Chapter 3 - Leader?

Zara's first few days flew by. There was so much to do and learn it was exhausting, as soon as she came into her room at night she collapsed into her bed. Devil had been training with her whenever possible. It was so different from training with her Pride, Korina would be slow and careful giving each of her pupils her time and playing to their strengths. Whereas Devil was on the same level as Zara and gave her everything she had. They had fun while training and Devil seemed to be so pleased to have someone like Zara at the Hotel. But Devil was also mysterious, she had fire powers but she didn't smell like someone who had a minor mutation like flying or super speed. She smelt foreign and different. Like something Zara had never smelt before. Despite that Devil was already a master of her own powers and beat Zara to the ground just about every time they fought. Even when she was in cat form. Korina had told her that the werecat was the most powerful myth, she was believing that less and less every day.

Maxina was kind to her, as were Jayson and Harry not that she saw them too often. But still, the looming presence of Olivia and her group of friends pressed down on whatever fun Zara might have been having. There were few in the Hotel who trained to fight aside from those she had already met. It seemed that she was a needed member. Another warrior. But one day walking into the training level with Devil, Zara saw a goblin boy practising with his daggers. He was fast and fierce but there was a sadness behind it. Zara didn't need to ask this time, his eyes were the thing that gave it away. He had also lost something, or more likely; someone. The look before his eyes was very common here, Zara even saw it in her own relfection.

Everyday Zara would get into the lift and see L1000 and B1000. Curiosity would rise in her filling her very soul as she saw those faintly illuminated buttons. It would sparkle at her fingertips, they would beg her to quell them by pressing them against the cool metal. To visit the gods. What would she even say to the gods? Or would she just go there to look? How could she even be so sure that the gods were even up there? Could it be a trap for those who couldn't control their curiosity like the hallways and the doors of the bedroom level? She banished the thought from her mind every time. Though, she had done some exploring of the higher and lower levels. The lower levels were very dark and quickly the walls started to look like rock formations. There didn't seem to be too much set up in those levels except an extreme training obstacle course made from rock. But the scent of brimstone and a faint rasping sound made Zara want to get out of the basement levels very quickly.

The higher levels were the ones actually used and Zara found some very beautiful gardens in the levels above L100. She pressed L108 and came to a beautiful rose hedge garden similar to Alice in Wonderland if there were roses all colours of the rainbow in the Queen of Hearts' garden. Huge roses, purple, pink, orange, blue, green and bright yellows all bloomed together making the garden a huge rainbow. There were no walls to this level or roof, it was like a rose garden in the sky, huge fluffy clouds floated around it, a gorgeous light blue of the sky as it dipped away with the curve of the earth, they were even layers of cloud that sat beneath the ones caressing the edges of the garden. The scent was intense for Zara's cat nose but not unpleasant. She strolled over to one of the classic red roses and took in its beauty. The mysteries of her new home seemed infinite.

She heard a rustling in the garden. She turned sharply her senses prickling and her fangs elongating in her mouth. Behind a hedge, someone moved. Zara catching a glimpse of brown hair. She had been told that the only danger in the Hotel came from the monsters that leaked from the underworld and people's curiosity. That none of the vampires could enter the Hotel.

A smiling girl came out from behind the bushes. She was around Zara's age, tanned skin and a pure, innocent face. Her ears were pointed being shown off as her curly brown hair was tucked behind them. She was barefoot and wore only a simple dress.

"You're new," Her voice was like a whisper through the trees.

Zara's defences lowered and her teeth returned to normal in her mouth "Yeah I'm Zara, a werecat."

"I'm Ella, a wood nymph," she smiled and Zara returned it. A tree spirit that explained it, the youthful and playful expression on the girl's face and her bare feet.

"You're part of the hotel?" Zara asked.

"I was actually the first member," Ella approached her. She was very small-framed and slender compared to Zara's muscular frame.

