Heart of the Vampire: Episode 1

by Tasha Black

  “I guess you’re right about that,” Zander said in a way that made her think he might be the one guy in the world who was totally cool being friends after getting turned down for a date. “Anything interesting happen overnight?”

  For a split-second she thought he somehow knew what she’d been up to.

  Then she remembered that he was just talking about work. They always caught up on things during the shift change.

  “Nope,” she said. “Actually, Brian Thompson was arguing with someone in the solarium.”

  “Who?” Zander asked.

  “That’s the weird thing,” Dru told him. “I never figured it out. Brian came storming out of there and whoever it was must have gone out the back door. I thought I heard him call the guy Sullivan, but there’s no one here by that name.”

  “Weird,” Zander agreed.

  “Anyway, that was about it,” she told him.

  She decided not to mention how the rest of her little adventure with the big man went. Even though none of it was her fault, she felt slightly embarrassed by the whole thing. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the way he’d acted, or the fact that she’d been about to brain him with a heavy lamp when Viktor had showed up.

  “I’ll keep an eye out,” Zander told her.

  Dru gathered her stuff and said goodnight.

  She climbed the stairs, wondering if she would be able to sleep at all after her little nap with Viktor.

  Hopefully, she could get some rest. Tonight was the night of the comet. She would need to have her wits about her.

  Dru opened the door to her room and placed the typewriter back on the desk. Then she undressed quickly and slid under the sheets. Sunlight wafted through the windows and she closed her eyes and thought about Viktor’s hands on her.

  She drifted off almost immediately.

  19

  Dru woke at the usual time, feeling completely refreshed.

  She sat in bed for a moment, replaying her evening with Viktor in her mind.

  I want to be with you always…

  She hugged herself and then hopped up, eager to see him again.

  Once she was showered and dressed, she headed downstairs to eat.

  It didn’t hit her until she was almost in view of the front desk that she should have already put some thought into how much of her time with Viktor she was going to hold back from Hailey.

  The trouble was, she wanted to talk about him, wanted to sing about him and knit a sweater with his picture on it and wear it everywhere.

  Don’t be a psycho, she advised herself.

  But it was too late, she was smitten.

  “Someone had a good night last night,” Hailey said, waggling her eyebrows.

  Dru’s shock must have shown on her face. Was it obvious before she even spoke that she had gotten lucky?

  “Zander mentioned that you told him you’re seeing someone,” Hailey said gently.

  “Oh, right,” Dru said.

  “But I’m loving your vibe right now,” Hailey said. “Come tell me all about it.”

  “There’s not that much to tell,” Dru said, heading back to the desk to set her stuff down.

  “Like fun there isn’t,” Hailey retorted.

  “Good morning, girls,” Hazel Van Buren said brightly as the old woman passed the desk with her sister in tow.

  “Good morning,” Honey echoed.

  “Good morning, Miss Van Buren and Miss Van Buren,” Hailey and Dru chorused back to them.

  “Big night tonight,” Hazel confided with a wink.

  “Yes, we’re very excited for the comet, Miss Van Buren,” Hailey said politely.

  “Comet?” Hazel said. “I don’t know anything about a comet. It’s lasagna night.”

  “Lasagna night,” Honey echoed happily.

  “Oh yes,” Hailey said. “Good stuff.”

  The ladies headed down the corridor, presumably to wait in the Sitting Room and be first for dinner.

  “Tell me what happened,” Hailey hissed.

  Dru smiled and leaned on the counter. “Well, I guess you were right,” she said. “He did want to kiss me for real.”

  “How did it happen?” Hailey asked.

  “Oh my gosh, I almost forgot to warn you,” Dru said, suddenly horrified at herself.

  “What?” Hailey asked.

  “That creep Brian Thompson also tried to kiss me last night,” she said.

  “What?” Hailey cried.

  “He grabbed me in the corridor, and I don’t know what he would have done if Viktor hadn’t come along.”

  Most likely he would have learned what life was like with a brass lamp as a permanent part of his skull, but she didn’t think that was a good thing to mention.

