Busses are Nightmares

The bus was hot and extremely uncomfortable in the summer heat and I wondered why I had travelled during the day when the night would have been much cooler. I sighed out my nose heavily and then looked out the window. My reflection peered back at me, and my hazel eyes looked exhausted. The bags under my eyes were a clear tale of how long I had been travelling and for how long I had been awake.

I glanced at my phone to check the time; it was almost three in the afternoon. I would arrive at my next location soon. I had already visited several large cities in England, including the one closest to where we lived, and I still had found no one whose scent stuck out to me as being my promised soul mate.

I was wondering if I would ever find them. For all I knew, they could live all the way over in Australia and I’d never know it.

As the bus pulled up to its next stop, I glanced at the sign. Piccadilly Circus. I mulled over my options. I could get off now as the hotel I wanted wasn’t too far from this stop. I glanced at the number of other passengers that were in my way and then decided that if I didn't go to the doors now, I’d miss the stop. This time of the day was the worst for rush hour.

Grabbing my rucksack from the overhead storage unit, I battled my way through the crowds as the bus pulled to a stop. There were just as many people waiting to get on, and half of them were impatiently waiting right near the door. I groaned silently in my throat at the annoyance.

‘The bus won’t drive off before you get on, so let people off first, idiots,’ I complained in my mind, though I knew they couldn’t hear me. I really hated enormous crowds as I was never sure if any of these people might be a group of Hunters or other werewolves that might take issue with me just being near them.

After my battle for escapism from the stuffy transport, I took in a deep breath of air. Big mistake. I coughed out as the equally hot air of vehicle fumes met my nose. I cursed inwardly for the wolf-sensitive nose I possessed. Why any werewolves wanted to live in such awful places, I couldn’t guess.

I pulled out my phone again and looked on the GPS for directions. Finding where I needed to go, I walked in that direction. The sights and smells around me were almost overwhelming to me, but so far I had noticed no scent that stuck out to me in particular.

The streets were so overwhelmingly crowded and it made me feel rather uncomfortable, yet I knew that thousands of people, if not more, passed through London every day. I gathered that if anywhere, this would be one of the best chances I’d ever have to find the person I hoped to find. High rewards usually came with high risks, however, so I had to be vigilant with my surroundings.

Pausing in my steps as I neared my hotel, and looked up from the GPS on my phone. I noticed the entrance and sighed out of relief. What I really needed was a nice cool shower and something to eat after a long day of travelling in boiling and uncomfortably crowded busses.

Moving out of the way of the busy pathway, I pulled out my booking form for the hotel and stepped into the entrance with a curious look around. I knew it was going to be something rather fancy, but I wasn’t expecting it to be as lavish as it was! I let out a small but impressed sound and slowly stepped up to the counter to the lady waiting there.

She was friendly and perky, and although older than me, I found her rather attractive even so.

“Business trip or pleasure?” She asked me with a dimpled smile.

I gave a smile in return and replied, “pleasure. Thought I’d travel and do some sightseeing.”

“Oh! I wish I had the time for that,” she said with an airy laugh as she continued to process the information on her computer. “I hope you find London to your liking, then. It is even busier this time of the year than most, though it is always busy in London!”

I gave a small chuckle. “You can say that again, the busses are an absolute nightmare,” I agreed, and she nodded her understanding with another airy laughter.

“Well, you are on the third floor, sir,” the lady said to me while handing an envelope and my card key for the room to me. “The swimming pool here is heated and both it and the gym are open to all guests. We have free Wi-Fi here, you will find the password in the envelope. We have twenty-four-hour room service and a fully stocked mini-bar in your room. The restaurant is open from eight until eight. Just show the host or hostess the ticket - also in your envelope - and you’ll be able to claim your free meals. Have a wonderful day!”

I inclined my head in thanks to her. “You as well. Have a nice day,” I offered, bidding her farewell and heading to the elevator. There were a growing number of people in the hotel lobby. Some of them I could smell were not human, but none were who I was looking for. I didn’t know what I had expected, really, but I was a little disappointed all the same.

The ride up to my floor was uneventful. Several people shared it with me and that made me feel even more hot and bothered than before, but I did my best to keep to myself and not bother any of the other guests here.

It wasn’t long before I could escape the hotel’s elevator and I wandered down the hall to my room. It was a large room with beautiful decor and a rather lavish bathroom with a walk-in shower. I smiled to myself. Even if I didn’t find my bond partner here, this was still worth the trip.

I tossed the rucksack on the end of the bed and moved to the window. The view below was quite nice, and I realised just how vast London really was. I let out a low whistle and shook my head. First things first. I needed a nice, cold shower.