Elida stepped through the portal but gave Alastor his space. This was his moment, not hers. She legally had to be there to supervise, but she would do her best not to intrude. He'd never been so openly vulnerable before, and she wouldn't be the one to make him clam back up. He deserved a little break from his Hell.
The resemblance between Alastor and his mother was easy to see. She might not have any hooves or deer-like features, but she had the same sharp face and narrow frame. Her hair was in a well-kept afro, and she wore a frilly red apron covered in a thin layer of flour. She kissed her son's cheeks and forehead over and over again, peppering him with years of pent-up affection. He squeezed her as tight as he could, pouring everything he wished he could have said to her over the years into the hug. Her absence was like a constant ache in his chest that he could never quite ease, a chronic torture that he had no way of escaping.
If it were anyone other than Elida watching, Alastor may have held himself together more carefully, but he knew this might be the only other time he'd get to see his mom again, and he wasn't going to waste it on a mask. There were no enemies here; something that hadn't happened since he'd expired.
They might have held each other for hours or seconds, no one could really tell. It didn't matter. His mom smelled like a well-loved kitchen. They stayed there, kneeling on the soft ground until both their tears were spent. Eventually their breathing slowed, and they managed to stand back up again.
Ms. Hartfelt turned to smile at her other guest, "It's nice to meet the person who brought my kid back to me," she said, extending a hand, "I'm Lafawnda, but you call me Mama."
Elida walked forward to shake her hand, only to be pulled into a surprise bear hug. "Oh! Okay, ha, it's good to meet you too." She laughed and kissed Lafawnda's cheek, "Your son has been very good to me the past several months."
"Aw, aren't you the cutest little thing," Mama patted her cheek, "Come on in, let's get some food in you." She ushered them both through the door and sat Elida down at a dining room table laden with mouthwatering dishes. Some of them she'd recognized from times Alastor had cooked for her, but others were unfamiliar. There wasn't a single thing on the table that didn't look incredible. Mama had prepared enough to feed a small army. Elida's mouth watered from the aroma.
"Al, honey, why don't you come help me? I need some baguettes sliced while I get the jambalaya finished up."
"Yes, ma'am," he obeyed, hanging his jacket on a rack by the door and rolling up his sleeves. There were scars on his arms that were usually covered by his shirt.
"How can I help?" Elida asked.
"Oh, no you don't!" Mama pointed a wooden spoon at her, "I'll not have a guest in my house lifting a single finger, you hear me? You just sit yourself down and relax. Have some beignets." She pointed to a plate covered in warm pastries coated with powdered sugar. They sizzled as if they'd come straight out of the frier.
"Isn't… Alastor a guest, too?" Elida couldn't help but point out, bemused. She happily grabbed one of the tantalizing treats and took a bite. It was so good that it made her want to melt into the floor and never eat anything else ever again. She let out an involuntary moan of pleasure that almost made Alastor blush. He made a mental note to make more beignets for her later on; he wanted to hear that sound again.
"Don't be silly, darling," Mama waved her off, "He's not a guest. This is his house, even if he doesn't live here. I don't care where he goes, my home is his home."
Alastor's smile reached his eyes as he prepared the baguettes, placing the slices into a basket for the table. He wished he could have helped make the meal; it had been such a long time since he'd had the chance to cook with his mother. But he'd take what he could get. He placed a kiss on his mother's forehead before taking the bread to the table and sitting down beside Elida.
Her eyes were closed, savoring another beignet and licking her fingers. He'd seen that same expression in other contexts, too... It was prettier on her than on the porn demons. His eyes lingered on her until she opened her own and saw him sitting there. She gave him a content smile. "I noticed your mom has the same symbols in her house that I've seen materializing around you. What exactly are they?"
"Oh, those? They're veves," he explained, dutifully going over what each one meant as they waited. Elida listened in fascination, thrilled to hear about a form of magic that she knew very little about. Voodoo and witchcraft were very different things.
When Mama came to join them, he stood, took the pot of jambalaya from her hands, and pulled her chair out for her. Elida suddenly understood where he'd learned his manners. She smiled to herself as she watched the two interact. It made her happy to know that Alastor had had the chance to know what it was like to be loved. In all their conversations, he didn't talk much about his parents, and it was good to know he had at least one good one. Quietly, she wondered where his father was. She didn't ask. This was not the time or place.
"So how long have you two been together?" Mama asked, "I didn't think my Al would ever take a girl, it's good to see he's got such a sweet doll. You know, you were so close-lipped about how you'd get him up here to visit I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever show. Here," she scooped a large helping of jambalaya onto Elida's plate, "Eat! You're such a tiny thing."
