"Angie," Cherri called out rushing into her best friend's arms when she saw him finally leaving the manager's office. "Are they…? Are you…?"
"Nothing's decided yet," Angel said. "I told them about what's been going on with Val, and that my being here will cause problems going forward. The two of them need to decide among themselves what they feel needs to be done." Alastor hummed to himself from where he sat at the bar swirling a snifter of cognac. He did eye the two demons as though waiting for a drama to unfold.
"So you're still here for tonight," Cherri said, feeling relieved that Angel wasn't being kicked out. She wasn't angry with Charlie and her friend. If they had thrown Angel Dust out indiscriminately, then yeah she would have left a few explosive presents to let them know they had been added to her shit list. But the fact that Charlie and Vaggie were open to hearing Angel's side of the story and were at least going to consider it before making any decisions. That meant they wanted to have some idea of what was going on before they came to any conclusions. Placing a hand on Angel's shoulder she guided him upstairs towards his room.
"It's nice to have made my acquaintance with the Bonnie to your Clyde," Alastor stated. Angel gave a small snort of laughter at Alastor's attempt at a compliment, while it was almost flattering to be compared to the legendary duo of wild criminal lovers that headed the Barrow Gang. Their exploits did lead to the creation of the FBI and a rather unfortunate outcome.
"I'd be careful comparing Cherri and me to those two," Angel said, giving a sly smirk. "Things didn't end all that well for them. If memory serves, the two of them were shot to death in a police ambush in 1934." Husk gave an amused laugh at the grimace that spread across Alastor's face as it blushed a flustered shade of red.
Charlie was beside herself after Angel had left the office once he had finished his story. She didn't even know where to even begin, it just felt so overwhelming. When she had originally had planned out this hotel as a rehabilitation center, she had thought it would be so simple. Just encourage demons to stop being sinful and learn how to be better people and maybe...maybe Heaven would be able to accept them. But this...this was a whole lot more than she expected.
She had wanted so much to gather Angel into her arms. Tell him how sorry she was that this was what he had experienced, that she wished she had found him sooner, that she had come up with this hotel sooner. But it was already taking a lot for him to admit all this to them as it was. And to graciously offer to leave if it meant sparing them and everyone else at the hotel from the dangers that follow him. Even Vaggie was rendered speechless at that. Both of them knew he wasn't admitting any of this because he was being selfless or because he trusted them. He was doing it because they had to know...and it was better to have things in the open now vrs having them revealed once things became too problematic.
Vaggie came over and ran her hand over her girlfriend's back. The gray-skinned girl wasn't fighting back tears like Charlie was, but that didn't mean she wasn't affected by everything Angel had told them.
"I was wrong," Charlie said emotion thick in her chest.
"You weren't wrong Charlie," Vaggie said. "Okay, perhaps seeking redemption is more complicated than just agreeing to rectify your behavior. But isn't that why we needed a test subject for this project."
"But still…" Charlie said. "This changes a lot of things. It shows that I don't know or understand those I see as my subjects...I don't know my people as well as I think I do. I mean I know there are demons in Hell who are not good people and don't want to change. I get that...if the world was free of sin there would be no reason for Hell to exist. Still, there are so many others who were good people...maybe not completely good. But they weren't monsters. It's those people I want to help...it's those souls who hold regrets for their actions or feel they were brought to this world unfairly. They are the ones I feel deserve a second chance to prove they are worthy of Heaven."
"Even if you had been aware that redemption was complicated," Vaggie pointed out. "Do you honestly think he would have just told you about all that was going on? He didn't even tell Cherri about any of this. The only reason she knows anything is that she figured out that something was going on and demanded that he tell her. He also said Valentino has eyes everywhere, so even if you hadn't revealed he was a patron of this hotel. He would eventually have been found here regardless of how he tried to prevent that. He knew danger would follow him if he did this."
