Chapter 3
Rosemary was sitting at the small table in the room she was sharing with Sarah in the Kron Prinz Karl, writing her journal, when her quick ears caught the sound of a tap on the window. Looking up, she saw that it was, as she'd suspected, Sarah returning from the nightly patrol which had become a habit since they'd been staying at the Hotel.
In the weeks since they had arrived, they had fallen into a routine consisting of exploring during the day, with Sarah patrolling at night. It had not been their original plan, but as the school had been unable to accept Sarah before the Summer term, it had been a chance for them to gain more knowledge of the area. Wet days were filled by Rosemary asking questions about the area of the proprietor, Herr Braun, who seemingly unknowingly gave them many clues as to what was happening in the community around the lake, whilst Sarah sat nearby either sewing name tapes onto her new school uniform, along with the other articles she would require at school, or reading books in order to learn the rudiments of French and German, as Rosemary was determined that her charge should be able to fit into the school easily.
Rosemary rose and opened the window, allowing her charge to slip back into the room. She then made sure the pane was fastened tightly shut before she turned to the Slayer with the usual question, "Good Patrol?"
"One." Sarah replied briefly, as she sat down on the edge of the bed in order to remove the nailed boots which she had been wearing on patrol while the wintry conditions held. "Only very recently risen." She paused. "He hadn't fed though - I could sense his hunger, and yet he wasn't trying to bite me. It was almost as if he hadn't been permitted to eat."
Rosemary returned to the table. "It's certainly odd. That's the - what - third newly risen vampire who hasn't tried to feed?"
"Fourth." returned Sarah. "There were two last Wednesday."
"It's certainly something I should inform the Council about." Rosemary said with a sigh. "Where did you find him?"
"Almost in the same place, near that cleft in the mountains we found." Sarah said with a shrug. "The place which Herr Braun says everyone believes is an entrance to Hell."
"Well, I doubt that it is. Nonetheless, it does make me wonder whether that cleft leads to some caves where an older vampire is hiding out. That would explain the spate of newly sired vampires which we seem to have stu….." She stopped as she caught the sound of steps in the hallway, followed by a knock at the door.
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Sarah immediately got into bed fully clothed, aware that her Watcher would be able to form an excuse for being awake so late, but that it would seem unusual for a fourteen-year-old girl to be so. Rosemary waited until Sarah was snuggled under the plumeau before she opened the door to revel Herr Braun.
"I beg pardon, Frau Kitwood, but I must speak to you on a matter of some urgency."
Rosemary closed her eyes briefly, sensing that this was not all it seemed. "Is it not possible to wait until the morning, Herr Braun. Sarah has been having trouble sleeping of late, and I do not wish to disturb her."
Herr Braun nodded, then lowering his voice, "I must speak to Fraulein Sarah also, I cannot be sure, but what I wish to speak of may need the attention of The Chosen One."
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Sarah, who had been listening from across the room, sat upright at this, staring at the proprietor of the Hotel with horrified eyes, wondering how he knew her secret, whilst Rosemary drew him into the room, checking the corridor before closing the door and turning to face the big Tyrolean.
"How do you know who we are?" Rosemary asked coldly, dispensing with both formalities and politeness.
Herr Braun bowed low. "I beg pardon most humbly, Frau Kitwood, Fraulein Sarah. I am an Agent of the Council. I have been sending them information for many years now, but until the end of the Autumn, I had received no reply. The letter I received said that help was coming. I would have introduced myself earlier, only I did not realise who you were until tonight."
Sarah, who had by this time got out of the bed, walked over to the burly Hotel proprietor. "How did you find out?" she asked bluntly, forgetting her manners in her indignation at being discovered.
"Sarah!" snapped Rosemary, who was by now tired. "Please apologise to Herr Braun. He may have discovered our secret, but as a Council Agent I doubt that he will go telling all and sundry about your true identity. Your rudeness in unacceptable."
Blushing at being scolded. Sarah duly complied. "I am sorry for my rudeness Herr Braun. Please accept my apology." she muttered sulkily.
"I accept, Fraulein." Herr Braun replied, looking at this girl who had so much responsibility so young. "I would not have discovered your secret, only I was working late on my accounts, and heard a noise outside. I saw you leaving the grounds of the Hotel, and I could tell by the way you moved that you were the Slayer." He paused, and then, "May I sit, Meine Frau? I have a tale to tell which I fear may take some time."