With each day that passes, with each day that Cattaleya does not return, the worry and anxiety of all of the residents of the Hazbin Hotel rises. Especially as no matter when or how the subject is opted, Alastor either flees the scene or gives a laugh and tells them she will return when she wishes. In truth, he has no fucking idea where she is either. Each day, he waits and hopes that Charlie will come to him with the news that she received a letter, a message, anything saying Cattaleya had accepted the deal with Heaven. The news never comes. Which has him believing she is still out here. Somewhere. In Hell. Alone.
Alastor could scout the streets, every little nook and cranny, to find her. But that will do no good either. What would he even say? Hello Dove, glad that I found you. About that night when I scared the living crap out of you and maimed you flesh. You misunderstood. It was just an act. Why don't you go to Heaven safely, now?
She would make him burn for eternity for that. Which he honestly deserves…
One week. There is only one week left before the extermination. One week of finding out whether she is safe or if he had dug her grave with his own bloody hands. He is terrified to see her standing in the middle of the carnage. Terrified to think that she still decided to fight or that Carmilla has found her and has struck a deal. If that is the case, it will be his own damned fault.
He should bring her back. He should find her. He should stop this body numbing crushing torment that he has put them both in. He doesn't dare. He doesn't dare jeopardize her possible safety. And more than that, he doesn't dare face her with a weak apology after what he has done. He doesn't dare look into the eyes that might forever will resent him.
So he stays put. Does nothing. And prays to whatever god has forsaken them to guard her.
Angeldust sighs as he reads through the script of the next shoot that they will be starting in about ten minutes. Val is using Angel's body to the edge today as Val wants to make sure they have shot enough material just in case the Extermination goes wrong. As usual.
They are changing the set as Angel stands in his robe, waiting for his cue to strip down and do his thing when the elevator opens. His jaw almost hits the floor as he sees a certain missing hotel resident walk in. Casually, as if nothing is out of the ordinary with her being there. What leaves a sickening feeling in his gut is when she walks straight to Valentino, handing him some papers and saying something he can not hear from that distance.
His legs can't help but rapidly approach the woman. "C-Cattaleya?!" Her eyes widen, just as surprised to see him. "What the fuck are you doing here?!" His eyes roam over her appearance. If it had not been for her wings he would not have recognized her with her short hair and dark blue business get up.
"Oh~ Pájaro didn't tell you?" Valentino purrs as he grins and takes a puff from his smoke pipe.
"T-Tell me what?" Angel feels like he might throw up. If she really made a deal with Val for whatever reason she is thoroughly truly fucked. The thought has him physically ill.
Cattaleya grimaces a bit but shakes her head. "It is not what you think. I have not made a deal or anything with Valentino."
Relief hits him, confusion takes its place though. "Then…"
Knowing he will not leave things unanswered she sighs. "Give him 5 minutes, Valentino."
Valentino's lip pulls up in dismay but then huffs and looks with his chin high away. "Fine. But only because the set is not ready yet. 5 minutes, then I want his ass back on that bed." Using that as an excuse to not admit he is still… Well, scared shitless of what she might be able to do to him if he refuses.
Angel takes Cattaleya to his dressing room to talk in private. As soon as the door closes he begins his frantic dialogue. "Do you have any idea how worried we are?! You just disappearing into fucking no where for me to find you here?! Why in the fucking Hell are you here of all places! Couldn't you have at least notified us o-o-or something! For all that we know you could have been dead! No matter what you and Al have fought about, nothing is so bad that you just have to vanish from the planes of existence! You can't just leave us like that! Can't make us worry like that!" His chest is moving deeply to catch his breath.
Cattaleya is silent for a second before saying. "Is that what he told you? That we had a fight and I left?"
Angel takes a step back as she deadpans her response, a frown on his face. "Uhm… Yes. He said you had a disagreement…"
A manic bubble of laughter escapes her. Even she questions her own sanity as she hears her own sounds. That bastard. That incredible narcissistic sadistic fuck. "Of course he would spin up a story to make him look like he hadn't committed the sin. And you all believed that. Angel, I fled." She says between her laughter.
"F-Fled?"
When she sees the disturbed look on his face she manages to compose herself. A shaky sigh before she gives him a rueful smile, sadness clouding her eyes, allowing him to see. "You were right. Everything you warned me for… When I ran, he just told me how it all had been a game for him. How he wanted to see me break or change into something he could use for his own gain. See if he could make a deal. And sadly, he decided that for this game, he was going to manipulate the most vulnerable parts of me. He must be so proud right now."