"Maybe…" Charlie sighed. "The one thing I know for sure is I can't have him leave. Keeping him here isn't possible because that would bring Valentino here looking for him. Still...he is a patron of this Hotel, and by him agreeing to be here I made him a promise that I would help him in any way possible. I still feel I owe him that much. I just wish I knew what I should do."
"We've been through a lot," Vaggie suggested. "And we have a lot to process. Why don't we have some dinner made and approach everything in the morning?"
There was no talking as the two of them arrived in the room. Angel seemed to emotionally crumble as he sat down on the bed his two-colored eyes staring into space
"Will you be alright?" Cherri asked in concern.
"This is the first time…" Angel said as he rubbed at his eyes. "This is the first time I've actually gone out and told someone what's been going on."
"I know it was hard doing this," Cherri said as her mouth spread into a smile. Words couldn't express how proud she was that he had even had the willingness to even inform the two girls about what was going on. "But they did need to know the truth. It's better that they heard it from you now, before things happen and I have to tell them everything you can't bring yourself to say."
"That don't get me out of the studio though," Angel exhaustedly sighed. "I still need to keep up appearances there...otherwise Val's gonna come here looking for me and he will be in the mood to skin me alive." Cherri settled next to him placing a hand on his back. Letting him know she was there if he needed her. He acquiesced by leaning his head onto her shoulder but still didn't give into tears. He wasn't afraid of breaking down in front of her. Cherri was the only person he trusted to that degree. That didn't mean he didn't feel like shit because he needed to cry in front of anyone, though that was likely the New York tough-guy persona that he liked to put on talking. He was used to the name-calling and taunts such as slut, fag, lanky-filly, whore...it didn't bug him because he had learned to tune them out. He was used to the rebukes. But still Val's words the one time he had managed to see tears form in his eyes.
"I like seeing you in tears, Angel Cakes, it makes you look so breakable. Tears also make you look like the little bitch that you are. You don't cry when you are fucked! They don't pay for tears! You smile and enjoy it like a good little whore."
Angel had refused to allow anyone to see his tears ever since. It didn't matter if he was alone in his room and didn't have to worry about Val or whoever seeing him cry. It felt like he was giving them the satisfaction of knowing they got to him. Like he was accepting they had succeeded in breaking him. That was why he only allowed his tears to fall when he was in the shower wherever he called home. While he knew he was crying. He could still make himself believe it was just the warm water of the shower running down his face and not the bitter salted liquid flowing out of eyelids.
The only time he had openly cried in front of Cherri the two had been sharing a bottle of wine at his old apartment. Cherri had come over as someone he could vent to about his work life and how Val was giving him a hard time. What he didn't tell her was that Val had assaulted him in the limo that day. It wasn't a full-on rape, fortunately. The taller demon had only forcibly kissed him along with a lot of groping, and not so subtle promises of what would occur later.
During their conversation, a single tear had slipped unbidden down his cheek. He had brushed it away, but not in time to prevent Cherri from seeing it. More tears quickly followed the first and refused to stop. Cherri didn't say anything as he felt all the pent-up pain and frustration crash into him. She hadn't pulled him into a hug or anything that she believed he would take as physically intrusive, but she had tried to comfort him by lightly taking hold of his arm when he had rolled away onto his side so he wasn't facing her in this state of shameful helplessness. He had spent the rest of that evening curled in a ball with the heels of hands pressed painfully against his eyes, mentally cursing the ceaseless tears as they flowed all the while spitting out more than a few Italian cusses at this display of weakness. Cherri continued to remain his silent companion, as she lay down on her back next to him. One hand resting on his spine to let him know she was there. The yellow x-shaped pupil of her single red eye watching him with pained concern.
That had been the only time he had cried in front of someone. He was grateful it was Cherri who had been with him and not a random John or one of his exclusive clients.
"Will you be okay here by yourself for a bit," Angel moved his head from off her shoulder allowing Cherri to get up. "I'll go let your other housemates know that I'm here, they don't need any more surprises today."
"Yeah," Angel said as he tiredly slumped over so he was sprawled across the bed. His head resting against the pillow. "It's not like I'm going to go very far the rest of the night."