The cursed curiosity glistened in Zara's eyes. She was told not to ask questions about what people did before the Hotel but surely asking about the Hotel was ok. Maybe it would even stamp out some of her curiosity. Bravely her mouth formed the question "Did you see the creation of the Hotel?

Ella's eyes glistened in the same way "Yes, I was the tree in the garden of the house that became the Hotel. Maxina made me the first member."

"So she made it out of a regular house?" Zara pressed, leaning in as if it were a huge secret.

"And the will to protect mortals and myths from the vampires. Though I hardly needed protection," Ella giggled like a rustle in some thick waxy leaves.

"Why is Olivia controlling the Hotel then?"

Ella's smile dissolved and she shook her head before turning and running back into the bushes fading from Zara's sight. She had found another sensitive topic but not forbidden. She would have to find that answer out herself.

Maxina joined Zara for lunch, though she was only drinking a smoothie. Her smile shone brightly as ever. With almost blue teeth, or perhaps that was a stain from her lipstick. Zara could only guess.

"I'm so glad you're fitting in," Maxina squealed being far too loud as Zara was sitting right beside her. Zara smiled back but and Maxina continued "You know Devil is always telling me we need more warriors but like we have Olivia and like Friday is her best friend but she's also my sister."

Zara's eyebrows shot up, that would explain a lot. Maxina saw her look and rolled her eyes smiling, "No I don't mean sisters, sisters but like we're sisters. She has water powers and so do I."

They both looked over to Friday. Her hair was black but so dark it had a blue sheen to it. It reminded Zara of a raven or maybe a fish. Zara had learnt pretty quickly that Olivia's friends all had elemental powers. Olivia, of course, being fire. Though her powers were still very different than Devil's in some way.

"We're like best friends," Maxina rambled on about Friday but Zara kept her eyes on their group. Was Maxina's supposed friendship the only reason why Olivia got to lead the Hotel? Though it still didn't answer the question. Why Olivia and not Maxina?

Back in the training level, Zara watched Olivia and her group train trying to figure it out. They all seemed to be older than Maxina perhaps that was why, however, none of them had the power to create an entire magical building. But somehow Maxina for all her strange behaviour did. She acted like a teenager addicted to the mall, even had the fake American accent down.

Olivia and Friday seemed to be the strongest of the group, fire and water being their elements. They also seemed to be the closest friends. Zara hadn't observed anyone else being a water-themed myth quite like Friday. Was that really all it took? A little water?

Devil walked over noticing how distracted Zara was, "Hey, I have a question for you?"

Zara finally turned her head away from Friday and Olivia, "Yeah?"

"How do you feed your cat form? It's so big much bigger than the werewolves and you don't really eat all that much," Devil's green eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Zara smiled genuinely and though it was rare it felt good, "Well you know how werewolves change when there is a full moon?"

"Yeah."

"Werecats do the same, but we have no control over ourselves, that's when our cat form feasts on whatever is around. It's quite dangerous actually," Zara explained.

"Ohhh, that makes sense," Devil nodded then added, "What happens if you skip a full moon?"

Zara kept smiling and shook her head "Not possible, we can try to resist but the temptation to let our cat free is too much."

"What if someone held you back?" Devil's friendly grin had a somewhat fiendish glint to it.

"Hold back a werecat? That person would have to be crazy," Zara's grin grew to fiendish as well, "the cat must feast."

Their almost schemes were interrupted by a whip of fire skimming Zara's leg. Her car reflexes sent her flying into the air attempting to jump ontop of a rack of spears. Though they were not stable enough she tumbled to the ground with a giant crashing noise that made her ears ring along with the shock of being suddenly knocked to the ground, Zara laid their sprawled out for a second.

Giggling followed. Zara looked up to see Devil looking angrily at Olivia and her friends who were laughing.

Devil helped her up after giving the group a scowl, "They are actually the worst."

"Did they do that on purpose?" Zara asked letting herself be pulled up.

Devil sighed, "Probably they don't like you. They don't like me too much either."

Zara looked over at them, they were still snickering. She turned back to Devil "I don't even know all of their names, how could they claim to hate me this much?"

