Page 70 of Oh No! There's an Incubus in my Hot Spring
“You won’t beat us, you know.”
What…?
He looks at me, his light eyes severe, and then suddenly, I see Mark in them.
“You’re the new owner of theotherplace. You won’t beat us.”
I suck in a deep breath. “We’ll see.”
I step out and grab my towel and notepad, then head over to the next pool. It’s hotter and the mineral content is lithium and magnesium. It’s supposed to center my chakra and relax my spirit. Maybe I need to get more detailed water-testing kits in so I can put little placards on my pools?
My feet burn as I step into the water and I hiss through the pain. The couple in the corner ignore me as I settle in and look to the mountains. It’s nice here. The breeze, the view. But the other pools are right there. No dividers between them, natural or otherwise. The noise isn’t terrible since it’s all outdoors, but still. There are no private reservations available except for the indoor pools—which I have yet to visit.
I could offer reservations for the top-level balcony, with two pools and a bathroom all to itself. People wouldn’t need to be bothered by anyone else. I wonder what I would charge for something like that. Two-hour reservations at a time with thirty minutes between to clean up?
I sink deeper.
I wonder if Apollo could expand the place. I want more. I’m a greedy witch and Idowant to beat Mark at this game, but in my own way. I want affordable, personal experiences. I want seasonal themes. I want a coffee bar. I want free towels, snack vending machines, reading nooks, business centers, massage rooms, and a multi-level parking garage.
I wantmore.
He’s just surviving off what was given to him. But I could be greater.
Iwillbe greater.
It’s been a good twenty minutes, so I decide to get out and complete my notes. When I get back to my chair, my notepad is gone. My flipflops, towel, and the key to my locker are still there, but the notebook and pen are missing.
“Couch fucker,” I murmur.
I pick up my stuff and head for the locker room. I take a quick shower, making a mental note of the state of things and how there’s no shampoo in the stall for me to use. I dry off, change, and head toward the front desk.
“Hey, sorry to bother,” I say to the dead-eyed girl. “I had a notebook with me, but when I came back from a pool, it was gone.”
She looks at me, slack-jawed with no fucks to give, and points at the wall behind her.
Silver Mountain is not responsible for lost or stolen items on the premise.
Great.
“Well, fuck me, I guess,” I say with a smile for her.
She doesn’t react. Her soul has truly been sucked from her body.
I turn for the exit and am intercepted by a turd in a turtleneck. I rear back and he smiles a perfectly white smile.
“Hello, Sylvia,” Mark says.
“Hello.” I try to get around him, but he steps in my path.
“Thought you’d come for a dip in a proper hot spring?” he asks.
The crazy girl wants to come out to play. “Just finding your deficiencies is all.”
This makes him bristle. “Oh? And what have you found?”
“I’m sure you already know. You had someone take my notebook.”
He smirks. “You better keep a closer eye on your things.”
