She snapped her neck up at the sound of the door clicking open, her throat tightening at the sight of the man in front of her. She was surprised at how quickly he'd answered the door and upon inspection of his face, he seemed like his usual self. As if the slaughter of the extermination didn't just happen and that he hadn't made himself into a recluse for the last several days in the quarters of his radio tower.

"Al, I'm so glad to see you're okay!"

She had been so fearful when he had disappeared from the Hotel after his fight with Adam on the rooftop, thinking the worst had come to pass and that he was another addition to the death toll from the extermination. But during the midst of the rehabilitation of the hotel, Alastor had shadowed into the group's musical debut, the group of Hazbin misfits celebrating excitedly at his reappearance.

It took every ounce of her being not to jump and wrap her arms around him, but she knew he was still injured. Though she didn't know the extent to his wounds, she knew better than to latch on so soon.

Popping up, she held out the tray of food she had prepared for him but was surprised when he'd opted to join them for dinner rather than eat in the confines of his room. "Shall we?"

"O-okay," she piped, "if you're still feeling well enough after dinner, I can show you around the hotel! A lot's changed since we started reconstruction and I'm sure you'd just LOVE some of the new additions!"

"Splendid, my dear!"

The elevator doors welcomed them into the main lobby of the hotel which looked much like the previous space, except with updated fixtures and fresh paint. A large chandelier hung with warm spiraled lights and off to the side was the lounge area with vintage sofas, reupholstered with a rich mahogany leather. The floor was made of mauve-marble tile, lined with extravagant accent rugs that tied together the lounge and the entrance to the bar which still had the same rugged look to it, a green aura wavering off the edges of the bar top. The two entered the hallway adjacent to the bar, which led into the dining hall.

Another glass chandelier hung over a long table where Angel Dust and Cherri Bomb were sitting together laughing while Husk was picking through the fixings on the table. Lined out were large platters, seasoned barbeque pork ribs, smothered scalloped potatoes, deep fried okra, jumbo dinner rolls and a Caesar salad bowl. Nifty was dropping off the last of the food upon the table when Angel called out, "well, look what the cat dragged in! I was beginning to think you died up there," he motioned by bobbing his head toward the direction of Alastor's room.

Charlie shot him an icy glare but Alastor's radio static rang out before she could spit out a retort, "well, it's a pleasure to be back! I love to see what you all have done with the place!"

The deer demon made his way past Charlie, finding a spot near Nifty who was looking up at him, her pupil dilated, "I haven't seen ANY roaches lately," she started excitedly then trailed off, seeming she was rather upset about this.

"Darling, in my quarters I'm sure I could find you a few," Alastor laughed out, cutting himself off short as he took a spot at the table, trying to hide a wince as he lowered himself into his chair.

Husk had noticed this and hid a smile as he walked over to the spot farthest from the radio demon to start on his meal.

Charlie found her seat near Vaggie, "well, ah," she started, staring into her plate, "Rosie and I had visited the other day and hashed out some of the details on the mass funeral for the cannibals that were lost during the extermination. Sir Pentious and his Egg Boys will be buried with the bodies that were found in the cemetery on the other side of Cannibal Town."

Her eyes started to glisten with tears when she aggressively forked up some food off her plate and shoved it in her mouth, probably to give her an out from the waterworks that were about to start. Vaggie reached over and held onto Charlie's arm, a thoughtful look on her face.

She swallowed hard and continued, "services are this time tomorrow, right at sunset. I've already got my eulogy written out and most of Pride Circle knows about it. I hope you all will be there," she looked around hopefully.

"Of course, toots, we wouldn't miss it for the world."

Most of the smoke had dissipated from the atmosphere, leaving the maroon skies a clear basin above the cemetery. Dusk crept across the horizon, stars beginning to shine among the pentagram that distended above the mass of sinners and hellborn dressed in black.

The services had finished, people filing out of the gates and off to the streets of Hell.

Charlie and Vaggie were lingering in front of Sir Pentious' glossy new headstone, the sounds of cicadas in the trees cutting the splitting silence.

