"Where are you two taking me?" Charlie felt excitement like never before as they sank into the shadows. Alastor and Vaggie had told her that they were going somewhere special. The fact that the two of them planned something together sent a thrill though her. She hadn't expected it at all!
She was especially surprised with Vaggie's reaction. When she'd told Vaggie about Alastor and her dad making a deal, she'd argued about it being Alastor's true end goal. It was only for a few minutes; Vaggie had actually admitted that she, too, saw the difference in Alastor. That there was more than a bloodthirsty demon trying to use them as pawns. Charlie had cried from happiness for more than a few minutes at that, that Vaggie now understood.
"You'll see, my darling Charlie," Alastor said once they exited their transport. The shadows receded and disappeared as they normally did.
Charlie looked around. And was very, very confused. She asked, "Cannibal Town?"
"It's not what you think," Vaggie said as she and Alastor began leading her down the street. "No cannibalism."
"Then what…?" Were they going to some kind of amusement park? There were some on lower levels of Hell. She knew Alastor couldn't go there, being a Sinner and all. That was probably why they were going to the amusement park in Cannibal Town! Because of course they had one! Her excitement building again, she asked, "Will there be rides?"
"Knew it!" Alastor chuckled as they continued to lead Charlie down the street. Vaggie sighed and nodded in affirmation. Charlie didn't know what sort of secret message that was.
"Don't worry about it, Char," Vaggie said without turning around. She slowed down to match Charlie's pace. Her hand grabbed Charlie's. It made Charlie smile. Then she looked forward to Alastor.
He had been peeking behind him at the two. At Charlie's glance, he turned forward once again, his hand flexing almost imperceptibly.
"C'mon," Charlie urged Vaggie to speed up. Once they caught up, Charlie dared to slide her other hand into Alastor's. This time, there was a very, very weak readjustment of Alastor's hand to more comfortably hold hers.
This time, unlike with the picture, she was able to keep her squee internalized. She looked at Vaggie, eyes flashing, to see that Vaggie was giving Charlie's and Alastor's hands a sad smile. Some of the excitement ebbed at that. Before she could ask, there was a gasp across the street.
Rosie had caught all of their attentions with the drama. Alastor swiftly removed his hand from Charlie's and waved at her. Rosie rushed across the street, a wide smile on her face with a hand partially obstructing it.
"Oh. My. GOSH! Alastor!" She grabbed his hands and gave him cheek kisses. "My dearest friend!" She looked between Vaggie and Charlie. "And your little girlfriends!" Rosie laughed. "I really thought you were an ace, Alastor. What prompted the proposal?" She elbowed Charlie like there was some sort of inside joke. "Or did you use some of those feminine wiles on him?"
"Nothing of the sort!" Alastor said. He tapped the top of his cane. "Oh no. I was the one who proposed!" He held out his hand with the ring. "We have matching rings!"
Rosie blinked. "What am I looking at?"
"Oh! I forgot!" Alastor tapped his ring. Rosie's eyes glowed red for a split-second before it vanished. Then she looked again.
"Goodness gracious! That's a pretty ring!" She poked it, trying to figure out its shape. "Is it growing into your finger?"
"Indeed it is!"
Rosie looked at the other two, her gaze searching their hands. "You have that little party trick with their rings too? I can't see them."
"Yes. You see, I wanted to protect my brides from any rapscallions trying to steal their rings. So I put some magic into them to make them invisible to everyone unless the correct magic is used to undo the spell," Alastor explained. "I simply didn't bother to change it in my ring."
"I'd say that's a good call." Rosie bent down to look at Vaggie. "Goodness dear! You most certainly don't look like an Angel! Except for the eye injury." She thought for a second. "That's more of a dead giveaway."
"It's on purpose," Vaggie said bluntly. "I don't like advertising it."
Rosie nodded. "Of course, deary." She stood up straight and clasped her hands together. "What brings you to Cannibal Town?"
"We're going to Old Joe's!" Alastor said enthusiastically.
"Are you sure these two can handle that much food?" Rosie asked.
"I'm quite certain. I made a special order for them," Alastor reassured.
"That was rather nice of Joey! Let me guess: extra liver?"
"Ohhh, they'll find out in due time!" Alastor said with a wide smile.
"You kidder you!" Rosie looked at a nearby clock tower and gasped. "Oh goodness, my break's almost over! I gotta get going!" She patted one of Alastor's hands. "Some other time then!"
"Some other time!" Alastor echoed before Rosie made her way down the street.
Alastor started walking down the street again. Charlie and Vaggie followed by his sides.
"What do you mean 'special orders'?" Vaggie asked with an edge in her voice. "I'm not going to eat a demon. Or Angel. Or whatever other cognizant creature exists in Hell."
"Don't worry! I've ensured that you'll get the best of this restaurant. The real cream of the crop."
Charlie smiled and assured Vaggie, "I'm sure it's going to be something special! Like maybe that tofu stuff from Earth?"
Alastor stopped, prompting them to stop as well. His neck bent strangely as he said with heavy static, "Tofu is true Hell." As suddenly as it started, he was back to normal and resumed his walk. The two women looked at each other before following behind at a more sedate pace.
Several blocks later, Alastor stopped and turned. "Here we are!"
Vaggie looked like she knew the place. Charlie, however, looked this way and that at everything it had to offer.
A sign said 'Old Joe's Cajun Cuisine' above the obviously themed restaurant. It was rather old, crusty, and made of heavy wooden beams. She didn't understand the theme as there were nets and hooks and poles all over the place. What she did understand was the word 'cajun'.
"Oh. My. Gosh." Her eyes watered. " A cajun restaurant ."
"No, my dear Charlie. You're saying it wrong!" Alastor said, tapping Charlie's head with his cane. He corrected, "It's 'Cajun', not 'cajun'."
