He was fuming, fit to be tied as he paced his radio tower. Stupid. There was no reason for her to go looking for Lilith let alone wandering the Pentagram right now. Was she mad? His demonic form was itching on his skin. He had already torn the doomsday district up, hunting down every single sinner that made any move against his wife, he was a man of word and he enjoyed tearing them apart but it did nothing for his anger now. Neither was his pacing.

His eyes shot over to the corner where his shadow had stayed suspiciously silently since returning to the hotel. There weren't many answers he could get right now but there was one thing that wasn't adding up.

"What took you so long?"

I was looking for her.

"Yes I know, but you've scouted the entire city faster than that. Something delayed you."

His shadow shifted a bit closer, moving from the furthest wall to be in front of him.

"Where did you go?"

She asked me to wait. That district is-

"She What!?" Alastor was sure his claws had now pierced the skin of his palms. "No." He shook his head. A deranged laugh escaped him. He was sure he was mistaken.

"No, you answer to me, I am your MASTER!" He didn't care as his antlers grew long and twisted, his eyes shifting black, his stature growing to fill the room.

"You don't listen to-" He stopped himself short. No, it was good Ellen had access to his shadow, a means of communicating at distances. It wasn't good that his shadow seemed to be taking orders from someone other than him, even if she was now tied to him for eternity. He let out a heavy breath, a whistling sound coming from his nose from the force of it. He slowly shifted back to his normal stature, though he was still shaking in anger. He pointed to his shadow.

"We talked about this. You are getting far too close to her." He fell into his chair, a hand up rubbing his head. He had noticed a while ago, his shadow eyeing her, giving her extra attention. It seemed all too happy to keep an eye on her. Not to mention all the goo goo eyes it gave him while he was trying to figure his thoughts and feelings for her. He had had many talks with his shadow about what was appropriate when keeping watch over her. He had received far too many reports of what she was doing in the shower; not what he meant when he asked it to watch over her. Cheeky thing.

"You don't make these sorts of decisions. I tell you to go find her, you find her and come back."

But I did.

"NO!," He roared. "No you went and…and delayed. Now she's on her own with…" He couldn't finish the sentence. She was stuck with Lilith and he couldn't do anything, she had access to his abilities, but he wasn't sure that would be enough even if it did come to that.

For now he could take solace in the fact he knew she was still alive. No pain, just a constant state of mild fear. She was smart…usually smart, she would find a way out on her own. He had no way of getting into the palace and there was no way in Hell he was going to ask Lucifer. The thought had crossed his mind asking Charlie, but she would be useless once there.

He was beyond angry at Ellen. She should have known better, but she wandered out anyway, without telling anyone. He was angry he hadn't noticed her absence sooner. He had felt minor tugs of pain, fear but he had pushed them off, he shouldn't have. He had gotten so used to the small pulls he just assumed it was normal day to day things. Small slips, stubbed toes, walking into tables, those sorts of things. It seemed she was getting better at hiding her emotions, at least from him. Not exactly ideal either.

His glare turned back to his shadow. "You're going to keep an eye on her, on that place and the second she passes that threshold you will let me know. No delays, regardless of what she wants."

It nodded and slipped out of the room.

He had seen his master angry before, many times, but never this mad, at least not at him. He did what his master wanted, he found her and returned. It was why he agreed to wait when she asked. It didn't cross his master's orders.

He quickly slipped through the district back to the big untouched building. He never liked the doomsday district, it was always a mess. The only thing good about it, was there were plenty of shadows to hide and zip between.

Once back to the palace he tried to slip through the fence but was stopped by an unseen force. He tilted his head confused. He had access to all of Hell, why not here? He had been able to slip though other protected barriers like the one into the room the King resided in.

He would sometimes watch his masters rival play with all of his rubber ducks. His favourite was the one that looked kinda like him. All black with two little horns, though the horns were a bit off. Not nearly as impressive as his own, but he didn't mind. He did have to unbury it often though like a little game of hide and seek, a game he enjoyed himself. He didn't know why the short man kept throwing it across the room when he found it though.

He never told his master he went to watch the short man, it was something he did when he wasn't needed. He also enjoyed dancing on the roof with her. She made his master nicer and more relaxed. He wasn't needed as often when she was around which meant he was free to do as he wished, a freedom he didn't have often, so he made sure to use it while he had it.

