Of Fate & Forbidden Desire (The Gatekeeper Duet #1)

15. Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

Can you really know yourself, if you have no clue about your past? -Charleene

L ast night had given me much to think about concerning my life, my past, the family I’d never wanted to know and Dina’s feelings for me. Getting back to the hotel I’d been quiet, thinking over the implications of what I’d learnt, even excusing myself to go to bed early. However, after getting changed and tucking myself into the ridiculously comfy bed, sleep eluded me. I was still awake, with my back to the door, when Tilly returned. I kept my breathing slow and steady when I heard Dina’s steps approach my still open door and should have probably made it known I was still awake, but I was interested to hear what they would discuss without me there.

I was still flabbergasted by her words, she’d admitted she was falling for me, but her kind’s laws were forcing her to push me away. My heart hurt for how conflicted she was between her duty and her heart. I’d always thought that when I fell in love it would be simple, but I was beginning to see that it was messy and unkind. Tears had tracked unbidden down my cheeks on hearing how she truly felt, my heart hurt for the pain this situation was causing us both. As I listened more to their conversation, sleep had slipped further away and I’d still been mulling over their hushed conversation into the early hours of the morning.

So it was no surprise that Dina had already been gone by the time I woke again, I assumed she’d gone to inform the Fae of our plans, like Tilly had commanded. It was late afternoon when Dina finally came storming back through our door, muttering angrily beneath her breath. Offering her a small smile, I continued returning the growing stack of books to their shelf. When the silence grew too heavy I decided to break it, “You ok?” I asked.

“I suppose so, how are you feeling this morning?” she responded, turning my own question against me as she continued pacing.

“I feel strange,” I admitted before trailing off, not knowing how else to sum-up all I was thinking, “So Scotland.” I tried again to find a topic of conversation for us and stumbled, not knowing what else to say.

“It’s going to be a long drive,” she muttered almost under her breath, giving me a whiff of smoke as she paced past me.

“Why?” I asked, not letting on that I knew the cause of her anger and what was going to be happening from eavesdropping last night.

“I don’t understand why they have to come with us, that woman is an accident waiting to happen.” Dina grumbled more to herself than me, but I listened anyway.

“They can’t be that bad?” I sympathised, trying to be diplomatic.

“She set a door on fire in a temper tantrum, all because she can’t control her magic.” Dina explained, meeting my eyes. My face paled slightly at the thought of sharing a car with someone who could conjure fire out of thin air.

“I would like to meet them, properly I mean.” The words came out without me thinking too much about them, and from the look that crossed Dina’s face it had been the wrong thing to say.

“You’re not going anywhere near her, she’s too dangerous!” Dina snapped, taking me aback with the anger emanating off of her. Lifting my hands in surrender, I started planning how to slip out of the suite anyway, they couldn’t be as bad as she was making out. Were they?

With my thoughts busy making a plan, we lapsed back into silence. Dina continued pacing and muttering every now and then.

“Do you think the hotel would mind if I borrowed a book?” I found myself asking, as I selected another classic; Pride and Prejudice, from the shelf.

“What?” Dina said distractedly, glancing over at me.

“If I start reading this book can I borrow it?” I repeated.

“I don’t know, but if not, they can always charge me for a new one,” she said, the barest hint of a smile turning her lips up, when I squealed in delight and grabbed the book. Almost running to the sofa, I let the afternoon pass us by and got lost in the world of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy.

My eyes were gritty and dry when they opened, long before the sun rose. It was much harder to convince myself to slip out of the nice warm bed with the early morning chill biting at any exposed skin. I hopped more than walked to the ensuite bathroom, rubbing at the rising goosebumps on my arms the whole way. Stepping under the warm shower spray was like heaven, easing out my tense muscles, while warming me up and making me feel slightly more awake and human. Dressing in my comfiest pair of jeans and my favourite t-shirt that told the world exactly what I thought of it, I grabbed my phone.

Was five in the morning an acceptable time to order breakfast? I wondered, staring at the message icon that was still on the screen. Lily had been messaging me since I’d left York, but not knowing what to say most of the time, I’d been sporadic in replying to her. Leaving her newest message unread, I sauntered into what I was beginning to call the living room of the suite. It seemed funny giving it a name now that we were leaving again. Dina was nowhere to be found and her bedroom door was thankfully shut. Leaving the note I’d written last night for her, I tiptoed with my hightops in hand to the door. Not knowing how hard it would be to sneak past a Vampire with uber sensitive hearing, I mostly, just hoped that she was otherwise distracted.

Successfully making it to the door without her coming to see what I was doing and closing it quietly behind me, I let out the breath I’d been holding and slipped my feet into my shoes. Clutching one of our two keycards in hand, I forced myself to walk slowly to the lift before calling it and riding it all the way down to reception. I didn’t know where in the hotel room 203 was, I realised, stepping out into the deserted reception area.

