HOTEL DIABLO
BY
ANDY LE STRANGE
PART ONE
"How long now mum" I asked for the umpteenth time in the last half hour. My Mother, who was driving, slowly shook her head in annoyance.
"We'll get there in about forty minutes Joyce, that's five less than it was five minutes ago" My Mother did sarcasm quite well but I ignored the comment and looked out of the passenger window at the countryside which flashed by.
Mother and Myself were going away for the weekend to some Hotel in the Scottish Highlands, a place called Struathcarron. We were meeting my Mum's sister, my Aunt Sadie, at the hotel which was apparently well known locally for its theme nights.
It had been a tiring year for my Mother running the family accounting business and she had persuaded me to take some time off college and accompany her on this short break. I was less than enthusiastic about the weekend but had agreed to go mainly because my Mum had asked me.
We eventually drove into Struathcarron, a small village nestling in the Scottish countryside which was beautiful at this time of year. We had no difficulty locating the Hotel which sat at the end of the short village main street. An old two storey grey stone building which boasted a rather small sign over the double entrance doors which simply said "Hotel Diablo"
I thought it a very strange name for a hotel in the Scottish Wilderness but I really was not all that bothered and was anxious to get inside and have a drink. We got our bags out of the boot of the car and entered the hotel. A spacious foyer welcomed us, the decor was old but still in reasonable condition, with a reception desk that was manned by a Woman in a white shirt and dark grey tie. The Woman gave us a good look as we walked up to the desk and suddenly broke out into a smile.
"Good Afternoon ladies and Welcome. I trust you had a good journey, the weather has been a bit up and down for late Autumn." She informed us before turning the desk book around so that Mum could fill in the details.
"The Hotel is quiet this weekend as there is only three other guests but I am sure you will be well entertained as we have one of our themed nights on this weekend" Mum looked up from the book and enquired what the theme was this weekend. "Oh it's a bit of a surprise. We find it better if the guests just, well get a surprise. We have been doing these for nearly four years now and we have very few complaints so please enjoy the occasion."
"Has Mrs Taylor arrived yet Miss Strong" Mum asked, reading the receptionists name from her badge she wore above her left breast. "Yes she arrived earlier, I believe she is in the bar if you would like to go through. I will get your bags taken up to your room, its five by the way" Miss Strong advised handing an old fashioned metal yale type key to Mum.
Mum thanked her and we made for the lounge bar which was through a door at the end of the foyer. Again the decor in the bar was of a good age but seemed to fit in with the ambience of the hotel. Aunt Sadie was sitting at a table over by the window and immediately broke into a huge smile when we came through the door.
"Darling how good to see you, and you never told me you were bringing Joyce" she gushed, embracing first Mum then me. "Yes I thought she needed a break as well as myself. She has been working hard at college since she started in the summer"
"Well as far as I have been told you both will have a very relaxing weekend here. It comes highly recommended from one of my friends in the bridge club. Also the theme nights are supposed to be good value" Aunt Sadie finished of her gin and stood up. "What do you want to drink my dear, Aunties buying" she said to me in rather loud voice
Aunt Sadie was an outgoing Woman of forty eight years. She was my Mum's older sister by two years and had lived in Scotland for the last twenty years. Tragically her husband had died several years ago and she lived alone now. She was a physical education teacher at a large comprehensive school in Inverness and possessed a great toned body, if a little bit on the large side. Mum was similarly built but at five foot six was a couple of inches smaller than her older sister.
We enjoyed a couple of drinks and caught up with our respective activities since we had last met over a year ago. "The receptionist said there was only another two guests in addition to us booked in this weekend" I said to no-one in particular. "Yes that's quite strange. I was told this place was always busy" said Aunt Sadie."Never mind darlings, we shall thoroughly enjoy ourselves."
We went up the stairs to change for dinner, our double room being at the end of a long corridor. Aunt Sadie's room was two doors up from us. "Dinner is at seven thirty so we will have to get changed quickly" said Mum "You go first Joyce" I went into the bathroom and turned on the shower, quickly taking off my short sleeved jersey and white vest underneath. Stripping off my denims and socks I stood under the luke warm water and luxuriated.
Ten minutes later I got out and dried myself quickly. I re-entered the room and pulled my hair drier from my bag. "Shower is good Mum" I said as she disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door. Forty Minutes later we went downstairs into the small restaurant in which Aunt Sadie was already at the table."I've just ordered the wine darlings and the menu looks excellent" Sadie was correct as the menu was full of local Scottish fare. Aunt Sadie was looking good, her shoulder length brunette hair and lithe figure making her look younger than her age. She was wearing a dark red dress that finished just above her knees. Her shapely legs clad in sheer brown tights and finished off by a pair of black patent leather pumps. Aunt Sadie was always an elegant dresser and tonight was no exception.