When he was sent to work he liked when his master would ask him to keep an eye on her. He liked her, she wasn't like all the other creatures down here. She had a funny way of doing things. Not to mention her shadow was pretty, even if it was only a simple shadow. She would look after him, like she looked after master, something like a mom, not that he really knew what that meant, but from the way his master talked about his mom, she was a nice lady that looked after and protected him. She did that. Sometimes he would go out of his way just to see her because she was always happy to see him.

On days that it rained acid, she wouldn't go to the roof, instead he would entertain her with little stories making shapes on the wall, and sometimes she would make her own shadows. She wasn't very good at it, but he didn't care. It was still fun all the same.

He darted around the fence line hoping to find a spot that didn't have an invisible barrier, but there didn't seem to be one. He wondered if there was a way to get over it, he would need something to create a shadow up high.

He made a few more laps of the property before he found it, when the sun set a little lower a building shadow would be in the perfect spot to see if he could slip over that silly barrier. Many people never thought about going above or under, stuck on what was in front of them. His master had taught him that. He learned quickly on his own that it was best to watch people from above, especially if he was to watch someone without being seen, no one ever looked up. Well, except her. She still wasn't as good as his master was at finding him, but she was definitely second.

He let out a few happy chitters as he waited for the sun to set a bit lower. He would make his master proud that he found a way in. That other lady, couldn't be trusted, he didn't like her, she was mean and cruel to master. Not like her, she was much nicer owning master's soul. He made a good choice giving it to her. She was special, he could tell. And once he made it in, he could help her if she needed it. He wanted her safe as much as his master did.

Ellen turned to follow Lilith, keeping a few paces behind as she was led through a hallway that seemed to be never ending. It gave an oddly familiar feeling, family photos hung on the black walls and the plush red carpet muffling their footsteps. She recognized some of the photos, Charlie had some in the Hotel hung on some of the walls there, even Lucifer had copies of some of these photos in his room. She did notice a few of a younger Charlie. And she had to bite back a laugh seeing an emo teenaged Charlie. Even those in Hell couldn't escape those weird teenage phases it seemed.

"You're brave, I'll give you that. Stupid but brave." Lilith called over her shoulder as they passed through a door that led into a large open room where a fireplace was centered on the back wall. Bookshelves lined most of the rest of the room, a few gaps for long nook windows. She wasn't too sure if this was supposed to be a library of some sorts or just a room to host guests. There were many comfy looking chairs scattered around the room in colours of purple, red and black.

"Take a seat, you'll be here for a while." She was waved to one of the chairs by the fire and she only hesitated for a second before doing as instructed.

Ellen couldn't help but feel uneasy, Lilith was acting a lot calmer than she thought. Almost greeting her like an old friend. If she wanted Alastor's soul it would be very easy for Lilith to kill her and find Alastor later. A thought she kept close to her. She needed to be alert at all times or she may not make it out.

Lilith took a seat across from her eyes on the fireplace, watching the flames dance. The door behind them opened loudly causing Ellen to turn quickly afraid it may be some sort of ambush or surprise attack. A short mole looking sinner dressed in a freshly pressed black suit, scurried in making his way to Lilith.

"Just a glass of my favourite red, Simon. Oh, and whatever our guest would like."

The mole sinner, Simon, turned to her waiting expectantly for an answer.

Ellen wasn't sure if this was some sort of trick. Was Lilith going to have her poisoned? That was usually considered a woman's weapon of choice.

"Um, just a glass of water please."

Lilith's laugh filled the room.

"You are not drinking water, come on now. What do you drink?"

"Oh, I don't really…"

"Don't you pull that shit on me." Lilith sat up glaring at her. "You're in Hell in the company of its queen. You will need a stiff drink, what'll it be?"

Ellen didn't know what to answer, she was being treated like a guest, not something she was expecting. Was Lilith trying to get her to let her guard down? Get her drunk in hopes of getting some sort of information out of her? When she didn't respond, Lilith rolled her eyes with an annoyed sigh.

"Simon, bring the bottle, two glasses and make it quick." She watched as her waiter zipped from the room in a sprint. "You'll have what I'm having then." She turned back to the fire.

Ellen took a steading breath. She came here for answers, and there was only one way to get them. "So what are you playing at here? You can have me executed easily, why all the wining and dining?"

