"What the fuck were you thinking you idiot?" Thorne silently argued in his head as the trio of demons walked back to the hotel in awkward silence. He shouldn't have kissed Angel; he'd only been there a week. He kissed Husk after a few hours but they were both drunk, and they both wanted to. Husk wasn't a patient, well, he wasn't back then. But he was now, did he still have feelings for Husk? He wasn't sure, but Husk made his position on relationships very clear, multiple times. NOT INTERESTED. Could the bartender have changed his mind? No matter, he had definitely ruined things with the spider demon. Any progress made could have been lost, Angel might just think that he was trying to get into his pants. How could Thorne continue to help him now?
Charlie walked between the two demons on the long road back. Angel shivered as a stiff nightly breeze ruffled his fur. Thorne had offered his suit jacket earlier but had been curtly rebuffed, not even eye contact. Their working relationship had definitely gone to shit. Thorne made a slight cough and pulled his phone out. He had a text to send, to a very nervous father.
The rest of the walk back passed painfully slowly. At least Thorne had a reply to his message. 5PM. That was a bit late but he was sure there was a reason, he was bringing the other man and woman as well. Walking up the steps to the hotel, Charlie let Angel inside, but shut the door, keeping both her and Thorne outside.
"You shouldn't have done that." Charlotte said seriously.
"You're right." Thorne muttered, "I knew it was a bad idea as soon as I did it."
The cat demon heaved a sigh, "If you want me to leave the hotel, just say the word and I'll…"
"No, no." The princess insisted, putting her hands up. "You're one of the best things to happen in Hell in a long time. I want you to stay."
"Charlotte." Thorne reached out putting his hand on her shoulder. "That is one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me."
Charlie blushed, stroking a few blonde hairs behind her ear. "So, umm, what are you planning on doing?"
Thorne just smiled, "Tea Party."
"Nifty!" Thorne cried out in the foyer, as Charlie shut the door behind them in confusion. The little cyclops demon rushing to attention. "How are you at baking cakes?"
"Why?" The maid asked sweetly.
"I need a cake for Angel." Thorne muttered, avoiding Angel's gaze as he sat at the bar sipping a love potion.
Nifty switched her gaze from Angel to Thorne, her grin growing every second. Before she took off down the bar to the radio demon who was reading by the fire.
"Alastor." She cried, "Thorne's in love with Angel."
"Nifty!" Thorne shouted, chasing after her. "Don't go telling everyon… damnit."
"Nifty." he growled, his face growing hotter with embarrassment as he caught up with her. "I just want you to bake a cake."
"With lots of icing?"
"Yes"
"And fruit?"
"Yes", Thorne muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose, sometimes it was just easier to agree with her.
"And love hearts?"
"Ye-NO!" Thorne blurted. Perhaps not agree with everything.
"Gotcha, a discreet cake." Nifty blinked, although with one eye available she could have meant that as a wink. Thorne sighed as he took a seat next to the crimson dressed demon opposite.
"Is it true?" Alastor chortled. As Charlie started talking with Vaggie and Husk spoke with Angel.
Thorne decided not to try and play games with Al, he was far too tired.
"Not sure." Thorne replied.
"Well, I'm an expert when it comes to matters of the heart." The radio demon professed.
Thorne raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, yes!" the older demon confirmed with a chuckle, "You just roast lightly with cilantro and serve with a cabernet."
Thorne sighed with a smile and sank deeper into his chair. Sometimes Alastor could be a real pain. Now was not one of those times, perhaps it was due to him being a serial-killer but Alastor had this weird knack at putting him at ease.
"So." Alastor hummed, "How would you cook our mutually effeminate friend over there?" Nodding to the bar.
Thorne looked at the spider demon, sipping his cocktail, then at Husk, who growled as he dealt with an obstinate stain on the counter. One word entered his mind.
"Spit roast." Thorne muttered in a sleepy haze. His eyes widening as he realised, he said that aloud.
"Really?" Alastor questioned, tapping his chin. "Not much meat on him for it to be worthwhile."
Thorne relaxed, he was quite happy that when it came to sex, Alastor had the knowledge of a monk. Well, a cannibal serial killing monk.
"Although." Alastor mused, "I bet his liver is deliciously pickled."
"Y'Know Alastor." Thorne quipped. "You remind me of the barmy groundskeeper I had, when I was alive."
