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While Landis rushed to clean up the coffee mug mess, Ellie was already cleaning up the spilt, brown, hot liquid on the floor with one of her other blankets. After drying the floor and double checking for any overlooked fragments, she opened her window and draped the blanket to catch the breeze outside. She then walked over to her bedroom closet and grabbed a house coat, pulling it on tightly and tying it around her waist to avoid any slip ups that might be cause of more embarrassment to her.

As if on cue, Landis rushed into her bedroom and then tossed the blankets on her bed. She had to chuckle. In his haste he had grabbed every last one of the blankets from the closet. She had only wanted two or three, but it just went to show her how much Landis was fidgeting about the situation.

Shaking her head at Landis' question about coffee, Ellie moved to start taking off the extra blankets and placed them on the floor next to the door. Without requesting any more help she unfolded the remaining three blankets from their pile on the bed and spread them out onto the mattress, making sure to smooth out all the creases. When she was done with the blankets, she turned to thank Landis properly and tell him;

"No thank you," concerning the coffee. She then slid under the covers and coughed a couple times, waiting for her shaking limbs to stabilize before reaching over to her side table for the cold flap jacks. She didn't mind it though. Instead, she left them on her lap as she prepared to request a few things from Landis.

"While you are being helpful, would you run over to Frank's and pick up some salt..." she paused and shook her head. "Screw it..." she muttered. She then dove into her side table's top drawer and pulled out a leather bound book. It looked worn and well used. She then flipped through the pages and ripped out a particular sheet. She then grabbed the pen in the drawer and began writing on the piece of paper. "I was going to go to Frank's for groceries and the bit, but as we can both see, I doubt I'd make it a few feet outside before catching a chill and worsening my fever." After completing the list, she passed it to Landis. "I need to you to pick up a few items, mainly: Oranges, two lemons, a pound of sugar and salt, cough medicine, flour, baking soda, milk, lettuce, canned corn and some canned vegetables. And before you go, please return the extra blankets to the closet, properly. I don't want to find them shoved in there willy-nilly." Once she was finished with her little request she turned to Landis, pitched him a smile and then nodded. "Thank you. Please close the door and knock when you return."

After Landis left, Ellie tackled the remaining food and once she had her fill, she slipped back under the covers, having placed the tray off to the side, and found herself dosing off, the warm sunlight playing across her bed and room with the sounds of birds humming her to sleep.

Sleep had come swiftly for the exhausted black haired female. She had snuggled under the blankets, gripping them tightly as Landis left, her mind slowly falling into a calm. It had only taken Landis a few minutes to run to the store and then come back but by that time she was fast asleep.

He had entered her room with a knock in which she found herself rudely awoken. Ellie groaned impatiently as she pushed back the covers to eye Landis. Her eyes slanted as she let out a small yawn, rubbing her eyes of sleep. Her eyes traced over Landis, not exactly remembering who he was for the briefest of seconds. A thought came to mind that made her groan. "I forgot to give you the money, didn't I?" she muttered as she threw off the blankets, pressing her hand to her forehead.

Everything was fuzzy to her and either extremely hot or cold. She felt like she might topple over from tiredness. Instead she rose to her feet and began to walk over to her one dresser drawer. It wouldn't budge. Angrily, she attempted to pull it out yet it still would not move. "Frickin' drawer!" she snapped at the inanimate object as she kicked it with her bare foot. It hurt, quiet a bit. She grumbled and groaned under her breath as she fumbled around the wooden drawers. She pulled out a switch blade from her bra drawer and then began to poke around the stuck drawer with it. Sooner or later the drawer made a popping sound and it released. Satisfied, Ellie dropped the knife back into the bra drawer and opened the jammed drawer. Her hands pushed away some of the clothing and then fumbled with a hidden compartment. Under it was a wad of bills and a good pouch of coins.

