Later that night back at the hotel, Charlie could no longer hold in her desires. "C'mon Husk, I know you have it in you."
"You're joking right?" Husk answered. "Who even does that?"
"Hey, who pays you to work here?"
"Al does, and I'm not getting paid. I gamble for my money. You have nothing on me."
"Please! I'm begging you I'm so exhausted. I have everything here!" Charlie presented her ingredients. Milk, chocolate, cherries, ice cream. Husk grumbled over the stuff until he finally gave in, using his precious mixer and blender to create a milkshake. Charlie slurped it up completely satisfied.
"I swear you could get an actual drink once in awhile. Not that I care or anything. I like the stock full."
"No, it's not my thing." Charlie said. "I have to set an example to the others, to show that a clean life is possible."
"Well ain't you a saint." Husk pulled out a bottle of premium vodka and guzzled it right in front of her. The shock on her face was worth the debilitating act.
"So, um, what's your story?" Charlie asked.
"My what?"
"You know. Your life?"
"What about it?"
"Well I've gotten to know the patients around here for the past two months, but I haven't figured out what the three of you were like before you died so...what?"
"What?" Husk rubbed his face. "What do you want my life story? I don't gotta tell you nothing."
"No you don't but, just maybe, how did you die anyway?"
"Oh ho ho that? That's actually hilarious. I was a major in 'Nam, killed all sorts of people for five years straight. Then, right when the war is about to end I get stabbed to death by some gook for winning big in a local poker game. Probably a VC or something. Haven't seen him around here, but you know, big fucking deal. Does that answer your question?"
"I...guess." Charlie got another sip of her milkshake. The grandfather clock struck seven. "God where's Niffty? She was supposed to come back hours ago. I had to go out myself and buy this stuff. When she gets back I'm gonna give her a piece of my mind."
Right on cue the sound of a car door could be heard outside. "Just to make sure," Natasha said. "Alastor is a fan of North Styx Whiskey, strolls through 10th street every other Thursday, he's scared of barking dogs and the bunnies' name are Blaine and Reagan. Is that correct?"
"Wait," Charlie said. "That voice sounds familiar, but that can't be her."
The door slammed open. "Good evening gentlemen! It feels so wonderful being back home in my lovely abode," Niffty said with a fake british accent. She was dressed in full black and white regalia, with a boa made of fine feathers and a hat as wide as she was tall. Her rosy cheeks were made rosier and her eyeball was given heavy eye shadow. For all intents and purposes, Niffty was absolutely regal. "I can't wait to partake in some rats on a stick. Wait that's gross now. Oh hi Husky! Hi Ms. Boss Lady!"
"Niffty!?" Charlie stood up and walked toward her. "Where have you been? We were so worried about you."
"She means she's mad cause you making her buy ice cream," Husk said.
"Well, yes, but...hey!"
"Oh my, I recognize that voice." Natasha peeked into the hotel. "Oh my. What a snazzy place, although it's a bit ill conceived if I say so much. I assume this is your abode Charlie. It's been too long."
"It has been too long Tasha. Tell me, is that loser Helsa with you today? Because I'll let you know she's not allowed within one hundred feet of this building."
"Ha! I haven't spoken in years, but I do have my new acquaintances with me." The whole gang barged in. "Can't expect to work with the same noble families all of the time."
"Yeah because they're total bitches." Charlie said under her breath.
"This must be the old junk home. I can recognize your father's old insignia all over the place." She was correct. The apple that had become Lucifer's trademark had been the theme of the old man's villa, a reminder of his greatest practical joke. "It's so dusty in here. I don't know how you live in here when the place is barely being held together."
Niffty was shaking uncontrollably. "I make sure that it this place is cleaned every day."
"Really? You oughta fire the maid who cleans this place." Belinda added. "This place could use some work, and speaking of work look at that homeless guy at the bar. What a freak."
"Hey this freak has some age over you twerps," said Husk. "Here's some wisdom. Go fuck yourself, and if you can't, fuck each other. It'll work out somehow."
"By the way, I was wondering if the Radio Demon was here," Natasha asked."I'm a huge fan of his work and I'm dying to meet him."
"You sure about that?" Charlie asked.
"Of course. I'd do anything in my power to FUCK that bushy tailed babe, so if you could point me to his room please."
"And you thought I was the freak," Husk said. He downed his drink. "But if it'll get you to leave sooner. I think he was over at your daddy's place. Y'know, being a real adult."
Natasha stared down at Niffty and patted her head. "Enjoy your new clothes!" And flew out the door in a millisecond.
The moment she and her friends were gone Niffty was all over the walls checking every nook and cranny all over trying to find this perceived dust, screaming like a maniac."Niffty no like messy house!" she chanted to herself, leaving Charlie and Husk to stare with silent fear.
"Uh, are you okay Niffty?" Charlie asked, attempting to reach out to her.
When she dropped back to the floor she was panting and muttering something in Japanese. "Nothing! Nothing is the matter. I-uh made some new friends! They're so nice and pretty and they gave me all this stuff. We talked a lot about things and, um, things and I got to get out of the hotel which was really nice and-." She slammed to the floor fast asleep.
