"Mmm, this is really good, Alstor," I said before taking another bite of jambalaya.
Alastor's cooking was surprisingly good. I honestly didn't think he was a Sheff himself until now.
"Why thank you, my dear," he said as he gave Angle Dust a bowl of jambalaya.
I watched as he gave everyone else a bowl. They all started eating and thankfully they all enjoyed it. I was not really in the mood to hear someone complain right now, especially since I've got a lot of work to do after this, so the peace and quiet is nice right now. But we'll see how long that's gonna last.
Alastor then sat down at the table and started eating the food that he's prepared after everyone else had food infront of them. I had to admit that Alastor wasn't. . . as bad as I thought. Though I still kept a close eye on him, just in case.
I went to take another bit of jambalaya but stopped as soon as I heard a knock on the door. I dropped my fork and turned my head looking down towards the lobby.
A massive grin on my face thinking it was someone wanting to redeem themselves. I instantly jumped out of my chair and ran towards the door. I grabbed the door knob, turned it to the right and opened the door.
"Hello and welcome to The Happy Hotel!" I said with a huge smile on my face.
"Why thank you princess," the demon spoke sounding as if they were talking through a microphone.
I looked at him, my smile didn't disappear but rather stayed put as I inspected him. He wore a brown tuxedo with brown dress shoes. He had short brown hair with eyes as yellow as stage lights, while the right side of his face was red and looked burnt so was some of his hair. Something I couldn't help but notice was that he had a visible microphone in his throat and a red X was seen on the left side of his neck.
I noticed he was grinning right at me, the same way Alastor did earlier today, but I didn't feel frightened by this guy, but rather nervous. He had his arms behind his back as he with his sharp teeth were exposed. Unlike Alastor's they were gray looking.
"Are you going to let me in your highness?" He asked me politely.
I nodded unable to speak before moving out of his way so he can enter the hotel. I watched as he walked inside the building. I noticed that he wore brown gloves, his fingers were like mine rather than long claws like Alastor's. I watched as he looked around the hotel.
"My my, what a lovely hotel you have here," he said his voice sounding in excitement.
"T-thanks," I said nervously as I closed the door.
I kept a close eye on him. I was curious of why he was here at this point of time. It was odd but that's normal down here.
"I take it you've seen the news?" I asked him with a nervous smile on my face.
"Yes I did, princess and I must say it was the most interesting thing I've seen since I arrived her in Hell!" He said as he threw his arms in the air.
"Riiiight, is that in a good way or-"
"I mean it in the best way possible, which for you, I'd say is one out of a million."
I looked at him and blinked, unsure what to say. He chuckled at me before walking and looking around the hotel. I followed him since it was my hotel and my responsibility.
"May I ask why you are here?" I asked him as he started walking up the stairs towards the hallway of different rooms.
He laughed at me, something I was tired of hearing already, before he answered my question.
"Come on princess you own a hotel that redeems sinners and you can't think of one reason of why I'm here?"
I looked at him with a blank expression on my face. It then went from blank to sad and nervous in a second as I already knew the answer to my question, but still asked anyway.
"Are you here to redeem yourself?" I asked him while rubbing my arm as I looked down at my feet.
"No, your highness or in this case your lowness," he said while laughing a high pitched laugh.
I tried to hold back my tears as another soul came to the hotel and turns down the opportunity of redemption. . . in one day. I looked up at him as the laughing stopped and his smile faded as he looked down at me with a look of concern.
"Look, kid. I'm not a good person by any means, but I'm not heartless, so I'm sorry for not being the sinner that wants to redeem himself, he said in a comforting tone.
I looked up at him, tears running down from my eyes to my cheeks. He actually looked hurt which shocked me.
"Why did you come here if you aren't looking for redemption?" I asked while sobbing.
The demon's smile returned to his face as he leaned forward and held out his right hand with his left hand resting on his side. I looked at him in confusion; he then looked down for a few seconds before his smile grew.
