Chapter Thirteen: Unlikely Confidante

Charlie was in a trance as she sat through Alastor's projected budget estimates for the first quarter of the hotel's opening, set in three days. The morning had started rather rough during breakfast service as the news reported her and the Radio Demon at the Birds of Paradise Lounge together and snapped a picture of them entering and exiting the building. Thankfully Mimzy had called in and ripped the morning news anchor a new one for violating her guests' privacy and no picture rule within the building or within 100 yards. An apology was immediately issued, especially since one of Mimzy's many regulars down below was the station head who did not want to encourage such behavior from his reporters. Charlie wished she never listened to Angel about installing the large plasma TV in the dining room.

Vaggie had been peeved, but calmed down as Alastor had taken it upon himself to apologize for not being more careful in maintaining Charlie's and the hotel image, which shocked both girls at how sincere he sounded. Charlie was impressed, he was a fantastic liar. She blushed and looked away every time their eyes met. She still couldn't believe that in the wee hours of the morning, he was knuckle deep inside her until she literally exploded on his hand, wrist, and lap. The looks he would give when Vaggie wasn't paying attention promised many wicked things to come and it left her in a messy puddle.

Angel had been the one to get the biggest kick out of the report and laughed at the absurdity of it. As he put it, "Deadly Deer Daddy is no way in hell interested in Princess Goody Goody, but if so, then [he] was the Virgin Mary." Of course, the whole time their resident porn star gave the golden haired owner a look that promised relentless teasing. Charlie hid her face as Vaggie stared daggers at the spider. Husk actually cracked a smile and laughed a little at how the media tried to spin the story into something scandalous while Niffty giggled. If only they knew...

Charlie gulped. Angel was more perceptive than he let on. Had there been that strong of an an attraction since the beginning? Why hadn't anyone else noticed? Last night had blown her away, and try as she might to deny it, she wasn't sure she'd be strong enough to tell Alastor 'no' any time soon, or ever. Could Angel be trusted to be a confidante? Probably not, but she needed someone to talk to and her options were limited.

"Charlie, honey?" Vaggie's voice broke through her thoughts. Charlie jumped a little.

"Huh? Oh, sorry... guess I spaced out." She covered her mouth and yawned.

Vaggie smiled a little, "It's ok, you were out late." She turned back to Alastor, "Color me impressed, Al." Vaggie said, crossing her legs as she went over the numbers again, mindful of her short spaghetti strap white dress, "We only got three out of the six that came to the reception, plus this Mimzy friend of yours, contributing already. Our other sponsors won't until after move in day. The only thing is... what's the catch?"

"Vaggie!" Charlie gasped. Alastor had been more than helpful since his arrival. Had there been ulterior motives, surely one of them would have caught on by now or the very least he'd had upped and left as the wait for the residents had been a long time.

The moth held her hand up toward Charlie, effectively silencing her, "Look... if it were this easyto get nearly thirty grand, if Mimzy will donate this much, it wouldn't be suspicious. This is a lot of money for 13 people a month, for now, and you're telling us they'll up their donations should we get more patients? This doesn't feel right. We couldn't even get anyone to listen to us."

Alastor smiled as sincerely as he could, though it creeped Vaggie out more than anything as he leaned forward to put his arms on his desk. "My dear, here I thought you were beginning to trust me." The radio frequency shifted.

"Trying to... but don't count on it." She shot back with a smirk of her own. "You said so yourself it wasn't wise to."

"Touché." He grinned and clasped his hands together on the desk, "There isn't much of a catch and being who I am, I can at least get an audience. Aside from advertising once we believe we're sustainable, the donors have asked that I keep them within the circle of what goes on. Much like myself, they believe this to be amusingly ludicrous and would like a report on our guests for entertainment purposes from time to time. I'll make sure to be brief and vague for confidentiality purposes and fluff the contents to your liking." He cocked his head to the right, his ears bouncing, staring at Vaggie as his radio voice shifted in the static. "While I may not believe in the success of what you're trying to achieve, I still wish for success in keeping this place running until they and I get bored. If all goes well, they may continue to aid you financially even after I take my leave, whenever that may be."

Vaggie glared at him as Charlie's heart dropped. Entertainment, it was always about the entertaining idea this would blow up in their faces. In Charlie's case, she didn't want him to go yet, not when she was exploring a new side to herself she didn't know she had until he came along, "How do you plan on that? You're not heading any of the programs, and I really hope you're not helping with sessions." She glanced at Charlie. "We shouldn't be discussing what goes on during therapy."

