During the limo ride to town, Alastor and Rosie chatted merrily about what type of dress Alastor wanted his bride to wear.
Vaggie was held against Alastor's side, but despite that, she was not listening.
Vaggie was looking out the window while covertly looking into the maps in her purse. She had drawn a map of everything she could see and remember. Included among them was a map from downtown back to Alastor's manor.
The map was not perfect, but it was good enough to give Charlie an idea of where to go to find Alastor's home. Vaggie doublechecked the route on her map to make sure of it as they continued on their journey. Fortunately for Vaggie, the further on they drove, the more her map was confirmed to be correct.
Vaggie turned her head towards Alastor and Rosie. Thankfully, the two of them were far too engrossed in their conversation to pay attention to anything Vaggie was doing.
Vaggie smiled in relief as the limo finally entered the downtown area. Once Charlie had these maps, she'd be able to find her and Angel for sure. The only problem was getting them to her.
Unfortunately, the only solution Vaggie could think of was her idea she told Angel. Vaggie would pretend the maps were breakup letters to Charlie and tell Alastor that she wanted Charlie to receive the letters before they went home. By some miracle, Alastor would buy it and use his magic to send the "letters" himself.
This idea was horrible. Vaggie knew it, but she didn't have any better ideas and a bad idea was better than no idea at all. Maybe Alastor would buy it after they chose a wedding dress when he was in too blissfully merry a mood to question anything…
"We're here!" Alastor suddenly yelled catching Vaggie's attention again.
In no time at all, Alastor, Vaggie, and Rosie parked their limo outside a wedding dress emporium.
From the design, Vaggie could tell that it was another store Rosie owned, except it was much bigger. Much, much bigger.
"Here, we are," Rosie said proudly letting herself out of Alastor's limo. "I have more wedding dresses here than in anywhere else in Hell. It'll be impossible to not find what we're looking for."
Alastor's smiled wider and said, "Oh, this will be magnificent. Don't you agree, Vaggie?"
Vaggie immediately perked up and said, "Oh, yes. I can't wait."
"Marvelous," Rosie replied. "Now, if you two will follow me…"
Rosie walked ahead of them while Alastor took Vaggie's arm and walked her to the front doors of the emporium's entrance.
Once they stepped into the door, Vaggie's mouth fell open and her eyes grew wide in shock.
The store was larger than any Vaggie had seen in her own life or even on the TV novellas she watched with her mother. As far as her eye could see, there were wedding gowns from every era of history and every culture, from ancient Mesopotamia to modern, for everyone from Western Europeans to the Aboriginals. Vaggie was absolutely speechless.
"Beautiful, isn't it, darling?" Alastor said smiling delightfully at Vaggie's amazement.
"I've never seen any place like this one," Vaggie said honestly.
Alastor smiled, held Vaggie in a hug, and said, "Well, of course, I only get the best for my perfect bride-to-be."
Vaggie involuntarily grimaced at Alastor's touch and said, "Yeah."
"Alright, lovebirds," Rosie said merrily. "We have a lot of ground to cover, so I say we get to the 1930's section and get to work."
"Right, you are, Rosie," Alastor said letting go of Vaggie. "And since we have so much ground to cover, I say the three of us should split up to look for the perfect dress."
Vaggie froze in shock.
Rosie's face fell nervously for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure and replied, "Alastor, this store is quite large. Vaggie might get…lost…in a store this big. I don't think we should…"
"Oh, Rosie, you worry too much," Alastor interrupted with a chuckle. "We'll all be in the same part of the store. There's no way Vaggie could get lost. Even if she does, she can ask one of your many employees for help. Besides, Vaggie has behaved so well. I think she has earned a little space for herself. Don't you think?"
Vaggie could not believe what she was hearing. Apparently, neither could Rosie.
Rosie walked closer to Alastor as Vaggie stood meekly to the side and pretended not to listen.
