Words could not begin to describe how angry and embarrassed Charlie felt in that moment. She couldn't believe what Vaggie had done just a few seconds ago. She always knew that her friend had trust and anger issues, but the stunt she just pulled crossed right into crazy territory.
"Vaggie what the actual hell were you thinking back there?!" Charlie scolded her once they were alone in the bedroom.
"I was trying to protect you from what I thought was someone about to pull you into an abusive relationship."
"Vaggie there was literally no evidence supporting that theory."
"You had a bruise on your neck, you lied about how it got there, and you received flowers from a man as in apology for touching you. Those are usually signs of abuse."
"But they're not reliable or accurate signs. And even if what you thought was true, you attacking him out of the blue with nothing to support your accusation would have solved nothing. It would have landed you in jail. We're lucky Alastor isn't going to press charges."
"Okay I crossed a line and overreacted, but if you hadn't lied to me then this wouldn't have happened."
"Don't turn this on me."
"I'm not! But you did lie to me about that bruise! Why didn't you just tell me the truth?"
"Because I wasn't in the mood for a lecture. I knew if I had told you that I made out with a man who I've only just met, you would have told me that I was being stupid."
"I have never once called you stupid."
"But you make me feel like you think I am." Charlie sighed. "Alastor did nothing wrong. I instigated the kiss and he's the one who wanted to stop."
"So why did he send the flowers and the apology card?"
"I don't know. He's old fashioned, maybe he thinks a host shouldn't take advantage of a guest even if she doesn't mind. Or something like that. But I can assure you he's not an abuser of women."
"Well I still don't trust him."
"Yeah, you've made that perfectly clear."
"I'm serious Charlie, there is something seriously wrong with this place and these people."
"And do you have any evidence of that? Or have you at least seen or heard anything that could possibly give you that idea?"
"Well...No. Not really. But I have a feeling in my gutt-"
"Figures." Charlie scoffed. "You know this is just like that time you threatened our neighbor for hanging around with kids. You were so sure that he was a pedophile, you ran screaming into his face about how you'd cut off his balls if he ever touched those kids. Then he started crying, his mother came out to get him, and it turns out he was mentally challenged. He only hung around with children because in his mind he was no older than they were."
"I know and I have apologized countless times to that man and his mother. I didn't know he was retarded."
"And that's my point. You're always taking bits and pieces of what you see and hear, instead of finding out the whole story. You respond only to what you feel is right instead of making sure that you are right first. Don't get me wrong Vaggie, you have good instincts, but not all the time. Sometimes what your gutt tells you is wrong."
"I can't help it Charlie. Every time I'm around that guy, I feel so uneasy. I feel like that there is something not at all right about him. And you can't honestly say that you find him perfectly normal?"
"He is different." Charlie admitted. "And I do get the feeling that he's a little odd but I sincerely believe that he would never hurt me."
"You don't even know him."
"Neither do you. You know even less about him than I do and you're all ready to declare him guilty."
"Safer than declaring him innocent without all the facts."
"I never said that he was innocent. But I'm not saying he's guilty either. I'm not saying anything because I haven't seen or heard anything to suggest the former or the latter."
"So why did you lock lips with him?"
"He's an attractive man and he was telling me a love story about his family, I got swept up in the moment. And it was just a kiss."
"You mean it was just several kisses on your neck."
"It's not like we slept together."
"But if he hadn't of said anything, would you have?"
"Okay now you're crossing boundaries. First of all, I would have stopped eventually, and second even if I didn't, who I end up sleeping with is none of your damn business."
"I just don't want you to do something you'll regret. I've seen it happen countless times. A good looking man sweet talks a naive woman, they hook up, everything is all nice until one day she does something that pisses him off so he hits her. She thinks about leaving but then he gives her a present and an apology card with lovely words, so she forgives him and stays with him, and let's him ruin her life."
"I'm not your mother Vaggie! And all men are not your father!" Charlie snapped.
Vaggie suddenly became very quiet. Charlie saw the horrified look on her friend's face and calmed down.
"Vaggie I don't mean to bring up a touchy subject like that, but I know what goes on in your head whenever you get suspicious about a person. I know what you're thinking when you get scared for me. I've always understood your reasons for thinking like that but at this point, it's gotten out of control." Charlie explained gently but firmly. "And I may have had a sheltered upbringing, but I promise you that Hell will freeze over before I ever stay with an abusive man! Yes I don't know everything about the world, I'm not streetwise like you, but you better believe that I know the difference between love and abuse."
"But I'm not so sure that you can see any difference between them at all."
That last part was only something she thought. She didn't dare say it out loud because she knew that it would hurt Vaggie. Now Charlie knew that Vaggie knew what love was in a sense of family and friendship. After all she was fiercely loyal, caring, and protective of Charlie, and Angel to some degree. But Charlie would sometimes wonder if Vaggie even believed romantic love existed. Vaggie was smart enough not to be tricked by a con man, pimp, or domestic abuser, but she seemed to have it in her head that a man only took an interest in a woman if he could get something from her, or use her, or control her. Charlie once overheard Vaggie say to her fellow boxers that she believed Charlie's parents were only together for publicity and money. When in actuality, Lucifer and Lilith Morningstar had been madly in love with each other for years.
In fact there was no other rich and elite couple in all of Chicago more devoted and faithful to each other than those two were. They remembered every anniversary, they gave each other the most thoughtful gifts, every date was romantic, adultery was unheard of to them, and their sex life was still burning hot with passion. Much to Charlie's discomfort.
Charlie became very angry that afternoon and she had wanted to confront Vaggie about her words, but Angel who had been with her that day, gently talked her out of it. Explaining that Vaggie doesn't understand and that she's only believing what she read in the papers. That if Vaggie ever got to know Charlie's parents, she would never say such things. So Charlie said nothing. She would always say nothing when Vaggie's personal feelings led her to say and do things Charlie didn't approve of. She always tried to remain supportive and understanding to Vaggie. But even the kindest and most empathetic soul has their limit, and Vaggie was close to reaching Charlie's.
In other words, if Vaggie wanted to go through life distrusting all men and never believing in the concept of romantic love, fine. But she better not expect Charlie to do the same.
"It's late Vaggie." Charlie said. "Let's not argue anymore and try to make this trip work. Let's try to have a good time while we're down here. At least try."
Vaggie silently nodded in agreement.
"Good." Charlie replied satisfied. "Now why don't we go get something to eat from the kitchen and call it a night? I'm really tired and I'm really hungry. Also I still have to call my parents."
"Okay."
After that, the argument was forgotten and the two acted as if they never had it. However in a sense, both women were correct. Alastor Nightshade would never do anything to harm Charlotte Morningstar and she had absolutely nothing to fear from him. But at the same time, something was very strange about the town of Davenport and something wasn't quite right with Alastor Nightshade