Chapter 9: Little One

Disclaimer:I do not own any of the Hazbin Hotel characters/properties and I am not attempting to say that I do while making this fictional, and fan-made, story. They are owned by Vivziepop.

Chapter Warning(s): N/A

A/N: I would like to apologize for my absence. There has been a lot going on in my personal life and that was the reasoning as to why I have been gone for so long. From moving across country, to both mine and my husband's jobs deciding not to pay us, to starting traditional 2D animation school. That being said, there is still, obviously, a lot I am dealing with so I will not be able to post on a weekly schedule like before. With my current schedule I should be able to make posts every two weeks, but even that is not set in stone at the moment. I humbly ask for your patience at this time while I try to figure things out and get back to a normal life/schedule.

Now, without further a-do, please enjoy the chapter as I have been waiting to get this major tuning point out into the world!

Alastor slowly laced his fingers among the fabric of the curtains of his and Charlie's hotel suite. Pulling the fabric slightly to the side, his red eyes peered out down to the newly stationed mob of reporters outside of the hotel's entrance.

The damned hyenas have repeatedly tried to get interviews and testimonies from himself and Charlie. Their numbers only multiplying with the two's continued silence regarding the incident that had taken place the other day.

Yes, his Blood Rite had activated, calling the Radio Demon to action when he sensed the truest intentions of that young demon. The hotel's carport transforming into his grave site. However, even though the pain of their pact burned through him, it was not as intense as it had been before. The pain only registering to a dulling annoyance that he could have easily overcome.

Yet, he did not…

Willingly pushing the girl out of the way and into the Hotel's lobby. Choosing to stand between that cowardly weapon and her fleeting life. Alastor, nearly shuttered at the memory of his heart racing at the potential threat. The heat behind his eyes as he looked upon the demon assailant who had wished to do the princess harm. The catch of his breath as he had seen the weapon pointed at her.

But why?

Why was this affecting him so differently? Alastor had witnessed murders in the past, even conducted a vast majority of them himself. Yet, to imagine Charlie dead made him uneasy as a hardened grip set into his jaw.

Perhaps it was the Blood Rite?

Alastor had much experience with other types of blood magic, however this particular casting was still fairly unknown to him. Did the original call-to-action pain subside due to the magic's will being permanently transferred into the afflicted's body. Changing their core personality and beliefs on a fundamental level.

Yes, that must have been what was happening…

"Are they still outside?"

The Radio Demon drew his attention back into the sitting room of his and Charlie's shared quarters. The princess, who had asked about the reporters, sat in the singular seated armchair across from where he stood. Her large doe eyes continued to look over her shoulder before refocusing on him. Her hands ran across her arms as she shivered and coiled into herself once again. The fact that one of her own citizens had attempted to kill her was not sitting well. Her fragility growing the longer they stayed locked in that damned suite. Not only that, but that dammed moth had apparently not been returning the princess' calls or messages. Spiraling the girl downward even more.

"I'm afraid so my dear. Do not fret. I am sure we will be allowed to leave in due time."

After the assassination attempt, Lucifer had sent word to the two of them to remain within the hotel walls until the foreseeable future. The King of Hell had been looking further into the matter and needed them to stay put for the time being.

Alastor rolled his eyes at the thought of Lucifer keeping him inside the hotel with such a simple command. The Radio Demon had made many trips outside without anyone's notice. Always arriving back to his parlor room arrangements in time to not arouse suspicion.

While on one of these outings, Alastor discovered that Charlie's near demise actually stirred a bit of an uproar. Though, not in a way that the dear princess would have taken kindly too. Instead of supporting their princess and being grateful that she was alright. They, of course, did what the low lives sent to this burning world did best and were upset that she was not done in.

Alastor, not one to care about the politics of their world before this current endeavor, was a little surprised to find that no one favored the heir. He was not naive enough to believe that everyone would support her, that would be simply unrealistic. But surely at least a few people would have cared. Yet, there was none.

Not a single one.

This made the girl's life a rather sad and pitiful one. Even he had a handful of individuals who enjoyed his company, and he was much more deplorable than she.