It still took my breath away how the giant chandelier sparkled. Cautiously approaching the long reception desk, I waited for a member of staff to arrive, constantly glancing over my shoulder at the lifts. Expecting Dina to appear at any second and foil my plans to meet the Fae woman who’d helped me that night under the bridge in York. It seemed like a lifetime ago, but I still remembered her kind smile and the way she’d grabbed me when my feet had frozen.

“Is everything ok Miss?” a young man dressed in the hotel’s smart back uniform asked, startling me and making me yelp before I got myself back under control.

“Yes, thank you. Is there anywhere that I can get coffee at this time?” I asked the young man who quickly came to see what I wanted. “I know that it’s early.”

“We can make you anything you need, Miss.” Julian—his gold name tag told me— responded politely, not mentioning the early hour or my being down here.

“That would be great, thank you,” I sputtered out feeling self-conscious, as he looked at me politely and I realised I hadn’t told him what I wanted. “Could I please get a caramel latte?” I asked toying with the glass top of the desk.

“Certainly Miss, would you like to take a seat and I’ll bring it over when it’s ready?” Julian replied with a kind smile, “Could I take your room number, so I can add the extra charges.”

“Oh, yes, I’m in suite number three hundred and twenty.” Smiling back, I waited as he typed on the computer next to him and went to find a seat I could hide in when Julian told me that it had all been sorted.

Picking a deep, high backed wing chair facing the huge ornate fireplace, I fished my phone from my back pocket and opened Lily’s latest text as I sat down.

Lily: Missing you. Last night the Grange dorms threw a massive party. How long are you visiting London for?

Staring down at the text, and seeing that uni life was continuing for Lily, I felt a pang of missing out. Rationally I knew it hadn’t been safe for me to stay in York, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t allowed to pine for the life I’d been making there. Wiping away a stray tear I decided it was still far too early to message back and resolved to reply later, when I wasn’t feeling as emotionally unstable.

“Sorry to interrupt Miss,” Julian said, holding out a large glass cup containing my latte.

“Oh no, thank you so much,” I said, trying to smile up at him and failing from the sympathetic look that crossed his face.

“Are you sure everything is ok?” He asked again, placing my drink on the small table beside the chair.

“It is, I’m just missing home.” I said with a small sniffle, feeling sorry for myself.

“Homesickness is a horrible thing,” he commiserated, “I hope your day improves, and if you need anything else please just let me know.” Julian asserted, before leaving me alone with my thoughts and returning to the reception desk.

Staring into space, I imagined briefly what my life would have been like if none of this had ever happened to me. I would still be a student, trying to find my place in the world, but would I have been happy? Was I even happy now? I asked myself. There had been moments over the last couple of weeks, where I’d been happy, happier than I’d been most of my time in York. Dina was definitely a major part of that, I realised, even if things between us were now strained. Sighing heavily, I let myself think about the good times we’d had, attempting to find some of my usual good spirits.

The reception area slowly came to life as I sat in my chair, sipping the delicious caramel latte and people watching. I invented small stories about what each person was planning to do with their day; some were dressed in smart suits and blouses, telling me they were heading out to work. Others wore casual clothes making me think they were going for a day of new adventures. Smiling at the latest silly story I’d made up in my head, I was surprised when my phone vibrated on my leg. Glancing down I saw the text message icon and quickly opened my phone to see the nickname I’d assigned to Dina’s contact.

Mysterious Girl: How’s your walk ?

Remembering what I’d written in my note, I quickly typed out a response.

Me: Enjoying aimlessly wandering. It’s beautiful here ??

Mysterious Girl: Ok, stay safe.

Her response surprised me, I’d been expecting her to demand to know exactly where I was. Frowning down at my phone, I was pondering how best to respond when my eyes caught on the small digits in the top left hand corner. Surely seven was an acceptable time to call on someone. Chewing my cheek, I grabbed my long since empty glass cup and headed over to where Julian was checking out another guest and waited. Once he was free I stepped up to the desk and flashed him a much more natural, if shy, smile. “How can I help you Miss?" He enquired without missing a beat.

“Could you please direct me to room Two-O-Three? My friends arrived a few days ago, and I’d like to greet them but I keep getting turned around.” I hoped my nervous babble didn’t dissuade him from helping me. I had no idea how hotels as fancy as this one would deal with someone asking for directions to a room that clearly wasn’t their own.

Julian’s eyes studied me for a moment, before he explained I needed to take the elevator up to the second floor, where signs would point me in the correct direction.

“Great, thank you, Julian,” I said in a rush, turning towards the lifts, I paused wondering if I should take coffee. After a moment's hesitation I turned back to Julian who was still watching me with a polite smile. “Would it be possible to get two black coffees in to-go cups?” I asked .