"Oh, we're not-," Elida began before Mama interrupted.
"How long until I get grandkids?" She was just so excited. It was adorably mom-ish, even if she was mistaken. "I'd be happy to babysit when you need alone time. I'm going to teach them all French. And I can fill a whole room with toys for them during visits!"
"Ha ha! Never going to happen," Alastor responded.
Elida contemplated the strange sting of disappointment she felt at his comment. It was an odd, out of place reaction, and she wasn't sure why she had it. She took a bite of jambalaya. It tasted just like the kind her Allie would make. She liked it when he cooked for her. She liked a lot of things about him.
Elida nudged Alastor's shoe with her hoof, "Rumors among demons are one thing, but this is your mom. She should probably know the real story." His foot inched toward hers a bit when she pulled away, but he ignored the ridiculous impulse to press his ankle against hers.
"What real story?" Mama laughed as if Elida had said something completely silly, "My Alligator has been telling me all about you in his letters."
"Ma…" Alastor pinched the bridge of his nose wearily.
"He speaks very fondly of you." Mama tore into a slice of bread, still smiling, just like Alastor always did.
"I'll let you handle this one," Elida surrendered, looking at her friend.
"Quite right, darling," Alastor agreed, placing a napkin on his lap. "We have much to discuss."
So, he began to explain, starting with his own death, the exterminations, Lilith, the hotel, and so on, filling in the gaps he'd left out of the letters. Mama's smile never faltered, listening quietly to her son describing his predicament, his friendship with Elida, and the contract he'd signed that let him visit. He gave her a copy of the deal for his soul, hoping she'd be able to help look for the backdoor he needed.
"So, you see," Elida spoke up after he was done, "While we're up here, I'm more like his parole officer. I had to get the chess pieces in just the right place to make it happen, but here we are. If I'd known about the Lilith thing, I might have been in a bigger hurry, but what can you do?"
"I'm adopting you," Mama said plainly, "You're mine now. Have some more shrimp."
"I wish my stomach was bigger," Elida laughed, trying to force down just one more morsel. She was stuffed.
Alastor, having eaten entire people on his own in single sittings, could eat everything on the table and still have room for dessert. He gladly devoured everything his mother kept scooping onto his plate, having no reason or desire to complain. Dish after delicious dish disappeared, sacrificed to his insatiable appetite. Hours of chatting and munching later, and the sun dipped low on the horizon.
"Why don't you two go have a little break outside, I'll get this all cleaned up. If you follow the stone path out to a little bench, you'll have a lovely view of the sunset," she winked at her son when Elida's face was turned away. He rolled his eyes but didn't argue.
"As you wish," he said, putting his coat back on.
"Are you sure I can't help?" Elida asked, trying to pick up a dirty dish.
Mama lightly slapped her wrist, "Put that down and go get some fresh air. When was the last time my baby boy saw the sun?"
"Huh… I don't know… Allie?" She looked at him quizzically.
"Other than today? Only a few months," he answered honestly, "Right before you came to the hotel, as a matter of fact. For most demons, it's been far longer."
"Lilith?" Elida asked.
"Lilith," He confirmed.
"No wonder you're so peaky," Mama said. "Go play outside, come back when you've seen the stars." She pinched his cheek.
"Ma, I'm not five."
Elida snickered. Alastor elbowed her. Mama shooed them out the door, grinning.
Mama watched her son and his… 'friend'… as they walked off. When they were far enough away, she snapped her fingers, and the mess from dinner was gone in a blink; replaced with clean dishes and a clear table. Her son had to learn his craft from someone, after all.
She faded into the swamp, following at a safe distance to watch the interaction between her baby and this new player on the gameboard. Clearly, her secretive little boy was trusting this girl with his most vulnerable secrets, which made her the most dangerous person in his life. If her alligator was getting attached, no matter what kind of attachment it was, she wanted to know who he was spending his time with. So, she traveled through the shadows, listening to them converse.
"She's the most adorable person I've ever met," Elida giggled, taking Alastor's arm as they followed the stone pathway.
"Delightful, isn't she?" He agreed, "She's improved some of her recipes."
"I might go into a food coma," Elida placed a hand on her too-full stomach, "It's like she thought there were a dozen of us. I wonder how long it took to make all that."
"Likely all day," he mused, "Though who can say? She's a practiced chef, which saves a great deal of time."
"I'm surprised you didn't insist on staying with her while she cleaned up. We only have so much time before we leave."
"Arguing with her always ends the same way, it's best to save time and skip to the part where she gets her way."
"She reminds me of you."
"That is a compliment of the highest regard."
"For you or her?" Elida teased.
