by R. J. Wolf
“Gary,” Eric muttered.
Gary’s eyes were closed and he was breathing in short erratic breaths. Eric grabbed his shoulder and lightly shook him.
“Gary? Wake up, Gary. Where’s the door? Where’s the way to the other room?”
Gary grumbled and lifted his hand then dropped it again.
“Gary!” Eric said more urgently as he could hear steps coming in their direction. “Gary, you need to get up. You have to help.” Eric’s heart was pounding. His head was a cyclone of confusion and suddenly his vision was starting to blur. Blinking wildly, he stumbled then caught himself and reached out for Gary. “Hey! Hey, you got to get us out of here.”
The footsteps sounded louder then stopped right outside of the door. Eric froze and held his breath. Clenching his fists, he looked down at Gary then cemented his resolve. He was ready for a fight. Whatever they’d done to Gary, they weren’t going to do to him.
Eric closed his eyes as the room began to spin like a merry-go-round. He felt trapped and as a knock sounded at the door, he called out to his other in desperation. Help me. I know you can hear me and I need your help now.
To his dismay, there was no answer. He called to them again but there was no still no reply. Eric felt enraged and as the door knocked again, he cursed under his breath.
“Gary,” a voice suddenly called from outside. “Gary, it’s me. Are you okay?”
Eric bent down and shook Gary again. “Gary, who is that? Gary!”
The door rattled and someone banged against it. “Gary? If you want my help, we have to go,” the mysterious voice said.
Gary groaned and cracked his eyelids. He looked at Eric with a hazy stare then swallowed. “He’s a friend, Eric. He said he’d help. Let him in.”
Eric cast a suspicious eye. “Gary, are you sure?”
“Let him in. He can help us.”
Eric stared at him for a moment longer, then made an agitated sigh. Regretting his decision already, he unbolted the door and pulled it open.
A mason jar of a man walked in, his dark, gray robe sweeping the floor behind him. He was stout and portly, waddling as he moved across the room and knelt beside Gary. He hardly looked in Eric’s direction as he passed.
“Let me look at you,” the man said as he took Gary’s head in his hand and tilted it forward.
“I did it. I did just like you told me,” Gary replied like he was a child seeking approval. “It worked didn’t it?”
The man smiled and patted him on the head. He looked back toward the door then shoved his hand into his robe as Eric glared at him.
“Gary, what are you talking about? Who is this guy?” Eric asked. He stepped toward them but the room started to spin again and he stumbled. Everything melted together into a blur and he shook his head, trying desperately to regain his senses.
The robed man smiled at him then turned back to Gary. “Drink this,” he said and brought a small vial to Gary’s lips. “The poison is working faster than I thought. This will fix you. You did well my child.”
“Poison? What the hell is going on?” Eric asked angrily and fell onto all fours. “What did you do to me? Gary, Gary!” Eric collapsed face first and let out a muffled grunt. He managed to crawl a few feet then extended his hand, just before passing out.
CHAPTER 25
ALL OUT OF LUCK
“I can’t just sit here,” Castillo growled. “It’s been five hours.”
“The sun’s coming up,” Shanna replied and tried to wipe dried tears from her face. “Where could you go now, what could you do?”
Castillo eyed her then plopped into a chair and began to twiddle his fingers. The door opened and he jumped back up but frowned when Safron walked in. “It’s just you,” he mumbled.
“I located a few more of your friends,” Safron said with a hint of annoyance in his voice. “Lycans.” He looked at Chuck sideways then stepped into the room and let the five men behind him inside.
Chuck gave the men reassuring looks then leaned back on the sofa and continued to stew. It’d been hours since Eric left and the hotel room was bursting at the seems lycan. If it hadn’t been for the hotel healers and the assortment of calming fragrances they’d spread around, someone would’ve been dead already.
Theo stepped into the living room and yawned. Stretching his legs, he rolled his shoulders then reached his arms into the air. He grinned then tightened his utility belt around his waist and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.
“How are you feeling, Theodore?” Safron asked.
“Amazing…those healers are something else.”
“Pleased to hear it. I trust the rest of you have been sorted out appropriately?”
Chuck made a low growl then got up and headed to the bathroom. Safron hissed at him and bared his fangs.
“How did you come by this establishment?” Aranel asked in a nonchalant voice.
“What?”
“This…this hotel. How did you come by it?”
Safron cocked his head to the side and considered the elf. They were mysterious, ancient creatures and Safron wondered just how much he already knew. Smiling, he answered him, “I’ve been the steward of this establishment for many centuries.”
Aranel grinned. “Curious.”
“Why is that?”
“Ignore him,” Ellania added. “Aranel fashions himself as some type of historian, an occupational hazard of an immortal life.”
“I can’t stay in here any longer,” Castillo said as he stood up. “There’s gotta be something we can do. I’m not gonna wait around to die.”
“You are right,” Safron said. “This may be the end of us all but that doesn’t mean we have to sit here and take it. Follow me.”
~THE END~
~Continue the series with book three~
“Inferni Eternal: Hotel California Book Three”
Available November 2019
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HOTEL CALIFORNIA THE SERIES
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About the Author
The mystery and lore surrounding RJ Wolf is the stuff of legend. Abandoned as an infant, raised by wolves, taught by the Shaolin monks in the ancient art of Wushu. These things couldn't be further from the truth, but then again...nobody really knows.
What is known is RJ's uncanny ability to spin a tale that will leave you questioning reality and yearning to be thrust back into his world. You've merely scratched the surface, dig deep and prepare to turn your mind inside out.
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