“It’s been a few months, but yes, I understand what you mean. Go. Talk to her. I’ve got to get back to the bar anyway before the boss gets mad.”
She didn’t point out that he was, in fact, the boss but only one person knew that fact…her.
“And you’ll let me know if it ends up being very juicy?”
“You’ve got it,” she promised before rushing out of her office on the way to the front desk.
By the time Portia rounded the corner, Alice was halfway through the process of checking in, but that wouldn’t do.
“I’ve got it, Una, thanks.” She gave her employee and friend a smile.
Alice’s face…which was terribly white…regained a bit of its color when she spotted Portia.
“Are doing okay?” she asked the witch.
“Yes, of course. And you? You’re resort looks as lovely as ever.”
Portia smiled. “Thanks, that’s nice of you to say. I am very fond of it, I won’t lie. Come with me, won’t you? We can talk in my office.”
Again, Portia was struck by the sudden relief washing over Alice. The witch’s shoulders…which had been tense…were not as tight. Something was definitely going on, and Portia wanted to curse Lou for wishing for an interesting couple.
Her cousin was a meddler by nature, but Portia didn’t want anyone to get hurt. A bored Lou usually spelled trouble, especially when he said it out loud. Portia had so many stories from their youth. It also gave her experience on how to deal with Lou like no one else in the world.
“Come on,” Portia insisted.
“I would love to chat in your office. Lead the way, won’t you?”
The succubus grinned and hooked her arm with Alice as she led them down the beautiful hallway. “As soon as we’re in my office, you’ll tell me what has you as pale as a ghost. You look like you’ve seen better days.”
Alice nodded. “I have,” she agreed.
Portia opened her office door and motioned toward the couch. “Sit, sit, my dear. Can I get you something to drink?”
“The biggest glass of your most robust red wine,” Alice answered.
“A woman after my own heart. That’s a great idea.” Portia grabbed the phone from the small table and ordered the wine from the front desk. “Una is used to me calling her for all kinds of things. She’ll send one of the imps, so it won’t take long.”
Alice nodded, sat on the couch, and continued to wring her hands. Portia sat beside her and draped her hands over the witch’s in a comforting squeeze. “You’re shaking, Alice. It can’t be that bad, can it?”
The witch was just about to answer when the shrill sound of the phone cut through the quiet of the office. Alice jumped off the couch and onto her feet, her head snapping in every direction as she tried to decipher where the noise came from.
“It’s just the phone,” Portia said, now very concerned for the witch. This was not Alice’s usual behavior. “Una?” Portia asked into the receiver. “What’s going on?”
Una…a pixie who was excitable by nature…was incoherent as she tried to explain the newest crisis to Portia. The resort manager couldn’t decipher the message through the panic, no matter how hard she tried to calm the pixie down. “Okay, Una. You hang tight. I’m on my way.” Portia turned to Alice. “The imp will deliver the wine while I’m gone. I’m so sorry to do this just when you were about to spill all of your secrets, but there is an issue at the front desk.”
Alice nodded. “It’s totally fine. Go, go. I need to get my thoughts in order.”
Portia gave her a comforting smile. “Thanks for understanding, darling. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Her heels clicked as she rushed down the hall and back to where she had just been. The front desk and its surrounding lobby were beautiful and inviting. It promised a good time to all of the creatures who chose to holiday at the resort. Una was usually a very organized and conscientious employee, but given that she was easily rattled, Portia wasn’t too worried especially given that there was no one at the counter shouting at the pixie. Una fluttered a few inches off the ground, her wings flapping with so much speed that Portia was scared she would fly away.
“What’s the problem, Una?” Portia asked.
Una’s head snapped in her direction. “Oh, thank Lucifer, you’re here. I don’t know what to do!”
“What do you mean?”
Una’s face was pale as she answered, “A dragon just crashed into our waters.”