Joe's POV :
Joe opened the door to the hotel and breathed in the wonderful scent of vanilla.
"Can I help you?" said a lofty voice. Joe turned and saw a young man with long black hair that was slicked back into a rather messy ponytail. His face bore the remainders of acne scars, and his eyes were dark and liquidy. He was seated behind a shiny desk, looking bored as he rapidly tapped his fingers on a keyboard. Joe made an effort to put a polite smile on his face before answering, "Yes, please. I'd like to book a room for tonight."
"Just tonight?" said the man in a nasal voice.
"Yeah, just for tonight."
"That'll be $200, then. Cash or credit?"
Joe stepped forward as the man finished his question. His blue eyes stared into the man's dark ones.
"You will not charge me anything. You will give me the keys without asking." He said. The receptionist's eyes went round and his jaw became slack.
"I will not charge you anything. I will give you the keys without you asking." He repeated after Joe.
Joe smiled. "Good. Now, you will forget that we ever had this conversation. Carry on with your job." Once he had the keys in his hand and he had checked that the man was still under the influence of his compulsion, he made his way to the elevator and up to his room.
His mobile phone rang, and he fumbled to pick it up.
"Hello?" He said.
"Joe? Where are you?" His sister's voice answered.
"At a hotel."
"You don't have any money on you,"
"You forget that I can compel." replied Joe, lowering his voice.
"You what?" Zoe gasped on the other end. "Joe, you shouldn't have! Look what happened to Jim!"
Joe knew his sister was right. The effects of using too much of his power was beginning to have it's toll on him- his knees were already starting to buckle and a pounding headache was forming.
"Look, I needed somewhere to stay, okay? It's only for one night, anyway." He said, trying to reassure her.
"Just be careful." His sister sighed.
"I always am, aren't I?" joked Joe.
Zoe snorted, and hung up.
YOU ARE READING
Shading the light
AcakPeople always thought that 17 year old Adelaide Nightshade had fallen in with the wrong crowd. She went to too many parties, got into too much trouble, and her smart mouth did more bad than good. One night, while out partying at one of the nightclu...