Ellie calculated the worth of the supplies in her mind as she checked over her money. She then slipped a number of large paper bills from the stack and about thirty coins from the pouch before placing the money back into the compartment. Ellie covered it over yet again and then slapped the drawer shut before turning to Landis. She walked over to him slowly and placed the money in his hand. "That'll be enough for the groceries," she said as she pulled away from him. She then took out a small fold of paper from her bra and tucked it into Landis' pocket. "Go and buy yourself a treat, eh?" she chuckled as she patted his head.

"But before you go, I have a list of chores that need to be done when you get back." Ellie turned away from him and stumbled over to the bedside table. Again she pulled out the worn book and started jotting down several items that needed to be complete.

"I expect all of this to be done before sun down," she ordered as she tucked the piece of paper in his pocket. "You'll need to start on the laundry when you get back and then you need to dust and clean the house. After your done that I want you to sweep the porch, take the garbage around the back and feed and water the horses. I would also like dinner at about seven. You should have plenty of time to get that all done." She smiled at him sweetly before walking out of her bedroom. "I would suggest getting straight to work when you get back. If I wake up and catch you slacking off I'll have the poker on your a**!" she then waltzed over to the kitchen.

To her dismay she found that everything was backwards. She couldn't figure out where he had hidden the sugar and medicine. Ellie groaned loudly as she began to pull the food out of the cup boards before rearranging everything. Finally satisfied with the order, she grabbed a spoon and helped herself to the medicine. She then swallowed a teaspoon of sugar to liven the taste before disappearing back to her room.

Just to get her point across, she lifted the sign off of the bedside table and hung it on the handle of the door.

It read loud and clear:

DO NOT DISTURB

KNOCK FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY

Eventually she had settled back down into her bed. She had closed the windows tightly, drew the drapes to cancel out the light and turned off the bed side lamp. She dove into the covers and pulled them over her head as she let out a long, exasperated sigh. Finally she would be able to get some rest unless Landis had something important to tell her.

Quiet foot steps made their way through the hallways. It took barely any time for her to arrive at the kitchen. Ellie took in her surroundings. Landis was preparing the table and Frank was sitting at said table. She huffed shaking her head. She never remembered inviting Frank into her house. She showed her dislike and then moved over to take the hot plate off of the table. She examined the contents, smiled politely and turned to leave. "Thanks" she mumbled under her breath before taking off from the dining room to her bed room. She promptly closed the door behind her and locked it before placing the food on the dresser table. She had always preferred to eat alone.

- - -

Ellie was at the bar as usual tending to the patrons and the beer drinkers. It seemed to be an electric night; there were many games of poker, Texas Hold 'em and so forth going around. It was days like these when she brought in the rounds of beer in a group order rather then have them come to the front. She had a respect for the games and did not mind much to going out of her way in cases like these. After all, the gambling rule was in effect in within the bar. One fifth of the prize pot went to the Pony, after all, they were paying for the service of beer here.

One game in particular was being played near the front of the shop. It had been going on for hours, right from when the men walked into the bar until about nine at night. It was two hours until closing however, on Saturdays such as these, the games were allowed to be moved to the more private location after store hours. It would cost the gamers extra but it was well worth it. After all, who wanted to stop playing in the middle of a hand?

A single hand went into the air signalling another round of drinks for the table. Ellie had told Landis strictly to stay behind the bar and keep his trap shut so much as it would help him. Of course he was allowed to talk to a few of the patrons but she didn't want any fights breaking out.

Ellie had started working on the round over seven beers. She filled the mugs to the brim before placing them on the small, wooden tray that she would carefully bring over to them. Each mug was foaming over and splashing onto the tray but she seemed to care less, it wasn't disrupting her work.

Ellie walked steadily towards the table and then began to service the drinks to the group of men. A few of the drunkards stared at her with sloshy looks and pinked cheeks. She ignored them out right. The men already knew not to mess with the raven haired woman.

It just so happened that tonight would be a very eventful night. One of the men had stood up abruptly as soon as Ellie placed the drinks on the table. "You lying, lilly-livered coward!" he snapped at the man sitting across from him as he began to draw his gun.

The other man stood to his feet and drew his own weapon. "Ya got ta problem with me winnin'?" he asked as he held the gun across the table.