"Do you really think so?" Charlie's small voice brought Alastor from his thoughts. "Do you really think my father will send word soon?"

Alastor moved away from the window and took a step towards his betrothed. She tried to hide her fidgeting with him drawing near. He clearly noticed and decided to sit in the seat that he was closest to. Cutting his movement forward and putting her back at ease.

"I'm sure he has his reasons for making us wait."

Just then, a quiet knock came rapping on the door. Charlie ducked down in her single chair and attempted to merge herself as much as she could into the furniture's cushions. Alastor stood and made his way pass Charlie and to the front door of their suite. The hotel for which they were confined were under strict orders to not allow anyone on their floor, even going so far as to relocating all other guests into different accommodations. Knowing this, the person on the other side must have been a hotel staff member. However, if it was not, and someone else had managed to slip passed security. Then they would be receiving a quite displeased Overlord.

Pulling the door open in one fluid motion, red eyes glance down to a small blue and black cat demon. A red bell boy uniform was sloppily draped on his thin body. His wabbling knees were visible as he reached out and handed Alastor a small piece of folded paper.

"Telegram…f-for you and-" His big green eyes dared to passed Alastor and try to peek inside of the room. The Radio Demon's anger suddenly flared, sending his eyes into tight dials. In Charlie's unstable state, the last thing the Overlord needed was for her to see another demon glancing passed him and at her.

The cat demon snapped his attention back to Alastor. His shaking even more prominent now at the reaction received by the Overlord. Snatching the small paper from the cat's hand, Alastor quickly shut the door. Signaling that his services were done, and he was able to remain breathing another day.

Turning from the door, Alastor walked back to the sitting room. Glancing down to the paper in his clawed hand, he silently read the message written on it. Putting a few long fingers against his face, Alastor began to chuckle to himself.

"What is it? What does the note say?" Charlie, who was peeking over the chair's back at him, said. Her small hands clutching the couches' edge.

"Please pardon the expression but speak-of-the-devil! Your father had made arrangements for us to move along to the next region within the campaign's tour."

Charlie rose from the chair and, for the first time in several days, approached him. Her eyes were still pointed down to the floor and her hand clutched at her arms nervously. "When do we leave?"

"Within the hour."

XoXoXoXoX

Cherri bomb knocked quietly on a door in the Happy Hotel. The red sun blazing down on her skin from the open window to her right.

"Yes? Come in." Came a call from the other side. Cherri immediately opened it and came face to face with Vaggie. The grey skinned girl instantly went red in the face when seeing who had entered her room.

Closing the door quickly behind her, Cherri made her way to the smaller demon in only a few short strides. Raising a hand to Vaggie's cool skin, Cherri leaned in close to the girl's face, placing a steady but soft kiss on her grey lips.

Vaggie pulled away quickly, covering her lips with her hands. Her skin warm with the flushing blood in her cheeks. "No, this has to stop!"

"You seriously still thinking about that little sugar-princess?" Cheri's voice was playful as her finger's twirled within Vaggie's long hair. "I mean it has been how long since you started to ignore her calls and not respond to her messages?"

The moth's one eye looked down to the floor. Her hands clutching at the fabric of her dress. "I know, I just… I can't face her. Not now. I had given her so much grief about Alastor and yet…and yet here I am doing the same thing!" Her hands covered her face, hiding her shameful expression. "I am such a hypocrite!"

Cherri sat the girl down on her bed and then sat next to her. Cherri's arms wrapped around the girl. She had started this relationship as Angel had requested. Vaggie easy prey as her own broken heart was yearning for something to fill it once again. However, the past few days Cherri began to sense something more. A heart break of her own whenever Vaggie began to weep. A joy that would explode like the sun at the moth's smile. An urge to kill at her pain.

"Hey now. Everything is going to be alright. Besides, the way things are, she is going to have her hands full with that crazy demon anyway. You deserve your own happiness."

"But at what cost? She is probably freaking out with that assassination attempt they aired on the news! And I just keep ignoring her because of my own selfish doubts!" Tears began to fall down Vaggie's face.

Cherri's eye narrowed for a moment before quickly relaxing before Vaggie took notice. "Yeah, that assassination attempt was pretty nasty. Good thing Alastor was there to save her and all. That was some power wasn't it? Did you know he could do something like that?"