"Oh, really?" Alastor smiled, his eyes glowing softly. "Just how barmy was this fellow?"
"Enough to be a party, but just shy of being put in a home." Thorne rose from his chair and walked over to the princess and her girlfriend, letting Alastor return to his book.
"Vaggie." Thorne asked, "What is the hotel security like for the garden area?"
The moth folded her arms. "A couple of cameras why?"
"We're going to repel an invasion." Thorne stated.
"What?!" Charlie nervously said, eyes widening.
"I'm kidding, I just want to snoop on the guests when they arrive." Thorne chuckled.
"Any hot men?" Nifty bounced on the balls of her feet from behind them, having abandoning her baking quite interested at the prospect of men coming to the hotel.
"Yes. And a woman." Thorne affirmed, not even going to discuss it with the sex obsessed demoness.
Nifty's smile grew even wider as she bounced down the hall. A thought occurred to Thorne and he shouted down the hall after her, "No tranquilisers in the cake Nifty." Getting a groan in response.
"Hot men ya say." Angel grinned wickedly, "Won't want any tranqs if they're with me. The gal can pay if she wanna take part." The spider struck a pose as he slipped off his stool.
"You won't want any sexy spider time with them Angel." Thorne smiled.
"And why's that Doc?" Angel cooed as he sipped the rest of his drink.
"It's your father, brother and sister."
Angel coughed as what was left of his drink was spat over the bar.
"FUCK IT LEGS!" Husk bellowed, "I JUST CLEANED THAT." The now furious bar tender took his cloth back up and started wiping the counter again.
"Why'd ya do that?" Angel sputtered, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Why'd ya fuckin' meddle again. I told ya not to."
"I promised your father that I would." Thorne shrugged, "And I don't want him coming after me and… damn, I can't think of any mob related puns."
"I can!" Alastor jovially cried out, rising from his chair and clearing his throat. "I used to supply filing cabinets to the mafia… I was into organised crime.". Alastor's canned laugh track played after each joke he made.
Angel groaned; wasn't the first time he'd heard a joke like that.
"Oh, Angel." Charlie fussed with a smile, "Let him tell his jokes, it makes him happy."
"Why did my mob friends start a bakery? They kneaded the dough!"
"They'll be here at five." Thorne muttered barely keeping his eyes open, he motioned to Charlie. "Can you wake me just before? I need to have a lie down."
Charlie nodded with a smile as the tired doctor retreated upstairs. She was right, it was good to keep him around.
Angle sulked as he returned to his stool and mood. The radio demon still trying to entertain Charlie and Vaggie.
"Why'd he do that?" He murmured to Husk, as the bar tender scowled at the now stained counter top.
"He loves ya, that's why Legs." The cat grunted as he gave up cleaning. Getting drunk was far easier and fun. And now that Thorne was no longer there, he didn't have to fear disappointing him by drinking again.
"That was just Nifty pissin' about."
"Nah." Husk shook his head. "I weren't always a casino owner y'know. I was behind a bar for decades. It's why smiles…" nodding at the radio demon, "…put me back here. In that job you got really good at noticing shit."
"It's only been a week."
"Don't matter, ya seen the way he smiles when he looks at ya?" Husk grabbed a bottle of something strong and started downing it. "He used to look at me like that."
"The fuck?" Angel muttered; mouth open.
"I'm just sayin'…" Husk said grabbing Angel's wrist and holding on with a firm grip, "Don't fuck with him Angel." He said commandingly, "I've seen his heart break before and… it ain't pretty."
With that Husk released the spider's arm, walking out from behind the bar and making his way upstairs.
Angel sat in silence for a few minutes, nursing his now empty glass. Fuck it, he thought, if Thorne was gonna make an effort then so was he.
Thorne awoke to the sound of rhythmic tapping on his door.
"Thorne." Charlie called out, "You asked to be woken close to five?!"
"Right." Thorne yawned, blinking a few times and sitting up in his examination chair.
That was weird he didn't remember getting to his office, he remembered walking up the stairs and then… nice cold floor.
Looking round his room Thorne noticed a small card propped up on his desk. Making his way over to it, Thorne made out the following
"Fucking Lightweight - H"
Thorne gave a soft smile, carried to bed by Husk… again.