"Maybe I do an' maybe I don'," the first man responded as he drew his own weapon.

A single shot was fired.

Everyone in the saloon ducked or covered their heads before rushing to grab their own weapons. Everyone froze staring at the group of men at the particular poker table.

Ellie held the sizzling gun above her head, aimed at the ceiling. "Shut the hell up and drop your guns!" she ordered to the men. "You got ta problem with that?" she asked icily as she glared at the men at the table.

The two men paused and then slowly sheathed their own weapons staring at the raven haired girl. The grumbled foul words under their breaths as Ellie's eyes passed past them. "You want ta settle this even?"

"The guy's a ******** crook ain't no honest bone in that coward!" the one man rallied as he shouted curses at the other male, his spit flying from his mouth.

"I ain't no cheat and I ain't no crook!" he man retorted with a snarl.

"Cut your yapping!" Ellie yelled as she pulled the gun down, levelling it with the two men. "You want to settle this fair? Then follow me or get your little asses out of my bar. You're lucky I ain't kicken' you out for your misbehaving!"

The two men pulled back. The first cracked his knuckles. "Whatcha have in mind little missy?"

"Russian Roulette. Winner takes all."

Slick, black hair whirled around Ellie's face as she stared at Landis cold and hard. Her shoulders tensed as she glared at him, her hand inching towards the holster for her weapon. Her finger tips brushed the cool metal as she turned full way around to stare the man down, dead in the eyes. "Landis, you have no comprehension for what this game is, do you?" she snapped at him under a hushed breath. Before she could explain to him the full details of the game she was interrupted by the rude, obnoxious laughter from the round at the table.

"Damn Indy dun know what Russian Roulette is? Bloody hell the man must be a ******** idiot!" one of the drunkards hollered and whooped causing a whole spiel of laughter, chuckles and rude comments and insults completely drowning out Landis' pathetic insults.

"Boy, you best be jokin' cause if you ain't than mama raised a bloody damn fool!" another chimed in as he stroked his scruff of a beard.

The raven haired woman hunched her shoulders forward, her hair shadowing her cold, emotionless eyes. "Landis, get your a** being the ******** bar now," she snarled calmly under her breath. She didn't even bother to look at him but her words were as sharp as daggers. Her shoulders shuddered angrily in silence as her hands clenched. He had just gone and made a fool out of her. The whole bar was in an uproar for his idiocy. "You get your back behind the ******** bar and keep your trap shut tighter than steel and I will speak to you later about this."

Slowly but surly Ellie regained a more fixed and straight posture. While completely ignoring Landis standing there, she turned to face the men, pulling the top of her hat down over her eyes.

"Ya rally hired a moron didn'tcha Ellie babe? No wonder, the guy's a ******** Indy. He don't know s**t!" the dunkard gurgled. He side stepped around Ellie to approach Landis, his breath reeking of alcohol. His lips curved into a hideous, rotting tooth smile. His breath was damp with the smell of tobacco and hard liquor. "Ye little idiot best know that Russian Roulette ain't no p***y game. It's a game for men, not some silly child's game of rounds." He placed a heavy hand on Landis' shoulder and pulled his lips near Landis' ear.

Ellie made no move to stop the drunk, instead she glared at Landis from the corner of her eye as if to say, 'Don't ******** up, don't do anything stupid'.

"Russian Roulette is a man's game. Four bullets, one revolver. One person leaves with the pot. Get my drift?" he spoke slowly, and smoothly.

Suddenly Ellie was right behind the drunk. She gripped his shoulder with a tight hand and yanked him away from Landis. "Alright, that's enough Ernest. Stop trying to scare the man," she replied emotionless.

"'ey, 'ey darlin', I was just informin' the ol'boy about the contest. 'sides, don't you have the place set up or what?"

Ellie released her hand and turned away. She looked away from Landis and then at the table. Already most of the poker players had disappeared from the table leaving only about five people, not including Landis, ready for the game.

"Clean up the table and then get back to work Landis," she ordered before passing him towards the upstairs.

