Warning: This is a heavy chapter so tears will flow. Also: this is not the final chapter, more to come so don't hate me after this chapter.
Alastor told Charlie everything. The Overlords' meeting. Carmilla's intentions. Cattaleya's words to protect them. His plan to get her to Heaven and safety. Why he did what he did and how it all got so fucked up. Because that is the situation they are in right now. A fucked up one with Cattaleya literally on the other side as their, his, enemy. The thought alone urges him with the need to tear his own skin off. He pushed his beautiful resilient Dove to decide on this. If he had known…
Alastor sits in the lobby of the Hotel, hunched forward in the chair, his face hidden in his hands as he leans his elbows on his legs. Mortified to hear the reactions of the others as Charlie gives them the run through of what he has done. The truth. They are all present, and they stare at him with shocked looks on their faces.
Angel is the first to speak. "So… Carmine wanted to recruit Feathers to fight for her. Thinking she is an actual misplaced angel with angelic steel on her wings." Alastor can only nod.
"And, Cattaleya being the woman that she is, would have accepted which she sort of confirmed in a conversation you had." Husker adds, another nod.
"And instead of telling her, you decided to hurt her to stop her from loving you so she would run to Heaven but now she has sided with Adam to come down and kill us all." Sir Pentious finishes. This time, Alastor's ears droop backwards.
"... Shit, this is seriously fucked up." Angel breaths out as he runs a hand through his hair.
"I never wanted this." Alastor finally speaks. You could hear a pin drop, everyone focusing hard to hear the words he confesses softly in his hands. "I just wanted her to be safe, but she never would have left. Never. I decided to break her then. To force her to leave. To give her no reason to stay or fight. No reason to try and protect because of the love she felt. Protect what we had. She would have died on the battlefield. I couldn't bear the thought of her dying. I broke her instead. W-Why did I do that?..." He suddenly begins laughing out of pure manic sadness. "W-Why… What do I do now? What do I do when she stands in front of me with her blade aimed? When she wants to cut off my head while all I want is to get on my knees and scream for her forgiveness…" His laughter dies down, leaving a pregnant silence.
He can already picture her. Angelic spear in her hand. His foot on his chest to keep him down as her blazing eyes burn into his soul. He could never harm her. Never again. Not even to save himself. He would be at her mercy and would accept any faith she decides for him.
"Alastor…" He doesn't want to, but still, he slowly lifts his face out of his hands to look at Charlie, who has kneeled in front of him. She tries to smile at him but it is full of shared sorrow and empathy for him. "We'll find a way. We're here for you."
"And what does you being here for me actually do? It is just a sentiment. It won't change anything. She'll still arrive as an enemy, out for blood." He says with a bit of a snarl that comes from pain. Out of a pit of hopelessness.
"She just needs to hear the truth-"
"How?! Do you plan on going up there and playing savior, trying to mend this? Charlotte, I have dug my own grave and I pulled all of her with me. How can I ever expect her, even if given the opportunity, to listen to me? I can't ask her to forgive me. She shouldn't." He shakes his head as he runs a hand through his hair. He feels sick as he sees the looks the others give him. His weak display. Feeling the urge to hide, just run, having been vulnerable enough, he stands and makes his way to the door.
"Alastor, wait." He opens the door and just as he is about to leave. "You still have a room here." He pauses. Charlie continues. "We haven't cleared out your room… If you want you can stay." He hesitates before he turns around and walks up the stairs in silence.
It took her some time waiting till Adam was finally done bragging and shit talking about how they were going to destroy the Hotel, and make sinners scream and how much of a fucked up badass bitch she is. But when he was finally done, most words immediately forgotten and ignored, she asked where she could stay and got a room appointed to her.
Cattaleya looks outside of the window of the tall apartment building, looking at the bright sunny landscape. Souls smiling, having a nice time, families in a park, friends having lunch. They all have no clue, do they? About what troubles so many have gone through and are experiencing right now. The brightest of the brightest. The luckiest of the luckiest. Is there truly only happiness here? She doubts it. No place is purely white. Just as Hell, if you look closely, is not purely black. She probably would not have had such a cynical view on the whole ordeal if she had been placed here right away instead of going to Hell. I mean, who in their right mind would question a peaceful delightful always good and happy afterlife?
There is a knock on the door before someone peeks inside, Emily smiling brightly and bouncy on her feet. Cattaleya can't help but smile in earnest as well. "Hello Emil-" She huffs out some air as Emily darts forward and gives her a tight hug.
