by R. J. Wolf
Noll’s face was cut up and bruised. His head had been partially shaved and his eyes were swollen shut. His last minutes were on earth had been torture and it broke Zoey’s heart to know that she wasn’t there to save him.
Zoey wiped tears from her face and took a step closer to the boat. She knelt and reached out, brushing her fingers across Noll’s swollen cheeks. “My love,” she whispered. She moved closer until their foreheads were touching and the tears fell from her eyes and landed on Noll. “I will kill them all, every last one of them.” Her voice was low and harsh. It trembled with anger and cracked with pain.
Eric looked down at her and grimaced. Her pain was now his. Her rage his inspiration. He knew that she would kill them all and he would be right beside her. But as he stood by and witnessed her pain, his heart broke right along with hers.
“This isn’t right,” Zoey cried. “You should be here, here with me. It’s not your time, Noll.” She fell into him and the boat ebbed in the water. Gary stepped forward and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back to her feet. She tried to pull away but he tightened his grip and wrapped his arms around her.
“I know, Zoey,” he said into her ear. “I know. But it’s time for him to go. He has to move on. You have to let him go.”
His words stabbed at Zoey’s heart but she knew they were true. Her legs failed her and she collapsed into Gary’s arms. He held her up then pulled her away as the boat began to slowly float down the strait.
The trolls raised their arms as a low hum emitted from deep within them. It vibrated the ground and rattled the stone walls. Together their mournful crooning blended into a song of loss and sadness.
Zoey cringed and swayed her head to the side. Noll’s raft floated further away and she turned to watch it as her eyes filled with tears. Behind her a small group of dwarves bowed their heads and folded their arms across their chest.
“Rest well, Noll,” one of them said loudly and the others repeated.
With the trolls’ song droning in the background, Zoey took one last look at Noll. She raised her chin and took a deliberate breath. “Goodbye, my lover,” she whispered then flicked her hand. A ball of fire trailed from her fingertips and sailed down the strait. It hovered just over the raft then slowly floated down, igniting the pyre.
A car blew its horn and Zoey blinked. She was standing in the middle of a crosswalk a mile away from the diner.
“Move it, lady,” a man shouted and honked again.
Zoey shook her head then wiped tears from her face. She huffed then crossed the street and looked up at the towering building in front of her. The signage read…
CHAPTER 15
THE HUNT IS ON
“I hate these places,” Meesha seethed through clenched teeth. She looked up at the flashing lights ahead of her and wrinkled her face. “Sad that we’ve fallen so low. It is in our nature to hunt. This is blasphemy.”
“Blasphemy is letting Dimitri’s murder go unavenged,” Oleg said as he stopped beside her.
Meesha turned on him and bared her teeth. “You would challenge me, Oleg?”
“Never! But Dimitri deserved better.”
“Of course, he did.”
“So, why are were here? We should’ve rallied the others and drained Langston of every ounce of blood.”
Meesha smiled then shook her head. “No. No, Oleg. That isn’t the way this game is played. “He’s strong, very strong.”
“You fear him,” Leo replied. It wasn’t a question but more of an accusation.
“I’ve felt his power. I don’t fear him but I respect it. Langston will get what he deserves. Our fallen comrade will get justice. I promise you that. We will play Langston’s game. We will earn his trust. Then we will take the order and tear his throat.”
Leo and Oleg smiled. Meesha flexed her jaw and started toward the building ahead, Club Ecstasy. She paused then turned back. “Don’t question me again,” Meesha growled. “I explained myself this once. Out of respect for your brother. But don’t repeat your mistake or you’ll be joining him.”
Oleg and Leo lowered their heads like scolded pups. Meesha frowned then beckoned them with her hand. “Let’s go.”
Club Ecstasy had reached maximum capacity. The line was starting to die down since they weren’t allowing anyone else in but like most underworlders, rules didn’t apply to Meesha. She marched to the front door and stopped. The enormous doorman gave her a passing glance then pointed into the distance. “Line’s back there but we’re not gonna let anyone else in tonight.”
Meesha scoffed. “Remove yourself from my path or this will be your last night.”
The doorman stepped back with a twisted look on his face. He stuttered then stepped to the side and let them pass.
“Zeroes need to know their place,” she mumbled as she walked inside.
The dancefloor was jam packed. Meesha muscled her way through as she scanned the room like a robot. Vampires slipped in and out of view, taking zeroes to private rooms where no one would bat an eye if they didn’t return. There was something about vampires that brought willing humans in by the drove.
“What are we even looking for?” Oleg asked.
“Langston didn’t think it pertinent to fill us in on that. I suppose we’ll know it when we see it.”
Oleg grumbled his annoyance. “Another wild goose chase. Promise me he will die slowly.”
Meesha grinned and continued weaving her way through the crowd.
~THE END~
~Continue the series with book four~
“Hell & Back: Hotel California Book Four”
April 2021
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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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