As soon as he reached his bathroom doors, Alastor changed the clothes he and Vaggie were wearing into bathing suits. Vaggie wore a thankfully padded white bikini while Alastor was wearing a black speedo.
Vaggie looked down at her bikini, blushed, tried to cover herself with her hair, and said, "What are you doing?! This is ridiculous! I look like I'm competing in Miss El Salvador!"
"And you'd be sure to win first prize, my dear," Alastor replied.
Vaggie looked Alastor up and down since this was the first time she saw him in so little clothing. He was well-built though thin and covered in scars.
Vaggie studied his body for a moment and asked, "Why are you covered in scars?"
Alastor looked down at his body, sighed, and said, "Let's just say to achieve wholeness you must give up a few things."
"Was it worth it?" Vaggie asked.
"I hope so," Alastor said, pulling Vaggie in close. "I most certainly am."
Alastor leaned in for another kiss, but Vaggie pulled back and asked, "Why are we in bathing suits if you want to bathe?"
"Rosie has been bathing you every night of your week-long slumber," Alastor said, visually inspecting Vaggie's body in a way that made her feel uncomfortable. "It is not right for a husband to see his wife's body before they are married. That is why we are covered, but don't worry, my love. It won't always be like this."
"I can bathe by myself," Vaggie protested, pulling her hair around her body to cover her from Alastor's uncomfortable gaze. "Why do you need to join me?"
"The purpose of this bath isn't just to bathe but also to restore strength, dear," Alastor said, stretching his muscles. "It is a ritual I partake in every night. The ritual is quite rejuvenating for me. So, I figured, what's a better way for a groom and bride to relax the night before their wedding?"
Vaggie then froze as Alastor snaked his arm around her waist. The wedding was the next day. She couldn't believe it. Her hair bristled on its ends, and she couldn't suppress a shudder.
Alastor took Vaggie's arm in his and said, "Don't worry, my dear. Like I said, we are not consummating the marriage tonight. We are simply bathing and soaking in water enchanted with my healing magic. Now, right this way…"
Vaggie stiffly stood in place and felt sick in her stomach, either from eating for the first time in a week or from knowing the wedding was happening the next day. Vaggie suspected it was a mix of both.
Alastor opened the door to his bathroom, and Vaggie's eye grew large with wonder.
The bathroom was ornamented with sleek white marble and the crimson candles provided illumination all around the walls circling the bathtub. The bathtub itself was massive, reminding her of a Japanese bathhouse had she had once seen in a movie she watched when she was alive. It was a Japanese movie, a rarity in the slum where she had lived, and the bathtubs in that film were massive. Yet this bathtub was bigger. It could hold many more than just herself and Alastor. Steam wafted from the water and rose petals floated on the surface.
The setting was unbelievably romantic. Vaggie wished she could be sharing it with Charlie instead of Alastor.
Alastor stepped in front of Vaggie and asked, "Do you like it, my love?"
Vaggie had no words except to say, "It's massive."
Alastor shut the door telekinetically making Vaggie tense up where she stood.
"I always loved reading about the Roman baths of old," Alastor said. "Roman kings would create huge baths within their palaces to provide themselves a sanctuary for relaxation, just after they conquered their latest conquest and campaigns. That is why I made sure I got one for myself. As powerful as I am, I still like to withdraw to restore my energy with my magic. I thought I was content to perform this ritual alone, but now..."
Alastor wrapped his arm around Vaggie, began caressing her waist, and said, "...it is much sweeter with you here."
Vaggie shuddered and looked away silently.
Alastor chuckled lightly, walked forward holding Vaggie's arm, and said, "There's no need to be frightened, my dear. It is only a bath. Now, let us clean our teeth and climb in."
Vaggie walked stiffly next to Alastor as the pair walked next to the sink. Alastor handed her the toothbrush with her name on it, and he took the toothbrush with his name on it.
The two got the toothpaste on their toothbrushes and began brushing their teeth.
Vaggie brushed her teeth as slowly as she could. She wanted to prolong the inevitable, to avoid Alastor and his unwanted, uncomfortable affection, to make him lose interest if that was even possible. So, she brushed her teeth multiple times over in hopes that Alastor would just enter the bath by himself.
Alastor finished brushing his teeth first. He spat out his toothpaste, rinsed his mouth and toothbrush, put the toothbrush away, and watched Vaggie.
Feeling his eyes focusing on her back, Vaggie continued brushing her teeth as thoroughly as possible.
Finally, Alastor laid his hand on Vaggie's back and said, "Vaggie, dear, that is enough toothbrushing for now. Don't you think?"
Vaggie gritted her teeth but reluctantly complied and stopped brushing her teeth.
After she rinsed the toothbrush and put it away, Alastor took Vaggie's hand and led her to the tub.
