The door to our office opened and slammed shut. I was shocked to find Vivien standing there, dark circles under her bloodshot eyes, her back pressed against the door as if barring anyone who wanted to enter.
“What are you doing up? It’s daylight?”
While Javier wasn’t nearly as entrenched in the business of immortals as I’d been, he’d been privy to Vivien fanging out among other strange occurrences. He handled it like a champ. Which also made it easier for us to work as an effective team in running a not-so-normal hotel.
“I know, I know,” she said breathlessly, her eyes wide and wild with fear. “But I’m on the run, and you gotta hide me.”
Javier and I exchanged a glance, both of us preparing ourselves for whatever catastrophe was about to come knocking on our door.
I got to my feet and took hold of her shoulders to steady her. “What’s happened?”
“H-he was judging someone’s soul, and I’d already snuck into his chambers and was in hiding.”
My fingers tightened on her. “Vivien, you didn’t.”
Despite my highest hopes, she nodded her head. “Right as he was about to cast judgement—you know, the part where he whips out his big magic scales and weighs the heart of someone against the feather of truth—I exploded from behind the pillar and swatted him right in the face with a pillow.”
I scrubbed my face with my hands while I heard a scoff from behind me. That was the closest I’d heard Javier to giggling.
“It’s not funny, Javier,” I said. “She’s led him right to us.”
The small smile on his face vanished.
“What fucking possessed you?” I demanded of my insane friend.
“The need to win?” she shrugged. “And I knew he would have to stay there and finish out the judgement of the soul and couldn’t follow me.”
“Yeah, not right away. But he’ll be done eventually,” I said, pointing out the huge hole in her plan. It won’t be long before he surfaces from his ancient Egyptian chambers below this very hotel. And when he comes, he’ll come hunting for the troublemaker.
Her eyebrows scrunched together, her lower lip popping out as she grabbed me by the shoulders, giving me a slight shake. “I get that now! I didn’t think it through. What else is new? You’ve got to hide me.”
I suddenly knew why people got the urge in old movies to slap someone who was hysterical.
The room suddenly got darker, like someone dimmed the lights to fifty percent. My eye caught on the bits of black smoke that seeped in from under the doorway.
“In the utility locker,” I said, immediately rushing to unlock it and push aside our sensitive equipment to make room for my friend. It was well over eight feet tall, and was organized in a way that she could easily fit.
Vivien didn’t hesitate, cramming herself in. “Lock it behind me,” she ordered in a harsh whisper.
“Duh,” I said, shutting the door in her face and locking it again.
A knock came a moment before the door opened. I’d only just slipped into my chair as Javier easily became engrossed with our work.
Fear prickled the back of my neck, causing all the fine hairs to stand straight up.
“Where is she?” a low, inhuman voice grumbled.
I swiveled around, my face cleared of any and all emotion.
“Mr. Scarapelli, nice to see you. Are you here to check in on the ongoings of security?”
My boss was already a dark hulking mass in his black suit, but he seemed bigger right now. Black smoke poured off his shoulders as if he was literally seething.
“Where is she?” he repeated.
I casually toyed with my pen. “Where is who, sir?”
“Where is my wife?” he said the last word through gritted teeth.