The feline demon exited his room with a soft click and was face to face with the princess who had waited patiently for him.
"What's the time?" He yawned.
"Quarter to." She smiled.
"Fuck it." Angel snarled as he gazed in the hall mirror. Trying in vain to fix his tie.
Angel was no longer wearing his usual pink and white suit but instead sported a dark purple pin-striped suit and white fedora. The ensemble would have been complete were it not for the black tie that had managed to knot itself around the spider's spindly fingers.
Charlie turned to both of them, "See you both downstairs.", with that she made her way down to the garden.
"Do you want a hand Angel?" Thorne asked, approaching the spider cautiously.
Angel huffed, and resigned to Thorne's assistance.
The feline demon approached, gently untangling Angel's fingers from the soft fabric.
"Can you turn around please?" Thorne stated gently, twirling his finger.
Angel turned slowly, and Thorne's arms soon slid under his and started doing his tie.
"It seems the only way I can do someone's tie is like this." Thorne mused. "I'm sorry for being so… forward."
The two demons remained in this position for a few moments, Thorne finding it difficult to tie a tie he couldn't see.
"Was your kiss… payback for when I kissed you at the hospital?" Angel muttered.
Thorne froze. What should he say? No, I kissed you because I find you insanely attractive? I did it because I have the interpersonal skills of a brick. The closest I ever got to relationships have been flings, count them off; demons, imps, incubi and hellhounds, sometimes all four at once and finally repeated hook-ups with an alcoholic bartender that broke my heart. That's not even counting the number of fuck-ups in the living world.
"Uh… Thorne?" Angel muttered, "I think you're done."
Thorne snapped back to reality and realised that he had finished with the tie but had left his arms around Angel in a backwards hug.
Thorne gave a slight cough, embarrassed, and removed his, and felt Angel put something on his head.
"Y'know Thorney." Angel chuckled at the sight of his hat on the cat's head. "If it was payback then ya need to look the part.", the spider demon turned Thorne to the mirror.
"Nah," Thorne stuttered, his tremor worsening, quickly turning around and putting the hat back on the spider's head. "I look like a fishmonger. I need to go help Charlie outside."
"But what 'bout…", Angel asked, but Thorne had already taken off down the stairs and out the front door.
"…goin' out for milkshakes." Angel continued, before shrugging and making his way down.
"Won't we need more chairs?" Charlie asked as she set the four around the outside table.
"No." Thorne smiled, "there will only be four guests."
"But where will we sit?"
"Inside, watching on the cameras. They'll be here for Angel, not to be cajoled into joining the hotel."
Charlotte went to protest but stopped and gawped at what was approaching the table and Thorne could only frown.
It was a wedding cake. Three tiers, white icing, the works.
"Nifty." Thorne growled, "I said, keep it discreet."
"But Al, said that this was better." Nifty beamed, "And look, it even has a little spider and cat on top. Makes it cute."
"He helped you make it didn't he?"
Nifty could only nod briefly before becoming transfixed on the individuals walking up the path.
Thorne and Charlie turned to look. There was Arackniss wearing the same suit he'd abducted Thorne in, his arms folded and eyeing the building up. Henroin towered over him in a black suit, his once rippling muscles that Thorne saw days ago now hidden by a white shirt, the way his arm hung by his side relieved the doctor. The minor surgery had been a success. The young woman that was with them was the spitting image of Angel Dust, even down to the coloured fur and massive expanse of hair.
"Woooooooow" Nifty crooned, "you're right Thorne, the men are hot."
Both spider-men scowled at Thorne, who could only grimace. He was bouncing from one embarrassing situation to another. This was just like the early days when he fell and…
"TONY!" The young woman screamed in delight, before rushing over and engulfing Angel Dust in a bear hug.
Angel grunted, he'd only stepped outside to smoke and now he'd been pounced on.
"Hey Molls", he muttered sheepishly. Before noticing his father and brother. He'd always gotten on with his brother, that relationship strained when Arackniss remained silent as pops kicked him out. But when he was a child, he and Henroin always got on. But as he grew older, his father played with him less and less and soon didn't want to be around him. Angel had always thought that he had done something wrong.
A soft clicking from Henroin broke the silence and drew everyone's attention. He was picking his claws.
Thorne just smiled and indicated to Charlie to head back into the hotel.