The princess frowned a little, her large black eyes staring at him, "Al, I don't know... we're dealing with a lot of sensitive information here. I don't want to ruin their trust before we even build it. We revised how we're going to get to the root of their punishment here in Hell and hopefully find a way to rehabilitate and redeem them. Even if you didn't mean it, you made us realize that on day one. This isn't a daycare anymore. We may actually have a chance of redeeming sinners."

He drummed the fingers of his left hands on his desk, his claws clacking on the hard wood, "Need I remind you without their help, what's left of the money given by your parents will deplete quickly. I find it unwise for you to sink all personal your money into this." He stopped his drumming and propped his chin on his palm. "They drove a hard bargain. This was the best I could do under the circumstances that didn't involve them visiting to see how we spend their money as you want to be a non-profit, but feel free to renegotiate new terms next time. Perhaps you would have better luck?" Alastor's grin never wavered. "Of course, they may drop by on the occasional appointment with me, but I will not allow them to roam the property, unless you wish for them to have that freedom to snoop around and stumble upon something or someone they shouldn't?" He smiled wider, both Charlie and Vaggie shifted uncomfortably, "Did you ladies forget that you have given us all the manifest of our intended and the reason for staying? How many do you think would turn tail if they knew we let sponsors, lesser overlords, come and go as they please?"

Charlie rubbed her cheek with her right hand, "He has a point Vaggie. Before you say anything, I know... we shouldn't discuss what goes on during sessions outside of us and our patients. However, what if we give him summaries? That way they only know what we want them to and Alastor won't get roped into patient care, just disciplining." She batted her lashes at Vaggie, a hopeful smile on her face.

Vaggie crossed her arms, weak to Charlie's cuteness, "I suppose that's a better option if we have to. I don't exactly want to lose our sponsorships before getting a chance to put it through good use." She pursed her lips for a moment before sighing, "Ok. I agree with Charlie's plan. We give you summaries of information that will appease them but keep our patients information as confidential as possible. Sponsors may come for their appointments with you, but they can't walk anywhere they please."

Alastor nodded. "Very well, I'll make due with it. Thank you ladies. Is the budget distributed to your liking?" Both of them nodded as they stood up to leave. "Excellent. I will see you later for that interview on the picture show to fix this little mess of a misunderstanding we found ourselves in."

"I wish we didn't have to go back yet. Not until everything is settled here." Vaggie sighed, looking back at the Radio Demon as she reached the doorway, hand on the knob, "Well, I suppose we couldn't keep you hidden as a silent partner as I had hoped."

Alastor cocked a brow, "Best we keep things transparent to avoid such scandals in the future. They were bound to find out anyway."

Vaggie rolled her eye, "Worried about your reputation?"

Alastor chuckled, "Hardly. I only wish to avoid any future public ridicule toward our dear, sweet princess before the real fun begins. I'm sure you understand. If only everyone could be in awe of her as they were last night." 'And when she and this ridiculous place serves it purpose, I'll enjoy the cries of their sweet pain and suffering before ending it all.' He flashed her a toothy smile as he tilted his head. Vaggie said nothing as she turned to walk out, shaking her head at his typical answer.

"I'll be out in a moment. I'll meet you in the front." Charlie told Vaggie as she closed the door behind the moth. She leaned on it and shyly looked up at Alastor through her lashes. She let out a shaky breath.

"Yes, doll?" The Radio Demon leaned back in his seat, one hand on the arm rest, the other adjusting his monocle.

"A-about last night..." she stood up straight and walked toward him to sit at the edge of his desk next to him, "I don't know how often I can trick Vaggie for a midnight rendezvous, but maybe we could like... set up a schedule or something?" She smiled and laugh nervously.

Alastor's radio frequency crackled and he chuckled while the ghostly audience laughed, "Where's your sense of spontaneity and adventure?" He ran his hand through his hair, ears twitching slightly.

She smiled at him, "Spontaneous sexcapades, hmm? I should have known." Charlie slid off the table and put her hands behind her head as she faced away from him, "I feel bad."

"Do you regret it?" His voice was indifferent.

Charlie looked over her shoulder, "No, it was the best orgasm I've had in a long time, maybe ever, and that's why I feel bad. I know I should feel guilty, but I don't. Vaggie... she gets me. She accepts me for who I am and believes in me. I shouldn't... WE shouldn't be doing this." She dropped her hands and turned to look at him.

