Angel sensed he wasn't alone as he opened his eyes. He wasn't that surprised to see Charlie in the room with him, what did concern him was the lost and sorrowful look that rested on her face that almost looked uncharacteristic for her. She hadn't seemed to have noticed that he had woken up, instead she glumly focused on some inner thought in her mind.
His concern for her was probably his brotherly instincts talking. Again, nothing that surprised him that much since both Charlie and Cherri in their own way did possess aspects that reminded him of his twin sister. Like Charlie, Molly had aways been a good-hearted woman who truly did want to see the best in everyone, but like Cherri, his younger sister could also be a fierce firecracker who didn't need a man to defend her. And even admittedly, like Vaggie she could be ready to defend anyone she loved and cared about even at the cost of her own wellbeing.
He rubbed at his eyes to rid them of grit. A bloom of an oncoming headache told him that he was likely due for another benzo injection. He understood the need for it since the opiate-based sedatives were meant to calm the worst parts of his withdrawal symptoms. But it felt like ever since they began this entire trip all he has done is sleep. While he was fine with having the chance to rest without Val literally breathing down his neck or concerning himself with what sort of person his next client was going to be. He didn't like the idea of being bed ridden for the whole time. His body also was aching in its desire for the sweet relief the drugs brought him. He involuntarily let out a groan as a spasm ran though his body.
"Angel," Charlie asked when she noticed he was awake? Getting up she approached the bed and lightly placed a hand on his shoulder letting him know she was there for him in this painful moment.
"I guess there's no point in you asking how I'm doin'" Angel dryly remarked as he sat up again and put his head between his knees as a wave of weakness hit.
"Hang on," Charlie said as she started to leave the room. "I'll go get the doctor." Angel wanted to reach out and convince her to stay but he chose to remain quiet. She would return soon, still he couldn't help but feel uneasy about being there alone. The worst moments of his living years had been when he was alone, such as that one year he was in a mental hospital. Much of that time had been a blur due to the various insulin induced comas that the doctors insisted would correct him. While the rest of it were events, he would have preferred being in a coma verse actually experiencing. And of course, he had been alone in the hospital when he had died. The blond princess returned after a couple of minutes.
"Dr. Abaddon will be here soon," Charlie said consolingly as she took a seat on the mattress with him.
"I take it this wasn't the sort of thing you were expecting," Angel sighed apologetically. Charlie just gave a soft smile and shook her head.
"I'm just glad that you are able to get the help you need," Charlie said. "Just focus on getting better right now. I was talking to Dr. Abaddon earlier about having you return to the cabin. Cherri, Vaggie, and I can handle the medical injections. I also have been discussing the possibility of you and Cherri staying here rather than returning to the city." Angel cocked his head slightly sensing that Charlie had a particular reason for this. He found he didn't need to ask why she had come to this conclusion.
"I saw one of the music videos you did," Charlie said, not looking at him. He didn't need to ask which one because there really was no point in doing so. The troubled look that crossed her face narrowed down a likely guess. That and he could hear some of the conversion that Charlie was having outside with Tetra even though he wasn't completely out of his drugged state. Charlie already knew the truth of how much of a bully and a monster Valentino actually was; she could still see the damage done for herself. "I'm starting to wonder if all this was a mistake. It just feels like everything I've done to make things better…it's just made things worse. Tell me…would Valentino have done what he did…if you weren't at the hotel?"
"It's…" Angel started to say, but then shook his head as Charlie's words from the previous night filled his mind. The echo of her saying "I thought I had understood my subjects, maybe...maybe I never actually did." That was the main problem, Charlie had been sheltered much of her life and if his assumptions about her father were plausible it had been to her detriment. Lucifer also may have been protecting his daughter as any loving father would have. But by willfully blinding Charlie to the truth of what he was and the plight of the Sinners. He was only setting the blond girl up to resent him once she discovered these truths for herself and there is no telling what would result from that. Still, if Charlie was going to run a place that helped demons become free of sin. She would need to know the sort of existence each demon soul who took up residence in her hotel led. Briefly he looked up at the celestial orb of Heaven where it resided like a moon in the darkening red sky overhead. Enough pussyfooting around all of this. He'd have to choke back a lot shit, but if Charlie was to learn anything from her subjects, then he'd be the first.
