Aiming for something a little more heart-warming this time.
"I don't think it's a good idea." Charlie protested. Her arms folded.
"He'll be fine." Thorne reassured. "Walking is good for you, and I'll be with him."
The two of them had been discussing it for the past hour and a half. Neither of them was relenting. Charlie wanted Angel to stay in the hotel, she insisted that since they had Alastor, they would be safe. Thorne argued that if Valentino brought Vox then it wouldn't matter, so taking Angel out of the hotel at least for the time being would be best. It had been back and forth like this all morning.
"Where are you taking him?" Charlie asked.
"St Judas', I have to do my rounds there today anyway. As per my contract." Thorne replied, "He'll be safer there, I have guards, and legions of imps and demons at my command."
"Legions?"
"Sounds better than orderlies." Thorne said, adjusting his tie clip and posing. "How do I look?".
"Like a very fine fellow indeed." Alastor proclaimed his rictus grin ever present as he walked into the room and took his chair by the fire.
"Why don't you take Vaggie?" Charlie suggested.
"She won't want to leave you." Thorne shrugged. "Besides we won't require protecting." Thorne boasted, pulling out a pair of black desert eagles from the holsters in his jacket.
Charlie's eyes widened, "Why do you have those?".
"Because I'd be an idiot if I didn't."
Before the princess could answer there was a creak on the stairs.
"Wassup bitches?!" Angel Dust shouted as he descended. Not in his usual striped jacket, but a pink jumper with hearts just cutting off at the waist, a pair of lavender gloves on his main hands, sporting a pair of denim hot pants and his usual knee-high boots. Thorne was transfixed.
"Angel" Charlie sighed exasperated. "I don't think that would be appropriate for a hospital."
"Oh, I dunno." Angel sniggered. Making his way to the doctor and tickling under his chin leeringly, "Doesn't look like doc minds."
"You're gonna be cold out there Angel." Thorne said tilting his head.
"Na! I'll be fine. We off or what?"
Angel shivered as a strong breeze tore through the uneven streets.
"Told you." Thorne stated, unflinching in his heavy black coat.
"Why the fuck we walking?" Angel grumbled.
"It's good for you."
"It's fucking boring is what it is." Angel complained stepping over a pool of vomit. "Why'd Cherri leave? And without saying nothing, thought we were best bitches."
"She was helping me during the night. She had to leave early but she said that she'd meet you for lunch."
BANG
Angel jumped and twisted round stumbling into Thorne, who reached out and caught him. The car that backfired trundling off down the street.
Angel looked up at Thorne, the panic dissipating and quickly replaced with embarrassment.
"Nice catch Thorny." Angel grinned, self-righting and walking on.
Thorne reached out and took Angel's hand, Angel turned round bewildered.
"You know you are safe with me, don't you Angel?" Thorne said gently.
"Yeah yeah, Whatever." Angel shrugged, lifting his gloved hand, showing Thorne's trembling hand. "Guess you get scared to huh kitty?"
"You know that's a tremor, Angel."
"Well, you're doing it more now, anything I should know pussy cat?"
"It always gets worse around attractive men." Thorne muttered, looking away.
"Huh?!" Angel's mouth opened.
Quick as a flash, Thorne tickled under Angel's chin.
"Gotcha."
"Oh, fuck you." Angel scoffed, playfully punching Thorne's arm and turning to view his reflection in a storefront. "Anyway, I put on far too much this morning. But didn't wanna spend all day looking at how Val fucked my face up. So, don't go telling me I'm beautiful."
Thorne turned to look into the glass, "But you are beautiful Angel. You are brave. And bravery in the face of what seems to be impossible is beautiful."
"Wasn't very brave back there."
"Bravery isn't a lack of fear, but is instead doing what needs to be done in spite of it." Thorne scowled. "Now we need to get a move on, or we're going to be late."
The demonic pair turned and continued walking, Thorne's scowl remaining, he had seen something troubling in the storefront reflection, they were being followed.
The hospital itself was a mighty black granite edifice, the red dawn light from Hell's sky causing it to sparkle. Drawing closer, Angel noticed skulls sticking out at odd angles all over the building.
"Previous trouble-makers." Thorne whispered. Opening one of the doors. "My hospital is for healing, not settling scores. Occasionally I need to remind people of that."
The inside matched the outside. Black granite, sparkling from the overhead lights. With rows of demons and imps waiting to be seen. As Thorne and Angel entered, the demons and imps dressed in black hospital uniforms quickly stood to attention. Like soldiers with a CO. A male imp scurried forward, taking Thorne's coat and escorting them to Thorne's office.
