Alpha Markus

Chapter 6 - Celeste

Celeste P.O.V.

I sighed as I settled down in my futon. The dinner was a success. Everyone seemed to enjoy the food. Some even asked for seconds. I massaged my feet. The best part was all of the girls managed to get at least some taste of the food. Whatever little left overs from the appetizers, we ate. We split the last couple of entrees between all of us and even managed to get a taste of the lava cake. I was thankful for the help cleaning up the kitchen though confused by the sudden whiff of an exquisite smell combination of pistachios, figs and something I couldn’t quite place. Almost like the smell of earth before a storm.

I lay down on the futon and let sleep take me. I needed all the rest I could use. Tomorrow I had to cook breakfast for all the warriors and the guests, lunch and then dinner and ending with the canapes for the party. It would be a grueling day.

I woke up at 3:30am, I went and knocked on Maya’s room. She shared the small little room with 3 other girls. It was nicer for sure than where I slept, but I at least had privacy. She and another girl slept in the same bed.

We started with the warrior’s breakfast since that would just be the normal buffet style breakfast that everyone was used to. We pumped out the croissants, sausages, bacon, eggs and biscuits. We’d pre-cut fruit the day before and had stored it for use this morning. After the warrior’s breakfast, we began making the guests’ breakfast. We’d left a card requesting a choice of breakfast from a set of options when we stocked their rooms with drinks and snacks. Maya went and rounded them up for us while I started several pans with sauces. Breakfast choices was between eggs benedict, French toast, crepes, and a higher end warrior’s type of breakfast: toast, eggs of choice, sausage, bacon, and hashbrowns. The tables were loaded with plates of toast, spreads, and fruit

After breakfast, we started baking fresh bread. The other girls delivered the plates just as before. One of the Betas came around and was silently speaking to a few of the girls as they were running back and forth from the kitchen. I would see him from the corner of my eye while cooking. The girls would go pale and just shake their heads profusely. He started to approach me but Luna Luisa came in and everyone scattered like roaches.

“Beta Gillian, how did you find your accommodations last night?” She asked in a sickly sweet voice.

“Luna, everything has been impeccable. You sure know how to host a gathering,” He said smoothly.

“Thank you, it’s a lot of work organizing it all but so rewarding. Is there something you needed? Was breakfast not to your liking? I can have the help whip up something different if you weren’t satisfied with your plate?” She said, sending a glare my way as if I’d done something wrong.

“No No No. In fact, I actually came to see if I could talk your cook into making me another eggs benedict. That sauce is the best I’ve ever tasted,” he said, looking my way.

“Of course, Beta. Right away, sir” I said, not believing a word he said. I would have to ask one of the girls what he’d asked, but now was not the time. There was just too much work to be done.

“Thank you,” he smiled at me and held his arm out for the Luna and walked with her towards the dining room.

Lunch was simple a choice of Chicken Alfredo on angel hair pasta, Philly Cheese steak on fresh home made bread and, to add something different, fish tacos. This was the only meal that would be buffet style for the guests. We made about 13 plates of each dish and set them up along the dining room table. I noticed that all of the guests seemed to appear at once as if coming out of a meeting, though I’d like to think that they were just looking forward to what I had to offer. I quickly cleaned the kitchen and began preparing for dinner.

On the menu for dinner were a few appetizers for the first course, caprese salad for the second course, Beef Wellington with madeira wine sauce, roasted Cajun potatoes, sautéed carrots and parsnips for the main course and ended the dessert course with a sampling of desserts. Cheesecake, apple rose puffs, Mexican custard, chocolate mouse with raspberries and a last-minute addition of mini pistachio and fig tarts. I couldn’t get the smell out of my head.

I snuck a quick look as they were eating dessert. I smiled at the appreciative looks on everyone’s faces. I caught a whiff of the same smell from yesterday and realized it must be someone’s cologne. I closed the cracked door and went to start preparing the canapes for after the full moon run. The moon would start coming up in about 3 hours. It was the moment of truth for Sandra.