Sally woke to the sound of screaming. The screams only lasted for a few seconds but those few seconds were just enough to identify them. That scream was so familiar to her she could have picked it out of a lineup. She could have sworn that just on the other side of her wall was her lost love. If there was one thing she knew, it was Misty's voice, and that was it, no doubt about it.

But she has met the neighbors. A cold hipster couple that only cared about themselves and complained a little too much, to the point where any employee or long-term guest of the Hotel Cortez would have told to you point blank that they wanted them dead. Still, she couldn't help but notice that they weren't her Mist. And she was beginning to think that she would never see Misty again.

She has been on her own, without any help or magic, and there is nothing that tells her how to bring back someone who was claimed by the underworld. And after approximately 30 different books and hundreds upon hundreds of websites that claimed they knew what to do, she was starting to entertain the thought that it might be better to just leave her behind and move on. Misty wouldn't want her to just stop her life, would she? Even if the Cajun witch wanted her to stop looking for her, Sally knew she couldn't, no matter how tempting the thought may be. She had made a promise and she would never forgive herself if she broke it. But one day off couldn't hurt.

After pulling on her dress and carelessly throwing her coat over her shoulder, holding onto it with just one finger, she had exited her room and began her usual trek to the lobby.

Everyday felt the same. Repeating tasks over and over until everyone within the hotel knew her routine too. She was determined to break her pattern today. To do something so totally unpredictable that she surprises even herself. She never meant to become comfortable in the dark hotel, but she was drawn to it for some reason, the darkness, and she couldn't help but feel like she was meant to be there.

She had begun to shut herself in while staying at the Cortez. Her life was like a cracked open book, open enough to see inside, see her pain and sorrow and longing, but close enough to being closed that she could snap shut at a moment's notice, putting on a front that, to anyone, would make her look like a stone-cold killer, which some argue she is. And maybe they were right, about the killer part at least. She had taken the life of a few people in her lifetime, but with everyone, guilt consumed her, which was fine with her. Guilt is still an emotion. Feeling an emotion means you're still alive and she needs every reminder that she is still living and breathing that she can get.

The time was half past noon and she was craving a drink, something to help her relax and forget the pain that has been her lifelong companion. Sitting at the bar, a shot of vodka was automatically placed in front of her, followed by a wink from Liz. She always knew somehow just what she needed. She downed the shot as she watched the older woman lean closer to her, beckoning her closer, silently opening her mouth as if to tell Sally the world's largest secret.

"The strangest thing happened today. Iris and I are still just completely dumbfounded. A young girl stopped by today around nine this morning. She couldn't have been more than 17. Wearing all black, from head to toe, with a large black hat sitting on her head. Long flowing blonde hair like a halo. We could just feel the power radiating off her. Both of us know how supernatural this place is. We've seen and even befriended ghosts and vampires and every single one of them has the darkest aura you have ever seen. You can see the evil. Oh, but this girl. She was surrounded by a pure white light. It was blinding but so beautiful. She was pure good, pure innocence.

"She barely said anything. Gave us a name and where she was from. The usual. But then, she calmly reached into her bag, pulled out a package which was neatly wrapped with care with beige parchment paper. She placed it on the counter, said 'Make sure she gets this. It's life and death', then turned and left. Only here for like 10 minutes in total.

"She got to the door where two other girls joined her. Both with the same white light. We couldn't see who they were, they were far away, but these girls. We have never seen anything like them."

Sally's heart was beating at an alarming rate at the end of the story. In her past life, she knew of many girls who surrounded themselves with the white spirit light to protect them from evil, which this place definitely was. One particular girl came to mind. A certain girl who would surround herself in the white spirit light and had blonde hair like a hallo, just as Liz said. But that could not be, that girl was gone, possibly forever. She just started at the storyteller, eyes wide and panicked, but her face was completely calm. To hide her anxiety, she pulled a cigarette out of her pocket and expertly lit it, the nicotine calming her nerves already. She hated how quickly she became addicted to the smoke. But one good thing about possessing glowing radiant health was not getting any side effects from the intoxicating agent.

"That's it? That's the whole story?"