The rest of the hospital like the exterior was black granite, what puzzled Angel was that there were no signs or directions usually found within a hospital. If it weren't for the imp and Thorne, he would have sworn he was lost, there were no distinguishing features on the walls, the building was a maze. A few minutes of what seemed to be wandering in circles, they came to a large set of double doors with a bronze plaque with a single word "Thorne".
The office, like the halls, were spartan and grave-quiet. No art or pictures on the walls, just a single flatscreen, a desk in the centre of the room, and a giant window with a view that looked over the hell-scape of the city. That was weird, Angel didn't remember walking up any stairs or taking an elevator. So how did they get up so high?
Thorne walked to a small fridge built into the wall and pulled out two cans of Peachy Keen, offering one to Angel.
"Mmmm my fave" Angel cooed, taking one in his gloved hands. Only stopping when Thorne took his other hand and slowly started taking the lavender glove off.
"Could at least buy me dinner first. Y'know before you get a gal outta her clothes." Angel joked, grimacing as the gloves caught on the bandages Thorne had placed there the night before.
"I just need to have a look Angel." Thorne muttered, "I need to make sure you're doing alright."
Thorne continued to mutter as he gently unwrapping the bandages, to reveal nothing. No trauma, no burns, no bloodstained fur, no bruising. Angel's eyes widened.
"But how did…"
"I'm just that good." Thorne smiled putting his hands behind his back.
Angel was confused till Thorne pressed the TV remote into his hands.
"Watch something, I have to prepare for my patients." Thorne suggested, retreating to his desk, stealing a glance at the lone piece of paper before shuffling it into the drawer.
Glancing down at the remote Angel flicked through the channels till settling on 666 News.
"Our main story; authorities are still baffled by the recent surge in suicides, officials still maintain suicide despite all deceased being found without their eyes. In other news; outrage today at the 666 club where law enforcement continues their search for the vandals who destroyed Valentino's limousine." Tom Trench stated.
"Wha'the fuck." Angel stammered, dropping the remote. He noticed Cherri's handiwork straight away. The coloured flames were her tell-tale signature, but the other damage was different. Someone had carved the word "RAT" on the bonnet of the car with "CALL ME. T" just underneath. Angel started hyperventilating.
"What's wrong Angel?" Thorne asked confused.
"He's gonna know, he's gonna come here… get me…" Angel breathed and started pacing.
"No Angel." Thorne said firmly, grabbing Angel's shoulders, "I've got you, and while you are with me, nothing will happen to you."
"Say that again." Angel whimpered.
"I've got you." Thorne replied softly, Angel's shoulders started shaking, tears at the corners of his eyes.
"I've got you." Thorne repeated, this time Angel pushed him away.
"Fuck doc, I gotta get you something or some shit." Angel sniffed.
"There's no need Ang…" Thorne started but was interrupted by the spider demon throwing his arms around him and kissing him. Thorne panicked, this wasn't the typical lust filled kiss that he was used to from previous lovers, it was passionate but… wait… did he just think of Angel Dust as a lover. No this wasn't right. He couldn't. He didn't deserve it.
The cat roughly pushed Angel away.
"No Angel." Thorne snarled. His eyes briefly glowing looking at the shocked surprise in Angel's "You do not thank me for doing my job. I am only a doctor; it is my purpose."
The office door burst open and a lanky owl demon sauntered in.
"CORVUS!" Thorne bellowed, quickly removing his hands from Angel's shoulders, "What have I told you about knocking?"
"That I don't have to, if you're late for shit." The pissed off teenager grumbled, adjusting his beanie as he held out a clipboard.
"I don't get it doc." Angel said, recovering from the earlier scolding. "We can't get sick, so why is there a hospital?"
"But we can Angel." Thorne countered, turning to face Angel as he slowly backed away to the door. "Luckily any illness no matter the severity only last for a few days. But we can still be injured. Broken bones, burns, stab wounds, bullet wounds and the like. The hospital exists to help those who are unfortunate enough to need it."
Thorne backed through the doorway and smiled softly, licking his lips. "While you wait for Cherri to arrive, feel free to watch whatever you want, eat and drink as you please. But I want you to remember something for me Angel, while you are in my hospital, no one will harm you."
Shutting the door with a click, Thorne could only hold one word in his head, as the taste tingled his tongue.
Strawberry.
Millie couldn't stop bouncing up and down with excitement, and that concerned Moxxie. His wife had been like this all week. Not eating properly, vomiting and this constant giggling and bouncing about. Whenever he questioned her on it, she'd just smile, kiss his cheek, entwine their tails and insist on going to St Judas' when they got the time off from work. Moxxie and Millie pricked their ears at an argument happening just outside their room.
"You gotta stop doing this sir. Eventually you'll take an injury you can't heal." A young voice came from just beyond the door.
"I've got it under control Corvus. And I don't remember asking for your advice." Thorne snarled as he entered the room hands clasped behind his back, leaving an irritated Corvus behind.