"It wouldn't have been something he could have used as an excuse," Angel choked out. Charlie gasped in shock at the white-furred demon's admission. If she wanted to say anything in response, she had to hold her tongue as Dr. Abaddon finally arrived with the benzo shot. Charlie noted that Angel looked away from the locust demon as he was injected with the opiates. His expression wasn't angry or resentful, just a sense of resignation at something that was all too familiar.
"There we go," Abaddon said calmly as he lightly massaged Angel's bicep to be sure the sedative was able to fully make its way into the Spider's body system. "That should kick in shortly; have a good night. Charlotte, I will have a car take you back to the cabin. I have informed Vagatha where you are, in case she was concerned."
"Thank you, I'll let you know when I'm ready." Charlie said earnestly as Dr. Abaddon turned to leave. The blond girl returned her attention to Angel. The white-furred demon remained focused on the deep sanguine sky outside as it cast the landscape in black. The blond princess companionably sat with him in the silence that filled the room.
"You don't need to stay with me," Angel suggested as he settled against the pillows. His eye lids were half-mast suggesting the injection was already starting to have its soporific effect.
"If it's alright with you," Charlie said. "I'd like to be here until I know you're asleep."
"Suit yourself," Angel replied. "Though it's not like I'm going to be all that conversational."
"We don't need to talk," Charlie said as she took one of Angel's hands in both of her own and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'm fine with just keeping you company for the time being." The spider eyed her with the darker of his mismatched eyes questioningly before returning his attention to the landscape outside. Charlie wondered about this, it always seemed that when he was questioning or suspicious about something he would always seem to regard it with his darker eye. It almost appeared as though he could see something that others couldn't such as being able to assess the motives or intention behind something. If that was the case, that could be an explanation why he found it difficult to trust others because he could see what sort of people they were. Even if that wasn't so, Angel had also been hurt by other people physically, mentally, emotionally, verbally. It's a wonder he was even able to stay sane given how long this had happened. Even the obnoxious and self-centric persona he used to mask his insecurities was no longer able to provide him the protection it once had.
Charlie knew from the soft sigh before his breathing evened out, that Angel had finally fallen asleep. Sure, enough he lay in a deep slumber his face turned towards the window. Quietly getting up, Charlie started out of the room to inform Dr. Abaddon she was ready to return to the cabin. Just as she was about the flick off the light, she heard Angel shift in bed. She took one last look at him and noticed he had curled himself into a ball under the blankets as though trying to shield himself from something. His breathing was starting to sound hitched and ragged, and his close eyelids fluttered as though he was being tormented by something. It brought to mind how he had rolled into a fetal position and was begging his father to stop-well whatever he was doing- after he had fainted the previous night.
Remembering that the Spider demon did favorably respond to gentle means of comfort, she returned to the bed and reached out to lightly brush aside the long shock of fur that hung in his face. Suddenly she brought her hand back with a gasp of shock. She could feel pain, grief, fear, and humiliation roiling off of him as though he burned with an intense fever. She had sensed he was in pain the moment she had met him, but it hadn't been anything like this. Her red eyes softened as she remembered Husk had pointed out that Angel Dust was a drug people turned to if they wanted to block something out. And Cherri had admitted Angel did use this form of drug to deal with the stuff that Valentino was doing. Since he wasn't able to use the crutch of his drug use to numb away his anxieties, it seemed like they were revealing themselves in full force.
Tentatively, Charlie reached out again and lightly brushed aside some of the fur that served as his hair. her fingers gently threaded themselves through the soft white strands. She could still feel the pain and terror radiate off him, but gradually he calmed as she continued these attempts at comfort.
