Hundred and hundred.....
We left the candy store soon After, just before we did, Miss Berry slipped me a coin, it had her face on it.... said to contact her if I needed anything, business or....
Anyways! Sir George led us back to this Lodge, along the way, I asked him about his earlier works, He is a writer here too.... at least he claims to be, he was a bit embarrassed about my questions but he did entertain me!
He told me about The Parent's Boon, a tale of a wretched child that that brought misery to his parents but Grace to outsiders, he was cursed in way... because of a sin his parents committed in the past.
He told me of The Pit Cleaner, A vampire who also works as a professional fixer for the underworld on her city, all's well and good until her former acquaintances, fellow vampires cane back into her life seeking payment for the debt of saving her life centuries ago when she first turned into a vampire.
He told me about many drafts he'd had turned down, about his relationship with his Brother, turns out they weren't.... close, at least they hadn't been for years until his death, they got estranged because of a girl.... wow! Sir George doesn't look the part at all!
Heck his universe counterpart in my world was.... well it doesn't matter anymore really....
"We're here boy," Sir George grumbled, the talk about his brother must have put him in a sour mood.
"This.... what is this place?" I asked incredulously, staring at the mismatched building in front of me..... It was a 30 storey Frankenstein abomination!
The first story looked made out metal... kinda like some sort of bunker you'd prepare for an apocalypse in, the windows were tinted black and the only door was.... em what do you call it? You know those doors you'd find in a submarine! it was pure yellow a strong contrast to the rest of the bunker which was Just plain black.
The second storey.... it was brick layout.... not too odd but considering the bunker... well maybe the two of them were just a bit higher than you'd expect huh? It didn't have any doors out side, obviously! But.... hmm.... well let's leave that alone for now!
Now the Third... was a glass house! literally glass! Why!? Who designed this!? if you wanted a green house, why not.... wait, it might disturbed the other buildings, still! This.... this is just wrong!
It went in that order, over and over till it reaches the top!
"What do you mean?" He said with an innocent, rather too innocent tone.
"Are you serious?" I said narrowing my eyes,
"....."
"....."
He stared at me like I was mad.... but I saw it! I saw a slight twitch around his lips! His shoulders were trembling too untill he finally Burst out laughing!
"Ah.... Boy! Now you've made me lose 40k!"
"You bet.... that much....? why?"
"Barnabas can be rather persuasive when it comes to money, unlike Pedro, he mostly wins! Anyways, let's get inside already! The illusion.... you'll get used to it,"
"Illusion?"
"You think anyone is crazy enough to build something like this?"
".... You guys just like messing with me, don't you?"
He smiled.
Low and behold the building shifted form and it looked like an ordinary 30 storey building, albeit one that had two entrances, one for normal sized people and another for giants..... a hotel by the looks of it, 'Hundred and Hundred' the sign said.
"why the illusion though?" I asked as we passed through the entrance.
"The owners.... have a superstition about preying eyes.... a bunch of nonsense really, it came from a time when they genuinely believed the tainted prince might invade Gracefield.... the illusion looks different to everyone,"
"....oh.... okay, I guess?" I didn't understand, and I didn't care all that much really, so I shrugged my shoulders.
The place.... was pretty beautiful all things considered, it had a blood red carpet, chandeliers, 6 of them, the staff, all Satyrs with white fur and hair, were Dressed brilliantly in wine coloured blazers, black corporate shirts and white ties.
The walls were made of pure white marble and the paintings..... kinda reminded of Picasso's works.... I swore, I saw The old guitarist, the weeping woman and the three musicians... or at least their adjacent in this world.
Beautiful jazz music played in the background as I grew immersed with my surroundings, I swore I could smell walnut, peaches and apples in the air.
I didn't even notice Sir George had left my side until he grabbed my shoulder and dragged me to the elevator, "I've gotten our room keys, come on!" he said.
We headed straight to the 12th floor, on the way up, Sir George briefed me on everyone's arrangements, Vince stayed on the 13th floor, Arthur on the 6th, Barney and Pedro on the 10th and Bradley on the 20th, that's where most giants stayed really.
"Vincent..... he said he'd start your training tomorrow,"
"What kind of training are we talking about here?"
"Something... to increase your.... survivability...."
I paled.
"Oh don't look that down.... he won't kill you..."
"You sure?"
"I survived his training! It's not that bad.... though... I pity your neck boy..."
"my..... neck?"
He chuckled and didn't say anymore, I pressed him for answers but he just smiled at me and I eventually gave up.
"12-H.... This is us!" He Said before opening the door.
It was.... kinda basic really.... 2 beds with 3 pillows each, with white coloured sheets each.
A table and chair, for studying I presume and a window showing the outside, there was also a small kitchen and another door that led to the bathroom I presume and a small closet.
It was tidy... at least on the side that had a window on it.
The other side was littered with books and crushed papers, Sir George scratched his head nervously at this sight.
"Sorry.... haven't had time to clean up, been myself for a while now..."
"It's okay.... I guess I'll take the window side,"
"Yeah... yeah, you should get some sleep boy, Vincent likes going early for his training,"
"Yeah...." You didn't have to tell me that twice, I'm beat!
The moment my head touched the pillow I passed out, I had..... a, well an eventful dream.
It was about... Miss Berry, she.... well she was in her little room, the one beneath the candy store.
It looked a bit larger than when we were just there though.... Her bed was nowhere to be seen and some of her furniture was gone too, just a few plastic chairs in the room.
She carried a tray of 'Candy' sharing it to everyone in the room, she had some guests with her, a couple of people, Orcs, Humans and Wolfmen I think, 27 people in total...
She was probably hosting a party.... cause there was loud music and booze and snacks and the lights were going on and off like a night club.
Most people were dancing, Others whispering to each other and a few were getting intimate in the corner somewhere....
There was a person in the room that stood out from the crowd.... a lady...., I couldn't see her face properly so I had to get a bit closer I got closer.
I saw her.....
It was Jamie.... the worm eater... she was dressed in the same attire I saw her in earlier, but her right eye was swollen and her nose stuffy, Her left wrist seemed red and bruised and her eyes were listless.
No one spoke to her, Not even Miss Berry, she passed her some Candy but didn't even make eye contact, didn't even acknowledge her existence after that.
Jamie ate the candy she was given and sat down in a corner in the room, her eyes still listless.... Finally someone came over to talk to her.
It was the blue man that whooped my ass on my first day there....
He took Jamie's hand and she stood up...
He kissed her, on the lips, it was a bit sloppy from where I was watching.... Wet and slobbering.... Kinda gross really, even grosser was that they were really getting into it.
Everyone seemed to feel as uncomfortable as I was watching it, at least those that looked.
Eventually the odd couple took themselves somewhere private, an orc dressed in an Outlandish Purple striped suit followed the duo to the back.... Now that I look at him properly, he was one of the guys that dragged her away earlier this morning.
My dream is interrupted by a loud, booming voice.
"Morning Rookie!" Vince roared.
I woke up with a start and crashed to the floor.
"Oooooh, Boss?" I groaned
"Come on, Come on! up on your feet!" He said, he was dressed in a blue tracksuit and wore a headband for some reason.
"B-Boss?"
"Don't 'B-Boss' me!" He mocked, "Your training starts today!" He laughed.