The hotel

The Grand Alania Hotel, Ruritania.

I wondered absently who (or what) Alania was, and headed through the reception pulling my entourage of Aivlys and Val behind and being led by the limousine driver. I suspect he had been circling this place for a while until Val had finished sucking me off. Behind us, 4 people, two men, two women, in matching black suits and dark glasses followed at a less than discrete distance having decanted from a following car. No doubt all carrying lethal weaponry. My bodyguard I assumed.

I approached the reception desk full of confidence.The formally dressed receptionist with a practiced air of aloofness studiously ignored me and looked casually at some filing on her desk.

I waited patiently. When she looked up her expression shifted subtly although she didn't overreact to the site of me, Val and the driver with our latex clad imminent new mother, plus four obvious secret service types behind us. We made quite the team.

The driver introduced me and the receptionist reached in and presented me with a swipe card for door access and indicated the lifts to the "presidential suite". All delivered monitonusly but in the typical local vampiric accent.

It wasn't bad I suppose. What passed for 5 stars here I thought, gazing around. I shrugged. I wasn't looking for a penthouse anyway.

I gazed over the receptionist in a tired sort of manner, feeling I'd be letting myself down if I didn't. She did not exude warmth and customer friendliness at all. A common trait among hotel receptionists, particularly when being left to staff the desk on their own in the evening. I addressed her in English. I had no idea if she would understand and I didnt care. Aivlys could interpret if need be. "Bring me up two beers at," I looked at my watch. I hadnt reset it. "3am, New York time." That was 3 hours away. I needed a little bit of a rest I figured.

"Certainly sir," she said in icy tones. At least she could speak English. "I'll have the bar staff bring it up".

"No. You. I want you to bring it up yourself. On your own. Just you".

"but Sir, I.".

"And dont wear any clothes.", then I changed my mind, "actually. You can keep underwear on."

"What, but...I, sir. That is". she protested but I turned and walked away towards the lift. One of the secret service women hung back to speak to her I noticed.