"Don't..." Angel whimpered softly in his slumber. "Don't leave...me alone here."
"I'll stay if you need me to," Charlie calmly said. Leaning down she placed a gentle sisterly kiss against his temple. Pulling up the chair she had previously used and settled into it. Taking one of Angels hands between her own so he could at least feel she was there with him in his slumber. She couldn't sense the emotional turmoil that was pouring out of him any longer, but that didn't mean it wasn't still there. How long had he forced himself to endure and live with this, the seventy years he has existed in Hell, or was this a culmination of the hundred years he had existed in general?
She didn't make any attempt to curl beside him. Cherri was the one who had a physical relationship with him, and she didn't want to intrude on that. She didn't want to see if the bed Vaggie had used was still available. Vaggie and Angel did clash so it was understandable that while she was being courteous in offering to be there as a familiar presence while he slept. It still said a lot about the sort of emotional distance the two had for one another. Folding her arms over the mattress, Charlie lay her head down and closed her eyes.
Dr. Abaddon found her peacefully asleep when he walked by to check on why Charlie hadn't let him know she was ready to leave. Calmly he reached out and turned out the light, he was about to walk away when he noticed that a faint glow enveloped Angel's form. An unsurprised smile crossed the mouth of the Locust Demon as he turned and returned to his office.
"Your daughter is something, Luci," Abaddon muttered to himself. "But so were you, after you took over my post following your rebellion. Before your fall...I used to be master of this realm." Sitting down at his chair he looked up at the portrait where he stood beside Lucifer who was proudly holding Charlie as an infant in the crook of his arm. Calmly the doctor lit a cigarette and blew out the smoke. "I wish you had told her what you really were...sooner or later your family will learn about their niece, particularly with this Hotel she's running. And not all of them would be assuming she is harmless as she appears."
Charlie's eyes fluttered open as the early morning reds of the Pride Rings Sky brightened the room. The first thing she was aware of was the crick in her neck after sleeping in such an uncomfortable position for several hours. Massaging where her spine and skull joined and rolling her shoulders to loosen them, she looked around the room and remembered she had chosen to stay at the clinic. Turning her attention towards Angel she noticed he had relaxed into a peaceful slumber. Reaching out the lightly picked up one of the strands of hair that ombred from white into a soft dusty pink. As previous as a couple of days ago she had noticed the tone had dulled to a grayed pink tone. Even the freckles on Angel's face had dulled considerably as a result of these recent events, but now it both his fur and freckles had regained their normal healthy color. Letting go of the strand of hair she lightly started to run her thumb over the reddish pink dot's underneath Angel's closed eyes; she jerked away as the sleeping spider winced as though the action hurt him in some way before he rolled over, so he was sprawled on his back against the pillows.
To Charlie's amazement much of the darkened and pouched bruising around Angel's right eye had healed. At best there were just spots of yellowish bruising. Carefully lifting up the neckline of Angel's shirt and noticed much of the injuries had faded or disappeared entirely. But how...Angel was just a regular sinner right, why would he suddenly heal so quickly? It just didn't make sense, yes, some injuries healed quickly particularly if the demon had the diet intake and sleep to have the energy to heal. Angel's injuries had been so severe it was a wonder he even made it into the hotel before he had passed out.
"I'll be right back," Charlie said as she stood up, feeling the need to stand up and move her body. Also, her bladder was threatening to explode if she didn't find a restroom in the next few minutes. She lightly stroked the side of Angel's face reassuringly; the spider instinctively leaned his face towards her fingers like a cat accepting a gentle petting. Charlie could almost imagine the effeminate male demon letting out a contented purr in response, the amused smile saddened as she began to wonder how many times Angel had even experienced any sort of affection. Moving away from the bed she gave Angel one last glance before stepping out of the room.
