The next few days Isobel seemed reluctant to leave the hotel or even her room. She felt that it may all be too good to be true. Maybe she was cursed and if she were to step outside another calamity would befall her. So why not play it safe, at least for a time. She spent her time with her other hotel mates. Spending hours with Angel while he told her his joys and woes, and she let him braid her hair to his heart's content. She related her fight with Enki to Vaggie several times, who seemed to get a kick out of it each time. She even attended Charlie's redemption lessons, just for the fun of it.

The hotel itself seemed to be getting an influx of new residents. This made things a lot busier. Isobel didn't want to be in the way of anyone's work, so she would also find herself alone in her room or on the roof. She sang sad songs and texted back and forth with Blitz and Fizzarolli. She tried her best to spend her days in quiet contentment and her nights catering to Alastor's now insatiable need to express his dominance over her.

But a bit of her fire seemed to have been extinguished, and Alastor saw this more than the others. He had thought that compliance would have been a virtue he would appreciate, but he found himself missing the defiant, sarcastic, and impossibly subborn woman she had once been. Meek and mild would never be her true nature. He knew it was all an act. She was adapting.

Eventually enough was enough.

Alastor was already awake and waiting when Isobel stirred one morning. As she blinked in the pale morning light, he brushed the hair from her face. It was absolutely everywhere now. He could tell that it bothered her, having it down. It was heavy and hot. Loose strands often got in her mouth or caught in zippers. But she honored their arrangement. He preferred it down, so down it stayed.

He took her chin between his thumb and finger, holding her sleepy attention. This was unusual behavior and she looked at him questioningly. Those green eyes always made him hesitate. All the things he would do with those eyes.

"I would like for you to accompany me today," he said.

"Where? Why?"

Alastor gave a little shrug, ""I have a few errands to run and companionship always makes that kind of thing more enjoyable." Though she smiled, remembering that first day they had spent walking through the city, her eyes darted away unsure. "I will be with you the entire time. I assure you, you will be quite safe. And there is something I would like to show you."

"If you insist." Isobel couldn't explain why she was so unwilling to leave. It was as if she had used up all of her bravery and now she was lacking in the boldness that was needed to navigate outside the four walls of the hotel. She did miss the library, though. She also missed singing in the club, and shopping with Angel. She missed walking the streets, arm-in-arm with Alastor. But all that was from before, and she didn't know if anything could go back to the way it had been.

Still holding her chin, Alastor kissed her and said, "Do dress nicely today."

Isobel sat up as he left the bed and said in a sarcastic tone, "so I guess black boots and a beat up old jacket isn't going to do it for you?"

He was glad to hear a touch of her usual obstinance.

"I do not know why you still cling to those things." He walked around to the end of the bed already dressed in his red pinstripe suit, looking debonair as usual. "Perhaps a dress," he said, but was met by a weary look from Isobel. That was more like it. Maybe he would simply antagonize her the rest of the day until she snapped out of whatever funk she was in. His smile lifted ever higher as he opened the door to leave. "I will meet you downstairs."

It took her a long time to come down. Longer than Alastor had expected. He had to remind himself that she did not have his abilities. She could not simply snap her fingers or wave a hand to change her appearance. She was, after all, just a mortal.

"Good morning, Alastor!" Charlie said all too cheery. She was already setting up for her morning redemption lessons. She was expecting a larger than normal class, she may actually get seven or eight sinners this time. The thought made her giddy.

"Good morning, Charlie deer," he said pleasantly.

"And what are your plans today?"

"I am taking Isobel out for the day."

"Oh." All sense of her pleasant demeanor vanished and was replaced by worried concern. "You're going out today?"

"I believe it is time." He seemed very confident, but Charlie wasn't.

"Are you sure? I mean, we all agreed…"

"She is not a child," he reminded her. "And any longer of this, she will feel like we have all been lying to her. Which will anger her. And she becomes quite insufferable when she is angry. None of the rest of you have to deal with that, but I will get an ear full."

"I don't know. She might not be ready."

"Think of the good it will do us all," he put on his most convincing tone. "Think of all the sinners wanting to stay at your hotel. A mighty step toward success. Plus, you underestimate Isobel. She is far more resilient than you give her credit for."

Charlie opened her mouth to protest, but Alastor held up his hand to shush her. Isobel had appeared at the top of the stairs. To his delight she had listened and was wearing a dress. It was black, of course, with a high neck and long sleeves. She had taken to wearing such things in part to hide bite marks (Alastor had gotten bolder with his teeth), but also to take the notice off of her black hands.

"Good morning, Isobel," Charlie said, perhaps not as cheerful as she had greeted Alastor. "You look nice."

"Thank you," Isobel met her with a smile. "It seems that Alastor has plans for me today."

"Indeed, I do," Alastor said, tucking his cane under one arm and offering the other for Isobel. "Cheerio, Charlie." He gave her a little salute as he escorted Isobel toward the front doors.

"Um, ok," Charlie still sounded uncertain. "Have, uh, fun."

Isobel noticed the tone in Charlie's voice and wondered at the wary nature of it. Why did she sound so anxious? Alastor didn't seem to notice at all. Holding himself tall and confident, he led her through the double doors. Outside, just beyond the hotel grounds, they were met by a crowd of sinners. Maybe a few dozen or so milling about. They all seemed to be waiting for something. One by one their attention seemed to peek in Isobel and Alastor's direction.

"What's that?" she asked.

"That, my deer," he stepped in front of her, spreading his arms wide as if presenting a grand prize to the winner. "Is your adoring public."

She stared at them all dumb struck.

"I don't understand."

Alastor offered a hand, always the gentleman, to guide her down the stairs.

"Your violent encounter with that unbearable angel was captured and reported on the television. It was broadcasted far and wide for all to witness. That, along with your performance at the Lust Gala, has captured the attention and devotion of many sinners."

"But why?"

"You are the living soul that defied Heaven and chose Hell instead. They feel like you chose them, stood up for them. No one has ever done that before on such a grand scale. Not Charlie, certainly not Lucifer. They see you as something of a hero."

"But I'm not, though. That's not what I was trying to do at all. I just didn't want to be bossed around by some jerk with wings."

"Try convincing them of that." Alastor offered his arm again, which Isobel took, and he began to lead her toward the crowd. They would have to go through it on their way to the city proper. "A few days after you returned they started coming, perhaps you've noticed an uptick in the number of reservations the hotel has enjoyed. There have also been letters for you, more arriving every day. However, Charlie and Vaggie thought that after all that you have endured, it was better for you to rest. So we all stayed silent."

By then they had reached the crowd. Alastor hesitated a moment and looked down at Isobel.

"Smile," he said. She did.

The sinners watched as they passed. Some smiled, but none said anything. They all seemed to be stuck between wanting to express their feelings to her and terrified into silence under the shadow of the Radio Demon. Isobel's brain whirled trying to catch up, trying to comprehend what this meant. As they cleared the crowd, Alastor tilted his head toward her.

"I thought you should know what you have become."