He Strikes at the Hotel

Chapter Sixty

It all happened so fast that I didn't have time to think of anything other than making my legs move faster. Zachery held my hand tight as we rushed down the burning steps, one after another, jumping over the empty slots where parts had already disintegrated entirely.

I was close to losing my balance on a couple occasions, but the firm grasp of Zachery gave me the strength to carry on and use all of my might to keep upright.

The lobby was a burning disaster. Everything I had once known as my home had now turned into ash. Every piece of this magnificent building was now either on fire, or black from the smoke and flames. The hotel itself was usually quite dark due to the décor, lit by candles and lamps, but now, everything was buried by the orange and red flames, making the whole place look as if it was in sepia.

If it wasn't so destructive, it was almost look artistic.

Our eyes were now watering, which made it difficult to see ahead of us through the flames, trying to distinguish the safest path possible. Giles hadn't left too much ahead of us with Jeremy, so we can't be far behind them. They must already be outside the front doors, which must mean we are close.

The lobby was extravagantly large at the best of times, let alone when you are trying to escape it blindly. But we kept pushing through, no matter how much our legs burnt, or our lungs cried.

"Zachery! Over there!" I shouted as I pointed in the direction which I was certain was the exit to this nightmare. The air seemed to move thickly around us, giving the illusion we were swimming underwater, or that may have been a hopeful hallucination.

"You beautiful creature! Let's go!" Zachery beamed as it became clearer the further we pressed on, that the main doors were within sight. And there, behind the flaming waves and soot, was Giles, Nerissa and Pierre, all stood in the doorway trying to scream through the wall of sound to lead us in their direction. I couldn't hear what they were saying, I could only hear muffled sounds accompanied by their frantic waving.

As we fought our way to freedom, we kept dodging pieces of rubble that kept falling down like a hail storm, even in this open area, we weren't safe from the collapsing building. Each floor was trembling in itself, coming closer to collapsing entirely. That included the lobby. Even though this was the ground floor, we still stood above the basement, along with the hidden underground floor that was unknown to me until today. There was a strong possibility it would all cave in to that very bottom floor. Which made it even more nerve wrecking when the floor beneath us began to tremble.

"Audrey Rose! Zachery! Quick!" I could make out Nerissa wailing out desperately, with her eyes wide with fear and helplessness. In that moment, I realised just how much I have missed Nerissa throughout the evening. She has always been my rock, my go to woman, my best friend, my sister. She was none the wiser to everything we had been doing, but there she was, still cheering us on to get out alive, no questions asked. My heart flooded with love, especially when Pierre and Giles joined in with the shouting, practically begging for us to run faster to them. I knew Zachery felt the same emotion as me, especially as his mother and father peered into view, pushing off their guards who tried to keep them away.

We finally reached the doors. We got outside just as something exploded within the hotel, no doubt something from the kitchen, but the combustion was strong enough to throw us all back, falling to the ground from the exerted pressure and heat.

We were out of the hotel. The fresh air flooded into my famished lungs, which caused me to cough painfully. The cold air caressed my burning skin, which felt therapeutic to begin with, but it wasn't long before I could feel how much pain I was in.

The fire brigade arrived as I opened my eyes. They started rushing towards the hotel, trying their best to tame the beast within. Even with their best efforts, I don't think much would be salvaged. All of our work, memories... All of our lives... Turned to dust.

I was broken away from my negative thoughts as I felt strong arms wrap around me. Zachery began to pick me up off of the floor, and then I was embraced by another pair of arms. These were softer, more delicate. They were Nerissa's. The warmth I felt from her hug made every other ache and pain in my mind and body disappear in that moment.

"Oh Audrey Rose! Are you alright?" Nerissa whimpered as she held me tight. She then turned to look at Zachery, who had Pierre mothering him, checking his wounds, and asked the same question.

We both replied in unison with the simple answer of "Yes."

Zachery and I looked at each other, and I felt as if that was the first time we finally saw each other. We were able to breathe, and were able to take everything in without the fear which hung over everything until now. Of course, Zachery had to deal with the family disaster of his brother being a psychopath, but he was now free.

His parents rushed over. The King of England was crying. They both held Zachery in their arms with no words coming from their mouths, only the soft sounds of their muffled cries at their son's safety.

Jeremy was looking sour and wore a police warden on each arm, just like an inconvenience fashion accessory. Giles must have briefed Zachery's parents, because they came over to me next, and looked genuinely guilt stricken. Violet was the first to say anything.

"Audrey Rose, I only met you this evening, but I know a lot about you. You are a kind, beautiful, selfless woman. You have put your life in danger to help my son. And all along, it was my youngest who was the one to put you both in danger. For that, I am truly, truly, sorry. To both of you." She said this passionately as she rested her hand on my arm, looking round to make eye contact with Zachery as she paused. "I will never be able to repay you for saving our son. You both have been through so much..." Tears began to form in her eyes as she began to stumble on her words.

"I think what my wife is trying to say is, thank you." The King interjected, allowing Violet to regain her composure. "We would be more than happy to welcome you into our home with open arms, any time you wish." He finished, which earned a nod of agreement from Violet and a small, but warm, smile.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you both. I may have to take you up on that." I responded, giving a sly look over towards Zachery. Who gave a small chuckle, before coughing a bit too.

"You never know, dear parents, she may be around more than you're expecting." He wiggled his eyebrows jokingly, before adding "She is very special. I'm lucky to have met her."

I didn't realise how wide I was smiling until I felt my cheeks begin to hurt.

Nerissa and Pierre embraced both of us yet again, before ushering over the doctors to check out our wounds. Zachery and I both sat side by side, being examined by the doctors and being patched up.

"So, Duke Zachery... What will our next adventure entail?" I said with a long exhale, just as my eyes found his.

"Well, Kitten, that depends on where in the world we go from here." Zachery answered, without even giving a second thought as to his offer.

"I have no home to go back to." I said, as I stared at the hotel which was still flaming in front of our eyes. "Nerissa is my only home. And Pierre now, too." I looked over lovingly at them.

"Well then, they come along on our journey too!" He said with wild eyes. He was grinning like a school boy, just waiting for my reaction. He genuinely made my heart melt.

"Let's do it." I said, with a wide grin, as I looked around at Nerissa and Pierre, then to Giles, then back to Zachery. I know the hotel was now in ruins... But this is all I need, what's around me right now. In this moment, I am happy.