In a low voice that she thought Vaggie couldn't hear, Rosie said, "Alastor, normally, I'm not one to question your judgment, but now that we're here in public in a place where she could so easily run away, this would be just the perfect opportunity for her to…"
"Rosie," Alastor interrupted. "I know what I'm doing. You need to trust me. Think of this as a test."
Alastor looked over at Vaggie clearly checking to see if she was listening in. Vaggie quickly turned away and pretended to be looking at a baroque period dress hanging on a rack.
The pair walked away and continued their conversation at a distance Vaggie couldn't listen in from.
It was all Vaggie could do to stand still to not reveal the adrenaline running through her veins. This could be her chance and Alastor and Rosie knew it. She'd have to find a way to outsmart the most cunning kingpins in all of hell.
Psssssssssttttttttt.
A quiet whisper woke Vaggie from her thoughts.
Pssssssssttttttt.
The sound was coming from behind the rack, so Vaggie moved the clothes aside to see Nifty hiding behind them.
"Hi, Vaggie!" Nifty whispered.
"Nifty?" Vaggie said checking over her shoulder just to see Alastor and Rosie still preoccupied with their discussion. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, wow, is that a long story," Nifty said in her quick yet adorable voice. "Okay, not really. A few days ago, Charlie came home all sad and told us what happened and that Alastor had kidnapped you and Angel and she was about to cry so I made her some tea and she drank it and came up with a plan…"
"A plan?" Vaggie interrupted.
"Uh huh," Nifty continued happily snapping pictures of Vaggie on her phone. "Yes, siree. Charlie stood up in her chair and said out loud that she would not give up until you and Angel were safe and sound and that if her Dad wouldn't help you then she'd find you herself if she had to search everywhere in hell. But she didn't know where to start so she got up and started pacing the floor and she paced and paced and paced for a super long time until she had an idea. She said that you and Alastor would have to visit a bridal gown shop at some point so she said that we should all go out and look for you and then follow you home without Alastor seeing so that we could come and save you but Husk didn't wanna come even though Charlie begged and pleaded and begged but Husk still kept saying no. So, Charlie told him he could stay in the hotel and watch over the building while she and I checked out every bridal shop in hell so we could find you. And now, I'm here and I need to call Charlie so if you excuse me…"
"Wait," Vaggie interrupted, opening her purse and handing her the maps that she had made. "Give these to Charlie. These are maps I've made that will show her the way to Alastor's manor and help her navigate the house. Keep these in a safe place and get them to Charlie as soon as you can. Can you do that?"
"Of course," Nifty said as she took the maps and stuck them in the pockets of her dress. "I'm always glad to help. Now, I just need to call Charlie and you'll be peachy keen."
"You'd better go outside to make that call," Vaggie said. "Alastor will be back at any…"
"Did you see something you like, dear?" Alastor asked interrupting Vaggie's thoughts.
Vaggie turned around to look at him and then looked back at the rack where Nifty was standing only to see that she had scuttled away.
"Yes," Vaggie lied as she grabbed a random dress of the rack. "I really like this one. What do you think?"
Vaggie held up a plain, white long-sleeved dress clearly meant for a 16th-century English peasant's wedding. She internally facepalmed, but she kept up her smile and her composure.
"Whatever drew you to these rags?" Alastor asked in disbelief.
"It reminds me of my roots," Vaggie lied.
"But, Vaggie, this dress is so plain and ugly," Alastor said in disgust gently taking the dress and hanging it back on the rack. "It is too primitive-looking for a divine beauty such as yourself. You are going to be a queen and we need to dress you like it."
"If you think that's what's best, dear," Vaggie said as submissively as she could manage.
"Dear?" Alastor said in surprise holding his finger under Vaggie's chin. "That's the first time you've ever used an affectionate nickname with me."
Vaggie gulped nervously and said, "Well, honey, we are getting married…"
Suddenly, Alastor pulled Vaggie into a tight hug, practically knocking the breath out of her.
"Oh, sweetheart, you're finally warming up to me," Alastor said rubbing Vaggie's back. "That makes me so…Nifty?"
