He Strikes at the Hotel

Chapter Thirty Six

I think that moment petrified me more than the first time I heard something down there. There was someone down there with us the whole time and they must have seen us. I already knew someone was watching me from the note I received, but now... It feels... Different.

"Well, hopefully they will clean up the mess they had left down there at least." Zachery said, trying to lighten the constantly descending atmosphere as we came to a halt back at the ground level. His dry humour was something I loved about him, as it was very close to mine. However, by hearing it first hand from someone else, I have realised how inappropriate it can be in times, with me now realising why Nerissa is often shaking her head at my remarks.

"That is true, as long as it isn't left for me to clean. Blood stains are awfully difficult to get out of white sheets." I replied flatly, trying to not let what I just saw get to me. Zachery saw it too and he is able to crack a joke, so I can too. I don't know if that means we are making light of a dreadful situation, or we are merely psychopaths.

I began to leave the lift as Zachery had opened the shutters, when he quickly grabbed my arm to hold me back for a moment. He didn't tug at me, it was a soft touch but it was stern.

"Audrey Rose, I meant it when I said I wouldn't allow anyone to hurt you. What we just saw was horrific... But I will do everything in my power to keep you safe. You have my word." He looked at me in a purely heartfelt way, with his words holding on to meaning beyond his words.

"Thank you." I brought myself to speak when I was still processing the scene we had encountered. His words snapped me out of it pretty quickly, bringing me back to reality where we needed to conquer this, not allow it to frighten us. "I will indeed do the same for you. I will be the new Giles." I added in. Zachery chuckled softly as he released my arm. We began to walk back to the lobby where everyone else was still huddled, talking merrily with each other. We acted as if nothing had happened, as if we hadn't even left, admiring the scene before us to erase the previous we had encountered.

It was nearing the time for everyone to be escorted into the ballroom where presumably we would be seated for dinner. I usually have an incredible appetite which means nothing that is thrown my way puts me off of my food. I have cleaned the most horrendously grim rooms, with stains I dare not think of, then have been able to go have a full dinner with no trepidations. The state of that damn laundry room however, has made me question my ability to stomach anything at all for a while.

Everyone was nearing the ballroom slowly, as attendants began to usher people in the direction, but not to enter.

"I don't know about you, but I'm not really fancying the beetroot soup this evening..." Zachery said to me whilst we were looking ahead to the train of people forming before us.

"Beetroot soup?!" I exclaimed, suddenly aware I wasn't aware of the menu, or anything about the ball for that matter. I couldn't think of anything less appealing right now than beetroot soup. The bright red liquid sitting in a bowl in front of me would most likely make me gag. Zachery laughed out loud at my horrified expression and put his arm around my waist.

"I'm joking, dear. I am none the wiser than you with what delicacies await us in there. Every year it is a surprise. I just hope they haven't gained any inspiration from that room downstairs." He began to stifle his laughter and try to regain his composure as he spoke.

"You're terrible." I spat out, with my stomach churning at the thought. It was the kind of comment I would come out with to Nerissa, with her usually retaliating my smacking my arm playfully. So I did the same to Zachery, but with a little more force than what Nerissa would have used. I had to keep it original, after all.

After everyone had been given the memo to congregate around the ballroom door, two very tall men in full black suits situated themselves in front of each of the two grand doors. They stood there with their hands placed behind their backs, standing bolt upright and facing towards us all in silence. It was adding to the excitement in the atmosphere, with little whispers being exchanged between the women as to who these men were and what was behind those double doors.

The two men at the doors both banged on the doors simultaneously, which made a loud rumble that echoed through the room. This silences everyone immediately, as if they were about to unleash a dragon from behind those doors. Just add to my night of destruction, why don't you.

This was obviously their way of gaining everyone's attention, and hats off to them, because it worked. The lights in the lobby began to get duller as the silence grew thicker. Finally, the two men moved their hands to hold on to the handles, and they began to open the doors wide before us.

The light from the ballroom radiated out from within the room, blinding everyone with its sheer magnitude. It was dazzling to say the least, with glittering walls screaming out inviting us in. The first thing I saw from the moment they began to let us in, even through the small crack of the doors to begin with, was the giant champagne fountain that I saw being brought in yesterday. But now, it was actually filled with champagne, trickling down the crystal stems. It was placed perfectly in the middle of the room on a circular table with a satin white sheet flowing down over it and on to the floor. 

"Wow..." Me and Nerissa gasped in unison.

"Ladies and gentleman. Please may you enter and sit at your designated seats. We will be serving the banquet shortly. May you enjoy your evening." The biggest of the two men spoke, with his voice being very deep, booming throughout the lobby.

"And let the entertainment begin..." I said to myself, not realising I had whispered it out loud. Zachery held on tightly to my waist as we entered the room where we would be spending the rest of the night... Hopefully.