The Grand Hotel

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Justin’s POV

I can feel Brian carefully moving me over and I’m confused as to why he is leaving our warm bed, but I’m also too tired to wake up and ask him. His angry thoughts drift through my mind and suddenly I’m aware of loud knocking on the door.

My blood runs cold with fear. Why is someone at the door? We all agreed to rest before we do anything. I wonder if something has changed. I’m terrified to think of the possibilities.

My father is not the man I once knew. Gone is the kind caring man who would do anything for his family. He is now a vicious murder and even in the great beyond he seems to want some form of revenge upon me and my lover’s family. I shudder at the thought of what Craig has done and is still planning.

I feel icy fingers of fear clutching at my soul as I try to wake myself to this reality. If I should even call this a reality. To me this is hell and the only thing that makes any sense to me is Brian. I can‘t bear the thought of losing him. I know that no matter how I feel about myself or how lacking in self confidence I am, that I would do anything for Brian.

I try to pull myself together so I can see who is at the door. Abruptly I feel a change in the air and darkness infiltrates the room. Something jumps on the bed and I gasp as it climbs over me and carefully lies next to me. I can feel the warmth of the being as soft fur brushes against my bare skin. I’m almost too terrified to move when a moist nose sniffs my hair. My eyes instantly flutter open and I gasp when I see two angelic blue eyes watching me. I draw back and study the creature more closely, realizing it is a white wolf. For some odd reason I do not feel in any danger.

She seems to be watching me intently as if she is protecting me from someone or something. That’s when it occurs to me that Brian is at the door. Fuck! He’s in danger.

I sit up quickly when I hear Brian speak and then I see his reflection glaring back in the room from the mirror. How in the fuck did a mirror get in front of the door? I try to stand so I can protect my lover somehow. I can hear his fear as it washes through his mind. I try to get up again and the wolf places her paw firmly upon my chest, growling.

I watch as my lover is literally dragged into the mirror by what can only be my father.

I gasp and as my emotions get the best of me. The tears that have been held at bay roll freely down my cheeks. I stifle a breath, closing my eyes tightly and then reopening them again a moment later. I look at the wolf in anger. “How dare you? I could have saved him...I could have…’

She shakes her head. “Justin…Justin” I am startled to hear the voice I heard that first night in the lobby. I look at the wolf closely and realize that it is she who is speaking to me in my mind. Her voice seems to have a calming affect on me. I feel my heart warm and my body begins to relax. She continues to speak, “You’re not safe here. Brian was in danger since the night of the murders. It is not as easy for me to protect him since Craig already has a piece of his soul. That is why you are the key. You posses so much power because you have a piece of Craig’s soul. You are his blood; his child. When you were conceived a part of your mother and father’s soul is what brought you to life. That is why you are the only one who has the full power and strength to defeat him. You need to be able to see the strength in yourself.”

I look into the wolf’s eyes and growl slightly. “I’m ready now. Let’s go get Brian back.”

She lays her paw on my hand. “It is not that easy. You cannot go out there without being prepared. Your family and friends will help you. If you go out that door now you will also be sucked into the mirror and into your own personal hell.”

I swallow heavily and feel the weakness in my voice. “How am I supposed to get help and how am I supposed to get out of here?” I watch her eyes travel up to the ceiling as I look up I notice a trap door that I’ve never noticed before. The door suddenly opens and a ladder slides down.

I am stunned to see Dana peering down at me from the opening. She smiles at me brightly. “Hi daddy!” I am happy to see her, but also scared. I don’t want her to be in danger. Suddenly I remember telling her not to come looking for me tonight. She looks at me sadly. “Don’t be sad or mad, Daddy. I only came when the wolves asked me to. Mommy said it was okay.”

I swallow. “Your mother knows you’re here?”

She jumps down from the ceiling doing a flip, then runs to me, and clutches me tightly. “Oh daddy, I love you, and yes, mommy knows. The wolves came to us first. They knew what was going to happen. Grandma and Mama are cooking up something in Grandma’s room.”

I brush my baby’s hair with my fingers and look at the wolf sternly. “You knew and you couldn’t stop it?” I say angrily.

