Chapter 5 Panic Attack

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.