Vaggie's heart sank into the floor as she heard Nifty reply, "Alastor?"
Alastor let go of Vaggie and she slowly turned around to see Nifty frozen nervously trying to keep her composure.
"Well, isn't this a surprise?" Vaggie said pretending to be as shocked as Alastor was.
But instead of responding, Alastor silently approached Nifty who simply stood in place and smiled, not giving him any indication that anything was out of the ordinary, despite the fact that it clearly was.
Vaggie's blood ran cold as Alastor leaned down to the little cyclops's level with his unflappable smile, and asked, "My dear, what ever are you doing here?"
Nifty looked at Vaggie who looked back at her with pleading eyes. That wasn't lost on Alastor who quickly turned around to catch Vaggie's expression.
Vaggie's face returned to a relaxed and unconcerned expression, but Alastor was clearly suspicious.
"Oh, man! You know how I like to sew?" Nifty began to ramble excitedly in an effort to ease the tension. "I was just looking at dresses for ideas…"
"Is that so, dear?" Alastor asked putting a hand on Nifty's shoulder.
"It sure is!" Nifty replied happily.
Alastor snapped back upwards, resumed his upbeat tone, and said, "Well, in that case, why don't you help me and Vaggie with our wedding dress shopping? You know that whatever dress we pick will likely need alterations and I can think of no one better for doing those alterations but you. So, what do you say?"
Nifty looked at Vaggie nervously and back to Alastor.
"I would love to," Nifty said. "Yes, sir-ee! Nothing would make me happier, but I couldn't leave Charlie without help at the hotel…"
"Oh, don't worry your pretty little head about that, dearie," Alastor said merrily. "We'll have the alterations done as soon as we pick out the dress. With you and Rosie working together, you'll have the work done just in time for dinner. Charlie will hardly miss you."
"Uh, I guess that's okay," Nifty said saluting happily. "I'm ready for duty."
"Excellent," Alastor said clapping his hands together for emphasis.
"Oh, Alastor!" Rosie called out merrily walking up to the couple with her assistant clad in black following behind her. "My assistant Sybil just brought me the most beautiful wedding dress that you two absolutely must see…Oh, hello there, Nifty."
"Hi, Rosie," Nifty said with a wave.
"Nifty was in the store looking for dress ideas, so I've enlisted her to help you alter the dress tonight," Alastor said in a completely genuine tone that didn't belie any suspicion on the surface. "Isn't that wonderful?"
"Why yes, it is," Rosie replied with an understanding look. "Perfect timing, too. This dress is absolutely perfect."
"Oh, goodie!" Alastor said excitedly. "Let us see it!"
Rosie stepped aside as the assistant held up one of the most beautiful wedding dresses Vaggie had ever seen in her entire life.
The white dress had a bodice, skirt, and short train made of silk. The bodice stopped above the chest while long sleeves of lace embroidered with flowers covered the arms and shoulders and formed a collar at the next and a bow in the back.
Alastor was absolutely stunned. Vaggie would have liked the dress if it wasn't meant for her and visibly grimaced.
"Rosie, that dress is absolutely gorgeous!" Alastor exclaimed before turning to Nifty and Vaggie. "This is it! The perfect dress for my perfect bride! Don't you think?"
"Ooh, it's so pretty!" Nifty cooed as she ran over and touched the fabric.
"It is indeed," Alastor said. "What do you think, Vaggie, my love?"
"It is really nice," Vaggie replied with the best smile she could muster.
"Then, it's settled," Alastor said with a smile as he ushered Vaggie and Nifty towards Rosie and Sybil. "Rosie, why don't you and Nifty take Vaggie to the dressing room to get the dress taken care of? I'll wait out here. It's bad luck to see a bride in her gown before the wedding after all."
"Of course, Alastor," Rosie said carrying the dress with Vaggie and Nifty following behind her.
Vaggie looked at Nifty nervously. Nifty simply flashed a nervous smile as they followed Rosie into the dressing area.