She barks and then more wolves join her, surrounding us. “Yes, we knew Justin, and this was the plan. If we had saved Brian you would never have the courage to defeat your father, but now you do.”

I stand up hesitantly, making my way to the ladder. When I get to the top I see the wolves and Dana are already waiting for me. Dana takes hold of my hand tightly and looks up at me with her intense blue eyes. “I love you Daddy.”

I swallow around the lump in my throat. “I love you too.”

She leads me to a staircase and there is a door that’s already open.

Before we enter the room I can hear Brian talking within my mind. He sounds like a small child, yet I know it is him. “No, no daddy, please. Please don’t hurt me. I’ll be good, I’ll be good.” I cringe and cry out when I feel a sharp pain in my side.

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Brian’s POV

After I’m pulled through the mirror I find myself in a horribly familiar place. It’s the home of my childhood. A place that holds almost as much fear and unhappiness as the last five years in Craig’s web. I wander down the stairs and everything looks odd, but I can’t figure out why.

“God damnit, Sonny Boy!” My hear clenches in fear as I hear my father’s voice. “I thought I told you to pick up your shit! Come here now!”

I start to tell the old man to fuck off, but I find my body moving slowly toward the voice. “Coming, Daddy,” I hear myself say and my voice sounds strange. Suddenly I realize what’s wrong with the picture. I am a child again, and as I walk into the living room and see my father standing there holding a handful of Matchbox cars I begin to panic.

With a sudden chill I remember this moment. I try to will the little boy to run away, but I am just a silent observer of this little scene of domestic hell. I have no control over the fragile boy who keeps walking toward the angry man.

Suddenly he viciously flings the small metal cars at my face. “I told you not leave your toys lying around!” spits out my drunken father. I am close enough now to smell the alcohol on his breath.

“I’m sorry Daddy,” comes the small reply.

“I’ll teach you to really be sorry!” The first blow comes as a hard slap across the face that knocks me to the ground.

“No, no Daddy!” I hear my little voice crying out. “Please don’t hurt me. I’ll be good; I promise I’ll be good!”

I wince because I remember what comes next and then I look over to the doorway because I remember this part as well. As if right on cue my mother comes in and stands there watching the scene unfold. There’s a glass of sherry in her hand, and a glazed look of indifference in her eyes.

Then comes the second blow from my father. He kicks me viciously in the ribs and my vision goes dark, but the grown up part of me is still very much awake. I curse Craig Taylor for making me relive this moment. It was the first time, the first of many times, actually, that my father beat me. I was four years old.

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Debbie’s POV

I can tell Justin and his guardians are approaching. I take in a deep breath. Poor Sunshine, he learns the truth about everything in one night and then that bastard Craig takes Brian.

When the wolves came to us in the kitchen I was beside myself. All I wanted to do was come to their aid and protect them from harm. The spirit guardians warned me that this time I needed to leave it to fate and destiny. I knew they were right, but to see the ones you love suffer is one of the worst pains any one could imagine.

I turn back to look into the flames of the fireplace. Herbs and spice steam from the black kettle. I take in another breath, focusing on what is to happen tonight. I bend down and light a bundle of sage and then blow out the flame, letting the smoke from the plant’s embers wander through the air.

I smile across the room at Michael and Emmett who are keeping vigil over a still sleeping Ted. I had them bring him up here so I could keep my eye on him. The rest are together, gathering some supplies that I asked for. I take another cleansing breath and turn back to the task at hand.

Daphne hands me two stones that she has threaded upon a thin leather cord. I look down, and seeing the amber, smile at Daphne. I agree, our young warrior will need plenty of luck and this stone will help him to make the correct choices. I notice the other stone is an Amethyst. This will help protect him from anger and fear. Carefully I cleanse the stones with the sage, focusing as much love and light as I possibly can, over the precious items.

Closing my eyes I say a silent prayer of protection over all of us, invoking Goddess Kali.

