Chapter 3: A Fresh start
Author note: Hello again, thanks for coming back! I've been bitten by the writing bug, so I got through another chapter for you all. More shenanigans and then off to the hotel! Both looking forward and dreading writing the Hotel guest interactions, mainly getting the speaking patterns to sound right, but I'll do my best. On with the story!
Taylor followed the dog demon through the streets, neither uttering a word as they walked. As the adrenaline started to wear off, Taylor became focused enough to take a more extensive look at their companion. The demon resembled a beagle with floppy ears, extra sharp canines, and yellow sclera with black pupils for eyes. They wore a tussled gray button up shirt, slacks, and sneakers that looked a little roughed up from the scuffle.
Suddenly the demon spoke, voice a little gravely but sounding better than earlier.
"Not much farther now" they uttered. Taylor could only nod in response. "I'm Vinny, by the way." he added quickly.
"Taylor" they responded in kind.
Another silence ensued as Vinny turned the corner and led Taylor to an apartment building and both went inside. After climbing a set of stairs, Taylor was ushered into a simple but clean apartment. The living room had a couch in the center, a coffee table, and a kitchen area to the side. Opposite were doors that Taylor assumed led to bathrooms or bedrooms. Vinny locked the door behind them and moved across the room to the kitchen area. Taylor decided to watch from the door, seeing as they were sooty and didn't want to track it anywhere.
"We got a lot to talk about, but to thank you for doing whatever you did back there, I'm gonna get you taken care of, at least until you figure things out. Don't worry, that jerk off doesn't know where I live, so we'll be safe for a while." Vinny called out. Seeing that Taylor hadn't moved from their spot at the door, Vinny growled. "Well don't just stand there like a lump, get over here! I'll get you a change of clothes and a towel so you can clean yourself off!"
Taylor quickly took off their shoes and strode over to Vinny, who gave them some towels and pointed over to one of the doors. "Bathroom is over there, just fold your dirty clothes, and I'll get rid of them." Taylor started to protest but Vinny held up a hand. "No can do, those clothes are dirty and beyond repair, buddy." Taylor sighed and made their way to the bathroom and locked the door.
After sloughing off all the soot from their hair and body, Taylor felt refreshed. Drying off in the tub, Taylor heard a knock at the door.
"I left some clothes I think will fit you outside the door. I'm gonna make some grub, so come on out when you're ready" Vinny called out.
"Thanks Vinny" Taylor called back. Wrapped in a towel, Taylor opened the door, snagged the clothes, and set them on the vanity. Looking at the fogged-up mirror, Taylor winced: they had dreaded seeing their reflection as they weren't sure what to expect. Wiping away the condensation from the mirror, they gasped in shock. Taylor stared in the mirror for a moment, unable to believe what looked back. Their skin was light yellow and covered in the same downy layer they felt on their hands, and their brunette hair was now a mix of orange and yellow with red tips. Their hair was still cropped but it flared upwards slightly as if gravity wasn't a thing. All in all, it reminded them of a fire. 'Why is it always have to be fire?' They sulked. Two long red segments started at the crown of their head above their eye brows, flared up straight over their head and reached back to touch their shoulder blades. Taylor felt them and while soft, there was a stiffness to them that was different than hair. 'Hmm, they feel like feathers but look like antennae' Taylor observed. They were also sporting visible fangs when they closed their mouth. Taylor became unsettled as their eyes were no longer the same. Their sclerae were black but their green and brown irises were replaced with gold and red, giving an eerie intense look that was opposite of the calming effect their old hazel eyes gave them. Sighing, Taylor thought, "at least I still sort of look like I used to, for the most part.'
Taylor then moved to check out the new clothes Vinny left. A white striped button up, a blue waistcoat, black chino slacks, along with socks and underwear. Taylor was glad they looked like they could fit well enough and put them on. Stuffing their shirt into their pants and cinching the waistcoat to make things fit better, they mused, 'A little loose, but it will have to do.' Quickly towel drying their hair and failing to tame the wild locks, Taylor left the bathroom.
Vinny had made a breakfast spread of omelets toast, and juice that was laid out on the coffee table next to the couch.
Vinny perked up, "well, finally I get to see what's under all that ash, kid!" They gave a quick once over and chuckled, "You clean up nice. Glad the digs fit, lucky for you we are similar in size."
Taylor thanked him quietly and sat down on the couch. Vinny indicated to the food as he grabbed a glass of juice. Taylor grabbed a plate and dug in, only realizing now how hungry they were. 'Not sure when I last ate, how long was dinner? Not like I got to eat there either.' They brooded. After a few minutes of eating, Vinny broke the silence.
"So, you gonna tell me what happened back there? Why did you bother getting involved?"
Taylor put down their plate. "Honestly, I'm not sure. I felt like I had to do something. But I still don't know what happened with the chains." Taylor said as they folded their hands in their lap, unwilling to describe the rush of energy that occurred afterwards.