"I am so happy you are here!" The genuine tone of her voice has Cattaleya actually return the hug.
"Thank you, for allowing me into Heaven."
Emily pulls back from the embrace. "Of course! You were right and you deserve to be rewarded for everything you bravely said and have gone through." Well, it wasn't really a matter of bravery when she had been still alive. Only the wish to keep breathing another day. "And with you here, we can accomplish even more! We will make others see what you have opened my eyes too. Souls gray will have a chance to get their spot in Heaven. They deserve to. Sera is not really a big fan of giving everyone who's questionable an easy access to Heaven but we are looking into trial periods! Like a sort of Hazbin Hotel between realms!"
Cattaleya smiles softly. "That sounds like a start." Though she wonders if it will be that simple.
"Oh! And of course we will see if we can actually facilitate and support Charlie's idea as well, redemption for sinners. But that is really harder to convince people for… But I have good hope!" She actually bounces up and down as she holds Cattaleya's hands. Cattaleya can't help but think how innocent this woman is in her new found dreams and ideals. Much like a certain Princess she knows. "I am sorry though that I couldn't cancel coming extermination. I tried. Like really hard. But Sera wouldn't listen. But don't worry! We will have plenty of time after to work out a plan to get the extermination… Exterminated!"
"It is fine, Emily. You've already done so much. And there is still one piece of vermin that needs to be exterminated for Hell to become a less endangered place."
Emily's smile drops a bit. "What do you mean?"
Ah, so Adam has not told her yet. "I am joining the extermination on the front lines." Emily gasps. "Only this once, a first and final time. I want it to stop too but like I said, if one head rolls, this one sinner dead, it won't be missed. There are a lot of gray souls, but trust me, this one is pure black."
Emily does not look that thrilled about it but still gives her a sort of supportive but hesitant smile. "O-Okay, if you say so. Just be safe?"
"I will. Don't worry. I'll be as safe as I can be. No need to worry for my soul."
This seems to be a satisfying answer. "Okay! Oh, we should go get something sweet! To celebrate you being here. Come I know the perfect spot!" And that is how Cattaleya lets herself get dragged through several places in Heaven, her mind all the while on how she will coat her hands in blood one final time.
The last night. Only a few more hours left till the sky will break open and holy light will pour down on them once more. Alastor had never cared. Never had been afraid before of the extermination. Why would he? He is the great Radio Demon. It would be pitiful to be scared of some angels with sharp sticks. That fear was for the low weak sinners to have. But tonight, he might be the most frightened being in all the rings of hell. Because this time, it will not be just any angel coming down for a random kill. It is his angel. And his life she is dead set on taking. A fight he can not hide from. Will not hide from.
He has made up his mind. He will protect the Hotel. He will face Cattaleya. He will try to subdue her. To stop her. But if he can't, she can cut him in every way she wants. Every way she needs. He has hurt her enough. He will be damned if he makes her bleed again. He won't. And oh how much he is already damned.
Everything is arranged. Everyone ready. Charlie convinced Rosie and Cannibal Town, after promising a heavenly feast, to fight alongside them and protect the Hotel. When Rosie asked for a talk in private, he declined. Which he never did but he can't talk anymore. Vaggie had convinced Carmilla to supply them with Angelic Weapons. The way she had focused so heavily on Cattaleya's wings, the steel, made Alastor realize, way too late, that that must be the key to killing angels. Which Carmilla admitted to. So they have armed cannibals ready to face an entire army of angels… It is the best they can do.
As everyone is enjoying the night, possibly their last, with friends and family and loved ones. Alastor's heavy hooves betray him and take him to a place he doesn't feel he has the right to enter. Still, he opens the door, and her familiar scent almost chokes him up. Her room. She is still everywhere. He sees her everywhere. He can see her rummaging through her wardrobe, picking something out and holding it up to him, wanting to know his opinion on it. He can see her on the bed, casually reading a book. He can see her standing on the balcony, her wings slightly fluttering as she looks up at the sky as if wanting to take off right away. He can see her smile. He can see them laugh. He can see her sleep. He can see the blood….
They hadn't cleaned this room. Blood dark and dried. Glass shattered around. Strands of white gorgeous hair on the ground.
Numbly, he moves and actually lays down in the bed. He takes the pillow she always slept on and hugs it close to him, breathing in her scent as he closes his eyes. He lets himself be taken away. Taken away in the good memories. Their love. If he tries hard enough, he can almost remember how it felt as she ran his fingers through his hair. It hasn't even been that long but for Hell's sake his body aches for her. Not wanting to forget.