"You could have stayed." Cattaleya shakes her head at his words and begins to take off her jacket. "I know heartbreak sucks but Feathers, you are family-" She begins to open the buttons on her blouse. "- we would have been there for you. We-"
His words fall silent when she shows him her neck. Unbandaged. But the wounds still gruesome and healing in a way that will for sure scar forever. Uneven and mangled. "If you want to see more, my arm looks the same. My back and leg didn't stay unscatched. The haircut wasn't my choice either. There wasn't much left after he was done with me. I don't think you realize how he…. Destroyed me. I never had love, someone to care for me, never had someone to bear to who I truly am. Only him. To then be betrayed like that…" She closes the buttons again, ignoring the utterly disgusted and angered look on Angel's face. "Like I said, I fled. And I would have not done so if I had thought I could have protected myself. I… Couldn't push him away. Couldn't fight him. Silly heart prevented me from doing so." She says with a grimace. "I could have never asked from any of you to put yourself in harm's way either. So I went to the only place I could think of at that moment and that was here. I am not employed here nor did I make any deal. I didn't really want to stay this long but for now, I am safe here. Velvette is surprisingly the support I need and Vox provides me with a room and food. After the extermination I'll see what I'll do."
Angel swallows the lump in his throat and actually steps forward, arms wide to embrace her but she takes a step back and narrows her eyes. He actually looks a bit hurt but she doesn't care. She doesn't want people touching her. It had dulled her judgment before. "Charlie is really worried as well… She also could really use your help still. If you return we-"
Cattaleya actually scoffs as she clenches her fists. "You all will what? Protect me? You think you can? The only thing she wants from my return is to keep ties with Heaven and assist her on that as she can't do that shit herself. If I hadn't been there, Heaven would have not been swayed at all. She had fucking dictionary cards in her hands to defend her case. And has any Overlord actually joined her or agreed to assist her after the Gala?" Angel's grimace says enough. "Thought so. But I am telling you this, I am done being merely used for anyone's goals and gains. I am not returning. I am going to see what I want to do and I am going to take my time here to evaluate that. If it is, in the end, assist Charlie in any way or form, she will hear from me."
Angel's face turns to anger. "Shut the fuck up! Saying such things about Charlie is low. Especially from you. You know that is all just bullshit! That she never used you. You wanted to fucking help. You said so multiple times. No one manipulated you in doing that! What Alastor did was cruel. Fuck, everyone would be cautious after that. I get that. But don't you dare point a finger at Charlie who has been nothing but kind to you because that is how she is. No ultimate goal. If you had decided to help with nothing, she would have still given you a home."
He is in her face, she has to crane her neck up to keep looking him in the eye. She doesn't cower or anything. Doesn't move. Holds her stance strong. But his words… "I am not going through all that again…" Angel's anger seems to deflate as he realizes she is biting the inside of her lip. Cattaleya diverts her face before heading to the door, ending the conversation. But before she leaves, she does say. "You can tell Charlie I am safe… And here when she wants to talk."
"YOU SICK EVIL FUCK!" The whole Hotel falls quiet as the door bangs loudly against the wall, surprisingly not cracking it, and Angel stands in the doorway. Absolutely seething.
Husker is the first to jump into action as Angel stomps into the lobby. "Wow, calm down."
Before he has the chance to ask what is wrong, Alastor actually stands up from his chair and walks forward, brushing a piece of invisible dirt off of his shoulder. "Now Angel, this display is something I do not accept inside the-"
The bottle barely misses Alastor's face. Husker turns extremely pale as Angel had grabbed the bottle out of his hand and had hurled it at the Radio Demon. The bottle missed. But drops of liquid did splash his coat. The air turns menacing. Shadows crawling from corners. "Ha Ha, Angel. Care to explain your-" His claw flexes and cracks. "- insolent behavior towards me?"
"Yeah I do." He actually stalks forwards, Charlie tries to jump in between but Angel simply brushes her to the side as he does not stop till he is in front of the demon. "I found Cattaleya." He actually spits out. Alastor's grin twitches for a split second. He lowers his voice for only the Radio Demon to hear. "Should I tell you what a different story she told me about her disappearance? Or perhaps you want to know where I found her?"
"You found Catty?" Charlie's concerned voice chimes in, for a second distracting everyone away from the Radio Demon who looks like he might snap in a blink.
Deciding to risk his own skin, Angel takes a step back and gives Alastor a fuck-you grin before looking at Charlie. "She's safe now that she is away from him." He looks back at Alastor, wanting to see his face as he bears all his fucking schemes. "She fled. She told me that the night of the Gala he had confessed about manipulating her, using her. His supposed love and everything he did was one of his grandest schemes and plays to get her into signing a contract for her soul. But you got bored, apparently? Thank the fucking Heavens that Cattaleya is a strong woman and managed to get away."
Everyone looks at Alastor to see his reply. All he does is bark out a short laugh and look at his nails. "She was fun to play with."
Angel actually pulls back his fist but, luckily for him, Husker grabs his arms and pulls Angel back. Ignoring how much he trashes against the restraintment. "YOU BASTARD! I saw what you did to her body! I saw how you fucking maimed her! Do you have any idea what you have done?! I found her at Valentino's-"
A static screech deafens everyone. In that snap of a moment, Alastor has Angel by his neck, high up in the air as he squeezes the dear afterlife out of the arachnid. "You found her where?" His voice disturbingly low as his manic eyes stare into Angel's. Alastor's hand shakes, holding back the urge to break the twig.
"Valentino's studio… She staying… With Vox." Angel actually squeaks out as he gasps for air.
