Lafawnda Hartfelt was startled at the frantic way her son knocked on her door. It was loud and panicked. She'd been expecting a visit, not an attack. Concerned, she opened the door to ask him what was wrong. But he wasn't there. It was only Elida. She was crying. She rushed forward, crashing into Lafawnda's chest and squeezing her desperately for comfort.

"Mama, she took him! She took him! She took him and I couldn't do anything about it!"

"Who took him? What's going on, honey?"

"I tried to stop her," she sobbed, cold face buried in Mama's bosom. "Who knows what she's doing to him right now?"

"Why don't you come inside, and we can talk? I'll make gumbo."

Elida sniffled and nodded pathetically, "Yeah, okay."

Mama guided the poor thing inside and sat her down at the table with a cup of tea, "Who took him, dear?"

"Lilith."

Mama froze. "I see."

Mama held Elida for some time, letting her cry. She brushed her hair back, and handed her a handkerchief to dry her tears with. She whispered soothing words until Elida had calmed down enough to talk sense.

"I don't know what to do," Elida whispered.

"You don't have to do anything."

"I tried to find them. I tried so hard. But they just disappeared!"

"You did your best, dear."

"What if she hurts him?"

"He's a tough boy. He'll be alright, I'm sure," Mama didn't sound sure.

Elida sipped her tea, hands shaking, "All this time and we still haven't' found a single loophole in his contract. I hope you've had better luck."

"I'm afraid not," Mama sighed, "I've spent every spare moment pouring over that God awful stack of paper, and it seems completely air-tight."

"Alastor's ownerships are like that, too," Elida admitted. "And mine now, too."

Mama whirled on her, "Don't tell me you sold your soul, as well?"

"What? No. Three of Alastor's rivals tried to trick me into it, but I switched the documents on them and ended up owning their souls instead. It was either that, or risk Alastor being hunted by every demon in Hell for who knows how long. It's a long story."

"A fascinating one, I'm sure."

"The point is, Allie and I have worked so long and hard on understanding these eternal contracts, that if there were a loophole we'd have found it by now. He's stuck. We can't find any backdoors."

"So, what's plan B?"

"I don't think I should say it aloud."

"That risky, is it?"

"Potentially. And it could have major consequences that even I can't predict."

"Would telling me make you feel better?"

"No. It would probably just make me feel like a disgusting monster."

"Best to keep it to yourself for now, then."

"Yeah." Elida sipped her tea, sparkling tears rolling down her cheeks. After a few minutes, she spoke again, "I came to the hotel to help people. And I have. But I'm powerless to help the one person I love the most. Not in any meaningful way. Even if he got to a point where he could be redeemed, we've proven that souls can't ascend if they're still owned. He's stuck, no matter what he does."

"The one you love most?" Mama raised her eyebrow, "You've grown that close, have you?"

Elida blinked in surprise, "Did Allie not tell you? He writes to you almost religiously."

"Tell me what?"

"We've been a couple since Halloween."

"He absolutely did not tell me!" Mama sounded livid.

"Oh. Oops."

"I'm going to whoop that boy senseless!"

"I'm sure he just wanted to tell you in person," Elida eased.

"Is it a secret?"

Elida snorted, "Not even a little bit."

"I called it, you know. Do you have a grandkid baking for me, yet?"

"I absolutely do not."

"Well, get on it!"

Elida shook her head, but dropped it. This was Alastor's fight, not hers. She moved the conversation along, "What I want to know, is why was Lilith visiting Heaven's archives? How did she even get up here? Why doesn't she want Luci and Charlie to know where she is? None of it sits right with me."

"Who can say? Someone as ancient as her has to have their secrets." Mama moved to the kitchen to start cooking. No guest in her house would be going hungry if she had anything to say about it.

"I wonder if it's connected to her reasons for keeping sinners in the Pride Ring…"

"What do you mean?" Mama grabbed her favorite pot.

Elida sat back in her chair, thinking aloud, "Well, I've been spending a lot of time getting to know Charlie and Lucifer. Charlie doesn't really do much ruling; she doesn't seem to care about power so much as she cares about kindness. It's what I admire most about her. Plus, she's only a few hundred years old. So, Lucifer and Lilith have always been the ones running things. Today was the first time I met Lilith, and she didn't seem nearly as sweet or nurturing as Charlie and Luci said she was. She felt dark. Very dark."

She continued, "I've been working Luci over pretty hard. Getting to know him and becoming his friend. At least, as much as I can without scaring him off. He's such a sweetheart. Charlie takes after him quite a bit. Anyway, when I felt like I was close enough to him to get away with it, I asked him if he'd be willing to open the other circles of Hell. My data shows that more room to breathe would create an environment that would be easier for demons to be better people. It would be less of a kill-or-be-killed kind of situation, if that makes sense. My thinking was that if they could spread out, more people would make progress toward improvement, even outside the hotel. Then, when they felt ready, they'd already be part of the way towards redemption, and the rate of ascension would skyrocket."

