The hinges creaked loudly as Isobel pushed the door open revealing the comforting pull of wind on her clothes and hair. She had not been on the roof since Lucifer had deposited her there after her fight with Enki. At that time she was crying, filthy, and tired. Now her eyes were dry and she was clean, but still tired. A new kind of tired. One born from the needy eyes of people all expecting her to be something she was not convinced she could be. The sun beat down on the back of her neck as she moved across the roof. The door slammed shut behind her and she sighed, finally alone. Up here it was quiet, just the whistle of the wind. She sat down and scanned over the cityscape. After several long minutes, she closed her eyes, laid on her back, and placed her headphones over her ears. She felt warmth on her face and a small slice of peace.
She didn't know how long she lay there. She may have even fallen in and out of sleep a couple of times, but she knew it was probably longer than she should have stayed. They would be looking for her by now.
A shadow fell over her face, blocking the light that leaked through her closed eyelids. She blinked one eye open and saw, back lit and standing over her, Lucifer. He smiled down with his wide sharp grin, leaning on his apple headed cane. The brim of his hat blocked out most of the light and made it seem like he had a halo around him.
"I haven't seen you up here in a while," he said, handsome as ever.
She shaded her eyes with a hand. "Haven't seen you in a while, period."
"Yeah, well, there was quite the commotion. Lots of loose ends to tie up, you know. There were a lot of scared people and Heaven is in an uproar about the whole thing. Rogue angels will do that."
"Oh, shit."
"Heaven says they're going to punish her but," he shrugged. "They also blame Hell for her behavior. You know, the corruptible nature of human souls, and blah blah blah."
"Nice to know she's still making herself a nuisance somewhere other than here," Isobel said, closing her eyes again.
"So what are you doing up here? Seems like this is always where I find you," he said, moving out of her sun and sitting down next to her.
"I needed a place to hide. I don't think they'll come up here."
"Ah, right," he gave a little laugh. "Charlie told me you brought a bunch of new people to the hotel. And that they follow you around like a pack of lost puppies."
Isobel rolled her eyes, "I think being a cult leader is a lot tougher than one thinks it would be. I think you have to already be crazy to make it work. You know, you've got to be drinking your own Kool Aid. Pun intended."
"Ha, ha, what?" It was clear that Lucifer did not understand the pun she was speaking of.
"Nevermind." Isobel said, sitting up and crossing her legs. "You sticking around for a while this time?"
"Yeah, I think so. Everyone here are magnets for trouble, you included. Might as well be here when it strikes again."
"It's not like we go looking for trouble. It just kind of shows up. Well, not all of us… Alastor kind of looks for trouble." Lucifer grumbled at the mention of the foppish ghoul.
"Right, right," he stood up and offered a hand. "You know, it was a peaceful life before all this hotel business."
"I think you mean boring." She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet.
"Let's go before disaster strikes again."
They walked down the stairs together, much to Lucifer's chagrin. He still hated stairs, but at least his misery had company. Immediately upon exiting the stairwell two of Isobel's followers found them. They looked almost frantic, and greatly relieved.
"There you are!" They exclaimed. "We've been looking everywhere."
"I'm perfectly fine, just needed some time alone."
Their eyes landed on Lucifer just behind her shoulder. Instantly they dropped their gaze and took a step back, meek and demure.
"Very sorry, Shepherd," one said. "We were not aware that you were in the presence of the King." They exchanged subtle glances with each other.
"It's fine," Isobel tried to wave them off. "I need to talk to Kali. Do you know where she is?" Her followers shook their heads apologetically. She turned to Lucifer. "I guess I got to hunt her down. It's nice seeing you around."
He tipped his hat at her and they went their separate ways.
It took a bit of effort to find Kali. Isobel looked first in the lobby, then parlor, then kitchen. She asked around but no one could pinpoint a location. She had all but given up the search and decided to just return to her room where she finally found Kali and a few others waiting at her door.
"Oh, there you are. Listen, we need to talk." Kali's eyes seemed very relieved upon seeing her. All these people were acting like Isobel had been missing for days instead of hours. "I really appreciate all you guys do for me, but I'm going to need some more privacy. You know, a little more alone time."
Kali put her hands up, "Say no more, I completely understand. They told me about how they found you. If I had known you were the companion of the King, of course we would have given you your solitude."
