Charlie's head felt heavy and dizzy as she forced herself up from her bed with wobbly arms. She blinked the view in, first tilting her head to her right to look at her lover's side of the bed. It was empty. The pillows were perfectly straight and fluffed, devoid of creases. The plush pink blankets were missing, forming a messy nest around Charlie instead.
That's odd. She usually sleeps in.
Charlie shifted her eyes to her ivory bedside table and glanced at the dainty alarm clock. She squinted at it, rubbed the crust out from her eyes, and then tried again to read the numbers. 11:47? That couldn't be right.
Charlie scooched herself off the bed and tried to take a step towards the clock, but when she pressed her weight onto her left leg, it gave out underneath her and she stumbled. She took a few hasty steps and caught herself with her hand leaning against the bed, but she felt weak.
She groaned, exhausted. Her body felt achy as if she hadn't slept right. As her eyelids began to slip, the blonde demoness gave into the compelling force of gravity and let it lull her back to her bed.
'Just a little more shut eye, ' she yielded. Her mind was already swirling with vivid images of the dream she'd had that night.
Alastor's red figure was stark against a snowy-white backdrop. He clutched at a white pillar between his claws and raked it, leaving long streaks of tan. Through her dream, she heard the sound of millions of tiny fibers splintering. It was a tree, she realized. Alastor was in a forest of white trees.
And so was she, it seemed. She looked down through her dream-granted vision and saw her hands as they connected to her arms and led back to her body. Her nails seemed longer and more pointed than usual.
Charlie dimly watched as her hands blurred and went through complicated motions. When they had stopped, a shiny, small platter had appeared within their palms. How pretty. It couldn't be larger than four inches across.
The vision became slightly nauseating as her field of vision lurched towards the ground and the Charlie of her dream placed the saucer against the soft brown mulch. A deafening snap threatened to end the vision. Everything went white for a moment and the trees all blurred into one. But then the view cleared and she could make out the gold-rimmed porcelain saucer. Atop it propped a beautifully crafted tea cup in matching colors. Its gold handle twisted elegantly at the edges and curved resplendently in the middle.
It was delicately picked up between obsidian gloves. Charlie witnessed the field of vision rise back up, keeping the tea cup and saucer ever in view. Directly behind the ceramic pieces, a striking amber smile curved upwards in a clean crescent silhouette. It began to move, mimicking speech, but Charlie could not hear a single word uttered.
The vision faded, and boundless black greeted her behind her eyelids. She blinked her eyes open again. Her eyes met the hands that had summoned such beautiful things in her dream.
Still hazy from her dream, she pressed her finger against her thumb and envisioned the enchanting saucer. She imagined herself pulling the saucer from her mind in the same quick, forceful manner as a snapping gesture. Her thumb gilded hard against her finger.
Her eyes widened. Sunlight bounced off the new object sitting within her hands and into her face, blinding her. Shocked, she dropped the foreign object, and it came crashing silently onto the soft blankets pooled over her bed.
Charlie rubbed at her eyes hard.
Am I still dreaming?
She pinched at the skin lightly on her forearm for good measure. The quick jolt of pain confirmed that she was awake.
Dubious, she pressed a finger against the round, glossy object. She felt its mass push back as she tilted it up. One side of the rim rose slowly from the blankets, coming to a perpendicular angle before it plopped face down on the bed, succumbing to gravity.
She tore her eyes from it and jumped out of bed, heading to her bathroom for a quick, refreshening shower. Hopefully this would wake her up because her mind was beginning to queue an endless list of questions.
The warm water hit her back pleasantly and she sighed deeply, inhaling the calming steam around her.
Okay, realization one. Apparently, that wasn't a dream. She and Alastor had been in that strange forest last night, and he had helped her learn how to summon objects like that tea saucer.
She hummed in thought. Hmm… That's right. I made a deal with him yesterday morning.
I guess he's already started to fulfill his end… Why can't I remember hardly anything from yesterday?
She racked her brain for yesterday's events. She recalled her morning, when she had stormed into Alastor's office and they had shaken hands, sealing their deal. She recalled - and thanked the Heavens for - the sudden army of demons that had swarmed the hotel soon afterwards.
The new patrons had taken a long time to sign the paperwork and settle into their new home. Perhaps Charlie had napped when all was taken care of? And then gotten up later and met up with Alastor?
The events after helping the new guests were foggy.
And just how long had she been out with him last night? She never overslept and she hadn't felt this tired in eons.
Having already stepped out of the shower, she shrugged on her typical attire. Black, well-fitting slacks. A soft, long-sleeved cotton button-down. Her trusty suspenders and, for good measure, her dapper black bow tie. She felt ready for the day.
'Well, better late than never! ' she thought merrily with a smile as she headed down to her office. With the near two-dozen new hotel patrons that had just checked in yesterday, her work for the day was cut out for her.
