Demian
Since the hotel belongs to the Magne family Lucifer hung up all the family paintings on the walls. All family members can be seen in one or more pictures. Millions of frames in the many corridors.
Alastor likes to wander around these corridors and look at the paintings. He hasn't seen all of them yet. Tonight - while everyone is asleep - he goes for a walk again. It's dark and quiet. Calming. Not a single soul out here. Nowadays he feels unwell. As something, or someone is crawling under his skin. He has conflicting feelings nearly all the time. So walking this late at night calms his rushing mind.
Suddenly he feels the urge to go to the farthest corridor. Something is calling him. As he wanders, he finds himself there, in a lonely silent corridor. There are no paintings there, just one at the end. He takes a step closer to take a good look at it. In the picture he sees Lucifer standing in the middle. Looking fancy and glorious as always. The title of the painting is „The first ball in Hell". „Lucifer likes a good fuss" – he thinks. Next to him it's Lilith, his wife. „Such a nice couple." – he thinks. Charlie was not born yet at that time. She was born a few years later. There are more family members around the happy couple. „Yes, I remember this ball. I was also there." – he thinks as he takes a closer look at the painting. He is humming a song.
Finally his eyes stop on a figure. A woman, more like a girl. It's not her shape, not even her hair that got Alastor's attention. „Those eyes." – he stares at the girl – „I know them." Recognition is flooding into him. „I knew I've met her before."
- Come back you little shit! – a tired old man's voice echoes on the second floor.
- Catch me if you can creepy old man! - Demian runs out of a room with a crutch in his hand. Charlie hears the shouting and she checks on it immediately.
- What's happening here? – asks she.
- This bastard stole my crutch. – the old man points at Demian.
- Demian, please give it back to the man. – Charlie asks him with motherly love.
- No! – Demian shouts and lifts it up in the air.
- Gotcha! – Angel grabs the crutch from behind.
- Hey! – Demian screams at Angel.
- Here you are. – Angel gives the crutch back to its owner.
- Thank you young man. – the old man replies. Charlie looks at Demian strictly.
- Demian, the others told me that you skip your classes. – she says.
- I don't want to learn! – he replies.
- But you must to reach redemption. – Charlie says kindly.
- Who said that I want to be redeemed? – he asks, looking at Charlie defiantly.
- You piece of...! – Angel wants to lecture the kid but he is interrupted by a female voice.
- Young man? Is it you? Please come and pray with me! – the voice is coming from two rooms away.
- Uh not again... – Angel cries.
- Who is that? – Charlie asks.
- We have a nun. – Angel replies simply - She is desperate to be redeemed, but yet she must've done something terrible to be here. Hope it's something dirty! – Angel licks his upper lip.
- Oh I see. – replies Charlie.
- And apparently she likes me... – Angel says looking in the direction of the nun's room.
- A nun? – Demian asks curiously.
- Yes. – Angel looks at him suspiciously.
- Can I come? – asks he with an angelic voice.
- Let him go with you. – Charlie whispers to Angel - Maybe a nun can make up his mind about redemption. – she suggests.
- But I don't like this little fucker. – Angel whispers.
- Angel, please! – Charlie looks at him with giant puppy eyes.
- Alright… – he sighs and turns to Demian - Come on you little fucker!
- I'm not a little fucker! – Demian shouts at Angel.
- Ohhh yes you are! – Angel hisses.
They reach the nun's room and Angel knocks on the door before they enter.
- Hello Mother Suzanne. – Angel greets the nun.
- Mother Suzanne? – Demian freezes for a second.
- Demian? – the nun's face turns pale.
- You two know each other? – Angel asks surprised.
- Yes, she killed me! – Demian says accusingly - I'm glad you are here mother so we can continue our fun games. – he crunches his fists.
- No! – says Mother Suzanne in horror - Take him away from me!
- What's wrong Mother? – Demian takes a step closer to the nun smiling - Aren't you happy to see me?
- Take him away I beg you! - says Mother Suzanne hysterically.
- Okay get out little fucker! – Angel says to Demian.
- No! She needs to suffer! – Demian shouts.
- I said get out! – Angel pushes Demian out of the door and shuts it.
- Thank you. - says Mother Suzanne relieved.
Angel gets down on his knees next to the nun but before they could start to pray he looks at her.
- Tell me mother. – Angel whispers gently - How do you know him?
Mother Suzanne's eyes widen and she freezes for a second. Then she closes her eyes, takes a deep painful breath and lets it out slowly.
- I served in an orphanage when I was young. – she starts – I loved my job. It is amazing to see young children grow up under your wings. To teach them everything you know. Of course it is not always easy, but worth every minute. – she smiles but then her eyes darken.
Demian was left at the orphanage by his parents when he was 5 years old. We welcomed him lovingly and at first it seemed like he was a very kind boy. I didn't understand why his parents abandoned him. After a while he started to do naughty things. Nothing big at first, but soon he started to torture animals, and then the other kids too. We punished him several times, but nothing helped. He never prayed, he hates God. He is pure evil. Please take him away from here. – she looks at Angel pleadingly - Do something. He cannot be redeemed.
- I can't do that Mother. – Angel replies.
- You must! – the nun shouts hysterically.
- Did you kill him? – Angel asks her straight.
The nun looks away sadly. She stares at her hands for a second then she looks up to heaven and crosses herself.
- Unfortunately I did. – she looks at Angel - But I didn't want to! I just wanted to punish him! – she takes a small break - I saw that he... He killed another child...
Angel looks at the nun curiously.
The poor kid only took away his toy. In return Demian chased him to the river nearby, and he pushed her into the deadly waves. I saw it. Not even a single muscle moved in his face. He didn't get scared, he stood there for a minute then he spited into the water.
I knew if I tell it to my seniors, then he would be expelled of the orphanage. This was my first mistake, not to report the case to the seniors. The second one was when I punished him. I pushed his head into the sink as a punishment. But...
- Let me guess. You went too far. – says Angel.
- I didn't want to kill him! I swear! – Mother Suzanne looks at Angel remorsefully - You have to help me to go to Heaven I don't belong here. – she grabs Angel's collar.
- Let go of me! – Angel tries to escape her hold.
She lets Angel go and starts to pray eagerly. Angel rushes out of the room and shuts the door behind him.
„This woman is crazy!" – he thinks – „At least we have an interesting story to reveal."