Vinny shrugged. "Well, regardless, you did an amazing and, frankly, unheard of thing. You must have voided my contract since I was able to act against that fucker. If it was still in effect, I wouldn't even been able to defend myself while he beat me into a bloody pulp." Vinny clenched his fists in his lap at the statement. "But you also have become a huge target now. Overlords and dealmakers are gonna have it out for you since they primarily get their power from contracted souls. But I'll keep mum about you, I don't need people trying to target me either because I was a witness." Vinny paused as they took another drink. "But I'll have to move and lay low since that lion bastard will come back soon enough."
Taylor didn't like the idea of people coming for them, but the last comment made them abruptly sat up straighter. "Come back? But I saw you blow his brains and heart out!" They replied, shocked.
"Ah, you must be really new, don't even know that much. Only special circumstances can truly kill Sinners, otherwise we just come back after a few days. It's painful, but we pick ourselves up to endure another day of suffering in Hell." Vinny said nonchalantly.
With that information, Taylor didn't want to abuse Vinny's hospitality by lingering. 'Maybe he can help me find the hotel. Worth a shot.' They hoped. "You said I could stay until I figured things out, but I know where I need to go. Do you know where I can find a place called the Happy Hotel? I think a princess of Hell is supposed to be there." They asked.
"Why do you want to go to that dump?" Vinny asked suspiciously.
"I have business over there, that's all I can say. But as you've noticed, I'm new and people haven't been so forthcoming."
"Yeah, I know where it is. We can head out after we finish here, just gotta clean myself up first."
Taylor was elated. They stood up and extended their hand.
"Thanks Vinny."
Vinny chuckled, got up, and took the hand to shake. "It's the least I can do, kid."
All at once, Vinny's hand started to catch fire with blue flames that traveled up his arm. Taylor quickly tried to wrench their hand away but their whole body seemed to be rooted to the spot. Vinny cried out and tried to beat the flames out with his other hand but it kept spreading fast. Vinny screamed as they were engulfed in flames, but then stopped and stared in amazement as he was enveloped in flames, but unharmed. Taylor watched in horror as the flames peeled the dog's skin off like wallpaper, exposing a new layer of fur and features beneath. Within a minute, the flames extinguished themselves and Taylor was able to remove their hand from Vinny's.
Taylor stared, dumbfounded at the dog demon. Instead of beagle features looking back at them, the demon now looked like a German Shepard with a mop of blonde hair atop. Vinny patted themselves all over to check for injuries and sighed when they saw they were fine. Then they jumped when they saw their hands were different. With a shocked glance at Taylor, they ran to the bathroom and yelped when they saw their new look. Taylor warily walked over and saw that Vinny was grabbing his ears, pawing at his hair, and generally taking in his new face. Taylor wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out. The new Vinny turned to look at Taylor with an awkward smile.
"You are just full of surprises, aren't you? How did you do that? You know what, forget it, doesn't seem like you did this on purpose either." With another glance in the mirror, they continued. "Guess I'll get changed and we can head out." Chuckling to himself, Vinny muttered as they moved into their bedroom, "at least I won't have to move out or lay low, though I guess I will have to change my name." Vinny closed the door as Taylor stayed put, mind reeling.
'What the hell? Can this day get any weirder?' Taylor wondered.Lookingat their hands, they thought, 'I should be careful touching people until I get this under control, who knows if I accidentally burn someone.' Taylor worried as they moved over to the coffee table and gathered the dishes. They figured they should at least tidy up to thank Vinny.
After washing all the dishes and wiping down the counters, Taylor returned to the couch. Just then, the bedroom door opened and Vinny appeared, sporting a fresh shirt and pants. Vinny saw the cleaned-up area and whistled.
"Shoot man, you didn't need to do that. Sorry it took a while, I haven't had hair in over 30 years and I got distracted. Let's be off?"
Taylor waved off the apology, and got up to get going. After locking up, the two demons got back onto the main street and started walking. After about 30 minutes, Taylor saw in the distance a mansion with a large sign that said "Hazbin Hotel" atop a hill. Confused, Taylor questioned. "Hazbin Hotel? Is that competition or something?"
Vinny glanced up. "Eh? Oh, that's new. It's the right place though, guess they changed the name."
Taylor's spirits were raised as they their objective was in view. Vinny paused and Taylor stopped to face him. Vinny started talking awkwardly, hand behind his head as he spoke,
"Well, all you got to do is follow this road and it's straight ahead. I don't know what business you have at that hotel, but good luck." Vinny paused as he seemed bashful, "and thanks for saving my neck and giving me a fresh start. Literally. Also, take this, a little token to get you started." Vinny handed Taylor a wallet with some bills within. Taylor was touched as they took the wallet graciously.
"I should be thanking you; you were the most helpful person I've met since getting here. Take care of yourself, Vinny" Taylor replied politely.
The dog demon seemed to blush a bit before waving Taylor off. "Now get on out of here, loitering leads to trouble." With that, they took off in the opposite direction. Taylor watched as Vinny disappeared around the corner, thankful to have met at least one decent soul in Hell.