Pushing her cart down the first-floor hall Sophia knocked in the first occupied room. She ignored the do not disturb sign hanging on the knob as she exclaimed, "housekeeping!"
"I am sorry for disturbing you sir, but I must clean and I have respected your door sign for three days already," she said sternly. Not getting a reply, Sophia used her master keycard to open the door. The first thing that assaulted her senses was the smell of decomposition."Shit," she cursed as she shut the door and headed quickly back to the front desk. Sophia lifted the phone receiver to begin dialing the police. As she dialed she shouted out for Otis. "We got a dead guy in 102!" Otis came out of his office with a frown."Bet it was a heart attack, the man was an old fat fucker," he muttered sourly and lifted his glasses to rub his eyes."I hate having the police snooping around here yet again. This is the third death here in a year," he added and Sophia patted his arm."Hello, I need to report the death of an occupant in one of the rooms at the hotel in Winterset," Sophia mumbled and added," yes, old Otis's place." Otis snatched the master key and headed toward the room."Better not go look in case it's a murder scene, you will contaminate it," Sophia shouted, covering the mouthpiece with her palm. This caused the old owner to pause. He nodded as he rubbed his chin staring at the door. Eventually, he turned on his heels and went back to the front counter."Calm down Otis, I am sure it was like you said and simply a bad heart," Sophia reassured him. He nodded with a tight lip and told her to go ahead and clean the room on the second floor so she wouldn't have to see the corpse or deal with police questions."Give me the phone and I will deal with them," he mumbled sourly. Sophia handed the phone receiver to Otis, glad that he'd be the one dealing with the police. She was having flashbacks of being surrounded by them lying in the hospital bed asking questions about the fire and injuries she sustained. She told them that she escaped crawling with her elbows from the fire her ex-boyfriend, who had once been a cop, started."Go on dear, so the sirens don't freak you out," Otis told her sympathetically. Sophia blinked her eyes and nodded as she shuffled down the hall for her cart. Pushing it to the front counter, she got her master keycard back from Otis and went to the service elevator. The ancient elevator was a simple metal cage that moved slowly between the two floors. The box lifted her slowly to the second floor with squeaking pulleys. Pushing her cleaning supply cart down the empty hall she paused when she watched the door for the room she was to clean open. Fear settled into a pit in her stomach when no one came out. Swallowing uncomfortably Sophia continued to the room with her cart rumbling in front of her. A scent of burnt embers filled her nose briefly and a shiver of apprehension started. Stopping in front of the open door she announced that she was housekeeping."I will only be a moment," she said in a nervous tone. Walking inside the apparently empty room she grabbed her clean supplies to start her job. Sophia was busy remaking the bed when the bathroom door opened and a huge wet naked man stood there eyeing her with a furrowed brow. Her eyes naturally went down his entire well-muscled form stopping momentarily on the girthy flesh hanging between his thick legs that he didn't bother to cover."Take a long look because you shall never see my dick again," the man grunted as he headed toward a duffel bag and continued to dress right in front of her."I certainly got an eye full," she laughed nervously at her joke. The man eyed her oddly so she pointed to her single eye."An eye full…one eye," Sophia mumbled softly then shook her head."Sorry sir, my sense of humor gets lost on many occasions. Do you need more towels?" Sophia asked the clothed man."What is your name, female and why is your face like that?" He asked bluntly. Taken back by his rudeness she frowned."The way my face looks is of no concern to you sir, do you need more towels," she repeated firmly. The man curled his lips in a sardonic grin."I get the feeling you are upset by my question and yes I need more towels. You may call me Faelon, miss," he said roughly. Sophia nodded and grabbed several towels from the cart and strode past him to the bathroom. In there she wiped down the sink and grabbed the wet towels off the tiled floor. When she exited Faelon was glancing out of the window."An old guy died in his room downstairs so don't worry about the cops unless you are a wanted criminal," Sophia said stoically, making Faelon curse. He was certain that was who the reapers were supposed to collect and he had missed it."Oh, Otis told me to inform you that we can offer room service if you require a meal. There is a menu next to the phone on the desk in the corner. For room service dial the star key and that will connect you to the front desk. Might be a bit before it's answered since Otis will be busy with the police," Sophia said softly."Are you and Otis the only two that are employed here?" He questioned sourly and Sophia shook her head."There are others but they work in shifts. I am the