Devil herself snickered a little at that comment, "I can't really say why they hate you but the fire one is Olivia, you've met her, unfortunately. The one with blue-black hair is Friday and the water one, Maxina's 'sister' even though she hates Maxina. The brown haired one is Anna and she had earth powers. She's pretty much just a pure follower of Friday and Olivia. Then there is Cassy with the vines in her hair, as you could guess she has plant powers. She's pretty much the only one who's not a dick. Then the blonde one is Kat and airhead in a constant state of a blonde moment."

Zara giggled at Devil's descriptions and looked over at Kat who's pale blue eyes were off in another dimension.

"Why does Maxina call Friday her sister if Friday despises her?"

Devil shrugged "Beats me, I don't really butt into their business but if I had to say Maxina isn't really quick to pick up on anything. Even if it has been years."

~𓃠~

Zara was eating her dinner with Devil when suddenly Maxina came in with a boy Zara hadn't seen around before. He looked completely normal with brown hair and dulled green eyes. There wasn't too much special about him aside from him being a similar age as Zara.

"Who is that?" Zara whispered to Devil, trying not to stare. Though she noticed many of the other members of the Hotel had their eyes on him.

Devil shrugged, "Must be new like you, let's hope he's a warrior."

Maxina walked him over to Zara and Devil. A big smile painted on her face as always, he looked a little nervous though.

"This is John," Maxina announced "he's a training wizard. And this is Zara and Devil."

John smiled at Zara and Devil, however as his eyes grazed over Zara pink rose in his cheeks. Zara was instantly full of curiosity about him. Another person joining the Hotel so soon. Had the Leader pushed him out of his home? As soon as curiosity came guilt did, washing over her and weighing her down. Was it her fault as well that John had come to a place like this? Panic and worry began to gnaw at her. She couldn't just ask as he had made that mistake again. She hid her conflicting and whirling emotions behind a shy smile.

"Nice to meet ya, are you much of a fighter?" Devil held out her hand along with a demanding gaze .

He took it and she shook, gripping his hand hard. It looked a little painful as he winced.

"I'm pretty good with weather magic," He suggested.

"Cool like lightning and stuff," Devil did finger guns at him while winking for extra cool points.

John smiled awkwardly, "Ahh yeah sure."

Zara giggled and John glanced over at her with an unsure look in his eyes. Maxina interrupted his gaze, "Zara is also new here. She only arrived about a week ago."

"Oh," John smiled at Zara.

Maxina continued, "So you'll both be starting induction tomorrow."

Zara's eyes flicked to Maxina, she hadn't heard anything about an induction, "What?"

Maxina smiled, "Yeah with Olivia. She'll be like taking you through your induction."

Zara frowned and looked to Devil who merely shrugged. Zara didn't like the sound of this. Something Olivia had complete control over. She already hated Zara for something she didn't even do, what if she actually did something wrong? Poor John was dragged into the middle of all of it.

Maxina took John away after saying that. Seemingly almost to let Zara dwell on this forthcoming induction.

Devil noticed the uncomfortable look in Zara's eyes, "Whatever thing she throws at you I'll come along with you. Don't worry."

Devil's grin almost cleared all of Zara's worries and her promise gave her a little hope. That at least John and herself wouldn't be alone. They would have someone who had more than enough experience with Olivia.

After another intense but fun training session with Devil, Zara couldn't sleep. She was haunted by visions of the Leader and his creepy fanged smile as always but also with the ambiguous induction she and John would have to perform the next day. She stood up and her eyes flicked around the room. She could see in the dark being a werecat but her vision was black and white, not to mention usually creepy. But her mostly empty room contained mixed feelings. She both loved it because it was all hers and she finally had her own space though she didn't own many things to fill it with. But it also filled her with sadness as it was empty. Korina's house had been full of life, so many things and people all in one space. Belongings of the many lifetimes Korina had lived out, as well as herself and her Pride which she taught every waking second. Maybe she had been preparing them for the day she would die but Zara didn't feel at all prepared. The emptiness of the room seemed to call her out on how alone she truly was.

