Author's Note: Welcome back and thank you for staying tuned! I'm so grateful for the response and feedback this fic has been getting, thank you so much! Now, let's see where this might take us next...!

The scenery kept changing on the other side of the window as they crossed through the Pentagram to reach their destination. Alastor was unusually quiet, gazing outside with his ears bent back as an anxious tune was being played underneath his static.

"You know? You didn't really have to come if you didn't want to," Charlie said carefully, sited across from him, "My dad wouldn't have forced you to."

"Believe me dear, I had no choice," the static in his voice ringed a pitch too high.

"I guess it was too tempting of a deal not to take," she mused out loud, gazing outside as well, "You must really need to make a show of your power to have agreed to this."

Alastor's focus shifted to her, seeing her slumped shoulders and tensed jaw, "For you dear, I would have come regardless," he said, "Although I know you don't actually need my presence to command a room or defend yourself. I was reluctant to join because of third parties I have unfinished business with," he sank his claws on the seat of the limousine, "I am afraid that they'll take this opportunity to sabotage your efforts," he said bitterly, "So you'll have to forgive me if at any time I disappear for an hour or two, I rather not run into trouble when I'm not in my territory."

"Oh," Charlie blinked surprised, "Yeah, sure. Just try to give me a heads up so I know you are safe."

Alastor's smile eased into a calmer gesture, "Will do, Charlie dear. And do inform me if anyone dares upset you," his eyes shone a bright red, "I intent to use this borrowed power to its fullest extent if someone dares hurts you," he said evenly, "even if that someone is your parent."

Charlie was shortly aback, and tongue tied, "N-no, Al, I'm—" she shook her head, "I don't want you two to fight, but thank you? I guess?" she said hesitantly, because she could tell that underneath the unsettling declaration hid a genuine intention to protect her, "My dad and I just need time to get used to each other, I'm sure we will work this through," she said now as she had said then at the breakfast table. "I'm sorry I put you in the middle of it."

"Not your fault, my dear," he said under his breath, "No family is without their problems."

"Yeah," she mumbled, "He means well, though" she swung her feet back and forward on her seat in such a childish action it made her look like a kid in a lonely swing.

"The path to hell is paved with good intentions," Alastor said, leaning back into his seat, crossing his legs, "Family ties often share the same sentiment. It's a rather silly thing, really," he mused, "How there's a correlation between how the more you care for someone the more you can hurt them and counterclockwise."

Charlie gazed at him curiously, because she had come to learn how to read other's emotions as to guide them to recognize them and help them grow and in rare occurrences, she could distinguish the same expression Alastor was trying to hide; remorse, "You…told me before you only regretted hurting one person," she traced back carefully, "Did your dad—?"

Alastor's radio static screeched in a horrid way it had never done before, "My father, in whatever pitiful corner of this wasteland he's rotting in, doesn't deserve my sympathy, I haven't spared even a single thought his way since I was last alive," his smile twisted in a horrifying way while his fist tightened around his microphone. The pressure he was putting on it made Charlie fear he might snap it in two again. She came to the realization that despite having known him for months now, Alastor remained a mystery in more ways than one.

"I-I'm sorry—" Charlie said conciliatingly, "I didn't mean to bring up a bad memory."

Alastor pressed his eyes shut, giving himself a chance to gather his bearings and avoid taking his more titanic form, especially since they were confined in such a small place and in a tight schedule. He plastered the smile on his face with false easiness, "Don't worry, my dear," he said, "How were you to know if I wasn't there to tell?" he played a little jingle in the back of his voice to try and lighten the mood.

Charlie understood that was Alastor's way of asking her to drop the subject, so she took the hint, driving her sight back to the window, "We should arrive within a couple of hours," she mentioned, if only to try and make small talk.

Alastor kept quiet, without acknowledging the statement and Charlie thought that perhaps the lack of answer was in its own a response, he didn't want to talk anymore. Charlie sighed, sliding closer to the door to try and give him some space, her mind wandering off to her previous worries and concerns. It was several minutes later that Alastor's music stopped altogether and silence reigned between them for a moment longer.