only housekeeper and get paid double for my time," Sophia mumbled, surprised she was being so forthcoming with this stranger. Faelon continued studying her openly and it was causing goosebumps on her skin. He boldly stepped in front of her, towering over her."Do you still have your injured eye or was it removed completely?" Sophia glanced up at his inquisitive blue eyes and shook her head."The eye is white and I'm saving up for a glass one," she answered, hearing him grunt. He walked to the chair before the desk and sat as she continued checking the garbage and marking other items off her mental to-do list. Faelon lifted the menu and held it glancing over at Sophia."Will you bring me my food order?" He asked curiously. Sophia bit her lip not wishing to pass the police group that was gathered below and exhaled deeply."I can after the authorities clear out below," she replied, causing Faelon to raise his brow in curiosity. What was this human hiding from? He nodded and told her that would be fine. He could go for several days without sustenance anyway."If you find the time, could you bring me a dish of meat," he said sternly and she nodded."Of course, sir," Sophia mumbled softly, collecting her cleaning items and preparing to leave the man to his own devices. Leaving the unusual man's room his voice broke the silence, "call me Faelon, no sir. I insist, Sophia." She turned to glance at him and nodded her head."Yes, sir… I…mmmean, Faelon," she stuttered and continued on her way. Faelon watched the human leave and grinned slightly. She was hiding something that made her unique from the others he met in this world but unfortunately, she was human and forbidden by his kind. Lucifer suddenly appeared before him shaking his head."You missed the reapers below. You could have left but now you must watch the woman you just met. Her life is in grave danger and the reapers will be coming for her next," he stated forcefully."You were here the entire time?" The dark angel inquired angrily."Of course, I must keep an eye on my left hand as it seems to have a mind of its own. The human female is off limits," Lucifer said sternly. Faelon felt an odd thump in his chest. Frowning he put his hand to his chest causing Lucifer to curse loudly."Is that black organ in your chest-beating, Faelon?" He snarled roughly. Faelon looked up at Lucifer and frowned."No, boss," he lied. Lucifer shook his head andvanished as he shouted, "No humans, dark one!"Sophia headed down the empty hall seeing the flashing lights coming through the end of the hall window and felt the tightness in her chest begin. "It is okay girl, focus on something else," she mumbled softly to herself and flicked the hairband she wore around her wrist. Leaning against the wall she concentrated on her breathing exercises and continued snapping the elastic band against her skin. Sophia closed her eyes hearing the room door of Faelon open. After a moment of silence, he shouted," are you okay?" Sophia glanced over at him scowling down at her and grinned."Right as rain, sir," she answered as she rummaged through her pockets searching for her pills. Being unsuccessful she ground her molars and pushed herself from the wall. She felt like a freak show performer due to the odd man still watching her. The ringing in her ears started and she feared she was going to faint. Stumbling back to the wall she slid down it with her back to sit. The last thing she expected to see was
Patricia gave them each their orders and handed Faelon a folded piece of paper."It is my number if you ever want to have better company," she said softly. Faelon cocked his brow and crumpled the paper and tossed it back at her. It bounced off her chest and to the floor."Your behavior is horrendous, don't expect a tip," he growled firmly, causing the waitress to open and close her mouth like a fish gulping air. Sophia stifled her grin and unwrapped her napkin-wrapped utensils. After the waitress left them in a huff Sophia glanced over at Faelon."You should have kept that number, Patricia is well known amongst the menfolk for giving great blowjobs," she said bluntly, causing Faelon to choke on the bite of food he had taken prior. After wiping his mouth he smirked at Sophia."I wouldn't want that female's mouth anywhere near my member. She is a very ugly person," he replied uncaringly. Sophia blinked her eye at him then turned to look at the stunning redhead. Did he truly find her ugly
Faelon opened his new room and invited the young reaper inside who needed to speak with him. Sophia was having heart palpitations and was currently in the employee restroom splashing water on her face. She had removed her eyepatch and was frowning at her appearance. she thought about what Faelon had told her during lunch."That man is crazy…there is nothing attractive about me," she mumbled sadly and wiped away the moisture collecting in her one eye. Sophia blinked and breathed in deeply, exhaling slowly. She had taken the last of her medication and would have to go to the local pharmacy for a refill. Putting on her eyepatch she went to find Otis so she could leave her work shift early to make it to the grocery store, where the pharmacy was located before it closed. Otis was carrying a lamp as Sophia approached him."I need to take off early, Otis, to get to the pharmacy," she said softly. Otis looked at her over the lampshade."Better hurry before Travis and his side chick get there