The men followed her in a makeshift line. "And whatever you do," Ellie had said, pausing in mid-step, "for the life of you, DO NOT COME UPSTAIRS until I get back." With those threatening words she had disappeared upstairs to the 'game' room.

The game's room was closed and locked as the men filed into the stools provided around the sturdy, wooden table. Ellie was manning the security of the room as she clamped down the last of the bolts tot he door. Darkness enveloped the quiet room for a split of a second before Ellie tugged down hard on the string rope connecting to the electrical light. The glowing, hanging orb illuminated with a flickering shyness until the whole room was bathed in its eerie mechanical glow. The raven haired beauty swept across the floor and over to the windows where, upon arriving in front of them, promptly drew the curtains back, one at a time, to gauge and inspect that they were all sealed tightly. Satisfied, she drew the curtains to a close, more tightly than before and waltz slowly over to her seat. Her boots clicked and shuddered against the hard, unforgiving floor as she monitored the gathered participants. Her brisk stride ended abruptly as she arrived at the table, slamming her heels of her hands into the wooden centre piece. "If any of ye want outta here I suggest you pick up your brichers and pride and scuttle to the door. I won't be calling you a coward but when the game starts, it starts."

Hardened, sour glazed eyes shifted from enemy to enemy in the cubical, dark room, each figure staring down the first coward to leave the room. Silence prevailed throughout the room for the first few seconds. No one moved an inch.

Letting out a brief, exaggerated sigh, Ellie removed her revolver from her personalized sling and placed it on the table. "All right, all of ye put your guns in the centre, I don't want no funny business, got it?"

Reluctantly the individuals responded. none removed their weapons in haste, each savouring the last flash of metal iron on their finger tips before sliding their pistol into the centre of the table. One man in particular, clung to his gun like a babe to the mother.

"What's the hold up George?" the one brutish drunk snapped as he gazed with a lazy eye at the hesitant participant. "Got a cowardly bone in your bod?"

The male slowly began to shake his head no before shifting the weapon back into his pouch, his hands trembling with anxiety.

"Weapon on the table," Ellie demanded with a cold, hard glare.

The man shook his head and refused. "This is mad...I ain't gunna play no game where I'm gunna end up deader than ol' Sam." He replied rapidly with a trace of fear gleaming in his eye. "I'm out, you can all go blow out your damned brains if I care!" George then started towards the door followed by Ellie. Her feet stopped their rhythmic pattern as a clear, deathly tune graced the air with a trace of hot iron and sizzling smoke. A solid thud graced an echo through the room as ruby red blood pool around the deadman's corpse.

"What int he bloody hell was that for!?" Ellie snapped in hot fury. "The coward has a choice to leave, you don't make the rules in my saloon!"

"Eh lovely, this is a man's game. The idiot shudda known that before he walked into this here room. He's a deadman anyways," the brutish drunk replied as he tossed the gun onto the table.

The ground cowered for a split second, fearing the dropped, spinning gun would set out in misfire and remove yet another participant from their game. It did not so. Instead the forceful man chuckled deviously at their feigned response to the action.

"Enough, we don't need another unfortunate corpse gracing the room," Ellie snapped as she kicked the corpse over onto his back before dragging it to the corner of the room to not disrupt the game. She wiped the feeling of death off of her hands and onto her pants before shifting over to the table. Her face darkened under the lamp as she removed the final wooden stool from its slumber under the well rounded table. It skidded and screeched under pressure only once before the raven haired beauty took her seat. The guns had been collected at the centre of the table as to agreement. Moving slowly, she removed the bullets from each man's gun, including her own, and placed them in a pile. Once the weapons were unloaded, Ellie took five bullets from the pile. She snapped back the black revolver and began to tuck the bullets into their sheath of iron. Her fingers did not tremble as she placed the last of the five into the gun. The final bullet slid into the hole. She snapped the gun back with gained skill and spun the round before pointing the weapon to the ceiling. In one swift motion, she pulled the trigger releasing one of the bullets into the roof of the room.

The game had officially begun.