"You've piqued my interest. Not many can do what you did, not to mention you have that washed up radio asshole wrapped around those little fingers or yours. Something even I couldn't seem to accomplish. And you are a simple mortal." She leaned forward. "Quite impressive."

Ellen eyed the queen cautiously. "So you're looking for a deal of some sort. You want me to do something for you."

She chuckled. "I think you and I could do a lot together. It's been awhile since I've met another woman like myself."

Ellen narrowed her eyes. She was sure many may have taken that as a compliment, but she didn't. "I'm not like you at all."

She leaned back smiling, a soft hum slipping from her lips. "No, of course you aren't."

The doors banged open again as Simon returned with a bottle of what Ellen would guess is red wine, and two glasses. He quickly popped the cork pouring the red liquid into each glass before handing them out; the queen first, then herself.

Ellen watched as Lilith took a sip, her smile curling up after the first taste. "Leave us."

Simon left with the same speed as he arrived.

"Now we can have our little girls chat. A heart to heart."

"You tried to kill me the last time we were together and now I'm one of the girls? No. I'm sorry I don't care to play these games. Tell me what you want, I'll politely decline and be on my merry way."

She chuckled lightly watching her glass as she lightly swirled it. "It's one of the best vintages you can get here. A challenge seeing as grapes don't naturally grow down here. But with a bit of luck and a touch of daffodils and lion's mane you get a nice blend. Not too sweet but not too dry." She took another light sip. "It's been one of my favourites for centuries."

Lilith's eyes moved to her. "I hope you aren't going to insult your host by not at least trying it."

Ellen looked down at the glass fighting her thoughts. It came from the same bottle, surely it couldn't be poisoned. Unless it was mildly tempered with enough to hurt her and not a demon. Maybe the glass was lined with something? She brought it to her nose giving it a small whiff. Her face soured, it definitely smelled like wine. She wasn't fond of wine. She would only drink sweet wines, or sweet cocktails. If she was trying to get drunk she could throw back shots, but for the most part, if it wasn't sweet, she wouldn't like it. It probably worked in her favour. She had a sweet tooth, alcohol was never going to be a vice.

"You can't possibly believe it's poisoned. My dear, I would like to keep you alive, at least until you've had a chance to hear my proposal. Drink."

She brought the glass to her lips taking a small sip. Yup she wasn't going to finish the glass. She was definitely not a wine girly.

"Now tell me. How did you get that man to do what you want? I've had millennia to master the art of manipulation and I clearly still have much to learn."

Ellen sputtered a laugh. Was she for real? "I'm not manipulating Alastor. I'm not like that. I just love him." She froze for a second. Why did she admit to that so quickly? It was the truth, but she didn't need to be so forward. Lilith didn't need to know that.

"So love is your secret hmm? I've tried that. I couldn't do it." She let out a sigh. "I did love Luci for a time. But we didn't see eye to eye on some important matters"

"Why are you telling me this? Do you think I'll just open up to you because you're giving me some sad sob story?"

Lilith giggled. "Oh of course not, that's what makes this fun. You can't lie. Nor can I at the moment, but I was being sincere when I said this would be a heart to heart. Truth serums are hard to find, gotta use them sparingly." She lifted her glass in a toast before taking another sip.

Ellen gave her an incredulous look. "This IS poisoned!"

"Poison no. Now how did you get Alastor to fall for you?"

"I didn't do anything, I just… I don't know, I was just myself. Why do you care?"

"I've never ever had anyone not do what I tell them to. He is the first, something about you stopped him from killing you. I want to know what it was. I can't have that happen again."

"I don't know how any of that stuff works. Why would you think I would know the answer?"

"I'm not going to get a chance to interrogate him, you're the next best option. It seemed too good an opportunity to pass up with you standing on my front porch, and he can't swoop in to save the day, not while you're here. What would be your best guess?"

"He loves me more than he fears you."

"He is incapable of love like every other creature down here."

"And that would be where you are wrong."

"I'm sure you think he loves you, he's waiting to get something from you. Your soul if I were to guess. How you got his, is beyond me."

"Charlie and Vaggie love each other. Lucifer loves Charlie, I love Alastor and I am certain he loves me. I'm sure there are many examples of people down here that love each other."

"So love is the answer," she mused.

"Just a theory. I'm not well versed in how Hell works. I'm still a bit new to it all."