I turn around and my breath is taken away by the site before me. White mist rolls into the room and Justin steps in the doorway with Dana holding his hand. They are surrounded by the pack of white wolves. Each wolf’s eyes glow blue. I can tell that Justin, for the first time since he has arrived here, has regained the courage I knew he once had. He has the look of a determined man.

I walk over to Justin without saying a word to him. I place the stone necklace around his neck and take hold of his hands. I chant in an ancient tongue to the Gods and Goddesses

He looks at me with compassion but a fire burns in his eyes and his voice is husky and rough when he speaks. “Debbie, I’ll need a Dagger and a small mirror.” He looks over to the wolves as though they are speaking to him and I realize they are communicating telepathically. “I’ll also need a lantern.”

I smile at him. “Sure thing.” I pat his cheek and offer him a chair to sit down. Then I begin to gather the things he will need on his journey.

Suddenly there is a loud knocking on the door and whoever it is continues to knock frantically. I notice right away that Justin seems tense. He looks at me with concern and then clears his throat. “Be careful opening the door Debbie, that’s how Brian was tricked into the mirror.”

“Shit!” I take a deep breath and hesitate to open the door. The knocking continues. “Hold your fucking horses I’ll be there is a minute,” I call.

I look to the wolves for some kind of guidance, because my kids need me now and there is no fucking way I am going inside that thing unless it’s on my own to help my boys. The lead wolf smirks at me and I can’t help but ask. “What’s your name? I don’t want to just call you wolf.”

She barks and then laughs. “My name is Natalie.” Justin looks down at her and grins as he pats her head.

“Natalie, do you know if it's okay for me to answer the door or is there a big bad ugly out there?” I snicker at my own attempt at humor but apparently I’m the only one who found humor in it.

She speaks softly. “It is your family and friends. I asked them to come because I want you all in the same place, where it’s safe.

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Brian’s POV

“Get up,” says a gruff voice. “Follow me.”

Once again my body betrays me as it rises from the floor. I open my eyes again and it seems as if I’m back in my adult body. Everything is in a more familiar prospective. Standing in front of me is a man with sandy blond hair and blue eyes. They are Justin’s eyes, but instead of shining with light they are full of malice. “Why should I follow you anywhere?”

“Because you don’t have much of a choice,” he sneers.

I hear a low growling sound and see several sets of red eyes peering at me from the darkness. I sigh heavily and follow Craig Taylor into an exact replica of our old kitchen.

“Have a seat,” he says pointing to one of the chairs around the table.

“What the fuck do you want?” I ask him bluntly as he sits across from me. I notice he is still dressed in the black slacks and turtleneck he wore the night he skulked around my hotel and killed me and my family. “Haven’t you done enough damage?”

“It won’t ever be enough until I have my son back,” he bites out.

“Well, newsflash for you, Craig; that is not going to happen. You’ll never have Justin. You didn’t deserve him while you were alive and you sure as hell don’t deserve him now you evil fuck!”

“Watch it, Kinney,” Craig spits out and I hear the growling start again. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with here.”

“So, tell me, Craig, what the fuck am I dealing with? I am so sick of your shit! It’s been five long years. Why can’t you just let it go? Let Lindsay and Gus go. Do whatever you want to me, but leave my friends and family alone.”

“Oh, you’d like that wouldn’t you, Kinney? You think I don’t know how much you value your family and friends’ lives over your own? Especially my son’s? I’ve been watching you since he came back. Didn’t take long to re light that old flame did it, pervert?”

“And again, I ask you Craig; who’s the real pervert here? Me for making love to your son or you for watching? Maybe really you’re just a closet case.”

“Shut the fuck up!” Suddenly he morphs back into my father and backhands me across the mouth. “That’ll teach you to give me that smart mouth of yours, Sonny Boy. I will have Justin, and the others too, and you’re going to help me get them.”

“The fuck I will,” I answer defiantly as I reach up and wipe the blood from my face. I didn’t even know I could bleed. “I would never help you hurt Justin.”

