Chapter One

Charlie smiled encouragingly at Angel Dust. He'd opened his mouth a few times during their therapy session, but hadn't said anything yet except to exchange mild pleasantries.

"So, how has everything been going for you this past week?" Charlie asked. Angel Dust scoffed under his breath. This was Hell? How did she think it was going.
"Not bad, Babe. I have a place to live, food to eat. And Alastor may be insufferable. But he's a good cook. The porn star said. He hadn't had the courage to tell her that he couldn't leave Valentino.

He'd tried just that past week. But once again, Valentino beat and raped him and told him that if he ever left, he would hunt him down and kill him. Nobody would be able to protect him. Every night he woke up, his fur soaked in sheets of sweat. He kept trying to think of ways to get out from under this. But he knew that if he left, he'd just be putting his friends in danger to. Charlie, the first person to believe in him. Charlie was like the mother he'd wished he could have loved and respected like he did Charlie. She was an angel stuck in a pit of filth and shit. She deserved better than this…

She deserved better than him. He wanted to show her that he could change, that all her work wasn't for nothing. That she was right and that Demons could be redeemed. He wanted to validate her work… But he knew that he couldn't. All he was good for was giving her the temporary high of a weak, worthless thank you, of actually talking to her during these therapy sessions. But eventually, she would find out that he was still working for Valentino, that he was still a prostitute and a porn actor and she would be heartbroken. Eventually, she would give up on him… Just like everyone else.

But he wanted her to believe in him. He wanted at least one person to keep believing that he could be better. Maybe if he came clean and told her what had been happening, she would try to… No… He couldn't let her… He wouldn't let her. He wouldn't risk her getting hurt trying to help him. Valentino had thugs up the wazoo. There was no way Charlie could face down all of them. And she would go there in her adorable tux and bowtie and a big smile on her face and try to talk to Valentino. She would ask politely if she could sit down and have a word with him. Or worse… She would invite him to the hotel.

And she would offer him tea and snacks and treat him like the guest that she treated every visitor to the hotel. Because that was just who he was. And she wouldn't suspect until it was too late that he wasn't there as a guest. He was a predator, stalking out his prey, sniffing out what she wanted and why she had called him there. And when he found out that she was trying to get Angel Dust out of his contract, when he found out that he had ratted him out, and to the daughter of Lucifer no less, Angel would be dead, and Charlie would no doubt wish she was dead. He would torture her. Charlie wouldn't be able to stop him.

He growled self-loathingly.

"Angel? Are you okay?" Charlie asked gently. Angel took a deep breath. If he could suffer so that she wouldn't have to, he was happy to do it for her.

"Ahaha! I'm fine!" Angel said, smiling at her. Charlie smiled as well. She could tell there was something going on. But he had been less prickly lately, and that was satisfying for her. To know that she was having an effect on him, that she was helping him.

"So, have you left Valentino yet?" Charlie asked. Angel gasped. She knew. She knew that he wasn't able to leave. She was testing him. She was testing his loyalty. He growled, that one question breaking him. He'd been cracking and crumbling for a while now and hearing her ask him that. Hearing her test him was too much. He broke, standing up angrily, pounding on the glass table. It shattered beneath his fist, causing Charlie to gasp in surprise at his sudden, vitriolic outburst.

"NO! I HAVEN'T LEFT! I CAN'T EVER LEAVE! HE WON'T LET ME! HE'LL KILL ME IF I DO AND WORSE! He-he'll hurt you… Charlie… I don't care if he kills me. It might even be a relief to not have to suffer anymore… But I could never live with myself if he hurt you." Angel breathed. Charlie felt tears fill her eyes. She never knew Angel Dust cared so much about her.

"I-I love you, Mommy… I'd never let anyone hurt you. No matter how much I have to suffer, I'll always protect you." Angel said softly, hugging her back.

He told Charlie everything. He realized now he couldn't lie to her. He couldn't lie to the woman that he loved more than his own mother.

