Hotel Cortez was a dark place. Filled with addicts of all kind. Lotus was no stranger to addiction, she was after all addicted to her eating habits — or rather, lack off eating — as well as cocaine.

Everyone had their addictions. Some where safer then others. Some were more life threatening. But all addictions came at a price.

Sex, drugs and murder were common addictions in the Cortez, and every one there was familiar with at least one. Some where lucky enough to be burdened with more.

Addictions weren't always by choice or influenced by decisions, sometimes they were forced upon people. Through others or through their soul. Sometimes addictions just happen and there's no way to stop it, or to avoid it.

On her way down to a darkened corridor a man had ran into her. Not just a man, but a particular rage filled one. She was struck with confusion as she barely managed to grab the wall to save her, maybe heels weren't the option.

"You don't want to go that way! He's crazy!"

Lotus blinked at him as he held her wrist. "I'm sorry?"

"He just killed someone! I'm not lying."

Her eyes widened as she realised what had happened. He had ran into James March, a man addicted to murder. She shut her eyes in a gentle sign of annoyance.

"Please! I'm not lying, you don't want to go that way."

"Hey, I believe you." She promised, taking one of her wrists out of his hands. Lotus lifted her hand, running her thumb over his cut. She looked at the blood before wiping it on her jeans. "Don't let it trouble your mind, this hotel thrives off the crazy." She told him.

"I'm not crazy! H-he just killed a girl from the bar."

"God damn it, James." She muttered gently under her breath, glancing down the dark corridor to catch a glimpse of the man. "Run, and don't look back." She offered, slipping out of his grip and continuing down the corridor.

He hadn't bothered to drag her with him, she must of been crazy too. Maybe she played a part in it.

Lotus slipped into the room James March was stood in, with a dead woman around her age and Ms Evers.

"Lotus, my dear girl. You made it."

She laughed gently, making her way over to him, picking up the fabric he tied around his neck. Lotus tied it around  his neck before wrapping her arms around James.

Much like Elizabeth, the man hadn't needed much convincing to fall into the young girls delicate hands. James saw the girl as his own, so protective of her and her mind.

He himself was a murderer, but Lotus wasn't and that wasn't a trouble he wished for her to have piling on top of many other addictions and problems.

It wasn't that she couldn't handle it, because she totally could. Her friends were all killers, but it was that she didn't need it. She was the one person he didn't want to ruin or taint. Her heart wasn't black with desires so twisted, but it wasn't white with purity.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, smiling as he held her. "It's been a long time, dear."

"I'm sorry." She said, resting the side of her head on his collar bone area. "I keep meaning to come here, but my agent is so determined to work me half to death." A small breathy laugh left her lips.

James gently pulled back from the girl, booking her hair behind her ear. "And how has work been."

A groan left her lips as she moved over to the chair by the mirror, picking up a white powder that she assumed was cocaine. Or that she knew was cocaine.

Addiction wasn't a friendly curse, and many bared it deep in their souls. Each addiction so different, so unique and so dangerous.

The white powder stayed in her hand, she planned to take it to her room — she had some class, after all.

"You realise you can't just demand others to kill when they first meet you." Lotus pointed out, untying her black heeled boots before bringing her legs onto the chair and resting them under her.

Addiction flowed through this room. James addictions to murder. Lotus addictions to cocaine. Ms Evers addiction to James. Each of their addictions were dangerous, to them and to others.

"He has a dark heart, Lotus."

Lotus mimicked his words, amused to say the least. James shook his head at her childish antics before questioning further about her personal life and work and some questions ventured of to Elizabeth.

"Anyway, you said that about me, then I cried because there was a spider."

"I've decided you're an exception, dear."