Chapter 3

The air was shimmering with the golden tassels decorated around the room, people and creatures alike milling about and laughing in the downstairs area as the waiters prepped the last of the glassware on the tables not far upstairs for the VIP's. Light music waved through the air, men heartily patting each other on the back while sitting at the bar stands. Ladies swaying around to powder their noses with friends only to giggle and gossip loudly once behind shut doors. The excitement in the air was palpable and despite differences everyone seemed to get along and boost up the energy, one of the main reasons this place was one of the little demon's favorites. He shows off his reputation by strutting in with a fancy white hat adorned with a dashingly black stripe, tapping his cane as he walked up to his favorite co owner of this swanky little theatre of a bar. Her eyes immediately lights up upon the sight of him.

"Ah, if it isn't the dancin' darlin'!" she exclaimed.

"Lady Reese" Bendy replied bending slightly as he pecked a kiss on her hand.

Her feathery white boa pointed towards the stage. She gives it a few pats on its head to make it rest back on her shoulder. Noone questioned when that neck thing came to life, and frankly no one wanted to care. It was an extension of Reese and so it stayed when it came to pass. Not to mention it gets a tad awfully aggressive at times. As were anything when it came to this hostess. "Sorry my toe tapping tomster" She lightly bowed, "but for tonight your place is taken. Special purposes only. I'm more than happy to spare you a seat though to enjoy the show."

Bendy frowns as he brought a finger to the corner of his mouth. "Taken? Special? Just who's this wise knocker Reese?"

Reese smiles that wry grin of hers. The type of grin she gave when handing him his pitchfork all those months ago. "Why honey. Take a seat like I advise. You'll be pleasantly surprised. That I promise you."

He gives a brief nod, his fingers twitching nervously, but does as she says. Reese was a force of nature he wouldn't dream of arguing with. Boris tails in after him, his face scrunched up in confusion as he noticed his little friend sitting in one of the small round tables near the front row. Bendy anxiously waves him over, his head swerving around at the growing audience around him.

The thin wolf seats himself in, hunching over himself so the folks behind him wouldn't complain about his height. The lights were already beginning to dim. "What's going on pal? Why aren't you-"

Boris was abruptly cut off as the main spotlight came on with a bang, revealing Reese in a satin deep blue dress, it's cut slit ending right at her mid thigh showing off the curves of her leg in black heels. She winks and tosses a kiss to the audience. The crowd goes wild with whistling and hollering. Bendy simply shrugs and shakes his head at his buddy before they both directed their attention to the woman who firmly gripped to her mike stand. She gives a nod to the band huddled in the dark corner beside the stage. "Ladies and Gentleman" she crooned.

"And all the others." she smiled in Bendy's direction. He blushes a bit but gave a thumbs up. Thoughts swirling in his head of who could've topped his acts to earn this spot. He was used to rejection, to hate and fear because of what he was. But Reese wouldn't push him down like this, she'd teach anyone a lesson if they tried, the fearless gal.

"Isn't that Bendy?" a lady whispered two seats behind him.

"Yeah why's he down here?" the guy beside her asked.

"Golly, do ya think it's part of the show or somethin?" An elderly chimed in.

"I know." Reese raised her arms, silencing the starting hums buzzing through the ring of people. "I know who you were all expecting. But tonight I have received a very special guest who had a request I couldn't bear to deny." She slowly closed her eyes with thick black lashes.

"May I present to you...the lady with class!"

The drums thrummed as she jutted her hip to the right.

Who could it be? Has he heard of them? If he has would it just be this one time thing? Or should he be worried? What has Reese got up her sleeve this time? Bendy thought.

"The one sent from heavens above!" Her hips went left, the thrumming grew faster and lower as everyone was leaning at the edge of their seats. Curiosity getting the best of them. Boris and Bendy held their breath as the nanoseconds felt like minutes, and seconds felt like hours. Time seemed to cease as Bendy's thoughts chased around like a revolving door that wouldn't stop spinning.

"Everyone put your hands together for… Alice Angel!"

"Angel?!" Bendy's hands slammed the table in time with the final clash of cymbals. A tiny crescent moon rolled down from the ceiling as the angel stepped out from behind the black drapes. Reese with a smirk and a swish of her dress went out without pause, leaving all eyes on the vision she left behind.

People gasped breathlessly. There she stood, a halo on her head with.. devil horns? No wings to boot. Nevertheless, her face was pure beauty and innocence. She held herself with poise as the band began the beat of a song no one's had yet to hear.

"My oh my, want to hear a tale?" She began in a lovely soft voice, her eyes shut gently from the world. The piano and trumpets soft and slow.

"Once upon a time ago

I was all on my own.

A beautiful, merciful, angel until the day he came along.

Left me to fade away
and strayed me off the path." She twirled.

Now the trumpets and saxophones picked up the tempo as she opened her eyes and stomped on her heel.

"Sugah, now's my chance, the time is mine."

The song spun faster. Her voice starting to sound like there were two of her singing at once.

"Coming back at ya, below cloud nine
A devil made from heaven sent from above
Now I'm coming round, free as a dove! And!"

She points at the sky. An explosion as the crowd cheered. "You up far above me told me what to do."

Forcing my hand, choosing my fate" She winked at Bendy.

"Nowww not anymore!

But why?

Cause I'm Alice angel!
I'm a sweetheart singer!"

Suddenly she's hanging on the crest of the moon before hopping to the floor.

"I'll jump and jive long as all your eyes
are rested up on me.
Too good for hell
Too bad for heaven
No fortune or fame but now that'll change

Why?"

