Chapter Text
The Morningstar family home sat on the outskirts of the Pentagram, far away from the obligations of city life. It’s said Lucifer commissioned the manor to resemble Victorian gothic architecture, a subtle nod to Lilith’s preferred darker color palette. Gothic-inspired indeed.
A long stone staircase led up to the ominous estate with its steeply pitched roof and spires that clawed toward the sky. The manor, while small by royal standards, still hosted many bedrooms, multiple entertainment rooms, and long singular hallways that boasted gaudy purple marble pillars. If kept up, the manor was probably a sight to behold. However, after years of sitting abandoned, the manor only exuded an ominous presence. The woods surrounding the house didn’t help. It seemed constant victim to a heavy fog that killed the trees, leaving them snarled, gray, and bare.
Despite it’s gloomy presence, Alastor didn’t mind the manor itself. He didn’t consider himself particularly picky when it came to homesteads and he figured he’d lived in worse places. What he did mind was the wind that whistled through the old wooden walls. How there could be a fog accompanied by so much goddamn wind, he couldn’t fathom.
Thankfully, the music from his radio drowned it out for the most part and he tried to keep himself grounded by replaying his favorite songs from the 1920’s. He couldn’t remember a time when he felt so restless.
Lilith, who oddly had been sticking around the manor, was absolutely done with him. He had been kicked out of her study for ‘disturbing’ her several times today. Like he gave a rat’s ass. His seclusion from the world was her fault, not his.
Regardless, on his final visit to her two hours ago, she produced a very nice bottle of bourbon and proceeded to politely request him to fuck off. Alastor didn’t consider himself one who was bought over easily, however, he decided he’d humor her and take her offer. It’s not like he really had anything better to do, anyway.
This was how Alastor found himself lounging in one of the chairs in the entertainment room beside a burning fire with his favorite musical era playing on his radio as he leisurely sipped the expensive liquor and stared into the fire.
Despite his mood, he couldn’t bring himself to feel annoyed over Lilith’s dismissal. He had a feeling something had happened that day. What about, he hadn’t the slightest. Lilith had been tense but when asked, she refused to speak with him about it, leaving him to ponder. Rationally, he knew the woman had many things that could cause her worry, but he couldn’t help his thoughts wandering to a blonde-haired princess. A part of him had hoped the liquor would help quell these thoughts. But the lack of news coverage on Charlie since her release from the hospital had him on edge. Why hadn’t she announced redemption was possible? Is she not doing as well as he had believed? Would Lilith even tell him if something was wrong with Charlie?
It certainly was an awkward topic between them. He wouldn’t say he was a lustful man by any means, but the relationship that had developed under unusual circumstances was complicated, to say the least. He didn’t know what the fuck he was feeling most of the time he was thinking about her. And, predictably, the liquor was not helping him clear his head.
The sound of someone rapping against a far-away door broke his inner turmoil. In an instant, his antique radio quieted and he tilted an ear towards the source. Sure enough, after a few moments he heard the squeaky hinges of the front door push open.
His ever-present smile widened to the point of baring his teeth. Ah, it had been so dreadfully long since someone had last trespassed on the property. There was a good chance Lilith wouldn’t have heard the door on her end of the manor, and being the gentleman he was, he would be delighted to rid the house of the problem.
Out of the corner of his eye, his shadow grew along the wall behind him, its smile curled up in wicked amusement. “Seems like we’ve got company, ole boy. Let’s go greet them.”
Alastor stood from the chair, summoning his mic in his right hand after brushing off his collared shirt. He left his overcoat that was draped across the back of the chair opposite his as he strode through the room and out into the hallway. He had just washed the thing and didn’t feel like getting blood out of it quite so soon. Outside, the winds were picking up and in the distance he heard a boom of thunder. Perfect. That would do well to mask the screaming.
Small sconces lit the hallway Alastor traveled down, and one by one they went dark as he went by. The prospect of any type of entertainment would have had Alastor giddy, but an intruder? For an abandoned royal estate there were far too few attempts at break-ins for his liking.
The layout of the manor was square, with two twin hallways leading to the grand foyer from either side. The sitting room he had been in was fairly close to the front of the manor, meaning his walk was relatively short as he kept to the shadows. He heard the door push open further, and using his phasing ability, Alastor melted himself down and spawned behind the open door.
His teeth sharpened in his mouth with saliva pooling at the ready. His claws flexed in anticipation. He heard a few tentative steps, and in a matter of moments, said the trespasser would pass through the threshold and be his for the taking. He stepped forward out of the darkest shadows, his hand reaching out. But the sight of long golden hair banded three separate times had him stopping in his tracks.
