Tucked into a nearby alcove, Charlie hid, arms wrapped around herself. She bit her lip to keep from sobs escaping.

She never imagined such a conversation could happen on her account, least of all from Vaggie, and even more surprisingly from Alastor.

The demoness didn't know what to think, frozen in place as she sat on the floor listening, no strength left to pull herself away.

Was Vaggie in the right? Did she truly think of her as so weak and in danger from the Radio Demon? Or did the angel know something she didn't and that protecting her from Alastor truly was something worth sacrificing for?

Charlie just couldn't believe it. After everything she has said and done and experienced with the deer demon, she could never think now that he'd do anything to truly hurt her. Alastor believed in her, as demented as his methods could be, he wanted her to succeed. Though whatever that success entailed was another matter entirely…

Vaggie only had her best interests at heart. She wanted to protect her dream against nefarious parties; She wanted to protect her life. But Vaggie also lacked faith in Charlie's abilities. If the hotelier wanted to sing, or dance, it was Vaggie that tried to stop her. If she wanted to work with Alastor, it was Vaggie that didn't trust her perspective.

And Vaggie was willing to make a deal with the Radio Demon, just for her sake. But she didn't know if that amounted to love or just… something else entirely.

The realization hit Charlie like a ton of bricks and she hardened her heart for what might come out of her companions' mouths next.

…

"You know not what you say," crooned the Radio Demon, intrigued all the same from the proposition. "I would mind your words if I were you."

"I want you to leave Charlie alone and leave this hotel."

"And in exchange?" the deer demon asked, serious now, business-like.

"My soul."

Alastor's eyes flashed to dials, his tone deepening with static and tin. "You'll be bound to me. Your will chained to mine. Do not make such an offer so lightly." The air in the room cooled to ice, an unseen pressure rustled their clothes and hair. "You must live with the consequences of your choice for the rest of your days, or the remainder of mine."

Green magic seeped from his skin. It filtered into the air like a fine mist, turning the dimly lit hallways into a shadowy den. The lights flickered, their fixtures shaking. The tinkling of glass, like an earthquake passing through, shook the room.

She nodded, her lips pressed in a firm line. Resolute.

In response his antlers sprouted tongs, his smile growing to an unholy length across his face. "Be wise, dear! You cannot take this decision back!" He was giving her an out.

But she would not take it. "Do you accept my terms?" She stepped forward in her need for the deer demon to acknowledge her sacrifice. It was like stepping towards a hurricane, the strength of it pushing her back.

He didn't answer, a rush of wind picking up and tangling her long white mane around herself. Vaggie lifted an arm to block against the wind. "What're you waiting for? Do you accept?!" she shouted above the bluster of his magic, the pressure deafening.

The Radio Demon was silent, his face lost in thought. The air whipped around him, rustling his clothes and hair. But he was as unmoving as a statue.

But just as quickly, it all disappeared. His antlers shrunk, the green mist evaporated, the lights and the room settled. All was still. And Alastor was himself again, his expression morose.

He sighed. "I refuse."

"What?- Why?!" Vaggie yelled, her voice catching. "Isn't this all you want? More souls? More power?!" She stepped towards him and gripped him by the collar. He did not oppose her, his arms going limp at his side.

"You are mistaken about what I desire…" he said, deflated, wistful.

Vaggie shook him, angry tears threatening to spill over her cheeks. "Take the deal!" she shouted.

He shook his head, eyes aglow. "I cannot. As tempting as it is, I'm certain that to lose sight of dear Charlie's face would be as if I gave up a piece of my own soul."

Vaggie froze at that, her fingers unfurling from his neck.

"Not to mention the wrath she'd have towards me knowing I took yours," he continued.

"I knew it, you coward," Vaggie spat out, but she had lost steam.

Alastor's answer was not what she wanted to hear, nor was it what she expected. She wanted to hide from her misjudged shot, knowing that she couldn't take it back. She had accomplished little else besides looking like a fool.

"What do you know, dear?" he asked, almost serene.

"I know how you feel about her! I didn't think it was fucking possible." Vaggie put her head in her hands, wanting to laugh at her own pathetic mistake. She never should have doubted the man.

"Oh? Didn't we cover this? I covet Charlie's influence and her dominion over Hell. That is all." His voice was stern.

