It took a little more fussing and bickering to get Raia to leave. But once she went off, Shay was ready to meet the--

Where were they? There wasn’t anyone else in the office.

Shay walked over to the window and peeked out the curtain.

The traveler was waiting just outside the front of the complex. Weird. Was that person allergic to sitting down?

Whatever.

It looked like... a guy. And he was wearing real-people clothes. That was a good sign. According to Raia, the weirder a traveler’s clothes-- like if they wore something plasticky and futuristic (or even nothing at all,) the less likely they were to conform to the local laws.

The guy was tall and blonde-- but not like Rook’s sandy blonde... or Heidi’s porcelain doll blonde. It was more like... movie star fake-blonde. Banana blonde?

Then... he was pale. But not dead-person pale? He looked healthier than Raia. (Sorry, Raia.)

He had on a red-orange overcoat that went down to his thighs... but it looked out of place, considering the afternoon weather was pretty warm.

And he was wearing a... too-small pair of circular glasses? Bifocals? But they were sunglasses? It might have been stylish... but when she thought stylish, she thought Ivy.

...Maybe male fashion was something she didn’t understand?

Shay checked the mirror in the break room, making sure her school uniform looked okay. It was the most professional outfit she owned. But she went to a prestigious learning institution, so it was professional enough.

Finally, she grabbed the clipboard with the New Traveler Checklist and a renter’s agreement form before walking out to earn her paycheck.

Mister Orange-Coat greeted her with open arms and a wide smile, like he was seeing an old friend.

“Good afternoon! Is this the estate of Mister Tyvan Valorum?”

He sounded... excited? That was another good sign. A lot of travelers that wandered their way to Elysium tended to be lost and confused-- or suspicious and paranoid.

“Welcome to the Elysium Heights!” she said, “My name is Shay and I’ll be checking you in. Are you an associate of Mister Valorum?”

“Oh, yes! Valorum and I have been good friends for years! I look forward to seeing him,” he smiled and... winked. “And while I’m here, I’d love to find something to snack on.”

That wink... was... not so great a sign.

She was in her school uniform, so if that old guy was hitting on her... ugh. Just no. But just that comment wasn’t enough for her to abandon her professionalism.

But it seemed he wasn’t one of their lost travelers, so at least--

“What do you have there?” the man asked, pointing at her clipboard. “New traveler form?”

Still cheerful. Still smiling. He didn’t seem like an overall bad person. Just weird.

“It’s for people not from around here-- people who need a place to stay,” she explained, “but you don’t--”

“That. is. Perfect!” the man said, raising his arms. “I am in need of sanctuary.”

Shay frowned as she stared down at her clipboard. Elysium provided sanctuary to almost anyone, regardless of their background. And there was nothing in the rules that said that privilege was only for new travelers.

So... she collected Mister Orange-Coat’s basic information.

His name was Alexei. And he was confident he could afford room and board-- and even pay in cash. He also wanted to stay in a private room instead of one of the bigger dorms with multiple beds.

Shay tried to warn him that it had a ridiculous upcharge and that she was convinced the offer was only available as some kind of joke. But... Alexei insisted on it anyway. He didn’t even flinch when she told him the price.

Maybe that’s why he was so weird. He was rich.

Shay went back to the front office, logged an entry in Raia’s logbook, and took a keycard to the biggest available room per Alexei’s request.

It was unnerving, as usual, going up to the second floor of the western dorms. It just seemed darker than everywhere else... and she didn’t like how her footsteps echoed. The tenants were free to decorate the hallways, but the west dorms had barely anyone living there.

“These lights are more soothing-- more romantic,” Alexei said. “Don’t you think the other areas are too bright?”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“Um. No comment,” Shay said. That wasn’t a line of talk she wanted to engage in.

“And the common areas are pristine! Makes me feel like royalty.”

Oh. That was fine. She was proud of her work ethic when it came to cleaning.

“We work really hard at keeping everything presentable.”