"Hi, I'm, Andy and I wish to help you redeem these poor damned souls," he said while looking directly into my eyes.
I gave him a look of anger and frustration. Tears running down my cheeks but it didn't change my attitude towards him.
"Look, I know that you think that this hotel is stupid and a waste of time but. . . wait what?" I asked unsure what I just heard.
"Help! Is that a word you ever heard before?" he asked me with a grin on his face.
"A few times actually."
"Then this shouldn't be surprising now should it princess?"
"N-no," I said as I hung my head down low.
"But, unlike everyone else, I actually mean it."
I raised my head up and looked at him in shock and confusion. He just smiled at me with his yellow eyes. His grin was as red as blood. I didn't feel threatened with him like I did with Alastor, but I was unsure if he actually wanted to help me or not. But I was about to find out.
"Okay, Andy. You're creepy as fuck but since I don't feel threatened by your presence and you seem like you really want to help, I'll give you a chance, but first I need you to promise to follow my rules and orders. . . if I give you any," I said with a nervous smile.
He looked at me, that smile still visible on his face. I couldn't help but notice that he didn't offer to make a deal with me.
"Does that sound fair?" I asked him while putting my hands together and twiddling my thumbs.
"Well you are a princess after all, so you should have some authority," he said before walking off and looking around the hotel some more.
"Y-yeah, you're absolutely right. . . though let's not have too much," I said as I caught up with him.
"How many?"
"What?" I asked him in confusion.
"How many, guests do you have?"
"Oh, well-"
"Non counting, Angel Dust."
I once again held my head down low as I said, "Zero."
"Well that just won't work," he said in a loud voice. "If you want people to redeem themselves than we need at least a few volunteers to help get the idea going," he said in a proud and joyful tone.
I went to say something but stopped as soon as I saw him teleport away. I gave a look of confusion before he came back with three sinners.
"What the absolute Fuck, Andy!" one of them yelled in anger.
He just smiled at her, his hands were behind his back as he stared at her. I watched as she threw her temper tantrum. She had green skin with orange eyes and short blue hair. She wore a deep purple t-shirt with black shorts and purple boots. She also wore black fingerless gloves.
"Glad you can make it, sweetie," he said with his smile still on his face.
"I ain't your fucking sweetie," she snapped at him.
He looked at her as his smile widen while tilting his head.
"No, but you are my responsibility kiddo."
"I'm not a kid, I'm. . ."
"Seventeen," he said, interrupting her.
She frowned at him as her face turned yellow in anger. Her hands clenched into fists as steam was coming out of her ears. She stood on her tippy toes, so they were face to face.
"I've been here for four years now, so don't call me a kid or else I'll tare that microphone out of your throat!" she threatened him, but it didn't seem to phase him.
"Oh my dear Emily, we're not her for that," he said as he patted her head.
She growled at him before pushing his hand away from her. He kept smiling at her. No matter what, he never stopped smiling. Like Alastor, but his was different.
"Umm are you going to t-tell us why we-we're h-here?" asked a shy looking rabbit.
"Good question, John," said Andy before walking towards him.
I looked at John as he nervously looked up at Andy. His fur was brown with a hint of red while his eyes were black with red pupils. The only thing of clothing he wore was only a black bow tie and black shorts. His ears were huge while his whiskers looked like they were cut into his face, giving them a blood red color.
"You are here for a very important project," he said in the same tone he's had when he walked into the hotel.
"What kind of project?"
"I'm glad you asked, Bridget," he said with excitement in his voice.
I looked at Bridget, studying and inspecting her from head to toe.
She was a fox demon. Her fur was bright red with black eyes and red pupils. She wore a black t-shirt with blue shorts.
"Look around you, Bridget. Where are we? Who do you see?" he asked her in a formal tone.
I felt my skin crawl while my blood curdled as I saw and felt Bridget's eyes stare at me. Pretty soon John and Emily's eyes were staring me down, making me blush in embarrassment as I rubbed my arm nervously.