"So is it true?" Summer asked as the three of them got ready in the dressing room.
"Is what true?" Angel asked the female cat demon as he got into costume. He was slipping into a frilly pink peasant blouse and short pleated skirt. They were doing another film shoot. In this film, Angel was playing the role of a naughty "schoolgirl" who had been caught entertaining sexual congress with one of his schoolmates. So the principal had called him to his office to receive some "discipline" only to find the person he was punishing wasn't actually a girl. The plot of that movie was eerily familiar to something he had experienced when he had been alive. A memory he didn't fully recall but was probably better repressed.
"Is it true that you're leaving?" Dia asked. The red-skinned succubus's sultry eyes watching him intently. "Val was talking to Vox about overhearing you say you've been wanting to leave for a while." A chill ran down Angel's spine. Those had been words he had said to Charlie when he had told them what was happening to him a couple of nights ago.
"The truth is I had been wanting to leave Val for a while."
But how could he have heard that? Could it be Vox spying on them, or Velvet...both? Vox did control a number of companies including the one connected to their Hellphones, computer systems, and security. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to have bugged either Angel's phone, hacked into the security cameras to spy on them. Heck, his visit the other day could have been just a distraction so a wiretap could be put in. Even though Vox himself was aware of the abuse Valentino put his star performers through and participated in these abuses himself. The T.V. Demon was ironically also a victim of Val's abuse, which often led to conflicts in their relationship. Then there was Velvet. Still, he didn't believe she needed much motivation to have a doctor a recording or a photo to please her "dad's" by causing a scandal.
"No, I'm not leavin'," Angel firmly said. The door to the dressing room opened slightly.
"Places in 'ten', Angel" A stage-hand called knocked before calling through the door.
"Be right there," Angel called back to let him know he understood he was needed on set, before turning his attention to the tan-furred cat demon and red-skinned succubus. "Look, I'll clear it up with Val later today."
Cherri had just finished unpacking her stuff in the hotel and settled down onto her new bed. Angel was right, it wasn't much but the space was good. At least she didn't need to pay rent, so that was a plus...and her best friend lived a few doors down from her so they were practically next-door neighbors.
Speaking of Angel, while she was proud that he had spoken to Charlie and Vaggie about everything that was going on. That still didn't change much. Charlie had informed him the next day that he was welcome to stay at the hotel if he desired, it was to be fair the safest place he could be. The four of them had discussed ideas and solutions about what to do going forward. Which didn't lead to much, unfortunately.
All suggestions of Angel leaving the studio either by requesting an extended vacation or taking a break from the studio for a while were automatically off the table. Val agreed to everything that Angel was requested to participate in, it was all money to him. So he called the shots, besides he had already given his star performer two days off. Val would rip him into pieces if he asked for more time.
Sick leave also wasn't an option since he had them working even with Hell's variation of the Norovirus. And it would be a little too convenient for Angel to call in sick so soon after a day off.
Charlie wisely didn't suggest contacting Valentino and trying to explain why she needed Angel. It was obvious to anyone he was not the sort of person to be reasoned with. He only spoke and understood two languages, money and violence. If he couldn't get money, he answered with violence. And it was for that same reason, Angel couldn't just 'not' show up. He had to keep up appearances there to keep Valentino from suspecting anything. Though something seemed to tell them all that Val didn't just suspect, he knew Angel was trying to escape. The only reason he wasn't punishing the pornstar was that he was toying with him, trying to see how far Angel would take this. He wanted to see when Angel would try to run, so he could be there when it happened.
"Knock knock," Charlie said lightly knocking her fist against the door. She was maintaining her usual chipper attitude, but it felt more subdued than it usually was. "How are you finding your room?"
~She's worried about him, too~ Cherri mentally smiled in appreciation.
"It's comfortable," Cherri stated. "Cosier than my old apartment, but at least I'm closer to Angie."
"You love him…don't you," Charlie said as she sat down next to the bomber girl. The female-cyclops nodded as she closed her single eye, a sad smile forming on her face.