"Vaggie, do you think I could have some time alone?"

"Sure, I'll stay and wait for you if you want. Everyone's headed home and I know I've got a long day ahead tomorrow."

Since being an essential part to the growth of the hotel, Charlie had designated her to be an event coordinator and lead group meetings that would help rehabilitate the sinners checked in at the hotel. Their trust exercises and skits were just the tip of the iceberg to what they had in store. And now knowing that Vaggie had lived in Heaven for some time, her experience living among the angels gave her a foot up on the rest of the Hazbin staff, making her to be the best candidate for the job.

"Don't worry about it, Vag! I promise, I'll be fine," she pulled Vaggie into a tight hug after seeing the uncertainty on her best friend's face and let her go, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Don't hesitate to call me, okay?" Vaggie brushed Charlie's hair behind her and squeezed her shoulder and made for the gates at the far end of the cemetery where Angel, Husk and Nifty stood. Cherri was helping Rosie load speakers, microphones and tools into a vintage-looking car off in the distance.

Charlie turned towards the grave again, happy to have her privacy with Sir Pentious, or rather, his empty grave that stood for him. He had been incinerated into dust from Adam, no remains from him or the Egg Boys to be found.

Sir Pentious had worked so hard to make something of himself and be redeemed. His earnest efforts to make a difference in the trust exercises, the skits they did together, the genuine contributions he made ended in his demise. She couldn't help but wonder what she could've done differently. Since that day she had racked her brain, spending hours of time thinking maybe if she had utilized her powers differently. If she'd been stronger, they'd still be here. All of them. The cannibals that put their lives on the line and died for something they didn't even believe in, the Egg Boys that followed Pentious' word faithfully without question.

A new hotel wouldn't change anything, she had to do more. How could she elevate herself? It was only a matter of time till Heaven gathered to retaliate and avenge Adam's death. It was Charlie's fault the last extermination deadline was cut in half. With Adam murdered in Hell, the target was on their backs more now than ever and time wasn't on their side.

Her head spun with the possibilities, inevitable waterworks free flowing. Her eyes stung and she knelt to the ground, picking up some of the dirt in her hands to gather herself.

Some time had passed, Charlie's tear-stained cheeks now dried and her eyes puffy. The low sound of radio static started to creep up behind her and she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands.

"Tears are no good for a princess, smile my dear."

She exhaled sharply, getting up and brushing off her black pinstriped suit. She faced him and felt a pang of pain hit behind her eyes, the beginnings of a migraine. "What could we have done? You survived by a hair. Pentious and his minions died. Countless cannibals," her voice croaked as she motioned with her hand to the rest of the fresh dirt mounds, rows of new graves lit in the moonlight. "I'm the princess of Hell and can't protect my people. What could I have done differently?"

She pursed her lips tightly to keep her lip from quivering; she'd tried so hard to get all of her tears out and with Alastor there to see the mess she was in, she felt a whole new layer of hurt wash over her again.

Alastor grabbed her by the shoulder and walked with her, "growth doesn't happen in a day, darling. This was not your first go at an extermination and will not be your last. You can't revel in the pitfalls of the past. You did everything you could with what you knew but this is not the extent of your capabilities, Miss Morningstar. You are capable of much, much more."

They stopped after they passed the gate and Charlie pulled herself from the radio demon, looking at him with serious intent.

"Then teach me."

"Hm?" This seemed to catch him by surprise. He raised an eyebrow, peering down at her curiously with half-lidded eyes.

"Teach me. You are one of the strongest overlords in Hell, you can summon things, teleport, there are so many parts of you that you can do that I've never practiced before. It can't be that difficult, can it?"

Alastor cupped his elbow and brought a finger to his lips, seemingly deep in thought. A sinister smile spread from cheek to cheek, "I suppose. But you know I don't give out my help without a little something in return." He pulled his hand down and offered it to her, a crackling green bolt of lightning twisting around his arm towards his fingertips, the sound of static sharpening, "How about a deal?"