29

She slowly walked out of the embassy, cold and numb. Her feet dragged on the ground under her until she found the steps where she sunk. Sitting there, Isobel felt very far away. Nothing seemed real or true. She didn't even realize she was crying.

Her tears rolled down her face and dripped from her chin making little splats as they fell onto her open hand in her lap. She looked down at her wet palm, the black spot peered back.

It had all been for naught. All her plans, her toiling meant nothing. The friendships she made would be meaningless that same time tomorrow. She thought she had carved out something that resembled a life. Something far better than anything she ever had in the living world. And yeah, it was Hell, but what did that matter? It was just a place after all.

Somewhere high above her a clock struck the half hour with a loud bong. It seemed to snap her out of her self pitying revelry. She took a deep breath and forcefully rubbed the tears from her face.

See, she thought to herself. This is what happens when you start to care. Eventually you lose.

She was about to lose everything and she was out of tricks. If she tried anything Enki would go berserk, mowing down all in her path, and it would be all her fault. Each death would be on her hands.

She had her problems. Perhaps a little more trauma and baggage than others. And she knew her emotions didn't quite work like they should. But she wasn't a monster, not yet anyway. She would not allow others to die in her place.

The only option before her was to forfeit her soul to Enki and be snuffed out. Maybe at least it wouldn't hurt.

Suddenly Angel's words came to her mind.

"Just hold on to that soul, baby girl. No matter what."

Tears threaten to spill over again. Isobel hung her head.

I'm sorry, Angel, she thought. I really did try.

With a wail of frustration, she wiped the tears away again, and forced herself to her feet. She wasn't going to stay on that step all night waiting for her executioners. She willed her feet to move. They did not have a specific direction, but at least they moved. As she walked to nowhere, she obliviously braided her hair. Something about weaving the pieces in and out, made her feel in control.

After a while she found herself in Cannibal Town standing outside Rosie's Emporium. She had never been there before, but knew it to be one of the better shops in the city with a reputation of having anything anyone might be looking for. Isobel wandered around the store, perusing. Her mood was such that she did not notice a tall, hollow-eyed ghoul come up behind her.

"Anything I can help you with, dear?"

Isobel's heckles went up. She decided that she didn't like being called dear. Enki had called her that and now it sparked an anger in her.

"Please, don't call me that," she said as she spun around. She had to raise her eyes to the full height of the woman before her. Along with being quite tall, she was also beautiful, impeccably dressed, and somehow her black cavernous eyes gave off a warmth.

"Terribly sorry" she said flashing a wide toothy smile. "I didn't mean to intrude, just thought you may need help finding something."

Isobel felt embarrassed snapping at a stranger who was just trying to help her. She looked down at her feet.

"Sorry, yeah. I was looking for stationery."

"Ah, yes, right this way." The tall woman gleefully led her to a corner where a small array of stationery sets were on display. Isobel thanked her and began to look through them.

"Got an important letter to write? Maybe a love letter?" she said. Isobel just shook her head "You look very familiar to me."

"Yeah, I recognize you from the party at the club downtown." Isobel was hoping to avoid the topic, but she had instantly realized this was the same overlord Alastor had been talking to that night.

"Oh, right, I remember now. Quite the set of pipes you got on you."

"Thanks."

"And of course you were hanging on Alastor's arm that night. You know, we happen to be friends, he and I. We go way back."

"I noticed," Isobel said, finally choosing a stationery set. "I wonder why he didn't introduce us."

"Ah, well," she waved her hand. "Like most men, Alastor doesn't really like to share the attention of a new toy, if you know what I mean."

Though Isobel did not like being compared to a toy, she got it. It was understood that her attention at any given moment was for him alone. The more people she met with, the less time spent on him.

"You're right, of course. My name is Isobel." She held out a hand, which the woman accepted gladly.

"Rosie." They shook hands. "What a darling little thing you are. Though, I have to say." She held Isobel's hand and lowered her voice close to a whisper. "Your eyes look as though you might have been crying."

"That obvious?" Isobel put a hand to her face. "It's fine. It doesn't matter anymore anyway. I just need to get the stationery."

Rosie gave her a worried look, but sensing that Isobel was done talking, led her to the register. As she rung up the items, Isobel studied Rosie. She was tall and gorgeous, an overlord with her own power and the respect of all the citizens from Cannibal Town. On top of that, she actually seemed genuinely nice as well. With a friend like Rosie, what was Alastor doing messing around with her?

Oh, well, the whole thing was moot anyway.

"So you and Alastor are good friends, right?" Isobel asked, taking her purchase.

"I think we are." Rosie seemed to beam a little.

"That's nice. I would have liked to know you better."

"Well, come back any time. I'll make tea and then we can swap secrets."

Isobel smiled as she left.

Upon returning to the hotel she went straight to the roof. It was the only place she knew she would not be interrupted. She laid out the stationery that she had just bought and started to write. She wrote everyone a letter. No good-byes, she hated good-byes.

She wrote page after page until her hand was cramping, but in due time she had letters for them all. (Even Nifty.) Each mostly apologizing for her sudden departure and thanking them for their compassion during her time in the hotel. She tucked the letters under an arm and headed down from the roof.

She stopped at her room to deposit the letters in a hidden spot and took time pacing, preparing herself to see the others while keeping the secret of her impending demise. Her greatest lie yet, acting normal while the sword of Damocles swung precariously just above her head.

