During a private conference Selena and Lucifer were having, an imp intruded and turned on the television to the Channel 666 News. Blaring on the screen, Charlie began advocating for a redemption hotel called the Happy Hotel. She burst into dance and song and, by the end, earned the other demons' mockery. After that, Charlie and Katie Killjoy began brawling; as that happened, Tom Trench ran across the stage begging to be put out.
Lucifer turned off the television immediately. Power began radiating from his body as he gritted his teeth. "That stupid girl is making a mockery of me! There is no such thing as redemption for sinner demons! She's wasting her time and everyone else's by putting on this dumb charade!" Lucifer's fists began pounding on his desk. "Why is my Apple Pie rebelling against me, Selena?" He gave Selena the saddest look he could muster. Selena shook her head and patted Lucifer's hand.
"I think she wants what's best. Truly. I don't think it's out of spite, but maybe you should express your true feelings more rather than putting her down. If you keep this up, she could hate you." Lucifer's eyes began to fill with tears.
"She already does. I just want my Apple Pie to not be disappointed when her dreams fail." He was doing all he could to not cry.
"Failure is a part of growing, Luci. She has to move on her own and span her own wings. You should be more supportive." Selena tried her best to comfort her friend, but she struggled with her feelings about his version of parenting.
"I can't. I'm the king of Hell. I can't openly support her." he explained.
"Well then. Do it in a more covert manner. She needs all the help she can get. She already thinks she's a failure."
"My Apple thinks she's a failure?! Why? She's a wonderful princess."
"Maybe because you have told her she's a failure to her face, and she cares about your opinion." Selena gave him a subtle glare.
"But-but my Apple Pie…" Lucifer seemed to fall too far into his despondent state. Then he suddenly perked up. "Look after her. Help her. Do what you do best." He looked at Selena expectantly.
"I was planning on it, but this isn't what I meant, Luci." She gave him a disappointed stare.
"I mean give her a push. Help her when she falls. Just don't let my darling Apple hate me anymore than she already does." His lips started quivering. To think this man conquered Hell and had so many people in fear of him. What a big baby.
"I make no promises, Lucifer. But I'll try. Not for you though. I have my own interest at heart." She rose from her seat and moved to leave. She looked back over her shoulder, "Lucifer, all she has in Hell is you, Lilith, Vaggie, and me. She feels all alone. Just try to imagine yourself in her shoes, m'kay?" Selena promptly vanished.
She didn't want to tell Lucifer, but this was the best thing she could hope for. Charlie starting a redemption hotel would help so many people. And possibly give her an edge to her own goals. When Selena arrived at the shrine, she rushed immediately to her quarters. There she began writing redemption plans for sinners who killed once, committed accidental cannibalism, stole, had too much pride, every contingency she could think of. It took her six months of writing and not moving to complete every possibility she could fathom. If something outside the binders happened, they would have to think on their feet. She gazed around her room. Fifteen six-inch binders filled the spaces near her desk. Charlie would have so much information to use. She snapped them into her own bubble dimension for safe keeping.
Now she would have to head to the Happy Hotel. First though, she would teleport to Pentagram City and observe the opinions of the sinner demons of the hotel. She needed information. The silver hair priestess began meandering the streets and asking the occasional demon their thoughts. She learned that the opinions on the hotel hadn't changed from the broadcasting day. A few demons did state that the free two or so hots and the cots provided were nice.
Selena headed towards the hotel. Once she arrived, she took a long hard look at the gargantuan conglomerate of buildings comprising the hotel. The second thing she noticed was a building branching off stating 'On Air'; it resembled a radio tower. This is just getting curiouser and curiouser. How much did she miss while holed up creating her thorough redemption guides?
She shook her head, walked to the door, and gave a large resounding knock.
Within the hotel, Charlie stared at Alastor, utterly exasperated. Alastor had just ripped apart a new guest for commenting on his measly stature. "Alastor, if you keep killing people, no one will want to stay at the hotel! Plus, you keep getting blood on the carpet and walls, and Niffty is already working hard to keep it clean without the extra mess! I know you want entertainment, but how can anyone be entertained when there is no one around?" Feeling a stress migraine begin, she threw her hands into the air.
Seeing Charlie annoyed gave the deer demon quite the bit of joy. "No fear, my dear! He wasn't worth redeeming anyway! Can't have you wasting your efforts on common trash, now can I? Besides," Alastor snapped,"what blood are you talking about?" The body and all the blood vanished into thin air. His eyes continued to glow with mischief as he tilted his head.
"Fine, Alastor, but please refrain from doing it in the future. It's bad for business." Charlie was at her wits' end with the demon. She knew she needed his help, but was this really worth it? Without a financier and a demon of greater renown, how was she going to succeed? But Alastor's shenanigans began tiptoeing the line.
Just as the altercation began to fizzle, a knock was heard at the door. Both demons perked up. "I'll get it!" Alastor ran to greet the new guest. "Hel—lo." He gazed down at the short fox demon. Not what he was expecting. This one looked like a genuine cry for help. Oh well. He could still play with them when he got bored. "Welcome to the Haz- I mean- Happy Hotel! What can we do for you?" He stepped aside to let the demoness in.