The memory of her smiling brightly at him suddenly gets overshadowed by her murderous glare. That is the woman he will be facing. Completely to her mercy. As he always has been…
Cattaleya stands in her room, counting the minutes till they are allowed to go. Allowed to start the extermination. She is ready. She knows her plan of attack. Swift. A single strike. No remorse. No hesitation. She wears the same outfit all the extermination angels wear but she refuses to wear that stupid mask. It'll distract her. And she wants them to see her face. She also requested two katanas to be forged out of the angelic steel. She will also hide a few daggers in her boots as she has always done on earth.
The door opens without a knock. "Heya Pussy Cat! You ready to fucking murder some fucking-"
"I'd rather not have you call me that again." She interrupts with narrowed eyes.
"Hmmmm, Kitty Cunt? That's better, right?" He asks with a grin and a wink, doing some weird pointy shooting motion with his fingers.
"Certainly sir." Lute agrees like she would always do.
Truly, how can this be the first human soul in Heaven. She narrows her eyes more which has him folding his arms. "Buzz kill much. Haven't had a good fuck in awhile to losen you up?"
"Trust me, after today, I will be more than enough 'loosened' up."
Apparently, a good reply as his mood picks up again. "Yeah that's the spirit! Now come. Imma do my badass pep talk and then we roll!" She follows him outside and flies towards the large field where the others were waiting. Their numbers are large. Larger than expected. They cheer and scream and are all overly excited to be going to Hell again to murder it appears.
Cattaleya stands in front. Like she had requested. To be by Adam's side to really have first row in the carnage. His words uninspiring, loud, vulgar and honestly, they go straight one ear in and one ear out. Instead, she zones the world out. She closes her eyes and breathes. In. Out. Outstretch her senses to feel her body. Her muscles. Feel the energy flow through her. Adrenaline. Focus. Strength. Plays it over and over in her mind. Her movements. Where she strikes. How she kills. Meditating herself into that kill zone.
She opens her eyes when she feels a shift in the air. A portal open. Red sky she knows so well behind it. Her wings spread as she shoots forward. The change of the air palpable as they enter Hell. Straight above the Hotel.
Adam makes them pause, hover above the Hotel in a display of power. So many angels behind him. But the Hotel has numbers as well. Sinners surround the Hotel. Ready for what it seems like a fight. Adam can't help but laugh in mockery. "Oh shit. Look! Little fucks think they can actually protect themselves!" He booms out loudly as he looks down at them.
Cattaleya spots them then, in the middle of the yard in front of the Hotel. All residents of the Hotel. Armed. Ready to protect their home. Charlie's eyes are trying to be brave albeit Cattaleya sees the fear at seeing their numbers. Angels still appear out of the portal and wait for their orders to dive down.
And that is when she looks at Alastor, standing right next to Charlie. To protect the Hotel. To show he is not afraid for the confrontation. He stands with his hands behind his back. Relaxed. Confident. So it appears. But when she locks eyes with him, even from that distance, his wide grin twitches. She sees his ear twitch as well before he snarls more and deepens his frown.
Alastor's chest feels like exploding as he looks at his angel, hovering high above them, ready to let out all the pain. Ready to kill once more. She looks… Lethally gorgeous. A goddess of death he would humbly kneel to if he has to. What a serenade they would be. Tragic and beautiful at the same time. Hells how he wishes to dance with her.
"Al?" He hears Charlie softly check on him.
He doesn't take his eyes off of her. "She's breathtaking, isn't she?..."
"You don't have to-"
"I do." Is all Alastor says as he clenches his fists. He will not flee from this.
"I told ya we were coming for your sad little bitch whining Hotel!" Adam laughs again as if he is the most hilarious being alive. "I think I am going to enjoy this extermination the most out of all the ones we have done! Thinking you can protect yourself! It's pathetic. You are pathetic. You are just useless-" Cattaleya pulls out her swords. "- hopeless- " She takes a deep breath. "- squirmy rats who can do nothing but bow down to my amazing huge-" The blade pierces clean through his head. One side in. One side out. Words cut short as gold drips down his face. Adam only has a final glance to his left, to see Cattaleya grinning wickedly at him before she swings her second sword, decapitating him. His body falls to Hell. She throws the sword, Adam's head still attached, down like a javelin. The sword, like an offer, lodges in the ground, right in front of Alastor.
And when he looks from the head back up, the world paused in utter shock, he sees his angel smiling at him. Smiling with her eyes filled with love and forgiveness.