Clockwise the gun would be passed around the table. The first, Ernie, took the handle of the revolver and pressed it to the warmth of his chin, nestled against the throat. He swallowed softly and squeezed his eyes as he pulled the trigger. The sound of a blank ricocheted through the room. He let out a loose sigh of relief before passing the weapon onto the next person.

The male choked down a startled gag as the cool metal pressed against his chin. His skin shuddered and recoiled at the metal, the cool touch of death. He quickly pulled the fluid trigger.

A single gunshot sound graced the air.

The body of the dead man toppled to the ground having swayed left right in a mixed confusion before hitting the unforgiving wood with a dull thud.

The room remained silent for several seconds.

Another man, the one whom had sat smugly beside the corpse trembled. His shaking hand edged for the deathly weapon. It was burning hot in his grasp, so much that he almost yelped in fearful surprise if his pride had not bound his lips together, sown shut to try to keep in tact his fragile state if mind. He was visibly shaken. Already, the trio was feeling the effects of the second man dead. They watched in gaunt horror as the terrified mammal (of sorts) wildly eyed the few remaining players. He choked down a sob and a parched throat as he squeezed his eyes shut. To him the room grew crowded, and the heavy weight of pressure filed against his chest.

He pulled the trigger.

Another foul blank shot assaulted the air.

The man was left sputtering prayers and thanks to the almighty lord as he crossed his chest with the right hand and placed the gun firmly in the hand of the next contestant.

The reaction was all too the same and all to common. Terrified, like the wild, caged animal the man was, he pressed the gun to his chin quickly and pulled the trigger. Jittery, the man fell silent.

Ellie removed the bloodied gun from her hand.

Only two remained.

With one swift, calm motion, she pressed the gun to her chin and pulled the trigger.

A blank.

She passed the weapon to Ernie whom took it carefully into his hands.

"Some game we got here tonight," he chuckled with a faint fear ushering from his trembling lips. "Might I say, it was pleasure doing business with you Ellie."

"And why so?" she asked cocking an unexpected brow.

"I might as well tell you, after all, deadmen tell no tales," he chuckled in dark amusement. "Then men brought into the room are all...dealers of sorts. They've been heckling me for quiet some time. Knowing you, I thought you'd be the best one to deal with them in discreet. Can't say it was a bad plan."

"You over estimate yourself Ernie," Ellie replied as she folded her arms over her chest.

"I think not," Ernie replied as he removed the weapon from his throat and pointed it square at Ellie. "The perfect murder."

A shot rang out throughout the room and echoed into the downstairs floors. It was an unearthly, deathly tune one best described by the dead.

The rusty hinges of the door had snapped and the whole door had fallen to the ground with a loud, angry thud. Before Landis, in the sizzling, electric spot light was Ellie. She stood back to the door, and to Landis before the shadowy figure of Ernie. His weapon was pointed directly at her, his face, his expressions hidden in the darkness of the room. A groan pierced the room and he suddenly toppled over with a grunt. His gun clattered to the floor and out of reach as a large puddle of crimson liquid began to pool around his body. Ellie stood there, defenceless, her hands dropped down to her sides.

It had just clicked in. She whirled around on the ball of her heels, staring at Landis with a surprised, fierce expression that seemed to soften for a split second.

"Hey girl," called a squeaky, female from the shadows. "What's the hubub?" she mused in her mouse-like, high pitched voice fit for some sort of actress or dancer.

Without a word to Landis, Ellie turned to gaze into the shadows. "Lucy, would you mind coming out of the shadows? It's impolite."

"Yeah, sure hun," the female replied.

The sound of smooth, clacking heels trailed through the air along with the thick, sickening sweet smell of rose perfume. A grey gun was balanced around her white, silk gloved hands that run up past her elbows. Tracing over her figure, one would note her 'saloon girl' appearance with her colourful, sequin dress of bright, sparkling pinks and feather boa. She wore darkening stockings, making the colour of her legs a little more mysterious, but not so much as the smirk and calculating eyes on her dolled up face.

