The sign for [Crystalline Spa] alone
dominates
the block. But underneath...
A gleaming structure of blue-tinted glass that rises three stories high. True to Melissa's description, there is an
artificial waterfall
that cascades down one outer wall.
Droplets of mist in the air around it allows
rainbows
to form across the sidewalk. It looks expensive... even for the level of architecture I've witnessed along my walk.
The kind of place that would turn away someone who looked like me without a second thought. Like a
beggar
trying to enter the palace after washing up in the
moat
.
But I have an appointment.
So I square my shoulders and approach the entrance, where uniformed staff stand at attention behind
flawless
glass doors. One of them even
opens it
for me.
The receptionist behind a large, floor mounted desk with a
white marble
countertop greeted me with a polite smile. Her eyes
barely
twitched as she took in my appearance.
"Welcome to Crystalline Spa. How may I assist you today?"
"I... have an appointment."
For a moment, my voice sounded small and unsure. I'd heard only one side of the conversation on her phone.
And Kyrie had told her to place it under her name, not mine.
The receptionist tapped at her
computer
while clearing her throat. Like something had just been
hard to swallow
.
"Of course. May I see the booking card, please?"
I wasn't sure if it was truly the right one, but I fumbled in my pocket for the sleek white card Kyrie had given me. With the same sort of reluctance as at the diner... my fingers trembled as I handed it over.
The receptionist swiped it through a slimmer, more refined looking
card reader
than I'd seen before. After a couple of
tense
seconds of waiting...
Her eyes scanned the screen for
confirmation
. She smiled while handing the card back to me.
"Everything seems to be in order. We have you booked for our deluxe package today."
She gestured to a
plush
looking waiting area, where a tray of fresh fruits and what smelled like
herbal tea
awaited on a low table.
"Please, make yourself comfortable while we prepare your treatments. I'll have an attendant come and escort you back shortly."
> How often do you think they remake that for their guests? Or did they prepare it only because an appointment was incoming? Repent. <
It's not blasphemous in this world to do something like that, surely. Though to be fair, having a whole other spiritual entity of a
different animal
nature attached to mine in the first place is already closing in on
heresy
.
While I was stewing in my thoughts, an attendant of the spa appeared. Walking up to me with a
fluffy white robe
and
matching slippers
in her hands.
That color never bothered me so much, but every time I see it
now
...
"Hello, my name is Tess. If you'll follow me, miss. We'll start with a shower, to help you relax and better prepare for your treatments."
I nod and follow her down a softly lit hallway and into a private room. The plush carpet underneath cushions my footsteps, but I feel bad with how filthy these socks must be.
On one side is a small mattress that seems meant for resting up. I guess customers sometimes stay quite a long while or may have
extended waits
in between each service.
She places the clothing items down and gestures to the only other thing I see in the room.
A single other door into a
much bigger
space. I've seen more ostentatious bathhouses, but this is still impressive.
Gleaming tile with
two different
shower heads to choose from. One overhead and one that seems attached at stomach height to a
flexible
metallic hose.
The attendant showed me how to adjust the water temperature with a
simple twist
of shining metal knobs. It was something I could have figured out on my own, with Helene's memories, but I must have
looked
like I needed the help.
An array of fragrant soaps and
shampoos
in their small plastic bottles line the stainless shelving. She explained each of the choices with gentle gestures while I
tried harder
not to look as overwhelmed as I felt.
"I'll leave you to enjoy your shower. There's no rush. When you're finished, just put on the robe and slippers. I'll be waiting outside to guide you to your next treatment."
She turned to leave, and I found myself looking down at the clothes I'd been wearing today.
The hunter's pants with
mud stains
still clinging to the cuffs. The too large shirt with its little moth eaten holes.
And these black socks whose bottoms were almost
worn through
from stepping on coarse sidewalk all day.
"Wait. These..."
I gestured to the clothes I wore with distaste when she turned back around.
"Is there somewhere they can be... disposed of?"
The woman's professional smile never faltered as she looked back at me. The dark,
bobbed cut
hair shifts a little as she nods.
A style that I've been trying not to compare to that of a
certain Alpha
.
"Of course. We can take care of that for you."
"Preferably by fire."
I added... only half joking despite her sudden laugh. A large part of me wants to
never
see them again, even if they were helpful for entering the city.
I've just been looked at too many times with
apathetic
or unkind expressions. The charitable woman, the blind man... and
Kyrie Voss
, were an exception.
Something was clearly wrong with all of their eyes, in
some form
or another.
"I understand completely. We'll make sure they're properly dealt with. Just put them in there."
When she exited, I tugged off each of the
offensive
items and couldn't help but feel like I was shedding more than just clothing. My
first days
in this strange other world could go with them, for all I cared.
A glance toward the
wall sized mirror
showed me looking much better already, with those items removed.
Still a bit dirty and
scruffy
. Especially the
hair
.
I turned the knobs and stepped under the stream of
quickly
hot water. Closed my eyes, and for a few
blissful
moments just let go of everything.