"I've tried to leave Valentino. I've tried at least four times since I started staying at the Hotel. Four times, I was beaten and raped. Four times I was told that if I ever tried to leave him, he would kill me. This last time, he threatened you and Vaggie and the others. And I can't let you be in danger.

"I don't really like Vaggie, but you love her, so I'll protect her too. And Alastor don't need no one's protection." Angel Dust said. Charlie was silent for a long moment. Then she had Angel Dust sit back down, sitting with him and hugging him. Charlie knew that there weren't many people who Angel felt comfortable hugging. She felt good knowing that she was one of those few. She held Angel dust and let him cry for a while until he stopped on his own. They finished the therapy session and then she took Angel Dust out of the therapy room and called everyone together. She sighed and looked at AD.

She had promised him that she wouldn't tell anyone. But she encouraged Angel Dust to talk to them. She said that having a larger support network than just herself was important. Charlie even had a plan. She and the Hotel residents were going to support Angel while he confronted Valentino. Angel Dust seemed far less enthusiastic about the idea. He growled.

"Are you nuts! Ya can't go up against Valentino! He's got thugs up the wazoo! He'll fuckin' kill ya!" Angel protested. None of the others interrupted. They knew Charlie could handle this.

"I know I can't handle him on my own. But we have friends. If Alastor is willing, he can provide backup." Charlie said. Alastor laughed at this, causing Charlie to blush nervously. She wasn't sure if she had offended him. Was asking for help out of bounds with him? He had said that his only goal was to be amused by them trying and failing to seek redemption.

"My dear! I'm surprised at you! Are you actually asking me to kill?" Alastor asked, chuckling. Charlie looked away nervously. On the one hand, there was Angel Dust. He needed help.

Their souls could wait. Right now, Angel Dust needed help escaping from a cruel and abusive master. On the other hand, Charlie had always advocated peaceful solutions to problems. Finally, Charlie shook her head.

"No. I want to avoid violence if at all possible. We're here for backup. Angel Dust is the one who needs to confront Valentino. It's about more than just getting away. It's about helping Angel Dust find his strength. His job is to stand up to his Demons… Sorry, bad pun." Charlie chuckled.

"Our job is to stand behind him and support him." Charlie said. Vaggie smiled. Charlie was always so optimistic and she really admired Charlie for that. But she knew of Valentino. She knew what he was like. And as much as she'd like to believe that Valentino could be reasoned with or even cowed into submitting, she was sure it wouldn't be that easy. But if Alastor was there, Valentino at the very least would shit his pants. That could be amusing. Alastor, who had left Charlie waiting, who had let Charlie stew in her juices, waiting to hear whether he, the Radio Demon would indulge her, finally spoke.

"I suppose I did make a deal to help you for as long as I wanted. And this does seem amusing. I look forward to seeing whether you can control yourself around the man who has abused one of your guests." Alastor chuckled, a wide grin crossing his face. Angel Dust's expression seemed to fall even further. Alastor had known. The son of a bitch had known all along about Valentino's treatment of him and had said nothing. Of course, why should he say anything? The porn star could only assume that Alastor had enjoyed watching him try to keep it inside, waiting for the moment when he inevitably broke.

The Radio Demon shrugged.
"Very well. I'll help you." He said, his grin widening even further as Charlie breathed a sigh of relief. There were probably few Demons who could cow Valentino. The known pimp and overlord was incredibly cold and levelheaded. He would undoubtedly assess the situation and see that of them, only Alastor was really a threat to him, especially with his henchmen around him. Still, it was important for Angel Dust to be able to confront his abuser. Charlie organized everyone, taking them to Valentino.

-0-

The walk over wasn't that long. But it felt strangely long, especially for Angel Dust, who felt his anxiety peaking. He tried to avoid going to Valentino as much as he could, knowing that the slightest annoyance could set the overlord off. That not making enough money that night could lead to a beating. That saying something the wrong way could lead to being locked in a closet or chained up for days on end. And Angel would never know whether Valentino had just forgotten about him or whether he'd actively decided to leave him there for that amount of time. And when he came and let him out he would always say the same thing. "Get out of my sight. You disgust me."

