The Moonflower Hotel

Evan ended up telling Victor a lot about his life. It was fun for both of them and they found out they had a lot in common but they were also very different. Masculinity has been constructed over the last century almost entirely around the idea of men as providers and protectors, an idea that Evan was still very fond of. But times were changing and looking at Victor, at the way he walked, spoke and even at the small gestures he’d do unconsciously Evan was sure that he wouldn’t quite enjoy the new society. He wasn’t proud of the time he was coming from but he was raised with values that didn’t seem to matter anymore, at least that was the vision he got from Victor. The young Mancunian was living in his own made-up world, he didn’t seem to have any special skills and was definitely not interested in marriage. Victor, in Evan’s older eyes, was just a boy.

Of course, he couldn’t say his thoughts out-loud or else he’d lose Victor’s trust. Besides, he has been feeling the cold of the white wolf following them from a few meters behind.

On the way back, Victor couldn’t help but remember another story that his mother told him. He smiled to himself as he remembered the circumstances under which he was told.

“When I was young I fell in love with this blonde girl. She was older than me by five years but she was so beautiful that I couldn’t bother with age. Mom liked her too but her mother did not accept me, saying that her daughter could do better. I was so heartbroken that my mother took me aside and told me another story, about Hera. She was very intrigued by that Goddess. She used to say she was a victim of a perverted society.” He chuckled and looked down at the snow before continuing, “If only she’d see me now,” He mumbled to himself.

“How old were you when that happened?” Evan asked.

“Primary school, I think.”

Evan raised an eyebrow at the bemused expression in Victor’s eyes. It was vague if he was messing around or if he was serious about a childish crush of a kid with too much imagination.

“Your mother loved ancient Greece, didn’t she? It seems she tried to explain the world to you through it.” Evan changed the subject.

“She’s a history teacher. She has a soft spot for Greece but she’s never been there.” Victor replied, sighing at his mother’s unfulfilled dream.

Evan smiled as he started to remember things from his own past.

“My mother loved Egypt. It was one of those places you had to visit if you had money.”

Victor tilted his head to the side and blinked, “Have you?”

Evan nodded, “My father was an explorer. He died in Egypt. That’s why no matter how much she loved that country my mother swore she was never going to visit it ever again.”

Victor sighed and patted his friend for comfort when he noticed Evan’s sorrowful expression.

“They died a long time ago but it feels like yesterday.” Evan finished.

“I don’t know how that feels but the memories will always be with you. If anything happens to my mom, I’ll always have her stories to remind me of her.”

Evan chuckled, “That sounds like something a woman would say.”

Victor narrowed his eyes at the older man and hit him playfully.

“I am a sensible man.”

Evan scoffed.

When they got back, Abel was standing in front of the door, staring at them with icy eyes.

“What are you doing here, Abel? Are you guarding the entrance, like a loyal dog?” Evan’s words sounded hateful but they were true.

The boy didn’t even blink but he responded nonetheless.

“There’s going to be a new guest. I’m waiting for him.” His voice sounded the same as always- not an ounce of emotion.

Evan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Victor before he opened the door.

Inside was warm and cozy. Evan walked into the restaurant and ordered two glasses of wine while Victor remained in the foyer. He was ready to give Guillermo his jacket back but the boy stared at him with blank eyes. He didn’t sketch any expression but he did point to the back door. Victor nodded and put the jacket back where he took it from.

As he was walking out of the room, he heard a knock. He turned quickly but there was nothing; the back room was full of a lot of things but none could knock. The blue-eyed man brushed it off and went to his friend passing the reception on the way. Guillermo vanished from his seat and Victor stared at his desk until he entered the restaurant.

“Have you looked at the reception?” Victor asked once he sat next to his friend.

“What for?” Evan asked, not giving his question much thought.

Victor shrugged and grabbed the glass of wine, swaying it around before he took a sip. He was bothered by something, he had seen something that triggered doubt in his heart and that change drew Evan’s attention. Seeing how the older man looked up expectantly, Victor continued.

“I know this is an old hotel but I didn’t see a phone. Not even an old one.” Victor explained, contemplating his glass.

Evan blinked for a few seconds before he turned his head to the front.

“And?”

