carpet stretched over the whole thing, fine furniture decorated the entire thing, I noticed a large TV in the living room as well as the French door to what appeared to be a balcony.

"Wow," I whistled.

"You're impressed I take it?" Damon asked, tossing his jacket onto the couch.

"Just a little," I admitted, trying to untangle some of the knots in my hair with a swipe of my fingers. Ugh, the strands were greasy and matted together. "Well," I said looking around the room one more time. "I'm going to find the bathroom and take a shower."

"Alright," Damon said. "Just please save me some hot water."

That comment surprised me and I stopped walking and turned around. "Vampires take showers?"

"Yes," Damon said, seeming amused by my surprise. "No one wants to walk around with yesterday's filth on their skin."

"Fair enough," I said. "I just thought with how cold you guys are that a spray of hot water would be painful."

Damon shrugged. "Not really, irritating maybe, but not painful."

"Interesting," I said and then peeked around the corner to find an open door that looked into a very nice bathroom. My limbs ached, my hair was a disaster and I'd barely been at the hotel for ten minutes and already I'd been proven to be a sideshow attraction. This was off to a promising start.

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New chapter! A little filler I admit that sorry! Either way I still hoped you guys enjoyed what you read! You're all wonderful and I'm blessed to have you guys in my life!

Write on! =D