Author note: welcome back readers! Thanks for sticking by as I keep adding to the story, it means the world. Finally, we get to the infamous Radio Demon making his entrance, let's see how it pans out. Enjoy!
Chapter 6: Midnight Radio Hour
After dinner was cleared away, Charlie and Vaggie presented Taylor with a few bags of clothes, toiletries, and a Hell phone with Charlie and Vaggie's numbers already programmed into it. Taylor graciously accepted all the gifts and promised to make it up to the both of them.
"Don't worry about it! Just focus on your redemption program and we'll be even!" Charlie chimed happily. Vaggie still glanced at Taylor with a suspicious look, but the level of hostility was somewhat diminished. Taylor wished everyone good night and headed upstairs with their haul. Laying the bags on the desk, Taylor removed the toiletries and put them in the bathroom and went through all the clothes and stashed them away in the dresser and closet. Satisfied with their work, they got ready for bed without issue.
Taylor stood next to the bed and stared at it warily. 'My patron said they'd give me the night off, but could that really be true?' they wondered worriedly. They got into bed and lay there, mind racing in a panicked state of apprehension. By the time midnight rolled around, Taylor was so exhausted, but unable to sleep. 'Maybe a drink will calm my nerves' Taylor hoped. Not wanting to walk around in their pajamas, they changed into slacks, a black long-sleeved dress shirt, and a blue blazer. Slipping on some black loafers, Taylor left the room and made their way to the lobby.
At the bottom of the stairs, Taylor saw Angel laid over the bar counter while talking seductively to Husk, who was grumbling in irritation. By the time Taylor reached the bar area, Husk shoved Angel off the bar and began furiously cleaning glasses while muttering obscenities.
"What's going on here?" Taylor asked as they observed Angel rubbed their back in pain from the ground.
Looking up at Taylor, Angel gave an exasperated look. Pointing angrily with two hands, they shouted,
"This jerk off is being rude to a paying customer!"
"You ain't a paying customer if the booze is free." Husk growled. Glancing to Taylor, Husk asked in a more measured tone. "Can't sleep, kid? Or are you looking for a nightcap?"
Taylor nodded and sat at one of the bar stools.
"Right on both accounts. What do you suggest to wind down?" Husk nodded as they turned around to mix something up. Taylor glanced back at Angel, who had picked himself off the ground and sat beside Taylor, whispering to himself in harsh tones to himself. Shifting their attention to Taylor, Angel grinned, golden tooth gleaming as he leaned in closer to Taylor, speaking in a teasing tone,
"Aww, does our poor widdle fuoco need a bottle to go to sweepy-bye? Ya need somebody to tuck ya into bed tonight? Cause I'm ready and willing, handsome." They purred in Taylor's ear.
Taylor froze with the implication, and quickly decided to deflect to hide their discomfort.
"While I'm flattered, I think I'll manage." Taylor smiled cheekily as they turned to Angel. "And I still have your offer for 'anything' to cash in after all, why waste it on my first night?"
"Whateva, your loss." Angel leaned away from Taylor as they inwardly sighed in relief.
"Leave the kid alone. It's bad enough I have to deal with your sorry ass every night." Husk interjected gruffly, as they turned around and finished by adding garnish of orange rind and a cocktail cherry to the glass before passed it to Taylor. Nodding in appreciation, Taylor took a sip and sighed happily. "An Old Fashioned, right? Sweet and bitter, great choice. You're two for two, Husk!" Taylor commended, raising the glass in gratitude. Husk grinned a crooked smile at the praise, earning an eye roll and a huff from Angel.
Suddenly, the front door opened and the atmosphere shifted. Taylor felt a prickling sensation on their arms and the hairs on the back of their neck started to rise. A feeling of uneasiness filled the room, similar to when in the presence of Taylor's patron. The urge to flee felt overwhelming as their brain started to ring alarm bells. Almost unwillingly, Taylor turned towards the doorway.
"Ah shit, he's back." Husk groaned.
Taylor saw a rail-thin figure that glowed red in the doorway.
"Evening gents!" An accented voice that reminded Taylor of news announcer reels from the mid-1900s spoke out dynamically. A static effect overlayed the accent, causing the voice to sound like it came from vintage radio commercials. Casting their gleaming red eyes over the lobby space, they honed in on Taylor.