"Both," he teased back.
"I wish we didn't have to leave," she sighed. "I really do like her."
"Technically, dear, you don't. You're an angel, you live here," he pointed out. "All souls have their place. Mine has never been in Heaven. Visits will do well enough."
"We both know I can't abandon the hotel. There's too much at stake, and I'm not leaving you behind, either. At least not until we figure out how to set you free. It's not right that you had to sell your autonomy for the sake of your life."
"May I remind you that I own several of my own souls, too?"
"Souls that come to you for far worse reasons than just wanting to survive. You've bragged about them too often for me not to notice the patterns."
"Not all of them."
"Maybe not. But my opinion remains the same. You don't have to be perfect to deserve control over your own body and soul."
They spotted the bench. It was simple and white, with a circle of mushrooms surrounding it. It sat at the edge of a clearing that overlooked a sparkling lake. As the sun began to kiss the edge of the horizon, the sky lit up in an artful blend of pinks and oranges. After they sat, Elida closed her eyes, letting the sun warm her face.
"It's too bad there's only two options," she mused, breathing deeply in the warmth.
"Two options for what?" Alastor had no interest in the sunset, instead watching his friend enjoy the warm air.
Mama noticed the look in his eyes; it was one she had never seen on his particular face before, but one that had crossed the faces of more men than time itself could remember. If she'd been corporeal right then, she'd have clutched her happy heart. He might not have accepted what he felt for this girl quite yet, but he was a smart kid, he'd figure it out eventually.
"Two afterlives," Elida explained, "It's just too simple to be fair. Humans are complicated. We all have light and dark, some more than others. Where's the grey area for the souls that fall in the middle? Does divine judgement just flip a coin? I don't like it." She leaned her head on his shoulder, opening her eyes to watch the sky change colors.
Alastor leaned his head on hers in response. "Life isn't fair, sweetheart, so why should death be?"
"That's stupid."
"Isn't it, though? But I suppose our dear Charlie's hotel is as close to a grey area as we'll ever get."
"Can I ask you an uncomfortable question?" she asked.
"You're going to ask anyway," he stated.
"You don't have to answer."
"I am fully aware."
"I won't ask again if you don't want to talk about it."
"Stop stalling and out with it, then."
Elida adjusted her position, moving her hair back and nestling a little further into the crook of his neck. "Did Lilith ever… take advantage… of you?"
Alastor stared at the pink clouds, remembering a myriad of humiliations at his owner's hands. He hated Lilith for more reasons than he was inclined to count. "No," he answered, "She did not. Not in the way you're thinking." He wasn't being fully honest, but it wasn't strictly speaking a lie either. That was more open to interpretation.
"I know demons do that a lot with the souls they own. You don't, but I know a lot of them do. Like that Val guy."
"Yes, they do, but the queen had other uses for me."
"What kinds of uses?" she asked, sadness in her voice.
"You don't need to know," was all he said, poking her in the nose with his staff.
Elida stopped talking, not wanting to upset him. He'd shared enough uncomfortable truths for one day. Instead, she just sat there with him, watching the wildlife dance in the last rays of evening sun. Slowly, the swamp changed, the creatures of the night waking up and moving about their version of morning.
Mama heard all this and was about ready to set the world on fire. This was unacceptable. She was going to go through that contract of his a million times if she had to. Queen of Hell or not, Lilith had messed with the wrong soul. Mama was going to make her regret it. With her son settled, she went back to her home and got a few things ready for them to return, then sat down in her favorite rocking chair to work her way through that damned contract.
As the stars began to blink to life, Alastor had his own question. He'd prodded her about this topic before, but she'd been very secretive, always either dodging the question, changing the subject, or telling him that he didn't need to know. Maybe she'd finally be willing to share.
"Darling," he asked, "I have my own query."
"Shoot," she responded.
"What will you do if the hotel fails? You said you had a failsafe, but that it was dangerous."
She hesitated, which was a good sign. It meant she was thinking about answering. After a moment, she sat up, removing her head from his shoulder and looking at his face, "I suppose it's only fair. You told me your secret; I can tell you mine. But Allie, if this plan gets out before it's time, it could undermine everything I've worked for. I won't be able to do it. And if it does come down to this, there's no going back. Do you understand? I could end up dead or worse. I'm hoping it never comes up."
His grin widened. This was going to be juicy. "What is it?"
Elida checked over her shoulder for eavesdroppers, a habit she'd learned from her time at the hotel and leaned in to whisper in Alastor's ear. He listened to her as she described her plans. With every word she spoke his grin grew wider and wider. She was a genius. A magnificent, completely mad genius. There were not nearly enough souls in Heaven, Earth, or Hell combined that properly feared what she was truly capable of.