"But?" Alastor crossed his legs at the knee and rested his folded hands on his lap. He really didn't care what she had to say, but he made no move to stop her. His red, red eyes studied her lithe figure. She was dressed in a sheer button up blouse with a white tank top underneath tucked into black slacks. "Backing out already? Pity... the fun hasn't even started."

"No!" She covered her mouth for a moment, embarrassed about the desperation in her voice, "I mean... I don't know. I'm just babbling now. I guess l don't know how to put into words what's in my head. I'm just worried that you'll get bored easily and leave... and... and so would the sponsors, of course. I know Vaggie means well, and I'm glad she's starting to kind of warm up to you even if it doesn't seem like it, but she's right. We can't say much about what goes on during our sessions. I hope they understand and don't withdraw. I'll um... I'll see you later."

"Good day, my dear."

As she walked to the door, she looked back at Alastor as he opened a drawer to his left to pull out a typewriter to make a new revised draft. She smiled a little and slipped out the room, closing the door behind her.

Alastor looked up and narrowed his eyes, his smile falling until it was nearly nonexistent. He needed to do something about Vaggie. She was hindering his progress with the princess.

"I suppose if I up the lovey dovey-ness, perhaps she may see things my way. It would be much more savory than offing her. How else do I find the lowest of the low without knowing as much? "

—-

Vaggie had gone to help Niffty put fresh linen in the rooms that were to be occupied in a few days, leaving Angel free for the rest of the afternoon. He was at the bar enjoying an afternoon Margarita and browsing through HellFace and InstaSin when Charlie stood to his left. He gave her a side eye, his brow up in question.

"Afternoon, Ms. Goody Goody." He snickered, "What brings you down from your tower to join our lowly ranks?"

"Can... can I talk to you? Perhaps in the green house?" She looked down at her shoes and rubbed her left arm.

He set his margarita down, "Am I in trouble again?" He frowned, "I didn't mean to break another bed when I was napping. I swears this time."

"What? No... wait... what bed?" She furrowed her brows, "Angel, we've been over this. You don't need to 'test' every bed. What are you even doing on them that's causing them to collapse? We had to replace three last week. Alastor's said you're going to have to start replacing them yourselves if this keeps up."

He rolled his eyes, "Quality insurance for the old ones? Not my fault mites got in to some rooms when this was a dump."

"Angel..." Charlie said in disappointment, crossing her arms.

"I'd gladly say 'take it out of my check' but seeing as I live here rent and pay free, you're tough outta luck. Mom." He sipped from the straw, purposely slurping the contents.

"She could always just kick you out." Husk interjected, leaning on the bar with a bottle of booze near his lips, "Save her some money in the long run and spare us from our pain and suffering listening to you yap all day."

Angel looked at him with a mock hurt expression, "Ooh baby, don't go giving her any ideas. I just wanted to see which ones are good ones for us to have a little fun on. I like it rough, after all." He rested his head on two of his hands and winked.

"Fuck off." The cat grumbled.

Angel laughed, "Been trying to with you, handsome. Top or bottom, it's your choice though I like being bottom. You won't know if you like it until you try it!" He got up and turned to face Charlie, missing Husk bare his teeth and fight back a disgusted snarl, "After you, toots."

The two walked to the east side of the building and turned the corner pass the offices to reach a door at the end of the hall that opened up to a large two story Victorian style greenhouse roughly the size of a basketball court. Most of the plants had withered and rotted away, but the dark purple, almost black, succulents clung to life. Angel picked up a pot with small skulls clinging to the dried stem. The label on the pot read 'Snapdragon'.

"Neat. So... what did you wanna talk about that has us secluded?" He set the pot down on the table and picked up pruning shears to examine with disinterest.

Charlie rubbed her eyes with the heels of her palm and let out a frustrated sigh, "How... how did you know?" She dropped her hands to her side and sat on one of the stools at a work table near them. Angel raised a brow in question, "About... about Alastor?"

Angel was quiet, still confused at what the princess was trying to get at. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and blushed, looking away and gnawed at her bottom lip. The spider gasped excitedly.

"Oh... my... god... you slut!" All four hands clenched into fists at his chest as he squealed, "Details... DETAILS! Does he got a shlong like a regular schmuck or an actual like... deer?"