"This ain't gonna work doc." Angel muttered through the cigarette.
"He's picking his nails." Thorne indicated, "you make him nervous. He's desperate for you to forgive him. You've got this."
With that Thorne and Charlie made their way back inside.
"You sure this is a good idea?" Vaggie asked as she and Charlie took their places around the small television set.
"Well…" Thorne sighed, "not entirely, but they haven't tried killing each other so we're off to a good start."
Charlie side-glanced Thorne, who bit his bottom lip, "well, we're here to stop anything going wrong. We won't let anyone die… again. Look at their body language."
The cat-doctor pointed at the silent grainy image, and the four spiders gesticulating round the wedding cake.
"It doesn't look good." Charlie huffed, "Molly can't sit still, Angel and his father can't stop waving their arms around and Arackniss is just sitting there with his arms folded."
Thorne smiled, he loved correcting people, it was one of his greatest indulgences. "Molly can't sit still because she keeps leaning towards people as she speaks to them, full of energy and enthusiasm. She isn't a problem. Angel and Henroin are both being open and are communicating, their body language says that they are not squaring up to each other so that's good. Yes, Angel has got his body turned slightly away from his father. But this is decades of unhappiness we're dealing with; it's not going to be fixed over one conversation and a …wedding cake. It's Arackniss that I'm worried about, arms folded and not taking part in the conversation. He needs to unfold his arms; he needs to engage."
Thorne continued to watch the television while Charlie and Vaggie gauged his reactions. He was reasonably happy with how things were progressing. Molly was definitely the glue that held that family together. He watched as she said something to Angel and gestured to Arackniss, who promptly sat bolt upright and took his arms down.
"Hmmmm."
"What is it?" Charlie asked.
"Not sure, but whatever she just said, destroyed Arackniss' defences. So, I'm interested to see where this goes."
They remained glued to the screen as Arackniss shuffled uncomfortably in his seat as Molly nodded affirmingly, Angel just shrugged his shoulders and Henroin sat in silence for a few minutes before extending a hand and said something. That was the straw that broke the spider's back as Arackniss broke down and was pulled into a hug by Molly, his shoulders shaking.
"What just happened?" Charlie asked concerned.
"I think someone just came out of the closet." Thorne reasoned, "Well, I say came out, it was more booted out. I really shouldn't have been showing off to his father. But, t'was a long-time coming. He was so far in that closet he was either going to collect moth balls or fall into Narnia."
Thorne gave up watching after that, confident that no one was going to die. It was an hour later that Angel returned into the hotel.
"Hey doc." Angel said exhausted. "I'm going out with Niss and Molls. But I wanna thank you for…"
"Oh, hell no." Molly interrupted storming in, "there ain't no way the guy who saved my brother is getting out of partying with us."
Molly grabbed Thorne's hand and started leading him to the front door.
"Molly wait!" Angel and Arackniss cried in unison, "He's an overlord."
"Really?" Molly scoffed, "you're trying to tell me that this cutie.", Molly squished Thorne's cheeks between her hands. "Is some monstrous Overlord of Hell."
"Damn straight." Husk grunted from the bar, before taking a swig from his bottle. He turned to look at the demon party by the door, his eyes widened at seeing the lady spider and promptly spilt his drink all over the counter.
"IT NEVER FUCKING ENDS!" Husk snarled, before grabbing his cloth and working at the spillage.
Molly unsquished Thorne's face and gave him a small cute smile, "Ya wanna come with us doc?"
Angel and his brother could just stand there dumbfounded as Thorne stood there motionless for a few moments before speaking.
"Yes." Thorne beamed back, "sounds like fun."
"ALRIGHT BITCHES AND ASSHOLES." Molly cried triumphantly, "WE'RE OFF!"
With that she took off out the door.
The two spider brothers could only stand wide-eyed as Thorne brushed his suit down.
"What?" He asked, "You thought that just because she touched me without permission, I'd… pop a cap in her ass? I'm not so old-fashioned. But as for you two peasants…" Thorne extended his non-trembling arm. "You may touch the hem of my garb."
"Woah, Snek BF. Who the fuck is this?" Angel teased Arackniss as he sent the recipient a message to meet the group outside St Judas' from his brother's phone.
"Anthony." The smaller spider grumbled, "Give it back."