"You did mention you intended to practice your speech on your way to the event," Alastor finally said out loud, snapping Charlie out of her spiraling thoughts, "I'd love to hear you rehearse, my dear" he said casually, his eye wandering from the window back to her, "If you are willing to entertain the thought."

Charlie smiled grandly, accepting the offering -an olive branch? - and letting her enthusiasm take over her, renewing her with energy. Alastor simply got comfortable, humming softly to himself to the melody he had grown so used to hearing every morning, every day, and every time. If he so dared close his eyes, he could fool himself into believing he was surrounded by the same comfort and safeness as the one his radio booth provided.

The rotating door threw them inside the hotel building where the meeting was going to be held. The irony wasn't lost on either of them, as they made their way through the place that seemed like a biblical description of a hellhole, if not literally, at least in spirit.

"Ah! One could almost feel nostalgic, isn't that right, my dear?" Alastor asked, gazing around the crumbly lobby, "It brings back memories of our humble beginnings, hum?"

Charlie walked awkwardly through, avoiding the drunken sinners passed out on the floor next to multiple weapons and bottles of booze, "I'm not sure, nostalgic is the word I'd used," she said, trying to look on the bright side, "But the pattern on their wallpaper is nice!"

"Those would be blood stains, my dear," Alastor said, shamelessly smiling at her reaction, "Niffty would surely enjoy being here, there's much to do and many bugs to catch! She'd be happy beyond herself…" he said, his tone suddenly fainter as his words echoed back to him.

"Yeah, I've also noticed she's running out of things to do," Charlie mentioned, unaware of the shift in his voice "And this place could certainly use some help," she mumbled, finally reaching the main desk. "Hi! Um, I hope you can help us, we both came—"

"Cleaning services are charged extra," the demon at the desk answered boredly, without looking up from her phone as she chewed a piece of gum.

"Hah!" Charlie barked a nervous laugh, "No. What I was saying is that we are both here for the overlord meeting. So, we'd like the keys to our rooms before heading to the conference room."

The demon popped her bubblegum, gazing away from her screen to look her up and down, "Name?"

"Charlie," she said, tapping her fingers on the desk, "You know, Morningstar?"

The demon didn't react beyond a slow blink, simply typing something in the computer, "Ah, yeah, the previous guest is still in your room, they are almost done cleaning his remains from the roof, they are just missing a hand or so."

"Oookay," she clenched her hands, wearing a tense smile to try and conceal her annoyance, as Alastor had taught her, "Look, I'm also in the hotel business, so maybe we can talk about making some other arrangements so we can have a room with no previous occupant's body parts still in it, what do you say?" she said in her best cheerful voice.

"I say, we are fully booked," she answered, mockingly mimicking her tone before popping her gum once more, managing to also make Charlie's vein pop in her forehead.

"Listen here you—!" Charlie's horns were already out when Alastor calmly walked past her, leaning into the desk, a soft tune playing on the background.

"Although I'd never dare to decline a welcoming amenity such as fresh meat, I'm afraid we'll be taking another accommodation, my dear. The one reserved under my name," he gazed down at her and the immediate recognition on her eyes showed he didn't need an introduction.

"Y-you are the Radio Demon," she stuttered.

"Alastor! Pleasure to meet you, quite a pleasure!" he smiled wickedly wide, "It's nice to know the youth still knows of my work!" he fixed her with an unsettling stare, "I'm amid producing a new show, so I'd advise to mind your manners when speaking to the Princess of Hell if you don't want to be my next special guest!"

"I'm- I'm sorry, Sir. I wasn't informed you were joining us," The demon paled, hastily going through her computer's files, sweat heavily running down her face, "We have your suite ready, thirteenth floor," she shakily stretched him the keys.

"Lovely," he said, swirling his microphone and grabbing the skeleton keys, leaving with a joyous jingle trailing behind him, "Come along, Charlie, dear!"

"Alastor!" she called, catching up, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, "I'm grateful that you intervened, but maybe you could avoid making threats?" she asked, "Specially about your radio station, even if it's a bluff," Alastor's smile tensed as he avoided her gaze, his throat closing up, unable to correct her, "We are here to invite them to improve themselves, so we kind of have to lead by example."