Her eyes narrowed. "Liar. You'll never quit, will you?"

"Until my bitter end," he murmured, an ironic sneer to his tone.

Surrendering to her defeat, Vaggie turned tail and fled back down the hallway.

…

Charlie had nearly burst out of her hiding place the moment Vaggie offered up her own soul. How reckless, impulsive, and controlling of her! And even worse, if the Radio Demon had accepted? Her girlfriend's soul would be bound in chains, and she'd never see Alastor ever again. Things were close to going so, so horribly wrong. Charlie was furious!

But a part of her was relieved. The second Alastor had refused, the demoness's horns retreated back into her hair and she calmed. And the reasoning he gave… partially to save his own skin but also… he never wanted to not see her again? He didn't have to say that, the blonde thought. But he did, and she witnessed it all.

Charlie's feelings were mixed by what she heard from the deer demon, but she couldn't feel that at all right now, as she was brimming with an unholy rage. How could Vaggie try to take charge of her life like that? Sure, it might've been done out of her flagrant need to protect her but at what cost? Stupid! And Alastor, with his enigmatic responses, still utterly confused the demoness.

The Princess of Hell stomped down the hallway towards her own room, trying desperately to calm her anger before confronting the former angel. It felt both too late and far too early for an argument of this caliber but Charlie just didn't know what to do with all this outrage and bitterness she felt coursing through her veins. Her blonde hair was already loose from its ties, swaying in the now dense, smoky air of the hotel, the heat erupting from her own skin.

Charlie slammed her bedroom door open, but Vaggie wasn't there. The window was open and a light breeze fluttered the curtain.

The demoness eyed the blowing curtain and made her way up to the rooftop.

…

Vaggie was on the roof balcony, her wings manifested in a burst of emotion. She looked upon the city of Pride below, the dark red sky reflecting her sorrow back to her.

"Vaggie!" Charlie entered, furious.

"Charlie, I–" the gray angel was caught off guard, not expecting to be found so quickly. Nor did she anticipate the intensity of the anger in her girlfriend's eyes.

Vaggie could sense the storm brewing within the demoness, and she braced herself for the inevitable confrontation. She felt resigned, cowed, but apologetic for what seemed like the hundredth time in weeks. Her anger once directed at Alastor had all but centered itself back into her.

But before she could say anything, Charlie's fury erupted like a fiery tempest.

"How could you, Vaggie?!" Charlie's voice echoed across the rooftop, raw with pain. "Offering up your soul like that? Without even considering the consequences? Do you have any idea what would have happened if Alastor had accepted?!"

Vaggie had acted out of desperation, a misguided attempt to regain what little control she had left in her homelife in Hell.

"I'm sorry, Charlie," her voice tinged with regret. "I thought I was doing what was best for you. I wanted to protect you!"

"Protect me!?" Charlie's voice cracked with steam, "Is that what you call it? Trying to make decisions about my life without consulting me? You don't get to decide what's best for me, Vaggie!"

"I know!" Vaggie shot back, her single eye welling with tears. "I made a mistake. I never meant to hurt you!"

"Did you expect I'd never find out? That Alastor might take your soul and disappear forever!?" Charlie's eyes were bleary too, her throat choked with emotion.

"Alastor is evil, Charlie. He's a murderer! He kills your people for looking at him wrong. I wanted to protect you from his influence!"

"This again!" Charlie threw up her hands, exasperated from the retreaded topic. "Alastor has done wrong in the past. But he's not like that anymore! He's changing!"

"How do you know that? What if he's just lying to you? Tricking you!?"

"Because if he's lying to me I'll learn to forgive him like I forgave you!"

Vaggie recoiled as if slapped, silence echoing off those final words. She visibly deflated, her wings drooping at the condemnation. She lied about a core part of her being, being an angel… being an exorcist. She was filled anew with shame and hatred. She wasn't quite over it herself, the wounds of the betrayal still fresh in her mind. Charlie had it in her to forgive the former soldier, but could she forgive herself?

"I thought I…" Vaggie faltered, losing the thread of her own argument. "I was doing this for us. For our future. For the hotel..." she tried to recover.

"Was this for us? Or was this for you!? Because if Alastor was gone I don't even know what I'd do next!"

"You care about him…" It wasn't a question.

"Huh? Of course I care about him! I care about all of you!"

