Hotel Hex by Linda Wisdom

gestured toward the wall displaying trailing roses. “There’s no sign of your blood.”
    “Where have you been?” Fluff and Puff raced out of the bedroom.
    “Do you know what they fed us?” Puff shouted. “ Carrots ! Blech !”
    “And celery,” Fluff chimed in.
    “You’d think they were given poison,” Jazz commented.
    “In their minds it was.”
    “There’s licorice root in my tote bag,” she told them. “Don’t eat it all at once!” To make sure they listened to her, she followed them back to the bedroom. “Has anything strange happened while we were gone?”
    “Which time?” Puff’s words were garbled as he tore into one of their favorite treats. “Who was screaming?”
    “The maid found something odd.” Nick came in and perched on the end of the bed.
    “Can’t you just get rid of the curse so we can go down to the Beverly Hills Hotel?” Fluff asked.
    “There is no curse,” Jazz said. “At least, I don’t think there is.”
    “There’s something going on,” the slipper insisted. “The walls change and look what happened in here.”
    Jazz and Nick didn’t miss that the bed that had sported a shiny brass bedstead the night before was now an elegant four poster complete with drawn back bed curtains. Even the comforter was a rich shade of cranberry with lace edged pillows piled high.
    “Mrs. Babbington hasn’t said a word about the rooms changing their looks,” Jazz mused. “And now Beatrice, my magick not able to reverse what I did to Sylvie, and what went on with the parlor. I feel like we’re in Clue meets Nancy Drew meets Murder by Death meets Bewitched .
    “I don’t know what’s going on,” she continued, “but I’m feeling aches where I never felt any before.” She rubbed her hands together to rid them of a phantom chill. Kicking off her shoes, she gestured to Fluff and Puff who sighed heavily but slid onto her feet. “I don’t want you guys here alone.”
    “The hotel would take us. Just phone them your Visa number,” Fluff suggested.
    Jazz ignored them as she turned to Nick. “Can you distract Mrs. Babbington so I can talk to someone in reception?”
    He nodded. “You think Zorak can tell you something?”
    “Unfortunately, I’m thinking of someone else.” She paused long enough to refresh her lip gloss and perfume before leaving the suite.
     
                  “Why yes, we do have a lovely library, Mr. Gregory,” Mrs. Babbington said, warming under Nick’s smile. “Mr. Perry was quite a collector.”
                  “I would love to look at it,” the vampire practically purred. “I think there’s nothing more fascinating than an estate’s library.” He leaned forward, confiding, “I spent hours in the library the last time I was at Windsor Castle. You can’t imagine, not just the fiction acquired, but books on history and personal journals.”  
                  “Yes, well.” Mrs. Babbington blinked under his regard then bustled down a side passage with Nick following. He waved his hand behind his back giving Jazz the go ahead. “I don’t think Zorak built a fire in there this morning. I’ll send him in directly. Would you care for some tea or coffee?” She stopped at the two double doors and pushed them open.
    “Coffee would be nice, thank you. No need for a fire.” He chuckled. He lightly grasped her arm before she could leave. “Perhaps you could show me the more interesting books here.”
    Clearly happy to be asked, the elderly woman bustled inside with him.
    Jazz wasted no time making her way to the reception area.
    “Do you need anything, Miss Jazz?” Zorak asked, looking up from his task.
    “No.” She nonchalantly leaned against the front desk and eyed the plumed pen. Puck blew her a kiss and cupped his overlarge privates.
    “Be careful of him, miss. He bites,” Zorak warned her as he left the area.
    “I think he’ll behave with me.” She stared hard at the imp. Once the zombie was out