The four of them had been waiting outside the hospital for a few minutes and Angel had already invited Cherri. Thorne had insisted to all meet outside the hospital but was cagy as to why.
"Well, whoever it is." A voice cried from behind them, "they better hurry up, cuz a bitch be cold."
Angel turned in delight at the sound of Cherri Bomb.
"Hey Angie." The cyclops demon grinned, "how's my favourite booger-sugar slut?"
"Ready to party with you Sugar-Tits!" Angel grinned back.
"Nissy!" A male voice uttered from the darkness of an alley, "I'm here my little assassin."
A tall snake demon in a top hat made his way from an alley and pulled his ray-gun out upon seeing Angel and Cherri.
"You whores again!", he screeched brandishing his weapon.
"Penn, wait, don't!" Arackniss insisted, standing between his lover and brother.
Cherri and Angel brandished their respective bombs and tommy-gun and Thorne jumped between all of them.
"Ah, now you see why I chose to meet out here." Thorne said with a wry smile. "Since this is my territory, I can say this." His thorns lengthened and his eyes grew darker, "THIS IS AN ORDER FROM YOUR OVERLORD, BEHAVE AND DO AS YOU ARE TOLD!"
Everyone backed down, with a few trembling hands putting their weapons away.
"Now that we have all be properly introduced." Thorne beamed, his thorns shrinking back into under his fur and his eyes returning to their natural demonic red. "What do we fancy?"
"Niss get your bitch ass up there and sing would ya!" Molly teased, as her brother stopped nursing his drink.
"Not on my own." The spider grumbled.
"Come along Nissy!" Pentious encouraged leading his boyfriend to the mic, "we can do a duet together and show these… individuals how to party."
Cherri scowled as her 'nemesis' made his way onto the stage and started singing a love song with her best friend's brother. A wicked smile grew on her face and she removed a small vial from her pocket and started sprinkling a fine white powder into their drinks.
"What you dosing them with, genius?" Thorne queried, a slight scowl on his face.
"LSD." Cherri replied, before seeing Thorne's scowl. "What could it hurt? Those two need some unwinding."
"Give them too much and they'll unravel."
Cherri pulled a face at the cat before confidently powdering his drink and replacing the vial with a confident smirk.
Thorne determined not to be outdone, downed his fruity cocktail that he let Angel pick for him.
"How long should I wait before… woah!" Thorne said, his eyes widening as the drugs started to take effect. He stared at his hands. "Synesthesia is fucking awesome. Oh fuck, Angel."
"Yer doc." Angel winked.
"When did you get four heads?"
"Why ya' wanna kiss 'em?"
"I wanna… oh," Thorne scowled as the drugs wore off, "that didn't last very long."
Cherri shrugged, "Well it was only a light dusting."
"I'll tell ya' what Thorne,", Angel suggested playfully, "Kiss later, if you go up and sing."
"Do it coward!" Molly teased.
Arackniss and Pentious had just finished their song and made their way back to the table, as Thorne smiled and made his way up.
Thorne waved his hand, making the lights dimmed. They wanted him to sing, they would get it. A low steady beat filled the club, Angel's eyes widened recognising the song and Thorne started to sing;
Till death do us part
But we're already past that phase
This is a brand new start
And I think I deserve some praise
For the way that I am
Despite having crashed my car
And realising I've gone too far
I don't give a damn
Emotions buried under a rock
Fuck being that nice ol' doc
This is the mantra
This is my life
You're playing with now
Till the end of the night
Please light me on fire
Make me ignite
A hit of that heaven and hell, a helluva high
I'm addicted to cause madness
I'll never find my Atlantis
I'm forever gonna be surrounded by sin
Let me leave my soul to burn and I'll be breathing it in
I'm addicted to the feeling
Getting higher than the ceiling
And I'm never gonna want this fucking feeling to end
Just concede and give in to your inner demons again
I just wanted your love
But then I cast you into this pit
Then I lost my daughter
So count your blessings that we haven't met
I'm not letting you go
What I really crave
Is your body in a grave
You already know
So come if you're feeling brave
And fancy yourself a check-mate
You got it, I'll heal it
No matter the price
I'll make you feel better
By the end of the night
Your pain and secrets
My sinful delight
A hit of that heaven and hell
A helluva high
I'm addicted to cause madness
I'll never find my Atlantis
I'm forever gonna be surrounded by sin
Let me leave my soul to burn and I'll be breathing it in
I'm addicted to the feeling
Getting higher than the ceiling
And we're never gonna want this fucking feeling to end
Just concede and give in to your inner demons again
I'm addicted to the sorrow
When your buzz ends by tomorrow
I'll stop the poison flowing into your veins
You take all the pleasure and I'll take the pain
I'm addicted, I'm dependent
You look awesome, I feel hopeful
And I know I'm raising cain by every highway in hell
Maybe things won't be so terrible inside this hotel
"Ya' never said y'could sing Thorney." Angel hooted as the party staggered their way out of the club.