Ellen pressed her lips together. This was nothing like the deal she had made with Alastor about being honest. She didn't have the chance to think about what she was going to say, it came out like it was obvious. She tried focusing on questions to ask to get answers or information that might be useful.

"What didn't you and Lucifer see eye to eye on?"

"He didn't want to rise against heaven. Instead he agreed to the yearly exterminations. The coward couldn't even help me rebel. That's when it went down hill. I took Charlie and left him. Heaven is where we belonged and he wouldn't fight for it, fight for me. How could I love him after that? Stuck in this wretched place for all of time." She shook her head looking away. "Pathetic excuse of a King, how the creatures see him as a King is sad. I ran this place while he hid away with his silly little ducks."

"He still loves you."

"Of course he does. A hopeless romantic that one is. He'll never love anyone else."

"Have you found anyone else to love?"

Lilith pressed her lips together curling into herself a bit. "No." She couldn't meet the mortals' eyes. "Not something I- it doesn't fit in my current agenda."

"Well." Ellen leaned forward giving Lilith a look. "As I recently found out, marriage in the afterlife is a big thing. Committing yourself to someone for eternity is not something many can do. But you and Lucifer got married, that means you guys were meant for each other."

"What?" Her eyes darted up to meet the other woman.

Ellen took another sip of her wine. "You can only be bound if your souls are truly compatible for all of eternity." She paused. "Though I don't really know if that applies to you and Lucifer. I imagine you guys are kinda different being the first lady and a fallen angel. Hmm."

"You are a wise young lady. Why?"

Ellen laughed. "I don't think wise is the right word. I've just been through some shit on earth that has made me a bit more cautious and careful. Not something I went out of my way to be. More of a necessity."

Lilith's face turned sad. "You've gone through some terrible things haven't you?"

Ellen shrugged. "I'd like to think I've gone through just enough, there are others that have been through worse. I feel lucky I've only had a few traumatic events."

"Is that a normal thing for mortals?"

"I can't say. Normal is such a subjective idea. What I see as normal may be odd for you. You're used to all this." She gestured to the room. "Hell, demons, death, all of that. This is normal for you. To me this is insane."

"I suppose you're right."

The two sat in silence for a while. Ellen took a few more small sips of her wine while Lilith had started her second glass.

"So what are you actually trying to get out of me?"

"I need Alastor's soul and you have it."

"I don't have the power to hand it over even if I wanted to, which I don't. I promised him I would keep it safe and I don't need to be a genius to know it wouldn't be safe with you."

"You're keeping it safe?" Lilith laughed. "But you're so easy to kill, how could he believe you'd keep it safe?"

"I still have it don't I? I think I'm doing a pretty good job. I'm tougher than I look. I've already proven myself many times that I will fight to keep him safe."

"You've saved the great Radio Demon?! Well, isn't that rich?"

"It's what you do for someone you love."

"There's that word again. Uhg. Love never lasts. Why do so many people put such an emphasis on it?"

"Because if it's done right it's worth it."

The queen rolled her eyes emptying half of her glass in one gulp. "It's only going to end in heartbreak, you know."

Ellen flipped her head from side to side. "Probably. Eventually I will either return to earth or I will die and likely end up in heaven. That doesn't mean it wasn't worth it, that I didn't have something to learn from it."

"You are incredibly naive."

"Funny, you were just complimenting my wisdom." She turned in her chair to better face the queen. "So what's with the recent uproar amongst the denizens of Hell? That's you right?"

"I don't know what you are talking about."

Ellen tilted her head to the side. "Half of Hell thinks I'm some sort of freak, abomination, unnatural. It happened basically overnight. I don't know anyone else with the power or motivation to do something like that."

"Interesting. Hell doesn't like you? Who'd have thought?" Lilith was refilling her glass.

"So you're saying you have no part in that?"

"I don't. Though I suppose I can understand why you would think so. You are a clever girl, no wonder Alastor likes hanging around you. He never cared much for simple, boring uneducated women." She took a large sip before continuing. "No, while it's laughable you think I care about you that much, I have no part in that."

"So Hell just hates me?"

"If the shoe fits…"

Ellen turned to look at the fire. She hadn't thought of that as a possibility. She was almost certain it was Lilith's doing. Maybe it was a mix of her and Alastor? If he held many souls, there had to be some that resented him for it, but half of Hell seemed a bit much.

