Chapter 51: Dinner Beneath the Storm

The medical wing had become significantly louder.

Mostly because Lady Aurelia Valmont had arrived.

The moment the elevator doors opened and she spotted Prince Cassian Aurelius sitting upright in bed, Aurelia immediately sprinted across the room.

“CASSIAN!”

Cassian barely had time to react before she threw her arms around him.

Unfortunately, because he was still heavily bandaged, the impact caused him to wheeze painfully.

“Aurelia… please… my ribs!”

“Oh stars, I’m hurting you!”

She released him instantly.

Then grabbed his shoulders again.

“You were attacked!”

“Yes.”

“You nearly died!”

“Also yes.”

“You FOOL!”

Cassian blinked tiredly.

“That one feels slightly less supportive.”

Gene quietly stepped farther into the hallway.

Selene followed immediately.

Neither wanted to get caught in the emotional crossfire.

Inside the room, Aurelia paced furiously beside the bed.

“I leave you unattended for one week and you almost get killed!”

Cassian rubbed his temples.

“That sentence sounds ridiculous when spoken aloud.”

“It SHOULD.”

Aurelia suddenly noticed the others standing nearby.

Her eyes narrowed immediately.

“And YOU.”

Gene pointed at himself.

“…Me?”

“You run a hotel filled with monsters!”

Gene looked genuinely offended.

“That’s an unfair oversimplification.”

From the hallway, a treasure chest hissed quietly.

Aurelia jumped.

Gene sighed.

“Chomper, stop intimidating guests.”

Chomper slowly retreated around the corner with visible disappointment.

Aurelia stared after him.

“…The chest has teeth.”

“Yes.”

“I knew I saw it move! Nobody warned me about chests with teeth.”

Cassian groaned softly.

“Aurelia.”

She immediately turned back toward him.

“What?”

Cassian exhaled slowly.

“They saved my life. Please give it a rest for tonight.”

That stopped her cold.

The room quieted.

Aurelia glanced toward the towering figure of The Caretaker standing silently near the wall.

Then toward Jesse Belle leaning casually beside him.

Jesse Belle tipped her head slightly.

“Evenin’.”

Aurelia looked confused.

“These are the ones who rescued you?”

Cassian nodded.

“The cult would have killed me otherwise.”

Aurelia’s expression slowly shifted from suspicion…

To embarrassment.

“Oh… Wait, so there was an actual cult involved?”

Gene crossed his arms.

“We’re not ACTUALLY evil you know.”

Aurelia opened her mouth.

Closed it.

Opened it again.

“…Your hotel literally has haunted children singing in the vents.”

Gene pointed toward Selene.

“She likes the ambiance.”

Selene coughed politely.

“It added some charm.”

Aurelia stared at both of them like they were insane.

Cassian sighed deeply.

“You’ll get used to it.”

“That is a horrifying sentence.”

⸻

Clearing the Air

After several awkward minutes, Aurelia finally composed herself enough to bow her head slightly.

“…Thank you.”

Gene blinked.

That was probably the first sincere thing she had ever said to him.

Jesse Belle smiled warmly.

“Ain’t no trouble, sugar.”

Aurelia straightened stiffly.

“Although I still dislike most of your aesthetic choices.”

Gene nodded solemnly.

“That’s fair.”

Cassian actually laughed weakly at that.

The tension in the room eased slightly.

Selene stepped closer.

“How much have you told her?”

Cassian rubbed his forehead.

“Nothing yet.”

Aurelia crossed her arms immediately.

“Because every time he starts explaining, he says things like ‘ancient nightmare prophecy’ and ‘cult infiltration.’”

Gene pointed.

“To be fair, that IS an explanation.”

Cassian looked exhausted as he placed his hand over his face.

“I’ll bring her up to speed.”

Moira leaned against the doorway holding several books.

Moira Valecourt studied Aurelia curiously.

“You know,” she mused aloud, “you’re considerably less awful than I expected.”

Aurelia looked scandalized.

“That is incredibly rude.”

“Thank you.”

Gene immediately decided this conversation had become dangerous.

“Well,” he announced loudly, “you two clearly need time to process all this. We will leave you here.”

Cassian looked relieved.

“Yes. Please.”

Aurelia sat beside the prince’s bed protectively.

Gene noticed she kept glancing toward his injuries when she thought nobody was watching.

Despite all her pride and temper…

She genuinely cared about him.

Gene motioned toward the others.

“Come on. Let’s leave them alone before Aurelia tries to duel one of the medical machines.”

“I HEARD THAT.”

“You were meant to.”

⸻

A Message to the Kitchen

As the group exited the medical wing, Gene pulled a communication crystal from his pocket.

The crystal flickered blue.

A dramatic French accent immediately answered.

“Kitchen sanctum of culinary greatness.”

