"Where the fuck is Angel Dust?" Vagatha asked as she slammed her fist onto the front desk. A mixture of annoyance and anger was on her face.
With two days left before Hell became a slaughterhouse, Charlie and Vagatha focused on their preparations. Charlie handled the hotel and their supplies, while Vagatha did her best to ensure everyone was accounted for.
"And you think I would know because?..." Husk questioned, causing her brow to furrow.
"You are at the front of the hotel nearly twenty-four seven. If Angel Dust came through here, you'd see him at some point. He'd probably even stop by to flirt with you." Vagatha explained.
"Eh, that's true." Husk replied with an accepting shrug. "Still, I didn't see him before or after I turned in for the night. So, unless he's suddenly gotten good at sneaking around, Angel's not come back yet." He informed.
"Tsk, shit..." Vagatha cursed under her breath, admittedly concerned by that information. "You...don't think Valentino's keeping him, do you?" She asked with a much softer tone.
"I mean, it's possible. But knowing that prick, he's most likely got Angel working the streets until the final hour. If money can be made, you know he and his fuck buddies will do what they can to get it." Husk answered.
"Which doesn't make sense to me. Barely anyone's outside. I doubt even Angel could find many people to have sex with him now." Vagatha said.
"Yeah, but you know what'll happen if he shows up with nothing. That's more than likely why he's still not back here. He's trying to scrape together enough cash to avoid a beating." Husk suggested.
"If that is the case, I should go out and find him. We can give him however much Val wants, and then we can hunker down." Vagatha decided.
"Would you like some company?" A familiar voice asked from behind her, eliciting an immediate sigh.
"How do you ALWAYS show up when it's the most annoying?" Vagatha asked while turning around, discovering none other than the radio demon.
"A natural talent, I suppose," Alastor answered, his ear-to-ear smile as smug as ever.
"Nah, that's bullshit." Husk commented. "You've got who knows how many shadow creatures lurking all over the place. And the MOMENT you catch wind of something that seems amusing, you pounce." He said.
"I suppose you, of all people, would know quite a lot about pouncing, Husker." Alastor jested with a laugh.
"..." Husk gave no response. He knew better than to play into the radio demon's musings.
"Look, Al," Vagatha spoke up, getting his focus back on her. "This isn't the time for your usual BS. This is serious. I need to find Angel and make sure he's okay. And if he is, bring him back here." She told him.
"Oh, I'm well aware. I just assumed you wouldn't want to walk the empty streets alone. Quite the unsavory sort still lingers as everyone else hides away." Alastor said.
"I can handle myself," Vagatha replied. Doing everything she could to keep him here at the hotel.
"Of course, you can. Still, is it not better to have safety in numbers? If you're seen by others walking alone, it could encourage a motley group of strangers to form to take advantage of the situation. But if I'm with you, that won't happen." Alastor persisted, not letting this go.
For a moment, Vagatha wondered if this came from a place of genuine concern for her safety. But she quickly cast that thought out of her mind as she knew better. Alastor couldn't care less about her well-being; this was just another opportunity to piss her off. And yet, the scenario he proposed was real in its plausibility, meaning there was merit in not going out alone.
"...If you promise to hold back your usual commentary, even by a little, then...maybe you can come with me," Vagatha said after a few seconds of silence.
"I'll be a perfect gentleman," Alastor promised with a bow.
Rolling her eyes at how much he was trying to sell it. Vagatha, with her new companion in tow, made their way toward the front doors.
"Good luck." Husk called out to both of them as they departed.
"Aw, that's very kind of you, Husker," Alastor called back when they reached the entrance.
"No. I was saying it to her. Being stuck with you for an extended period, Vag's gonna need all the good fortune she can get." Husk clarified, managing to get a chuckle out of the moth demon.
"Thanks, Husk," Vagatha responded while pushing one of the doors open. "If Charlie or Nifty asks where we are, make sure to tell them without making them worried." She requested before leaving with Alastor.
"No promises. But I'll do my best." Husk vowed as the doors closed behind them.
Sometime Later, In Pentagram City...
Ghost town. That is an apt description of the current state of Hell's capital. No cars were driving through the streets. Nearly every building was closed, with most or all lights turned off. And the only living things anywhere seemed to be the odd couple currently traversing the concrete jungle.
Regardless of where they looked, there was no sign of their multi-limbed acquaintance. Angel Dust wasn't at any of his usual locations. No traces or tracks were found at the multiple bars he frequented. Even a quick call to Cherri Bomb, the spider demon's BFF, yielded nothing on his current whereabouts.
This, of course, left Vagatha frustrated but also increased her worry. The likelihood that something was going on and Angel Dust wasn't being his usual prick self increased by the minute. Unfortunately, she had no options, leaving her to turn to the only person currently with her for suggestions.
"So, what now?" Vagatha asked her traveling companion. Managing to catch him off guard since she was RARELY the one to start the conversation between them.