They got up to the club and Angel Dust took a deep breath.
"Ya know, I think I might jus' head back ta the hotel. Later, Doll. Thanks fer tryin'." Angel Dust said flippantly. Charlie shook her head, pulling him into a hug again. Charlie was one of the few people Angel Dust could stand to have hug him. She was one of the few people he trusted unconditionally. But he couldn't do this. She had to know that. If they defied Valentino. If she visibly stood up to an Overlord of Valentino's power, he would stop at nothing to beat her down. And Angel couldn't allow that.

Even if he never achieved salvation. Even if he never got out of Hell like Charlie was trying to do for her guests and friends, he didn't care. At least he would always be there for Charlie. Because he knew that if anyone could save these lost souls, it was her. If anyone could help Demons find redemption, it was Charlie. So one day, maybe hundreds of years in the future, Charlie would find herself alone. None of her friends would still be there… But if he could still be there for her, supporting her, he would do it. Charlie wouldn't have that though. She was going to help him face his fears.

She pulled him into a tight hug, gently calming him down.
"It's gonna be alright, Angel Dust. I've lived in Hell for over 300 years. I've seen Overlords come and go and I know what they're capable of. I'm not going to pretend I'm not a little nervous about facing one down. Overlords don't get to be overlords because of their winning personalities. But I'm willing to take that risk for you, Angel Dust. That's the risk I'm willing to take. And I can't do it without you. I hope you can find the strength in yourself to help me be brave enough to face him." Charlie said.

Angel Dust sighed, nodding. He focused on his breathing, calming his racing heart, meditating for a minute or two before nodding again and going inside with the other guests. Alastor's grin faded slightly. He was still smiling, but he occasionally was taken a little off-guard by how naturally and easily charismatic Charlie was. She had a confident strength about her and an easy grace and charm that surrounded her like an aura that drew the needy and scared in and helped them find a strength they may not have known they had. Alastor could count over 20 overlords that he'd destroyed. With dark magic.

But he was occasionally shocked that while Charlie might not be exceptionally powerful, she could probably convince one of those overlords to try to turn over a new leaf. She was both inspiring and dangerous at the same time. And she was an unknown element for him. Originally, he stayed because he was amused by her seemingly ludicrous plan. Now he stayed because he felt she bore observation. Because she personally interested him.

He followed into the seedy brothel, hearing, seeing and smelling an assault on his senses, tasteless, pulsing music and gaudy, bright fluorescent lights flashing all around him, moving around the room and the smell of liquor, pheromones, low-quality food and sex. It turned his stomach to be in this den of debauchery. Even by his standards, this place was repulsive. He took a deep breath. He could see that Angel Dust was having trouble keeping control of himself as well as Charlie took his hand and they went to a bouncer, asking to be taken to see Valentino. The bouncer of course, recognized Charlie and nodded.

He took them to a back room which was clean and organized. Not much else could be said for it. The furniture and lighting was gaudy and tasteless. Charlie bowed politely to Valentino, hoping to start off on the right foot at least. Valentino grinned widely, his razor sharp teeth showing. It was simultaneously welcoming and threatening. The malicious glint in Valentino's eyes as he took off his heart shaped sunglasses and invited them all in and ordered Angel Dust to bring them drinks. Charlie looked at Angel Dust. Whatever he decided to do was his decision and she would respect it.

He took a deep, trembling breath, steadying himself as best he could.
"N-n-no." Angel Dust breathed, his eyes wide, his voice shaking as he defied Valentino. The Moth Demon's grin widened as a soft chuckle escaped his lips. He drew a pipe to his lips and took a deep drag on it, nodding, his chuckling filling the room, making Angel Dust feel even sicker.

"No? You get a few friends who can tolerate your filth and you start to think you're worth any more than the money you make me? I admire your determination." Valentino said coolly.

He looked at Angel and then at Charlie.
"So… Princess… To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit to my fine establishment?" He asked, telling one of his other henchmen to get drinks for them. Charlie asked if they had tea.