She had medium long, bright, curly blond hair managed to a primp and proper look that of a professional show girl. She even had the signature mole, that was, evidently, a small dot on the cheek with a brown stencil.

Unlike Ellie, this woman was playful, at least her bright, green eyes said so. "Oh Ellie hun, where'dja pick up this hunk?" she mewed as she sifted past her like a ghost to press her palm against Landis' chest. "Oh come now honey, put that danger thing down, mrow!" she mused playfully as she started leaning her head towards his chest before standing on her tippy-toes. "You're a mighty nice one," she spoke soothingly into his ear, her aroma nearly intoxicating to the average man. She pecked his cheek lightly, leaving a rosy imprint of red lips stick on his cheek before swirling a pattern onto his chest, very lightly, with her index finger.

"Lucy, that's enough," Ellie replied in a cold, hard and darkening tone. It was most likely interpreted as annoyance, but there was a small, unheard twang of envy.

"Okay, okay Ellie, no need to get your nickers in a twist," she replied as she slowly flowed away from Landis almost mimicking that of a ghostly presence.

Before Landis could even ask a question, Ellie was already filling in the blanks. "Landis meet Lucy and like wise," she mumbled crossly as she folded her arms across her chest. "She's an old friend from years back and she came to help me out." She was alluding to the whole 'Russian Roulette' game. Now, with the acquaintances made, Ellie allowed Landis some time to let it sink in and then ask what he needed to know however, it was obvious that Ellie would not be telling him everything.

With two quick flicks of her wrists, Ellie drew open the blinds revealing the cold, unemotional starlight seeping into the room. She opened the windows to quickly air out the room before turning to tend to Landis and Lucy. She already hated the situation but there wasn't much she could do about it at the moment. Instead she would sit it out, clean up and then, if she needed too, she would grab some of her red wine and enjoy it alone in her bedroom. At least Lucy was getting used to who was in charge. She was always the one to go around, picking some fights with people and commanding others. In other words, she never sat down too long or stayed in the place for longer than she needed to be. That fact alone had caused and would continue to cause havoc especially with Landis around. and it was only fair to say that Lucy could get under anyone's skin, if not metaphorically.

Having half heard what Landis had asked, Ellie paused to think about the possibilities that laid before her. She certainly wasn't interested in cleaning up the mess in the game room and she didn't want Landis to close up shop. She had chosen the lesser of two evils.

"I'll close up. You two get to work on cleaning up the bodies." She head swung towards Landis. "I don't want any blood stains on my hardwood floor so make sure you get it done quick and make sure its spotless." Her cold, unhumoured eyes shifted over to the saloon show girl of a friend. "Grab the rags from you know where," she said with a careless tone of voice. "Don't you come downstairs and help Landis with the cleaning. I want the room smelling of pine by the end of it." Without another word she turned to give Landis a one over.

"Don't either of you do anything stupid, you hear me? No funny business." It had sounded as if it had been addressed to mainly Landis because she was looking at him at the time however, her eyes quickly swung over to Lucy. The warning had been mainly to her but it could have been easily misinterpreted.

Ellie hesitated for a brief second before disappearing out of the door and down to the bar leaving Lucy and Landis alone.

"Well hot stuff," Lucy mewed as she drew closer to him. "Whaddaya say we have a little bit of fun?" She had pulled so close to him that she was inches away from his breast, circling small patterns onto his shirt while looking up at him, starry-eyed. She leaned into him and pressed her soft, golden curls against his chest, holding there for a moment before gently moving away from him. "How 'bout we get ta work and when we're done we can head on down to my room," she smirked playfully as she arms wrapped around his neck as she moved closer, slowly closer to his lips "I've never done an Injun before."

- - -

The bar had cleared out quite quickly with all the commotion. It didn't take long until the whole place was as deserted as a ghost town leaving Ellie to her thoughts and work. She had cleaned the area with slow precision before washing down the tables and sweeping out all the grim, dirt and dust from the traveller's shoes.

She didn't seem satisfied at all even though she had managed to get all her work done in less than half an hour. Something was bothering her, so much so that it was actually seen upon her face.

