Three
Sully
“Sullivan,couldyoutakethis to room 301, please?” Kenny asked with his snooty voice. It grated on my nerves. Why did he constantly have to act like he had a stick up his ass?
“Of course, Kenneth.” I would not be caught shortening his name. Learned from that mistake already.
The room Kenny directed me to was hosting a vampire couple who wanted to paint by the sea for the summer. Rather than renting out a house, they had chosen to live in the hotel for a month. Smart, in my opinion. They had people to clean up after them, and could order anything in. Made life super easy. It was what I would do if I had the cash.
Their blood was waiting for me in the bar. It was the expensive synthetic type, made to taste like a shifter’s blood, which was rich in nutrients because of the energy required to shift forms.
A blood substitute was necessary when the vampires came through the tear because no one wanted to be responsible for feeding the vampires forever. It had taken a while and the necessary science was yet to be replicated in the human world. At the rate they were going, they might never figure it out.
The bartender had warmed the blood to body temperature for them. They were served in insulated cups with sparkly straws and umbrellas. Unnecessary maybe, but super cute.
Carrying the tray carefully, I got in the elevator to the fourth floor, where room 301 was located. They had the best vista of the hotel, with a wide balcony which opened to an unrestricted view of the sea.
This couple had introduced themselves to me when they had checked in earlier. They kept late hours, like most vampires, and preferred to keep out of the afternoon sun because it was uncomfortable for them. While they could go out in daylight, most avoided it. Think of it like a sun allergy. They could break out in rashes and it hurt their sensitive eyes.
My family’s hotel didn’t discriminate when it came to guests, welcoming everyone who was willing to obey the town rules. We hada basket of inhibitors sitting on the reception desk, though this couple were clearly returning visitors, and had their own strapped to their wrists.
“Hello, Sullivan!” the older of the vampires greeted when he opened the door. He was likely ancient since vampires aged incredibly slowly, and looked to be around fifty witch years. Like shifters, they were born, growing into adulthood at the same rate as a witch or shifter would. Then, upon adulthood, around their early twenties, that aging would appear to stop. Though it just slowed right down, gaining them a year’s aging for maybe thirty years or more. It depended on many factors.
Shifters lived pretty long lives too, longer than those of the witches and nature spirits who rarely made it to a century because of the magic in their blood. If I was lucky, I could live to a bit over a hundred! I’d only want to do that with my fated mate by my side, though.
“Hello!” I greeted him warmly. “I have your order here.”
“Thank you.” He stepped aside to let me inside. “Would you mind taking it out to the balcony? We’re painting out there tonight. The light is divine!”
“No problem.” I walked over to the balcony doors, which were open, letting the fragrant night air in. It was late, in the pre-dawn hours, where the sky was awash with a full pallet of colors. Pinks, reds, greens, and blues covered both the canvases propped up on easels and the night sky above us.
“Thank you,” the vampire’s younger partner said with a pleasant smile. I’d thought they were much too absorbed in their art to realize I was there.
“Wow!” The word slipped free, shocked into being from the stunning piece he was creating one brush stroke at a time. “That’s… wow!”
The younger vampire smiled, his fangs peeking out from full lips. “Oh, I like you! Honey, don’t forget to tip him generously.”
It took me some time to extricate myself from their room. They were so friendly and nice, I struggled to keep a professional distance from them. Both of them had so many questions when I told them my parents owned the place, it was a good half hour before I managed to escape!
“Where have you been?” Kenneth’s brow was knitted in a frown when Ireturned to the desk.
“Room 301.”
“I sent you there over half an hour ago.”
“I know. They had questions.”
“You should have asked them to call me. It is, after all, my job as the reception manager.”
“Next time, for sure!” I answered with extra pep I wasn’t truly feeling. “You know,” I added conversationally, “you don’t have to stay so late to keep an eye on me. I know you’re a very busy person.”
“You are too new to the demands of the reception. Look at you,” he sneered, “you vanished, leaving the desk unattended for a prolonged period.”
“I—“
“What would have happened if someone called or came to the desk?”
“But—“
