After we’d been there for just a short while, a strikingly beautiful blonde woman in an all-black jumper rang a small bell. “Everyone, please take a seat,” she called sweetly, her crystalline eyes shining in the glimmering lamplight. I noticed, just for a second, a familiar lilt in her voice.
Jamie and I sat. Pastor Frank, Jeff, Summer, and Ethel sat nearest us. I noticed Frenchie was not there, and I worried. I hoped she’d played it safe and just put the girls to bed. I was surprised, however, by the number of people who were there. There were at least 75 people in the room. In that moment it seemed to me there were three groups of people there: humans, unusual looking hotel staff, and those we suspected were vampires. I eyed the hotel staff closely. Their skin was rosy and full, but there was a strange aura about them. They seemed more beautiful, more luminescent than the rest of us, like they all had just had a great massage and facial. They intermixed freely with the vampires, not seeming the slightest bit nervous.
A few moments later, a strikingly beautiful woman in a silver sequin gown entered the room. She had waist length black hair which curled over her shoulders and down her back. Her face, though perhaps a bit past its prime, was amazingly beautiful. She had twinkling blue eyes.
She moved slowly through the crowd, her entourage circling her. Clearly, she was in charge. She smiled sweetly, welcoming the other Hamletville residents who rose when she drew near. I could tell the entire room was captivated by the woman. I did not blame them; she was beautiful.
When she came near, I heard the accent in her voice as well. It was Slavic, perhaps Ukrainian or Belarusian. The lilt was like the same Russian accent I’d grown up with.
“Ah, here we have more newcomers. Welcome,” she said as she greeted us.
“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” Jeff whispered as Pastor Frank introduced himself.
I noticed that the pastor had extended his hand to the woman, but she had not taken it. Instead, she simply nodded.
Ethel, Summer, and then Jeff rose to introduce themselves. I could feel the eyes of the people of Hamletville on me. They knew my concerns, and they wondered about my next move.
“Ahh, look at this,” she said when she approached me. She looked me over.
Jamie and I had risen to meet her.
“It must have been so hard for you out there, eh? So many weapons.”
I had gone to the party fully equipped. The guns had become so familiar a part of my wardrobe I had not thought to exclude them—especially in light of the fact that I expected, well, anything at any moment.
“What is your name?” she asked me.
“Layla,” I replied.
She turned then and looked at Finn. They exchanged a glance. Again, I heard a sort of strange murmuring in my head just as I had the night Finn and Corbin had arrived in Hamletville.
“Layla,” she said, considering, “Layla what?”
Lie, my instincts screamed. Lie.
“Layla Campbell.”
I saw Jamie tense a little and prayed Jeff would keep his mouth shut. No one said anything.
“Well, Layla, you are safe in my house. Leave your guns in your room. I don’t like them. There is nothing to fear in this place. I’ll not see those guns again,” she said. Then she spotted the shashka. “Now, I have not seen one of those for many years. This is yours?”
“Yeah, I found it in an antique store. I think it’s a katana,” I replied.
I could feel Jamie’s eyes on me.
She gave me a smug look. “That is called shashka,” she said and then turned her attention to Jamie. “And this must be your lover.”
“I’m Jamie,” he told her.
“Ah, James,” she said and looked him over. “Handsome,” she added.
She nodded to us and then headed to the chairs set out in the front of the room. She took the tall, ornately designed seat at the center.
“Welcome, all of you, to the HarpWind. I am called Rumor. This is my hotel. It is my wish that you have all been brought here. We continue, every day, to seek for more survivors of this terrible disease that has killed so many. But here we are safe. We shall build a new future here. Everyone please welcome the newcomers from—where was it,” she asked, turning to Finn.
He whispered in her ear.
“Ah, yes, from Hamletville. So many survived there; they must be extraordinary people. We welcome them and shall make them part of our family. Tonight, I want you to eat your fill and feel relief. You are safe now. You are home,” she said.
The crowd broke out into polite applause.
With that, someone started playing a cheerful tune on the grand piano.
“When did we get married?” Jamie whispered in my ear.
“You don’t remember?” I teased.
“Well, I think I would remember my wedding night at least,” he said and gave my knee a squeeze. “A katana. Seriously?”
“I liked Kill Bill, didn’t you?”