Tentatively the figure stepped past him and into the foyer, calling out an unsure, “Hello?”
Alastor’s heart pounded relentlessly against his ribcage. Was he finally losing his mind? Was he this fucking crazy he was starting to hallucinate this girl?
“Hello?” Charlie called again, louder and more drawn out. She seemed to pause, surveying the space. Panic filled him. Should he leave? Melt into the shadows and greet her from the hallway like a normal person?
Alastor’s indecision cost him, and shock kept him frozen as Charlie turned, her eyes naturally searching through the dark space. When she had pivoted enough to see him, she screamed. Loudly.
Alastor’s ears flattened against the skull-piercing sound and he rushed forward, clamping a hand around her mouth. Did hallucinations scream? He had no fucking idea.
Charlie ripped his hand from her mouth, gasping out, “Alastor!”
Before he could blink, small arms wrapped tightly around his torso. The scent of vanilla tickled his nose when she pressed her head against his chest. His wound burned against the pressure but he barely felt it.
“Charlie?” He spoke aloud. He mentally smacked himself. Heavens, this was the first time he’s seeing her since the maze and that’s all he can think to say?
Slowly, his hands came up to grip her shoulders, gently prying her away from him. He could make out her face in the dark, her eyes shining at the corners. “I got your letter,” she said. “I’m sorry it took that much to make me find you. I’m such an idiot. I-I had to come find you. I hate how we left things after everything and how I still owe you a favor—“
Alastor pulled her back against him quickly, making shushing noises. His eyes scanned the darkness behind her. The last thing he needed was any listening ears uncovering their deal so soon, since he was fairly certain Lilith remained ignorant of it. Charlie’s head came to rest just below his collar bone and he pressed a hand to the back of her head. Could she feel his heart nearly beating out of his chest? He could certainly feel hers. “You… are here,” he said finally beating out his disbelief.
Charlie sniffled against him, “Did you mean what you said? Do you really miss being by my side?”
Alastor fumbled at such a direct question, most of his concentration going into rebuilding his composure while he tried to work out what she was talking about. He didn’t remember her hair being so soft, but he supposed they had been living out doors last he saw her. “Yes?”
Charlie sagged in relief, putting more of her weight into his arms, whilst tightening her hold against his midsection. “I really need a friend, Al.”
Alastor stretched his senses throughout the manner, but he didn’t detect Lilith. He highly doubted she hadn’t heard the scream. Either way, Alastor didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to speak with Charlie alone and he fully intended to take advantage of the opportunity before Lilith came sniffing around and interrupted them.
Alastor cleared his throat and dressed himself with a dapper smile, “Of course, I am happy to oblige, darling. Why don’t we go somewhere more comfortable and we can chat?”
Charlie nodded against him before pulling back and stepping away. He was glad to see her smile had made its way back to her face. “Yeah. I would really like that.”
Alastor summoned his cane back into his right hand, offering his left arm to Charlie. “How did you know where to find me?” Alastor couldn’t help but ask. He hadn’t told her where he was and that little piece of information was one part of his plan that hadn’t been puzzled out by him.
Charlie answered simply, taking his offered arm into hers, “I recognized the hallway from Pride, when I was.. you know. Pulling you out of there.” When you almost died. The words went unspoken between them, potentially venturing into territory Alastor would prefer not to talk about.
“Forgive me, sweetheart. You caught me slightly unprepared this evening,” Alastor said, wishing he hadn’t indulged in as much drink as he had. He wouldn’t consider himself drunk, but certainly not as level headed as he would have preferred for their reunion. He began leading them away from the dark front room and back down the hallway he had stalked through. An effortless flick of his hand had all the sconce lighting flickering back to life.
“Don’t apologize, Alastor. I’m just happy I was right. If you weren’t here, I didn’t know where else to look,” Charlie confessed, her relief evident to him in the moment.
He patted the top of her hand, “You are a treasure, sweet girl. I only heard about your release from the hospital yesterday, and I certainly wasn’t expecting you so soon. I do hope you are taking it easy?”
Charlie tried to hide her sheepish grin from him, “Ah, yeah. I am totally taking things easy.”
Alastor heard every note of sarcasm that dripped from her words. “Ahh, have you gotten into trouble already?” He was teasing, and to his relief, she laughed. Anxiety he hadn’t even realized he was feeling began to unravel at the sound. He really had missed her.