“Oh, I wasn’t asking for volunteers,” scoffs the man who is still wearing my father’s face. “I’m just telling you how it is.” He pulls back his fist and suddenly there’s another man behind me as well, pinning my arms behind my back. I turn my head to look and am shocked to see that it is also my father. The first Jack lands a blow into my stomach and then he just keeps pummeling me until I can’t even remember my own name.

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Emmett’s POV

I’m sitting on the couch in Deb‘s room with Teddy‘s head in my lap. Michael sits next to me as we watch Deb and Daphne prepare for Justin to come with someone called The Guardians.

Frankly, I don’t know jack diddle about what’s happening, but I do know that Brian and Justin are in terrible danger. All of us could be in terrible danger. “Do you know what they’re doing?” I whisper to Michael, as we look over to where Deb and Daphne look as if they‘re making some type of jewelry. I want to tell them that this is not the time for craft projects, but I’m afraid they’ll make my dick disappear or something.

“Fuck if I know,” Michael whispers back. “You know I don’t pay attention to her spells and shit. If I had to guess it’s some sort of protection thing.”

We turn our attention to Teddy when we hear his low groan. “What happened?” he asks groggily as he sits up.

I look over to Michael who just shrugs at me. A lot of help he is. I’m fresh out of alcohol, sleepy tea, bloody boys and rambunctious children. “Oh, fuck it!” I finally say. “Teddy, this hotel is haunted. Michael’s best friend Brian is a ghost and has been trapped here for five years along with his son, Gus and Gus’ mother Lindsay. Justin’s father, Craig, who murdered them all, is still here holding them captive and now has taken Brian away somewhere. Justin is going to go after him. Deb is a witch and is brewing up some sort of protection for Justin.”

Ted stares at me for a moment. “Well, why in the fuck didn’t you say so in the first place?” he says. “Hey, Deb,” he calls to the older woman. “Did you remember the Amethyst for anger and fear?”

We all turn to stare at Teddy. “What the fuck?” I ask him.

“What?” he asks. “My Auntie Ginger was a practicing witch. I used to spend lots of time at her house.”

“But you freaked out when you saw Lindsay in the bathroom and then Brian and Justin in the hallway!” I say indignantly.

“Oh, yeah,” he replies. “I can’t stand the sight of blood. It really freaks me out.” Teddy shudders as he stands to go watch Deb.

I place my hands on my hips. “Well go fuckin’ figure,” I say to Michael just as Justin, Dana and his guardians make their somewhat grand appearance.

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Justin’s POV

Even though Natalie said it was okay to open the door I still let out a sigh of relief when our remaining family members stumble in. I notice right away that Ben is out of breath.

Debbie and Michael rush to him. “Ben, what happened?” Debbie asks as she looks to the others for answers.

Ben rests one hand on his knee as he leans over to recover his breath. He holds up his other hand. “Give me a moment, Deb,” he pants out.

Vic continues for him. “Sis, we were on our way to your room and we were about to pass by Brian’s room. There is a dark mass encircling the hallway. We could hear screeching through the walls.” He swallows. “That’s when it happened.”

Debbie shakes her head and glares at all of them in anticipation. “Well? That’s when what happened?”

Mel speaks up. “That was when we saw Brian being dragged into a mirror.”

Debbie looks at her quizzically. “Well, Justin’s here. We kind of already knew that part. Now tell us something we don’t know.”

Ben’s breathing relaxes and he stands up looking at Debbie. “When we saw Brian being pulled into the mirror more spirits came out.”

Debbie sits down in a nearby chair. “Shit! How many?”

Ben stoops down in front of her resting his hands on hers. “That we do not know. Too many to even count. It was as though the mirror was channeling the main portal of the whole hotel. Whenever one goes in more come out.”

“What do you mean whenever one goes in more come out? How would you know that? Only Brian went in.”

Mel sits down next to Debbie. I now notice how scared she really looks, even with her strong demeanor. “A ghastly being protruded through the mirror and tried to drag me in. When we…when…” She clears her throat. “I remembered a small compact mirror the angels of light gave to me before we came back. I was halfway through when I quickly grabbed the compact, flipped it open and held it up toward the creature. She screeched and thrust me back out. Ben helped me up and we literally had to run away from the beings charging towards us. We found another way back up to your room but they are out there lurking in the hallways.”