"Coffee for me please. Black if you could be so kind." Alastor said cheerfully, his smile splitting his face from ear to ear. Valentino nodded.

"Tea for the Princess, her lover, and her two servants. And black coffee for the tall man." Valentino said, knowing who Alastor was. He was a little unnerved to see the Radio Demon standing in his office. But he kept his cool. Thus far, there had been no threats issued. The servant bowed and left the room to get the teas and coffee. Angel noticed that Valentino had skipped him. He didn't really care though. He took a deep breath, sitting down and steeling his nerves once more. Valentino made his skin crawl. His smile was more terrifying than any glare or growl. He stared Valentino right in the eyes.

This was how he told himself that he had the right to do this, that he was right to do this.

"That's right. I have friends who care about me. I have a moth… A friend who wants to help me be the best Demon I can. I don't know for sure if her goals for me… If the dream she has will work. But while I'm under her care, I'm bein' given a place to live an' food ta eat. And she don't make me turn tricks for her. She don't beat me if I make a mistake. Her girlfriend is a bitch… No offense, Vags… But even she cares about me in her own bitchy way. An' she's told me that I deserve more than you!

"She promised to come here wit' me and stand up to you!" Angel Dust said, his temper rising as he built up his confidence, his words coming out faster so that he didn't lose confidence before he finished what he had to say. Valentino sat there, waiting for Angel to finish, nodding along with Angel as he spoke, his expression not changing even as he started cursing him out. He nodded to the servant as he came back in and served the tea and coffee to Charlie and her fellow Hotel gang.

"I see." Valentino said calmly.

"Are you of the same mind? What is your purpose here? To intimidate me? To attempt diplomacy?" Valentino grinned. Charlie took a deep breath and asked if she could sit down. Valentino nodded. A servant pulled out a chair for her.

"Please, sit." He said. Charlie nodded and sat down across from him.

"I'm hoping to reach an agreement that won't involve intimidation, threats or violence." Charlie said politely.

"I want you to release Angel Dust from your employ. But first, may I ask why you've refused to release him?" Charlie asked politely, her voice soft and non-threatening. But the look in her eyes was polite but all business. Vaggie had seen Charlie negotiate before. She'd been raised by Lucifer himself.

She was a master of dealing if she needed to be. But she preferred to reach an agreement that made both parties happy rather than manipulating the situation in her favor. Valentino chuckled.

"If I were to let Angel Dust go, word would spread and my other employees would demand that I either give them more or let them go. And I can't have that. My power lies in my ability to keep my subordinates under control. I don't really care that much about Angel Dust. He's a big seller.

Males and females want him. Men that like to pretend their straight ask for him because he's feminine enough in appearance that if they don't look him in the eye, they can pretend it was just a onetime thing. Women who like furry sex enjoy his company. And he gets good tips on stage. But he's hardly the only person I own who can serve those functions. Keeping him is about sending a message. Once you work for Valentino, you serve him until you die. There is no middle ground." Valentino said.

"He came to me of his own free will. In life, he felt oppressed. Working for me, he could be himself.

"He was gay. I allow him to be gay. I even allow him to take jobs on the side if he wants to. For all of his complaining, I'm actually a fairly generous boss. I let him keep half the money he makes working for me and all of the money he makes on the side. All I ask is that he not try to leave. But he's been putting up such a fuss lately, saying he wants to leave for some sort of redemption cult. What can I do but discipline him? When an unruly child steps out of line, you have to punish them. Spare the rod, spoil the child."

As Valentino said this, there was a sort of malicious glee in his voice. Charlie was silent and listened to what he said. When he stopped, Charlie spoke.

"I see. Is there no deal that we could work out to make it worth more to you to let Angel Dust go than to keep him here?" Charlie asked. Valentino thought for a long moment, then grinned.

"Alright. What can you offer me? I understand you're somewhat estranged from your parents. So asking them to offer me a favor probably is not something I can expect." Valentino said.

Charlie thought for a long moment.

"I can ask my father. But I can't necessarily guarantee that he'll even answer the phone." Charlie said. Valentino nodded, looking out the window.