"How did he respond to that?" Mama asked, genuinely interested.

"At first, he tried to dodge the question. He seemed kind of uncomfortable with the topic. But eventually, he let it slip that he isn't the one keeping sinners in the Pride Ring. Lilith is. All my work to try and convince him to open the other rings was pointless, because he wasn't the one doing it."

"And that's the woman who owns my son?"

"She was horrible, Mama," Elida wiped another tear from her eyes. "She radiated power and cruelty. I could feel it, like the hairs on the back of my magic's proverbial neck were standing up. I felt so helpless. What reason could she have to keep the sinners confined, like that?"

"I may just be an old, dead, voodoo-woman," Mama said, stirring something in her pot, "but I'd be willing to bet good money that it has something to do with why she was in Heaven in the first place."

"You think it's all connected?"

"Don't you?"

"I suppose it has to be," Elida conceded. "But what does she get out of all this? She's already queen of Hell. She has everything anyone could ever want; power, influence, a loving family, wealth, even a crown. All she has to do is say the word and she can have anything she desires. What else is she after?"

"Power is addictive," Mama said, "and it can drive some people mad. She may have an end game that we're not seeing, or she could just be so hungry for more that she'll never be satisfied. Some people just can't be happy, no matter how far their ambitions reach."

"I wonder if maybe she-" Elida snapped her mouth shut at a knock on the door. They both went quiet, tension filling the room like a thick fog.

The door knocked again. Mama put her pot down and straightened her back, "Who is it?" she called.

"It's me," Alastor's static voice replied.

Mama tried to open the door, but Elida got there first, flinging it open with a fury. His clothes were disheveled. She looked around frantically to see if he was with anyone. He wasn't. Whatever she'd done, Lilith wasn't with him anymore. Elida pulled Alastor inside and bolted the door, squeezing the afterlife out of him.

"What happened," Elida asked, "Are you okay? What did she do?"

"I'm quite alright, no need to fuss. It's nothing I can't handle," Alastor extricated himself and straightened his tie, only for Mama to take Elida's place and mess it up again.

"I'm glad you're okay." Then, she grabbed him by the antler and forced his head down to her level, "Don't you scare me like that again, young man, you hear me? Now get in here and stir this pot before it burns."

Alastor removed his mother's hand from his antler and obediently tended to the pot of gumbo. He taste-tested it; it needed more cajun spice. He added some. Mama got to work on some fried chicken.

"Allie," Elida asked, "Where did she take you?"

"I'm afraid I am not permitted to disclose her location," he said plainly.

"Did she hurt you?"

"No."

"What did she do?"

"She wanted me to cook her dinner."

"That's it?"

"No."

"Are you unable to tell me, or do you not want to talk about it?"

"Both."

"Do you want me to drop it?"

"Yes."

Elida sighed, "Okay. If that's what makes you comfortable."

"Thank you."

Mama changed the subject, "Enough about that; why didn't you tell me you were finally dating this sweet girl?" She glared at him, hands on her hips.

Alastor paused. He hadn't told her because he didn't know how. He dreaded the inevitable 'I told you so' that she was certain to lord over him. "I wanted to tell you in person," he lied, continuing to stir.

"I just knew she was a good girl for you," Mama said, right on cue.

"Yes, yes, you're very clever," Alastor rolled his eyes.

"Now you can make my grandbabies."

"Ma, stop that."

"Ha! I've waited patiently for a hundred years, and this is the first doll you've expressed any interest in. No way am I letting it slide."

"Can I help with the food," Elida asked, attempting to rescue poor Alastor from his mother's onslaught.

"Ah ah ah," Mama wagged her finger, "Until my little alligator makes you my daughter in law, you're still a guest. Now go sit and relax while we take care of this."

"Slow down," Alastor said. He sounded like he'd been expecting this.

"Why?"

"You're getting ahead of yourself."

She smacked him in the arm with a wooden spoon, "Is that any way to speak to your mother?"

Alastor sighed wearily, but he was actually incredibly happy to see her, wooden spoon and all. When dinner was ready, they sat and talked about mundane things. Elida made Mama laugh several times. Alastor made no less than seven stupid puns. Mama made them both eat way too much spicy gumbo. Being with his two favorite people did wonders to lift Alastor's soured mood.

When the sun went down, and the world got sleepy, Mama made up some excuse about being tired. Really, she just wanted to give Alastor some alone time with his girlfriend away from demons, and queens, and hotels. He'd had a hard day, and he needed the chance to relax somewhere safe. Mama would be that safety for him, just like she'd always been. She kissed his forehead, patted his cheek affectionately, and disappeared into her room.

Elida twirled in a circle, her pie-stained day clothes transforming into a clean nightgown. He watched her as she wound down for the night. She was so precious to him. The thought of being forced to hurt her made him want to tear the world apart. And now Lilith knew about her. She knew who she was. She knew he cared about her. That was exactly what he'd been worried about; love was too easy to exploit. Vox had tried it, and now Lilith. She would wield Alastor's love for Elida against him like a weapon, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Well, almost nothing.