“I wouldn’t say I have been causing any trouble…”
The sitting room Alastor had chosen to occupy approached, and he steered her into it last minute, earning a little squeak from her. “Only thirty-six hours since awakening from a coma. I am so looking forward to hearing what you’ve gotten yourself tangled up in.“
Alastor helped Charlie to sit in the opposite chair, and he glided over to the drink bar. He poured out two glasses, using up the last of her mother’s nice liquor. He handed her glass to her before settling across from her, crossing his leg over the other at the knee. “But first things first! How’s your hotel going? I trust Nifty and Husker made it to you safely?”
Charlie smiled, “That was really nice of you to send them. They’ve been a big help, Nifty especially.”
Alastor chuckled, “Yes, Nifty is a spry little thing with a work ethic that is unbeatable.”
Charlie nodded, her gaze dipping down to her glass clutched in both of her hands like she was fighting her thoughts. Something they had in common, he would suppose.
“I’ve been informed redemption is possible,” he said casually, not wanting to bring up the snake. In the moment his tongue felt a little loose and he could not have that whilst speaking of the snake. “Why haven’t you announced it to the public? Or, let me guess, you have some grand plan to kick off your endeavor?”
Charlie laughed, albeit a little nervously, “Actually, I was waiting because I wanted to get Heaven on board. I wanted to announce the closure of the Labyrinth, the end of Exterminations, and the possibility of redemption in one go.”
Alastor’s brows raised, “That would be… quite a headline.” She wanted to close the Labyrinth? Since when did she want to do that? He’d have to figure out a way to change her mind, but he could hold off on that until later. “Why do I have a feeling there is a ‘but’ here?”
Charlie sighed, setting her glass down and placing her head in her hands. “Because the meeting with Heaven didn’t go well. They want more proof that my ideas will work before they even consider getting rid of the Extermination.”
Alastor snorted, earning him a sharp look from Charlie. “Oh darling, you can’t tell me this surprises you? You know, I haven’t met very many angels, but I know a real smile when I see one. Those angels love killing us. I can’t imagine they would want any sinner staining their golden city.”
Charlie hugged herself, sighing again. “I know. I should’ve known better.”
An unpleasant feeling spread through Alastor’s chest. He hated it when she looked like that. He threw a hand up, gesturing to the sky that existed past the ceiling. “Who cares if Heaven doesn’t help you? They can’t turn the sinners away. The snake has to be proof of that if he’s still up there with a halo floating above his head.”
“Yeah…” Charlie picked her head up, “I just was taken aback by how hostile they were.”
Alastor kissed the front of his teeth, “Aww, sweetheart. Sometimes I forget how naive you are.”
Charlie frowned, “That’s not nice, Al. The leader of the Exorcist army threatened me today and said that my hotel is going to be his first stop.”
Alastor’s eyes widened and his smile flourished. A threat against his sweet princess and her dreams? “Well! The solution sounds pretty simple to me.”
Charlie leaned forward, sucked in by his boost in enthusiasm. “What’s that?”
“Let’s propose another deal.”
Charlie sucked in a breath, “I’d rather not, Al. I’m still waiting for you to ask your favor of me. And I’ve been told it’s not good to stack deals.”
Alastor waved her off, giving a hearty laugh. “I could ask for you to release me from your mom, but I’d ask that so I can help you. Yes, being your hotelier is an upgrade from my current situation but it’s selfish on your part as well. So my release isn’t exactly a favor.”
Alastor watched Charlie worry at her lip. He was surprised they looked as soft as they did based on how often she bit at them.
You know exactly how soft those lips are.
He realized with a jolt he had been staring. Thankfully, Charlie hadn’t appeared to have noticed and Alastor threw that perverted thought as far from his mind as it would go.
Not right now. Not with so much on the line for him. But it didn’t stop him from wanting to touch her. He leaned closer, taking her hands into his ungloved ones. Right, he’d forgotten he wasn’t in his usual state of dress but he kept his smile soft. “You already know we work well together. Convince your mom to let me go and I can help make all your dreams come true.”
Take the offer, he thought. He wasn’t ready to use his favor, even if she wouldn’t call this proposal a deal.
Charlie looked down at their hands, at how perfectly his wrapped around hers, holding her so gently. She opened her mouth but before she could speak a voice cut between them.
“Charlie,” Lilith said from the open doorway, surprise coloring her tone.
Charlie snatched her hands from Alastor’s, and he had to hide the agitated twitch against the interruption. He’d been distracted against her approach.
Charlie stood, clutching one of the hands he had just been holding against her chest. “Mom.”
