Chapter 17
DAMIEN
Damien had come to expect miracles from Delilah.
It barely even surprised him when a blonde woman floated past. From how she matched the guests’ description, she could only be the hotel’s creator.
There was something very strange about her shadow.
For a moment, it seemed entirely too large, with claw-tipped wings.
Then it was gone, and she had no shadow at all.
Hanging off Lucy’s arm, Howard waved.
Lucy glanced down the emergency hatch at the lift stuffed with sweets. Her nervous face relaxed upon seeing Damien’s uniform. ‘Ah, the lift attendant. Nefertiti has told me about you. Your sin must have been gluttony.’
‘Limbo, actually. Those keep falling down.’ Damien caught a falling lollipop before it could hit his head.
‘I see. I’ll take care of that.’ Lucy directed her gaze upwards. Red light flashed from her eyes, her pupils slitted and the tide of sweets stopped.
‘Thank you,’ Damien said. ‘I was starting to worry they would break through my roof.’ He wondered if she could repair the lift so easily, but feared to ask.
Growing up constantly avoiding triggering his father’s moods, he’d developed a finely tuned sense of danger.
It told him that Lucy was the most dangerous being he’d ever met.
Even more dangerous than Barbara. Speaking of which, he asked, ‘Do you know a Barbara? She seemed to know you.’
‘Can’t say I do,’ Lucy said indifferently. ‘It becomes hard to keep track of all the insignificant mortals.’
‘Also called the Harbinger of Chaos, the End, and the Final Roll of the Dice?’
Lucy stiffened. ‘If she’s here, then I need to work faster to repair the hotel.’ She shot away.
Damien sighed. ‘So much for obtaining information from her. Why must supernatural beings all be mysterious?’
‘Hi!’ Delilah climbed past where he sat in the alcove. ‘We found the designer.’
‘I never doubted you would.’ He smiled. ‘Can she repair my lift?’
‘I’m afraid not right away. She needs to reach the engine room for any major repairs. That requires all of us to pass every trial in the hotel.’ Delilah sounded unconcerned, perhaps even eager. ‘Five to go for me, six to go for the group.’
Damien shuddered. ‘Good luck. I wish I could go with you.’
To his own surprise, he found that he meant it. Usually, he would be glad of an excuse to avoid an adventure. But this place was his home too. If only he could leave the shaft and help everyone fix it.