Victor turned completely towards the Irish man, “How do they get guests? They can’t make any arrangements on the phone and can’t even get resources. No one will come all the way here without proof that this hotel is any good.”

Evan looked to the side and masked his reaction by drinking wine as the British man continued.

“And how can they afford taking care of it? They need money for everything to look brand new.”

“They have enough money. This hotel is special, Victor. This hotel is compelling,” Evan glanced at him, to see if he got the hint but Victor was completely oblivious, “Look, you have to see beyond the beauty. See it for what it actually is.”

“And what is it, Mr. McAllister?”

Both men turned around to face a woman. She was dressed in a red long dress and her hair was pulled back into an old style bun. But her deadly weapons were her eyes which were enchanting.

Victor put the glass down and got on his feet, captivated by those big green eyes of hers.

“Well?” She raised an eyebrow and stared at them in a certain way that made Victor’s heart tremble a little.

“Nothing. It’s nothing.” Evan spat the words out before he finished his drink in one gulp.

It was obvious for everyone that Evan knew the lady. However, the atmosphere between them was so tense that Victor got goosebumps.

“My name is Victor Abbot.” he introduced himself, hoping he’d lessen the tension.

Her eyes moved from the Irish man to him. She smiled and bowed her head in greeting. Victor grabbed her hand and kissed it on the back, like the gentleman he was.

“Aida Valenti.”

Evan watched the interaction between the two with a scowl. She was looking at him with the usual mask she was wearing when she met someone new. On the other hand, he could see the thrill on Victor’s face and it reminded Evan of himself.

The Irish man had known something was off with Aida Valenti from the first glance but that didn’t stop him from wanting to know more. Evan was such a young foolish boy back then. If only he would have figured it out sooner...

A young man entered the foyer of a hotel he found in haste. It was winter and he needed to spend one night somewhere before getting back on the road.

“Welcome to the Moonflower Hotel,”

Back then, Guillermo wasn’t the receptionist; a woman named Mrs. Winter was. She smiled kindly at him and grabbed his jacket, placing it in a very small room where guests would let their outdoor jackets. It was formerly a room only for furniture and clothes that the owner didn’t want anymore but it proved far better as a wardrobe.

“It’s snowing outside, isn’t it? Weather has been crazy these days.” She made small talk, enough to make the guest open up to her, even if only to seem polite.

“I need a room for one night.” He answered curtly.

She nodded and opened a drawer where he supposed she had all the keys. While waiting for his, Evan couldn’t help but take a glimpse at her working desk and was surprised to see it very neat. Back then they didn’t use phones, therefore, he didn’t find it suspicious that it was missing.

“Here, room 390, on the third floor,“ She informed him as she handed him an object of smaller size than he expected.

Evan needed a few seconds to analyze the key as its stem was as long as his index finger, the bow was square and an intricate design inside that was also on the keywords. At a more careful look, he could swear there was something engraved on the pin but he couldn’t quite read it.

“Is there a problem, sir?” she asked seeing how he was not moving from his spot.

Evan stared at the key before he looked up into her eyes and asked.

“How do I get there?”

The woman chuckled to herself and made a sign for a boy to come over. Evan hadn’t seen him when he entered nor while he checked himself in.

“Abel will show you the way.”

Evan glanced at the kid. He was around 10 years old, had amazing icy blue eyes that were staring up at him with patience and dark hair, sporting a bowl cut. For some reason, those eyes got imprinted in Evan’s mind as they were empty of any type of childishness.

The way to his room proved to be rather like a path in a labyrinth: every turn Abel took Evan tried to memorize so he won’t need any help later but the kid was walking fast and the corridors were long and had a lot of decorations on each wall so he got disoriented quickly.

“How old are you, Abel?” The atmosphere was weird so Evan felt like animating it a little, “Shouldn’t you be home with your parents instead of working in a hotel? Or are they working here too?”

Abel didn’t sketch any sign that he heard the older man nor that he was willing to listen to his inquiry. Evan sighed as he couldn’t do anything but watch where he was going, noticing the paintings and mirrors along the walls: most of them were portraits of different people from different centuries and he couldn’t help but notice some frames were empty.

“Room 390,” Abel announced.