Vaggie sniffled, her hands wiping her face clean. "No. Not exactly anyways."

That was not good enough. Cherri would have to draw out more. "So, you knew he could do something like that?"

"When the marriage was first announced I did some digging into Alastor, wanting to know what Charlie was getting into. He is extremely private, and covers his tracks, so finding anything about him was nearly impossible. But I was able to scrape up a few accounts and piece them together. Alastor uses some type of Voodoo, or possibly Hoodoo. I don't know exactly what he is capable of, but something like what was shown on the news is something a Voodoo sorcerer would be able to conjure."

Cherri pressed her finger to Vaggie's mouth. Silencing the girl. "It has been a long day, you should get some rest."

Placing another sweet kiss on Vaggie's lips, Cherri pulled the moth with her flat onto the bed. Staying with her and talking about more lighthearted and daydream like things until the maid finally dosed off the sleep.

Carefully removing her arm from below Vaggie's head, Cherri quietly exited the room. A warm and buzzing sensation creeping its way into her chest as she looked at the grey skinned girl one final time. No sooner did the door click shut, Angel Dust crept around the hall's corner. The small flame within her chest quickly becoming doused by her friend's appearance.

"So, what did she say?"

"Alastor uses Voodoo."

XoXoXoXoX

Alastor walk beside his betrothed as they entered the train station. The hounding crowds as pushy as ever as they pawed and Charlie and himself. However, they did seem a little more reserved than normal. Their boisterous shouts more quiet and respectful. Grabby hands now a safe distance away from his cold stare.

"Miss, please. A few words?" One reporter asked Charlie. His voice trembling as his solid black eyes darted between Charlie and Alastor.

Charlie gave a fearful look before stepping forward and away from the safety of Alastor's side. Approaching the reporter, she took in a deep breath, her slight quivering starting to ease. "Yes…what is your question?"

The reporter took a few steps closer to Charlie as he pulled and old notepad and pen from his coat pocket.

"I-we-would like more clarification on what happened a few days ago. In your own words-what happened during your assassination attempt?"

Charlie's eyes glanced down for a moment. Biting her lip, Alastor could only guess she was thinking of the best thing to say in this situation. He felt his jaw tighten. The faint sound of buzzing beginning to emit from his being.

"I was attacked." She finally said. "Thankfully Alastor was there to defend me…"

It was vague, and hardly the gossip the reporter was searching for. However, her tale was not false.

"And Alastor, do you have anything to say regarding this-" The reporter's eyes darted back and forth. As if suddenly aware of who he was speaking to and what he was about to ask. "event?"

The Radio Demon scoffed and then chuckled through his growing smile. "Most certainly not." A red clawed hand rose and rested on Charlie's side. He could feel her flinch at first and then slowly ease closer to him.

"I have made my intentions clear about this arrangement from the start. I am quite serious about this arrangement and the assassination attempt has only made my intentions clear to all of Hell's citizens."

The gathering crowd of reporters suddenly rushed forward. Their fear of the Overlord's reaction non-existent as their hands and eyes were hungry for more of the couple. Questions of their private lives and how the two came to be together on the tip of their tongues.

Charlie's body went stiff next to Alastor, her paranoia and unease about the pact they made weighing heavily on her tightening face. His patience growing shorter at the girl's physical response. The sight of her constant shattering form was beginning to greatly displease him. Putting him into a foul mood. She clearly did not know how to answer their prying inquiries, and he was currently in no mood to entertain them further.

"Ah, it seems as though that is all of the time we have at the moment. We must not keep the next region waiting now." Alastor began to guide Charlie away from the crowd and towards the train, his grip on her tightening. The reporters attempted to follow, though they did not dare step a foot inside of their train's cabin once Alastor glared at them from over his shoulder.

Once alone in their private cabin, Alastor removed his hand from Charlie's shoulder and sat promptly down in the closest seat to him. His finger pinching the bridge of his nose in an attempt to ease the tension beginning to settle in his forehead.

