I shuffle the papers on my desk, letting out a heavy sigh. As gratifying as it was to work my dream job every day, running my own practice is starting to get extremely draining. Always the last one out of the office and always the first one in. I reach up and run my fingers through my thick dark hair. I was in desperate need of a haircut and my stubble was starting to really bug me, I just had no spare time to even contemplate buying a new razor. I stuff my paper work into my brief case and grab my latest case file and readied myself to leave when a ringing exploded through the silent room. Practically leaping out of my skin at the sound I manage to drop everything in the process of trying to grab the office phone before it took it to voicemail. Just as it hit the last ring I manged to swoop the ear piece up.
"Hello Adrian Archfiend's office" I asked down the receiver. There was a long silence that followed. I could hear the called breathing down the phone. After a minute or two I was ready to put the phone down.
"I can't believe I'm doing this. But I need help, I need an appointment for tomorrow evening." A deep voice echoed through the plastic of the phone. Vibrations seem to course right through me as it took me a second before I could respond.
"Ab-absolutely. My last appointment is at 7:30pm tomorrow, will this be acceptable?" I struggle over my words as I scramble to open my diary and pencil down the client. I hear a sound of confirmation from the caller.
"Wonderful, Now I just need a few details. I will need a full name and date of birth and I will also need a home address, for billing purposes of course. My rates are fairly reasonable, but I am always more than willing to work out a payment plan if a client is going to struggle"
"Cost is no issue. My name is Satan, I don't have a date of birth and my home address is the hell. I will see you 7:30 tomorrow" The line disconnected and I was stood there dumbstruck. Part of me was telling me that this was just a prank, but I wrote down all the details anyway.
The following day seemed to drag by even slower than the day before. It was around 7:15 and I was hastily eating some lukewarm vegetable soup and a disheartening sandwich before my possibly non-existent client would show up. I was about half way done when the phone rang, it was an old colleague of mine from when I used to work as a resident at the hospital. We chatted back and forth for a minute or two and he told me that he was referring one of his patients to me so I should expect the documents within the next couple of days. I thanked him and tried to get him off the phone so that I might finish eating, but no such luck. He managed to talk right up until my client was supposed to show.
I glanced at the clock and saw it was 7:28, with any luck the client would hopefully be delayed by the endless stream of paperwork that Susannah gives each client. I hastily downed the now cold soup and pick at the remains of my pitiful sandwich, I make a mental note to stop using that café for lunch. The clock ticks and its seconds away from 7:30. I stand to put the rubbish in the trash, turning my back to the door for less than a second. The buzzer sounded from my intercom, Susannah giving me the heads up that the patient was coming in. Everything in the room seemed to freeze and the door opened, shivers ran up my spine as I felt a pair eyes boring into my back.
I whirled around, and my eyes widened in shock. The man before me was nearly 7 ft tall, probably well over if you included the horns protruding from his head. His face was, ironically, devilishly handsome, his skin was a deep vermillion and a pair of cloven hooves replaces feet. But those features were instantly forgotten when I looked up into surprisingly human eyes. Molten grey pools that swirled with unspoken emotions.
"Not that I'm not enjoying the look on your face, but I only have so long before I have to go back down" A smirk played across his lips as he chuckled slightly as I snapped back into reality, offering him the seat across from my desk, he unbuttoned the single button on his expertly tailored suit and gracefully sat. I smoothed my shirt and tie down and attempted to follow his actions but ended up almost missing my chair.