After a few minutes of enjoying a silent beer with her own company, Ellie slowly approached the stairs. Her boots clogged heavily up the creaking stairs as she began to control her expression and emotions, bottling them inside of her to deal with later with the aid of a little wine. She approached the game room slowly and paused for a brief moment to check in on the two.

The door slid open slowly.

She could feel him draw closer towards her, wrapping his arms around her waist gingerly, almost tenderly. He charmed his was to her lips and they held the moment that seemed to last more than minutes. An undeniable glint of hesitation filled the room, shattering the moment's illusion of bliss as he broke their world. His lips moved from hers, his arms pushed her away. She stood there in awe for a moment, her eyes dazzling with a speck of confusion and wonder. For a brief second she felt a personal attack at this notion. Here she was giving herself freely to a man who was more than happy to take her and, probably, at the same time hadn't bedded a woman in weeks let alone months.

"I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that..."

Lucy stared at him, her eyes blinking in unison at his response, almost unable to comprehend his statement. She had opened her rosy lips to reply, to say anything that would make his apology worthless so that they may continue but no words would come. Not even a sound would grace her parted lips. She drew away from his a little more, thousands of questions running on end. Her arms moved collectively to her chest where she cupped them and quickly regained her composure.

"Please forgive me."

Already she was pondering about his silly little reaction. "W-why are you sorry...you didn't do anything wrong..." she blushed, looking down at the ground before looking him in the eyes. "It-it was completely unfair of me...please, accept my apologies." She shook her head, her curls waving, fanning her face like the elegant sun setting as she brought down her arms and slid them across her sequin dress. She pinched the ends of her skirt, lifted them up with a flawless grace as she crossed her legs before her, curtsying to him like a proper gentlewoman.

- - -

A moment of dead silence fell like a thick veil within the hallway. There was but a sliver of a crack in the slightly ajar door but it was enough to see, with very vivid details, the secrets laying behind it.

She could feel herself tremble as she watched Landis and Lucy kiss with unhindered passion. It was sickening. So much so that she had to pull her sunken eyes away from the sight in order to catch a breath.

She pressed her back against the hallway wall and closed her dull eyes in regard to what she had just seen. She should have known better. It was always like Lucy to toy with anyone's emotions be it the men she slept with and left on the drop of a dime or the woman who were connected to such men. She had boiled it down to the assumption that she wanted to get under Landis' skin, after all, most people in the western world hated the Indians, especially if they were uncooperative and rebellious. It didn't matter. He was only there to pay off debts and then, before she knew it, he would be off without a single goodbye or trace. It was always like that.

Sucking in her breath, Ellie went to return to the scene only to witness the last of their conversation although it meant little to her now.

She took a deep breath, sucked in her emotions and walked nonchalantly into the room, her long black hair swaying from side to side. "Hey, I thought I told you get them rags," she said eyeing Lucy with a cold, steady glare that suddenly shifted to Landis. "As for the bodies, throw them out the window, its not like its going to kill them or nothing."

Without a second of hesitation, Lucy passed Landis and then Ellie before heading down the wooden hallway and towards the closet where Ellie kept most of the rags.

Ellie wouldn't say a word to Landis about what she saw. Instead, she turned around in a heart beat and headed out the door with little to no recollection of his existence. Soon afterwards she returned with a bucket of sloshing water and a thick broom. By the time she had arrived, Lucy was already beginning to clean up the mess in the room, eyeing Landis with short, flattering stares before returning to work.

Overall the night progressed slowly. Finally, Ellie had left the room to be dealt with, handled by the couple. She had left without a word and proceeded to the kitchen where she ransacked the cupboards for a bottle of red wine and a glass of any sort. Satisfied, she closed the cupboards back over, leaving the room in its original state and beelined towards her bedroom, leaving the 'Do not disturb' sign on the door. She had gone so far as to double lock it in case Landis got any brilliant ideas to try and see what was wrong if she didn't feel like responding to him. After all, he was just another person. One that would slowly become fuzzy with a little good liquor in her system.

It wasn't like it was the first time anyways.