"Is that the princess of Hell?" Bridget asked.
He nodded before looking at me with a grin on his face. I looked away so I wouldn't make eye contact with him. I could tell he was still staring at me, even when he wasn't talking directly to me.
"Yes its, and I'm going to help her with this beautiful thing she's trying to do," he said calmly, making my eyes burst wide open.
I looked at him, my face full of confusion. His grin grew wider as he kept his eyes directly on me. He knew that he had my curiosity, but now he has my attention. I looked at him full of confidence, not wanting him to believe I was scared or nervous or anything but confident and serious. His grin didn't leave his face nor did it grow as he had me right where he wanted me, and so did I.
Bridget took her eyes off of me and looked up at Andy.
"Sooo, what does that mean for us?" she asked him.
"The way I see it, you can either help out with the hotel by signing people in and listening to their confessions or you can be the first sinners to be redeemed at this fine establishment," he said sounding like a showman.
"Wait, what? That's why we're here; to redeem ourselves?" asked Bridget.
"Oh fuck no, I'm not going to waste my fucking time on something that's literally impossible!" Emily yelled in anger as he face turned bright yellow.
"You don't have to, kiddo," he said smiling at her. "You can help out with the hotel, if you don't wish to purify your soul."
Emily just glared at him before blinking a few times.
"There's a bar down stairs," he told her in a bribing voice.
Emily's eyes widened as she stood up in shock. She looked at me as she pointed at Andy. I nodded confirming that he was telling the truth. She sighed before hunching in defeat.
"Ughhhhh, fine, but I'm still doing my usual shit and don't expect me to be nice," she said before standing up and crossing her arms.
"Great, now; what about you two furries? What's your choice?"
Bridget and John looked at each other before looking back at Andy and shrugged.
Andy tilted his head and gave them a confused smile. John looked down at his feet while rubbing the back of his neck nervously while Bridget had her hands behind her back while standing on her tippy toes.
"Well, I don't know if there's anyone waiting for me in Heaven," said Bridget.
"Awe," I said feeling sad for her.
Andy grinned at me before looking back at the fox demon.
"Well you never know, there might be that special someone waiting for you up in the clouds," he said in a soft and gentle tone.
"But what if there isn't?" she asked, not looking at him.
Andy just smiled as he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"If there isn't you can always start a family. I'm pretty sure Heaven is filled with millions of different people who just want to settle down with someone like you," he said making her blush through her fur.
"O-okay, I'm in," she said while stuttering as she tried not to giggle.
Andy smiled at her as if she was his own little girl before turning his attention to John.
"What about you, John?"
"I don't know. I'm not really a guy happy with change," he said while scratching his right ear.
"If that's true then why are you here, doc?" he asked the rabbit demon.
John's eyes widened at Andy's question. He was about to yell at him but immediately backed down and just looked at him nervously.
"I don't want to talk about it," he said not looking at the demon that was staring him down with his bright yellow eyes and his blood red smile.
Andy nodded before turning around and saying in a charismatic tone of voice, "Okay then, you can just be a staff member if you don't want too-"
"Wait!" John yelled getting his attention.
"Yes, John?"
"If it's possible, would that mean that I'll be able to see her again?" he asked him.
I looked at him with my tears in my as I was curious who he was talking about but also felt sad for him even though I don't know who "her" is. Andy looked at me once again smiling at me before looking over at John.
"Why yes it does, John. Besides it's the only place a girl like her can end up after death, is it not?" he asked sounding as if he was in control of the situation.
"It is," said John in a voice that made him sound like a curious five year old.
"Then if I were you, I would join the side of redemption then the side of sin and addiction," he said raising his open hand in the air and closing it into a fist.
John looked at him with a blank expression on his face before looking down at the ground, his face now full of sadness. He kicked a random cigarette that was on the floor with his left foot before nodding his head. Andy probably sensed it since his smile turned into a smirk as he put his hand down by his side.
