New Arrivals

"The reservations in my husband's name, Mister Marloon," holding her well cute infant in her hand, Misses Marloon smiled as she stood before the vampiric receptionist. In her eyes was a glint of curious vigor, the kind you'd see on a keen child learning new things about the world.

"And if you don't mind," holding her hand forward, she got Rin to look back up at her from the client list on her desk. "Can I see your fangs? I've been dying to see a vampire—well, the variety that won't sink its teeth into me I mean."

Squinting her eyes, a confused look crossed Rin's face. She appeared unsure of whether the woman's words were supposed to be an insult or not. Even so, stretching one side of her lip to the side with a finger, she let the woman gawk at her fangs for a moment.

As the woman's curiosity drew her closer, the child in her hand innocently reached for Rin's nose. And although she pretended to be fine with the kid's act, I knew better than to let the guest keep testing her patience.

"Miss Marloon, your reservation was already confirmed you don't have to spend any more of your time at the reception. Also, your husband has already been shown to your room," cutting between Rin and the woman, I gestured for her to follow Cinder who was standing right beside me. "You'll have plenty of time to admire the girls later, but how about some rest after your long journey to the hotel?"

"Oh…" Turning her sights on me, she chuckled. "Of course, I just got a tad bit curious is all."

Walking past me, Miss Marloon was quickly led by Cinder to her room. In the meantime, Rin and I had a lot to talk about. Even from her frowning look and crossed arms, I already knew she wasn't happy with the new guests.

"Chin up Rin, they were only the first guests for the day. We still have ten times the amount of people checking in today," I tried to lift her spirits, but alas, she wasn't quite fond of clutter.

"I'm not worried about the guest," placing the clipboard on the reception, she leaned into her chair and settled down. "That witch you picked up this morning, I have a bad feeling about her."

"So do I," Maiko's voice trailed into my ears from behind.

Looking back over my shoulder, I watched her getting closer. Having been in the kitchen all morning, her clothes were covered in flour and splashes of different oils.

"You're a witch too Maiko, why would you have anything against her?" I asked, a bit bemused that she was against Erica lounging in the hotel. 

"I can smell blood wherever she walks," Rin responded before Maiko could.

"Not to mention, she's a human…" With deeply furrowed brows, I turned to face Maiko completely. Holding both of her hands forward in defense, she clarified what she meant by that sentence. "A human who can use magic, that's what I'm more concerned about and not the fact that she's one of your kind."

"Stop with my kind or their kind crap, I'm tired of hearing everyone talking like that," even though I could sympathize with their caution, I couldn't let them think the same way about humans as I did about monsters before meeting them.

"Her attire is questionable too, everything she has on her skin reeks of foreign magic," Rin spoke once more, her tone as vicious as a viper. "Magic rings, blood-soaked aura, and a marionette that can speak with emotions?"

Taking a deep breath, Rin looked into my eyes.

"Whatever this woman is, we better send her off as soon as possible," she added.

"That's the plan, don't worry," reassuring them, I decided to go check up on the only one I hadn't seen at the moment.

Cinder and the twins were busy either catering to the guests or getting all the rooms ready before the rest of the guests arrived. That only left Senya who was supposed to be back after dealing with Ercia's horses in the back. Since we didn't have a stable, the carriage as well as those phantom animals were being kept near the lake. Apparently, they could turn invisible so no monsters could hurt them there.

'It also keeps them out of our guests' sights.' I could only imagine what would happen if one of the guests got scared by those dark horses.

Upon arriving at the back end of the hotel, I saw Senya standing by the horses with her hand gently caressing their mane. The sight surprised me a little as when I tried to touch them, my hand phased right through. But more than that, what struck me even more odd was the warm smile on Senya's lips. Ever since the incident with Ophelia, I hadn't truly seen her smile. Perhaps staying with the horses had helped her get over it was what she'd been going through in silence. 

"Senya," calling out to her, I gestured to her to come back in. "Cinder might like to work, but you gotta pull your wait too you know!"

Looking at me, she pulled her hand away from the horses. Smiling still, she nodded in response and began making her way back towards the hotel. With everyone inside, all we had to do was wait for the rest of the guests to arrive. However, thinking back on what Maiko and Rin told me, I felt like it was best if I cleared things up with Erica myself. We were letting her stay over so the least I expected was some answers about who she was.

'If Rin can smell blood on her, then I doubt we should get on her bad side.' When even a vampire was revolting at blood's odor, there was bound to be at least some notion of trouble. 'Even so, I allowed her to stay not because I simply wanted to help her, but there was something I too felt much like the girls.'

"Pain," was what I saw in her eyes while her crossbow was held toward our chest.

That very pain reminded me of myself and the others who worked inside this hotel. Perhaps I wanted to help because I thought in doing so, I could lighten the burden on my heart, or perhaps I've begun to rely more on my emotions for decision-making after Rin offered me part of her soul.

Either way, there was only one way to find out. By talking to the witch, herself.