Evan stopped just in time or else he would’ve fallen over the boy. Abel moved aside and let him open his door. Once that was done, Abel finished his task and originally intended to leave the gentleman to his business but just to be polite he gave Evan the answer to what he asked on the way.

“14.” He mumbled and left.

Evan blinked twice before he remembered what Abel meant. He chuckled while unbuttoning his shirt and finally sat on a plush armchair, his bottom enjoying its softness.

“What an odd boy,” he commented bemusedly.

Having a few moments to himself in a new environment, Evan did what he was best at: he begun going through the drawers and estimating what every bit of furniture and decor cost. The wardrobe alone looked expensive and the painting right above the bed was quite unusual.

“Drunken Silenus. Jusepe de Ribera. 1626.” He read the inscription below. Evan jumped on the bed and admired it from a better angle. “I wonder if it’s worth the most in this room. Would a posh British man even buy it?” he hummed to himself and decided he may as well consider stealing the artwork after a good night sleep.

Next morning, Evan woke up ready for the long ride to Venice. The Irish man took a bath and made himself presentable although he wore the same clothes as yesterday. One thing he added to his pockets was the painting above his bed, tucked carefully after he barely forced it out of its frame. With how entangled was the hotel he hoped he won’t meet anyone on the way out but as soon as he stepped outside the room, he met Abel. Something about him wasn’t exactly the same, particularly his eyes. It seemed he grew some sparkle and life overnight because the child standing in front of him was a child, not a moving statue.

“What are you doing here so early, Abel?” Evan asked, hoping the boy didn’t notice the new addition in his bag. The boy tilted his head to the side in confusion. “What?”

“My name is Kain,” Evan frowned leaning in and inspecting his face. The kid was Abel, he was sure of it, “I’m here to get you downstairs, for breakfast. Mrs. Winter was worried that you might not find your way through the corridors.” He added politely.

Evan nodded and followed the boy silently. Much like last night, Evan’s sharp eye fell over every piece he passed and couldn’t help but take an interest in a few more artworks that he would have liked to grab quickly and place in his bag. Kain (or Abel) was a few feet ahead so he wouldn’t notice.

“If only there weren’t so many mirrors,” Evan whispered with disappointment.

One detail that he hadn’t noticed before was the L shaped stairs and the immense mirror at the bottom. He stopped and looked into it, seeing the reflection of the whole foyer. The curious man reached out to touch it but stopped right before his fingers could graze it.

In the restaurant, he got everything he could wish for and more. Evan asked for coffee and got it made exactly like his mom used to make it, he asked for pie and he hummed in pure joy as he tasted the most delicious dessert of his life. After he stuffed himself, Evan closed his eyes and enjoyed that little piece of Heaven.

“Are you the new guest?”

The Irish man opened his eyes and smiled boyishly at the woman that sat across him. She asked for a cup of tea, which she got really fast before she turned to him. The lady sitting at his table was of elegance that did not exist in the society he grew up in.

“I’m sorry to disturb you but it felt lonely standing by myself,” she added.

Evan shook his head quickly and straightened his back seeing how she sat as if somebody was going to come and paint her while she was taking breakfast.

“No, no! There is nothing to disturb.” He offered her some fruits but she shook her head and Evan felt himself blush, “I’m sorry, where are my manners. I’m Evan McAllister.”

A gentle smile graced her face. She was really pretty and gracious, even if she was not doing much.

“Aida Valenti. I am the owner of this hotel,” she introduced herself, her smile loosening on one side making it more of a knowing smirk, “What? Am I too feminine for such a man job?”

He shook his head quickly and realized he had been rude.

“No-I mean we live in a harsh world for women but- Not that I think you are not responsible or smart enough and yet- Well, you know-Just-“ Evan decided to shut up before making a complete fool of himself.

Aida watched him amused before she actually started to laugh, a melodious sound to his ears.

“You don’t have to be embarrassed, Mr. McAllister. I was just teasing you.” She took a sip of her tea as he fanned himself in order to calm down, “How did you find this hotel?”Aida asked changing the subject.

“I don’t know. It was there when I needed one. I just saw it from the road and with how badly it was snowing, I took it for granted,” she nodded along which made him continue, “This is an amazing hotel. I’ve been in many around Italy but this one is captivating.” Evan turned to flattery and lying through his teeth, something he was very good at.

