AN: Here's the next chapter! I hope you all enjoyed the cliffhanger from the last one, lol. Thanks, as always, for reading and I hope you have a great day :)
Disclaimer: Vivienne Medrano is the owner of Hazbin Hotel
Charlie's thoughts were running rampant in her head, like wild beasts hunting down prey, and she found herself unable to make sense of any of it. How could such a thing be happening? Why now? Alastor had been fine when she, Vaggie, and Husk had left the room earlier. Well, not fine, per se. But he hadn't appeared to be on death's door! What could have changed in the short time they'd been downstairs?
"Explain, now," She commanded, reaching out to take Rosie's hands in her own. "I need you to tell me everything. No matter how trivial the detail may seem, I want to hear it."
The cannibal's hands shook as she returned the hold, taking several calming breaths as she steadied herself for the task at hand. Finally, the older demon met Charlie's eyes with a resolute nod.
"I was still upset after you three left, though that's not surprising in the least, I reckon." Rosie began, staring off into space as she recalled the events that had led them here. "I knew I wouldn't be able to finish the sutures in the state I was in so I decided to take a moment to calm myself. That's when I saw it... a faint glow emitting from Alastor's wound."
Charlie sucked in a sharp breath and released the other woman's hands in favor of cupping them to her mouth, brow creased in worry.
"I've never heard of such a thing." The princess declared, fear of the unknown clouding her heart. "Do you know what caused it?"
When the overlord spoke once more, the answer was so much worse than she could have ever imagined.
"Holy energy," Rosie revealed, face downcast. "It must have been left over from Adam's attack. Why it activated now, I have no idea. I attempted to clean it from the cut but, when I did, it burned me."
Here, she paused, holding up the fingers of her right hand to show the blistered tips. Tears welled in Charlie's eyes at the thought of the damage that was doing inside of Al's body.
"Still, I couldn't give up" Rosie continued, returning her hand to its previous location on her lap. "I grabbed a pair of gloves and tried again but nothing was working. In fact, it almost seemed like I was making it worse!"
There was another pause, this one seeming heavier than the last.
"It's like a poison, Charlie, eating away at him bit by bit 'til there's nothing left to save," Rosie whispered, posture weighed down with sorrow as she met the other's gaze.
Tears welled in the princess' eyes but she wouldn't allow them to fall. She had to be strong now! The life of her friend depended on her figuring out a solution to this problem and she refused to let him down! There was no way she was going to fail, not when the stakes were this high.
'Okay, there has to be a way to fight this!' She thought to herself as she got to her feet, beginning to pace. 'Demonic energy is repelled by it, that's why Rosie got hurt when she touched it. Oh Lucifer, Al must be in so much pain. No, bad Charlie! Focus! Don't think about that. Think of ways to help him. Wait... Lucifer... that's it!'
"I need to talk to my dad!" She exclaimed suddenly, startling Rosie who had been watching in silence.
"Why? Did you think of something?" The cannibal questioned, hope appearing in her dark eyes.
Charlie bounced on her feet as she nodded, beckoning the other to follow her as she stepped into the hall.
"Dad's a fallen angel!" She exclaimed breathlessly, excitement audible in her voice. "What if we fight fire with fire?"
"I see what you're saying," Rosie replied, a wide smile appearing on her face before it fell slightly. "Do you think Lucifer will help? He didn't seem too happy when I saw him in the hall."
"Don't worry, Rosie," Charlie reassured, walking towards where they'd left the group. "There's no way he'll say no. If he does... he'll have me to deal with."
The Princess of Hell came to a stop, watching as her friends scrambled up from where they'd been lounging about in the hallway. Vaggie stepped forward to give her a quick hug before moving to stand at her side while Charlie wrapped her arm around her waist, soaking up the silent support the other was offering. Then she turned to face her father, words on the tip of her tongue, when a sudden movement distracted her. It was Angel Dust. He'd moved away from the wall and was now glaring directly at Rosie. The princess watched quietly, wondering what had caused the sinner to be so upset.
