For another two hours or so we were entertained with numerous renditions of famous songs from the in-house band and individuals.
Seeing such liveliness and happy faces, even though they were not human faces, lightened my previously gloomy attitude towards the hotel. Maybe my stay would not be that bad after all.
Soon tables and seats began to disappear as their occupants threw themselves on the dance floor. Well, that was where my clumsy feet drew the line. I was not someone who could flaunt his moves but even worse, in this kind of crowded setup, and with the floor full of creatures that reached barely to my knees, dancing was an absolute no. One wrong turn, one wrong step and I would throw this fancy dinner party into mourning.
"The last time I had this much fun I was still a student," I said, taking the last gulp of the fresh mango juice and facing the heads of department.
"Guys, thank you so much for this warm welcome. It meant a lot. Madam Arizona, I swear I have not eaten this kind of food in my whole life."
It was not a lie. Maybe there were hotels that made it better, but I had never been there, and just like the music, I highly doubted that any human out there could contend with her.
"You are too kind sir," she said, beaming shyly. "I only did my best."
"Your best is on a level of its own. Look at me," I said, rubbing my stiff belly. "Now I gotta find an angle that will let me sleep without spilling everything."
They all laughed. Madam Arizona could no longer hold herself. She jumped on her seat and bowed her cap almost touching the table.
"Sir is too kind," she repeated with tears playing dangerously in her eyes.
I decided that was enough. The last thing I wished for was for those tears to fall.
"All of you, please do pass my gratitude to your members and everyone."
"If Sire wants to say something, I can stop the music..." Maya began but I stopped her.
"And kill that," I pointed at the floor where tables had been completely pushed aside. The colors had been mixed so that it now looked like an Indian Diwali festival. "Not on my account. I really would love to stay but I must catch some sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow."
"I will see you out sir," Octava declared already jumping out of his seat as well.
I wanted to tell him there was no need to but I registered he probably wanted to have a word in private. Again I caught that moment of unease on Maya's face as she looked at Octava. Madam Arizona too did not seem to be too comfortable with it although she was pretending to look away. Neja and Ramon however did not seem to be able to hide their disapproval.
"Alright. In that case, it is a goodnight everyone," I said stepping past Octava who began to follow me out.
The rest were too caught up in either the music or the dance floor that only a few noticed our departure and waved.
I held the door for Octava who hesitated like the action was another security threat to watch out for before eventually stepping out.
We walked down the stairs in total silence. I was waiting for him to explain the purpose of this but he too seemed content with the silence.
Finally we had come to my chambers and I felt it would be poor etiquette to ask him to speak while outside, so once again I held the door for him.
"Please have a seat sir." I took off my coat and fell on the couch.
"I would offer you something to drink but I barely know this place," I said indicating the towering shelf.
Octava gave a faint smile that stretched his scar giving his face a new distorted look. He really looked like a rat version of a Viking war commander.
"Your fridge should be right about..." he walked towards the fireplace and pushed a brick just beneath the one Maya had pushed to reveal the bedroom door. "There."
I followed where his small fingers were pointing. Right next to the couch yet another part of that shelf had parted to reveal a medium sized fridge.
"I will not be needing anything though, I do not mean to take much of your time."
Still he did not sit and so I waited for him to get on with it.
"Sir, one of your first duties will be to choose your assistant," he began now looking thoroughly uncomfortable yet still quite determined.
"It is called Clemency because whoever you choose will be restored to their human form."
"What?" I exclaimed completely surprised.
"How come I do not know about it... I mean the system should have alerted me of it. At the very least Maya should."
"That is because the system has not prompted the task yet. But it is just a matter of time. It has always done it in the first few days or at most a week," Octava explained.
I fell back on the couch with a deep sigh. By God's that would put a lot of pressure on me.
Obviously, all of them would be wishing to get their humanity back and with the power to just grant one, it would be extremely ruthless.
That explains why the others had looked quite uncomfortable when Octava asked to see me out. They must have thought he was just trying to suck up to me to get the position for himself.
Actually, I was not entirely sure he was not.
"Thank you for letting me know Octava. I really had no clue," I said awkwardly now that I was hyper aware of looming requests.
"I am not here to request the position for myself sir," he said exploding my pre-formed assumption.
"As a matter of fact I think I will take a break. I was Maya's assistant so I think I have had enough trouble to last me three several tenures."
He did not say it bitterly. In fact it was the calmest I had seen him since our introduction.
"It is just that as the current head of security, I think it is my duty to warn you."
I looked at him now sitting completely on alert. "Warn me about what?"
That skin piercing gaze fell on me for a couple of seconds like he was trying to gauge how I would react to his answer.
"Whoever you choose... Do not choose Maya."