Selena stepped forward looking up at the demon who opened the door. If she remembered correctly, he was Alastor, the Radio Demon. The radio tower now made sense. She didn't say anything to her greeter and continued inside. She looked around the lobby until she saw Charlie's long golden locks. Selena rushed to Charlie surprising her with a big hug. "Aunt Selena! What are you doing here?" Charlie giggled. Alastor seemed surprised by the interaction. Not only did a tiny demon not acknowledge him, which is rude, but she seemed close to Charlie.
"I saw your broadcast sometime ago and thought I'd help." Selena brushed a thumb across Charlie's cheek. The giggles and shrieks coming from Charlie alerted the lone resident and numerous staff of the hotel. She placed her forehead to Charlie's and stepped back. Selena took the time to look around, noting the family emblem decorating the hotel. That and portraits of Charlie's family and life. It was sweet. Until she saw Charlie's ex on the wall, she squinted with distaste. After her examinations, Selena turned back to Charlie. "I know it's been a while since the broadcast, but I've been working. I need to talk to you about something important. It involves my helping the hotel." Selena began rubbing the back of her head nervously.
"What's there to talk about? If you wanna help, then all you have to do is say where!" Charlie vibrated with excitement. Vaggie came up behind Charlie and put a calming hand on her shoulder.
"What's going on, hun? Hey, Aunt Selena." Vaggie blushed at referring to Selena as her aunt, but Selena insisted much to Vaggie's dismay.
"Aunt Selena is offering to help!" Charlie squealed. Her vibrating calmed.
"About that Charlie, I will help, but depending on your answer depends how…" Selena trailed off.
"Well, who's the doll?" A tall, lanky, fluffy spider demon approached the scene. "Ya guys said aunt, right? So is she like ya dad's sista' or somethin'?"
Alastor, Angel Dust, and Niffty awaited an answer. Husker just minded his own business behind the bar. "No familial relation. Just a family friend." Selena replied. As she lightly waved her hand in the air, Alastor grabbed her hand and swung the lass around.
"Well, any friend of Charlie's is a friend of ours!" Alastor beamed. "I'm Alastor, my dear. What a pleasure! A friend of Charlie's!" A radio laugh echoed after his sentences. A slight sound of static resonated in the air.
"I'm Selena." She jerked her hand out of the Radio Demon's. She proceeded to dust off, adjust her clothes, and check her hair. She wasn't accustomed to being accosted in such a manner. Lucifer was whimsical, and it took her centuries to adjust. Alastor was going to be a new adjustment. "I've known Charlie since she was little." She decided to elaborate some more, hoping it would quickly remove the attention off of her.
"I'm Angel Dust, toots." The spider demon adjusted their bust and sashayed towards her. The demon stuck out one of his four hands for a handshake. When she met the handshake, Angel pulled her in a bit and said," I don't usually fuck girls, but for you, I'll make a special discount. Being a friend of Charlie's and all that." He gave a solicitous wink which sent a shiver down the priestess's spine.
She pulled her hand out of his and wiped it off on her clothes. The people here sure were handsy! A tiny cyclops ran up to Selena's feet and said, "Hi! I'm Niffty!" She then quickly darted off.
"And the rude cat behind the bar is my dear friend Husker!" exclaimed Alastor. He pointed toward Husk. Husk was downing a bottle of cheap liquor. He made eye contact with Selena then flipped her off. Alastor then began to laugh. It seemed fake. So very fake.
"Well now that you know everyone at the hotel, what did you want to talk about?" Charlie looked at Selena expectantly.
"I'd like to discuss this in private, Charlie. It's business related." Selena explained. She thought she heard Angel exclaim 'Oo kinky' before a faint muffling persisted. She saw Alastor's eyes hold radio dials before she understood. He silenced the pervert.
"Alright! Follow me!" Charlie galloped to what Selena could only assume was an office. She noted that Alastor was following them. After she settled in a chair in the office, Charlie explained, "Alastor is my business partner so if it's business, Aunty, we both need to hear it."
Selena nodded. "I understand." She looked between the two. What an unlikely duo to run a redemption hotel. The Radio Demon helping Charlie! Why? What could he have to gain? His reputation went against the thought of him being here. "May I ask, Mr. Alastor, what are your intentions by being Charlie's business partner?" She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Well, my dear, think of this as an investment for my entertainment! Why! Watching leopards fail to change their spots seems amusing!" He grinned and provided a soft, dark chuckle.
"Do you intend to stop Charlie from possibly succeeding?" Selena had to interrogate this bastard. There was no way she could let this beast of a demon interfere with Charlie's dream.
"As if it's possible!"
"Just for playing the Devil's advocate, if it is possible, will you hinder her dreams?" She gave off a frightful tone. She was not going to let this deer devour her precious cub.
