Saturday, June 16, 2012

“If you guys are good trackers as I’ve heard you are; you’ll smell that we don’t eat human.”

(Excerpt of Sororate Chapter One)

“Welcome to the Jade Hotel.” The Chinese man smiled politely. “I believe your reservation has you in the Lotus Suite. Our room service will bring up your complimentary bottle of champagne for your stay.”

“We don’t drink alcohol.”  He returned.

Well we can’t, if we got drunk and lost our control of the bloodlust being Werewolves?  No, it was too hideous to consider…

“Very good Mr. Sabre," the clerk didn’t miss a beat. “Then we can arrange another beverage to be served instead.  We have a selection of de-alcoholised wines or soft drink or juice or iced tea -”

“The de-alcoholised wine would be fine," my husband interrupted.

I could tell he didn’t mean to be rude, as he looked over his shoulder at the door of the hotel.  Declan just wanted us to hole up protectively in our room.

“The hotel has a gym as well as a sauna and a pool.” The clerk went on. “In the gym you can purchase massages and we even have an acupuncturist -”

“No thanks, we won’t be leaving our room.”  He said shortly and then he read his name tag.  “Sorry, Hsu?  My wife is really tired and we’d just like to get checked-in.”

“Of course Mr. Sabre," the clerk continued politely. 

However he mispronounced our surname, to my husband’s chagrin.  Instead of saying Sar-bra, it sounded like the clerk said Say-ber.  The European Werewolf hated it when outsiders would incorrectly spell or mispronounce his Italian surname.  However he didn’t correct the stranger this time, all he wanted to do was get out of sight. 

The clerk requested, “If I could please get your credit card as well as sight your passport for identification purposes?” 

Declan handed the items over to him and he scanned them into his computer before giving them back.  Next, the clerk passed him our hotel room’s electronic key.

“Inside your room, you will find a menu for Room Service and your complimentary de-alcoholised wine will be served shortly.” The clerk finished.

“Thanks.”  My mate retook hold of my hand to lead me away.

Then I don’t know why, but I think it was because I sensed something?  I looked back over my shoulder at the hotel clerk who was watching us leave, when I caught him sniff.  He wasn’t sniffing because he had a cold, but he was sniffing us.

Frickin’ hell, he’s another Asian Werewolf!  They’re everywhere!  This town really is their territory. 

Just then I surprised my husband when I stopped, turned around and marched back over to the counter.  The small lobby of the hotel was quiet with no other people around and the clerk was standing by himself. 

“Look,” I began, “we know this is your territory. We’ll keep to our room and then in the morning we’ll leave. We don’t want any trouble.  If you guys are good trackers as I’ve heard you are; you’ll smell that we don’t eat human.”

Declan’s eyes widened when he realized who it was that I was talking to.  Whereas, the hotel clerk’s face remained perfectly calm.  He even smiled politely again.

“We are aware of that particular quality about you as our guests, thank you Mrs. Sar-bra.”  The clerk said, now mysteriously pronouncing our surname correctly. “If the hotel had any objection, we would not have proceeded with check-in.  But thank you for sharing your dietary requirements with us, we will be sure to notify the kitchen.”

My mate came to stand protectively beside as he looked suspiciously on the hotel clerk – slash – Asian Werewolf.

“We hope that you enjoy your stay at the Jade Hotel.  Please feel free to enjoy our features such as the pool, spa or sauna which is included in the cost of your room.”  The hotel clerk ended with a slight bow.

I sensed that he meant it and he didn’t see us as a threat, so we were allowed.

“Come on, B.”  My husband gently pulled me away.


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Saturday, June 2, 2012

“Come on B, you’re a ‘growly thing’ as well as a ‘Light Person’, that was just a slow jog for us!”

(Excerpt of Sororate Chapter One)

Declan retook hold of my hand and hurried us along.  We picked up our steps until we were power walking as the sun sank lower in the sky.  We were walking so quickly, we attracted some peculiar looks from the other tourists we passed. 

We managed to walk another three kilometres before the red sun touched the dusky horizon.  The view from the Wall showed the upcoming town where our hotel was situated but it was still two kilometres away. 

“Come on, let’s leg it.”  He ordered as the sun started to disappear.

My husband ran in front, almost pulling me along as I felt tired from walking all day.  We ran in a speed which would have been considered fast for humans, but it was slow for our kind.  It was too risky to show off our supernatural speed in public, nor could I just instantaneously phase us there. 

He led the way down some exit steps from the Great Wall and onto a road.  Then we bolted the rest of the way into town with Declan still pulling me along.  With the force he was squeezing my hand there was no way he was letting me slip from his grasp.  He didn’t let go until we entered the safety of settlement.  I stopped to catch my breath as I leaned wearily against the side of a building.

“Come on B, you’re a ‘growly thing’ as well as a ‘Light Person’, that was just a slow jog for us!”  He taunted.

“I’ve also been walking two days straight!”  I snapped amidst my puffing. “My feet are sore and my legs are tired!”

“Moan moan moan.”  He rolled his eyes before he looked around warily.

“What is it?”  I watched him.

“When we ran into town, I smelled more markings. This town is somebody’s territory so being outside after dark isn’t safe here either.  Let’s just hurry up and get to the hotel.” 

Declan grabbed hold of my hand again to pull me off the wall and after him down the road.  We walked down several streets before we stopped under a street light so he could check our itinerary.  He input the address of the hotel into the GPS then we followed the device’s directions.

We passed through a bustling commercial section where many people were either walking around or sitting at different outdoor tables and chairs.  Out of curiosity, I glanced through shop windows or a few of the front of restaurants.  It was the restaurants which had the outdoor seating where families sat down eating.  I also noticed at a couple of these tables elderly people played Mah-jong.

“Oh look, Mah-jong.”  I paused to watch until Declan pulled me along again.

An old Chinese man with a long, thin, white beard who was smoking a long, thin pipe looked up from his game as we passed.  To my surprise, his brown eyes abruptly turned white, with just his tiny black pupils remaining.  Frickin’ hell, he’s an Asian Werewolf!  The old man showed me his eyes to let me know that he also knew what Declan and I are. 

“OK, let’s go.” I walked out in front and now I was the one pulling him along.

I wished I’d brought my Katana along with me, the silver-coated Japanese sword.  I would have felt a whole lot safer with that insurance policy in my backpack.  Declan spotted our hotel’s brightly lit sign and he escorted me off the street and into the small foyer where the check-in counter was located.

“We have a reservation for Sabre.”  He handed over our itinerary with the barcode for the hotel clerk to scan.


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