"Hey, Charlie said you'd give us an update on Al's condition and I think we've waited long enough." The porn star spoke with slight annoyance, a serious expression resting on his face.
"Yeah, what's goin' on?" Cherry backed him up from where she was still lounging against the wall. "Why'd you have to speak to Charlie alone? Did something happen to Alastor?"
It was kind of shocking to hear the concern in Cherry's voice, though Charlie knew she'd bonded with many of the hotel residents in the time they'd been training to fight the angels. She hadn't seen the spunky cyclops so much as interact with Alastor, however, and that made her concern all the more sweet.
"Yes, something did happen," Rosie answered, snapping Charlie from her thoughts as she took in the gathered demons. "And I'm afraid it's not good news.
"Why isn't it?" Niffty cried, eye filling with tears as she gripped the front of her dress tightly in her small hands. "What happened to Alastor? Is he okay? He has tobe okay! He... he's supposed to take care of me..."
Husk stepped forward cutting off the small female's rambling as he picked her up, hugging her to his chest as she broke down in panicked sobs. Niffty buried her face in the feline's furry shoulder seeking comfort as Husk began to purr soothingly.
"Hey now, it's gonna be okay." He spoke, voice deep and calm. "You know the boss, he'd never let something like this get the best of him. He's too damn stubborn."
"But he's never been hurt before... not like this." The pain in Niffty's voice caused Charlie's heart to hurt and she rushed to reassure her.
"Maybe not, but that's why he has us." She spoke, stepping forward to place a hand on the distraught maid's head. "So chin up, okay?"
Receiving a nod, Charlie smiled softly and moved back to her original position beside Vaggie.
"So what's going on with Smiles?" Angel spoke again, now that things had calmed back down. "Charlie... what aren't ya two telling us?"
"I'll explain everything but I think Vox should hear it as well." She announced, making her way over to the door.
Carefully peeking inside, Charlie made sure not to utter a sound as she took in the scene before her. There, on a chair pulled up to Alastor's bedside, sat Vox. The overlord was holding one of the Radio Demon's hands in both of his, leaning close as he whispered soft words she couldn't hear. His eyes reflected sorrow as he took a shuddering breath, seeming on the edge of breaking down.
"Vox?" The princess called softly, knocking on the door panel to announce her presence.
The TV Demon startled at the sound, jumping to his feet but staying slightly bent over the bed as if shielding Alastor from harm. Upon noticing her, his tense posture sagged in relief and he let a weary smile fall into place.
"Did you need something, princess?" He asked, voice hoarse, and Charlie realized he must have been crying.
She nodded, choosing to ignore the fact that he hadn't called her by her name as she'd asked him to.
"Yes, I have something you should hear. If you can just step into the hall for a few minutes I promise it won't take long." She said, watching as the blue sinner's eyes flicked between Alastor and the doorway.
Seemingly coming to a decision, the man squared his shoulder, moving passed her into the hall. Charlie smiled warmly before turning and following him from the room. Once Vox had settled into a comfortable position near Rosie, she took a breath to address the waiting group.
"Okay, then," the princess exclaimed, gathering everyone's attention with a clap of her hands. "Let me tell you all what we've discovered and how we plan to deal with it."
It took several minutes for Charlie to explain what she and Rosie had previously discussed and, by the time she mentioned how the holy energy was slowly poisoning Alastor, most of the group had a somber look on their faces. The only one who didn't was Lucifer. The King of Hell was standing against a nearby wall with a blank expression. Charlie honestly couldn't tell what he was thinking.
"So then I came up with a brilliant idea," She exclaimed, bouncing on the balls of her feet as she finished her speech. "We all know my dad is a fallen angel, right? He won't be negatively affected by the holy energy! So that's why I figured he'd be our best chance at saving Al."
Vaggie could possibly help as well, Charlie knew, but kept that fact to herself. Her father was stronger and had better control of his magic, it just made sense for it to be him! And, gazing around at the gathered demons muttering in agreement, they believed so as well. She nearly laughed when they all turned to stare imploringly at Lucifer.
"Uh, what now?" Her father asked, confused as to why everyone was looking at him like that.
