"Fuck me." Isobel dropped her head on the table.
"What's wrong?" Kali asked, concerned that maybe the deal had hurt her in some way.
"I didn't think that would actually work."
"Why not?"
"I'm not a demon. I've got to give it back." Isobel started to frantically leaf through the book in front of her.
"How?"
"I don't know!" She was practically yelling with hysterical frustration. "Maybe there's a way for you to take it back."
"But I don't want it back."
"Why not?"
"I want you to have it."
"I'm not an Overlord."
"Exactly."
"Kali," Isobel tried to regain some calm as she held her head, rubbing the bridge of her nose, eyes closed. "I can't just go around collecting souls."
"Why not? Everything is as it should be now. My soul is now under your protection, out of the reach of any horrid Overlord that would use it for their own purposes."
"What protection?" Who did this girl think Isobel was? How could she be convinced that she was putting all of her faith in the wrong person? "Any Overlord could easily kill me and then your soul would be forfeit."
"Well, firstly they would have to kill you twice over, because the first time you die you'll just come back stronger and better than ever!" As each word came out of her mouth they got more and more shrill from pure excitement. This was not comforting to Isobel. "You bested an angel, we all saw it. No Overlord would dare challenge you now."
"You sure about that?" Isobel was dubious. "I can't even protect myself here. The only reason I am still standing is because of the people who have helped me along the way, one of which is an Overlord. I am always the one who needs saving, not the other way around. I know you think I'm some hero from what you've seen on TV, but I'm sorry, it's just not true. I don't deserve to own anyone's soul."
"And it's that attitude that makes me sure that you do, in fact, deserve to own it."
Isobel howled in frustration.
Kali sat thoughtful for a moment. This was not the reaction she had expected
"Can I show you something?" She stood up and motioned Isobel to follow. They went to the front where Kali pushed open one of the doors revealing a group of about 20 sinners. As they turned their attention to Isobel, they all began smiling warmly up at her, something like relief on their faces. Kali beamed and leaned toward Isobel.
"I told them all how you spoke with God," she whispered with glee. "Just think with all of us at your back, you'd never have to depend on an Overlord to save you again." She took Isobel's hand and led her down the stairs and into the crowd. They all reached out to lightly touch Isobel on the shoulders and arms. Some bowed, some even teared up, and Isobel found herself stuck somewhere in between awe and disgust. She suddenly turned to Kali.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I promise I will find a way to fix this and give you your soul back."
"I told you. I don't want it back."
"I can't keep it. I can't do… whatever this is."
As quickly as she could and with many apologetic 'excuse mes,' Isobel walked through the crowd and away. She did not dare look back the entire trip to the hotel, but had the sneaking suspicion that they were following her at a respectable distance.
Up in his room, Angel primped and prepared for the day ahead. Looking mighty fine, if he did say so himself, he hummed and studied the mirror as he finished his eyeliner. A sudden rapping at the door pulled him from his concentration. As he opened it, he was surprised to find Isobel with an anxious expression on her face.
"I did something really stupid," she said.
"Come in," he replied. "I love stupid."
Isobel entered and waited until the door was firmly closed before blurting out, "I made a deal with someone."
"You what?" his anxiety matched hers immediately. "You sold your soul? Alastor's going to be pissed."
"No, the other way round," she said, putting her fists to her mouth to stop her from screaming hysterics. It took a moment for Angel to realize what she was saying.
"Is that even possible?"
"I didn't think so, but it happened."
"How?"
"A handshake."
"What?" Now it seemed like Angel was getting angry.
"I didn't think it would work," she tried to explain.
"So you fucked around with forces you don't understand?" He paced around the room at a loss for words. Isobel waited for him to process. "Who's soul do you own?"
"A sinner named Kali. She's the one that's been following me around. You know, from the, uh, cult."
Angel laughed, "Shit, you're dumb."
"I know," Isobel wailed.
"Your stalker offers to hand over their soul and you're just like, oh sure, sounds good to me?"
"Not exactly how it happened."
"I don't care how it happened," he snapped. Isobel wasn't surprised at his reaction. She knew it was going to be a touchy subject, but felt like he was the only one she could really talk to about it. She was afraid Charlie and Vaggie would think she had secret motives, and Alastor would be angry that she took a soul instead of giving it to him. Angel sat at the edge of his bed, running a hand through his hair. "Why would you take her soul?"
"It's not like that," Isobel sat next to him. "She just kept pushing. She said she would rather have me own her soul than an Overlord. I guess there are quite a few sinners living in fear of becoming pawns and slaves."
Angel sighed, "well, I can understand that."
They sat silent for a while.
"What should I do?" Isobel eventually asked.
