Chapter 25: Worst Burglary

There were many reasons not to rob the Nightmare Grand Hotel.

The towering masked killer who patrolled the halls was one.

The ghostly nun who could emerge from mirrors was another.

The child queen of monsters with an army of stitched horrors ranked somewhere near the top of the list.

Unfortunately for the three men currently crouched in the fog outside the hotel’s wrought-iron gates, good judgment had never been their strongest attribute.

The leader, a lanky man named Tibbins, peered through the iron bars and adjusted the cap pulled low over his eyes.

“Tell me again why we’re doing this.”

His companion, Brack, a broad-shouldered man with a nose that looked like it had lost several arguments, grinned eagerly.

“Because the new summoner struck it rich at the arena.”

The third member of the group, a twitchy fellow named Noll, swallowed hard.

“I heard rumors.”

Tibbins snorted.

“Rumors about what?”

Noll glanced at the massive hotel looming beyond the gates.

Its windows glowed like amber eyes in the mist.

“That it’s haunted.”

Brack rolled his eyes.

“All hotels are haunted if you ask enough drunk people.”

The gate creaked open on its own.

The three men froze.

No one stood nearby.

Tibbins forced a laugh.

“See? Automated entrance.”

They stepped through.

The gate closed behind them with a heavy clang.

Noll jumped.

“I don’t like that sound.”

“Then walk quieter.”

The path wound through pale fog toward the hotel’s grand entrance.

The building rose above them like some impossible marriage between a Victorian mansion and every bad decision a horror writer had ever made.

Towering spires pierced the violet sky.

Gargoyles leered from the roofline.

Warm golden light spilled from tall windows, making the place look strangely inviting.

Tibbins squared his shoulders.

“It’s just a building.”

The front doors swung inward.

The three thieves exchanged glances.

Then, against all evidence to the contrary, they walked inside.

⸻

Welcome to the Nightmare Grand Hotel

The lobby was magnificent.

Black marble floors gleamed beneath a vast crystal chandelier. A grand staircase curved upward to balconies lined with polished brass railings. Plush furniture sat around a roaring fireplace.

It was the sort of place that made poor men dream of stealing silverware.

Hank Dorsey sat behind the front desk reading a newspaper.

He looked up over the top of the page.

“Can I help you?”

Tibbins blinked.

“Uh… we’re here for the midnight tour.”

Hank lowered the paper.

“There is no midnight tour.”

Brack elbowed Tibbins.

Tibbins recovered quickly.

“Private booking.”

Hank stared at them.

Then shrugged.

“Not my department.”

He returned to his paper.

The thieves glanced at one another.

Had they really gotten this lucky?

Tibbins grinned.

“See? Easy.”

They crept toward a display case full of silver candelabras.

The lights flickered.

A soft giggle echoed from the upper balcony.

Noll looked up.

Two pale twin girls in matching dresses stood hand in hand, watching them.

He yelped.

When he blinked, they were gone.

“Did you see that?”

Brack waved him off.

“Probably guests.”

Noll stared.

“Guests don’t disappear.”

⸻

The Playroom Incident

The thieves slipped into the elevator and pressed a random button.

The doors opened onto the playroom floor.

Warm light spilled into the hallway.

Children’s laughter drifted from the open door.

Tibbins frowned.

“What kind of hotel has a nursery?”

Brack shrugged.

“A rich one.”

They entered.

The room was filled with toys, books, and miniature furniture.

Several children sat around a low table having tea.

At the head of the table sat Lilith Nocturne.

Her silver curls gleamed in the soft light. She wore a black velvet dress and a delicate silver crown.

She looked up and smiled sweetly.

“Hello.”

Tibbins relaxed.

“Evening, little lady.”

Lilith folded her hands in her lap.

“You are not supposed to be here.”

Brack chuckled.

“And what are you going to do about it?”

Lilith tilted her head.

Then she rang a tiny silver bell.

The stitched three-headed dire wolf in the corner lifted all three heads simultaneously.

Tibbins screamed.

The skeletal ravens perched on the curtains turned to stare.

A hulking flesh golem set down the dollhouse it had been carefully assembling.

Brack took one step backward.

“Run.”

The men bolted into the hallway.

Behind them, Lilith called out in her clear, cheerful voice.

“Please don’t scare the children!”

⸻

The Caretaker’s Hallway

The thieves pounded down the corridor, slipping on polished floors and knocking over a decorative umbrella stand.

They rounded a corner.

And stopped.

The Caretaker stood in the middle of the hall.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

White mask expressionless.

Kitchen knife hanging at his side.

He said nothing.

He simply stood there.

Noll began to hyperventilate.

Brack tried to sound brave.

“Move.”

The Caretaker tilted his head.

The lights flickered.

Tibbins felt a cold weight settle into his chest.

“Please move..”

His pulse thundered in his ears.

This was the effect of Pressure Aura.

He did not know the term.

He only knew that every instinct in his body was screaming.

