He Strikes at the Hotel

Chapter Nine

I couldn't help the butterflies going round in my stomach at the thought of Zachery writing a note for me, and leaving it under my door for me to find in the morning. I hadn't even thought about that note since I found it and discarded it as a mistake this morning, but now, now that Zachery confirmed he did it intentionally, and it wasn't a drunken mistake, I suddenly had questions of my own forming. The main one being 'how did he know which room was mine?' The stern look he held on his face made me hold back on my own questioning. Plus, I wanted to be out of here as soon as possible. "What questions could you possibly have that I have the answers to?" I asked, trying to sound unbothered, however my curiosity made itself known in my voice. I can't even imagine what I could help him with, and how he even knew that I would be able to help him with it in the first place.

"I'm not entirely certain that you will have the answers, my dear. What I am certain of however, is that you may be the only peson within this hotel that I wish to share my concerns with." He said this as if it pained him to admit such a thing, which I could begin to understand, seeings as he has come to me and not one of his royal guards who pine over him. My confused look must have pushed him to go further is depth, as he looked at me for a moment, then began to pace the room, before sitting on the foot of his bed with his hands rested together on his knees. "What I wanted to know from you, is whether anything strange has been happening here recently? Anything, out of the ordinary? Please spare me any staff gossip that seems to fit this criteria." He was looking down at his feet as he spoke, but when he concluded his question, he looked up towards me, where I was still standing by the door. His eyes were burning with silenced thoughts, but I couldn't work out what the emotions attached to them were. His gaze was intent, and the room was silent with only the two of us in there. I suddenly began to feel the blood rush to my cheeks, and I prayed that it wasn't showing.

"What do you classify as strange, Zachery? And why must you know? You have only been here two days." I came across as quite defensive without meaning to, purely as I was trying to stop any flushing of cheeks from happening. I quickly gave him a half smile to soften the harsh blow of my blunt words. He was dead silent. His gaze not moving from my face, with no change in facial expression whatsoever. It was as if he was calculating his next moves, like a cheetah who is planning on when to pounce. It was a terrifying silence that seemed to last hours. Eventually he rose from the bed, calmly walked closer towards me, never letting his gaze drop from mine. He came as close to me as was socially acceptable, and then a bit closer, so I could feel his warm, heavy breath brushing across my face.

"Audrey-Rose, as ridiculus as it sounds, this is a serious matter. The moment I set my eyes on you, I knew you were capable of anything, you had a spark in your eyes that reminded me of myself, but completely different at the same time. I have seen you work, having pointless conversations and arguments with yourself, dancing whilst dusting the corridors, and how you slyly sneak a pastry from the breakfast cart each morning before the guests arrive downstairs. Last night when I saw you in the kitchen, I was conflicted with what to do, as the situation I am is a tricky one, and I do not wish to put my trust in anyone, yet, am unable to tackle this problem single handedly. Then, just as I was about to let it be, I heard you clambering around the kitchen with that dreaded teapot that makes more noise than a steam engine. You are the only person who doesn't pretend to be someone else in front of me because of my status. I believe I can trust you." He said this without leaving any room for me to interrupt, as he seemed as if he had the speech planned, with no room for alterations.

"Well, that was unexpected." I thought to myself, as I was trying to scramble a coherent sentence together in my head, and somehow transport it down to my mouth, where it would hopefully come out in the Queen's English. I gave it my best shot. "Well okay then, I can't deny that this whole situation is rather bizarre, but I do wish to help you, Lord knows why." And with me saying that he gave me that blasted smile again which ruins all of my composure.

"I'm pleased to hear that. It's good to know my heartwarming speech did not go to waste." He said playfully, lightening the mood.

"Don't make me change my mind, you ass." I threw back.

"I wouldn't dream of it, Kitten. Now, back to the point, have you noticed anything unusual around the hotel in the past few days?" He snapped back into serious mode at the flick of a switch, which made me worry about my response.

"Well... There was one incident... But you'll think I sound insane." I said cautiously, remembering the voice that now haunted my dreams.

"Try me." He stated flatly, as if the thought hadn't even occurred to him, and anything I was about to say would be plausible at this moment. I can't explain how his accepting nature made me feel, it was refreshing. It gave me a sense of relief, as if a weight was about to be lifted off of my shoulders.
But I had a nagging voice in the back of my head, telling me that I was going to be getting myself into a lot more than what I bargained for.