“May I show you to your rooms?” she asked.
“That would be nice,” he replied, his voice familiar somehow, deep, and almost rusty.
Dru stepped out from behind the desk and joined him at the foot of the staircase.
“After you,” he said with a slight flourish.
For all that he looked like he might be in his early thirties, he did have a faintly old-timey air about him. She wondered if maybe he was some kind of antiques dealer. It would explain the trunks, and the manners.
She moved up the stairs, shocked at herself for feeling self-conscious about what she looked like from behind. He was just another guest, only a little more interesting than most.
She headed left at the top, and went to the door to the Sapphire Suite first, since it was the nicest room of the three. She slid her skeleton key into the lock and pushed the door open.
The curtains were still drawn, but the big trunk was in the corner of the room, its leather strap unbuckled. And there was a covering over the mirror on the dresser.
That was weird. No one should have been in here since she and Hailey carried everything up.
Most likely it was just Howie up here being nosy. But he should have at least refastened the lid to the trunk.
“It’s a lovely room,” Viktor said quietly.
She turned, plastering a professional smile on her face. If he’d noticed anything amiss with his belongings, he wasn’t letting on.
“It’s the nicest suite we have,” she informed him. “Let’s go check out the other two.”
He smiled back and followed her into the corridor again.
Her hands shook a little as she opened the door to the Onyx Room. She was prepared for more of Howie’s shenanigans, but thankfully, everything was just as she and Hailey had left it.
Viktor stayed in the doorway, watching her.
“Okay, let’s get Quartz opened up,” she said cheerfully.
The Quartz Suite was across the hall from Sapphire. She opened the door and saw the curtains were pulled back, revealing a sky full of stars.
“I’m so sorry about the curtains,” she said, rushing over to close them.
“It’s fine,” he said. “You can leave it.”
She turned back to him.
He was gazing at her in that curious way again. The starlight made his blue eyes bright.
“Let me know if you need anything,” she said weakly.
“I will,” he said, remaining motionless. “What’s your name?”
“Dru,” she said. “Short for Drucilla.”
“Lovely,” he said softly.
“Uh, thanks,” she replied.
She felt an odd aversion to going closer to him, as if approaching would break the strange spell he had cast over her.
“I should get back to the desk,” she said, overcoming her reluctance and heading over. “Here are your keys.”
He put out his palm and she dropped the three sets into it, not wanting to risk touching him.
Get a grip, Holloway, she chided herself. You’re at work, not a seventh-grade dance.
“I will see you again, Drucilla,” Viktor said softly as she headed down the corridor.
Dru shivered again at his words, her heart beating just a little too fast. She couldn't quite tell if she was afraid, or aroused.
She was pretty sure she was both.
4
Dru wandered back down the stairs.
The lobby was empty again. The crackling of the fire and the hush of the wind outside were the only sounds.
She went back to the computer, and logged in the arrival times for Viktor and the Wilders.
Then she headed back to the Ghost Getters forum.
There were a couple of members on. Different time zones meant there was almost always someone online, even in the wee hours.
She figured it was a long shot, but maybe someone there could help with the journal.
Tad Strange:
You’re back! See any ghosts?
BethsMom1972:
Hi, Ghostwriter, so glad you made it safe and sound. Did you do a bedbug check? The newsman makes it sound like it’s a real problem in vacation areas.
Gh0stwr1ter:
Hey guys, I’m good! Thanks for the tip, BethsMom. No ghosts yet but we had a weird guest. Does that count?
BethsMom1972:
Oh, and don’t take anything from the mini-bar. It’ll be too expensive. You can normally get the same stuff from the kitchen for half the price.
Dru smiled. BethsMom was so wholesome and obviously older than most of the other members. It sometimes seemed like she didn’t belong in the group at all. But she was really into the Ghost Getters show, and true crime shows and podcasts too. Her knowledge was impressive.
Gh0stwr1ter:
Don’t worry, BethsMom, I’m on duty - no drinking for me.
TRUTHS33K3R:
tell us about the weird guest
Gh0stwr1ter:
He checked in after midnight.
TRUTHS33K3R:
could b a lot of reasons 4 that
Gh0stwr1ter:
Yeah, for sure. But he had all these really old trunks sent ahead and he wanted all his curtains drawn even though his rooms have the best views in the place.
BethsMom1972:
What did he look like?
Dru felt blood rushing to her cheeks, even though no one could see her or possibly realize she had just the slightest bit of attraction to the odd guest.
Gh0stwr1ter:
Early 30s, maybe? Pale skin, dark hair to his shoulders, blue eyes, intense stare…
TRUTHS33K3R:
i dunno if that’s really weird. seems like that place would attract a lot of ultra-pale wannabe spooky types
BethsMom1972:
Truthseeker might be right. This guy sounds like he’s trying too hard.
TadStrange:
Keep your eyes peeled for someone trying too hard to fit in, that’ll be your ghost.
Dru laughed. Truthseeker was the ultimate skeptic, but in this case, he was probably right.
Gh0stwr1ter:
Point taken, guys. :) I also found a really old journal jammed in the back of a desk in my room.
TadStrange:
How old?
Gh0stwr1ter:
Hard to say. But the pages are yellowed and the glue is all orange and cracked.
BethsMom1972:
What’s written in it?
Gh0stwr1ter:
I don’t know because it looks like it’s in another language.
TadStrange:
Could have the location of the hidden treasure ;)
Gh0stwr1ter:
Unlikely. But it would be neat!
There was a ding indicating another member had arrived.
EctoCoolR:
Hey y’all! Guess who just watched the Jersey Devil episode?
Instantly the group devolved into a blow-by-blow rundown of that episode of Ghost Getters, from the paranormal activity, to Lily Getter’s pink Nirvana t-shirt and high-waisted jeans.
Dru followed along for a little while, but couldn’t really get into it since she hadn’t seen that one.
Truth be told, she hadn’t really watched much of the show at all, other than a few clips on the internet since joining the group. She was most interested in the aspects of it that had stimulated its audience, which the users documented for her nightly.