Vaggie wanted to laugh at how intentionally blind she had been. She chose to look away, ignore the comments, to trust Charlie with all of her being. "Do you have feelings for him?" she asked.

Charlie's flame momentarily extinguished as she reared back in surprise. "Why're you asking me this?"

While Vaggie's fire was lit anew. "Do you, Charlie!? I've seen you two sneak off together, dancing, touching, talking behind locked doors! Should I be mad about something else?"

Charlie scoffed, incredulous. "Don't you dare turn this around on me! Me and Alastor have never done anything nefarious if that's what you are accusing me of!"

"Then what's with all the secrecy? The meetings at all hours of the night!? I've learned to turn a blind eye towards all of it but it drives me batshit hearing what the others say about you both!"

Charlie couldn't reveal the real reasoning for her constant attention towards Alastor these days, it wasn't her plight to share. But if it would make her understand…

She skipped over the first questions, feeling more dastardly than ever before, but her anger clouded everything else. "I can't control what other people say!"

"But you never deny a thing! You never correct them. You never even turn away from Alastor's constant touching!"

"Er, I–" Charlie had no excuse there. She did let Alastor have basically free reign of her hands and face (and back and shoulders…) That was just the type of guy he was though! "We're close…" the demoness mumbled pathetically. She took a step back, unable to retort as a whirlwind of thoughts and memories sprung to her mind, all centered around the deer demon. The way he held her, teased her, supported her. When he smiled genuinely, when his staticky voice crackled with laughter, when he trusted her… she wanted all of that, and she wasn't prepared to lose it.

"I should've kicked him out when I had the chance," ground out the former exorcist, a cross expression covering her face. Her arms rigid with anger, like she'd enjoy nothing more than to beat Alastor to a pulp. She flexed her hands to rid themselves of the pulsing adrenaline, an ache to squeeze the cool metal of her spear. "He's only driven us apart."

Charlie had had enough. She broke from her stupor and stepped back towards the angel. "Alastor has only tried to protect this hotel! D-does this even have anything to do with him at all? You keep turning it around on him and– and you keep saying you're doing this to protect me but this feels like it's all about you!" Charlie stumbled over her words, unsure of the direction things were barreling towards. She felt out of control and lost, disbelieving of this argument she was having with her girlfriend of years.

"It's about us! Every time I've tried to talk to you about him, you defended him. Everyone defends him. I felt crazy for being wary about the Radio. Fucking. Demon! Don't you know how alone that made me feel?"

"Why didn't you just…" Charlie's shoulders sagged in exhaustion. "Trust me? Talk to me… instead of jumping to the worst possible conclusion? Making a deal?"

Vaggie's gaze fell, once more in remorse. "I was desperate. You're the first person I met in Hell and I have no one else. Banished from Heaven, alone in Hell. I have nothing!"

"Vaggie… I'm still here… and there's Angel and Husk and Niffty… All your friends!"

"I felt replaced by the demon whose company you preferred. And even I messed that whole thing up." Vaggie wilted, her forehead drooping to rest in her hand. "Lying to you, killing innocents during the Extermination… all this time I've tried to punish myself for it…" Her voice fell into a trembling whisper. "Maybe I thought selling my soul was part of my penance."

Charlie's anger ebbed away, replaced by a deep sadness. "…I wish you just talked to me… we could've worked through this together… you don't need to punish yourself." Charlie stepped tentatively towards the haunched woman across from her. "I love you, Vaggie. But if we can't trust each other, then what's the point?"

Tears welled up in Vaggie's eyes as she realized the depth of the rift between them. "I- I don't know..." she spoke, her voice breaking. "Can you forgive me this time?"

Charlie turned away, unsure. "Some day, but not right now."

Charlie had never felt so torn. She could see how Vaggie was hurting, how deep her wounds traveled, far deeper than any argument about Alastor or the hotel could go. She wanted to believe that this was just another typical hitch in their relationship. But it felt so much wider. She couldn't shake this feeling of dread that curled in the pit of her stomach now. The trust between them all but shattered, replaced by a chasm of uncertainty and doubt.

Vaggie only sighed, wiping at the remainder of her tears. "I understand. I've failed you, as your protector. I've only caused you more suffering."

"Stop with the self-flagellation! You're not some martyr!"