With a punch to his gut he remembers.
Tell me a story.
The General and Shogun locked eyes as the tyrant from an other country spewed his words, mocking and already victorious in his mind. So sure of his conquest that he did not see the General pulling out his katana. Did not feel the blade slicing his head clean off of his body till it was too late. The General had played them all. The Shogun had never lost the loyalty of his General. The story always left me in awe, wondering if I could ever be that loyal to anything. To be that brave to protect the ones I care about. I never had anything to care that much about in my living life but now I think I have found something I can be that brave for.
Another memory, right before he decided to break her.
I told you before, I am willing to bleed to protect this. To protect this place. To protect what we have built. I will forever fight for that. No matter how. I'll truly do anything. Whatever is necessary. Whatever gives us the advantage
And then with Adam.
But I also have seen that there are, undoubtedly, dangers and sinners down here deserving of eternal death. I will gladly do my part in exterminating the ones I found worthy of that faith. Know that I am only aiming for one head to have in my claws.
She had played them all for fools. All of them. To get close. Like the snake waiting in the pit. Ready to strike. To kill Adam. Not him. Never him. One final realization in the second that passed-
The general died.
A sharp intake of air as his whole demeanor changes to panic. When they lock eyes again, he realizes she is saying goodbye. Accepted her faith. No.
Lute lets out an ear shattering scream before she pulls her own sword. But Cattaleya merely laughs as she spreads her wings and steel covers them. The angels who dare to leap forward, scream in pain as Cattaleya gives a twirl and slams them with her wings, cutting them up, gold flying, before she flaps her wings and takes flight down to the ground. "KILL THAT BITCH!"
Angels start their pursuit, following her down, but when Cattaleya lands on the ground, the impact shaking it, and looks who follows, she does a quick count before unexpectedly, shooting straight back up. Head on facing them. Their eyes widen as they can not slow themselves enough or divert their path as she cuts through them, slicing with her wings, her sword, killing them with ease left and right.
"GO GET THEM! KILL THEM ALL!" And that is when it all starts. The whole Angel army yelled out of their stupor as they descend.
Cattaleya shoots to the right, a few angels following together with Lute as they start their hunt.
"Alastor!" Charlie yells.
Alastor actually has to blink before he grabs his cane and slams it into the ground, shadows appear from everywhere and crawl up, green ominous signs glow in the air as he makes a shield appear, like they talked about. Their strategy. To minimize the amount of angels they have to face. It almost closes. His eyes frantically search for Cattaleya. She is still inside. He prays she stays inside. It'll be better if- But then she is forced to take a sharp turn up into the sky, and when the shield closes, she is out of his reach. His protection. With satan knows how many angels on her tail. He doesn't have time to think though as he has to focus. The sooner he kills them, the sooner he can get his Dove. His eyes turn into dials and starts his own frantic attack.
Cattaleya is quicker, faster, sharper in her turns and cleaner in her attacks. Left and right they fall around her. As soon as they advance, she changes her momentum, flipping the coin to their disadvantage. She has no clue where she is going. Just taking turns in the streets, circling buildings. Fly. Break. Cut. Go. Her whole body is covered in gold and still, the numbers following her do not feel like getting less. Understandable. She did kill their leader. Easily. This is going to be the tougher fight.
She rounds a corner, when she does, a dozen angels wait for her. Looking left and right, into the other streets, she sees the same. Seems like they are finally forming some sort of strategy. They expect her to go up or down probably. Straight forward it is. She flaps her wings to give herself more speed and does a barrel roll, using her wings once more as weapons as she goes through their weak formed barrier. A flinch though as one spear cuts her. Leg. Lower. Minor. Fine. Continue.
Cattaleya doesn't know for how long she fights. How long she flies. How many she killed. But her stamina starts to run low. The cuts on her body growing in amount. Her movements slowing. She can't fly anymore. They ache. Another sharp turn. An error. As she rounds the corner a punch to the face has her somersault backward before she crashes to the ground. Fuck. She spits up some red but quickly stands on her feet, low in stance, dagger in hand as her sword got lost in the drop.
"You are starting to get predictable, bitch." Lute says as she stalks forward, an enraged ugly look on her face. She is panting as well. Hair wild. In pursuit this whole time.
"Only to you apparently. I cut down hundreds of yours. Have you been counting?" She normally doesn't shit talk but it is for distraction. So she can calculate her next moves.
Many more angels land, surrounding her. She glances at the skies but it seems empty. These are all who are left. All who had not died in the chase. Yet.