They hadn't been kicked out, but the mood kinda died after the other patrons realised that they were in the same club as an overlord, and started eying them with fear. Cherri and Angel didn't want to leave since the drinks soon became free. But Thorne insisted on not using his position for personal gain when he ran the risk of Lucifer finding out.
"Oh, you know me Angel. Full of surprises. What next?" Thorne mused, "Food? Who's craving some tacos?"
"Fuck yes!" Cherri, Angel and Molly called in unison.
"Right." Thorne nodded in agreement, "Three tacos for you and…", he turned to Pentious and Arackniss who had given up and had started making out up against the wall, "…you two are busy eating each other."
Thorne chuckled and turned around; his stomach clenched at the sight.
It was Blitz, he was on the opposite side of the road, trying to hide behind a parked car. He noticed Thorne and pointed at the alleyway next to him.
If Blitz was here, and he was following Bryrin, then Bryrin was also nearby. FUCK, Thorne hated being intoxicated, it clouded his reasoning.
"I told you I'd make you pretty." A diseased voice came from the darkness, before a greasy gelatinous demon made his way out brandishing a beaker filled with an unknown liquid.
Angel and the others could just stand transfixed, the alcohol in their systems slowing their reactions.
"And if I can't have you, then no one can." Bryrin sneered before throwing the beaker at Angel.
Luckily it didn't shatter in Angel's face, but that was because Thorne had thrown himself in front of the projectile and it shattered in his.
Thorne howled as the acid melted his fur and ate through his skin. He manged to retrieve his guns from their holsters and fire a few rounds before the pain caused him to black out.
The pain was ever present. It was exactly what Thorne had imagined Hell to be like before he fell. He knew he was lying in a bed, and judging by the sounds he could hear, it was St Judas'.
"Kid?" Husk muttered.
Wait why was Husk here?
Thorne was forced to remain motionless and eyes closed as his Overlord powers slowly healed him. He felt his hand engulfed in Husk's larger one.
"You gotta fucking pull through Thorne." The bartender whimpered. "You ain't leaving me alone with these dipshits."
I am going to be fine Husk. Thorne thought, I've already started healing. Gonna have a wicked scar, unless he could find someone to take it.
Thorne wondered what he looked like. That was strange he'd never thought about that before. He'd never managed to look at his own reflection before. It was as his father had told him when he was a child.
"You're a fucking monster boy, you're deformed and ugly. This is why no one wants to be around you. It's why I do what I do, it is how I show I love you."
Thorne felt his tremor worsen, it always did when he thought of his father, he heard Husk sniff and felt a few drops fall onto his hand. Either the ceiling had sprung a leak, or Husk had.
"Your highness, wait you can't just…" a voice cried out in the corridor.
"Let me see him." Charlie demanded urgently, "He's my… oh fuck."
Not exactly subtle, Charlie. Thorne thought, he would have rolled his eyes if he could.
"Ah, is the good doctor still with us?" A staticky voice cried out.
"Alastor please." Charlie sobbed, "Now isn't the time."
"But my dear." The radio demon reassured, "I have a plan for waking sleeping beauty up and taking him to his attacker."
That plan doesn't involve leaving the two alone together does it Al? Thorne pondered, he hoped it didn't. The last thing he wanted was to be in a situation where he couldn't move and losing an internal organ to a peckish cannibal was a possibility. But his attacker was here in the hospital? Well, they were nearby at the time and he must have injured Bryrin when he returned fire. Which meant that stalker was being guarded by Selene.
"The fuck you gonna do?" Husk choked out.
Thorne felt the hot breath of the red-clad demon on the part of his face that still had sensation and heard him say six words.