  “Did you report him to the police?” Hailey asked.

  “He didn’t really end up doing anything,” Dru said.

  “You need to talk to Howie about this,” Hailey said. “I’m here during the day when there are witnesses, but you can’t be on duty alone at night if that guy thinks he can put a hand you.”

  “Pretty sure he doesn’t think that anymore,” Dru said with a wry smile.

  “Why? What happened?”

  “Well, first of all, I kneed him in the nuts,” Dru said.

  “Naturally,” Hailey nodded.

  “And then Viktor threatened to call the police if he got wind of him doing anything like that again,” Dru said. “He seemed to take it pretty seriously.”

  “Props to Viktor,” Hailey said. “But a guy that slimy will just make sure Viktor isn’t around next time.”

  She was probably right about that.

  “I’ll talk to Howie,” Dru said.

  “Good idea,” Hailey said. “So how did this unpleasant incident lead to you kissing Viktor.”

  “Well, Brian ran off, and then we were alone, and I just… kissed him,” Dru said, realizing how weird it must sound.

  “You did?” Hailey asked.

  Dru nodded. “I know I must seem crazy, one minute I’m fighting with some deviant, the next minute I’m throwing myself at someone. But it just felt… right.”

  “I think it’s awesome,” Hailey said. “You know what you don’t want, and what you do.”

  “Very true,” Dru said.

  “So how was it?” Hailey asked.

  “Amazing,” Dru said, envisioning it all again.

  “That’s great,” Hailey said. “Now find out if he has a brother for me to date.”

  Dru laughed. “I have no idea if he’s got a brother or not.”

  “Seriously?” Hailey asked. “What do you guys talk about?”

  “He doesn’t talk about himself much,” Dru said. “He’s always asking questions about me.”

  “An ideal man,” Hailey said, nodding. “You did the right thing by kissing him.”

  Dru laughed.

  The conversation was interrupted when the front door of Hemlock House flew open. A man stood in the threshold, arms outstretched, snow swirling around him.

  “Barren winter, with his wrathful nipping cold,” the man cried. “The icy fang and churlish chiding of the winter’s wind bites and blows upon my body. I shrink with cold. What freezings I have felt, what dark days seen, what old December’s bareness everywhere.”

  “Henry the sixth,” Hailey said.

  “Part two,” he replied with a flourish and a half-bow, leaving the door open behind him.

  Dru dashed over to close it as the man approached Hailey.

  He was short in stature, but his personality seemed big enough to make up for it.

  “Hugh Channing,” he said. “Local actor and hotel patron. What’s your name, my dear?”

  “Hailey Woods,” she replied. “Amateur fashion guru and professional hotel clerk. I saw you in Arsenic and Old Lace, Mr. Channing. You were brilliant.”

  “Please, call me Hugh,” he said, leaning on the desk, looking totally smitten.

  Dru smiled. Hailey had such a way with everyone. Dru definitely would h
ave stuttered stupidly at anyone with personality the size of Hugh’s.

  She watched Hailey check in their latest guest, and then went back to chat with her friend when Hugh was safely on his way to the Emerald Room.

  “Did you know that he’s the artistic director of The Three Blind Mice?” Hailey asked Dru.

  “I had no idea,” Dru admitted.

  It checked out though. The Three Blind Mice was a nearby dinner theatre. From what she understood, they ran a brisk business with bland but copious food, and a steady stream of comedy and musical standards.

  “You would think he headed up the Royal Shakespeare Company,” Dru joked.

  “Hey, making money from the arts at all is a pretty amazing feat,” Hailey said.

  “You’re right about that,” Dru said, feeling a little embarrassed. After all, no one around here ever saw her without Nana’s typewriter. She’d be proud to get paid anything for her work, let alone make it into a successful business.

  “Anyway, would you believe we only have one more guest coming?” Hailey asked. “Then I can finally paint my nails.”

  “Are you going to go with pink or light pink?” Dru teased.

