Author note: Boom! Another chapter for you, my readers. I hope to keep up the momentum, as I have the main premise in my head already and just have to get it written down. I hope you all are enjoying this as much as I am writing it. Have a good one, and on with the story!
Chapter 5: Usefulness
Taylor rode the elevator to the third floor and walked out into the hallway. They heard shuffling in one of the rooms with an open door and padded over to the doorway. Inside, Nifty was cleaning up a storm, so quickly that Taylor could barely keep an eye on her movements. Noticing Taylor at the doorway, Nifty perked up and scuttled over, duster and rag in hand.
"Hi Taylor! Just finishing things up here! This place was a mess, no way it was acceptable for anyone!" They grinned.
Taylor looked over into the room. There was a comfy looking bed in the left corner, a dresser and desk to the right the bed against the wall, and an armchair opposite the foot of the bed. There were two doors, one opening to a bathroom and the other a closet space on opposite sides of the room. 'Quite a comfortable space.' Taylor concluded, satisfied.
"Thanks Nifty, it's perfect." they said graciously.
Nifty shifted awkwardly, blushing. They dashed over to the dresser and pulled out a few clothing items, and held them out to Taylor.
"I found some forgotten clothes in some of the dressers around the hotel, and they looked like they would fit you. I heard you don't have a change of clothes yet, so here!" Nifty said, holding their arms out higher. "Sorry I offended you earlier, that was super rude of me!" they added, her ever present grin disappearing, looking ashamed.
Taylor crouched down to grab the clothes from Nifty, but tilted their head, confused.
"Thanks, these will help a lot. But Nifty, when did you offend me?"
Nifty's blush turned more intense as they got closer to whisper in Taylor's ear.
"I called you a bad boy, but I was mistaken. Not good, not good! It was quite rude."
Taylor just smiled. "Don't worry about it Nifty, no harm done. You're a delight and the best housekeeper in the world."
At the comment, Nifty looked up at Taylor and smiled widely.
"Well, ok! I have to go help get the dining room ready for dinner, so I'll see you later! Bye!"
With that Nifty darted out the room and Taylor closed the door behind her. Looking at the clothes Nifty gifted them, they saw a half sleeve silk beige blouse and knee length pleated blue skirt. 'Wow, these feel luxurious. Must be vintage.' Taylor thought, admiring the quality and feel. Setting them in the dresser, Taylor's gazed at the bed longingly. 'A short nap will perk me right up.' They concluded. Taylor removed their waistcoat and boots and laid on the bed. 'So comfy, just what I needed.' They mused sleepily. Within a minute, Taylor was out.
"Wake up, little one~!" Called out a light sing-song voice.
Taylor's eyes snapped open and they jolted up, scrambling to the headboard of the bed. Looking frantically around the room, they saw a girl of about 8 with orange coiffed hair in a purple sun dress lounging on the armchair. They took in Taylor's panic with an amused expression and then smiled.
"Well, here you are! Made yourself at home at the hotel of the Princess of Hell, just as I instructed! And so quickly! Good job! I do find obedience and punctuality exemplary traits." The child praised, quietly clapping their hands.
Taylor stared at the girl, shaking all over in trepidation. Recognizing that sweet child-like voice that masked a cruel imposing creature. Not wanting to invoke their anger, Taylor stammered.
"T-thank you, patron." Taking a dry gulp, Taylor continued, "If I may ask, is this your normal form?"
"Hmm? Oh, this old thing? No, no, this is just one of the forms I take to put people at ease. Aren't I just a cutie?" they said enthusiastically. They fluttered their eyelashes to emphasize their point.
Taylor wasn't sure which form was more off putting, but they slowly slinked off the bed and stood, but didn't dare approach. The girl bounced off from the chair and stalked toward Taylor, eyes roving in a rigorous inspection. Taylor hadn't ever felt so on the spot, and it made them shrink back minutely. After a few more moments of observation, they stood back with hands behind their back and spoke.
"Yes, yes, this form did turn out quite well, didn't it? Well, of course it did, I had a hand in making it so!" they nodded their head in approval while bringing their hand to their chin, "but I do sense that something is a bit different about you than the last time we spoke." The trotted over to the bed and perched themselves atop it, standing before Taylor at eye level. Smiling darkly, they inquired. "Care to elaborate? And don't spare any details."
