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 the odd man standing before her watching. She opened her mouth to tell him to leave her alone but passed out instead. Her heart palpitations were intense. Faelon shook her and began patting her cheek. He noticed her pants had ridden up her calves due to the way she had slid down. His eyes narrowed at the burn scars that covered both her legs and frowned."You are a curious creature, Sophia," he mumbled before tapping Sophia's cheek once again. Her single eye opened quickly and she shrunk away from him. Seeing that her legs were exposed Sophia quickly tucked them underneath herself."I'm fine, sir," she apologized and Faelon cocked his brow and stood."You fainted and I was … never mind. You should find out what ails you female, passing out like that isn't the safest thing to do." Sophia frowned and stood, pulling down her pant legs over her scars and side-eyed Faelon's eyes watching."If you will excuse me I must continue with my job," she said sternly then mumbled softly, "thank you." Faelon watched her hurry toward her cleaning cart and disappear into the service elevator. With a furrowed brow and a mind full of questions, Faelon rushed down the stairs in search of Otis. He hoped that the older gentleman would be more forthcoming with information about the female that had made his heart begin to beat wildly within his chest cavity.Otis was finishing up with the coroner's when Faelon tapped on his shoulder. The old man looked relieved at the interruption and asked what he needed."I'm curious about how Sophia was burned," Faelon said bluntly. Otis's once cheerful appearance faltered and he looked down from Faelon and shook his head."It's really not my place to discuss Miss Parks' past, mister Ogrith," he mumbled candidly. Faelon gritted his teeth not understanding why he was so curious about the human woman but felt that it was imperative to know about her. Lucifer's words entered his mind and he hissed."Sophia is in danger and I am here to protect her. I need to know what all happened and why she would be in this danger," he said solemnly, surprising the old man."Well since you put it that way, hurry to my office and I will tell you all that I know…I knew there was something different about you," Otis smirked as he directed him to a back room. Once Otis locked his office door he told Faelon to have a seat. Faelon watched Otis open up a laptop and start pressing the keys. Once finished he turned the screen to face him."This is Sophia's ex, officer Vincent Mathis. He's the one who blinded her, stabbed her brutally, and tried burning her to hide the evidence. Vincent claims that it was a home invasion and that was who did the damage to Sophia. Sophia being in the hospital couldn't testify in court so he got a light sentence. His father is Randall Mathis, the governor of the state. Vincent got released thanks to his father who pardoned him. A bunch of bullshit," Otis said bitterly. Narrowed blue eyes studied the photo of the blonde-haired male. Vincent's father's name triggers a memory for Faelon but he dismisses the thought and closes the laptop when a knock sounded at the door along with Sophia's voice asking to come inside. Faelon crossed his arms and watched the older man unlock and open the door. Sophia glanced at both men and hurried to her coat hanging in the corner. Faelon watched as she dug through the pockets to retrieve a small bottle of medication."This is all I need. Is there something wrong, Otis?" Sophia asked as her eye went back to Faelon. Otis smiled as he shook his head in reassurance."Nothing is wrong dear, our guest just wanted to ask about our amenities," the old man lied with ease. Sophia nodded, not entirely believing that."I'm going on my lunch break and heading to the diner, did you want me to bring you anything?" She questioned Faelon. With a slight grin, Faelon stood."I will join you if that is okay?" He inquired curiously. Sophia swallowed uncomfortably and nodded."Please ignore any comments that you may hear," she said softly and Faelon eyed her oddly."Okay, please lead the way," he replied as Otis watched the pair leave his office with a grin on his old face. Sophia kept her head down as she walked slowly down the hall and toward the door that separated the hotel from the attached diner. When she entered the staff eyed her with frowns.Faelon could hear the hushed mumbles of patrons calling Sophia a monster and a deformed freak. One even said that their appetite was lost. Growing angry at their rudeness he grabbed Sophia's hand and stood at her side giving threatening glances at the people who had been saying the rude things. Sophia glanced up at him and frowned."There is no need to act like we are close, sir. I am used to what is said about me," Sophia mumbled softly and pulled her hand out of his. Faelon's brow furrowed at her."I only meant to offer you reassurance," he said firmly and Sophia grinned slightly as the waitress approached them both."Table for one Sophia?" She asked."Two," Faelon interjected and the waitress with the name tag of Patricia eyed him oddly."Are you certain? Normally she eats alone in a booth." Patricia continued and Faelon nodded. Following the waitress, they were led to a booth that was secluded from the patrons in the front by a stained wooden lattice panel."The usual for me and whatever he wants," Sophia mumbled softly."It is on me, " he said firmly and made his order of meatloaf and a side of mashed potatoes with gravy. Sophia sat and fiddled with her fingers as Faelon stared rudely at her. His eyes looked at her eye patch then down the jagged white puckered scars that ran down underneath the black eyepatch onto her cheek and jawline. When he looked over to the other side her brown eye was narrowed and glaring at him."If you came with me just to gawk you can take your meal and sit elsewhere," she said sternly. Faelon shook his head and told her that he intended to stay. He watched her open her medicine bottle and take a pill after the waitress placed water glasses on the table."I have severe anxiety from an incident that occurred in the past," she said sadly."Nothing to be ashamed about, shit happens and you move on," Faelon replied, causing Sophia to sigh."Sometimes it is difficult to move on when the situation continues to present itself," she said regretfully, causing Faelon to raise his brow. He wondered if she would tell him."Surely you can deal with any problems that may arise," he said, fishing for more from her. Sophia nodded and took a sip of water. Frustrated, Faelon chose a different line of questions."So do you live close by?" He asked nonchalantly. Sophia glanced at him and nodded."Have you lived here your whole life?" Faelon inquired curiously, already knowing the answer he hoped for Sophia to open up."Why are you so interested in me? I am a disfigured woman with lots of baggage, Faelon. You are an attractive guy and could have any woman in this small town. Why me? Or am I reading this entirely wrong?" She said bluntly, catching Faelon completely off guard."I'm sorry, that was entirely wrong of me. You are just being friendly…I'm very closed off and haven't spoken to many people other than Otis and Phil," she added, covering her reddened cheeks. Faelon smiled, changing his appearance in an instant. When Sophia looked up her single eye widened as she gawked at him."Wow, you should smile more, it makes you handsome and approachable," she mumbled and Faelon chuckled, pleased with her saying she thought him attractive.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
Faelon woke to the smell of food cooking and felt saliva collecting in his mouth. He sat up and saw Sophia in the kitchen in front of the stove with a spatula in her hand. He yawned and stretched out his back which was sore from sleeping on the uncomfortable furniture. Tossing the blanket to the side he went to the small bathroom with Sophia watching him with a raised brow. After relieving himself he washed his hands and went back out into the kitchen."Did you lower the seat?" She questioned with a condescending look. Faelon's mouth went into a straight line as he turned, headed back to the bathroom, and set the toilet seat down. When he returned a large plate of food was sitting on the small table."Sit and eat, Faelon. I have some questions for you," Sophia said stoically. Faelon watched her get a glass of water and a plate of toast before she sat across from him."How did you know where my bathroom was?" She asked curiously. Faelon looked up with a piece of bacon hanging out of hi