Space-Time of Death: an Al Squires of the Protectorate Novel

Ch. 9.3: The House of Bliss; or, 3-Way with the Enemy

The second-floor hallway was made up the same way as the foyer and some of the other rooms on the first floor: wallpaper with a similar paisley design but in a more reddish color, similar crown molding and woodwork, a long red hallway carpet separating the walls like an obese dividing line, a few paintings and antiques lining the spare walls, and a lot of bedrooms; each one with its own heavy oak door with crystal doorknob. Of course, I assumed all the doors were like this. Unfortunately for Norah, many of those doing the 'Love' part of the Love-In had indeed left their doors open for all to watch and join in.

For example, I caught sight of one room whose large bed was filled almost to capacity with many nude bodies writhing in pleasure. In another room, another group were getting into the 'Haunted Brothel' spiel by sitting around a Ouija board while in the nude.

Norah just kept her eyes dead ahead as we 'escorted' Sister Time, taking deep breaths like before, but more subtly. Of course, hearing the assorted moans of ecstasy coming from each room didn't seem to help her. Nor did seeing the occasional naked or half-naked partygoer moving from one room to another.

We saw Mik and Tom near the end of the hall, standing in front of one room and turning away anyone who'd want to use it. Mik waved at us as soon as ze saw us. As we moved closer to Mik and Tom, I stopped as I caught sight of another bedroom with an open door. Within the room showed something a little different than the others: a man all alone, tied spread eagle to the foot bedposts, wearing nothing but a blindfold and a pair of athletic socks, and had 'Do not disturb!' written in what looked like lipstick on his chest. His head hanging limp to the side told me he was unconscious. The strong scent of booze coming from that room told me that he was just dead drunk. I thought I heard Sister Time chuckle, like seeing this man interested her in some way. I looked over to her, but she turned her face before I could look at her micro expressions.

There was something about this guy that didn't feel right, but I couldn't quite figure it out. I took a step closer towards the room where the guy was, to check if the guy was alright. That was until Norah, still facing forward and not looking at the room, said impatiently, "Come on, Al. Let's go. They're right over there." She pulled Sister Time and me into walking again. "I just hope that these rooms are soundproof," I heard her mutter to herself. Instead of protesting, I quickly saved the memory of the man before being dragged away from the door. For all I knew it might've been important, maybe not for the case, but maybe still important. And I was so going to add this to her evaluation report, just in case it was important, and we missed it because of her impatience.

As we got closer, I noticed that Tom's Acapulco shirt was disheveled, and hair mussed up. Mik didn't look worse for wear, mostly because hir being a shapeshifter. However, upon seeing the state of Tom's appearance and knowing Mik's proclivities, I gathered that they partook in at least one quick romp before finding a vacant room.

"I take it that this is the one that's been causing so much trouble," Tom said with contempt, nodding to our captive as we met up with him and Mik.

"Yep, this is our girl," I said to him as we stopped. "I'd introduce you, but she hasn't given us her real name." I paused for effect and made eye contact with her. "Not yet, at least," I added, with the right amount of intimidation. She didn't seem to be bothered by this, however. All she did was just stare intensely back at me.

Quickly breaking eye-contact before she made me flinch, I then nodded to Tom's shirt. "I see you guys had some fun," I said to them, changing the subject, "And you gave Sadie the slip?"

"It wasn't easy, I'll tell you this much," Tom said as he wiped his brow.

"That's not to say that she wasn't any fun," Mik said with a cheeky smirk. "She may be a psycho, but that girl can swing! And I don't mean on the monkey bars, honey!"