Gene smiled slightly.

Chef Lucien Delacroix was somehow incapable of answering normally.

“Lucien, we’ve got extra guests for dinner.”

A horrified gasp echoed through the crystal.

“How many?”

“Two nobles.”

A pause.

Then:

“…I require more butter.”

The crystal disconnected.

Gene looked at it thoughtfully.

“I don’t know what that means.”

Selene patted his shoulder.

“I don’t think anyone does.”

⸻

The Locked Box

An hour later, Gene, Selene, Moira, and Lilith gathered inside Gene’s private study.

The mysterious iron lockbox sat atop the desk.

The room itself was quiet except for distant thunder rumbling beyond the hotel walls.

Lilith sat cross-legged on the couch hugging Fluffy.

“Treasure time?”

Gene cautiously nodded.

“Possibly cursed treasure time.”

Lilith gasped excitedly.

Moira immediately pulled out a notebook.

Selene folded her arms nervously.

The iron box looked ancient.

Black metal covered in strange runic markings.

It had remained sealed since the vault discovery.

But after Cassian’s revelations—

Ignoring it no longer seemed wise.

Gene carefully inserted the small key Cassian’s father had provided.

The lock clicked.

Every light in the room flickered ominously.

Lilith bounced slightly.

“Ooooo.”

Gene slowly lifted the lid.

Inside rested three things:

• A glowing blue gemstone.
• Another folded parchment.
• A small dead beetle

The gem pulsed softly with blue light.

Unlike the crimson gem, this one felt… calmer.

Cool.

Almost comforting.

Selene’s necklace glowed faintly in response.

Moira immediately leaned forward.

“The resonance frequency is similar.”

Gene blinked.

“You just made that up.”

“Maybe.”

Lilith pointed.

“Read the paper!”

Gene unfolded the parchment carefully.

Ancient writing stretched across the page.

Most of it was badly faded.

But one section remained clear.

Several hearts born before the first dawn.

Seven lights against the endless dark.

Gather the seven sleeping stars,

lest the Hollow King devour dream and nightmare alike.

The room fell silent.

Moira slowly adjusted her glasses.

“…That sounds important.”

Gene stared at the blue gem.

“Seven… gems.”

Selene looked toward him.

“You recognize something?”

Gene hesitated.

“…Maybe?”

Lilith tilted her head.

“From your old world?”

Gene laughed softly.

“You know, I’m suddenly realizing how weird my world must sound to all of you.”

Moira pointed accusingly.

“You once described a giant radioactive lizard fighting a monkey.”

“It was a giant ape, and that was cinema.”

Selene smiled.

“What are you thinking about?”

Gene picked up the blue gem carefully.

“It reminds me of a game franchise from Earth.”

Lilith gasped.

“Story time.”

Gene sighed dramatically.

“Fine.”

⸻

The Blue Colored Hedgehog

Gene leaned back in his chair while everyone gathered around curiously.

“In my world, there was this incredibly fast hedgehog.”

Moira blinked slowly.

“…A fast what?”

“Hedgehog.”

“What’s a hedgehog?”

Gene paused.

“…A small angry…  needle animal.”

Lilith immediately looked delighted.

“I love him already.”

Gene continued.

“The stories involved these seven magical gems.”

Selene frowned thoughtfully.

“Seven gems?”

“Exactly.”

Moira scribbled furiously in her notebook.

“Ancient cosmic gemstone mythology…”

Gene pointed toward the blue crystal.

“I’m not saying they’re related. But seven magical gems tied to saving the world from cosmic destruction feels VERY familiar.”

Lilith raised her hand.

“Was the hedgehog scary?”

“No.”

“Then why do you know about him?”

Gene looked offended.

“Not every story from my world involved horror.”

Selene smirked.

“Only most of your favorites.”

“That’s total slander I have you know.”

Thunder boomed outside.

The blue gem pulsed again.

This time slightly brighter.

Moira looked uneasy.

“I think these gems are reacting to us discussing them.”

Gene immediately put the gem back inside the box.

“Nope. Back in you go.”

Lilith pouted.

“You always stop touching  cursed artifacts right when it’s getting interesting.”

⸻

The Dinner Bell

A massive bell echoed through the hotel.

DONG.

DONG.

DONG.

Gene stood immediately.

“Saved by the dinner bell.”

Lilith jumped off the couch.

“Yay! Time for din din.”

Moira closed her notebook reluctantly.

Selene smiled faintly.

“We should probably check on Cassian and Aurelia too.”

Gene nodded.

“Although we might be too late to tell Lucien not to emotionally traumatize them with appetizers.”

⸻

The Dining Hall

The grand dining hall of the Nightmare Grand Hotel looked magnificent that evening.

Golden chandeliers glowed warmly overhead.

Long crimson curtains framed towering windows.