“Of course Miss,” Julian replied, adding the two drinks to Dina’s room. “Would you like some milk and sugar to go with them?” he asked after ringing through my order to whoever made the drinks.

“That would be fantastic, thank you.” Smiling, I moved to the side, out of the way in case any other guest wanted to use the reception desk and tapped my foot anxiously as I waited for the two coffees.

With both coffees warming my hands I awkwardly pressed my key card, held between my fingers, to the little black square and called the lift closest to the reception desk. Stepping inside the empty lift when the doors dinged open, the key card slipped from my precarious grip, falling to the floor as I pressed the shiny gold number two button.

Considering how best to retrieve the card without spilling my coffees, I was both surprised and grateful when someone called, “Hold the Lift!” Jamming my pinky finger on the icon that would keep the doors open, I smiled at the short man with red hair as he ran onto the lift. “Thank you.” He gasped trying to catch his breath.

“What floor?” I asked politely, nodding at the array of gold numbered buttons.

“Five please.” Pressing the button and not sure how to ask if he would pass me my key card, I glanced back down at it, once again wondering how to pick it up. “Would you like me to grab that for you? Or do you just want to stare at it some more?” The man laughed, following my gaze to the floor of the lift as it began its smooth ascent.

“If you wouldn’t mind, that would be very helpful,” I laughed back. He passed me the card, as the doors opened onto the second floor. “Thank you again.” I muttered, stepping out into the hall.

“Have a good day,” the man said back, tipping an imaginary hat in my direction, making me giggle as the lift doors closed, hiding him from view. With my good mood returned I followed the golden signs to find rooms two-o-three and two-o-two in their own little corridor. Standing before room two-o-three, I wondered if this was really a good idea or if I should just return to my own rooms. However the door swung open, making the decision for me.

My mouth dropped open at the gorgeous, tanned man who stood framed in the doorway. I may prefer women, but even I could appreciate his beauty as he flashed me a dazzling smile of white teeth. My eyes travelled down and warmth filled my cheeks as they tracked over his bare chest and six pack, until they stopped on the white fluffy towel hanging low on his hips. Embarrassed, I began apologising, “Sorry, sorry,” I repeated backing away from the door, “I must have the wrong room,” I stammered out, turning for the door that would take me back to the lifts.

“What room were you looking for?” his voice was smooth, caressing my ears in a melodic way.

“2…203” I stuttered, flustered and embarrassed about how I was reacting to him.

“Nope, you got the right room alright,” he said, glancing at the room number on the door and back to me with his brows raised, “I’m guessing you weren’t expecting to find me behind it though?” he laughed, but I couldn’t tell if he was joking or being serious.

So I went with honesty, “No,” I told him, my cheeks on fire.

“Who were you expecting?” he said, obviously taking pity on me, as I stood frozen like a deer in someone’s headlights.

“A woman about my height with red hair,” I managed to get out after a couple of calming breaths, maybe I’d just heard the wrong room number.

“Ah, your looking for Ally?” He said, his tone becoming more suspicious and less friendly, “and just exactly who are you?”

“Erm…I met her in York, a while back, we’re not exactly friends, but I’ve been told we’ll be travelling together today, to Scotland, and I just wanted to introduce myself, I’m Charleene…” I rushed out, not knowing why I was telling him all of this, but also unable to stop myself from rattling off so much information either. Significantly more embarrassed I pushed open the door, intending to run straight through it and back to my own rooms, but his voice stopped me.

“She’s next door,” he told me, flashing another award winning smile, “I’m Jace by the way.”

“Erm..nice to meet you…I think?” I answered my brow furrowing in confusion at his sudden switch in attitude.

“Is one of them for me?” he inquired, nodding at the cups in my hand. In a daze, nodding I passed him what would have been my own second coffee of the day. “Thank you Charleene, now if you’ll excuse me I best be getting ready.” He said before taking a sip of the now cooled coffee. When I still didn’t move he spoke again, “I’ll be along shortly, but I think I’ll let you wake sleeping beauty next door.” And with a mischievous wink, he shut his door leaving me standing in the small hallway, not knowing if I was coming or going.

What a strange guy , I thought to myself staring at his closed door for much longer than was probably polite, before moving to the one beside his, and knocking.

No one answered my first knock, so I brought my closed fist down harder, knocking again louder this time. Still there was no response. Was she really staying in this room, or was that guy just messing with me? I thought, banging on the door for the fifth time.

“What bloody time do you call this?” a woman’s voice shouted, making me flinch as she yanked open the door between us. My smile dropped at the look of thunder on her face. She was definitely the same woman from beneath the bridge, her red hair was unruly and messy from sleep but still recognisable with its bright colour.

“Erm...Ithoughtyoumightlikesomecoffee?” I said quietly and quickly, holding up the last cup of coffee, and dropping my gaze to the floor.