"Cause I'm Alice Angel!
The sweetheart sinner!
I'll raise things higher on the bar
Show to that morningstar" she huffed.

"Sugah, the time is miiine!
Now I'm in the light
And I'll dazzle you blind
That's the course I'll choose

But why. Oh why?

Cause I'm Aliiiiice Annngelllllll."

Her lovely strong yet still gentle voice bringing a wave of tingles you could feel starting from the neck all the way down to your lower back. Each clap of her shoes was a zap of electricity pounding with the tune of your heartbeat. By the time she was done and bowed everyone stood up, clapped and hollered for an encore.

At this point Bendy couldn't take it anymore. He had to ditch the scene and he had to do it now. Nudging his friend by the arm he gestured to the nearest exit to the far back left. Boris however, was struck with puppy dog eyes and a stupid grin on his face, tongue lolled out of his mouth for all the world to see.

"Boris!" Bendy shook him. Boris's eyes began rolling like a casino slot in vegas, both striking jackpot in hearts before he wheezed and chuckled. Bendy smacked his own face and groaned. "Don't do this to me now."

He grabbed his best buddies arm, tugged with all his might. His shoes digging deep into the cushion of his chair. With that only half of Boris began to slump over onto the table, chuckling while fluttering his fingers hello. Bendy let's go with a huff, steam puffing out from the sides of his head.

"Ahem." Reese said. Right behind the little demon all along with her arms crossed. Tapping her foot.

Blushing and smiling nervously, Bendy patted his seat and went back to sitting. Reese quirks a brow.

Sooner than later the show came to an end and the people were hollerin and humming back to the usual buzz. enjoying their drinks and relaxing. The trio

were at this point behind the scenes in Reese's little private office. Pictures of all the great performers who have ever performed in her bar lined up in a row on her walls. The most recent one on her desk beside a picture of her and her husband nobody has yet to see in the flesh.

"Bendy darlin'" Reese said. "You're not thinkin of skipping out on me are you? Is my bar losing its charm? Or is it getting too small for a bigtimer like you?" She pouted. Her feathery boa growls a low rumble.

"Golly no! You got it all wrong." Bendy waved frantically. "I just- I just have a thing with-"

"Madame Theresa?" Alice asked.

Everyone turned their attention to her head poking through the crack of the door, her halo reflecting off bits of the walls around her.

"Well speak of the angel and she shall appear." Reese smiled. "Come on in sweetheart, don't be shy, and please- do call me Reese."

Boris immediately straightened up and fiddled with his hands, unable to look away from the sweetheart singer as she shut the door behind her.

"Now that you two are in here I'd like for you two to officially meet." Reese said. "Alice this is Bendy. Bendy this is Alice."

She side eyed Boris who was panting but trying to take deep breaths. "Boris honey. Can we take a little stroll outside for tonight? Looks like my husband's not showing up again and I'd really like to stretch out my legs." She takes a step forward, her said leg slipping out from the slit of her ocean blue dress as she already linked an arm around his. The other arm resting gently on her hip.

Boris with tints of red in his little cheeks tugged at his bowtie before clearing his throat. "Oh! Yes. Sure Miss Reese." He tipped his head before the pair went out the office before Bendy could slip out an excuse, like their pet turtle his mother died. Or Boris's mother died. Or he had whiplash. The door shut with a final click sending an echo through the silent room, cutting Bendy off from his train of thoughts.

The little demon kept a firm grip on his chair as he eyed the angel warily. Alice on the other hand could hardly make eye contact with him. Her legs crossing and recrossing themselves as she held her hands together in front of her. Finally she breaks the spell.

"It's- uh- great to finally meet you Bendy Demon." She smiled. "I've been wanting to see you in person for a while now and I still honestly don't know if I'm dreaming or not."

He puts on a tiny tight grin, heart thumping in his chest. There were no windows or exit holes to jump out of now. She was blocking his only path. "Interesting to know doll. You did good up there tonight."

Her halo seemed to grow brighter at his words and her legs began to still. Then quickly crossed the giant gap between them in no more than two strides. As if she were granted permission. "Oh wonderful! I was so nervous when I saw you down there in the front row. You're my inspiration and idol you know? It's a pleasure." She sticks out her hand, a huge gaping hole where her palm is supposed to be. He just stares at it.

"Inspiration?" he asked. "A pleasure?" He looked up at her puzzled face as he rose and hopped off the chair, pointing a finger at her chest. "Look, let's cut to the chase here toots. I don't know what game you're playing, but don't go around acting all sweet and innocent. I know what you're really here for."

"You do?" Alice asked

"Yeah I do!" Bendy replied. "And you are never going to push me down back down below you hear me? So go back to your big guy upstairs and tell him to knock it off."

"But Bendy I'm not-"

"This is to get back in his good graces right? You might not have the wings anymore but that halo still tells me a different story, and I'm not going to be your promotional case." His hand clenched into a fist. "So do this idol of yours a favor and scram!"

Alice gasped as she clutched a hand to her chest. Her eyes drooping as the halo nearly went all the way out. At that Bendy felt a tug in his chest. Maybe that was a little harsh even for him.

"I understand Bendy. An angel like me." She chuckled. "Though I'm not here for that." She softly smiled and stuck out her hand again. "From one entertainer to another, may I wish you the best of luck."

Bendy's eyes widened. He slowly takes out his hand and shakes hers. Her grip, unlike her voice, was coarse and nearly crushing. Yanking him forward she brought his ear close to her black lips.

"You're going to need it." She whispered.

With a swish of the black skirt of her dress she left him behind and stepped out into the hall leading back to the bar, the entrance still hanging open. She winked before the door swung shut.