“Trying to manipulate my daughter, are you?” Lilith asked, her eyes zeroing in on him.
Alastor stood, setting his cane elegantly down in front of him. “I would never dream of it,” he said matter of factly.
Lilith huffed, waving a dismissive hand in his direction. “Make yourself scarce. I’d like to speak to my daughter alone.”
Alastor dipped his head ever so slightly and hid his annoyance well with his smile. He politely purred out, “As you wish.” Without making a fuss, he strode out the door with his back straight and head held high.
Charlie watched him go, her heart still hammering against her ribs. Alastor had been so intense during the conversation. She wanted him to have his freedom just as badly as he wanted his and she hoped he would want to help her of his own free will, but the disappointment that sang through her when he tried to leverage her want for his help was jolting. Did he not know that friends help each other simply because they wanted to?
Lilith waited for Alastor to exit before approaching Charlie. “What did he say to you?”
Charlie breathed out, deciding to focus on the facts and not her feelings. “He’s offering to help me, which is more than you’re willing to do.”
Lilith frowned, “He’s manipulative, Charlie. You have to be careful around him.”
Charlie threw her hands up, anger, exhaustion, and confusion swirling within. “I’m starting to learn I need to be careful around everybody! At least I know what to expect from him. He actually does what he says he’s going to do, and he wants to help me.”
Lilith pinched the bridge of her nose. “Well, that’s great you feel that way honey, but he’s not leaving with you. I don’t trust him to keep my secret, so he’s staying here.”
“I don’t understand. You sent him to help me. You can’t think that lowly of him.”
Lilith evenly pointed out, “You were in the hospital for a week. He pushed you to physical, emotional, and magical exhaustion.”
Her mother was making him sound like a villain. Or worse, like she was a victim in their story. Charlie argued, “And I pushed him just as hard! We had a goal and we achieved it!”
Lilith shook her head, “Charlie, you don’t understand what that man is capable of.”
Charlie swept her hand in front of herself angrily, “Tell me then. What the fuck did he do that makes you distrust him so much?”
Lilith’s mouth was set in a firm line, almost like she debated telling Charlie. But before Charlie could accuse her mother of treating her like a child, Lilith perched along the arm rest of the chair Alastor had been sitting in. “You know my power and what it does to the sinners that come back in the maze. My voice can control them. Part of my deal with Alastor is that we have sessions that we’ve recorded that give different basic commands. Part of our agreement was that he was allowed to use my power to redirect the creatures if he was under attack during a competition. But anything more than that would attract too much attention.”
Charlie knew this already. “That’s what you told me, but you never told me what happened.”
Lilith leveled a look at Charlie, and said very seriously, “He commanded all of them, Charlie. The last year he competed in the Labyrinth, he got himself into trouble with some other sinners, and instead of running, he stood his ground and broadcasted my voice to all of the creatures and he gave one command.”
Charlie’s heart sank. She had a feeling she already knew what the command was. But she had to hear it. “What did he command?”
“Kill,” Lilith said simply. “Every single sinner not in a garden of protection was attacked. Many of them murdered.”
This didn’t sound right. She knew Alastor, and sure, he was more inclined to kill than she preferred, but he wasn’t senseless. “Surely… that was an accident?”
Lilith shook her head, “Accident or not, every single competitor that wasn’t in one of the gardens was hunted down and killed viciously. Only the strongest escaped. It was one of the biggest blood baths to date, and hundreds of sinners died. I barely managed to keep the whole thing from getting out, largely by scrubbing the few seconds you see him using his mic. But for just a few seconds he played my voice for everyone to hear. The catastrophe wasn’t limited to the maze. Violence ensued out here. Sinners who heard it became angry and violent, seemingly without reason.” Lilith locked her gaze with Charlie. “Honey, I’m not trying to color your opinion of him. But I feel like you don’t understand. As calculating as he is, at the end of the day he will do anything to get what he wants and I can not let that kind of man roam with that kind of power. Even for you, Charlie.”
Turmoil swirled within her. Is that what had happened? She wasn’t aware of any incident like that. But if her mom tried to keep it contained… “So someone from Heaven saw that and tried to piece together the puzzle,” Charlie guessed. “That’s why you had to leave. To prove you weren’t plotting something.”
“It’s not all of Heaven, but yes. The threat I pose feels diminished to them when I’m away from home and under surveillance.”
Charlie was quiet for a few moments, letting the information sink in. She probably wouldn’t have noticed an uptick in violence in the Pride ring. There was violence everyday. But hundreds dead? Just because Alastor wanted to win?