"Ohhhhh. Okay!" Charlie practiced the word. "Cajun. Cajun. This is a Cajun restaurant."
Alastor chuckled. "Good girl!"
Charlie let the small barb slide off of her. Instead, she began pushing Alastor and Vaggie into the restaurant. "Come on! Let's get to eating!"
"Don't stuff yourself like you did when we tried sushi," Vaggie warned.
"The last thing we need is you throwing up because you ate too much," Alastor agreed.
"I was too excited! I promise, I'll keep control of myself this time!" Charlie said as they went through the front door. Once inside, Charlie stopped and sniffed.
The smell! It was so…what was the word Alastor had used once? Fishy? She could definitely smell fish in the air. There was also the heavy scent of melted butter and some kinds of spices. If only she knew how to cook like Alastor and Vaggie!
The cannibal behind the counter looked up from the leg he was chopping up on a butcher's block and exclaimed, "Alastor!"
"Hello, Joey!" He indicated Vaggie and Charlie. "These are my lovely brides."
"I know her." Joey pointed at Vaggie. "She was here a few days ago."
"Oh?" The word was cool, his eye barely twitching.
"Yeah. Got a drink and nothin' else," he complained.
"I just wanted to see what the place looked like," Vaggie defended.
Alastor subtly relaxed. Jovially, he said, "But of course!" He turned back to Joey. "Fetch their meals, if you would please."
"You don't have to ask me twice," he replied, disappearing into the back. Not even a minute later, he came back with two platters of food. "I don't know how you got your hands on catfish and crawdaddies, but I'm not complaining."
"If you did, I would have to kill you!" Alastor said with a laugh. He was joking. Probably.
Joey took it that way. "You and your death threats…" He handed the platters over to Vaggie and Charlie. "Here. Enjoy some delicious authentic Cajun!"
Charlie gasped, her eyes shining as she took in all the strange foods on the platters. She didn't know what any of the fried foods were! Even the little shrimp-y creatures were new to her.
"How do we…eat this?" Vaggie asked.
"Don't you two worry your pretty little heads off. I'll explain each dish!" Alastor said, leading them to a clean, rough-looking booth in the corner. They sat down. Almost immediately he began explaining what each thing was.
"Catfish fingers are an absolute delight with a group of friends!"
"No, you hold corn by the sides and bite at the yellow kernels."
"Coleslaw should only be served cold."
"Crawfish should be eaten at a large family gathering." That one caught Charlie's attention.
She couldn't resist the opening. She asked, "Did you used to eat them at family gatherings when you were alive?"
Alastor stiffened at the question, everything about him frozen stiff. His eyes searched rapidly around the room looking for a distraction. Finally his smile fell to a waifish grin as he said, "That's quite the question! What brought it on?"
"Well…" Charlie tapped a finger on the table as she answered, "We don't know that much about you. You've told stories about parties and adventures with Mimzy. What we haven't heard are personal details. We want to know our husband better!"
As Alastor's smile became strained and desperate, Vaggie looked at Charlie. "I think we don't need to know yet."
" NO ." The two women watched as Alastor's form shifted, him obviously fighting not to transform from the panic in his throat. Vaggie tensed, ready to draw her spear as she started to ease out of the booth. He slowly got himself back under control as he rasped, "It's a fair question…" Alastor took several breaths as he settled down. Vaggie relaxed once again and sat back down. Then he simply said, "I had no family. It was merely myself and my mother." He said nothing else, an almost sad smile on his face. After another few quiet minutes, he continued, "All others were dead. My mother made smaller crawfish boils for the two of us when we could afford it."
"Oh." Charlie wasn't expecting that. She was hoping to get a joyful recounting of large family parties with children running around and Alastor happily helping out his parents. Not…that. She couldn't help but say, "That's sad. I'm sorry."
"Haha! Don't be!" His expression had done a one-eighty, joy beaming from his face. "My mother was the only person I needed in my life. Dare I say, she did a rather good job of it!"
This time, Charlie resisted asking about anything. Instead, feeling the moment had passed, she grabbed the nearest food and shoved it in her mouth. As she chewed the rather crunchy and squishy foodstuffs, Alastor said, "Charlie, my dear, you're eating it backwards."
Charlie paused and pulled it out. It was a crawfish, the front mangled and shattered. She pulled a few pieces of shell out of her mouth and said, "No wonder it didn't taste right."
"I'm done." Charlie and Alastor turned to Vaggie who was patting her stomach in satisfaction. Then they looked at the platters.
She'd eaten all but the crawfish.
"Dang it, Vaggie!" Charlie complained.
"What? I figured the best way to keep you from eating too much was to eat it myself."
"Oh ho! Quite the trick." Alastor's eyes turned black. " I owe you one of my own ."
"Nice try with trying to scare me." Now Vaggie was reaching for the crawfish. "I think I have a little more room."
"Noooo!" Charlie pushed the platter far enough away that Vaggie couldn't reach. "Alastor and I still need to finish."
"It's fine, Charlie," Alastor reassured her. "Why, I think I'll take part of that fresh leg to-go!"
"Okay…" Charlie sighed, not wanting to stir anything else up. So she finished the crawfish on her own.
Once the platter was empty save for the cobs and the heads, Alastor waggled his eyebrows. "We have another surprise for you~"
"Really?" Charlie asked, excited.
"Yeah. I got it, Alastor has it," Vaggie said.
"Indeed!" Alastor snapped his fingers. A shadow rose up on the table then sank back down leaving behind a dessert. Charlie immediately recognized it.
"Crème brûlée," she said in awe.
"Yup."
"Go on and dive in!" Alastor urged.
Like Joey, she didn't need to be told twice.