"Gah, Dad, pay attention," she groaned, rubbing an exasperated hand down her face. "We need you to get rid of the holy energy poisoning Alastor. You're the only one who can do it. He'll die if you don't help!"
"If he's that bad off, maybe it's best to put the deer out of his misery," Lucifer stated nonchalantly, leaning on his staff while ignoring his daughter's horrified expression.
That comment earned him angered shouts and fierce glares from the entire group, no one happy about the man's lack of care for their injured ally. Vox and Rosie both had a murderous aura around them as they inched forward, looking as if they wanted to rip the King of Hell a new one, but Charlie beat them to it. With rage she didn't know she could feel towards her father, she rounded on him.
"What the hell is wrong with you, Dad?" She snarled, upset that her father couldn't let go of the silly grudge he seemed to be holding. "Alastor did his best to defend the hotel and got hurt because of it! He protected us! If it weren't for Al's sacrifice we might not have even lasted until you showed up. I don't understand why you are so adamantly against him when all he's done is help me! What's he ever done to deserve your hatred?"
"I don't need a reason," Lucifer claimed, whirling his staff in a circle with a pompous look on his face. "I'm your father, Charlie, I know what's best for you."
"NO, YOU DON'T," she screamed, moving towards him until there was barely an inch between them. "You can't honestly stand there and tell me that letting Alastor die is what's best for me."
He met her eyes, face cold and calculating. "That's exactly what I'm saying."
Charlie jerked back as if she'd been struck. She couldn't believe what she'd just heard. Never in a million years did she think her father could be so cruel, yet here they were. He'd just told her to let one of her closest friends die without so much as a shred of remorse. How could he say such a thing? Why? It didn't make sense.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have places to be." With that, the king turned and headed down the stairs, leaving behind a group of shocked demons. Breaking out of the daze her father's callous words had put her in, Charlie raced after him.
"Where the fuck do you think you're going?" She yelled, catching up to him just as he reached for the doorknob. "I'm still talking to you!"
"Leave it be, Charlie." Her father spoke, a warning clear in his voice. "This is for your own good, you'll understand one day."
Reaching out with a desperate hand, the demonic princess caught hold of Lucifer's shoulder.
"Dad, please... I need to understand now." She pleaded, lips wobbling as she fought to keep her emotions at bay.
He turned to her with a stoic expression, though his eyes softened upon seeing her distress.
"Okay," he agreed, begrudgingly.
With a defeated sigh, the king allowed her to lead him over to a nearby bench where, upon receiving an expectant look, he took a seat. Charlie sat next to him and he moved to place a comforting hand on her knee, remaining silent for a few moments more.
"I know about your deal." He said at last, eyes pained.
"What deal?" Charlie asked, confused beyond measure.
"The one between you and Alastor." Her father said, biting back a growl as he rose and began pacing in agitation.
That startled her. How had her dad learned of that? Vaggie was the only other person who knew besides her and Al and she knew her girlfriend hadn't told him. Oh wait, she'd forgotten about Razzle and Dazzle. It could have been one of them she supposed.
"Oh, that," She responded, laughing slightly. "Dad, don't worry, it's fine."
"Fine? How is it fine, Charlie?" Lucifer challenged, placing his hands on her shoulders. "He owns your soul!"
'Wait, what?' The Princess of Hell could only stare up at her father uncomprehendingly. 'How the hell did he come to that conclusion?'
"What the fuck, Dad, that's not..." She tried to deny only to be cut off as he pulled her into a crushing embrace.
"Don't worry, Duckling, everything will be fine." He soothed, stroking a gentle hand through her hair. "Once that sinner is dead, you'll be free and can put this nightmare behind you. I promise, Sweetie, you'll never have to see him again."
Ripping herself from her father's arms, Charlie glared at him. This is why their relationship was in trouble. Because he never listened to her! Well, he was going to listen now whether he liked it or not.
"Dad! Listen to me very closely." She ordered, eyes blazing red as her horns appeared. "Alastor doesnot own my soul."