Mel points to the door and we can hear a loud screeching penetrating through the walls. Melanie stands up and walks toward me. She kisses me on the cheek and then pulls back, allowing me to see the mist forming in her eyes. She takes hold of my hand and places the small mirror in it. “I have faith in you, Justin. Use this mirror wisely.”

I choke back my emotions. “I will, and I’ll do everything I can so Lindsay and Gus can be with you.”

She pats my cheek compassionately. “I know you will.”

Vic walks over to me and I notice he is carrying a lantern. He smiles as he hands it to me and then reaches into his pocket, pulling out a dagger covered by an elaborately decorated sheath. Slowly he glides out the blade to check it and then pulls the sheath back over it. When he hands me the dagger I notice the Celtic detail on the handle. I look at it in awe and it seems so familiar to me.

I feel Natalie rest her paw on my hand and she speaks softly. “That is because it was yours in another life. You will know how to use it when the time is right. Now it is time to go back to Brian’s room.” I gulp heavily and nod my head in understanding

I hug each of my new family members closely. I may not have known all of them long but I feel such a bond them; including Michael. “I’m sorry for being such a shit. I have faith in you,” says the older man to me. “Please help my best friend.”

I nod to Michael as I pull out of the embrace. “I will.”

Lindsay walks up to me and wraps her arms around me tightly as she whispers in my ear. “Justin I want to thank you. No matter what happens I love you and I am so sorry for...for putting you in any danger. I just know I can't live like this any longer and neither can Gus.”

I smile at her sadly. “I’m not only going in there for Brian. I want you and Gus to be safe too. Even though I haven’t remembered everything yet I do know that you both meant so much to me. I know that I loved you very much.” We both smile as we try to hold back our tears. I close my eyes tightly and then reopen them. I look her in the eye and feel a lump in my throat as I try to speak. “If anyone should apologize it should be me, for my father’s actions.”

She gasps in horror. “Justin no. It wasn’t your fault. Never think that, okay?”

I swallow heavily. “Okay.” I take in a deep breath. “I need to ask you something that may help on my journey. When Daphne and I first arrived here a couple of days ago Brian told me the elevator was dangerous and not to go inside. He also warned us about the mirrors and I understand all that now except one thing that still doesn’t make any sense to me.”

She cocks her head…“Oh? What’s that?”

“That first night in the hallway you told me not to move anything. How come?”

She blushes and laughs nervously. “Oh that. Umm…well, you see, I can be a little clumsy.” She smile mischievously and her cheeks redden even more from embarrassment. “I know where everything is now. If you move it and the lights go out I might fall.”

She ducks her head and I lightly touch my fingers to her chin and smile at her. “No reason to be embarrassed, Linds. That is actually good to know, I wouldn’t want you to fall either.” I lean in and whisper, “I can be kind of clumsy too.”

She chuckles. “I know.” Lindsay looks at me affectionately and then places her hand on my cheek. “Bring him back and be careful.”

I feel my emotions begin to overtake me as I think of Brian. “I will bring him back.”

After Lindsay pulls away I am engulfed in a huge embrace from Daphne and Dana. I stoop down and kiss Dana on the forehead. “I love you and take good care of your mother.” She smiles at me brightly. “I will daddy, and I know you can do it. Go get the bad guys.”

I chuckle at her innocence and pat her on the head. “I will do what I can.”

Daphne kisses me on the cheek. “If you need me don’t hesitate to call to me, okay?”

“I will if I need you Daph, but I’ll try not to, because you’ve been in enough danger. Before I go, I wanted to thank you for bringing me back and showing me the truth.”

She chokes back a tear. “You’re welcome. I’m sorry if I was deceitful.”

“Daphne, don’t be. You had no choice. I’m just glad to hopefully be back with Brian,” I reply uncertainly.

She gives a knowing nod. “You’ll be okay, Jus. I know you will be. You’re as stubborn as they come.”

I nod at her and quickly make my way to the secret passage, where Natalie and the other wolves are already waiting for me.

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