"What? Are three powerful beings not good enough for you? I should have known. You're not entertained unless it involves blood and death with maybe a few tears thrown in for good measure. You like the dark, unaffected by the light."

"Oh, Liz. You would be surprised by just how good I can be. You still got the package? You open it yet? Make sure it's not a bomb or anthrax?"

"Well, we tried to deliver it. I think the computer is messing up again. I ran the name through the guestbook and it says that the room that the girl is in is occupied, but no one has ever seen her. In fact, it says that her room is your room. It's weird. It's like she just…disappeared."

"Possible James got to her before you did?"

"We thought that too. It's always an option with him around, but he swears on his life, on his wife's life, on the hotel, that he has never seen her before."

"Care to tell me her name?"

"Her name is a little confusing. They put three last names down. Like they didn't know which was right. First name Cordelia. That's for sure. But last names are Foxx, Goode, and Day. One written under the other like a list."

Sally's breath caught in her throat. They had finally found her. The coven had traveled from New Orleans to L.A. just to deliver her a package. Her whole body was shaking, and her mind went from 0 to a 100 in a second flat, filled with questions. Most importantly, how did they know where she was?

"You know, that name sounds familiar. I think I ran into her once when she first got here. Shit, that must be like three or four months ago. Ran into her in the hallway, saw what room she went into. Wanna hand that over and I'll make sure she gets it?"

"And pray-tell dear Sally. Why the fuck should I trust you to give this to her? You're the only one that's ever heard of her let alone seen her. You could be making this all up. And there's the fact that you're a self-absorbed bitch who only thinks of herself. You, my dear, are only loyal to yourself."

"Trust me, it's purely for my benefit. When we met she mentioned something, something that I could use. Thinkin' about making a deal. The package in return for information."

"What information could this mystery girl possibly have to give you?"

Sally had to make a split decision. Make up a lie that could be believable or tell the unbelievable truth and hope that it doesn't ruin her chances of finishing her goal. She chose one and prayed to whoever would listen that it wasn't the wrong choice.

"We have both heard the rumors by now. A girl who haunts the hotel, drowning in her own tears, crying for her long-lost love. A girl in a velvet dress and a cameo choker. No ones ever really seen her. Glimpses here and there but wails and screams are heard aplenty, followed by the smell of smoke. It's time we drop the act, Liz. We both know it's me. They started while I was here, and they'll stop if I ever leave, but we both know that there are too many similarities.

"My girl is lost. Gone. Vanished into thin air. I need to find her. She dropped her name. Now, I wanna know how she knows her. The package in return for information on where my lady is. It's as simple as that."

"And what's gonna happen when she tells you she doesn't know?"

"Well, then we might just have one less guest here. I don't think anyone would have a problem with that. Certainly, James would approve. I know, and now you do too, that I won't stop collecting souls til I'm reunited with my soulmate."

In a flash of tan, the permanent guest looked down and saw the hand wrapped package, tied with a twine bow, and decorated with beautifully hand-drawn gladiolus, lavender, and white heather flowers. She knew what they meant. Remembrance, admiration, and protection. Her girls were trying to tell her something, that they still loved her and cared for her and admired her, even though she had practically abandoned them during their time of need. Just the sight of the package brought tears to her eyes, but now those tears are silently streaming down her face.

She completed her goal for the day. She surprised even herself. Her cold and bitchy persona went out the window the second she realized what was in front of her. A reminder of her past life, a life filled with love and hope, a reminder of those girls who trusted her to take care of them.

Grabbing the package and stuffing it under her arm to hold it on the walk back to the room, she stood and began to walk to the elevator when a thought from a burning desire blossomed. She just had one question.

"You said that girl earlier gave a name and all that shit right? Care to tell me?"

A small smile broke on Liz's lips as she spoke

"Said her name was Zoe. Zoe Benson. Came all the way from New Orleans. She's with that school, you know the one that recently came out with the fact they are really witches. Miss Robichaux's Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies I think was the name. She even gave the names of the girls with her. Madison and Queenie. Told me they were looking for someone, two someones actually. Two very important people to them. Those three girls were on a mission I tell you. And they won't stop till they finish."