Fireplaces crackled softly against the storm outside.

The massive dining table was already set beautifully.

Cassian sat at one end looking much healthier after resting.

Aurelia sat beside him with visible suspicion toward literally everything.

Especially the moving suits of armor.

The moment Gene entered, Aurelia narrowed her eyes.

“One of the paintings winked at me.”

Gene glanced toward the wall.

“…Yeah, Harold does that.”

“I dislike Harold.”

The painting looked rather offended.

Cassian rubbed his temples.

“You eventually stop questioning things.”

Aurelia looked horrified.

“That’s worse.”

⸻

Lucien’s Masterpiece

The doors to the kitchen swung open dramatically.

Chef Lucien Delacroix emerged like a man entering a battlefield.

Behind him rolled Pierre the enchanted French serving cart.

Massive silver platters soon covered the table.

Aurelia eyed them skeptically.

Cassian looked similarly uncertain.

Gene noticed both nobles subtly preparing themselves for disappointment.

Which was adorable.

Lucien lifted one silver lid.

Steam erupted upward carrying the scent of garlic butter, herbs, roasted meat, and fresh bread.

Aurelia blinked.

Another platter revealed perfectly cooked honey-glazed duck.

Then rosemary potatoes.

Then creamy soups topped with bacon.

Then delicate pastries.

Then a sizzling steak platter.

The entire room filled with impossible aromas.

Cassian stared.

Aurelia stared harder.

Lucien placed a hand over his heart dramatically.

“Tonight, you dine in civilization.”

Pierre honked proudly.

Aurelia looked cautiously at Gene.

“…This is hotel food?”

Gene smiled.

“Technically.”

Cassian took the first bite.

Then immediately froze.

Everyone watched him.

Slowly—

Very slowly—

Cassian lowered his fork.

“…I completely understand now.”

Gene blinked.

“Understand what?”

The room went silent.

Cassian pointed weakly at the food.

“If I tasted this regularly, I too might start worshiping dark powers.”

Lucien looked deeply moved.

Aurelia finally tried her own meal.

The noblewoman’s eyes widened instantly.

Then widened even further.

She covered her mouth slightly.

“…Oh my stars.”

Selene smiled smugly.

“Told you.”

For the next twenty minutes, conversation nearly disappeared entirely.

Because everyone was too busy eating.

Even Aurelia eventually forgot to maintain noble composure.

At one point Gene caught her shielding a pastry from Cassian protectively.

Cassian looked betrayed.

“That was mine.”

“You snooze you lose.”

“That is not how food works.”

“It is now.”

Gene quietly leaned toward Selene.

“She’s actually kind of funny.”

Aurelia immediately pointed a fork at him.

“Do not dare spread that rumor.”

⸻

Cookies and Conspiracies

Several hours later, the group gathered in the hotel library.

Rain tapped softly against tall stained-glass windows.

Towering bookshelves surrounded them.

Warm lamps cast golden light across ancient tables.

Lilith wandered between chairs carrying a massive tray of cookies nearly as large as herself.

“Welcome to the dark side! Would you like a cookie?”

Moira accepted one immediately.

“Thank you.”

Cassian took one carefully due to his injuries.

Aurelia examined hers suspiciously.

“…What flavor are these?”

Lilith smiled proudly.

“Chocolate apocalypse.”

Aurelia slowly lowered the cookie.

“…Should I be concerned?”

Gene grabbed one.

“They’re fine.”

A pause.

“Well Usually they are.”

Aurelia looked deeply unconvinced.

Meanwhile, the blue and red gemstones rested atop the central table beside the bloody notes and prophecy scrolls.

The atmosphere gradually grew more serious again.

Moira opened several reference books.

“So let’s summarize.”

She pointed dramatically.

“Ancient evil god.”

Another point.

“Hidden cult.”

Another.

“Seven magical gems.”

Another.

“Mysterious mountain.”

Gene raised a hand.

“And weird prophecy nonsense.”

Selene nodded.

“And somehow all of it connects to your Mystic Blood Valley.”

Cassian leaned back carefully.

“My family clearly knows more than they wanted to admit.”

Aurelia looked toward him.

“You really think the royal families are involved?”

Cassian’s expression darkened.

“I think they’ve definitely been hiding something grand for generations in the very least.”

The room quieted.

Outside, thunder rumbled again.

Gene stared at the blue gem thoughtfully.

Seven gems.

A sleeping god.

A world tied to dreams and nightmares.

And somehow…

His horror-themed hotel stood in the center of all of it.

Lilith climbed into the chair beside him.

“You thinking scary thoughts again?”

Gene smiled faintly.

“Always.”

The blue and red gems pulsed softly beneath the library lights.

And somewhere far beyond the valley…

Deep beneath the storm-covered mountain…

Something ancient partially opened one of its eyes.