"Do I have to do this with you?" Vaggie whined.
Alastor took Vaggie's arm in his and said, "Yes, Vaggie. This is our special bath together."
Vaggie feared the worst and asked, "What do you mean by special?"
"This is the bath we will take every night to both bathe and restore our energy," Alastor said. "I usually took this bath alone, but from now on, we will take it together. You especially need it tonight after your long nap."
Vaggie looked away and tried to make an excuse, "I'm sure other methods of restoring my energy would work just as well as this."
"But they aren't nearly as relaxing," Alastor said, stepping into the bath ahead of her and beckoning her to join him. "Now, come on in."
Reluctantly, Vaggie stepped into the bath. The hot water instantly warmed her legs and relaxed her nerves.
Alastor sat down and gestured for Vaggie to do the same. Reluctantly, Vaggie complied and sat down in the water.
Despite herself, Vaggie allowed her body to relax and allow the warm water to embrace her in its soothing hold.
Vaggie leaned her head against the side of the tub and let herself sigh contentedly. Gradually, she relaxed so much that she was almost able to forget where she was. At least, until, Vaggie felt Alastor's hand hold onto hers.
Alastor then pulled Vaggie towards him and said, "Come now, my darling. I have finished washing myself. Now, let me wash your beautiful body and gorgeous hair!"
Alastor's long wet fingers touched Vaggie's shoulder and made her shudder.
"I can wash my own hair!" Vaggie said, slipping her hand out of Alastor's grip and slapping his hand away.
"As your future husband, it is polite to allow me to wash your hair, darling," Alastor said, trying to uphold his authority.
Vaggie turned around, splashed Alastor in the face, and growled, "I'm not your polite, subservient little 'wife'! I am washing my own hair and my own body!"
Vaggie then walked over to the far side of the tub, sat down, and began washing herself with the soap on the side. She washed her face and prayed to God that Alastor would leave her alone.
Alastor walked up to Vaggie in practically a lovesick trance. He marveled at her beauty as she sat in the hot water washing the soap out of her ethereal face. He then walked back to his side of the bathtub and made his move.
As soon as she finished washing her face, shadowy hands grabbed hold of Vaggie's wrists and pulled her down into the water across the giant bath until she reached Alastor.
"That's not the right attitude to have with your husband, my darling wife," Alastor chided gently as he took her in his arms.
"I don't care!" Vaggie cried pushing Alastor away before the shadowy hands pulled her back into place. "Let me go!"
"Now, now, Vaggie, you're so stressed," Alastor said, sticking his palm in the water and holding the water under Vaggie's nose. "You need to relax your mind and your body. Let yourself go…"
With his magic, Alastor strengthened the fragrance of the bath to Vaggie's senses.
The scent was overpowering in its calming sweetness.
Vaggie unwillingly began to feel her mind relax as the shadowy hands gently pulled Vaggie into the water next to Alastor where the scent was the strongest.
Alastor held open a bottle of the soap he had used to clean himself and poured it on his bride's hair and skin. He lathered the soap into the long hair and rubbed it on her skin.
Vaggie felt her mind drift into a soothing fog enclosed in steam from the hot water and the soap from Alastor's hands.
Seeing that his tactic worked and that Vaggie was entranced under his spell, Alastor smiled and asked, "How does that feel, darling?"
"Soft…soothing…so warm…so calming…" muttered Vaggie.
Alastor chuckled and said, "I knew you'd like it. Now, relax and let me wash you, dearest."
Vaggie relaxed and let Alastor wash her, actually enjoying the feeling of Alastor's hands on her body.
Alastor smiled as he bathed Vaggie, enjoying the feeling of taking care of the love of his afterlife.
Vaggie was so soothed and relaxed that she didn't mind. She didn't come back to her senses until Alastor finished rinsing her off.
"There we are, my darling," Alastor said, stepping back to admire his work. "All fresh and clean!"
Vaggie finally perked up, pushed Alastor away from her, and walked to the other side of the tub, shuddering uncomfortably all the while.
"God, you're such a pervert!" Vaggie cried.
Alastor chuckled and replied, "But darling, you enjoyed it."
Vaggie visibly cringed with her back towards Alastor. Part of her did enjoy the touching, but only because that was how Charlie would touch her.
"No, I didn't!" Vaggie spat back. "I was practically unconscious for the entirety of it! I couldn't move!"
Alastor smiled and stood up from the bath.
Vaggie cringed even more as she heard the water sloshing around his legs while he slowly crossed the tub. She practically threw up when he put his cold, wet hand on her bare, wet shoulder.
"Vaggie dear, I only used my magic to help you relax," Alastor said, wrapping his arms around her torso. "Now, don't tell me you don't feel better."
Vaggie grimaced in hatred at how much stronger she felt and how disgusting Alastor was.
