Stardust Hotel

When reaching Airedale, a blinking neon light with Stardust written in elegant letters.

“Wow, this place has seen the test of time,” muttered Ember.

“It has a roof and beds,” huffed Kael.

Getting their bags out of the backseat, they both went inside.

“Welcome to Stardust,” a monotone voice behind the front desk mumbled.

“It’s been a while, Totem.” The Ravager grinned, leaning against the counter.

“Ravager, why am I not surprised...” Totem looked at Ember and then back at Kael, adding, “Are you hunting someone?”

Ravager nodded, handing over some cash. Totem stood up, grabbing a set of keys from the back wall. “Two singles.” He handed over the keys.

“Thanks.” Kael exchanged the cash for the set of keys.

“Check out at 10?”

Totem nodded.

Ravager headed upstairs with Ember close behind.

“You didn’t seem to enjoy talking with him. How do you know Totem? Ember questioned Kael, who used the key to unlock the door to their room.

Kael sighed, pushing it open, and flicked on the light switch, swiftly locking the door behind them.

“Totem tends to talk a lot. Giving info on other hunters to save his skin,” muttered the Ravager, placing his bag onto an armchair before sitting down on the edge of one of the beds.

Ember took note of this to avoid Totem entirely. They felt that somehow Totem knew Viper.

“I’m going to shower first,” said Ember, placing their bag into the other bed.

“Sure, go ahead.” Kael lay back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling.

Ember took their shower items and a change of clothes to sleep in. Inside the bathroom, they closed the door. After a quick shower, they dressed and got into bed, pulling the covers up under their chins.

“Rest well, Ember,” Ravager said softly, dimming the lights and settling into bed. They would get some sleep and head to Luton. There was one of the many hideouts that belonged to Nightshade. Hopefully, Viper hadn’t found its location yet.

Rays of blinding sunlight began to cut through the room. The sound of the shower woke Ember, causing them to sit upright and rub the sleep from their eyes. The bathroom door opens, and Kael walks out, drying his hair with a towel. Yawning, Ember got out of bed.

“Good morning, Ember.”

“G’morning.” They stumbled past the Ravager and into the bathroom, closing the door.

Kael finished getting ready. “I’m going to go get some breakfast. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay,” Ember responded, doing their business and washing their hands.

Not too long after Kael left, there was a knock at the door. It startled Ember as they had just walked out of the bathroom. Slowly, they walked up to the door.

“Can I help you?” A tinge of nervousness was in their voice.

“It’s Totem. Can we have a chat, Ember?” the front desk clerk asked. This made them very uneasy. He must have seen Kael leave and decided to corner Ember.

Ember bit their bottom lip, wishing that Totem would leave. They backed away from the door to the center of the room.

“Ember?”

The door rattled, and Totem began pounding a fist on it.

“I know you’re in there!”

Ember gulped, bumping into the small dining table, heart pounding. Glancing over their shoulders, they considered going out the window. Then, a yell broke through the hallway.

“Get the fuck away from there, Totem!”

“Kael, you’re back...” Totem paled, stepping away from the door.

Fast footsteps sped away from the door, and it opened. Ravager walked up to Ember with an out in his hands, setting it down to check it over.

“I’m sorry, Ember. I shouldn’t have left you here alone.”

Kael sighed, moving away. “Let’s pack our stuff and go.”

Ember nodded in agreement, exhaling the breath they were holding.

Ravager left the room key on the table as he and Ember left. Kael loaded both bags into the backseat. The sign for Luton had fifteen miles written on the board. Both Kael and Ember traveled in silence. Ember was glad to have gotten away from Stardust and Totem.

Something about him made them uneasy.

Inside the Stardust Hotel—

Totem is talking with Viper on the phone.

“Tell me, Totem, did you see my little Ember?”

“Yes, sir, he was here with Ravager.”

“Ravager...ah, so he knows about what I’m doing.”

Viper chuckled coldly, causing a chill to go down Totem’s spine.

“Thank you for your information, Totem. I will be sure to reward you handsomely.”

Totem bit his lip, wishing he’d kept this information to himself, but he had to do this to save his skin. As he hung up the phone, Totem ran his fingers through his hair, watching as a notification of a deposit had been transferred to his account.

“Sorry, Ravager, but I have to survive too.”