"Elida," he said softly, standing at the foot of the bed as she climbed in.

"Hm?" she asked, sleepily.

He moved to join her, lying down beside her so he could look in her eyes. "I need you to do something for me." He spoke softly, cupping her cheek in his sharp hand.

She looked back at him, her soft, intelligent eyes scanning his, "What do you need?"

"If I ever say 'I am your enemy' to you, I need you to run. Leave Hell. Leave me behind. Leave the hotel. Leave everything and get as far away as you can. And remember, that no matter what led up to it, it is not because I don't love you. It's because giving you that warning is the only way I can protect you. Can you promise me that?"

Elida looked up at him as he leaned over her. She was no fool. Something had happened with Lilith. "Are you afraid that you might be forced to hurt me?"

"Please promise me."

"I won't promise to run. But I'll agree to recognize you as a threat if you tell me that you are."

"Deal?"

"No deals. Not here. Not without you telling me why you're saying this to me."

Instead of arguing, Alastor kissed her. He didn't know how long he had to cherish her before everything fell apart, and he didn't want to spend that time fighting in circles. She'd understood his meaning, and he had to trust her to do the smart thing.

She kissed him back, tasting the hot sauce still lingering on his lips. He was so gentle with her; something that took a lot of control. Her hands rested on his chest while his own moved from her face down to her waist. He loved her so much it hurt.

Her blanket was getting in the way. Alastor moved it aside, pulling her closer. She started to pull his jacket off, but he stopped her.

"I'd like to keep it on, please," he whispered. She nodded, stopping the motion without pulling away. He kissed her again. The lack of insistence from her only strengthening his appreciation.

Alastor wanted to keep his own clothes on, but he didn't say anything about Elida's. He wasn't ready to flip a switch and give Elida everything, but he was willing to try taking some baby steps. He wanted to see what she looked like when she called his name in the night. So, he moved his hand lower. He grabbed the hem of her nightdress and slowly pulled it upward.

"What are you doing?" she asked breathlessly.

"Do you want me to stop?"

"Don't you dare."

[Spice Warning Begins]

Alastor didn't stop. He pulled the gown over her head and tossed it aside, reclaiming her mouth with his. She shivered underneath him, but this time it wasn't from the cold. Now the only thing between her and his hands was a thin pair of lacy panties. He left them there for now, instead running his fingers over one of her breasts.

He massaged it, teasing her nipple as carefully as he could with his knifelike fingers. He was glad she was an angel. He'd have sliced right through her if she were anything else. She didn't seem bothered. She gasped at his touch, breathing heavily into his kisses. Alastor's hands explored, brushing across her stomach and thighs. She felt like fine satin; cold and smooth.

Pulling away just enough to look into her eyes, Alastor sent his fingers lower, reaching into the only garment she had left. He teased his fingers over the silky patch of hair, tickling her lower lips. "You're so soft," he sighed, the tip of his nose brushing against hers.

She tried to reply, but a wave of pleasure stole the words from her lips when he dug his fingers deeper. "AhhHhhH," she groaned, back arching.

"Shhhh," he hushed, leaning down to nibble her neck, "just relax."

"Yes sir," she managed say, surrendering to him.

"Good girl."

Alastor pulled her underwear down, giving him better access. When they were out of the way, Elida opened her legs to him, and his fingers found her clitoris. He made sure to use the pads of his fingers, rather than the claws. He rubbed the sensitive nub up and down. Her body responded erotically, moisturizing his hand. He could feel her throbbing beneath him; it made his own body stiffen with desire. She made him tingle in ways he never thought he would want.

He flicked and stroked, changing the pattern of his movements to draw the most moans from her throat. She was looking straight into his eyes when he brought her to orgasm. Her pupils dilated, her mouth opened, and she grasped his shirt like her life depended on it. She involuntarily cried out his name, hips bucking with the delightful release. He silenced her with another kiss.

The bed got colder, Elida's control temporarily giving way to pleasure. He liked her ice. It felt good against his fire. He breathed her in, still rubbing her clit even as she writhed desperately beneath him. She fell limp to the bed, shaking and panting. Her bare chest rose and fell while she gaped for air. Her legs shook. He gave her a few more strokes for good measure, then took his hand away.

Alastor licked his fingers, "Mmm. How is every part of you so delectable?" Turns out, she really did taste like ice cream.

Elida was unaccustomed to speechlessness. She'd been touched before. But something about the look in Alastor's eyes stole the words from her mind. There was more love there than she knew what to do with. She was so vulnerable; completely at his mercy. She'd have done anything he asked just then. If he told her to crawl on the floor and call him master, she'd have done it.

Body still twitching wonderfully, all she could manage to say in response was, "I love you, Allie."

[Spice Warning Ends. TLDR: Alastor pleasures Elida with his hand. The intimacy brings them closer.]