Angel Of Death

Chapter 5

  Azrael stood in front of her mirror in the cheap hotel room she had rented out. 'It's for what has to be done after dinner.' she told herself as she brushed her blue hair. 'I should cut it' she thought as she struggled with a knot. 'A pixie would be nice.' A knock on the door made her jump. "Who is it?"

"Jay." She opened the door to find him in hoodie and a pair of blue jeans. "I wasn't sure how to dress." She allowed a small smile. She herself was dressed in short shorts and a tank top. "That's fine. Just Eegee's. I, however, actually need to change. Come in. I won't be long." She stepped aside, allowing him to enter before closing the door.

Picking up the pile of clothes she paused. "I might need to shower. Sorry, I lost track of the time."

He waved it off.

"It's fine. I'm probably a bit early. I'll just wait here." He went over and sat down on the bed as she stepped into the bathroom. A few seconds later, water was running. Jay took this time to look around the room. It consisted of a bed, a white dresser with an attached mirror, a closet, and a window looking out on the city. After a few minutes of staring at a wall he got up and walked around. The closet was open just a bit, but it was enough to allow a sickly sweet smell to waft through the room. Behind him, the water was turned off, though he barely heard it.

Quickly, as if something drove him to do it, he opened the door to a wet, red floor. He backed away as the bathroom door opened, looking over his shoulder as the girl stepped out. "Something wrong?" She asked, looking at the open closet with a deadly look in her eyes. "You weren't snooping, were you?" Jay shook his head, fumbling for an explanation. As he stood there, she walked around him and saw the mess.

'Hm, this isn't my doing' Stooping down, she dabbed the red with a finger and brought it to her nose. 'Paint. How in the world did it get here?' She looked back at Jay, who looked as if knew what she was. "Paint, Detective. Must have been left here and knocked over when I put my things in there. Luckily, I hung everything." He looked relieved, as if the doubt he struggles with was that much less than when he opened the closet.

"Does paint go bad? It smells so sweet." She shrugged and went to sit on the bed. As he watched her, he took in her outfit. It consisted of black leggings and a loose fitting, purple striped tank top. Blood rushed to his face as she picked up her brush and studies him in turn.

'He's cute I guess' she thought as she brushed her hair. His hoodie had ridden up, showing the hem of a white tee. Through the loose fabric, she could tell that he was pretty fit. He readjust his hoodie, sealing away his figure from her prying eyes. She twisted half of her hair into a bun, leaving the rest freely falling.

"Ready to go?" she asked, picking up a black jacket that was hanging on the back of her bathroom door. Jay nodded, ready to put the sickly sweet smell and his doubts behind him.

                                                                    ➻➻➻➻

The date had gone well. At least he thought so. It had made his night. His week, actually. He had been swamped in work ever since Azrael had publicly let herself be known. Even before that his fellow police members had pushed towers of paper work on him. He had never minded, knowing that he no longer had anything to go home to except and empty bed and silent rooms. Now, now he figured that perhaps he did mind. 

His thoughts that night as he walked to his hotel, were of the way she had smiled. He grinned as he remembered the way she had flushed that beautiful red when he told her that she'd look wonderful in whatever color she chose to dye her hair. Right before she had thrown a fry at him to cover it up.

It had been the best night he'd had in ages. He didn't want the date to end. He just wanted to keep remembering.

"what is it that you do?"  he'd asked.  It had taken her a while to respond. He watched as her hands fidgeted  with her food. Every part of his training told him she was willing to lie about it. When she answered, however, there was no uncertainty in those Lavender eyes. She had admitted that she wore contacts to change her eye color before they left her hotel.

"I travel."  was her answered. The intensity in those eyes dared him to ask more. He had backed off, changing the subject. He quickly learned what was off limits: her past, what she did, and where she was from- she had given him a vague answer to that, only saying she was from New York.

They talked a lot about Jay, however. She questioned him relentlessly about his childhood, why he had become a detective, even his pets- or rather his lack of. His answers got more detailed with every question. He watched as she was upset when he told her why he had never had a pet, Watched when she laughed as his jokes, making his heart flutter with happiness.

Something was off about her. He couldn't put his finger on it, couldn't find the missing piece of the puzzle, but he assumed that it was just the nerves. Heaven knows he was nervous too. The night had gone on for three blissful hours. Jay had payed for the food and Lillian- oh god, even her name matched her undiluted beauty- had paid for sundaes at an ice cream shop between Eegees and her hotel. It was only after making sure she was safely in her room that he allowed himself to bid her good night. 

He  watched as she pulled her hair from the small bun, watching the beautiful blue cascade down her shoulders. She gave him a hug and Jay answered with the only thing that seemed reasonable at the time, he gave her a little bow when she backed off a little, bringing her delicate hand to his lips for just a moment. Then, he straightened, turning around and left her standing there, that lovely blush spreading on her cheeks once more.

He collapsed him in hotel bed as soon as he entered the room with a contented sigh. The director's daughter had offered to let him stay with her until he had to leave again, but he had declined. The girl was mourning her father, he reasoned. That wasn't the only reason, though. Mingled into his thoughts of Lillian, was another woman. Her dark auburn curls that hugged the shape of her face. The eyes that had never been filled with sadness, not even when they had closed for the last time. 

He shook his head, trying to dislodge the memories. He refused to think about it. Refused to think about how he had held her hand when they made plans to move to Tucson. Instead, he focused on Lillian and fell into the first blissful night of sleep he's had in three years.