She sank into her creamy-white, very cushioned office chair. With a notebook to her left and a laptop to her right, she dug right into her work.
First, she wanted to set the hotel's events for the week. She'd been giddy to have inspirational, do-good events ever since Angel had shown up two weeks ago. And she had tried immediately of course, but Angel had convinced her to wait until the hotel had more patrons.
Hmmmmm which events to prioritize. I have so many planned! We can do seasonal crafts together, braid friendship bracelets, write kind notes and cards for one another, bake cookies, sing carols, adopt puppies - oh, I want to do them all! Maybe I should just schedule everything this week. Back-to-back, nonstop fun!
Her excitement overflowed from her mind and spread through her limbs down to her feet, which were tapping madly against the tile flooring. The hard tile against her polished black heels sung out against the assault. Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap.
A sobering thought flashed through her racing mind.
But I should probably cap it at three this week. Vaggie's always saying that I need to meet demons from where they're coming, not where I want them to be.
Her body relaxed and a warmth spread over her as she thought lovingly of her girlfriend. The quick-paced tapping stopped.
Truly, Charlie could not have done this without her. Her input was always so helpful, especially since Vaggie was a fellow mortal demon. Charlie sometimes had a hard time relating to them. She did not entirely understand humans who had lived a bad enough life to end up in Hell. Unlike them, she hadn't lived another life in another, more peaceful realm. She didn't feel the wicked pull of most temptations, didn't understand their appeal. Rather, she much preferred a life characterized by compassion.
She wanted love and friendship and all the good things in-between. As Lucifer's daughter, she hadn't been given the same chance at eternity in Heaven as them. No matter how kind she was, no matter how much she tried to help others, her Grandfather had entirely ignored her existence and her attempts at outreach.
Charlie pulled away from her dreary thoughts and tried thinking of something else. Vaggie. Where was she? How had her morning been so far?
She let the pleasant thoughts fill her mind as she filled out a digital plan for the week. Charlie decided that it would be best to give the demons today to settle in. The first activity would be tomorrow: a big communal breakfast. Then, on Tuesday she would host their first group therapy session together. She'd ease into it with these amazing ice breaker games she'd heard of from Earth and hot cocoa and sugar cookies. Wednesday through Friday, she would host individual therapy sessions to really meet and understand each one of her cases. Together, the two of them would make personalized plans, focusing most on correcting the sins that had landed the demon in Hell in the first place.
The printer buzzed to life from the corner near the well-lit window. Copies of her weekly schedule slowly beeped out.
When the whirling stopped, Charlie gathered the papers and headed up to the third floor. She placed a flyer caringly on each door. She then headed to the fourth floor and did the same.
Great work, Charlie! Now let's go find Vaggie. I bet she'll reward my hard efforts with a nice, warm hug.
Her walk turned into a skip as she headed to look first in the kitchen. It was now nearly two o'clock. Perhaps Vaggie was helping herself to a late lunch.
She glanced around but saw no silver-haired demoness. A small Niffty was scrubbing the top of the oven mercilessly with an abrasive green sponge.
"Hi Niffty!" Charlie smiled at her. "I'm wondering if you've seen Vaggie around."
Niffty looked up from the oven. Her large, one-eyed gaze turned from one of malevolent glee at killing all signs of filth to one of affability.
"Hiya Charlie! Congrats on getting all those new demons!"
Niffty's short yet lithe legs scampered over to the dapper, ever-cheerful woman. She wrapped her thin black arms tightly around Charlie's lower waist, tiptoeing slightly.
"And thank you for bagging a couple handsome ones as well!" Niffty giggled pervertedly.
Charlie accepted the hug warmly and returned it. Her arms draped over the doll-like woman's shoulders.
"Thank you! And uh - you're welcome? But I couldn't have done it alone! Thank you so much for all the work you've done, Niffty!" She wrapped her arms tighter over the girly demoness. "You really don't have to clean so much. This place is really old and dusty, not to mention enormous. I'm already so blown away with what you've done so far. Please, take a break!"
Niffty drunk in her praise like a starved animal until she felt intoxicated by it. A charming smile plastered itself on her face and her red dimples flushed.
"Oh, you're too sweet, Charlie! Like the sweetest, most intoxicating apple-infused dessert wine!" the words came quick-paced and high-pitched. "But no! This place is filthy! And that is exactly why I must continue my work. I cannot have such filth desecrating this hotel, nope!"
Niffty unwrapped her arms and hurried back over to her current project. Once again compulsively scrubbing, she called to Charlie without looking up from her work, "Why don't you try Husky? Since he's posted at the front desk, he'd have seen her if she went out."
Charlie's face lit up. "That's such a smart idea! Thank you, Niffty! I'll go do that."
