Whispers in the walls

Hyperion Hotel, Los Angeles California 1953

"May I get your bags ma'am" the bellhop asks, his nasally voice grating on my sensitive ears. I wince, and step forward into the hotel, ignoring the young man's offered hand. I walk down the steps slowly and look around curiously.

It looks nothing like the brochure

I walk towards the reception desk, place my bag on the floor and raise my head in defiance at the manager on the other side. He gives me a quick once over, noticing my unaccompanied state and smiles slyly "Welcome to the Hyperion Hotel" he tells me joyfully "How may I help you?"

I lean forward and rest my elbows on the counter giving the manager a view of my cleavage "Well, sir" I say sweetly "I would love to have a room, preferably one with a view and a window facing the South" I inquire politely.

He opens a book on the desk. "Ummm… yes" he looks up at me and smiles "Room 217 is free, it has a lovely view of the courtyard."

"I'll take it" I whisper

A few minutes later the bellhop is carrying my luggage to the elevator. I am a bit annoyed, I'm strong enough to carry them myself, but I relent. I needed to blend in. I wait impatiently as the elevator slowly rises. The number two button flashes gold and I smile as the doors open slowly with a soft 'ping'

The hallway is long, subtly lit, but pleasant. A faint smell of blood fills my nose as I walk past room 213 and I smile in amusement, my eyebrows raised curiously. The bellhop pauses in front of room 217 and fishes for the keys in his pocket.

He glances at me and I feel his gaze rest on my chest. I glance at him and meet his eyes, he blushes furiously, jerks his head around and opens the door with a slight shove "Here we go ma'am" he tells me lightly "Room 217, nobody has lived here in a while, but I'm sure you will find it quiet clean and livable" He turns and smiles at me.

I stand in the doorway, frozen in the spot. As soon as the door had opened his smell had hit my nose. It was faint, old but still unmistakably him. I swallow "How long has the room been vacant" I whisper, my voice a croak.

The bellhop frowns and looks at me in puzzlement "Almost a year miss, the last tenant left quiet quickly." He glances back and peers into the room "Not that I minded really" he mutters quietly

"What?" I ask

He turns back at me, a guilty expression crossing his features when he realizes I had heard him "Oh… nothing really, just the man gave me the creeps that's all" he mutters, rubbing his arms suddenly.

He picks up my bags and takes them into the room, I follow, slightly nervous as Angel's scent surrounds me. I look around in apprehension. The bellhop puts my bags downs and turns to drop the keys into my hand "Well, the telephone on the stand has a direct line to the reception, room service is available and a maid is in every day to change the sheets and towels. You paid for a week, you can pay the bill at any time or when you check out" I nod quietly, having no intention of paying anything.

"Thankyou" I tell him smiling, he clears his throat softly looks at me pointedly but when I just stare at him, my eyebrow raised slightly, he sighs defeated and walks to the door

"Enjoy your stay ma'am" he tells he quietly before shutting the door behind him softly.

I take a deep breath and move around the room, I smile as I imagine Angel sitting in the chair drawing or reading. The bed is made but I imagine the sheets rumpled, as he lies tangled in the sheets, his strong body peaceful in sleep. I move to the window and pull the curtain away. The courtyard below is bathed in moonlight, the water in the fountain reflects the starlight and it twinkles up at me. I smile.

Suddenly a quiet whispering fills my ears, I frown and turn searching for the sound. Finally I realize it's coming from the walls, I glance around, confused and move to the wall. I press my ear to the fading, horrific wallpaper and listen. Whispers of pain and heartache, deception and greed come from the demon in the walls. Tales of human faults and human failures reach my ears.

I smile softly, a demon had made this place it's home. The whispers were still coming, including an image of a tall, dark haired man with a bottle of blood and an axe

"Angel" I whisper pressing my forehead against the wall and closing my eyes.

"He tried to stop me" the voice inside the walls whispered, laughing "He didn't have a chance, the human's turned on him the moment he tried" there was a slight pause "They hanged him from the roof, he was angry and told me to take them all. I did, with pleasure! They were such tasty little things."

I growl softly "They hanged him?" I couldn't believe it, I wanted to make them pay!

The demon chuckles softly "Yes, and she didn't do a thing to stop it!"

I zero in on that word "She?" I snap, my eyes flashing with anger. Since when was there ever a she!

The demon sighed, a soft rustle and I felt it move through the walls, moving away from me "Vampires!" I head it murmur in disgust, it's voice growing fainter "Always so emotional!"

A/N: So I was watching 'Are You Now or Have You Ever Been" the other day, and it got me thinking how interesting it would be if Darla happened to be in the same hotel. I set this story a year after Angel was in the Hyperion, mainly because I thought it would be interesting for Darla to feel all nostalgic when she stay's in the same room Angel does.

Hope you all liked it, I had fun writing this one.