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“This is weird, right?” Zee said. “It’s her home but she doesn’t know what’s going on above her head, and she keeps frozen dead people in giant jars?”
“She is one of the old fae,” Victor explained. “Those who dwelled on this side of the veil long before the influx of Lost Ones in recent times. Like early vampires, several fae integrated among humans many centuries ago—”
Zee coughed—“So old!”—into his fist.
“She is a creature of the land,” Victor continued. “This beloved she spoke of, either took advantage of her and profited from the building constructed in her name, or more likely, someone else has since taken over its management and legacy without her knowledge. She is rightly angry and confused by her current situation. To her, everyone is a trespasser, and she probably keeps those who she believes wronged her in those glass containers. The golem is her protector. She’s been here so long, she is confused.”
“And afraid,” I added. “She lashed out because she fears the world she’s in now. I . . . feel it.”
“Yeah, but dead people in jars? Although Adam eats his enemies, so . . . I guess it’s not that weird.”
“I do not eat—okay yeah, I do.” I cleared my throat. “Anyhoo, everything has to be connected to her, right? The new management, the riddle.”
“Maybe the new vampire management took over the hotel and are trying to get rid of her, but they haven’t been able to find her,” Zee suggested.
“That is possible,” Victor agreed. “I’d like to speak with her alone. Forgive my bluntness, but I’m more familiar with the ways of the Old Ones—”
“Is it because you’re as old as the constitution?” Zee asked, fluttering his lashes.
“Older, and yes.”
“Ugh, you take all the fun out of it when you agree.”
“Agreement is not necessary when one is stating a fact.”
“Remind me why I love you again?”
Victor grinned . . . and as it was so rare, Zee and I stopped to stare. He cleared his throat and wiped the smile off his face. “Apologies. Zodiac’s confession briefly undermined my stoic barriers.”
“Alright,” I said. Now was not the time for the two of them to go all goofy for each other. “If you’re well enough, Victor, maybe see if you can get her to explain what she thinks is going on, and see if Eddie is down here, while Zee and I head back upstairs and see if her golem is gone. We’ll find Wesley too. I’m beginning to think he knows more than he’s letting on.”
“Yes, he did solve that riddle rather easily, and he has been missing during pertinent events.”
“Fuck yes. I am up for fangboy question time.” Zee cracked his knuckles and flashed a broad grin. “Violence is fun.”
“Adam, I do believe that if this is indeed Stephanie’s home and she is being exploited, then we should help her reclaim it. If we truly are heroes, then helping her is our responsibility and likely why we are here.”
“Destiny?” I smiled, agreeing with him.
“Perhaps,” he said coyly.
“Let’s go break some vampire legs.” At Victor’s frown, Zee quickly corrected himself. “I meant, let’s have a friendly chat with sucker-boy Wesley, obviously. And if he happens to fall out a window, then oops.”
As we turned to leave, Victor muttered, “Please do leave Wesley alive for later questioning.”
I grinned and gave Victor a little wave. It wasn’t as though I was going to eat Wesley, although Zee might give him anxiety. It depended on what the young vampire really knew about Stephanie Frostweaver’s hotel.
CHAPTER 10
“I’m beginning to think Wesley was using us to find Stephanie,” I thought aloud as we climbed the tight spiral staircase, leaving Victor and Stephanie behind to chat in the cold cellar.
“Welcome aboard the all vampires are bad train,” Zee said from behind me. “Destination, let’s torture Wesley town.”
“You think he’s lying to us?”
“Dingo!” Zee declared.
“Dingo?”