She paused, waiting for her words to sink in. When they did, her father's eyes widened in shock and he sank onto the bench in disbelief.
"Oh, shit! Really?" Lucifer exclaimed, a hint of guilt appearing on his face.
Realizing she was getting through to him, Charlie continued.
"It's true, I only owe him a favor." She disclosed, returning to her normal form as she crouched down to take his hands in hers as tears filled her eyes. "He's my friend and he is dying because he tried to help me. Please, Dad, you're the only one who can save him."
Father and daughter stared into each other's eyes for a few moments, silently communicating in a way only possible with close family and friends, before Lucifer nodded solemnly.
"I'll do what I can."
-XXX-XXX-XXX-
Vox watched as Charlie chased after Lucifer, the pair disappearing downstairs in the blink of an eye. He was about to follow, maybe try and land a blow on the pretentious asshole who'd so callously condemned his friend to death, when a firm hand landed on his arm. He thought about smacking it away before he realized it belonged to Rosie. He would never do anything to harm her if he could help it. For one, Al would bite his head off if he did. And, two, she was one of the few people he truly cared for. So, taking a deep breath to calm the anger raging in his heart, he turned to face the cannibal.
"Why don't we let the princess handle her father?" She addressed the anxious group, her face showing nothing but a calm mask. "If anyone can get through to him, it's Charlie."
"Yeah, yeah, you're right." Angel Dust spoke up, shuffling his feet. "We wouldn't stand a chance anyway. He's the King of Hell for fuck's sake."
There were murmurs of agreement throughout the assembled demons, all-knowing he spoke the truth but still upset at Lucifer's blatant disregard for Alastor's life. After several minutes standing around in an uneasy silence, Vaggie tucked some hair behind her ear and stepped forward.
"Don't worry," the woman spoke and Vox saw a small smile appear on her face. "We all know how determined Charlie can be. She'll convince her dad to help in no time."
That caused the mood to lift slightly and the TV Demon decided there was no reason to remain in the hallway when he wasn't accomplishing anything. It had already been longer than he'd have liked and he wanted to check on Al's condition so he turned to head into the room, only to find the other's following close behind. Paying them no mind, he made his way over to his abandoned seat at Alastor's side. Vox wouldn't get in their way of seeing him, after all, he wasn't the only one worried for his friend.
No one spoke as they settled around the room. Angel Dust and Cherry Bomb took seats near the window, sharing a bench. Husk leaned against the back wall, positioned perfectly to see everything that occurred within the room. Vaggie waited by the door, glancing out every now and then as she awaited her girlfriend's return. Rosie busied herself with tidying up the remnants of her first-aid kit, putting everything away in its rightful place. And Niffty? Well, Niffty stood frozen at the end of Alastor's bed, staring up at her master with a wide, tear-filled eye. She didn't move closer, barely seemed to be breathing, and Vox felt pity fill his heart.
"Up you go," he said, gently lifting the tiny woman onto the bed. "Just be careful, alright."
The overlord knew how close the small cyclops was to Alastor and, in turn, how much he cared for her. There had been many a time when they'd gotten together that the Radio Demon had raved about the crazy little gremlin who had become something of a daughter to him. Unfortunately, due to their facade, Vox had never gotten the chance to meet her. Now, watching as she carefully curled into Al's side, he felt a wave of warmth wash over him.
"Please be okay, sir." She whispered tearfully, barely audible even from how close he was sitting. "I still need you. You can't leave me alone, you promised you wouldn't leave, so you have to get better. If you don't, I'll never forgive you."
Someone clearing their throat drew his attention away from the touching scene and he turned to find Angel Dust standing a few feet away, having approached while he wasn't paying attention. The spider demon stood there, awkwardly rubbing one arm with his opposite hand before finally summoning the courage to speak.
"Hey, I just wanted to apologize for what I said to ya before." He said, resolutely meeting the overlord's eyes. "It was shitty of me, so, yeah... I'm sorry."