Movement caught Ellen's eyes pulling her gaze up. Hidden in the shadows on the ceiling was Alastor's shadows. She quickly pulled her gaze away, but she couldn't prevent the smile. She pulled her glass up in hopes of hiding it a bit better.

"So you're not planning on killing me?"

"Planning, no. If it happens naturally, it works in my favour, but if that radio head is capable of ignoring my orders, killing you will only make him resist more. I'm afraid I can't simply kill you." Lilith's eyes darkened as she glared at Ellen. "Aren't you lucky."

That was a small weight lifted off her shoulders. She didn't have to worry about Lilith hunting her down.

"What could I give you for Alastor's soul?"

"Honestly?" She was surprised Lilith didn't seem to get the hint. It wasn't going to happen.

"That's why I had you drink a truth serum."

"Nothing."

"You can't be serious?"

"I can't lie. I suppose it's kinda funny. You didn't even need the truth stuff, I'm shit at lying. You probably could have figured this all out without the wine." She toasted her glass before taking another small sip unable to hide her smile.

"So what deep dark secrets can I pull from you?"

"Don't you dare…" Lilith warned.

"Oh come on, you seriously didn't think I wouldn't ask my own pointed questions?"

"I suppose I didn't consider it."

"Where have you been the past seven years?"

"Hmm. Heaven." She leaned back bored, gaze back on the fireplace.

"With Alastor?"

"No, he was with me. I owned him, remember?" Lilith glared at her.

"So why did you send him back to Hell?"

"Charlie."

"What?"

"Charlie would leave me voice messages whenever she was going through a hard time. The last one she sent she wanted help running her hotel. So I sent Alastor to help her. I couldn't go back to Hell. I only did it because Alastor broke his contract, no thanks to you." The queen shot her another hard glare. "I had to come make sure Charlie was okay, and now that Lucifer is there I'm stuck here." Her arm swept out, gesturing to the room.

Lilith sighed. "Heaven doesn't want sinners or demons up there."

"I know."

"How could you possibly know?"

"I've been to heaven, met with the Seraphims. They don't like that one has already made it up."

"WHAT?!"

Alastor's shadow had moved down the wall slowly, moving under the queen's chair. It was making little puppets of her walking to the hotel. It was time to go home. It took her a few seconds to remember what she was talking about before, her head feeling fuzzy.

"Yeah, Charlie already succeeded. Someone got redeemed."

She was a bit of a lightweight and the alcohol in Hell was definitely stronger than the stuff on earth. She set her almost empty glass on a table beside her, pushing to her feet.

"Well this has been fun Lilith, but I believe it is time I should go."

"What?"

"Alastor is looking for me and I don't want to keep him too long. I'm sure I've worried him long enough." She bowed low to the queen. "I will see myself out."

"No, no you can't leave. I haven't gotten my answer yet. How do I get Alastor back? I need him back."

Ellen chuckled. "You can't. But if I remember correctly you mentioned there were other heartless monsters down here. Unfortunately for you Alastor doesn't fit that description anymore."

She turned, making her way back the way she came.

"Everything has a price!"

Ellen smiled as she called back over her shoulder. "And some things are simply priceless."

The queen stumbled down the hall after her, clearly she wasn't the only lightweight.

"He can't get in here. The palace is protected."

"Oh I know he can't, and I'm sure I'll be getting an earful when I get back, but he and I have other ways of keeping in touch."

Ellen's eyes fell behind the queen as a terrible rendition of a shadow dog chomped down on the queen. She had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing. She was never good at shadow puppets and Alastor's shadow always teased her about it.

"Besides, your truth wine doesn't keep me from getting up and simply walking out. I did quite enjoy our little heart to heart though, Lilith."

"I'm not finished with you."

"Good. I'm curious on how this is all going to play out."

She let herself out the front doors and back down the walkway. She turned to find Alastor's shadow following close behind her.

"He's pretty pissed right?"

He nodded.

Ellen laughed. "Oh man he's not going to like the fact I'm tipsy and incapable of lying right now. Can you give him a heads up?"

The shadow chittered at her but zipped out of sight. Ellen pulled her hood up over her head, covering some of her face laughing. The next twenty minutes or so were going to be an absolute disaster and all she could do was laugh.

AN: Hope you all enjoyed this one! I had fun writing it. Looking forward to posting the next few. Cheers!