"No! No! Of course not! If it happens, it happens! I may resign from helping, but I won't know til the situation arises!" Alastor looked at his fingers as he answered. He seemed bored.
Selena sighed. Although she knew she could never trust him, she could be relieved if only for a moment. "Alright then. But if you ever break that vow, I will END YOU." Her voice dropped several octaves to emphasize that she too was a demon.
Alastor didn't take the threat well. His eyes began to become staticky and the pressure in the room magnified as his voice crackled in and out. "Ị̵̩̽̒͆͜'̸̼̭̜̏́d̶̻͕͙̎ ̸̨̙̬̎͗͋l̸͚̹͌͊̃ỉ̷̠̺̬͛k̷͕̬̂e̸̺̜̻̾ ̷̏̐͜t̵̛̮̽o̷̞̕ ̶̠̬̀̍̾͜s̶̬̦̕ͅḛ̵͎̝͗̈̿ề̸̛͕̪ ̵̮͝y̷̮̜̍̃̅õ̸̮u̷̠̘̅ ̶̙͙̃̆t̵̫̩̤̍̓̄r̵̝̱̐y̷̲̮̽! [I'd like to see you]" Voodoo symbols surrounded him before he regained composure and smiled.
"Welllllllll now, Aunty, you said you wanted to discuss business?" Charlie seemed uncomfortable with the battle of wills occurring in front of her.
"Right." Selena had to get her mind back on track rather than letting the current threat win. Her instinct to protect her precious niece needed to be squashed. So she breathed a deep breath and looked at Charlie. "I have an offer for you, but I'm afraid that not only is there info you need to know, but there are conditions to it as well." She knew Charlie wouldn't be happy to hear any of this, but it was all she could do to help her.
And her goddess. Neana. I will do right by you.
"Conditions and information? You've never been so serious or upfront before. I'm listening." Charlie sat closer to the edge of her seat.
"I don't want to blind side you, Charlie. I feel it's only right to inform you of everything." Alastor gave a light scoff, but made it apparent that he, too, was listening. He agreed to help this hotel so he could not let this possible deal ruin his new amusement. "I will help you redeem souls. I have prepared redemption plans. But you should know. Every soul you redeem will not go to High Heaven." Selena stopped, knowing that these words would be what Charlie would struggle to hear. However, Charlie only indicated to her to continue, and that she was listening. "I should explain further. I was a priestess in an old world that was filled with magic and deities. I was bestowed divine power at birth and was labeled a high priestess of my goddess. And a Saintess." the last bit Selena whispered. She felt the same about that title as Charlie did about being called Princess. "A war broke out between all of the gods. Humans fought for their deities, as did other mythical creatures. I died in that war. The Judeo-Christian God, the one that rules the current world, dominated the battlefield. His greatest competition was my goddess, Neana. She was full of love, but she also was full of rightful justice. He weakened her by destroying her followers, as deities cannot survive without believers. I remained, but my goddess didn't want to secede to whom she viewed as a tyrant. She placed a spell that kept my soul from being sent to Oblivion so God cast me here to Hell. He bound my goddess into her heaven in her weakened state. And banned me from ever crossing the threshold.
Any redemption done by plans I come up with, will be denied by the Judeo-Christian God out of spite. Also, for every soul you redeem, my goddess will grow stronger. When enough souls accumulate, she will attempt to remove him from tyranny and place stronger magic back into the human realm. All for the memory of those who were lost ages ago." Selena felt tears emerge. This was Neana's request. She had to do this. She cleared her throat before continuing. "If you choose to do this, you become an enemy of God, as much as your father, if not, more so. I will help you redeem souls, gather business, and all other things you need. If you choose otherwise, I cannot help you redeem anyone, but I can provide cleaning, cooking, security or whatever service you might need that does not involve my helping your patrons or gathering business." She looked Charlie in the eye. The resolve to help demons stemmed from both of them. Selena would have tried to do this anyway without her goddess's orders.
Alastor was dumbfounded. He was a clever man. And charismatic. He had a plan for everything. He learned all he could to survive, but this knowledge, thrown at him and Charlie, seemed beyond anything he could dream. Not only was the demon in front of him older than Charlie, but possibly as old as Lucifer. He was in awe. He also was baffled. What if she was lying? He looked further into her eyes. They seemed to hold the truth. He always could tell when someone lied, but she could have so much more practice hiding her lies. It was preposterous! She had to be lying! He glanced at Charlie who seemed deep in thought. She took a minute before she spoke, "Father said that you met when he descended into Hell. I also know you would never lie to me, but, Aunty, this does seem… bizarre." She tapped her fingers on her desk. "I need time to consider this."
"I understand." Selena stood to walk out the door. "It is a lot of information. And the price is not one that can be negotiated because it exists outside our power. I knew it would be a hard decision for you. I will help start cleaning and cooking while you decide." She exited the office.
Charlie handled that much better than Selena expected. She was exhausted just from anticipating the conversation. Now she could relax just a bit. She decided she would ask Husker who was in charge of housekeeping. If he would answer.