"And you didn't pull her the fuck out of there?!" Alastor screeches as he throws Angel against the wall, cracking it. Husker immediately stands with his wings wide over the assaulted men, ready to attack if he has to to defend him.
"And you would care why?!" Angel still shouts in defiance as he holds his throat, not going to be silenced. "You never cared the fuck anyway! Didn't you tell her that when you broke her heart and then her body! Why would you even care if she had made a deal with Valentino?! I am certain she would have been less fucked to the curb than she would have been staying with you!"
That is it. Before Alastor has the chance to lunge, Charlie steps between, her hair flaring and her horns grown. Her enraged red eyes on non other than him. "ENOUGH! You will not harm anyone any further! I want you out of this Hotel, NOW!"
Alastor puts his hands behind his back and grins wide. "You think that is truly wise, Charlotte? With the extermination coming up, hmm? Am I not one of the few who can actually help protect your pathetic little redemption Hotel?"
"I don't care. We will manage. I do not want someone who has been hurting and harming my family inside of my house. I want you OUT. And don't you dare come back sooner than that I come for you. If I ever do."
Alastor narrows his eyes. "Very well then. Your graves. I will remember to broadcast your screams as your Hotel falls." With a snap of his fingers, he disappears in his shadows.
Mimzy waits outside of her own Jazz club, impatiently tapping her foot as she waits for the Overlord of Cannibal Town. When Rosie finally arrives, concern on her face, Mimzy only gives her a curt annoyed nod. "Took ya long enough. He's been there for an hour already. Scared the whole place empty. The ones who didn't run fast enough now decorate my fucking walls."
Rosie simply ignores Mimzy's further ranting as she walks into the club, Mimzy wisely staying outside. The whole place is dark, except for the lights at the bar, where she sees her friend hunched over the wood as he sits on a chair. His coat is gone, but she can see the blood splattered on him. A gushy sound from her right as some innards fall from the place they were splashed against the wall.
She takes a few steps forward but then his voice, raspy, static and filled with raw sorrow, echoes in the empty club. "Do you know what I did after your advice? I have said things, horrendous hurtful things, to the only soul I have ever loved down here. I saw her utterly shatter like glass in my hand." The bottle in his hand breaks, uncaring of the shards that cut his skin. "That was not enough. I saw her hope gripping to me like a vice. The roots of what she felt for me so deep that even if I ripped through her flesh with my fucking teeth she would not falter. She screamed and cried and begged. Not for me to stop. But for my words to be untrue. That she would forgive me if I stopped then and there. So I grabbed her by her hair and cut the very innocence and freedom out of her. I saw who she was disappearing right in front of me. All for her to be safe. For her to run to the Heavens and take her shelter there. To become anew. Instead, what I found out today-" He stands suddenly with such a force behind it that the barstool falls to the ground. His eyes are glowing and his bloody saliva drips out of the corner of his mouth. He looks terrifying in his pain. "- is that she has taken shelter with Vox. VOX! Of all people-" A harsh laugh escapes him as he grips his head with the one hand not bleeding. "- she chose to go there. What purpose had this all if this is the end result?!"
Rosie stays quiet, to let Alastor catch his breath before she says. "She is safe."
"Rosie-"
"It might not have been what you had in mind, mine neither. But she is not with Carmilla. She is not going to be on the battlefield. We both know all Vox does is stay in his building and lets others shield him. The Vees building has always stayed untouched through every extermination. And if she lost all fight, then she is safe there."
He grips his hair tighter as his smile wobbles, his ears flat. "I-Is she though? I don't want her to make deals out of…" He doesn't even find the words.
Rosie slowly walks forward to stand closer to him. He is restless on his feet. His whole body achy to act. Run. Run to her. Run away. Anywhere. "She is a highly intelligent woman. Even if heartbreak is rough on one, I am sure she will be sharp enough not to be lured into making a deal."
He drops to the ground, pulling up his legs as he leans his back against the bar. He hides his face in his hands, afraid that his tears will fall. Afraid his smile will drop. "I regret it. I regret everything I did to her. These days without her I felt like tearing off my own skin to make myself pay for the things I have done to her. It sickens me. I want her back. I want her back so badly. And to know she is just half a city away from me is making me insane."
Rosie kneels in front of him. Puts a hand on his knee. "You have to push through. For now. Perhaps when this is over you could ask for her forgiveness. Perhaps. If what Charlie said at the Gala is true and this might be the last extermination, who knows what you can rebuild after… I know it might turn out to be false hope but for now you need to stay strong. Only a few more days."
Right. A few more. A few more of living in anxiety. A few more and then the extermination will be over. And perhaps, if he goes to her, crawls to her till his knees are bloody, beg till his throat is raw, she might be able to look him in the eye again. He will never dare ask for her love, but if he can have her close, safe, in the Hotel, that might be enough to prevent him from falling into a forever pit.
What do you all think? Does Alastor deserves to be forgiven? Are his actions justified by his intentions? Stay tuned, next chapter Heaven is coming for a quick chat before the big day!