"We don't know where Angel is."
Thorne's eyes shot open and his gaze fell on the ever-grinning visage of Alastor. Thorne would have attempted a smile in return but didn't have the capacity.
In a moment of clarity, Thorne levitated himself out of his hospital bed, quite thankful that he was still wearing his usual suit.
His shoes clicked as he touched the floor.
"Thorne?" Husk asked reaching out with a trembling hand.
The doctor gave a small glance to the bartender and then to the highly polished metal panel of the wall opposite.
The lower half of his face had been destroyed, down to the bone. His fangs exposed and the upper half of his suit destroyed. That he wouldn't forgive, his face he could fix through infernal magic. But a bespoke suit made by the tailors to royal families was fucking expensive.
"Thorne" Charlie cried. "Are you ok?"
The feline ignored the comment, "I've heard of a face lift. But this is ridiculous." Thorne rasped.
Alastor laughed as Thorne turned round and made his way out of the room.
The three demons chased after him and found him talking to a female Hellhound.
"Let me in Selene." Thorne said commandingly, his voice damaged from the acid.
The Hellhound could only nod and open the door to Bryrin's room. As per Thorne's orders anyone who attacked him within distance of the hospital was to be contained so that Thorne could… interview them.
Thorne entered but the rest were stopped by the Hellhound. They could watch from the doorway.
Bryrin was awake, also per Thorne's orders, should attackers be injured, they were to be kept alive, not comfortable. All the better for him.
The acid-thrower tried to back away deeper into the bed as he saw Thorne slowly approach.
With each step Thorne made, he moved closer to his true demonic form. He let his claws lengthen, his fur grow, his eyes sink deeper into his skull, his thorns protrude, his suit fade into his body, and his limbs extend. By the time he reached Bryrin, he had gone from upright to all fours and had doubled his size to that of a monstrous white lion.
"You're… you're a doctor, you can't harm a patient." Bryrin stammered, panic filling his voice.
"I'm a demon." Was Thorne's guttural response, "I'm no one's saviour. I'm Doctor Thorne. THE MADNESS MAKER!"
With that the doctor pounced, sinking his teeth and claws into Angel's would-be attacker. The room being plunged into an eerie red light as Thorne used his powers to shift his injuries from himself and into the greasy demon underneath him.
"Angel let us in." Cherri insisted from the wrong side of Thorne's office door.
She, Arackniss, Molly and Sir Pentious had been trying to get to Angel who had sequestered himself in the doctor's office for over an hour.
Arackniss braced himself and threw himself at the door again, and just like last time. He bounced off it.
"That won't work." Thorne chuckled approaching the desperate demons. Who could only stand in confusion as they saw a fully healed Thorne walking towards them.
"But Thorne." Molly gasped, "Your face, how did you…"
"Clever isn't it? Let me guess you can't get in?"
"No." Arackniss muttered, rubbing his shoulder.
"Let me."
Thorne gracefully took the handle and with a gentle push the door swung open, Thorne slowly made his way inside and shut the door behind him keeping everyone else out. They thought they were helping, but when you confront someone frightened who blames themselves, you don't rush them all at once.
The muffled sobs led Thorne to Angel, cowering behind the desk. Thorne remained silent for a few minutes.
"Angel?" He muttered barely above a whisper.
Angel leapt up, spinning around.
"No." He choaked, "It's not you."
Thorne just gave a small smile and walked forward.
"Angel, I'm…"
"No! I saw what he did to you, you can't be real."
Thorne managed to corner Angel, who in fear put his hands up defensively. The feline cat, familiar with fear, didn't react when Angel threw wild punches through tears. But instead waited for the spider demon to tire before catching a hand, removing the glove and bringing it to his face.
"No, stop!" Angel cried in terror. "That's a glamor or some shit, you can't be Thorne. He's gone."
His wailing died down to whimpers as his hand sank into the snowy fur.
"How?" Was the spider's own response.
"Was determined to come and get my kiss, wasn't I?" Thorne smiled, brushing the hair out of Angel's face. "And I think I remember hearing you talk about 'going out for milkshakes'?"
Angel gave a weak laugh at that before having to wipe his eyes. He soon gave up doing that and flung himself into Thorne's arms.
"Go Slowly?" He muttered.
"Of course." Thorne replied, "How slow would you like?"