Sophia exhaled deeply, finishing the last scoop of the snow-covered sidewalk. Wishing for an early spring she walked carefully back inside her modest home. She gently touched her swollen eye and winced as she headed to the bathroom to see how bad it was. Barely able to see her reflection in the mirror, she frowned."Perhaps I should call in tomorrow," she debated but realized that she needed the funds for bills. Sophia grabbed a bag of frozen mixed vegetables from her freezer and placed it on her swollen eye. Sitting carefully into the wooden chair she sat at her small dinette and hoped the swelling would go down. She dug in her inside pocket for the large black feather and placed it inside the lead crystal vase she got from Phil for her last birthday. She looked at it and strangely felt connected to the ebony feather."Wonderful, I get a warm fuzzy feeling off a chicken feather," she muttered to herself, shifting the frozen bag of vegetables over her swollen eye. Back at the hotel,
"Isn't Faelon a female's name?" Atlas asked Faelon after they appeared inside Sophia's sparse living room. Faelon shook his head."No, it means little wolf, and it's a male name," he answered as he followed after Sophia. Sophia entered the small bathroom and Faelon stood in the narrow hallway waiting for her to exit. "I am going to search for the spirit so don't mind me…or help me…at all," Atlas grunted in frustration as he headed toward the kitchen and started looking in the cupboards and utility closet. Faelon glanced toward the small kitchen table and saw his wing feather inside a crystal vase. He grinned slightly and pulled a few more out of his wing and placed them alongside the single one. They appeared within it as black as pitch. Atlas was watching and shaking his head and plucked out the feathers Faelon had placed in the vase making them evaporate into nothingness."No disturbing the residence. That is the number one rule. That and pets and small children can see us even whe
Atlas eyed the dark angel and was curious about what had caused him to grow more sour than usual."Who pissed in your breakfast or lunch, my compadre?" He asked bluntly. Faelon hissed and rubbed his eyes before scowling at the reaper."Some male named Phil is bringing Sophia dinner tonight. He is good for her according to the old male who owns this establishment," he complained, causing Atlas to chuckle."Then why don't we just pop in and make sure nothing nefarious is going to happen during their dinner, big guy, Eh? That sounds rather stalkerish and right up your alley," Atlas teased. Faelon watched the reaper and smiled wide enough to expose his fangs. Atlas's eyes widened in shock."You are scary…don't smile at me like that," Atlas mumbled sourly. Faelon rolled his eyes."I don't even know how to gain a woman's interest nor do I know the first thing about wooing," he sighed. Atlas shrugged and told him neither did he. Faelon asked the time and Atlas glanced at his pocket watch."I
Faelon lay on the bed and crossed his arms behind his neck as he stared up at the popcorn ceiling. Atlas glanced down at him and sighed."What are you thinking about?" Atlas questioned."I am wondering why both Phil's and mine hearts started beating around Sophia. Seems uncanny and mundane if she is already marked by the demon. What purpose would it serve? I am curious if Sophia causes all Angel hearts to start thumping," Faelon voiced his thoughts. Atlas rubbed at his chin."Should I have Rai come and see if the human stirs his heart?" Faelon chuckled as he side-eyed the reaper."Rai is already mated. It wouldn't affect him as his heart beats only for Sebastian and perhaps your birth mother," Faelon growled roughly. Atlas grinned slightly and vanished. When the reaper reappeared he was accompanied by a young twenty-something aged male."This is Serpio and he's a fledgling angel," Atlas announced proudly. Faelon sat up and shook his head."How is he going to meet Sophia…you haven't th
Randall Mathis sat nude on his leather sofa surrounded by several scantily clad females that were willing to do anything he asked for. His associate Anthony handed him his cell phone, saying Vincent was on it."Hello half-breed, have you gotten my light?" He questioned sourly and frowned at the answer he received."Listen, I only got you out of prison because you promised me to get that soul. I must have it in order to make Lucifer squirm at my feet," he growled menacingly. Randall pressed the end call button and tossed it back to the demon standing over him."The police have been bought off and our trackers have confirmed that the woman is indeed Sophia Parks," the demon said firmly."Thanks for the updates, Anthony," Randall said sullenly and rubbed at his red eyes."Get all these females out of here," he ordered and stood his naked self up."If that worthless shit of mine cannot follow through with his pledge then I will simply kill her myself," he beamed happily as his clawed fing