As I exit, I see the cleaner coming back down the hallway, and I wave at her.
“Thanks again!” I say. “And um, I’m sorry about the room. It’s a bit of a mess, I didn’t mean to…”
“Oh, that’s all right,” she says. “You should see some of the crazy things people do in hotels. I never would have thought it! I’d be surprised if you could shock me at this point, and I’ve only been working here a few weeks.”
I try not to think about the things she’s probably seen. My heart goes out to her.
“How have you been finding it? The job, I mean?”
She seems delighted to have someone to talk to. “It’s nice! I actually really like cleaning. It’s so satisfying to tidy up a messy space. And I like knowing I’m helping people. I’m new to the city, so it’s a solid job while I’m getting settled.”
“I’m new here as well. Do you have any family here?”
“No, it’s just me!”
She smiles at me with such innocent confidence that I can’t help feeling protective of her. I’ve been a witch for so long that human lifespans seem very short in comparison. She must be in her early twenties, or even younger.
“Well, if you ever need anything, you let me know, ok? My name is Amara. I work in the club downstairs.”
“Wow, thanks!” she beams. She points at the shining gold nametag clipped to her uniform. “I’m Hallie! I didn’t even know there was a club.”
“It’s a speakeasy,” I explain, wondering just how much she knows about the world lurking under the surface of the hotel. If she’s lucky, she’ll stay away from it. “You don’t need to come down there, just ask Xia or call the concierge if you need me.”
“I will,” she says. She waves as she pushes her cart down thehallway.
Satisfied with my reconnaissance for the day, I head back downstairs to the club. I’ve discovered a secret staircase that goes all the way down. It’s not marked, but you can get through from any floor in the hotel. I prefer it to the elevator. The other day, I got stuck in the elevator with a vampire and two living humans. Needless to say, they did not cease their activities just because I was there. It was the longest thirty seconds of my life.
As I enter the club, Xia turns to me.
“There you are!” she says. “Where were you?”
“Just…out for a smoke,” I say with a nervous chuckle.
“Well, it’s your lucky day. One of Tudor’s daughters needs a bartender in the lounge. It’s usually closed at this time of day, but she has an important business meeting. Although I have no idea what she needs a bartender for. You wanted to work in the lounge, right?”
“Yes, I guess…”
“Great! Can you be up there in ten minutes?”
As much as I hate the thought of serving this vampire and whatever sketchy business she’s conducting, I don’t really have a choice. And Lavinia would want me to take any opportunity to spy. After what I saw upstairs, maybe I should be taking my undercover mission more seriously.
But as I think about Tudor’s eldest progeny, an icy tingle runs down my spine. The way her eyes bore into mine as she wiped the blood from her dagger.
I should be terrified of her. But I can’t help feeling…I don’t know…that there’s something thrilling about her. Something that draws me in.
With a shake of my head, I push those thoughts away. I need to be careful. It’s dangerous to underestimate a vampire. I have a mission, and I need to carry it through. At least until I can go home.
“Sure, I’ll head up there right away.”
A DEMONSTRATION OF FEALTY
Celine
Lazarus Gray looks exactly like you would imagine. A powerful, soulless vampire who’s been running Silverlake City’s underworld for centuries. One look into his dust-coloured eyes is enough to strike fear in the heart of any breatherorvampire.
He never travels alone. Today, he has a small guard of two vampires and two shifters. They lurk at the bar, casting menacingly glares in my direction.
I wink at them.