Her eyes were twinkling with amusement. This man was growing more and more intriguing.

“It is. I offer the best treatment for my customers. In exchange, I expect high-quality reviews,” She leaned over the table and winked at him.

He laughed a joyous laugh that he hasn’t heard coming from him in a while.

“I’m sure you get them effortlessly.”

“You think so?”Aida asked leaning back. She expected him to be shyer, especially because she found some knickknacks in his jacket that he most definitely stole from other places.

“What is there not to like about this place? It looks majestic on the outside and mysterious on the inside. Isn’t that what people these days are looking for? Some thrill?”

“Is that what you are looking for?”Aida continued luring him in, her eyes narrowing slightly making her look like a fox.

“Might as well. This place gives off a nice feeling. It’s the perfect place to escape real life.” Evan replied sincerely.

She stared at him carefully for a few more seconds before she got up, “In that case, I expect you to stay for more than one night,” The way she spoke those words sounded like an enchantment in his ears, “A lot more.” She smiled and walked into the foyer.

Evan stayed there in a state of absolute bewilderment.

He didn’t need Abel or Kain or whatever was his name to show him the way back to his room because he already took everything with him. Evan grabbed his jacket from the wardrobe and put it on, his eyes unconsciously traveling back to the mirror at the end of the stairs. He took a few steps towards it and stopped, grazing his hand on the rail thinking if he should approach it or not.

“Are you all right, Mr. McAllister?”

Evan didn’t have to turn in order to see who came next to him because he could see the reflection in the mirror. Two boys were standing there, looking the same yet different. He moved his head in order to look them in the eye but no one was there physically. He glanced at the mirror and the boys were there, he glanced to his side and there was nobody. It was insane!

“What the heck is going on?” He couldn’t think of anything but ghosts. Evan was a strong believer in the supernatural, after all.

Once Evan stepped out of the hotel, he realized he forgot the way back to the road; actually, it was weird because he could swear it was snowing the day before. He could swear it was winter so then, why was so hot outside and why was there spring?

Evan ran, he didn’t know where to but he hoped he could find a way out of there. He got lost rather quickly in the forest, feeling someone watching him from afar but not having the courage to look behind.

The Irish thief stopped to take a breath near a pond that he came upon. He walked towards the edge and bent to look at his reflection in the water. His face looked different, suddenly it looked-

“Older,” He whispered.

Evan couldn’t believe it. He splashed water on his face but it didn’t have any effect.

“Evan McAllister,”

He knew that voice so he turned around quickly in order to check if she knew what was happening to him. Aida looked the same but her dress was ripped and she had a small hole in her chest.

“So young and so foolish,” she took a step forward which made him take one back.

“Who are you?”

She chuckled and took another step forward, “I may be a lot of things, Mr. McAllister but I am not a liar.”

Her eyes were twinkling with the same emotion he saw in her before. It wasn’t anything evil; if anything it looked like playfulness.

While she moved closer to him in a way that looked like a venomous snake cornering its victim, Evan realized what the hole in her chest meant. His eyes widened but by the time he looked up at her face, she was already too close for his safety.

“You’ve been shot.” He whispered.

“Twice. By accident,” she narrowed her eyes at him and got down on her knees in order to be at his level, “I’ve been living in this hotel for centuries! I saw more lives being perverted by society and its stupid rules, always changing and yet never getting better. I can’t see the world in a favorable way after witnessing so many sins being committed right here in my home. I could only see the magic of it for a while but then the truth came out.” She leaned towards him forcing Evan to lean back, “Rotten. The world is a rotten, miserable place. Do you know why this hotel was built, Evan?”

He gulped and shook his head.

“To purify the world from sin. To kill the evil from the root,” she whispered before she shoved him in the lake.

The man squirmed and tried to remain at the surface. He knew how to swim but that wasn’t helpful at the moment. The image changed as something from deep within the lake grabbed him by his feet. He could see it: the forest was growing old, the sun was getting engulfed by mist and the hotel was barely standing.

It was a ruin. Everything was a ruin and she was nothing but a beautiful demon dragging him into the underworld. Evan closed his eyes and took one last breath of oxygen before he gave up. The last thing he saw was that amazing pair of green eyes staring at him with excitement.