Vox was surprised, he hadn't expected to receive an apology, especially from Angel Dust. Given their history, he'd assumed the spider would either avoid him or be aggressive. It was nice to know that maybe they could eventually move past everything that had happened. If he ever cleared things up with Valentino and Velvette, he'd have to remember to talk to the former about how he treats the porn star, for now though, he simply nodded his head in acceptance.
"Sure, apology accepted," Vox said, watching the other's shoulders slump in relief.
"So, if ya don't mind my asking," Angel spoke once more, taking a quick glance at the unconscious Radio Demon. "How'd you and Smiles meet in the first place? I've known the guy for a little over six months and still can't get a read on him. Every time I think I have him figured out, the fucker goes and does something that makes me question everything I know about him... like sacrificing himself for a hotel he didn't seem to give a damn about."
A laugh escaped his mouth at the frustrated look on the other's face. At this point, it was clear that everyone in the room was listening in on their conversation and he turned back to Alastor with a fond smile on his face. Reaching out, he took the towel from his friend's forehead and dipped it into the water still resting on the nearby end table before ringing it out and returning it to its previous location. By doing so, it afforded him a moment to think up an appropriate response and he turned back to the other male with a smirk.
"It's gonna take you a lot longer than six months if you hope to figure this bastard out. Hell, I've known Alastor for seventy-something years, been friends with him for sixty, and still get confused by how his mind works." He chuckled, eyes alight with warmth. "But, if you want to hear our story, I suppose I can tell you."
"Of course we wanna fucking hear it!" Angel confirmed as everyone shifted into a more comfortable position.
Just as Vox was about to open his mouth and begin his and Alastor's tale, the door slammed open, causing everyone inside to jump to their feet. All but Niffty that is, who remained lying against her master's side, her arms wrapped around one of his own in a tight embrace.
"Guys! My dad agreed to heal Alastor!" Charlie shouted, racing into the room while practically dragging a stumbling Lucifer behind her. "It was all a misunderstanding and he's very sorry about what he said, isn't that right, Dad?
Finally getting his feet beneath him, the King of Hell guiltily looked around at those gathered in the small room and nodded.
"Yes, I'm sorry for everything I said before." He stated firmly, swallowing his pride. "I jumped to conclusions when I shouldn't have. For that, I deeply apologize."
Vox had to hand it to the guy, if he were in Lucifer's position, he's not sure he could have apologized with as much grace as the other just had. It was also clear from the look on his face that he regretted what he'd said so the TV Demon figured he could give him the benefit of the doubt. If he messed up again, however, there would be nothing stopping him from zapping the man with one of his electrical cables, consequences be damned.
There were mumbles of acceptance from those present and he saw Charlie smile as she opened her mouth to address her father. "Okay, now that that's out of the way, can you please get started."
"Oh, of course." The demon king exclaimed, rushing forward to do just that.
Vox was forced to give up his chair, a fact he wasn't entirely pleased with though he didn't want to be in the way, either. The sooner the holy energy was purged from Alastor's system the better, after all. Niffty, however, refused to be moved and Lucifer was forced to work around the little gremlin. He didn't seem to mind, simply using his magic to vanish the bandage from around the injured sinner's chest so he could get a look at the wound. True to Rosie's words, there was a faint golden glow seeping from between the stitches and it caused bile to rise in Vox's throat. How could one attack have caused so much damage?
"This is going to take a while," Lucifer spoke solemnly, having finished examining the wound. "I need to use my powers to draw the holy energy out of your friend's body but if I move too quickly it'll only make things worse. We'll have to hope he's strong enough to hold on for a bit longer."
"He is..." Husk stated, not a doubt in his mind. "That asshole ain't gonna let himself be taken out by the likes of Adam, I can tell you that much."
"In the meantime," Angel cajoled, sauntering over to wrap an arm around Vox's shoulder. "You can tell us how ya met Smiles."
Shrugging the arm off, the overlord chuckled. He may as well humor the spider seeing as he had no better way to pass the time, besides, it would be nice to finally tell someone their story.
"Well, the first time I saw him, he actually saved my fucking life," Vox replied, beginning the tale of how he'd come to befriend the fearsome Radio Demon.