  “As if,” Hailey said, rolling her eyes.

  The door opened again, and two women came in, followed by Zander and a very grumpy looking Chester.

  “Mayor Tuck,” Hailey said. “Welcome to Hemlock House. It’s an honor to have you here.”

  “My pleasure, dear,” the mayor said with a smile.

  The mayor was a middle-aged woman with a Jackie O. haircut and a smart little Chanel knock-off suit to match.

  The woman at her elbow had short red hair and a camera around her neck.

  “This is my staff photographer, Melody Young,” Mayor Tuck explained. “She’s here for some photo opportunities but she won’t be staying. I booked a room for myself though, should be under Tuck.”

  “I’ve got the keys to the Amber Room right here for you,” Hailey said. “Do you need help finding it?”

  “Oh no, dear,” Mayor Tuck said. “I worked here in high school.”

  Hailey grinned at her and the mayor gave a little wave and headed up the stairs.

  “Weather is a mess,” Chester said, leaning over the desk. “I’m not going back down tonight. I don’t like the looks of it. I’ll take the shuttle down to Manny’s to get the chains on when it lets up.”

  “How am I supposed to get home?” Zander asked, walking up to join them.

  “No idea,” Chester grumped and stormed down the corridor, presumably to use the solarium door to get out to his cottage.

  “Well, the guests are all here,” Hailey said, shrugging. “And Howie’s been in the kitchen nagging Constance for an hour. I guess we’re fine.”

  “People are going to freak out if they can’t see that comet,” Dru worried out loud.

  “Well, they already paid for their rooms,” Hailey said. “And maybe they’ll drink more. That would make Howie happy.”

  Zander rolled his eyes.

  Dru laughed. It was nice to have the whole desk crew here at once.

  “Come on, let’s get some dinner before the Van Buren sisters eat all the lasagna,” Zander said, nudging her with an elbow.

  20

  Dru pulled the hood back up on her jacket, knowing the wind would blow it off again almost immediately.

  It was just after midnight, and the snow had let up for the last few minutes, though the wind was still whipping the mountaintop.

  Guests were clumped in small groups all over the snowy meadow, gazing up at the sky.

  Although Dru was fairly certain no one could see the comet, everyone was in high spirits due to the drinks that had been flowing in full force after supper.

  From six until eleven forty-five, the guests had sipped wine and mixed drinks, ready to rush outside around midnight to see the comet pass by.

  Hailey was right, Howie was pleased with the uptick in drink sales. In fact, Howie was pretty pleased in general. He’d been strutting around, very self-importantly, spouting helpful facts about comets and other useful bits of information.

  But it was good to see everyone having a good time.

  Currently, Zander was flirting shamelessly with Hazel and Honey Van Buren, who could not contain their giggles.

  Dru smiled at the three of them, sure Zander was making the sisters’ day.

  “Binoculars?” Dru offered, holding out the box she carried.

  “Oh, we can’t see anyway,” Hazel said. “We’re just happy to be part of the excitement.”

  Honey nodded.

  “I’ll take a pair,” Zander told her.

  She handed a set of binoculars over.

  “Wow, your hands are so cold,” he remarked.

  “I forgot my gloves,” she admitted. “I’ll be okay.”

  She noticed Viktor leaning against the abandoned wing of the building and headed his way.

  He was a guest, after all, she told herself, and he might like a pair of binoculars.

  She was glad to spot him. He hadn’t shown himself yet this evening. Dru had found herself searching for him, feeling restless to see him again.

  “Drucilla,” he said when he noticed her approach, his voice low and husky.

  Instantly, she felt the blood rush to her cheeks.

  “Hi, Viktor,” she said, suddenly feeling shy. “Do you want binoculars?”

  “No,” he said, a half-smile drawing up his lips.

  Oh God, I know what he wants.

  She blushed even harder.

  “Beautiful,” he said under his breath.

  “Have you spotted the comet?” she asked.

  “I don’t think so,” he laughed. “It’s snowing and there’s cloud cover.”