She showed him the room and went through the basic checklist, making sure that the sinks and stovetop worked. She talked about the laundry room and designated quiet hours. Then, she had him sign the renter’s agreement.

“You’ve been a most wonderful hostess, my dear!” Alexei said as he returned the clipboard. “Would you consider staying for--”

“Nope!” Shay grinned, “I gotta go.”

Alexei’s smile faltered for a split-second, but that big, dumb smile of his came back even brighter.

“I must insist. I am so very grateful for your amicable... welcome, after all.” He snorted to himself, as if he remembered something funny. “If not for you, I wouldn’t dare take a single step into this place.”

“It’s fine, really,” Shay waved.

Huh.

She stopped and stared.

Welcome.

She welcomed Alexei to Elysium? That was a standard greeting that made sense to give to any and all travelers. Did she do something wrong?

Alexei picked up a book from the kitchen counter. It was... the Dracula book? Shay had put it down when she was checking off the ‘does this appliance work’ boxes.

He opened it up to the title page.

And...

...he signed it.

But...

But that was a library book? That was... property of the city?

Alexei handed it (and the pen) back to her, still smiling.

His eyes had peeked over his tinted sunglasses.

Red.

And his smile... had changed.

Alexei... had fangs.

Shay stumbled backward, her shoulder blade awkwardly smacking against the wall. Ignoring the pain, she reached into her bag and in a cRazy stroke of luck, she got ahold of the holy icon she bought just an hour ago.

She held it toward Alexei. “Get back!!”

Alexei put up his arms, extending pointed claws. His blonde hair seemed to grow longer, wild and rough. His eyes glowed BLOOD RED. And his mouth-- it opened wider than a human mouth really should have.

He started HISSSSING!!! The sound of it made Shay freeze for a second, but-- but why?? What was--

The holy icon! Was he afraid of it??

Encouraged-- just a little, Shay took a step forward. That made Alexei step back, hissing louder and angrier!!

YES!! And to finish him off--

“Good evening.”

Huh?

Her silver-haired savior, Tyvan, was standing at the door.

Shay looked back to Alexei, but... he looked perfectly normal? --his hair and eyes, at least?

She needed to say something-- Tyvan probably showed up because he heard her shRIEK at the top of her lungs.

But how was she supposed to explain what she saw? Would Tyvan take her seriously?

Wait-- why wouldn’t he take her seriously? Vampires were definitely real!

----------------------------------------

Tyvan Valorum broke his bearing, his face setting into a deep grimace.

“Alexei.”

Very few existences were conscientiously banned from Kingdom grounds. However, in the past, it had been unreservedly implied that he was not welcome.

Alexei greeted him with extravagant enthusiasm and a shameless smile.

“Mister Valorum!” he said, “Look at you. You got taller! The boy has returned, a man!”

Tyvan hadn’t dealt with the likes of Alexei Balanescu since before leaving Archangel some three years prior. And thankfully, he’d grown taller since then. His height had surpassed that of the him of his previous world-- probably.

Alexei’s reappearance likely had something to do with the events infecting the city.

Thus... his presence was both unwelcome and contentious.

He resisted the urge to grind his teeth. “What are you two doing?”

“Tyvan!” Shay cried, “He-- this person...”

She lifted up her arm, placing the pit of her elbow over her mouth. She made a... hissing sound.

The pantomime and associated noise made zero sense to him.

“We were just having a little bit of fun,” Alexei explained.

With his employee? Tyvan did not approve.

He stepped into the room and swiftly walked past Alexei. Shay appeared fine-- untouched. Her spirit was merely shaken.

But even that fact perturbed him greatly.

Tyvan took a vial of holy water out of his coat pocket, applied a few drops to his finger, and then brushed that against her neck.

“Is... that necessary, Valorum?” Alexei asked.

Shay made a peculiar ‘wa’ noise, her mouth hanging agape like a fool.

For a brief moment, Tyvan wondered if she was entranced by a malicious spell. However, Alexei, of all people, understood that his head would be severed and impaled on a gods-damned pike if he dared offend any of his people.