With rhythmic footsteps, Charlie strolled up to the combined front-desk-bar.
"Hi Husk! Nice to see you!" she beamed.
Husk's dark-set eyes shifted to her without moving a muscle. His body was slouched, his elbow supporting himself against the polished ebony surface. He held his face in his flat palm. Three yellow fangs jutted out from his closed frown.
"Whaddaya want? Doubt it's booze," he asked lazily with his characteristic, grouchy demeanor.
"I was actually wondering if you've seen Vaggie. I'm looking for her," she clarified.
Husk's right eye magnified. It's adjoining eyebrow twitched.
"Not since you booted her out yesterday," he supplied.
Charlie's light honey eyes grew three times their size.
"I WHAT? "
"Ya don't remember?" His eyes narrowed. "Ya told her to get out. Even went full psycho on her. 'Was quite the spectacle. I bet Al's bummed he missed it."
Charlie raked the sides of her face with her nails, pushing them up into her hair.
"What?" she weakly asked again, puzzled.
Unwilling to relay more than he had to, Husk tried to narrow her question. "Exactly what do you remember?"
"Well… I woke up and I went to Alastor's office and then all those people came and Vaggie and I helped them and then I was tired and… I don't really remember what happened then. The next thing I remember is uh… Al teaching me how to materialize objects later at night."
Husk sighed. His face sunk further into a scowl.
He summarized what he saw for her. Serving an unpredictable homicidal psychopath for this many decades had taught him to always keep vigilant and stay on his toes. Never knew what was going to threaten him - or who.
"After the two of ya's finished with all them newcomers, ya duked it out. From what I overheard, it seems she was distrustful of our new guests-" 'and with good reason,' he added silently, "-and confessed that she didn't believe in your cause here. Then you went full-demon at her and told her to get out before picking her up and kicking her out yourself. She was lying on the cement outside for a while looking dazed. Then she got up and headed east of here. She hasn't been back since."
Charlie was silent. She felt something shatter within her.
"She… she doesn't believe in me? I kicked her out?" Her voice was hoarse.
Husk felt extremely uncomfortable by her intense display of emotion directed at him. "I dunno, lady. I'm only relaying what I overheard. Go ask her yourself," he retorted.
It was weird. Maybe it was because of how uncharacteristically wholesome Charlie and this whole hotel shtick was, but Husk felt himself feeling sorry for her. He wanted to comfort her though he didn't have the slightest idea how. Besides, he shouldn't get too mixed up. It's only a matter of time before Al does something terrible to her like he always does. Best to stay out of it and wait for this phase to pass. Then he can go back to Lucky Sevens and gamble all his earnings from this job away.
The minutes passed by silently between them.
Finally, Charlie got out, "Okay. Thanks, Husk. I'll… I'll go do that."
It seemed Charlie had been too busy keeping her tears down to respond because when she finally did, the waterworks started. Water streamed down her face. She turned away from him and the bar and headed to the large front doors. She pushed against them with her whole body, feeling weak. They eased open and let her pass.
Charlie wandered eastwards aimlessly. She had no idea where Vaggie could be.
She didn't notice the sky grow darker or the street lights begin to flick on. Her mind was solely focused on finding Vaggie.
The hours passed mindlessly. This wasn't working. She couldn't just go street by street and hope to stumble into her! Wait. Why hadn't she called her? 'Stupid, dumb, careless Charlie,' she worlessly scolded herself.
Her hand found her phone in her back pocket. She clutched it awkwardly within her hands and fumbled to Vaggie's contact. The green call button looked menacing.
She pressed it and brought the phone to her ear.
Riiiiing. Riiiiing. Riiiing…
With each buzz of the dial, Charlie felt more of herself crumble.
Riiiiing. Riiiiing. Click.
Hi you've reached Vaggie, or Vagatha, whatever. Call back later.
Beeeep.
"Hi… Vaggie - I'm so sorry for what happened yesterday. Please-" she choked on a sob, "Please can we talk about it? Where are you? Please answer me. I'm so worried about you. I need to make this right, please. Call me when you can…"
She closed the phone and shoved it back in her pocket. Then, thinking better, she fished it out again and scrolled to a different contact.
She called. The phone picked up on the first dial.
"Charlie! How can we help you?" two energetic, young voices chimed.
"Hi Razzle, Hi Dazzle," she forced the words out between shallow breaths. "Could you two please come get me and bring me back to the hotel?"
The two loyal goat-demons quickly noted the sadness in her voice.
"Of course! We'll be right there! What's wrong? Did someone hurt you?" Their voices morphed demonically. "Lucifer can't forgive those who hurt his only daughter. Tell us, and they will be no more."
Charlie shook her head sullenly. "No, no one hurt me. I'm just… upset. Maybe I hurt me. I did something terrible."