  “Then what are you doing out here?” she asked.

  “I thought I might find you here,” he said. “I missed you. But I didn’t want to interfere with your duties.”

  “It’s going well so far,” Dru admitted as she scanned the gathered crowd. “With the weather, I was afraid the whole thing would be a total Charlie Foxtrot.”

  “A what?” Victor asked.

  “Oh, it’s just something my grandmother used to say,” Dru explained. “She was too much of a lady to come right out and call something a clusterfuck, but not quite enough of a lady that she didn’t want to.”

  Viktor laughed, and the sound of it tickled her from the inside.

  “My grandfather was in the army,” she told him. “So he taught her all the codes they used on the radio. Like Alpha, Beta, Charlie for A, B, C. That kind of thing. Charlie Foxtrot was one of her favorites.”

  Viktor smiled down at her, and she couldn’t help but smile back. He looked around, then took her hand.

  “Drucilla,” he said, sounding surprised. “Your hands are freezing.”

  “Oh, I just forgot my gloves,” she said. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Where are these gloves?” he asked.

  “On my dresser,” she told him. “Really, I don’t need them. I’m sure we’ll be done out here soon.”

  “I’ll be right back,” he said with a wink.

  She watched as he disappeared toward the solarium, door, presumably to go upstairs and retrieve her gloves.

  The mayor was standing in the pavilion, posing for the photographer, who could not possibly hope to be getting footage of the comet since there was a roof over the pavilion.

  The mayor was smiling, her cheeks pink, and the photographer’s laughter was bright, like a chiming bell.

  They seemed to be enjoying themselves.

  Jeffrey and Jenna Wilder were nowhere to be found, but Angie was leaned on a tree trunk with her headphones in, looking annoyed.

  Dru figured the girl’s parents were taking advantage of a few minutes when Angie would be out of the room comet-watching. Based on Angie’s bored expression, she guessed they had less time than they thought.

  Hugh Channing rounded the front of the hotel deep in conversation with Tyler
Park, who looked like he wished he could escape.

  Dru headed their way with the binoculars.

  “And so, dear boy,” Channing was saying, “a career in theatre might be a valid option for a person with your bone structure. And there will be no shortage of women waiting at the stage door each evening, I assure you.”

  Dru tried to hide her smile at the image of the women at the stage door waiting for Tyler. The Three Blind Mice had a decidedly older client base.

  “Hello, my dear,” Channing said, spotting her. “I was just encouraging my young friend to audition for our upcoming production of The King and I.”

  “Oh, are you a singer, Tyler?” Dru asked politely.

  “Nah,” he said, shaking his head.

  “Anyone can sing,” Channing pointed out. “But we have a serious shortage of Asian actors at The Three Blind Mice.”

  Tyler blinked at him.

  “Oh dear, is that racist?” Channing asked. “You know it’s so hard to tell anymore,” he went on, without waiting for an answer. “I just thought if I wanted a more diverse group of actors the way to do it was to put on a production they might be interested in auditioning for.”

  Dru bit her lip. He kind of had the right idea. Except that no one had been interested in auditioning for The King and I since like 1950.

  “That’s cool, man,” Tyler allowed. “But I really don’t like being in front of people. Thanks, anyway.”

  Tyler strode out onto the meadow, leaving Dru to pick up the pieces.

  “And another one bites the dust,” Channing said cheerfully. “I won’t get anywhere if I don’t ask, right?”

  “I guess not,” Dru acknowledged.

  “What about that delightful girl at reception?” Channing asked.

  “You mean Hailey?” Dru asked. She was pretty sure Hailey would be very disappointed to be called a delightful girl. She made such an effort to look sexy with just a touch of scariness.

  “Yes, that’s the one,” Channing said. “Do you think she would be interested in performing? I think a young, diverse ambassador could bring new vitality to the theatre.”

  So he was hoping Hailey would get butts in seats because she was hot.

  He was probably not wrong.

  And Dru actually suspected Hailey would love to perform.