"What the—?" I jolted upright, nearly tumbling off the bed.
Rubbing my eyes, I glanced at the creature in front of me. He was a short man, about the height of a toddler, his wrinkled skin dotted with gray hairs. His neatly trimmed gray beard framed his face, and his head was completely bald. Clad in a black bellhop uniform, I recognized him immediately. As I slowly climbed down from the bed, I adjusted the cap on his head and cleared my throat.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," he began, his voice deep like that of an elderly man. "I'm Jethro. I'm an—"
"Everling," I interrupted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Everlings were the children of mistresses murdered by Veronica. While their mothers either transformed into Nightingales or faced eternal torment alongside their fathers in hell, the Everlings remained here in the Inn, serving as bellhops, cleaners, drivers, and security guards—perpetually marked by sins they had not committed.
"I see you've become well acquainted with the Inn's layout," Jethro said with a bright smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Adonis. I've been sent to help you with your orientation."
A bitter rush of reality slapped me hard in the face. I was still here, and everything that had happened was more than just a nightmare. No longer a student of English and Literary Studies, I was now Veronica Gordon's assistant, trapped in a world I didn't comprehend.
"What time is it?" I yawned. There was no flicker of sunlight; the room was illuminated solely by the chandelier, lamps, and bulbs.
"5 a.m. Come on now, a bath has been prepared for you, and you need to get ready immediately," Jethro urged.
I suddenly felt like the main character in a movie. Instead of a bath, I opted for a lengthy shower, lost in thoughts about this new phase of my life—or rather, my death—that I had chosen. Stepping into the closet, I scanned through the wardrobe.
"Wear a suit!" Jethro's voice echoed from the bedroom.
Of course, it was a job after all; I had to look presentable. I selected a well-tailored black three-piece suit from Dolce and Gabbana, paired with black Valentino shoes and a black tie from Prada.
As I brushed my wavy blonde hair, my turquoise eyes stared deeply at my reflection in the mirror. I inhaled and exhaled slowly, calming my nerves and encouraging myself.
Emerging from the closet, I saw another female Everling. She wore a black maid uniform and a bonnet, though a few strands of gray hair peeked through. She stood just a few meters shorter than Jethro.
"He's here," Jethro informed her, and her sapphire eyes locked onto me.
"You're incredibly handsome, Adonis. Just like the Greek god himself," she giggled, her voice high-pitched.
"Oh, stop with that cliché! He's way more attractive than that naked statue," Jethro quipped.
"Well, Greek god or not, you are good-looking, Adonis," she gushed, her enthusiasm reminiscent of a K-pop fangirl.
"Thank you; I'm really flattered. You're beautiful too. And what's your name, Miss?"
"Eleanor," she replied with a smile, leaning in to whisper to Jethro, "I'm starting to like him—such a principled man."
Her compliment warmed my heart, and I realized they might be the only company to keep my emotions stable in this slaughterhouse of an Inn.
"Let's go, Adonis. I'll give you a tour and breakfast. Eleanor is in charge of cleaning your room," Jethro said.
"Oh, thank you both very much," I replied.
"Don't mention it," Eleanor grinned.
I smiled back at her and followed Jethro out of the bedroom. The hallway was long, covered in deep red carpet from end to end; the air was cold, and a few Nightingales whispered and laughed as they descended the large spiral staircase.
Jethro led me toward the staircase, initiating his introduction. In short order, he educated me about the Inn's sprawling layout. The building was divided into three sections, each painted in distinct colors symbolizing the duality of the Inn: beauty and danger, lust and purity, life and death.
The guest rooms were painted red for passion and violence, the staff quarters gleamed gold for luxury and greed, while the hallway leading to Veronica's chamber was stark white, evoking the cold, sterile presence of death lurking just beneath the surface.
The rooms brimmed with opulent traps designed to ensnare their prey: explosive-scented candles, electrified sheets and bedframes, poisoned lubricants and condoms, booby-trapped bedframes equipped with hidden blades, acid release systems, and electrified pleasure devices among countless other horrors.
The Inn was extraordinarily vast—twice the size of a castle—boasting grand staircases, elegant curtains, golden chandeliers, sumptuous red doors, polished marble flooring, elevators, luxurious furniture, and a meticulously maintained driveway adorned with hedge sculptures, each cared for by Everlings. The place was brilliantly lit, featuring multiple bulbs and large floor-to-ceiling windows. It was far more exquisite than any description I had read.
From what I learned, staff members were expected to rise by 4 a.m. I had woken up late for Veronica's assistant, but I absorbed the lessons presented at the breakfast table that morning.
All 270 employees settled at various tables for breakfast, and I was fortunate to find myself amidst a few Everlings. The Nightingales refrained from leering at me, perhaps out of fear of having their noses broken.
"....And he almost tried to rape her, can you imagine? Veronica sliced him in two," I overheard two Everlings at my table discussing animatedly. My mind had been so fragmented I hadn't caught the beginning of their conversation.
"I think that's one of the most deserved deaths recorded—such a pig," her friend agreed, taking a spoonful of her meal.
"They're talking about how Veronica murdered a well-known politician here at the Inn."
"Who?"
"Samuel Lawson, Duke of Oxfordshire."
My fingers froze, and my spoon slipped from my grasp. Just six months ago, Samuel Lawson had been reported dead in his office, entangled with a woman—a mistress. The scandal had exploded in the tabloids, leaving his family reeling. If Veronica had indeed killed him, how was his body discovered there?