Mum was wearing a pink short sleeved blouse and dark blue tweed skirt. The tight blouse highlighting her 38DD chest which ironically was the same as her sister. Her choice of footwear was a pair of gray strap mules, contrasting with her nearly black sheer tights. I was dressed more informally than either and had elected to sport a blue checked shirt with faded denims and knee length brown leather boots.
The conversation over dinner was good and mainly cantered on my college work and events since I last saw Aunt Sadie on my eighteenth birthday. We were served coffee by a tall, well built waitress who spoke little English as Aunt Sadie found out when asking about the entertainment later on. The Woman looked puzzled for a moment then a big broad grin broke out on her slightly eastern European features. "Ah yes, activities later good. You will enjoy" She mumbled and then disappeared back into the kitchen.
"Activities?" said Mum slightly puzzled "That's a strange way to describe it"
"Remember it's a theme night who knows" said Aunt Sadie. Another two Women came into the restaurant , presumably the other weekend guests. A tall Woman about thirty and a her smaller companion a little bit older. They smiled at us and sat down at their table."A full house then "said Mum to no-one in particular.
Miss Strong, the receptionist from earlier in the day, came out of the kitchen and walked over to our table. I saw for the first time her entire figure and was amazed to see that she was extremely well built but with no excess fat. She walked like a cat over to us, well balanced and confident. She wore a black tunic that stopped just short of her knees and what appeared to be seamed nylon stockings or tights.
" I hope you enjoyed your meal ladies. Helga the waitress told me you were enquiring as to tonight's entertainment. You will have to excuse her as she speaks little English" Aunt Sadie smiled "No need to apologise my dear. I detect a slight foreign tone to your accent as well" Miss Strong's face hardened for a moment and then broke out into a smile again. "Yes, how perceptive of you. I am originally from Bulgaria although I have lived here for ten years. I would ask you to return to your rooms briefly after dinner so that we can prepare your themed entertainment in the small lounge next to the bar"
"Of course my dear, no problem" said Aunt Sadie finishing her glass of wine and pouring Mum and myself another glass each.
We went back upstairs after we had finished, leaving the other couple in the restaurant. "Will meet in forty five minutes back down stairs darlings" announced Aunt Sadie with her voice slightly slurred with the effects of the wine.
Mum and me went into our room and sat down in the two armchairs next to the beds."Sadie was always fond of a drink" mused mum, kicking her mules off and flexing her nylon clad red painted toes. I sat in the chair and suddenly I felt very tired. I looked over at Mum and she was sitting with her eyes almost closed as if dozing off. "Mum, better not go to sleep, we have to meet Aunt Sadie in a little while"
"hhmmmmmm, yes ok dear, just shutting my eyes for a bit after that excellent dinner" drawled Mum in an extremely tired voice. I felt my eyes closing as well and I couldn't keep them open. "Oh well, just five minutes won't make any difference I said to myself and was just dozing off when the bedroom door opened and Miss Strong stood in the doorway like an Amazon. I struggled to focus as she slowly walked over to Mum, who by this time was softly snoring. Miss Strong pushed Mum's head slightly back and raised her eyelid with her thumb.
"This one's asleep. Give her twenty CC just now. That should keep her quiet for several hours" I looked around the room to try to see who Miss Strong was talking to, straining my eyes I saw the waitress from dinner service walk into the room with a small tray in her left hand. "Yes Miss, at once" she replied in her strange accent. The Woman went over to Mum and put the small tray down on the chair arm. She then took a small syringe from the tray and holding up a phial of clear liquid filled the syringe about a quarter full. Dabbing Mum's arm above her elbow with cotton wool she proceeded to inject Mum with the syringe, slowly filling her arm with the contents.
I tried to shout out to Mum and get up from my chair but found I was unable to talk and my legs felt like jelly. "Yes Miss Williams, the wine you had with your dinner was laced with a slow acting sedative. The effects you feel at the moment will wear off shortly, that is why we have to drug you for a few hours until we can start the entertainment as you put it" I tried to get up again but the waitress pushed me back into the chair and held me there in a vice like grip while Miss Strong filled the syringe again and injected me in the forearm, the sharp prick of the needle making me softly groan until blackness descended and I passed out.
End of Part One