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Emma spooned up more potato salad. “Have you noticed how big and empty the place is? Granted, it hasn’t affected the amenities, but how does management afford to keep us fed like kings?”
my
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As far as Emma knew, there were only six people in the Pyramidion. There was herself; Henry, whom she''d met the first day; Obie and Prospero, the two boys who hung around the arcade; the old man on the fourth floor, whom she''d never actually seen; and finally there was Elisabeth, who hadn''t shown up until Emma and Henry had cleaned the library.
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Henry shrugged. “Maybe the actual cleaning staff comes out when everyone''s asleep. Like vampire janitors.”
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Elisabeth frowned. “From my perspective, the library has always been open.”
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"Then you''d be stealing from yourself. Isn’t that the sort of illogical thing that faerie kings get up to?”
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After that heavy breakfast they walked slowly to one of the glass elevators.
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Elisabeth pushed up her glasses. “It''s rammed earth, an ancient building technique. They poured dirt into wooden forms and pounded it into sandstone.”
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The older girl looked up the airshaft. “The hotel''s probably steel-reinforced but you can build pretty tall with just rammed earth.”
Emma stretched her neck upward. She had no idea how the Pyramidion had been built but it looked like it had taken a lot of work. “How old is this place, do you think? I''d almost think it was some kind of temple. “
Henry looked up from his phone. “Wikipedia says Art Deco first appeared in the 1910s and flourished between the world wars. So, the place is from the last century.”
"A hundred years old,” Emma said. “And yet it looks like it was only built last year, with how new everything looks. I wonder how they keep it so well-maintained?”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
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They stepped into the glass elevators and Henry pressed a button. “B is for ‘Basement.’"
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The door opened and they walked out into an enormous supermarket floor.
Emma stared up at the towering shelves. “It’s incredible. I can barely see the end of this place!”
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"Clothes for the ratty girl, check. What else?”
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Elisabeth had been following quietly. “When I first arrived in the hotel, I hoarded food in my room.”
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Emma and Elisabeth exchanged looks.
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Henry was suddenly beside her. ‘It''s all right.” He placed a hand on her back. “It''s okay.”
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"You make it sound easy. I''ve never been able to stop thinking and worrying. I feel so small knowing so many other people have nothing and I''m just sitting here—with everything I could ever want!”
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She looked at him, her own eyes full of tears. “I''m sorry. I''m always making everything so difficult.”
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Elisabeth said nothing, but slowly looked away.
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Emma smiled, just a touch. The idea of watching a movie in her room was very appealing.
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Henry stood and took hold of the shopping cart again. “Lead the way, girls.”
Emma and Elisabeth stood up as well. They followed him through the aisles, picking up clothing, toiletries and personal items, and, of course, food. Emma was particularly happy to see that they sold chocolate and she found herself with a few bags and boxes of it.
They were rolling down the cookie aisle when Henry sighed and reached for something. “Sugar-glazed egg crackers. I''ve been looking for these for ages!”
Emma smiled as he added the crackers to their shopping cart. “I take it they''re good?”
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Emma rolled her eyes.
Henry turned to Elisabeth. “So, you found the supermarket on your first day here?”
Elisabeth nodded. “When I first arrived in the hotel, I was starving. And I was afraid that the feeling wouldn''t go away, so I searched the hotel.”
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Emma laughed. “Of course you did!”
She giggled. As for herself, she''d been too intimidated by her new surroundings to consider just pressing random elevator buttons. “Perhaps the better question is, when did you stop pressing buttons?”
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She shook her head. “No, I never noticed any. Too distracted by the bathtub, I suppose.”
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"Of course I do, I''m not an idiot. I just . . .” She gave a sheepish smile. “I really don’t remember anything like that in my room.”
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With two shopping carts, Emma and Elisabeth had to shuffle closer to Henry. Emma took a deep breath, suddenly aware of how close he was. She looked to the side. They were practically shoulder-to-shoulder.
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She looked down at herself and wrinkled her nose. Her clothes were clean, but old and worn. “I’m running out.”
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They reached the fourth floor and wheeled the carts into the hall. Elisabeth turned out to have a room close to Emma''s, which was comforting to know.
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Elisabeth shook her head. “It''s not really needed with modern detergents.”
Emma''s eyebrows shot up. “How will the detergent tell the colours apart from the whites?”
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The older girl nodded. “Just give me a minute.”
A few minutes later they were squeezing into the elevator again. Emma stood next to Henry once more, wondering what he might be thinking of her old clothes.
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Emma laughed. “Oh, I should''ve known. You''re clearly a true Ferengi at heart, whatever that is.”
Emma looked around, fascinated at this new area. She looked at her laundry basket, then over at the washing machines and dryers. They looked pretty good considering all the hand-washing she’d done over the years.
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She gave a small smile. “I suppose I am.”
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