"You're asking me?" Alastor questioned. His usual amused look slightly changed into genuine confusion and intrigue.
"I'm all out of ideas. I've never asked Angel too much about his job, and I've NEVER wanted details. My knowledge of where he might be or what he might be doing is used up. But we can't call it quits just in case something bad has happened." Vagatha explained.
"You're truly worried for him, aren't you?" Alastor asked with a slight head tilt.
"Yeah. Believe it or not, people CAN care about each other, Al." Vagatha answered, making him chuckle.
"No, that's not what I meant. Like you and me, you're always at Angel's throat as he is with yours. Seeing you mention him without strong language or some colorfully worded insult is rare. That's why I asked." Alastor explained.
"Oh," Vagatha said, not expecting such a reasonable and non-dickish response. "Well, just because we fight doesn't mean I want something bad to happen to him. Especially not now when the worst time of the year is breathing down the back of our necks." She told him.
"Have you ever said this to him? It could help to make your shouting matches less frequent. Not that I don't enjoy them." Alastor suggested.
"...What are you doing?" Vagatha asked after remaining silent for a few seconds.
"Could you elaborate? I'm afraid I don't know what you're referring to." Alastor requested.
"The way you're talking. You're being...considerate. Which shouldn't be possible for you." Vagatha specified. "Where're the jokes? The witty banter? The poking fun at me, so I'll summon my spear and try to stab you?" She questioned.
Before saying anything else, Alastor came to a stop, which made her do the same.
"As impossible as it may be to hear, I can be serious." Alastor began. "Do I enjoy messing with each of you? That is possibly the most rhetorical question I could ever ask. And if this were any other time, and Angel Dust were missing for any of his normal reasons, then I'd be acting the same as I always do." He continued before looking into the distance, his eyes fixating on a clock tower that could be seen anywhere in the city. "But this isn't our normal routine. And we're searching for him on a timer. I don't want how we find him to be on the news or in the paper the morning after it's all over. It'd ruin the mood at the hotel." He concluded.
Although that last sentence could be interpreted as Alastor thinking only of himself and how Angel Dust's death would affect him, Vagatha could tell that wasn't the intent. As he said himself, the radio demon was serious. Despite how much Alastor reveled in chaos and the misfortune of others, that didn't make him a heartless bastard. Or, at the very least, a complete and total ass.
And it was only in these extremely rare moments where he briefly showed another side of himself that Vagatha remembered this. Beneath the grin, the jokes, the self-interest, and his reputation, Alastor was still a person. Yet before she could say something to him, their conversation was interrupted by a fast-moving shadow creature approaching them.
"Ah. Pardon me for a moment." Alastor requested as he turned around and held his hand toward the ground.
Like a serpent moving on a tree, the creature slithered from the street, onto his hand, up his arm, then stopped once its head reached his shoulder.
"...Really? Are you sure?" Alastor asked the creature while it spoke to him in whispers. "Hm, that's very strange. Why would they be out and about?" He wondered aloud.
"Hey, don't keep me out of the loop. What did your pet find?" Vagatha asked, but in a purely inquisitive tone.
"It appears we're not the only ones who've come out looking for someone," Alastor answered. The creature disappeared soon after having fulfilled its duty. "Some of Lucifer's council are nearby. In the slums, of all places." He added.
"Wait, what? Lucifer? As in Charlie's dad?" Vagatha inquired with widened eyes.
"The very same. And when I say his council, I mean the important ones. Those who've had the devil's trust since before most of the people down here were born." Alastor told her, only worsening her shock.
"What the fuck?! What's going on?" Vagatha asked, assuming he had more information.
"Unfortunately, my little friend needed to keep its distance to avoid being noticed. From what they told me, there was a shooting. But given how those present were acting, this wasn't a normal territory dispute or random act of violence. They seemed to be disturbed by the bodies for some unknown reason. I doubt it was due to the nature of the corpses' deaths, which leaves the actual cause a mystery to us, I'm afraid." Alastor answered before quickly holding up one of his hands. "And before you think to ask me, no. None of the bodies my pet saw resembled Angel Dust in even the slightest way. They appeared to be reptiles or some other scaly creature." He informed.
Hearing that brought a wave of relief over Vagatha, allowing her to release her tension via a deep exhale. Even so, this information was intense. Anyone associated with the Magnes, even a member of their staff, was RARELY seen out in public. Let alone investigating what was a literal everyday occurrence when an Extermination wasn't drawing near.
...Wait, the Extermination. Could...this shooting have something to do with that? But, if it did, the only thing that could mean would be...oh shit.
"Al, I think we need to go back to the hotel," Vagatha told him, an immense feeling of dread suddenly hitting her.
"I was about to suggest that as well," Alastor admitted as he looked up at the sky. "I believe you and I just had the same unsettling thought come to mind. Hopefully, that's all it is." He said before they began the journey back home.