"I care about him, yes," Cherri admitted. "He's like an older brother to me...I mean I do love him more as a brother, but I know he wouldn't love me in that way...And I'm fine with that...I just want him to be happy and I know there is probably some guy out there in Hell who could honestly love him. You've probably noticed he's kind of messed up when it comes to relationships because almost every guy he meets either bed's him or hurts him. While he is suspicious and stand-offish to anyone who wants to be friendly to him. I don't think he even knows what a loving relationship even is anymore. But just thinking about what that monster does to him, what he forces him to do, I...It hurts me..." Cherri put a hand to her face to catch a sob as her shoulders shook. Charlie caringly wrapped an arm around the other girl's shoulders.
"If Angie would allow me to," Cherri continued "I'd shove a grenade so far up Valentino's ass that I could reach down his throat and rip out the pin. I literally want to strap him to a nuke and throw him into an active volcano. I know he's dangerous and Angie wants to protect me from him...but I...I don't care. What I care about is what he's going through. If I can spare him that I would…Sorry to sound like a sappy YA novel, but I would give my life for him if I needed to. One of the things we do when we engage in fights is we look out for each other in everything because that is how much we mean to one another. Silly huh...demons protecting each other. I want to protect and defend him from what Valentino is doing, because I know if our roles were reversed he'd do the same for me. But he's just too proud to admit he needs help and I'm worried that it might be too late."
"It's never too late," Charlie said reassuringly. "Angel knows Valentino better than you or I do, so he knows how dangerous he can be. But I know there has to be a solution to get him out of Valentino's hands, even if it's only temporarily, our main goal is to get him away from the studio and away from Valentino. The rest is to be determined."
"Thank you," Cherri smiled leaning against Charlie.
"Val," Angel called out his boss's name in a measured tone. "What's this I hear about you spreading rumors about me leaving?"
"Angel Cakes," Valentino purred the name dangerously. "You know me well enough to know I have eyes and ears everywhere. You think I wouldn't notice that your girly-friend has conveniently joined that happy little family of housemates you appear to be surrounding yourself with."
"I'm not her fucking keeper," Angel attested "What she does is up to her.
"Maybe so Angel dear," Valentino said as he stood up. "But remember the more people you come to know and surround yourself with. The more who will be taken from you, the more who will betray you and abandon you when you no longer matter. Remember all those decades where it was just you alone before that bomber girl blasted her way into your life. Every day having to crawl, beg, starve, and allow yourself to be fucked up the ass in order to get by on the streets of the city. You want to go back to that...or do you want to go crawling back to daddy dearest? I'm sure the Don would love seein' his bitch-ass son again. You know as well as I that you don't hold any winning cards in this little game you and I are playing. Your only choices are to play out your hand until you lose, or fold and end your participation." Before Angel could react the Moth had lunged forward grabbing a hold of Angel's jacket. The pornstar gasped in pain as he felt himself being lifted off the ground.
"NOW!" Valentino snarled venomously. "LISTEN UP YOU SCRAWNY, GARBAGE-MOUTHED, SNIVELING, LITTLE GUTTER RAT! YOU ARE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR, I MADE YOU WHO YOU ARE! I OWN YOU! IF IT WASN'T FOR ME, YOU'D BE STILL AT THAT CASINO SUCKING OFF COCKS FOR CHUMP CHANGE! I'D EXPECT YOU TO BE MORE GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING I'VE DONE FOR YOU!" The moth threw Angel Dust to the floor before planting one heeled boot into the center of the smaller demon's spine, painfully threatening to perforate Angel's spinal cord.
"Instead all I get from you is sass talk," Valentino growled. "Backtalk, resistance, and disobedience you ungrateful little bitch! You better hope you do exactly what I tell you to do...from here on. No sass, no complaints." Angel let out a cry of pain as Val pressed his boot harder into his spine. "Unless you want to spend the next month in that special room...the special room I keep only for...you!"