Taylor felt their breath catch in their throat and the room became all together too hot. As they tried to compose themselves, the girl seemed to be delighted at Taylor's struggling. After a moment, Taylor responded.
"W-Well, I seem to be able to handle fire without harm." Taylor said carefully.
"Yes, yes, that's nice." they waved it off. "What else?"
Taylor swallowed again before answering, "and I can use that flame to change someone's appearance."
"Ugh, yes, yes, all right. Mundane afterlife abilities." They huffed, irritation rising. With a dangerous edge they pressed "What. Else?"
Taylor remembered Vinny's warning that Overlords and dealmakers would likely kill them for being able to nullify standing contracts. 'My patron is a dealmaker, but what choice do I have?' They considered worriedly.
The girl's eyes started to flash red as Taylor continued to hesitate. Finally, they stood up on the bed and glowered at Taylor with a disdainful look.
"Oh my, it seems either you're withholding something from me," heaving a sigh before continuing, "or you have nothing of interest to demonstrate to me, making you utterly useless to me!"
Taylor started to smell smoke as the girl's features started to flicker, with flames surfacing for a moment before returning to normal. Taylor started to take a step back as terror set in. But before a full step was taken, Taylor felt the collar close around their throat as the chain appeared once more, blazing red this time. Taylor's breathing was constricted as they fell to their knees beside the bed, hands gripping their throat as they gasped for air. The chain was yanked, causing them to lean into the bed, making Taylor's panic rise. They shakily stared up as the girl, now towered over them, glared back with a bloodthirsty expression and blazing red eyes.
"Now I'll ask you once more, and do make it count. What else have you to offer, you wretch?" They asked in a tone of barely contained rage, voice reverberating to sound like many voices all at once.
'I have no choice; I have to risk it. I'm dead either way,' Taylor thought hopelessly. Trying to catch their breath, they hoarsely answered. "I can break soul contracts!"
The chain and collar loosened some, giving Taylor some much needed air. They gasped for breath as they heard their patron's voice in a level tone now.
"What was that now? You can break soul contracts? Elaborate." They sounded intrigued.
Finally slowing their breathing, Taylor looked up at the girl and explained.
"I had an encounter where a dealmaker of a soul contract was ready to kill their signee. The dealmaker manifested the chain and collar and before it got too violent, I gripped the chains hard and was able to shatter them. After that, the chains turned into smoke and I think I absorbed the energy, it felt like I was reinvigorated. Soon after, the signee was able to act against their dealmaker, which meant that the contract was nullified somehow. I don't know how I did it." Taylor stared fearfully at their beastly patron as they waited for their response.
The girl continued to glare with an unreadable expression into Taylor's eyes, searching for any deceit or insincerity. Then all at once, the chains and collar vanished and with a blink the girl's eyes reverted back to normal. Taylor stumbled back, trying to get some distance from the volatile being.
"Oh, how delightful! I knew there was something special about you when I made that deal!" The girl grabbed Taylor's cheek, pinching it roughly. "Now, we have much work to do starting tomorrow, but tonight go ahead and celebrate with those little Sinners and the Princess!" The girl hopped off the bed and clapped their hands together excitedly. "Yes, yes, much to do indeed!"
Taylor's mind was spinning with whiplash. 'Work to do?' They panicked, but were too afraid to ask more questions.
The girl turned towards Taylor and moved to take their face in their hands gently. Taylor flinched instinctively.
"Now, now, none of that! I'll see you tomorrow night! Soo…" they paused for dramatic effect, "WAKE UP!"
Taylor awoke clutching their throat as their breathing was labored and adrenaline coursed through their veins. Looking around desperately, they saw they were alone in the room again. 'Oh, thank God! Will I be able to sleep in here after that?' They sighed as they calmed down. Taylor felt sticky with sweat, so they rinsed off in the shower and changed into the skirt and blouse ensemble. After grabbing their key, they stepped outside the room.
The hallway was empty, so Taylor made their way to the elevator. When the elevator opened, inside was a little piglet with horns and tiny spikes along the back. Taken aback, Taylor stepped back, still on edge from their patron's visit. The pig trotted over to Taylor and rubbed itself around their legs. Sensing that it meant no harm, Taylor bent down to pet the pig, calming down as it leaned into the affection.
"Who are you? You're a cutie for sure. Let's find your owner, shall we?" Taylor picked up the pig and got into the elevator to descend to the first floor.
