A Hellish Forever
Ch.5: Interview with a Vampire
A/N: Quick note. The Rita secret and Chapter in general will not happen, as I have deemed it unnecessary.
To say Lincoln was nervous was an understatement. He was a wreck as the limo strolled down the road. Despite the best attempts by Vaggie to calm him down, he could not. He breathed in and out, almost to the point of hyperventilating. What would they ask?
"Lincoln," a voice rung through. Alastor gave a nod when Lincoln turned to him, as the Radio Demon sat on the floor by the door, his feet spread out in front of him. "We're all here for you. Katie knows not to mess with anyone she interviews when I'm around."
Lincoln slowly calmed. To be honest, a question had been forming in his mind recently. Alastor did not speak to him much and usually kept the company of Husker to his annoyance.
"Why are you called the Radio Demon?" Alastor was asked by the young boy. "I was a radio host in my human years," he explained. Lincoln was confused by this. "You were a human? Then...how am I not a demon?"
Vaggie sighed, being next to Angel across from the pre-teen. "We don't know Lincoln. That's something Charlie's Dad would have to answer."
"And he's...the Man in Black right?" Lincoln questioned. Angel nodded. "Mmmm. Him and Lilith. He is the brawns; she is the brain. Just don't ask about them in front of Charlie. Her and her mom don't get along well."
Lincoln nodded solemnly, staring out the window before the limo jerked to a stop. They were at 666 News.
Vaggie would enter the building first. It was a typical news building, a black painted lobby greeting her as Lincoln stepped in behind her. Behind him Alastor and Angel did too, Angel with a few magazines to pass the time. Vaggie walked up to the reception desk, where an Imp, a young man in his twenties sat.
"Lincoln is here for his interview," she said with a grin. It had taken some monetary convincing for Vaggie to agree to this. Plus, Alastor would be on set, which had not made the station happy. Tis the price they had to pay.
"Awesome. Tom and Katie will love to meet him," he smiled, before standing. Lincoln had made his way over to the desk as Alastor and Angel had taken their seats in the uncomfortable lobby chairs. He excused himself, returning a minute later.
"Great! They'll be ready in a few minutes. Come with me," the demon, named Eldritch, said. Vaggie took Lincolns shoulders." Look. Don't let Katie try to hurt you. She is going to be tough. A little mean too."
Lincoln nodded. "I'll be fine Vaggie," he said. Vaggie hugged him and left, as Lincoln followed the receptionist back to a waiting area. "I got a question of my own," he said, walking over to a small table with snacks and offering Lincoln an Oatmeal Raison cookie, which Lincoln took. "How old are you?"
Lincoln ate the tasty confection before answering. "11. I-is something wrong?"
The demon shook his head no. "You just- wait. How the- I'll be right back," he said rushing away and whispering with an assistant hurriedly. Eldritch soon returned. "Interesting! Now Katie is a tough cookie. Tom will ask any follow up questions, but they plan to refrain from any swearing," he said, trying to reassure him.
Lincoln nodded slowly. "What are they asking?" Eldritch explained that the station found a human in Hell to be an interesting topic, and they planned to ask about that, plus his time at the hotel so far.
A production hand soon strided over. "It's time," she said.
Lincoln was amazed, stepping into the newsroom. Dark red and blue in color, a tall demon wearing a gas mask sat at the large news desk. He regarded Lincoln with a wave and gestured to the seat next to him. Lincoln quickly sat.
"What's your name?" Lincoln asked the man. "Tom Trench. Heh no worries. Just gotta wear this. Breathing issues," he explained. Lincoln tilted his head. "But a gas mask?"
Tom went to respond, only for a loud groan and a pair of heeled footsteps to be heard. "Quit boring the kid. I'm the star of the show here."
Lincoln was then greeted by a turn of his desk chair. A tall woman with a curviness squatted. "I'm Katie Killjoy. Nice to meet you. Want a Cigarette?"
Katie chuckled, sitting in the chair next to Lincoln as he shook his head no rapidly. "Good. How long have you been here?" she asked taking a drag, using her free hand to shuffle some papers on the desk. "2 days", he replied, looking down. Angel had bought him a new pair of Blue Jeans for the occasion.
"Look kid," she began. "I'm going to be honest with you. I think the Hotel is a stupid idea. I think that Charlie girl is an airhead who is running into a brick wall. But I'm going to be fair. Her Dad is making me. He paid us a visit last night." Tom gave an audible shudder.
"What's he like?" Lincoln asked. Katie's face turned into a laugh. "He's a riot. But you will find out I'm sure," she said.
Lincoln went to respond, only to hear an assistant counting down. He prepared himself.
"And welcome to 666 News, the only station to hear the right things. I'm Katie Killjoy, and this is our guest, Lincoln. He is a human that fell into our home two days ago. Now, how did you get into the Hotel?" Katie asked, flashing a smile at him. To Lincoln, it appeared the smile from Katie was forced, though he could have been seeing things.
Lincoln began to tell the tale. How he had gotten accosted by a prostitute, only for Vaggie to stop her. Katie giggled. "Such a bad girl. Do you even know what a prostitute is?"
Tom could not help but to get in a jab. He owed his his partner this for 6 months to this point. "You would Katie. It's the only way you get any."
Katie ignored the jab, though she was seething internally. "Anyways, Vaggie took you to the hotel from there?"
Lincoln nodded. There was something about this woman he did not like. How she seemed to be looking him over like he was an experiment. Tom coughed. "How has the hotel been to you Lincoln?"
Lincoln turned to him, relieved to not look at Ms. Killjoy. "Great. Charlie's nice, and so is Angel. Nifty freaks me out though."
Lincoln continued. "Though she's so helpful. She treats me like my older sister Leni always did."
Tom and Katie looked at each other. Katie asked it. "Sisters? How many?"
Lincoln was squirming in his seat suddenly, as images appeared in his head. He wanted nothing more than to play video games with Angel Dust and forget this. He could not hear Katie ask another question as the sound drifted away.
It had bothered him so much. What was his purpose here? Why was he a human still?
Meanwhile, Alastor had been watching from behind the camera. It was obvious the boy was in discomfort, but those two were not caring. Having enough, Alastor calmly walked on set and grabbed Lincoln, shaking him. "It's alright Lincoln."
Lincoln slowly nodded as Alastor looked at Katie. "This interview is over."
Katie growled, snapping a pen. "I'll sue you for everything you are worth if you take Lincoln off set."
Alastor gave his trademark grin. "My boss can afford the lawyers. And I will win too," he said before leaving. The news went to commercial as Katie steamed. She wanted that Hotel hurt. But how?
To Lincoln, a question popped in his head as he was .
Who was Alestor's puppet master?
A short while later, Katie was pacing back and forth in her dressing room, speaking on the phone. "Yes. I want him away from the hotel. I need that interview. And I know you want revenge..."