Charlie did not immediately sit down, but as the train began to move, she took her seat opposite him. Glancing upward, Alastor could see her thinning form curling into herself. Prominently making herself seem even smaller with the train's seat cushion.

Alastor had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes at the girl's state. Her fragility growing more by the minute now that they were out of the hotel suite. Her weak and timid disposition making her seem less than before. Typically, he would have enjoyed seeing one so isolated and detached. Their weakness playing on his need to hunt and dominate. Yet, seeing her in such a way did nothing of the sort for him. To the contrary, he found himself aggravated and uninspired by her current disposition.

Was she not the Princess of Hell? The sole offspring of the most feared creature of their world? Where was her grit? Her bite? Instead of cowering in fear on a train, she should be going on a rampage through the streets! With her precious citizens trembling at her feet and begging for her forgiveness.

Was she truly so content with allowing everyone to walk all over her?

In his frustration, Alastor let slip a sigh.

"Is there something wrong?"

The Overlord's red eyes shot to Charlie. Her expression, which was still timid and frail, now held concern.

But concern for who? For him? Goodness he hoped not! She would be better off worrying about herself.

"I believe a better question would be, is there something wrong with you my dear?" His hands and back went ridged. "Death is not uncommon here, and yet you shy away and break down at the sight of it. Why?"

It came out harsher than indented, his smile beginning to slip with his annoyance.

Charlie looked away from Alastor's intense gaze, unable to challenge him. "I-Its not exactly the death part that bothers me…" She began to uncoil herself and leaned in closer to him. "It is more so that someone tried to kill me. I know that the Royal Line is not liked or even accepted by everyone here, but I have tried to mend those bridges and bring a new light to my family's name. Clearly these efforts have not been working. It bothers me that they hate me so much that they would rather see me dead…"

Alastor's unblinking eyes never left Charlie's face as she spoke. Of course the demons of this realm would rather see that. Even if they honestly had no other reason than the act itself, and no deeper political intention. But for those with a greater reason, they most assuredly did not like her. She is the embodiment of everything this world is not. A good demon in Hell? Who had ever heard of such a hypocritical thing?

Alastor took in a long breath and shut his eyes in a slow and tactful motion. While he exhaled the breath, a curious and frighting passage escaped along his tongue. One that neither he nor Charlie expected. "Well, you see my dear, they hate you because you give them too much of yourself. You let them see too much of you."

He felt himself lean back a little into the backrest of the seat. One of his hands moved to his mouth, a sharp index finger pointed to the corner of his lips. "Take for instance my smile. Why is it do you think I always have my face this way?"

Charlie's eyes danced with the idea to come back at him with a snarky and sarcastic remark. Her once playful and witty personality returning in their isolation. Her paler than normal face warming to its original color.

The idea of Charlie biting back at him intrigued his curiosity. His eyes narrowed as he wondered what she wished to say. Silently hoping that she would lash out at him if only for the chance to challenge her back or laugh at her attempt to sway him. But he remained still. Silent. Calm. Waiting for her reaction to naturally unfold.

Her playful eyes turned to a hard questioning. Their fire did not diminish, but rather shifted from frivolity to sincerity. Her mind racing with legitimate answers to his previous question.

"Is it because you…hide?" Alastor's eyes widened to their maximum capacity at her response. Static beginning to swirl around them.

"No. 'hide' is not the right word…" A cupped hand went to her chin. Unphased or perhaps blissfully unaware of his murderous intention at her answer. Him, hide? Preposterous!

"Cover? Yes, cover is more of the word I meant to say. You cover your true intentions with the smile. That way no one will be able to know what you are actually thinking or feeling. You are always the same and untouchable."

Alastor swallowed his homicidal intentions and quickly snapped his arms wide in excitement. "That is precisely it darling!"

The Radio Demon moved forward a bit towards her. His long arms resting on his legs to support his upper body as he leaned in. Try as he might, he could not stop the words from flowing from his mouth. The perplexing need to help the girl becoming an unappeasable aspiration.

"You give them to much of yourself doll. The more they see, the more they know. And the more they then know, the more fuel you give them to attack you with. You are simply making things too easy for them!"

Charlie looked away from Alastor's growing and tight smile. Her black eyes full of guilt and understanding as they fixated on the train car's flooring. Good. She was finally getting it.