"I will tear all your limbs from your body." Lute seethes. Cattaleya merely shoots her a mocking grin before schooling herself into focus again, an angel from her left shoots forward. She dodges the spear and actually breaks it between her lower arms, the angel gasps. Her blood gushes as she slits the throat. Everyone leaps to her. She dances. She dances through the blades. Through the attacks. Each breath in sync with an attack. A dodge. A bone that breaks. A scream she hears. Grabbing a spear from the ground and piercing them through one's chest as she throws her dagger into the eye of another. It all is still second nature to her. To kill. But she has never fought this long. This hard. This desperately. Enemies that keep coming again. Attacking again and again and again till she feels something pierce her stomach. With a growl she actually bites the angel's neck with her sharp teeth and pulls out an artery. Quickly she pulls the sword out of her abandon before she flexes her nails. Fine. Teeth and claws then. She actually feels herself growl as she stops countering, and starts her final frantic attack. She loses her composure but the ache in her body worsens. Her head feels lighter. Makes her desperate. Literally clawing her way through. She has to keep going. No matter if her legs shake. Nomatter if her body is bleeding out. She has to fight.
For him. She has to stay strong for him. She can't die yet. She needs to see him. Hear his voice one more time. Speak to him one more time. Kiss him one more time. Tell him she has forgiven him. Tell him she loves-
A spear from behind, piercing straight into her chest, brings her to her knees, pinning her to the ground. Lute's laughter shrill in her ears. Her followed scream of pain as Cattaleya flails her wings a sweet melody, Lute cursing as she jumps away after the assault. Cattaleya doesn't wait as she grabs the spear and actually stands up with a yell. With shaking hands she breaks it and pulls it out. She looks down at the hole near her… Breathing is hard. Not her heart. A lung.
The few angels left are wounded, standing back in fear, as Lute stands in front of her, wiping some blood off of her face. Body cut all over but nothing major. Sadly. With one lung, she can defeat Lute. "You will not win." She spits out. "No matter how hard you have fought. You will lose. You will die. EVERYONE YOU LOVE WILL DIE!"
"Everyone you loved already did." Her jab, straight to the core, has Lute seething even more. "Only you and me, Lute." Cattaleya straightens as she gives a single cough, blood dripping from her lip but still she grins. Smiles. Never dressed without one her love would say. She holds up her fists and the steel disappears from her wings. "Like real woman. Let's see who's love screams louder." With a battlecry, Lute throws her spear to the side and leaps forward. A flurry of fists, kicks and jabs. Each getting in punches. Countering kicks. Hitting and getting hit. Neither knows who actually is on the winning hand as they fight each other through the whole area. Lute grabs Cattaleya by the throat and slams her with the supporting force of her wings against a building, choking her. Cattaleya claws at Lute's face, making the woman scream as flesh is cut but she doesn't let go. A grave mistake as Cattaleya actually digs her finger into one of Lute's eyes before kicking her backwards. The loss of blood and air has her vision blackened for a second. It returns just in time to see Lute has picked up an iron rod. A great impact to the side of her head has her ears ringing.
Fuck. Cattaleya tries to push herself off of the ground but then she feels a snap. Her arm in two, as Lute stomped on her hand and kicked through her lower arm bone. For the first time this entire fight, Cattaleya screams. Lute grabs her by the hair and throws her back against the building. Cattaleya cradles her arm as she forces herself to sit upright, slumped against the stone, bleeding alarmingly from a gaping wound in her abandon and chest as she glares at Lute.
Lute is in no better state. No broken bones but her face is torn up. Several stab wounds inflicted by Cattaleya's claws visible. Vital areas as well. Good.
"You-" Lute steps closer. "- fucking-" Come closer. "- piece of-" She grabs Cattaleya's hair. "-SHIT!"
Now. With a final push, Cattaleya jumps up high and steels her wings. The sound of terror as she cuts Lute's arm clean off gives her a sickening feeling of delight. Finally she has started to enjoy killing for once. Lute falls backward, clutching the bleeding stomp as Cattaleya stands straight above the woman. Her eyes cold and menacing, victorious, lethally strong as if her whole body is not dying as well. She spreads her wings and Lute has the decent mind to flinch, crawl backwards and fly off. "RETREAT! EVERYONE RETREAT!"
As they flee, Cattaleya actually laughs but that quickly is cut short as she throws up blood. Oh fuck. She takes a few steps back, she hits the wall and she slides down. Ah. The last ounce of fight used. Done.
"RETREAT!"