But she didn't have a chance to act normal, there would be no quiet evening before the end. Because as Isobel entered the lobby, Angel was on her, excited and loud.

"Look at the package that just arrived for you!" He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her to the bar. A large box waited, completely hiding Husker who stood just behind it. The others had gathered too, all curious as to what it may be.

Charlie looked just as excited as Angel, while Vaggie seemed suspicious, and Alastor just bored. Isobel was suspicious too. What if this was some trick. If she broke open the tape would Enki jump out?

"What is it?" Isobel asked nervously. But as she got closer she saw a big flamboyant 'A' printed all over the box and understood why Angel was so excited. It was some kind of gift from Asmodeus and his company.

"Can we open it?" Angel pleaded. Isobel gave Husk a thumbs up and he sliced the seams. The box popped open revealing a mountain of swag for the upcoming gala.

Angel giggled as he dove in. There were shirts, hats, pins, stickers, and perhaps too many sex toys. Everything was purple and covered in glitter.

Isobel had all but forgotten that she had reached out about performing at the gala. It seemed so long ago and things had changed since then. Angel came out of the box with a sheet of paper in his hand.

"Look, it's all the information about the show." He handed her the paper and winked. "Looks like your plan is going to work after all."

"What plan?" Charlie asked. She was looking in the box as well, marveling at all the trinkets and holding up a stress toy in the shape of the famous clown, Fizzarolli. When she squeezed it the tassels on his hat stood up and it made a squeaking noise.

"Isobel is going to perform at the big Lust Ring Gala and Spectacular and while there schmooze with the royals to convince them to send her home."

"Wow, that's quite bold," Vaggie said also peering into the box.

"So exciting!" Charlie chirped. "Oh, maybe you can mention the hotel on TV, that would get more sinners in the door."

"She's going to be too busy for that, being wined and dined."

"Who else is going to be there?"

"Oh, will you get Verosika Mayday's autograph for me?"

Isobel wasn't really hearing them as they continued to exclaim over the box. She had locked eyes with Alastor across the way who glowered at her. She knew he still disapproved of her trying to get back to the living world. He believed it to be a waste of time, and why would she still be trying to escape after declaring herself his. After choosing him.

To be honest, she hadn't thought about it since she learned the truth about the black spots, since she fully gave herself over to Alastor. She wasn't sure how to explain it to him. But all of it was meaningless anyway she reminded herself. Coming tomorrow, it would all seem frivolous.

Isobel told Angel he could keep all the swag. And after a short back and forth, "no, I couldn't. This dildo was sent specifically for you," he delightfully agreed.

She spent a short evening with everyone. No one seemed to really notice how quiet she was being. It was painful hearing them talk about the gala and speculating what it would be like and who would be there. Isobel noticed that Alastor did not stick around for any of it and at the end of the night she climbed the stairs to her room knowing he would be there waiting for her and an explanation.

She took two steps in before the door slammed behind her. She turned to find Alastor looking a little too tall, his appendages a little too long.

"What is this nonsense about you using demon royalty to escape the bonds of Hell?" he asked, sounding a lot more calm than he looked.

"It's not what it sounds like. I'm not trying to escape you or whatever. I agreed to do the show before we… well, not before we… but before it became… before we became.. argh!" She couldn't articulate her thoughts. There was too much. "It doesn't even matter anyway." In frustration she drove her fingers through her and realized that it was still in a braid.

"May I remind you," Alastor advanced on her, growing ever bigger. His antlers spreading, each point like a dagger. "You belong to me."

Isobel stood her ground.

"And I will remind you that any ownership you have over me is by my allowance. We don't have a deal. I didn't sign a contract. You don't have my soul on a leash."

He was right on top of her then. Long skeletal fingers wrapped around her throat as Alastor's grotesque form bared down on her. His glowing eyes and sharpened teeth threatening to destroy her. His fingers squeeze.

"I could kill you in an instant."

Isobel grabbed him by his impossibly twisted wrist, and held his hand fast to her neck.

"Then just fucking do it," she yelled. Part of her wished that he would. He could strangle the life out of her, but at least her soul would have a chance to go on. But he didn't, she knew he wouldn't. His grip loosened and his proportions started to shrink.

"Am I just your fool?" he asked bitterly.

"Am I just your trophy?" Tears of anger and desperation trickled down her cheek and she turned away.

There was silence as Alastor considered his hold on her. He had wanted so much more than just a begrudging agreement of servitude from her. He had struggled to find the right word for what he wanted from her.

"Do you love me?" he finally asked.

Isobel turned back to him, a pitiful look on her face. She sighed and slowly shook her head.

"What a world it would be if either of us were capable of love."

Though he had his suspicions, he had not fully realized until that moment that when it came to the affairs of the heart, she was just as broken as she was. He stood up straight and adjusted his tie and jacket.

"Right, of course." His tone was cold and harsh. "A good evening to you, Isobel."

"Alastor," she called after him, but he was already gone, the door closed behind him with an angry bang.

Isobel grabbed the closest thing to her, a glass bauble, and threw it against the wall. It shattered, littering the carpet with sparkling fragments. She walked to the mess and picked up a large shard. She held it in her fist, considering.

"Fuck." She threw it down.

10 minutes later Isobel knocked on Charlie's door. It creaked open, Vaggie on the other side.

"Oh, hey," she said. "What's up?"

Isobel's eyes were red as she clutched two envelopes.

"Mind if I come in?"