Alastor tilted his head to a side, plastering a teasing smirk instead, "My dear, my words were merely that, but it looked like you were ready to pick on a fight."

Charlie flushed madly at that, "Okay, point taken," she granted, clearing her throat, "but still, we are ambassadors of the rehabilitation program." She circled back to her point.

"Charlie, you know perfectly well where I stand in all this," he said, calmly, "I'm not a resident."

"Yes, I know," she pinched the bridge of her nose, "But at least for the next two days can you pretend you actually believe in what we are doing?" her voice faltered a bit, "Please?"

Alastor gazed at her silently because for a moment, he forgot she knew nothing about the truth, that she had already accomplished what she had worked so hard for, that she had succeeded. But in her own point of view, she had failed. Failed to protect Sir Pentious, failed to talk peace treaties with Heaven, failed to stop the exorcist from reaching their hotel to exterminate them…

"I promise," he said, his voice clear and true before he inflicted the vintage sound to hide it away, "And to show my good will, there's actually something I wanted to discuss with you, as your business partner," he explained, "It's regarding Niffty, and her status as a—"

"Oh, shi—!" Charlie cut him off, seeing on the opposite side of the room the distinctive tall figure of the moth man, "Val is here."

Alastor quirked a brow, following her line of sight, "Oh, Valentino," he said, "I'm surprised he's here, usually they would send another representative, although I'm at least grateful it's not Vox."

"I'm not," Charlie said through clenched teeth, her eyes bright red with unadulterated ire, "The last time I saw him—" she stopped herself from saying more, feeling that if she shared anything else, she'd find her resolve to go to the moth demon and rip his head off, "When I see him I feel the need to scrub the skin of my arm off, I can still feel his tongue after he licked me."

Alastor hummed, "I didn't take him for a cannibal."

Charlie scuffed, "Oh, no. Not in a cannibal way, in a sexual way."

Alastor's static screeched, his ears folding back in repulsion, "Disgusting."

Charlie shivered at the memory, "Come on, let's go before he sees us, it will be bad enough to run into him in the meeting."

"Agreed," he nodded as they reached the poorly kept elevator that took them several stories high.

"Does the key say which number to look for?" Charlie asked as the doors opened, revealing a luxurious hallway that contrasted with the rest of the place.

"No need, there's only one room in this floor," he explained over his shoulder, unlocking the entrance to reveal on the other side a room worthy of being called five stars. The large desk, Victorian loveseats, king size bed, marvel columns and velvet carpets on the floor were perfectly matched with the large chandelier in the middle of the room.

"Wow," Charlie said, gazing at the exuberant space, "Not even Heaven had a room this nice!" she said, looking at him, "How come this is your suite?! Do you know the owner?"

"Funny you should mention it! Indeed, I do, I own his soul," he said with a smirk, "There's a kitchen to your right and a bathroom on the opposite side," he said, sitting down on the couch to turn on the antique radio that laid next to it, letting some smooth jazz play.

Charlie sighed, deciding not to dig deeper into the previous declaration, "Okay, don't get too comfortable, we have to leave in less than an hour," she pushed the luggage next to the other sofa, taking out a nicely pressed jacket and suit pants.

"There's a closet where you can organize your belongings, dear."

"Yeah, but it's too close to the bed and I don't want to invade your privacy, I'll probably wake up before you do tomorrow, so I'll just leave it here nearby me."

"On the couch?" he questioned as if the idea had personally offended him, "That's absurd! By all accounts the bed is yours, I won't be spending the night in this room."

"What do you mean?"

Alastor stiffened, as if caught red-handed, "I explained it before, my dear," he said, with the experience of someone who had to stir away from a subject at a moment's notice while live on the air, "I intend to avoid some individuals, it's best if I don't stay too long in the same place. The room is entirely at your disposition."

"T-then, why did you even asked that they gave us this suite?" she questioned aback, but Alastor didn't meet her eyes, instead he looked away almost uncomfortable by the observation and Charlie suddenly realized he had done that for her, after seeing her discomfort, "…Thanks, Al."

"It was no problem, my dear," he said deciding to turn his focus to the old radio.

Charlie gazed down at her flashcards before nervously fidgeting with her phone, "I'm-I'm going to get some air in the balcony, okay? I won't take long."