Vaggie wanted to laugh, she felt so foolish now, and could only dig her hole deeper. "Isn't that what redemption is all about? Righting all of my wrongs? Can an angel even return to Heaven?"

"I don't know," Charlie said, hugging herself. "I don't know anything. I'm still trying to figure it all out."

"But with Alastor by your side."

Charlie sighed. "It's way more complicated than that…"

"Tell me how, please, I can't live in this darkness any longer."

She should tell her, Charlie thought sullenly. Honesty could salvage this. How could she admonish her about her lack of trust when she couldn't trust her with this secret? She'd be a hypocrite not to. And their connection was hanging on by a thread, this deep well of mistrust and guilt widening beyond all hope. Could she try to bridge it with the truth?

"Alastor…" she began, swallowing a lump in her throat. "Alastor's dying."

"What?" Vaggie's single eye widened, that being the last thing she expected to hear.

Fighting whatever pangs of conscience she felt, Charlie briefly explained the Mark on his chest, its growth, and the only possible result that they knew of: his inevitable demise.

"I wanted him to live the remainder of this life as meaningful as possible. I wanted to try and redeem him, I wanted to…" her voice wavered. "I wanted to do as much as I could…"

Vaggie's expression traveled through a myriad of emotions. Guilt and shame mostly, for the feeling of triumph that initially struck her at the news. And seeing her girlfriend now, weeping for the sake of another… Vaggie knew she had already lost. "Charlie… Why didn't you tell any of us? We could've helped…"

"I can't! It's not my burden to share! And how would you help? Even my father doesn't have a clue!" Charlie bent over, wracked again with sobs. She was reminded of her failure to assist the Radio Demon, betraying his trust even now. All to try and preserve the remains of her shattering relationship. She felt so careless.

Vaggie came towards her, wings folded behind her in supplication. She wanted to soothe her, but she was empty, her emotions constantly shifting at the sight of her crying companion. She didn't want Charlie to feel this way, so pained. Her ire tripled at the thought of the Radio Demon, with his ability to command the feelings of the demoness, to distract her with his issues, but also his ability to comfort her, make her laugh, make her smile. Something she had been struggling to do for too long now.

Vaggie's fists clenched, her anger evaporating. What could she do? She couldn't compete with the way he made Charlie feel. And she'd never be able to quell the hatred she had ever brewing beneath her facade.

"I'm sorry, Charlie. About everything."

The demoness recovered and the two quickly embraced. Holding each other, they wept silently, the finality of this moment hanging in the air between them. The weight of their argument acted as an invisible burden that drove in the stake that would tear them apart. They fought it as best as they could, neither one wanting to be the one to release the other, knowing that this might be their last.

"I don't know how to fix this, Vaggie," Charlie whispered, her voice the first to break the silence.

Vaggie pulled back slightly, her face filled with pain and bitter acceptance. "I know," she replied softly. "I love you, Charlie… but maybe it's for the best if we…" she squeezed her eye shut, unable to finish.

Charlie's heart clenched at the words. "...Go our separate ways?" she attempted to complete. She didn't want to say 'break up.'

Vaggie nodded, fresh tears streaming down her face. "I think it's what we need to do… I think it's something that I need."

"I'm so sorry, Vaggie. I'm so sorry I made you feel so alone. I'm still here for you, even now, you know that? I'll always love you." Charlie pulled her back into a hug and the pair remained in each others' arms until they lost track of time.

The world felt like it was collapsing all around them. Charlie had wanted to fight for their relationship, to hold onto the love that they once shared. But there was a deeper part of her that knew it was already too late. The damage that was done had cracked the foundation of trust and she couldn't bring herself to sacrifice anymore to save what was already slipping through her fingers. It was a bittersweet realization.

Their hearts were heavy with what could have been and when they eventually released one another, Vaggie took this moment to decide to leave the hotel temporarily. She would be back, they had sinners to redeem after all. She didn't want to completely abandon all that they had worked for, but she needed time and space away from the things that caused her pain. She still felt a bitterness towards the deer demon, despite knowing the truth of his plight, and Vaggie wanted to distance herself from that feeling, afraid of how next it may manifest.

She clutched Charlie's hands one more time and they both turned to look out over Hell.

The sun was peeking over the horizon now, a searing redness of heat that blossomed over the two former lovers, signaling the brand new day and a new beginning.

