Chapter 4 A Dead Old Guy

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 and

vanished as he shouted, "No humans, dark one!"