It weighed down her and drowned out the love she had for the room, suddenly she just had to get out. She climbed out of bed in the crisp white pyjamas that the Hotel had given her when they realised how little she actually owned.

Out into the hallway she walked, bare feet on the hardwood flooring cold against her bare feet, bringing numbness into her toes. On the right were the lifts and all the other clusters of occupied bedrooms, to the left never ended. It was made even creepier by the night vision. The black of the hallway void was like a throat, it's muscles being curiosity willing her down further.

She looked back to the right again. Safety.

To calm her mind she would explore, and though she wanted to she resisted the temptation of the first and last buttons and settled on L106. The first and last wouldn't have been relaxing if they were really what they were said to be. One of the garden levels she was yet to see. Most of them had the open sky as the ceiling so she expected it to be dark. It didn't matter just the feeling of plants around her would ease her. Maybe she would see the strange Nymph, Ella.

The doors opened at L106 and Zara was greeted by a pine forest. Rolling mountains stretched before her and a clouded night sky above. The scent of pine assaulted her nose and the densely packed pine made the forest floor so dark even with her night vision she could barely make out the trunks. It almost looked like the trees were a floating spikey carpet.

She broke out into a smile, then a laugh.

The Hotel was always so strange, why couldn't it just be normal when she needed a little bit of comfort from it. It was almost its own beast with an unpredictable nature. If she saw it breathing she wouldn't bat an eyelid.

But still needing to be at peace she found a nice patch of grass before the forest began and sat down to gaze at the fake stars. At first, she thought they were real but unable to find any recognisable constellations she assumed it was just some kind of random magic that allowed the fake stars to shine. The wind rustled the lush grass and licked at her bare feet, tickling them.

For all it's strangeness it was a little peaceful.

Until she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. She sat up and scanned around. Cassy was there, the girl Devil had pointed out from Olivia's group as being the only decent one. She saw Zara and scurried toward the lift.

Zara stood up, "Hey, you're Cassy right?"

Cassy nodded but continued her walk looking nervous but not looking at Zara.

Zara frowned, "Are you ok?"

Cassy got in the lift right away and the doors closed quicker than usual. Zara's brow furrowed at the strangest of her behaviour. Was Cassy afraid of her?

Zara waiting for the lift to return. Getting in it she realised she had no idea which level Cassy had gotten off at and she couldn't exactly use process of ellimitation. However as it was dark Zara picked the bedroom level. L4 opened before her but the corridor was empty. Cassy's scent was there but stale. Zara sighed giving up on it. Surely she would see Cassy soon enough.

She wandered back to her own room but as she did a room across the hall opened. With lightning reflexes Zara whiped around, on guard, knees bent and ready for a fight but saw only John's head poking out from his door. He looked embarrassed.

"Sorry for startling you," he whisped.

Zara relaxed, "That's fine. I'm just a high strung cat I guess."

She offered him a small smile which he returned, "I didn't hear any yowling and hissing though."

Zara snorted, "I don't think that's really my style. Leopards are sealthy you know?"

"So jumping in fright it is?" He smirked, a cheeky look in his eyes. How bold he was. Zara enjoyed it, having someone else to properly talk it.

"Yep, so why are you up in the night. I didn't know wizards could see in the dark."

"We can't actually," He rubbed the back of his neck, "I was actually curious if you knew anything about this induction. Maxina... doesn't seem to be able to give away information... or rather she has no idea."

Zara sighed, playfulness leaving her, "No it seems to be something Olivia has come up with. But Devil will be on ourside in whatever it is we are doing."

"Man this place is confusing," John muttered to himself.

Zara snickered, "I'd like to say it gets easier but I really can't."

John laughed back, "Well thanks for the assuring words. I'm going to get some sleep."

"Goodnight," Zara watched him close the door and whispered to herself, "Meow for now."

First published - 9/8/2019

First edit - 15/8/2019