…

"Why didn't you accept?" asked Alastor's shadow, his face a jagged frown. "The soul of an angel could have helped us greatly."

"What a half-witted question," said Alastor, in no mood to continue this discussion. He often did not want to talk to his shadow these days, their ideals deviating further and further apart.

And his shadow truly sensed this, its figure quaking in frustration to be dismissed once again. Souls on the line and not a single step made in the right direction. The shade made itself wide and ominous for a moment, trying to threaten the deer demon into action.

But Alastor would not be swayed, his eyes distracted and staring off into the distance.

What a day, he thought airily. Alastor wondered how Charlie would take the news of her lover attempting such a bargain. And how would she take his rejection of it?

…

In a room, far away from the hotel, a man watched, his body turned towards a myriad of tv screens that much resembled his own appearance.

On one screen was a gray angel, swooping down from her perch atop of a hotel balcony, her single eye sore with tears, the weight of a goodbye on her shoulders.

Vox looked upon the screen depicting Vaggie, and played it back for the visitor over his side. He looked wary, his mismatched eyes lopsided in hesitation.

"What does that sinner filth think she's doing?" the voice asked, her white bobbed hair flicking across her face.

"She moved out soon after this video was captured, packed bags and all," replied Vox, mechanically.

"And where did she go?"

Vox shrugged. "We lost track of her once she left the hotel. But there's only so many places for her to go."

"Well fucking track her down then! How hard could it be to spot a winged bitch?"

"She put her wings away…" mumbled Vox, clearly annoyed, jagged teeth sighing.

"What did you say?" the sinister angel asked.

"Nothing! Christ, I'll look out for her!"

Lute nodded, gladdened by his subservience to her. What did a mere sinner demon have to say compared to an angel in Heaven? Especially a lieutenant turned commander of the exorcist angels?

She scoffed, looking at the TV demon. For an overlord he sure was pathetic, she thought haughtily. But he had his uses in surveillance and knew many such scum that she could use towards her own goals. And Vox hated that excuse for a hotel, just as much as she did.

Lute craved its downfall, its destruction, its demise. After what happened to Adam…

She clenched her hand into a fist, still missing her other arm. The pain of its removal still pulsed an anger through her golden blood. She couldn't rest until the Hazbin hotel's inhabitants were buried under the rubble of its making.

Damn any pacts with the Hellborn, damn any ancient decree from Heaven. She would do what needed to be done. Lute didn't care, she only saw red. While the head angels of Heaven had their plans and their plots behind closed doors, Lute decided to take action. She could gather what data she could, some sort of weakness, or fault and exploit it somehow. Or maybe she could just take them all, on her own. She was powerful, but with a missing limb…

With one last sneer at her company and a final command, her projection vanished without a trace.

Vox sighed. Usually he would be more excited about anything concerning the downfall of the Hazbin Hotel and his rival Alastor, but those Heaven fuckers were not to be trifled with. Lute could rend him limb from limb and banish him to the void in the blink of an eye. And with that crazy expression she had deep in her eyes, Vox did not doubt she would do it without hesitation.

Vox wasn't royalty, or Hellborn. He was just a sinner demon overlord, who held power to a degree, but not quite the kind to go toe-to-toe with an angel.

He would do what she said, for now. Or as far as her little commands got him close to the downfall of the Radio Demon.

But her focus was skewed, odd, and ravenous. And it worried the TV demon. Valentino and Velvette also didn't know of his machinations and wondered at their possible reactions.

Would Val care knowing his beloved Angel Dust was in her line of fire? Would Velvette mind his collaboration with Hell's greatest enemy?

He shook his square head of the thoughts, his face a motion blur of doubt and insecurity.

Vox had his own plans, and his own ideas of how to get there. If Lute could help them along, so be it. If he had to mess with Lucifer's golden child, or the angelic cyclops, so be it.

Alastor was going down and he had Heaven on his side.

...

AN: Whew, and here it is. This was a very hard chapter to write. Knowing how Charlie and Vaggie are like in the show, I couldn't imagine them ending in a completely sour way, so building to that end needed time.

And also another reveal! LOL how much more complicated can it get!

Thanks for reading! Next week, I'll be taking a quick hiatus for the holidays. Hope you all are well and have a happy holiday yourselves! See you in a bit and Enjoy!