Rubbing unshed tears from her eyes she stepped out onto the deck and took a deep inhale of the morning air. Her eyes took in the beauty of the lake side estate and all the surrounding wilderness of Hell.
"Can I ask you something? How did you come to the idea that demons can be redeemed?"
Angel's question from just days before rattled in her mind. It just felt strange to hear the Porn Star of all people asking for her perspective regarding why she felt demons were even redeemable. Yes, majority of Hell saw her hotel as a joke, even Alastor had not minced words when he unabashedly proclaimed he didn't see it as possible that Hellbound souls could even be redeemed. Yet the way Angel had looked up towards the celestial orb of Heaven when he had been talking to her the previous night, she could sense there was a feeling of longing for something or someone who he believed to be in that place. And yet a notion that he was aware of what he could potentially sacrifice if things didn't work out.
Thinking about how she answered Angel's inquiry, as much as she wanted answer truthfully that felt she had her people's best interests in mind. Yet, she couldn't help but wonder if she was only making excuses and justifications to disguise the truth...that she really hadn't stopped to consider if she should have done more than simply dangle the hope of Heaven in front those she wanted to help. Husk and Niffty she didn't know how they actually felt about the purpose of the hotel itself. The winged cat wasn't thrilled with the job or the place since he was only there because of Alastor. But as long as he was left alone and allowed to drink in peace, he couldn't complain. Niffty was just happy to be of use and had no opinions of the hotel in general.
Vaggie was supportive, but she would take a cautionary stance when it came anything regarding the Hotel. Perhaps Vaggie may have her doubts regarding her girlfriend's redemption project. Vaggie was also a sinner and as such she was at risk with the exterminations each year. Charlie didn't like idea of any of the sinners being ruthlessly erased by the Exterminators, but Vaggie was the main person that the Hellborn Princess had in mind when she came up with her hotel. As much as she wanted Vaggie to be by her side for eternity, she knew that one day she would be required to take Hell's throne and despite her immortality she would still need to produce a precautionary heir. If losing Vaggie was going to be an inevitability, then she would prefer to take pleasure knowing her lover was somewhere peaceful and happy. And not one of the many unfortunate demon souls who have been incorporated into the fabric of Hell.
Cherri had been rather blunt where she had criticized the hotel and everything that Charlie had been trying to do. But the Hellborn Princess couldn't blame her, the bomber girl was speaking from a place of fear brought on by seeing her closest friend in Hell going through and knowing there was nothing she could do to help ease it. And with everyone at the hotel being part of Angel's life, Cherri was afraid that she wasn't needed any more...that Angel didn't need her anymore. The two of them had been there for each other for years, it was hard to see others in her friend's life and accept that perhaps that their friendship was declining. Charlie's eyes saddened at this, while she and Vaggie were correct that the other female was impulsive and reactionary. Perhaps they had been unfair to her not allowing her to be present in the call with Valentino after they arrived at the mountain estate. Couldn't they have spoken to her; and perhaps made aware her they didn't want to let Valentino know there were other people listening rather than jumping to the conclusion that she could derail the entire situation.
Yet, while Cherri's previous outbursts had been out of line in the current face of everything that was occurring. She did bring up some rather good points, she didn't know anything about the sinners aside from them being former humans. And for that matter she had no concept of what Heaven was really like. She had a belief that if Hell was where all the bad people go, then Heaven had to be where the good went, right? But was it really the peaceful place she honestly believed or was it really a world that actually did hide its corruption behind a seemingly peaceful exterior. Even Angel had pointed out that she was going at this whole concept to fast. She was so eager to prove that demons could be redeemed that she never stopped to realize that there isn't any evidence that was even possible. Perhaps if Heaven was willing to do the lazy approach and slaughter any demons once a year under the pretense of dealing with the surplus population, then maybe they weren't willing to accept demons that have been redeemed. A tear fell down her cheek in frustration, she wished there was someone from Heaven she could talk to...someone to she could seek out and gain an understanding of what sort of world Heaven was.