Danger.

The Caretaker took one step forward.

The men turned and sprinted the other direction.

The Caretaker followed at his usual pace.

Walking.

Unhurried.

Yet somehow always close enough that they could hear the steady footfalls behind them.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Noll sobbed openly.

“He’s still there!”

“Run faster!”

⸻

Mirror Trouble

The thieves darted into a guest room and slammed the door.

They leaned against it, panting.

Silence.

Tibbins wiped sweat from his forehead.

“I think we lost him.”

The vanity mirror across the room rippled.

Mother Sarah stepped gracefully from the reflection.

Her black habit was immaculate. Her hands were folded calmly.

“Good evening, gentlemen.”

All three men screamed.

Mother Sarah smiled politely.

“You are disturbing the children.”

Brack lunged for the window.

The curtains wrapped around him like constricting snakes and dropped him to the floor.

Tibbins backed toward the bathroom.

Noll fainted.

Mother Sarah sighed.

“This is why we do not trespass.”

She opened the door.

The Caretaker stood waiting in the hall.

Mother Sarah gave him a measured look.

“Not yet.”

The Caretaker remained still.

Gene would later swear he looked disappointed.

⸻

The Great Kitchen Disaster

Tibbins regained enough courage to shove past Mother Sarah and sprint down the service stairs.

He burst into the kitchen.

Gerald the possessed tea cart rolled by, muttering in French.

Tibbins stared.

“Nope.”

He ran into a stack of pies.

Custard exploded across his face.

He slipped, windmilled wildly, and crashed into a table.

A dozen skeletal ravens burst from the pantry.

Victor Graves popped his head through the swinging doors.

“Oh! Intruders!”

Morrigan appeared beside him.

“Should we release the electro-zombies?”

Mother Sarah’s voice echoed from behind Tibbins.

“No.”

Victor looked mildly disappointed.

“Pity.”

⸻

Lilith Gets Serious

The three thieves were herded back into the lobby.

Noll had regained consciousness but was clinging to Brack like a frightened child.

Lilith stood at the base of the staircase, rabbit tucked under one arm.

Her crimson eyes were no longer playful.

“You scared my friends.”

The temperature in the room dropped.

The stitched monsters emerged from side corridors.

The skeletal ravens lined the banisters.

The Caretaker stepped to Lilith’s side like a silent executioner.

Brack fell to his knees.

“Please don’t kill us.”

Lilith considered this.

“I wasn’t going to.”

She glanced up at the Caretaker.

“He might though.”

The Caretaker tilted his head.

Tibbins burst into tears.

Mother Sarah stepped between them.

“That is enough.”

Lilith pouted slightly.

“But they were very rude.”

Mother Sarah’s expression softened.

“And they are very sorry.”

Tibbins nodded frantically.

“Yes! Extremely sorry!”

Mother Sarah looked at Lilith.

The young queen crossed her arms, then sighed.

“Fine.”

She pointed a finger at the thieves.

“No more stealing.”

“Never again.”

“Excellent.”

Her smile returned instantly.

“Would you like a cookie for the road?”

Noll nodded before thinking better of it.

Mother Sarah gently took the plate from Lilith.

“After consequences.”

Lilith huffed.

“You always do that.”

“And you always bring snacks into disciplinary proceedings.”

⸻

Eviction

Mother Sarah opened the front doors with a wave of her hand.

The fog outside swirled dramatically.

She fixed the trembling men with a stern gaze.

“You will leave.”

“Yes, Sister.”

“You will never return uninvited.”

“Absolutely.”

“And you will tell others that this home is under protection.”

Tibbins swallowed.

“We will tell everyone.”

Mother Sarah smiled.

“Good.”

With a flick of her wrist, an invisible force lifted the three men into the air.

They shot through the doorway like champagne corks.

The doors slammed behind them.

Outside, the thieves landed in a tangled heap on the gravel path.

The wrought-iron gates creaked open.

They did not wait for a second invitation.

The three men sprinted into the night and never looked back.

⸻

Back to Normal

Inside the lobby, the tension evaporated.

Lilith looked up at Mother Sarah.

“Can I have my cookies now?”

Mother Sarah handed her the plate.

“Yes you can your Majesty.”

Lilith smiled brightly.

“Thank you.”

She offered one to the Caretaker.

The masked killer accepted it and slid it into his top pocket with solemn dignity.

Gene, who had arrived midway through the incident and wisely decided not to interfere, shook his head in amazement.

“I leave you all alone for one evening.”

Selene laughed and slipped her hand into his.

“Your family handled it fairly well.”

Gene looked around the lobby.

Lilith munched happily on a cookie.

Mother Sarah straightened her habit.

The Caretaker stood guard.

Victor and Morrigan debated whether pie counted as a tactical weapon.

The children peered from the staircase, reassured and giggling.

Gene smiled.

He had wanted to build a world of monsters.

Instead, he had built a home.

And heaven help anyone foolish enough to threaten it.