It kind of made him want to kiss her… which felt bizarre. He'd never wanted to kiss anyone before.
"Good golly," he exclaimed, "You've had this plan the entire time?"
She nodded, "I started forming the idea the moment I learned about the exterminations. I've been polishing it in my mind ever since. I haven't even written it down, in case the notes got stolen or found by the wrong person."
"I see why," he admitted, "That could go horribly for you, ha ha ha!" He broke out into a bout of manic laughter, thinking of the terrible series of events that would both lead up to, as well as follow, the failsafe plan Elida had mapped out. It would be the hottest tea in centuries, at least. He clutched his stomach, his cackles nearly forcing him to the ground.
His trademark radio laughter lifted her spirits a bit. Most people found his laugh creepy, or weird at best, but she just thought it was contagious and cute. She smiled despite herself. Eventually, she started to laugh too. It started as a crinkle at the edge of her eyes and a bubbling in her chest. It grew and grew until she broke out in her own uncontrollable giggling. She buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking as they both tried in vain to get themselves under control. Her predicament fueled his own, and their laughing just kept getting worse.
It took several minutes to be able to breathe again, by which time they'd both fallen to the ground grins wide and moss in their hair. "Ho, gee-wiz, that one got me good," Alastor remarked, smiling up at sky, which was now full of stars.
Elida stretched out, yawning, "Man, I needed that." She turned to her friend. The tips of their noses brushed together ever so slightly. "You're my favorite person, Allie. You know that?"
He took her chin in his hand, "And you're mine, love." He kissed her nose like she had done herself to him time and time again. He, on the other hand, had never done that before. She suppressed a blush. She didn't do a very good job of it.
"Let's get back," he suggested, "Ma said we could return when we saw the stars." He stood up, holding his cane out to help her off the ground and brushing the dirt from his pants. She plucked a bug off his antler. It crawled on her finger for a moment before lighting up and flying off with the rest of the fireflies.
She smiled at it, "We didn't have those where I'm from. They're so cute and happy-looking."
They spoke of insects, frogs, and venomous snakes on their way back down the path, arm in arm like always. Elida wondered if Lucifer would know the exact number of people who'd been killed by snakes throughout all time. It seemed like something he'd probably know.
When they got back, they found Mama waiting with a fresh batch of soothing tea. She sat them down with a tray of light snacks. "Welcome back, dears. I've made the guest bed up. I'm afraid I only have one, but it's big enough for the both of you." She poured Elida a cup first, who drank it without waiting for it to cool. It was still boiling. Mama raised an eyebrow but didn't comment. Perhaps she might need to get the frosty little girl another blanket.
"That won't be necessary," Alastor dismissed, accepting his own cup, "I don't require sleep."
"Yeah," Elida confirmed, "He doesn't even have a bed in his room."
"You go into his room often, do you?" Mama's smile widened.
"Stop that, Ma."
"I'm sure I don't know what you mean," she sipped her own cup innocently. "Well then, if you're not sleeping, then neither am I. We have a great deal of catching up to do." She squeezed his fingers affectionately. They were like knives, but she didn't mind. "Elida, dear, why don't you go rest? I know taking care of this boy can be a handful," she winked.
"You have no idea," Elida quipped back. "I have to stay in the same room as him though," she yawned again, despite herself. "Condition of him being allowed up here. I can stay awake too, if I try." She downed the rest of her boiling tea like a shot, letting the heat warm her from the inside out.
"Don't be silly, darling, you're exhausted," Alastor took another sip. "We'll sit in the room with you, you get some sleep."
"Oh, I don't want to keep her up," Mama protested.
"Ha! Please," Alastor waved that off, "This gal could sleep through a nuclear blast. Even found her sleeping in the lit fireplace once, curled up with our housekeeper like she was a stuffed bear. There was a brawl at the bar ten feet away and she never even stirred."
"Is that right?"
"Hold on," Elida stared at him, "Who was brawling? When did that happen?"
"Oh, don't worry, dear, I took care of it. Come along now, let's get you to bed." He pulled her chair out and held out a hand to help her up.
Mama tucked her in like a child, kissing Elida's forehead and making sure she had a glass of water. She gave her an extra blanket to try and stop the shivering that the poor thing was trying in vain to hide. Alastor knew it wouldn't be quite enough, so he snapped his fingers, creating a little fireplace in the corner of the room to cozy the place up a bit.
He and Mama sat on the edge of the bed on the side opposite Elida and talked quietly together through the long night. Alastor had never been so happy for his insomnia than he was in that moment.
