Going to Matthew's felt like a small road trip. The library was housed outside the Inn, down a rocky driveway framed by neatly trimmed hedges leading to the grand building. The sounds of birds chirping filled the air as the sun began to rise, casting soft light over the dew-covered ground. It was remarkably beautiful—almost serene.
"What did you argue about with Veronica, Adonis?" Jethro asked, breaking the peaceful moment.
Rumors would undoubtedly spread, but I had no idea how to respond. "Argue? We didn't argue."
"Veronica's never argued with anyone before. You're lucky to make it out alive."
"What do you mean?" I asked as he knocked on the door, which opened immediately. I followed him inside, and he led me to an elevator.
"She doesn't like opposition. Whatever reason she's allowing you to last this long is only known to her. I recommend not challenging her," Jethro advised solemnly.
I scoffed, recalling her crude remarks about me. I doubted I could simply "listen and keep my mouth shut." The library was colossal, filled with countless books arranged in sections. I resolved to visit here often; it would be delightful to grab a few reads in my spare time.
Matthew wasn't around, so Jethro took the list from his desk. I watched as more names appeared on it as we walked away.
"These are visitors who are to die today," Jethro explained, as though he could read my thoughts.
"When would it stop being updated?" I asked, glancing at the names.
"By sunset, when the Inn closes."
I nodded and took the list from him, heading to the elevator that would take me to Veronica's office. She kept her gaze fixed on the book in front of her, not bothering to spare me a glance. I dropped the list on the table and stepped back.
"Is there any—"
"Leave." She cut me off sharply.
I sighed and turned to leave.
"Do yourself a favor and stay out of my way," she added as I reached the door. I froze for a moment, my hand resting on the knob, but after a brief internal debate, I exited.
I honored her request for the next five days, simply collecting the list from Matthew's desk, who eventually informed me he had a phobia of people. I wondered if Veronica had something to do with it but dismissed the thought; she didn't spare me a glance and kept her distance nicely, so I had to do the same.
I observed cheating men coming in and out of the Inn, the evidence of their deaths magically cleaned up the instant Veronica washed her hands and left the room. The staff members would watch the news for reports of the deaths, deriving some form of entertainment from it. One morning, I awoke feeling angry at myself for being too relaxed about this situation. My time was running out, and I hadn't even made a move on her.
If the Grim Reaper didn't want to return my life to me, he could have stated that plainly instead of playing fetish games with my fate. I left my room with newfound determination to shake things up, which ironically worked for me when guests arrived at the Inn. I stood outside with Jethro, ready to welcome them with a bow, until my gaze fell upon a particular pair. A man stepped out of a Rolls-Royce, accompanied by a much younger woman who timidly held his arm, her head bowed.
"Please, sir, I can't... you're married," I heard the feminine voice plead.
"Do you want to help your mother or not, Piper?" the man scoffed. My vision transitioned suddenly to an office where the same woman sobbed on her knees, the man squatting in front of her while gripping her chin with his fingers to force her gaze upon him.
"Your wife adores me; I can't betray her like this," the girl croaked.
The man struck her cheek and stood up. "Insolent girl, ask my wife for the money then, since you're so interested in helping her. I guess you should start saving for your mother's funeral."
The girl looked up, hands still cradling her cheek. "Please, sir. She needs the surgery."
"And you know what I need." He snapped.
The girl gasped, a sigh of pain escaping her lips as she weighed her options. Her mother was sick; if giving her body to this man was all she needed to do, then she would. Shakily removing her hand from her face, she looked up at him with bloodshot eyes from crying. "Fine. I'll do it." Her compliance echoed with desperation.
The vision faded, and now the girl was just steps away from me. Her eyes, laden with gloom, found mine. It was as if she knew I had seen something; she quickly looked away and tightened her grip on the man's arm, walking straight into a place from which she would not return.
I didn't have time to process how and why I could suddenly see this about her. My senses flared, and I found myself running after them, doing the one thing I should not have done.
The Everling at the reception was nice enough to give me the location of their room—Room 405—based on my status as the assistant. They had chosen a room on the top floor. The elevator ride felt more stifling as it ascended; I loosened my tie while trying to process the urgency of the situation. Upon reaching Room 405 with the key card in hand, I rushed through the hallway, praying silently that Veronica would spare her.
I flung the door open, barging inside. "Stop, stop!" I yelled. Veronica froze in her tracks, but the naked girl on top of the man didn't stop moving her body rhythmically against his, pleasure emanating from their lips. They couldn't hear us, and I knew it had to be the doing of the woman standing before me.
The room smelled of sweat, secretions, and incense from the explosive candles. The chandelier creaked ominously above them.
Veronica turned to meet my gaze, her displeasure clear, but her face remained expressionless, as if she could bury me right there and then.
"Please, you can't kill her," I practically begged. "I saw it… she didn't want to be here by her will; she was forced by him. He's manipulating her." I continued explaining myself while Veronica watched me with folded arms, her expression unyielding.
She tilted her head toward the pair engaged before us. "Does this look forced to you, Adonis?"
The chandelier creaked again, and my gaze snapped to the golden frame as it began to descend. My instincts kicked in, and I lunged forward, grabbing the nude woman and pushing her to the floor just as the massive crash of the chandelier filled the room, landing on the man's body. Pieces of glass shattered and rained down around me as I shielded her with my own.
Piper's heart raced loudly in her chest as I quickly released her and stepped back. She stared at the body, mouth agape in shock.
Slowly, I heard the sound of Veronica's heels clicking as she approached me. "What do you define as betrayal, Adonis?" she asked coolly.
"I'm sorry; I just had to. He—"
"Hold it," she snapped, turning her gaze to the girl, her eyes darkening. "Your mother wanted a job; his wife gave her one at her company. You wanted an education; she supplied a scholarship. Everything, no matter how small or big your desire was, his wife supplied it. Why did you go to her husband to ask for your mother's medical bills?"
I could feel the blood drain from my face as Piper struggled for words. "I… didn't… I—"
"Because you had your filthy eyes on what is already trash—the husband of a woman who helped you from the beginning. Even if you were a dog in heat, conceding to hurting someone for your own benefit is still betrayal, no matter how desperate you are." Each word struck me deeply, forcing me to confront the reality I had overlooked. The weight of my own actions pressed down on me as Veronica returned her attention to me. "Kill her."