"Oh ho! Seems we have a new reprehensible sinner gracing our laughable establishment in search of redemption!" The figure made their way down the lobby as the doors closed behind them on their own. Taylor first noticed the demon's broad smile full of sharp-looking yellow teeth and red hair with black tips styled in a bob cut with two tufts that stood erect. 'A cat perhaps? Wait, are those antlers? So more likely a deer.' Taylor surmised. The dapper demon sported a red dress shirt and black dress pants beneath a pinstripe coat with red lapels. They also wore black gloves with red fingertips, a red tinted monocle, and black pointed shoes. As they strode over, they twirled a cane that had a vintage style microphone at the end.
"You're late, boss" growled Husk as the red demon reached the bar space.
"Yes, well, a business meeting ran long. Nothing serious, just hashing out details on a deal that is sure to be entertaining." They replied dismissively, smile never faltering. In one swift motion, the red demon shoved Angel aside roughly to stand closer to Taylor. Angel protested but moved to the other end of the bar when Alastor snapped a warning grin his way. Turning back to Taylor, he spoke energetically. "Alastor, pleasure to be meeting you! A real pleasure! I'm the co-owner and patron of this charming hotel! Perhaps you've heard me from my radio broadcasts! And who are you, my fine fellow?"
Taylor stared at the red demon standing over them, smile never dropping as they waited for a response. The domineering attitude reminded Taylor of their parents, making them instinctively be on edge and project a fake display of confidence. Taylor recalled Vaggie's warning about not being intimidated by the charming speech and steeled themselves to keep their guard up.
"I'm Taylor. Nice to meet you, Alastor." They replied courteously, nodding their head in greeting.
The demon's smile grew wider and their crimson eyes seem to shine as they stepped back.
"Oh ho, it's a rarity to get one who shows proper respect down here!" he then smiled darkly and narrowed his eyes. With a malice in his tone, he growled, "lack of manners really leaves a bad taste in your mouth, like bad meat."
"Thanks" Taylor replied, a little put off but keeping their voice level. Wanting to change the topic, Taylor asked, "It sounds like the hotel is rather new. What did you do before then?"
Husk suddenly stopped chugging his drink and gave a spit take. He growled, incredulous, "kid, I know you're new, but how do you not know about the fucking Radio Demon?"
"Now, now, Husker, no need to admonish the ignorant!" Alastor chided. "You see, a while back, I regaled all of Hell with scintillating radio broadcasts of my exploits! It added a real dose of culture to Hell's abhorrent masses, and shifted the status quo as far as politics in the Pride circle were concerned!" Alastor proclaimed triumphantly, with a recorded sound of fanfare playing in the background. Leaning against the bar, Alastor then sighed contentedly, "such wonderful screams and pleas for mercy, those were the days." Standing back up suddenly, they continued, "but as time passed, my work started to lose its luster, and I was just going through the motions. But then I saw our lovely Charlotte's commercial on the picture show, and I saw an opportunity to alleviate my boredom!" Alastor's eyes narrowed as he spoke sadistically, "Yes, here I can indulge in watching the woeful souls strive to improve their wretched lives, only to succumb to their base vices and fall back into despair!"
Taylor took another swig of their drink as they processed the information. 'I can understand the entertainment angle, but what happens when the hotel shuts down, wouldn't he be sponsor to a failed enterprise? Seems counter to his prideful nature.' They mused. "I see. So should I expect some form of sabotage from you during my stay here, perhaps?" Taylor asked pointedly.
Alastor smiled with an amused grin. "Oh no! I'm quite sure you're more than capable of bungling this on your own without my help. After all, you're here in Hell for a reason, and there isn't anything we can do to change that!"
"Let's agree to disagree." Taylor said coldly. 'Some of us didn't have a choice, I didn't ask for this.' They thought angrily.
Alastor glanced back, eyebrows quirking up, and then shrugging. "I suppose time will tell, won't it? It will be most entertaining when you inevitably take a fall, and I'm all here for the show"
As their rage started to bubble, Taylor deciding that they'd had enough. Standing from their seat, they bade the other two demons good night, while purposefully ignoring Alastor.
"Thanks for the drink, Husk. Next time I'll be back with a tip. Night Angel, thanks for the company." They started to walk past the red demon when he grabbed their arm forcefully, stopping their departure.
"And here I thought you had manners. Not bidding your host good night is rather rude." Alastor's tone took on a predatory edge as they leaned in. "Careful with your disrespect. I can be a powerful ally or a dangerous enemy, your choice" Alastor warned.