Alastor hummed his response, relaxing into the couch as Charlie opened the door, stepping outside to gain some privacy as she, not for the first or last time, dialed her mother's number. And just as the previous hundred attempts, all she got in return for pouring her feelings was a mechanic and impersonal "beep".

"H-Hi Mom! It's me, Charlie…again!" she chuckled, trying to keep the knot from closing her throat, "Anyway, how are you? It's been a while since I last called and a lot has happened since. We successfully fought off the exorcists! Can you believe it? I still can't! It was such a messy day," she underplayed the fear that kept on creeping into her nightmares, "b-but my friends were there," and I almost lost all of them, she wanted to add, one sacrificed himself for the rest of us "and-and even dad joined the battle! He's been around, you know? It's strange but comforting in a way, because if he could change his mind and believe in what I'm doing then maybe there's a chance you might…want to come join us?" she heard the sob in her own voice and quickly tried to disguise it with false excitement, "Anyway! I'm about to head into a meeting with some overlords, who knows? Maybe they'll want to work with us, so I-I better go! Until next time, mom. I-I love you, too." She hung up, quickly covering her mouth with her hand to keep the sob from ripping through her chest as her eyes were overflown by tears.

She had almost died in that battle, trying to defend what her mother represented, the strength, the pride, the worth of the demons and still, she couldn't even hear her voice in return. She missed her, she almost hated how much she needed her, because no matter how much she tried to be like her, she just couldn't measure up. Lilith was the Queen, when she spoke, others listened, when she led others followed, when she commanded, they were all united and meanwhile, Charlie had almost got everyone she cared about killed.

She sniffed, resting her folded arms over the fence to hide her face there, trying to compose herself for what feel like an eternity. She was supposed to go downstairs and peppily pitch her hotel yet again and all she could do was feel empty and alone.

By the time she heard the door click, she was no longer alone. She hastily looked up, only to find a plate of food in front of her.

"I'm sorry dear, I didn't realize the onions were that strong," Alastor said, offering her a way to avoid addressing her reddened eyes.

"Oh, hey, Al," she sniffed, wiping her eyes with the heel of her hand, "Thanks," she grabbed the plate as Alastor nurtured his own.

"I thought we might as well eat something before heading downstairs, I'm not even sure you had breakfast."

She huffed, "I didn't," she admitted, taking a bite of the food he had prepared in a moment's notice, one of her favorites.

They stood there, taking in the view as they ate, "What do you see, my dear?" Alastor suddenly asked.

"What?" She questioned, but he simply titled his head to the horizon. Charlie frowned, looking at the city, with its cacophony of sounds and lights, mixing in a chaotic harmony.

"I see opportunities, potential," Alastor said, "Souls I can guide and benefit from."

"I see my people," Charlie answered heartedly, "I also see their potential and I often feel frustrated that I see more in them than they do themselves! If they could see what I see, I—!"

Alastor smiled, looking softly at her, "My thoughts exactly," he mumbled to himself, "Why do you do this, Charlie?"

"You know why, to help them redeem themselves, of course."

"Of course," He repeated, "Allow me to rephrase it, who do you do this for, dear?"

"Huh?"

"Are you doing this for yourself? For the sinners? For Heaven? For the Queen?"

Charlie flinched, her eyes flashing hurt for a moment, "I-I'm, I'm doing this for everyone, to prove they all deserve a second chance."

Alastor hummed, playing a smooth tune that easily got lost in the wind, "You know, dear? Jazz is equally expressive for the notes it plays and the ones it avoids. There's also a pulse in silence. As long as you know the truth behind your words, and the ones you keep to yourself, that's all I need to hear," he said, taking another bite of his food.

Charlie fixed him a curious look before deciding to focus on her plate as well. They ate in silence, enjoying a pleasant and peaceful moment, the prelude before the storm. It was probably the first time since before the extermination that Charlie allowed her shoulders to drop, and the tension abandoned her body. She was content, calm. She was safe enough to let her guard down. At that time, she was not the Princess of Hell, and he wasn't the Radio Demon. They were just two souls lost in an ocean too vast to sail alone.