Sitting on the end of the bed, Thorne grinned. "And how are my favourite imps doing?"
"Oh, fine Doctor Thorne." Moxxie raved, "Apart from Millie not eating and BEING SICK ALL WEEK."
"Mox, no need to shout sweetie." Millie pleaded, holding her husband's hand.
Thorne nodded gently and put out his left hand, it was time for another one of his Overlord privileges.
"Doctor," Millie gasped, "What happened to your hand? It looks like it's been slammed in a car door.".
The three of them looked down at Thorne's trembling hand, no longer pristine with unbroke white fur, but discoloured and covered in cigarette burns.
"It's nothing, I was helping a patient.", Thorne dismissed their concerns as he reached out a second time, letting it hover over Millie's stomach before smiling and turning to Millie.
"Your guess is correct Millie."
Millie started giggling and turned to her husband in delight.
"What guess?" Moxxie asked, confused.
"Do you want to tell him or should I." Thorne asked.
Millie leaned over to her husband and whispered something to him. Moxxie's eyes just widened.
"I'm gonna be a…" he sputtered, "oh crumbs!"
Angel was nervous, laying on the couch, it had been hours since Thorne left and there was only so much Peachy Keen you could drink before you never wanted to see it again. No phone, no pig to play with, no food either, not that he was in the mood. He had tried to go for a mooch around the hospital, but no matter what corridors he took or moves he made he always ended up back at Thorne's office. It was only a few minutes till Cherri arrived but then what?
Getting up and wandering around the room did nothing other than to stretch his legs. He had searched for something to keep him interested, but other than some really boring psychology manuals and blank notepads there was fuck all to do.
The door opened and Thorne entered. He winced plunging his left hand into his pocket while his right tapped a message out on his phone.
"Hey doc", Angel cried out, "You got anything to do in this place?".
Thorne stood still for a few minutes in silence staring at his phone before glancing at the spider sprawled on his couch.
"I'm sorry Angel, I've been arguing with someone about flowers. But no matter what I say to daddy hoot hoot, he's not listening."
"Wait! You're on the gram?", Angel asked, rising from the couch and walking over.
"Yes, but…"
"Yoink."
"Angel, give that back." Thorne insisted.
"Wait you got no posts, not even a pic… we need to fix that shit like now." Angel stated, backing up, Thorne's phone in hand and getting in position.
"Angel, there really isn't…"
"Yer there is, now smile."
Thorne raised an eyebrow.
"I aint taking the damn pic till you gimme a smile." Angel demanded. "Say 'Sexy Spider'!"
Thorne chuckled and heard the camera shutter sound.
"Mmmmm, now there's a looker." Angel flirted as he tapped the screen. "And you're also followin' my fine self. So, I'd say your day's lookin' up doc."
Thorne smiled, and there was a knock at the door.
"Come in Corvus."
The teen entered the room with a concerned look on his face.
"Sir there is a cyclops demon in the reception who is looking for Angel."
"Yes, that would Cherri Bomb, please escort Angel Dust back to reception." Thorne winced as he clasped his hands behind his back, before looking at Angel. "I'll see you back at the hotel."
Angel nodded with a small smile and followed Corvus out as Thorne sat at his desk, waiting for the door to close, he opened the drawer and pulled out; a small vial, a syringe and the piece of paper he was looking at earlier.
It was a child's drawing of colourful stick figures; it showed a small imp girl holding Thorne's hand. Crudely drawn but it was one of Thorne's treasured items that he still had. Tears welled in his eyes as he read the text that he had seen hundreds of times.
I want to be a doctor. Like my daddy. He helps people.
Drawing the correct dosage from the vial as he had done so many times before, all Thorne could do was let the tears fall down his face as he self-injected the heroin, letting himself drift away into a blissful haze while muttering the same phrase over and over again.
"I'm sorry Abigail"
It was dark as Thorne left the hospital. The chill that hung in the air made his fur stand. Checking his pocket watch, he saw the time, half-past nine. He also saw several missed messages from Charlie on his phone, the growing well of panic was quickly quashed when he saw no messages from Cherri. If anything had happened, Cherri would have called, as would have the demons he sent to discreetly watch over them. He turned and started walking back to the hotel.
"Yo doc." An Italian voice came from the darkness of a nearby alley.
Thorne turned and was met by a short black spider demon in a black suit, yellow suit, bow tie and matching fedora. Holding a small revolver.
"Names Arackniss…", the spider said, aiming the gun, "you're coming with me."
Please let me know what you think of the story so far. I've never written stories of any real length before.
Anything you would like to see happen to the characters please message me.
I'm trying to base my Arackniss off AxelGear's Arackniss. If you don't know him please look him up on youtube and check his Arackniss series out.