The two servants staunchly refused the notion that their mistress could be anything but perfect. "No! Just hang on, miss, we'll be there as soon as we can!"
In the background, Charlie heard quick, frantic footsteps, followed by an engine revving.
A pink, white, and gold, monster-inspired limo pulled up to the curb in front of her. Having been created by Lucifer for the sole reason of protecting and providing companionship for his daughter, the two goat-demons' heads were ingrained with her whereabouts at all times.
Razzle stumbled out of the car and pulled her door open.
"Here, miss! Please, get inside."
Charlie sniffed. "Thanks, Razzle."
As they drove back to the hotel, Razzle and Dazzle tried to cheer their mistress up. Razzle was snuggled against her, hugging and nuzzling her in the back of the limo while Dazzle drove smoothly yet speedily.
"How about we paint and draw when we get back to the hotel, miss! That always cheers you up," Razzle offered.
"Yes! And we have the full rainbow available, over two hundred unique colors, all vibrant and just waiting for you to use them!" Dazzle encouraged.
Charlie leaned into Razzle, taking comfort from his red-apricot fluff.
"Thank you both, you're so sweet." A smile formed between her tear-stained cheeks. "But no, there's something I have to do instead."
When they got back to the hotel, she bid them farewell, hugging each goat-demon tightly and kissing them on their fluffy forehead.
She headed to the second floor. It was past eight p.m. She doubted that Alastor was in his office, but regardless she had to try.
Timidly, she knocked on the dark ebony door. Knock. Knock.
A series of creaks coming from behind the door answered her call. A moment later, a low, enticing voice joined in.
"Come in."
She wiped at her eyes and cheeks again for good measure. Her hand clutched the shiny brown knob and turned it slowly. She peeked inside the room.
"Hi Alastor, I didn't expect you to still be in your office," came her soft, hesitant voice.
"Then why did you knock?" He raised an eyebrow at her. His eyes were half-lidded and gleamed with smug amusement. Above his pointed chin, his smile boasted self-assurance.
"Well… I was hoping you would be here. Alastor, I need your help."
His ears peaked with curiosity. "Oh? With what, my dear?"
"It's… Vaggie. She's missing and I can't find her. I said and did awful things to her yesterday, and I'm afraid I'm going to lose her now. Please, will you help me find her?"
At the mention of that insolent chihuahua, his ears deflated and with them, his interest. He thought he'd already been ridden of her.
"Oh." His smile tightened. "Not interested," he flatly responded.
Charlie came into his room and stood before his desk, pleading with her big, honeyed eyes.
"Please, Al! I don't know who else to turn to."
"My dear, you haven't even fulfilled your end of our previous arrangement."
With her this close, he could see that she had been crying. Her cheeks were puffy and her eyes swollen. Had she been crying over that pesky mutt? For some reason, the thought enraged him and tasted bitter. Why is she wasting her time and her emotions on such an undeserving wench?
Her voice pierced through his thoughts. "I know, I know, but I plan to, Al. And this is important! I did something awful. I need to find her and make this right. Please."
He scoffed. "What makes you even think I know her whereabouts?"
"C'mon Al, you're one of the most powerful demons I know! Do you need me to stroke your ego? If anyone can find her, it's you."
"The power to find her lies dormant within yourself as well, my dear."
"Will you teach me how to find her then?" Her eyes gleamed.
He bit his lower lip in amusement. His smile turned into a tight, taunting 'u'.
"Hm, no," he smirked.
Charlie felt exasperated. She couldn't be doing this right now. She didn't have the time. "Then please, please just help me find her! Please, Al, I'm begging you."
Her voice was desperate.
He held a calm, controlled demeanor, but inside his mind was racing.
Now's the perfect moment. I have the heiress desperate and begging for my help. Finally, I can demand whatever payment I want from her. I'll help her with this mere trifle, and in return, seize all that she has. I cannot let such an opportunity pass me by. The only piece on the board unaccounted for is Lucifer. I'll need to ensure he can't harm me for what I'm about to do with his daughter.
But his mind was cloudy. He was seething from an unknown emotion from the way Charlie grieved over that pathetic dog. It hurt and fogged his mind. He couldn't think straight.
How dare that filthy creature mar my lovely Charlie's face with tears and sorrow. She's undone her beautiful smile. How can Charlie still care for her so? I saw the rage and anger she felt last night. That Vagatha must have hurt Charlie dearly.
So why is Charlie grieving for her? Why is she willing to give up so much, just to talk to that wench? She wouldn't be nearly as anguished if it was instead I who had left.
Why does that thought hurt so much?
"Very well," he heard himself say, but he still hadn't come to a decision.
He'd make her forget that girl. What had she ever done for her? Alastor had broadcasted her message across all of Hell, had summoned new residents for her, had unlocked hidden powers within her.
"I will help you locate the girl. But in return, you must do something for me."