The Graveyard Hotel

I settled myself close to the window and let my mind drift as the carriage started to move. I had no idea how long it would take to get to the Amulet Rosette. It was strange the invitation didn't give an address or even something as vague as the town the hotel was located in.

I still didn't understand why I couldn't even bring my phone. For a fleeting second, I was beginning to have second thoughts.

There had to be an explanation for everything and surely all of my questions would be answered as soon as I checked in at the hotel. I eased back and tried to calm my mind. There was a warmth that radiated within the carriage. While the sight of the carriage had an eerie allure to it seeing it from my window, now sitting inside, I felt comfort. Comfort I never felt before. Comfort that felt a little out of place.

I turned my attention outside the window only to rub my eyes and blink as I realized that I couldn't see anything but glimpses of the road and the trunks and branches of trees. There was a strange fog that shrouded everything else. A fog that wasn't there when I came outside to meet the chauffeur. I gripped my seat fearing an inevitable crash at any moment.

My attention darted wildly from the glimpses of trees and road as I desperately tried to make out my surroundings to the chauffeur who didn't seem at all phased by the dense fog. The carriage never stopped. Not even for a moment. It only continued to move at a constant steady speed.

How long have I been on this carriage? Ten minutes? Fifteen? Surely no more than an hour. Without my phone to glance at, I had no sense at all of time. After all this time, it was weird that I had not seen any cars pass by. Not even one. Even in the dense fog, I would have seen oncoming headlights. I would have heard it.

I looked out the window again and in between the pockets of fog, I saw the road had changed form. It was no longer an asphalt road but one made of dirt. Just like the road from my dream! I leaned forward and looked as far as I could down the road.

The fog gradually began to dissolve until it revealed the entire road, a forest, an iron gate, and as the carriage moved closer, a mansion so grand and immaculate, it took my breath away.

The Amulet Rosette!

My eyes moved from one section of the hotel to the next when the door to the carriage opened.

"We've been expecting your arrival." I startled as I turned my attention to a gracious well dressed man. "This way please," the man said as he motioned me out of the carriage.

I turned for one last look at the mysterious carriage as it pulled away but when I turned around, it had vanished. My jaw dropped in disbelief as I turned to the man who gave a reassuring smile.

"Corvus, our chauffeur, is always busy bringing in invitees to our hotel. Looks like he's already off to retrieve the next one. Come."

I was led past a vast garden of the most beautiful and exotic flowers, their smell pleasantly intoxicating, past a fountain that spewed water as clear as crystal until finally reaching the entrance to the hotel.

The man led me to the front desk where a woman who was just as well dressed sat. "Elara will take care of your arrival."

"Excuse me. I was invited to stay here at the Amulet Rosette," I said as I handed my invitation to the woman.

"You are Hazel," a woman behind the desk replied as she scanned a list of names without even looking at my invitation.

"How did you? ..."

"You must be exhausted from the ride here, Hazel," Elara said ignoring my question. "Hermes will show you to your room."