"Let. Go." Taylor said, in a bristling tone. They tried to shrug off the hand, but Alastor didn't budge.
"Hmm." He lifted his eyes up in mock consideration. "No, I don't think I will." He smiled darkly. "At least, not until you apologize properly for your impudence."
Husker interjected to try to calm the situation down.
"Boss, go easy on the kid, they're new and don't know better." He pleaded.
"Quiet, Husker" Alastor snapped back, silencing the cat demon.
Taylor looked daggers at the taller demon, determined not to let any more of anger shine through. 'That's what he wants.' Taylor reminded themselves. With their other arm, Taylor grasped Alastor's hand to wrench it from its hold.
"I'm warning you, Alastor. Let. Go." They snarled.
Alastor grinned maliciously as their sclerae turned black and he clenched his claws deeper into Taylor's arm, causing trickles of blood to start forming.
"Make me." he dared.
The ambience started to change, with the room got noticeably warmer and an acrid smoky smell started to envelop the space. Alastor saw that Taylor's hair had started gleaming slightly and rose and fell in an undulating motion, giving the effect of a dancing flame. Steam started to emanate from Taylor's body as small balls of fire started to float around them. But the acrid smell was soon overlayed with the smell of burning flesh. Alastor minutely twitched as the heat from Taylor's hand burned through his glove and started searing the back of the hand gripping Taylor's arm. In retaliation, Alastor clenched his claws further, causing rivulets of blood to drip, staining their blazer as bones started to break. Alastor's pupils shifted to radio dials and his antlers grew to form several points as a dark aura manifested around him. Taylor grimaced at the pain but held fast, determined not to back down.
The two demons gripped each other in a test of wills, each continuing their assault to see who would back down first. The room swirled with the smells and sounds of burnt flesh, smoke, metallic blood, and radio static.
"THAT'S ENOUGH! STOP THIS AT ONCE!" Charlie suddenly bellowed as they appeared beside them. The porcelain looking doll demon Taylor knew was replaced by a furious demon with horns on her head, red sclera, and a spiked tail. Taylor's rage dissipated at the command and they let go of Alastor's hand. In turn, Alastor reluctantly released Taylor's arm. Both demons reverted to their normal forms and the air returned to normal as they held onto their injuries.
"Alastor, you promised not to hurt any of the hotel guests! And Taylor, this is not how to cleanse your soul and get redeemed!" Charlie scolded. Taking a breath, she continued, "Taylor, go get bandaged up by Husk and get to your room. Alastor, we got to talk."
Taylor just nodded and cautiously walked over to Husk, who had left the bar area and started ushering Taylor out of the lobby and over to the dining room area. Taylor sat heavily onto one of the chairs, and carefully removed their torn and stained blazer, being careful not to jostle their arm. Husk sat beside them with a first aid kit and asked warily.
"You mind if I examine you? I need to stop the bleeding."
Taylor just nodded as the adrenaline started to wear off. 'Stupid, letting my temper get out of hand. I really let Charlie down' They thought guiltily. Husk began bandaging up Taylor's arm as the thought came to them. "Where is Angel Dust?"
"Went to get Charlie when things were getting out of hand. She's the only one who can corral Alastor, but you really shouldn't have done that. He isn't kidding about the dangerous enemy bit. He's killed stronger demons for less." Husk explained as he finished up and started packing away the first aid kit. "Doesn't look like he managed to break your arm too extensively that I need to reset it, but it'll be sore for a few days."
Taylor thanked him as they got up to head back to their room. They passed by the staircase on the way up and saw Charlie and Vaggie telling off Alastor, who just stood rigidly and smiled tensely at the lecture. Alastor noted Taylor's appearance and his eyes narrowed for a moment before returning their focus to Charlie. Upon returning to their room, Taylor flopped onto the bed, thoroughly spent. 'Great, now I got two murderous demons to contend with. Fuck my afterlife.' They thought dejectedly.
Later on in his room, Alastor tossed the burnt glove into the fire blazing in the fireplace as he observed his injured hand. He played it off to Charlie as a mere superficial burn, but Alastor could see that the skin was bone-white and leathery, and some of his hand bones were visible, indicative of a deep third-degree burn that would be worrisome if he were alive. Normally the visual of maimed flesh didn't bother him, but the acrid metallic smell of coagulated blood was a stark reminder of how that newcomer hurt him.
"Interesting" Alastor mused venomously. "This is going to be quite entertaining."