Arriving in the lobby, there were several voices all talking at once. Taylor recognized Charlie, Vaggie, Husk, and Nifty, but there was one stranger among the crowd. The demon was tall, pencil-thin, with white fluff all over with pink hearts throughout the fluff. The demon had three sets of arms, either leaning against their hips or chest or making gestures. They had a swooping hairstyle that Taylor couldn't help but admire. 'Huh, six arms sound useful. Could they be a spider perhaps?' Taylor wondered. The white demon was talking animatedly to Vaggie, who seemed ready to come to blows at any moment. The tall demon turned when the others saw Taylor and gasped.
"What the hell are ya doing with my Nuggsie?" They shouted accusingly. Their voice sounded accented, like from the mobster movies Taylor had seen in the past. They angrily strode over to Taylor and snatched the pig out of their arms.
"I found him in the elevator when I was coming down. We were looking for his owner. Is he yours?" Taylor explained calmly.
The spider demon seemed to calm down some, clutching the pig lovingly.
"Yeah, this little cutie is all mine! I guess I didn't close my door all the way and he got out." The spider snuggled with the pig more, "At least it was ya who found him and not Smiles. Thanks for dat."
Not knowing who this Smiles was, Taylor nodded her head in acknowledgment. Charlie then ran up between Taylor and the spider and spoke excitedly, "Angel, this is our new resident, Taylor! Taylor, this is Angel Dust, our very first participant in the redemption program!"
Still holding the pig, Angel put one set of arms behind their back and the other on their hips suggestively and said, "nice to meet ya, toots. Cause ya did me a solid keeping Nuggsie safe, I'll give ya a freebie. And normally I charge double for ladies."
Taylor tilted their head, puzzled. "Freebie of what?"
Angel looked back, exasperated, as Husk behind them stifled a laugh.
"Of what? Of this! Whateva ya want, on the house." Angel gestured to their body in annoyance.
'Ooh, that. Hmm, how to put this lightly? Although… they did say "anything".' Taylor pondered. Taylor stood up straighter and said, "perhaps another time. But I'll hold you to it." they said politely.
"Yeah, yeah, whateva." Angel huffed as they turned to Charlie. "When's dinner getting here, I'm starved!" Angel whined.
Charlie looked at her watch and responded, "the pizzas should be here any minute. Why don't you and Taylor stay by the door and pay the delivery demon?" She offered.
"Nah, I gotta go put Nuggsie away in my room and get him settled in." Angel said before sauntering off to the staircase, leaving Charlie and Taylor behind.
Knocking at the door prompted Charlie, Taylor, and Vaggie to head to the front door to collect the pizzas. Taylor offered to carry the boxes as Vaggie was busy threatening the delivery demon while Charlie tried to hold her back. Lugging the boxes into the dining area, everyone grabbed some slices and sat around a table together. With Angel being last to arrive, Taylor tucked into their pizza while listening to Vaggie admonish Angel for sneaking drugs into the hotel as Angel rolled their eyes. Charlie then cleared her throat and stood up to get everyone's attention.
"So, I wanted to celebrate the arrival of our new resident for the redemption program, Taylor! Welcome and we will get you heaven-bound in no time, I just know it!" Taylor thanked Charlie for the kind words and the group said their welcomes before getting back to their plates. Charlie leaned over to Taylor and mentioned. "Normally, Alastor makes dinner for everyone, but he sent us a telegram that he was otherwise engaged with work and that we should fend for ourselves tonight. I'm sure you'll meet him tomorrow."
"Looking forward to it, what's he like?" Taylor inquired.
"Un hijo de puta, that's what." Vaggie gritted out. Turning to Taylor, she warned, "he's a shitty Overlord and dealmaker that takes pleasure in the suffering of others. Don't be fooled by his charming personality, it's all for show. Don't you dare make a deal with him; he will screw you over for his sick form of entertainment."
'Who sends a telegram these days? He sounds delightful, like another dealmaker I know.' Taylor noted grimly. "Thanks for the heads up, I'll keep my guard up." Vaggie seemed to be satisfied with the answer and went back to scolding Husk for drinking a whole bottle of whiskey at the table.
Taylor gazed across the table and for once, didn't feel like they needed to put on their mask of stoicism like when they were alive.
'You know, I could get used to this.' They thought wistfully.