It was of course at that very moment that Alastor decided to turn the corner to walk down the hall. Isoble saw him behind Kali as he strolled toward them.
"Wait. What? No, ha ha, no," Isobel said pointedly. "It's not like that."
"I assure you, we do not hold judgment on you."
"I don't care about that. You just got it wrong."
Kali looked a little hurt and very confused. The others had practically ran to her busting at the seams to tell her that they saw the Shepherd coming out of the stairwell with the King where they both had obviously been hiding together. It all seemed very obvious. Kali had assumed that Isobel had wanted to keep whatever relationship she had with him private for fear of her followers thinking less of her being part of an illicit affair. But this was Hell, there were far worse acts one could take part in. Isobel made a sharp sigh, seemingly deciding something.
"I am not the companion of the King," she said and jutted her chin behind Kali. "I'm the companion of the Radio Demon."
Kali turned around to face Alastor. He stared down at her, tall and vain, with a very smug smile. Isobel knew he must be loving that fact that she publicly pushed Lucifer to the side for him. He also quite enjoyed the horrid realization on her followers' faces as they came to the understanding that she was tied to the ghastly Overlord they had been so desperate to avoid.
Kali turned back to Isobel, "I don't understand."
Isobel walked around Kali to stand next to Alastor. She threaded her arm through his.
"I am Alastor's companion," she said, a stern expression covering her face. "And I need more privacy. From now on I don't want anyone keeping watch outside my door." Kali and the others stared at her in silence. "Will this be an issue?"
Kali's eyes skipped from Isobel to Alastor and back again. She swallowed hard, bowed her head, and said, "Of course, Shepherd."
Isobel gave a satisfied nod as Alastor crossed past Kali, walking perhaps a little too close to her. He went to the door and opened it, holding it for Isobel to enter. He followed behind her, taking one last ominous glance at Kali, leaving her and the others in the hall.
As the door clicked shut, the followers looked to Kali. She could see the uncertainty in their faces. Her suspicions had been correct. Isobel's connection to the Overlord was far too close. However, she could not believe that it was anything sinister on Isobel's part. She, after all, still possessed her own soul. She had somehow resisted any ploy the demon tried on her, something most sinners could not withstand. Isobel had also kept her end of the bargain with all the souls she had collected. She had never once held them to a task against their will, never threatened or intimidated any of them. Come to think of it, Isobel had never actually mandated anything except this new plea for privacy. She had asked them all to stay at the hotel, but never said it was mandatory.
No. Isobel was still the virtuous, courageous, living soul who had spoken directly to God and faced down an angel. She was the Shepherd of the Lost and she would protect them from the oppression of the Overlords just as she said she would.
Kali shook herself from her thoughts and smiled at the others, showing that she herself was not worried in the slightest.
"Don't fret," she said. "I'm sure the Shepherd knows what she is doing. What better way to thwart the deals of Overlords than by knowing the inner workings of one?" They all mumbled half-hearted agreements. "The Shepherd still keeps our souls safe and untouched."
"But," a small voice rose from the back. It was from a young sinner who had only arrived a few days ago. She had not been part of the original group, she was not fully aware and did not fully appreciate the power of the Shepherd. She spoke meekly as she continued, "what if she decides to give all of our souls to the Radio Demon? What will we do then?" Kali slightly nodded her head as she placed a hand on the sinner's shoulder.
"Your fear and uncertainty have no place here," she said and then with a sharp crack she slapped the sinner across the face. Surprised, the girl clutched her face and fell to the floor. Shocked tears dripped from the corner of her eyes as she coward before Kali whose expression darkened as she spoke clearly and calmly. "I will not tolerate any negative speech toward the Shepherd. She is protecting us all. Being that this is your first transgression, I will not tell her of you insolence, but if I were you, I would atone before she sees you again. As for the rest of you," She turned toward the others, all of whom shrank back a step. "Let this be a lesson. There is no room for doubt. Now we all have other tasks to see to, I suggest we disperse and leave the Shepherd to her… privacy."
The others gathered the girl from the floor and went about their business. Kali glanced once more at Isobel's door. Somehow the Radio Demon had gotten his hooks into her leader. She was sure he was manipulating her for some dark purpose. The situation would have to be rectified.