"Very well then. Perhaps your friend, the Radio Demon can assist me. I want to expand my territory. Ask yourself. Are you willing to prolong the damnation of one soul in exchange for expedited salvation for another? Who matters more to you? The Radio Demon, who's lent his name to your endeavor?

"Who has allowed you to use his name to promote your Happy Hotel and draw interest? I have sources and I've heard that already, hundreds of Demons are talking and debating whether to throw their lot in with you. On the one hand, doing so would be abandoning their past lives and it would be hard to go back to them if they've become associated with you. But on the other, they're taking that chance in the hope that their existences will no longer be jeopardized yearly in the purge. It's not my place to say which they should take and if the Radio Demon were to help me take neighboring turfs, I would definitely be more inclined to release Angel Dust." Valentino said. Charlie seemed conflicted.

She was sure that Alastor had no moral objection to aiding Valentino in that endeavor. But she was left with a strange conundrum. She couldn't leave Angel Dust to Valentino's rather limited mercies. But she also couldn't sabotage her own morals by asking Alastor to participate in turf wars, especially when she had chastised Angel Dust for engaging in turf wars. She wasn't going to do what she had told Angel Dust not to do. She wasn't going to diminish herself in his eyes like that, even to save him.

But she did have one final recourse. She looked him straight in the eyes, her expression changing from a negotiating face to a demanding face. She took a deep breath. She'd hoped to reach a diplomatic solution. But clearly that wasn't going to happen. So instead, she would demand that he release Angel Dust. Before she threatened though, she asked if there was anything else that she could do for Valentino.

"You and Vaggie can be my sex slaves for a month. And my sex slaves do whatever I want them to. You'll dance, you'll serve drinks and food to the guests at my club. You'll pleasure my guests and me." Valentino said, his grin widening again. It had faded for a moment when he saw a challenging look in her eyes. He was concerned that she was going to try giving him an ultimatum. He admired her patience. She really was trying to be diplomatic. He wanted to test her patience. See if she really was the saint that she tried to portray herself as. Vaggie grimaced at his disgusting grin. Angel Dust's feelings made sense.

Valentino made her skin crawl too. This time, Angel Dust got angry though, slamming his fist on the desk, his eyes lighting up with rage at Valentino's disgusting suggestion.

"You worthless piece of dog shit! How dare ya talk ta her that way! She's a fucking saint and yer a piece of vomit on a good day!" Angel Dust screamed, sweeping his hand over Valentino's desk, throwing things off. They shattered and cracked on the floor. It was obvious to Charlie that Valentino was baiting her. He may well have agreed to free Angel Dust if the two women agreed to be his sex slaves.

But he was testing their loyalty to their guests. He wanted to see what they were willing to do in the name of redemption for their guests. And he seemed to be laughing internally at the rage that had filled Angel Dust at his suggestion. Vaggie's hand was clenched tightly, her own rage at Valentino's lewd suggestion obvious on her face. Valentino, like Alastor, believed that keeping control in a situation while encouraging your opponent to lose control was the best way to stay on top. Charlie didn't seem to be triggered by his suggestion though. She smiled, shaking her head. That wasn't going to happen.

She looked back at her friends and made a slight motion to encourage them to calm down. Even Alastor seemed a bit on edge though. Although he didn't agree with Charlie's goals and he still didn't believe they were possible, he respected her charisma and the power she affected by encouraging others and dangling this incredible 'possibility' in front of them. Hearing Valentino mock and disrespect Charlie like this angered him, though he couldn't fully explain why. Charlie took a deep breath. She had tried to negotiate with him. She sighed. Vaggie gasped. Charlie was about to accept Valentino's 'offer'.

"I'll do it. But I won't let you touch Vaggie." Charlie said, blushing in humiliation at what she knew she would probably have to do. Although she was optimistic, she wasn't stupid. She'd seen some of the worst people even Hell had to offer. Valentino's grin widened. He reached across to shake her hand. Although he was a snake, he would keep his promise. He wanted to see how far Charlie would go for her clients. And she had proven it. She really would do anything for them. She would degrade herself in the worst ways to help those she had promised to help. Angel Dust gasped as she reached out to shake his hand.

