Blood-Feud

House of Darklore

"All saints can do miracles, but few of them can keep a hotel."

- Mark Twain

From the main entrance of the hotel Darklore one could not help but have been impressed with the Gothic yet modern architecture that had been designed by English architects of the time and updated by their far more modern American counterparts of late.

The clever design of such a wide open and airy space allowed for natural light to flow uninterrupted across several areas that one could sit or conduct business in with fairly private confidence while several pieces of what Davis could only assume were rather expensive pieces of art graced the walls to further indicate the wealth and class of the establishment and those who could afford to stay there while visiting the city.

Wide staircases rose in smooth curl from either side of the main desk to the upper floor where walkways allowed visitors to look down and enjoy the inside view as they would have made their way to and from their rooms or used carefully hidden lifts to rise even further into the building above them.

As they stood and took in the view, a rather dapper man in a three piece suit and tie approached with clear intent; rounded eye glasses along with neatly trimmed dark hair both slick and parted to one side having managed to complete the image of supposed management rather than the others at the nearby counter in comparison.

"Welcome to the Darklore, my name is Stephen ... may I be of some assistance?"

Hands politely clasped behind his back, it was clear he had been well trained in handling most any type of visitor that the hotel might have attracted.

"We are here to meet with a Miss Malenca." Agnes offered as she handed the invitation to him which he opened and quickly read in practiced fashion.

"But of course, please follow me." His smile genuine, they did as requested as he led them toward a pair of large oak doors which he opened for them.

Davis caught sight of the sign for the Copernicus Club along with the men only designation that came with it. "Will she have a problem here?" He asked out of concern as he gestured toward Agnes.

"Actually we have both remodeled the club and plan to open it as a private restaurant of sorts for hotel guests during the week with the public allowed in on the weekends or for special events now that the original club membership has moved on from the hotel and freed up the space."

Large round tables intermixed with smaller far more intimate variations set along the outer edges were surrounded by high back chairs throughout the open room where arched pillars had also been conveniently placed to offer some privacy without having given up much space in the process.

A lone woman sat at what had once perhaps been a head table of sorts; long seemingly naturally curled yet elegantly fashioned dark auburn hair seemed to flow behind her as she stood when they approached.

One of many intriguingly keen elements of her appearance was the peppermint twist of green that added a subtle glow of sorts to her eyes when she looked from Agnes to Davis before she turned to Stephen.

"Thank you Zap." Her smile at what may have been a nickname was returned with a nod as their host turned and left them.

"Please sit." She offered as a waiter was summoned who set menu cards to each side of their settings.

A pendant lay just over the crease of her cleavage which appeared to be a crest of some sort with tilted shield, helmet and dove from what he could make out of it before he realized what it might otherwise appear that he may have been gawking at.