Charlie groaned, "Angel! This is serious." Charlie's face contorted into a pained expression, "You can't breathe a word to Vaggie. She... doesn't, and can't, know. I... I honestly don't know how it ended up like this. I'm trusting you Angel, please. I... I need someone to talk to about this." She looked up at him, tears pricking her eyes, "I don't want to lose Vaggie, she completes me in almost every way but the sex... I didn't realize I needed more than what she could give me and he and I haven't even gone all the way yet... but... damn." She covered her face and took a calm breath.

Angel rubbed the back of his head and looked up, feeling awkward already, "Ya know, it's nice to be trusted. I promise, I won't snitch. I never was and never will be a snitch. Least I can do for you keepin' a roof over my head. One condition... maybe two." Charlie looked up at him hesitantly as he smiled devilishly, "I want all the juicy details. I wanna be able to picture his dick when I close my eyes. Second, I want three days off instead of two per week." He put his two upper hands to his cheeks as he leaned back on the other two on the work desk, "Is he as delicious as I think he is? Daddy's got a face I would love to sit on."

Charlie felt her face heat up. Maybe this was a bad idea. "I... I haven't seen it yet but... I kinda felt it. Um, I haven't been with a lot of guys but he's pretty um... well endowed? I don't think it's a deer penis, not that I've ever seen one."

"I knew that big dick energy was legit! Tell me, Princess, what made you do it? I thought you were all high n mighty with that anti-sin bullshit, but I see you're just like the rest of us." He crossed his arms under his chest fluff and crossed his legs at the ankle. He smirked, his golden tooth biting his lower lip.

Charlie looked away, "I know. I'm being hypocritical with discouraging acts of sin. I mean, Vaggie and I aren't married, but cheating is still just as terrible, regardless. I don't know why I caved... he just makes me feel, alive? He woke up something in me Vaggie never did and try as I might to ignore it, I couldn't say no. I thought I was going crazy so I caved. My dad was right... I am weak willed." She rubbed her arms and frowned.

Angel tsked, "To be fair, I'm sure Vaggie would be sucking his dick if he paid her any attention. He's a sick and weird bastard, but fuck me, I'm jealous he only swings one way." The spider stood up straight and walked around a little, "Is that all you wanna talk about?"

"N-not exactly. Angel, I haven't been with a lot of guys, and I'm a couple hundred years old. I've been with more girls if anything, and last night I realized I can be kinda awkward. He said next time I should be more confident, but I'm honestly really nervous. I was wondering, since you're so... versed..." She pursed her lips, wondering if she should continue.

"Are... are you asking me for sex advice?" He threw his head back and laughed when she shyly nodded. Charlie pouted. Angel wrapped his arms around his torso, trying to breathe through the fit "I'm sorry... it's just funny. Sure toots, I'll help. So we got a deal?"

"Consecutive or spaced out?" She smiled thankfully at him and offered her hand to him to shake on it.

"Honey, consecutive."

—-

The trio sat in the back of Charlie's limo as her goat butlers drove them to the news station for their interview on the 6 o'clock news. Vaggie was going over Charlie's cue cards and sighed as she spotted the pictures of rainbows and unicorns again, but decided it was best not to comment on them. She just hope they didn't have another musical number. She glanced at Alastor who was also guilty of randomly jumping into song and dance numbers, albeit it had been a one time occurrence since he made life into a brief musical.

Vaggie leaned her head on Charlie's shoulder and closed her eye, "I swear, if that bitch says anything rude again and talks crap about the hotel... ayudame dios... I'll ram my spear so far up her ass and put her over a fire to feed her to the cannibals." She smoothed down the front of her favorite double titty x dress.

Charlie giggled, "It'll be fine Vaggie. At least we have more to talk about this time on air. I just hope it doesn't scare off anyone about to move in. I want to avoid putting a gate around the property, but if they start harassing us..."

"Leave it all to me dear. I can handle the security measures at the hotel while the both of you direct your attention to our hopeless sinners, at least until we know how well this revised plan of yours works." Alastor looked up from polishing his mic staff.

Vaggie frowned and was about to say something but Charlie cut her off, "Vaggie is in charge of security, but you can help. Thank you." Vaggie felt her heart flutter a little as Charlie defended her position. Maybe she wasn't completely at his mercy.

"As you wish." The car came to a stop, "Ah, seems we've arrived. Put on your best smiles, ladies. The show is about to begin."


I just want it to be known that DLP has been written up to Ch19. I will not be making adjustments. I will most likely go on a brief hiatus once we reach that point as Ch20 & Ch21 are incredibly important to me and the fans who have blessed with with their OCs.