"No, I feel violated!" Vaggie practically growled. "Now, leave me alone!"
Vaggie shoved Alastor away from her as she stomped her way out of the tub.
Alastor cleaned his body in a matter of seconds and asked, "Vaggie, dearest, where are you going?"
Vaggie didn't even look back as she wrapped herself in a towel that she pulled off the rack and said, "Back to my room to sleep."
Alastor pulled the stopper out of the tub, stepped out of the bath, and snapped his fingers, drying himself off and wrapping himself in a bathrobe.
Alastor then followed after Vaggie and asked, "But Vaggie, why would you do that?"
"Why do you think?!" Vaggie snapped. "To get some peace and quiet away from you!"
Alastor chuckled and replied, "But sweetheart, you're sleeping with me tonight."
Vaggie turned on her heels as her eyes grew wide as saucers.
"What?!" Vaggie asked incredulously. "Nah ah! There is no fucking way that I would ever share a bed with you!"
"Why not, Vaggie, my sweet?" Alastor pleaded. "Our wedding is tomorrow."
"Exactly!" Vaggie snarled angrily as she stood in place. "I want a last night of freedom away from you before I am forced to participate in a fucking wedding that I never asked for with a man I can't stand to be in the same room with when I forever lose the chance to marry the only woman who has ever made me feel loved! Now, get out of my face!"
Alastor's eye twitched slightly before he replied, "Oh, don't be ridiculous, sweetie. You have nothing to fear. I don't plan on consummating our union until tomorrow night. I just want us to rest together until tomorrow morning."
Vaggie growled and tried to walk away only for Alastor to stop in front of her when she reached the bathroom door.
"Now, then, my dear," Alastor said. "Let's go to bed."
Vaggie took a step back and said, "I am still not sleeping with you."
Alastor then wagged his finger and said, "Now, now, now, don't be difficult, my dear."
"Or what? We aren't married. I don't have to sleep with…" Vaggie then came up with an idea that paused her argument. "Fine."
Normally, Alastor would be suspicious of Vaggie's sudden change in attitude, but he was too happy about her compliance to care.
"Oh, my love, I'd hoped you'd see things my way," Alastor gushed.
He then waved his staff instantly drying Vaggie off, braiding her hair, and put a blue night dress on her.
Alastor then snapped his fingers, summoning red pajamas for himself.
"Now," Alastor said. "Let's go to bed."
Alastor then opened the door to his room, revealing his freshened-up room.
The bed was massive, bigger than the one Vaggie had been sleeping in previously. The comforter was made from the softest red silk and the pillows looked almost like soft clouds. Vaggie was surprised that she didn't notice all these things sooner. Alastor must have changed the room while they were in the bathroom.
"Do you like it?" Alastor asked, noticing Vaggie's amazement.
"It's fine," Vaggie said, her face looking away as Alastor walked ahead in front of her.
Alastor telekinetically pulled back the sheets as he walked over to the bed and climbed in. He then gestured to beckon Vaggie to join him.
Vaggie rolled her eyes and walked across the room to the opposite side of the bed from Alastor. She then laid on her side facing the wall instead of Alastor. She could feel Alastor's eyes staring at her.
"Vaggie, dear, what are you doing?" Alastor asked.
Without turning around to look at him, Vaggie replied, "Trying to go to sleep obviously."
Alastor cocked an eyebrow and protested, "But you're so far away from me. Won't you get cold?"
"I'll be fine," Vaggie retorted. "Just leave me alone!"
But just then, Vaggie felt sharp hands snake their way around her waist. She still wouldn't look at Alastor and kept trying to ignore him.
Alastor ran his fingers through Vaggie's hair and said, "Then I'll sleep here, too."
Vaggie stiffened and trembled in his embrace.
Alastor leaned in and whispered, "Relax, darling. After tomorrow, we will be together for all eternity."
Alastor shut his eyes and began to doze off.
Vaggie shut her eyes and pretended to sleep for a while. Once she was sure he was sleeping, Vaggie slithered out of Alastor's grip and made her way back into the bathroom.
Vaggie didn't turn on the bathroom light lest Alastor reawaken from his slumber. In the dark, Vaggie used the toilet, washed her hands, laid some towels on the floor of the empty tub, and laid down.
The tub floor was hard, but it was still softer than the floors she slept on in El Salvador.
Vaggie shut her eyes and quietly tried to figure out how she could possibly run away from Alastor before the wedding. She had no time to lose, even less now that she had been asleep for a week.
Angel was in his family's hands. Charlie was on the verge of losing the hotel. Niffty could be punished for spilling the beans on where Vaggie was.
Vaggie somehow had to stop Alastor from hurting any of them or anyone else for that matter. She tried to make a plan, but the pull of sleep took over and pulled Vaggie into sleep on the towels cushioning her from the cool tub floor.