Alastor looks up at the sky as he sees only a few angels return. All badly wounded. The one in charge looks one punch away from her grave. Arm missing. Listening to their general, all angels retreat back into the portal back to Heaven.
"D-Did we win?" Angeldust is the first to ask. They all look exhausted, light wounds and torn clothes. But alive. Everyone is alive. Everyone here. Except for Cattaleya. The shield disappears, just as Alastor. Frantically, he shadow warps from place to place. Following dead bodies. Gold splattered on the concrete. In a path that he hopes leads to her. His Dove. So many bodies he passes. Hundreds of them. All she slaughtered by herself. When he sees the first drops of red, smells her, his stomach drops. His grin pulls painfully tight as he goes faster, deeper into the city. Following her scent. Her blood. Screaming out her name in hope she will reply. Looking into the sky in hopes to see her wings making their way home.
Her scent becomes stronger. "CATTA-" And that is when he finds her. Sees her hunched form leaning against a building on the ground. Her head hangs low. Non moving. Her entire body covered in gold. But also in a sickening amount of red. In a flash, he is in front of her. His hands shake as he cups her cheeks and forces her head up. Her eyes are closed, blood drips from her lips, but he can hear her breathe. Or she tries. His eyes quickly scan her body. Gaping holes in her stomach and chest. Her arm- Oh Hells her arm. He can see the bone sticking through her skin. "D-Dove."
His weak voice gives her the strength to open her eyes. And she smiles, she fucking smiles. Light in her brilliant blue eyes. "H-Hi, Darin."
"W-Why did you do that?!" Alastor snaps, pure anguish on his face. "What the fuck were you thinking doing such a thing! To sign your own death for what!"
"You." That single word has his face twist even more. "You lied to me… I figured you out." It all became clear after her talk with Velvette. The Overlord meeting. After that meeting he had not been completely himself. Slightly more distant. Hesitant. Still loving but looking at her time to time with fear. She linked it to the coming extermination. But then Velvette spilled what she showed Carmilla. The fact that Carmilla would attend the Gala. Her own willingness to fight which Alastor knew of. For some reason. It all clicked. Especially when she remembered a few words he had spat at her during their last encounter.
Go run along and do whatever you want. Surely Heaven might still want you?
He had tried to push her into that direction. He succeeded in pushing her away. But not the way he had intended. Her hand shakes as she reaches up and puts her hand on his cheek, he immediately leans into it. Eager to feel her touch. Yearning to. Her hand is so cold though. "A-Am I right?"
Alastor immediately nods. "Y-Yes. I lied. Everything I said at the Gala was untrue. Everything I did…" For the first time in his afterlife, perhaps even in life as far as he can remember back, he feels warm tears glide down his cheeks. "I'm sorry. I never wanted to. But you would have never left. Never. You would have never allowed yourself safety. I did it to prevent this. All of this. But I was such a fool to… T-To-" He clenches his eyes shut as he lowers his head in pure shame. Shame of everything.
"I'm glad you are here." When he opens his eyes again she is crying as well. But she looks happy. She looks relieved. "I love you so much. And I am sorry too." Her words rasp and take a huge effort to push out but she has to say them.
He looks so relieved as well to hear those words. Their love never shattered. "I love you too, my sweet terrifying Dove."
She chuckles but that turns into a coughing fit, Alastor freaks out as mouths of blood spew into her lap. When she catches her breath, she weakly says. "Could you perhaps… Kiss me as a final goodbye."
"NO." He snarls as he crawls closer and begins to gather her in his arms. "This is not goodbye-" She whimpers in pain and it breaks his heart further. "You are going to live. And then we get to scream at each other properly for all our idiotic decisions. Mostly mine, but yours have been undoubtedly impulsive as well. Brave, oh so brave, but stupid. And after that I'll make your favorite pancakes-" He looks around, trying to navigate where he is and how to get to the Hotel the quickest. "- and then we go dance and then we-" When he looks back down at her, his smile falls. Completely gone.
Her light is dulled. There is no rasp in her breathing as it is non existent. Her body heavy and limp.
"D-Dove?"
No reply. He tries to softly pat her cheek to get her attention but to no avail. She is not looking at him. Not looking at anything. Gone. Her soul. Gone.
"N-No… No no no." He keeps repeating that one word, whimpering, crying as he gently, trying not to hurt her even if she would never feel it again, holds her closer. He buries his face against her chest. Her heart unbeating. Stopped. Forever. When he screams, the windows ten blocks away shatter.
Are you all okay? I am not. Again, this is NOT the end.