Charlie stepped back. "Okay, she has narcolepsy now. We're going to need to talk about this at some point," she said to Husk. "Is this what she's usually like?"
"As long as I've known her," Husk walked over to pick her up. "Now listen. I know you're all about that 'helping people' shit, but sometimes, y'know, people are fucked up. What're you gonna do? You just live with it until you die, and then, big whoops."
Husk took her into his giant arms and helped her upstairs, leaving Charlie to contemplate what kind of staff did she let Alastor into.
Out of the many demons of Hell a rare few have had the power to rival one of the great seventy two, the original angels who stood on the side of Lucifer during the War Against Heaven. Though they have spent millennia trapped in the confines of Hell they were the masters of the it. Scattered across the provinces and many great cities, they stood as the highest class, the tip of the hierarchy. The greatest numbers of these high class demons lived in Pentagram City with their families surrounding the great palace. In these unholy grounds two gentlemen were engaged in the most devilish game conceived by mortal men.
"It feels good to have some exercise outside once in awhile, don't you think Alastor?" Stolas asked. He taped a badminton racket to the end of one of his talons and tapped the birdie whenever it came over.
"Yes it reminds me of some of the sport I used to do when I was alive." Alastor had his shadow double do all of the swatting while he basked in the splendor of the moonlit garden.
"Ha! It's always fascinating to hear sinners talk about their human lives like it was still relevant."
"It's why we're down here aren't we?"
Stolas smirked. "You know, I can bring you back to the living world whenever you please. I have the books capable of such a feat."
"There's time for that my feathered friend and it isn't now. Right now I want to make sure I have the hit in place for that priest I've heard about. I'm sure that'll be taken care of."
"Don't worry I have a man on the job. Of course, I expect you to fulfill your end of the bargain by the end of this next month?"
"Ah yes, that won't be a problem. If my fishy friend has it right we'll be hearing from them by that time, in which thanks to your help I believe we have a good chance of getting it done."
"Connections are everything in Hell. As mighty as I am and how easily I could FUCK over that pernicious apple daddy, I have to accept that sometimes the risk isn't worth it."
"The feeling's mutual. Let's hope these feeling don't last for long."
"Agreed." A servant came up to Stolas and whispered something to him with a phone in hand. "It seems that my daughter is home and wants to see you. Would you like to stay for dinner." He leaned in. "She's a very big fan."
"Well how can I say no to a fan Stolas? Let her in!"
The next morning Niffty found herself in her room and spent zero seconds thinking about it. She sped through her chores as fast as she possibly could. She pressed the laundry, cooked all of the meals and dusted everything. All of this was done to get her out of the hotel as soon as possible. By ten AM she was out the front door.
"Where're you going in a hurry?" Husk asked. "Fucking relax why don'tcha?"
"No time! I have to see my friends. If I don't we might not be friends anymore!"
Niffty zoomed away like a roadrunner, leaving Husk in his morning inebriation. When he went to toss a bottle into the trash can he found the quilt lodged inside in a wrapped up wad.
"Where is she where is she where is she?" Niffty asked. Natasha wasn't in the same stores as she was yesterday, but then again, that should be obvious. "I guess I'll have to check, EVERYWHERE."
And then she did. By three she spotted them at an arcade on the westernmost side of the pentagram. She stood there waiting to be noticed.
"Uh, Ravy," Belinda said. "That crazy bitch from yesterday is staring at us."
"Don't look at her," she replied. "Huddle together girls. Ugh, I can't deal with this today. Not when my heart is broken in two."
"Maybe she told her boss how nice you are. That way you'll get a second shot."
"You weren't there! You didn't see my suffering."
Eighteen hours ago the Great King's residences was in turmoil as the gentleman demon played a game of 'Get away from me you Hooting Harlot' with the lascivious giantess before him. "Stolas, control your daughter! I'm not a plaything!"
"How could I do that when she hasn't done anything wrong?" Stolas replied. "I would do the same if I was given the chance. Better learn quickly deer boy."
Natasha spent a full minute trying to get her talons on Alastor but the relatively small creature had a strange way of evading her, as if he didn't constrain himself to physical laws. Alastor let out a whistle. "Blaine, Reagan, get over here!"
Two rabbit demons came out to the garden, one boy and one girl. They gave a salute. "What would you like our master?"
"I'd like you to-. Hold on." Alastor summoned a mass of tentacles to hold Natasha down. This gave him the time needed to recompose himself. "Alright, scratch that. Warm up the car and call up the cook. We're going back to the old house. Haha, no offense Stolas. I hope this scuffle doesn't affect our relationship."
"Of course not. My little muffin hasn't been studying her dark magic so, what can you do?"
As Stolas laughed at her misfortune Natasha burst into tears in utter shame. Like that she was bursting into tears at the thought of it in front of her friends.
"That's a pretty good impression," Niffty said.
"Thank you. But I'm no fool. I know when hatred is right in front of me. He'll never hear know how I truly feel." Natasha looked down to see Niffty. "How long have you been there?"
"When you said huddle."
Natasha kicked her out of the arcade. "Don't come near me again!"