"Great, that's two out of three but don't you worry, your highness; she'll come around," he said in a happy tone.
Emily rolled her eyes while her arms were crossed. Andy chuckled at her before turning his attention to me. I smiled at him while jumping up and down in excitement.
"My my, what a sudden change in behavior princess," he said with a smirk.
I nodded while squealing in excitement. How could I not with two hotel guests and a new staff member. Andy grinned as he looked directly into my eyes. It was a little weird but I didn't say anything.
"You're welcome princess," he said making me smile some more.
I was about to say something when a certain white and gray haired demon called out my name.
"Charlie, there you are. Who was that at. . . the door?"
I smiled at her but got nervous when she pulled out her spear and pointed it at Andy.
"Vaggie, that's not necessarily," I said trying to get her to put her weapon down.
Andy just smiled at her, just like Alastor he was not phased by having a spear pointed at his face.
"Ahh, the girlfriend; it's nice to meet you, Vaggie," he said while smiling at her as if he knew her already.
Vaggie wasn't phased by his words and pushed the tip of the spear closer to his face; it pratcally touched his nose. But his smile never left his face. It stayed there as if it was glued on; while Alastor's was like a symbol, Andy's was like a sign, a message.
"Umm, again that's not necessarily," I said chuckling nervously as I tried to pull Vaggie's arms down, and gett the spear out of Andy's face.
"You're right princess," he said in a loud voice. "Now if you would please put that beautiful weapon of yours down so we can talk."
Vaggie put her spear down but glared at Andy. He just smiled at her like a complete psychopath. Vaggie glared at him not sure what to say or do at this point but I believe that she had some ideas.
"Now back to business, you know that is one of my specialties."
"Okay," I said a bit confused about his change in behavior.
He still smiled at me before turning around and walking down the hall. Vaggie and I followed with my new staff member and two guests right behind us.
"So, what is it exactly you're doing right now?" I asked while tilting my head.
"Looking around the place and listing notes," he replied not looking at me.
"Ugh, what kind of notes?"
"You'll see when I'm done princess," he replied with a huge smile on his face that made him look like a two year old.
I just nodded as I continued to follow him. I was unsure what his methods were and how exactly he plans to play along but I'll just have to wait and see. After six minutes we made it to the end of the hallway where Andy made a complete stop. It was so random that I almost bumped into him but I managed to catch myself before I could.
"Andy, is something. . . Wrong?"
Suddenly the hotel floors started shaking as the walls started to crack open with green smoke coming out of them. All of the doors started swinging open making loud squeaking sounds. This kept going until every door in the hallway was wide open and the roof to the hotel was missing.
I looked at Andy who was still grinning but his eyes turned black like oil and his teeth were yellow and the microphone in his throat was cracked. I backed up in fear until suddenly the shaking stopped and the doors slammed shut as his eyes were yellow again, his teeth were gray and the microphone was back to normal.
"What the absolute fuck was that all about Andy!" Vaggie yelled at the top of his lungs.
"There you go princess, a good expectation and I'm going to give you a five star review."
I looked up at him, my face full of shock. He just grinned at me as he stared into my eyes.
"Um, okayyyy. Thank youuuuuu," I said as I looked around the hallway.
Everything looked the same, but to make sure, I opened one of the doors and looked through the room. Everything was normal so I walked out of the room, closing the door behind me.
We stood there in awkward silence. It didn't help that Andy was staring at Vaggie and me, with that grin on his face. Makes me wonder if he copied Alastor or if he was always like this. . . the smiling part that is.
"So, princess, what do you think? I've seen some pretty interesting things in your future and I'm willing to make them a reality," he said in excitement almost sounding like a five year old on their birthday.
I had to think about it for a bit but after a few minutes of thinking I looked at him about to give him my answer when I heard a certain demon call out his name.
"Andy."
That's when his eyes lit up in excitement as his grin widened. I watched as he turned his head and looked at the demon who called out his name.
"Hello, Angel."