That was when Alastor's dammed hand began to move on its own again. He himself not even recalling the action until his cold fingers began to take in the warmth of her face. Lifting her chin slowly upward, Alastor forced her to look at him.

"Don't ever look down. You are their ruler, do not ever let them see you as below them."

When her gaze was fixated into a strong stance, he removed his hand. "Also, you should adopt a similar method to my smile. An armor, so to speak. I will not tell you that it should be the same, but you will need something to defend yourself."

The train began to slow, signaling their approach to the South East region's station. The two looked out of the car's window as the industrial landscape of the region came into their view. Tall skyscrapers and smoke pluming factories congesting the landscape.

Alastor cleared his throat and stood in one fluid motion. Drawing Charlie's eye back to him. Summoning his staff, he began to leave her as he made his way towards the car's exit. "After the events that happened with the assassination attempt there will be even more pressure on not only you…but us. We will need to be seen as more unified if we are to keep up this game."

Alastor stopped for a moment, his hand clasping the knob on the car's door. Without looking back at her, he could feel her eyes locked onto his back and he continued. "I will give you time to prepare. But if you are not able to convince me or anyone else of your strength, then do not bother coming out."

Pushing the door open, Alastor made his way to the exit of the train's main platform. The region's fresh-faced reporters already waiting beyond the sealed doors. The flashes of their camera could be seen through the door's windows.

Effortlessly twirling the microphone topped cane through his fingers, Alastor looked down at his hands. He could still feel the warmth of her skin. He could still see her inquisitive and defiant eyes focusing on him has he talked to her. The whole conversation was a bizarre affair. Why had he felt the need to help her? Support her in such a way? The hunger to be apart of her growth gnawing at his stomach, despite the nonviolent advantages or outcomes.

But why?

Why tell her about himself? About his smile. Opening up to her so casually as if it were a natural thing between the two. Allowing her the privilege and knowledge of seeing a glimpse of who he really was.

His attention abandoning his hands, his red eyes began to aimlessly drift around the small room of the train. His mind beginning to wander. He had seen stern and aggressive emotional armors, yet imagining the princess dawn such a persona did not seem to suit her very well. The Radio Demon quickly expelled this image from his mind.

The next idea to come forth was the girl had taken his advice a little too literally and walked through the door with a smile as wide and tight as his. Her eyes squinting and watering at the strain. The imagery was enough to nearly send Alastor into hysterical laughter. He would have to remember that look on her. Truly a comical sight indeed.

He was about to move onto the next possibility when the girl in question walked quietly through the door and to his side. Her worried and nervous expression was still present and Alastor's eyes narrowed. He was about to scold her for coming unprepared when she took in a deep breath to steady herself. Alastor instantly recoiled his sharp remark and watched her silently.

Raising her head, her eyelids were partially closed. Hard and unyielding. The once frail and broken features gone and replaced with an unbending and prideful aura. Her body straight and powerful, the natural color fully returning to her skin. She radiated focus and determination. Even her muddled and pungent scent had cleared to a crisp and refined odor.

And then, she smiled.

It was not wild or enthusiastic like his own, but small and controlled as only the corners of her mouth turned upward. It was cold and calculating. Holding her own dominance while simultaneously demanding the world from everyone who looked upon her.

That was when he saw it. His inevitable and unrequited downfall would be within that smile.

Her smile.

Alastor closed his eyes and leaned towards her. Extending an arm for her to grasp as a wicked smile spread along his own features.

"Are you ready, Little One?" Odd, his throat was suddenly dry.

"Yes, I believe I am." She said, reaching out and looping a hand in the crook of his elbow. Her slender fingers curling around his forearm. Her scent was cool and fresh like the morning air. A scent Alastor believed he would never smell again while in their rotting world. His beast rumbled fiercely against his subconscious, however Alastor could barely hear it. His mind too focused on the girl at his side. His eyes unable to look away.

With a quiet ding, the door slid open to the train's platform. Allowing the betrothed to enter the Southeastern Region together.

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I will get the next one out as soon as I can!

Charlastor Playlist: "Little One": Highly Suspect