"I don't know," Angel said. "Maybe lean into it." She looked at him appalled. "Hear me out. It's pretty sound reasoning. Who wouldn't want the choice to give their soul to someone they trust rather than be duped or threatened into selling it to a narcissistic asshole? Don't you think if given the chance, Husker or I would go back and do things differently?"
"So I start collecting souls, then what?"
"Nothing. That's the point, right?"
"It just seems wrong," She couldn't shake the feeling that this was a dangerous path.
"You're in Hell, what did you expect?"
Isobel left Angel's room not sure if their conversation was helpful. For the first time in her life she desperately wanted someone to tell her what to do. She traipsed aimlessly through the halls hoping that the steady rhythm of her steps would help her process the thoughts running through her brain. She wasn't paying attention and somehow the day gave way to the afternoon and the light began to fail. The shadows grew longer and the hallways dimmer. And suddenly she became aware that she was standing in the dark.
Down the hall a door sat ajar. A single stark beam of light spilling into the hall. Isobel recognized it as Charlie's office. She had seen it once before. It was a small room with a desk and many pictures pinned onto the walls. It was as if a vision board could be an entire room. Charlie had said it helped her think of all the ways to lead people to redemption. As Isobel peered into the sliver of light, she could see Charlie slumped in the chair, head in hands. Was she crying?
"You ok?" Isobel asked.
Charlie looked up with a start. She wasn't crying, though it looked as if she had been not too long ago.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, however, her tone made it very clear that she was not fine. "It's just the frustration of getting people into the hotel, you know. I feel like I've tried everything. And we had more people coming recently, but they didn't stay and now we're back to practically no one. I know this can work, but I don't know how to get people through the door."
Isobel gave her a sympathetic head nod. It seemed that everyone was having a rough time in one way or another. Charlie took a deep sigh, rubbed her eyes, and put on a smile.
"Well, I'm sure there is a way. Once I figure it out, it will be smooth sailing." She swiveled her chair back toward her desk and got back the plans for the hotel. Isobel left her to her work and continued to walk. It was somewhat comforting to know she wasn't the only one facing crises.
Not far away she found Alastor making his rounds.
"Good evening, Alastor," she said.
"And to you, Isobel," he stopped to chat with her. "Any other wayward creatures offer you their soul today?"
"Well, as a matter of fact," she was about to tell him what had transpired between her and Kali, but was cut off by the sound of Alastor laughing.
"Every time I think of it, it makes me chuckle."
"What?"
"All these wretches looking for some safe harbor for their souls, so they turn to you. They don't truly know you, do they?
"I guess not."
"But we know the truth, don't we?" He placed a hand on her head. "You're just as bad as me."
"Maybe." She wanted to push his hand away.
"The only difference is you wouldn't know what to do with a soul if you had one."
"Probably."
"And the thought that you would somehow keep them safe. Absurd."
"I mean, I was able to take on an angel, so."
"Oh, come now, dear," he said, now patting her on the cheek. "It was obvious that angel was of the lowest rung."
"Right." She smiled and for some reason Alastor did not see the bitterness behind it. He walked past her, but as he did he ran his fingers through hair. She watched him disappear around a corner then abruptly spun on her heel heading back the way she came. She stopped at the office and pushed open the door, startling Charlie.
"Go down stairs," Isobel said. "I think I have an idea."
Isobel raced to the crowd of people outside of the hotel. They were all standing in a circle listening to Kali who stood in the center. She was telling again the story of that magical moment when she was unburdened by the weight of her soul. She had passed it over to Isobel, The Shepherd of the Lost, and now she was safe and protected. The others listened enraptured. Many had already heard all about it earlier in the day, but couldn't help but be transfixed by the telling again.
As Isobel approached, the outliers of the circle caught sight of her. They poked at each other to get their attention. They parted to let her through. Though as she passed there were several who reached out to lightly touch her shoulders, arms, and back. Kali was elated. This was the first time Isobel had actually sought out her.
"What an honor for us," she said, bowing her head. "What can we do for you?"
"So I, uh, have been giving some thought about what happened earlier today." A murmur rippled through the throng as she seemingly affirmed what Kali had been saying all day. "And yeah, you're looking for a 'safe harbor' for your souls. I can do that." The crowd started to all talk in excited tones. "But I have a condition."
They all got quiet again waiting for her to continue.
"We should all be close together, right? Or at least you guys shouldn't just be hanging around outside all night. So I want you all to stay at the hotel and work on Princess Morningstar's path to redemption."
Everyone in the circle looked at one another muttering, and then back to Kali, who smiled broadly.
"If that's what you want, we will of course do it," she said.
"Great." Isobel clenched her fists and took a breath before putting her hand out. "Ok, who's first?"