"Mama! No!" He protested, not realizing he'd called her that, especially in front of everyone. Even if he had realized, he wouldn't have cared. Their hands were about to touch when to everyone's shock, Alastor spoke out.

"No. My classless and perverse fellow." Alastor said, his grin somehow even wider now, but strangely taut like it was forced. They all gasped as he had a look of utter contempt on his face for Valentino. The tall Deer Demon stepped forward, his staff raised and starting to glow.

"Miss Magne… Please take Angel Dust and the others and leave. You have amused me greatly with your devotion to your fellows. Now allow me to perform as I have agreed. I believe entertainment as great as you have provided me deserves a modest reward." He said, using his magic to reverse their positions, sitting down and putting his feet up on the desk.

"Now, Mr. Valentino… I'm simply debating now what I should do. I assume you've heard what happened to the last Demon who challenged me… Serpent something." Alastor said bluntly.

Valentino paled slightly, hearing the threat in Alastor's voice. This was a terrifying new development. In the past, all Alastor had wanted was to seek entertainment. He would antagonize and see what happened. But he rarely entered battle himself. Sir Pentious had been an interesting case. Hearing that he'd been dragged down by shadow tentacles and though he wasn't destroyed, he hadn't quite been the same since his battle with Alastor. Valentino felt his mouth go dry. Alastor shifted his legs, crossing one back over the other, chuckling and letting Valentino assume the very worst, stew in his own sweat.

"Now, your 'offer', which ironically, I feel was entirely fair. You didn't ask her to kill anyone. You accepted her counter-offer and you let her make it of her own accord. However, despite being fair by the letter, I feel it was intended not as a legitimate offer, but as a way to see how much she was willing to humiliate herself for her clients. And while I don't necessarily find that unamusing, I will make the next counter offer. You will be entitled to one favor from me, subject to my approval. You will not go near Angel Dust or Charlotte Magne or Vagatha or anyone else associated with the Hotel ever again.

"I have time. I will give you twenty minutes to decide on a favor." Alastor said bluntly, grinning as he saw Valentino's pale, sweating expression. He set his scepter to twenty minutes and waited for Valentino to collect himself. It took about ten minutes for him to do that.

"I want help taking down the overlords of the two neighboring turfs and capturing them for myself." Valentino said. It wasn't a bad deal to get the Radio Demon's aid in one endeavor of his choice.

Alastor smirked, taking a long moment, staring Valentino straight in the eye and watching his smile begin to fade. He then grinned wider.

"Deal! The two neighboring territories it is. I thought you would ask for more." Alastor laughed, reaching over to shake Valentino's hand. Valentino sighed in relief. Two territories was good enough for now. He shook Alastor's hand and the contract was sealed between them, a glow emanating between their hands.

"Very good. You'll have your two new territories by morning." Alastor said. Valentino gasped. If Alastor could really take two territories overnight, what could he have done if he had spent his time in Hell conquering rather than having fun? He sighed and nodded as Alastor walked out. Valentino sighed in relief and called his security back into the room, telling one to bring him a strong drink.

-0-

The Hotel guests were waiting outside for Alastor, who grinned at them as he came out.

"So… What did you do? Is he dead?" Angel Dust asked. Alastor chuckled.

"No, my effeminate fellow! I simply made him an offer he couldn't refuse. I gave him a single favor the request for which he had to make within twenty minutes. I do have other things to do. And in exchange, he was not permitted to go anywhere near you or anyone associated with the hotel ever again."

"So? What request did he make?" Vaggie asked, her breath hitching as she imagined some of the most atrocious things Valentino could ask for.
"He asked me to assist him in conquering two neighboring territories and overthrowing the current overlords of them. I told him I'd have it done by morning. So if you'll pardon me, I really must get going on my end of the deal." Alastor said. Charlie sighed. It wasn't what she would have wanted him to agree to. But she was grateful that she didn't have to become a sex slave.