Should you be advocating for his freedom? A small voice asked.
You need to hear his side of the story, she reasoned with herself.
Her mother mistook her silence for disappointment, and Lilith reached forward and placed her hand on Charlie’s shoulder, “I know you like him, and even I admit he can be charming, but you have to understand that power can’t go freely walking around Hell. I worry it’s too tempting for him to use it and Heaven won’t hesitate to annihilate all of us if they do figure it out.”
Charlie asked tentatively, “So… can’t you just take the power away from him? Make him delete the recordings?”
Lilith scoffed, “There would be no way for me to know he actually deletes them. The only way I’d let him go is if he handed over his mic, which he never will.”
A log split in the fire, making a loud popping noise. Charlie looked down at the aged bourbon sitting on the small table in front of her. “You don’t know that if we don’t ask,” Charlie said softly.
“Go ahead,” Lilith encouraged. “But he won’t. He’s not capable of putting his pride aside and relinquishing power.”
Charlie mulled over this thought, unaware that outside the room, Alastor had not gone far. He eavesdropped from the shadows, his own thoughts whirling within him like a black vortex. Lilith’s proposal was worth considering, but she wasn’t wrong. The idea of willingly handing over his mic filled him with an acute sense of dread, despite his staunch belief that he was perfectly capable without it.
Everything comes at a price. He believed that thoroughly, but he prided himself in controlling the market.
He heard shuffling in the room, and he phased further away to remain undetected.
“I will ask him. He might surprise you if you give him a chance,” Charlie countered.
Lilith didn’t reply immediately, and for the first time Charlie realized how exhausted her mother looked in this moment. Lilith’s violet gaze roved over her daughter, and unexpectedly she gave a light laugh. Charlie made a face, “If you’re laughing at me…”
Lilith shook her head, a small smile playing her lips. “No, I’m not. It’s just… seeing you here has me reminiscing about the vacations we used to take here.”
Charlie’s mouth formed an ‘oh’ shape. “Yeah, we had some good times here.” Despite herself, bitterness swept through her. Vacations they had taken back when they were a family.
Lilith sighed wistfully, “I was just thinking about the last time we visited, but you were so young. Do you remember?”
Charlie scoffed a laugh, “Yeah, it would be hard not to. Dad almost died trying to put a tire swing up for me. He wanted to saw a branch off but he was straddling the wrong side of it.”
Lilith chuckled softly, “It was not one of his finer moments. He stuck the landing though.”
Charlie could feel a smile pulling on her lips at the memory. “He definitely did not.”
Lilith thought for a moment, putting a finger to her chin as she recalled the event. “Huh. You might be right. Now that I think about it, there was some bandaids applied later.”
Charlie shook her head, “I doubt he needed bandaids. He probably just wanted your attention.” There was a short lapse of silence, broken only by the cackling fire. “You know,” Charlie started softly. “Dad misses you. I miss you.”
“I miss you like you wouldn’t believe. As for your father… he made his choices. As much as it pained me, I had to stand for what I believe in. Just as I always have.”
Her mother was fiercely independent, there was no question. Still… there was a question that begged from the sidelines of Charlie’s mind and she wanted it ansered.
“Mom… do you even want to return home? I mean, I went to Heaven. I’d understand if that’s where you’d rather spend your time.”
“No.” Charlie blinked at her mother’s curt reply. Lilith cleared her throat, “No, I much prefer home. Which is why I remain to ensure our tenative peace is protected. Even with the army of the dead in the Labyrinth, it’s not enough to stand against the Angel Army.”
“What would be enough, then?”
Lilith pursed her lips, shaking her head silently. “There is some knowledge that I can’t share aloud. Even to you, Charlie.”
Charlie almost rolled her eyes. “Oh, let me guess. Alastor knows but you both won’t share with me?”
Lilith shook her head, “No. He does not know, nor should he. It is the last resort and not a plan I want to enact.”
Outside, thunder could be heard rumbling, much closer than it had previously. Lilith stood from her spot, “A storm approaches, and I have a few more things I need to do before I retire. You are welcome to stay the night in your old room, but just know it’s a lost cause, Charlie. You need to find someone else to help out at your hotel,” Lilith stated. She turned to exit the room but paused at the threshold. She looked at her daughter, “I hope you know I am very proud of you, Charlie. The life gifted to you has not been an easy one, yet you face everything head-on despite the odds stacked against you.”
A warmth flooded Charlie at her mom’s praise, “Well, I think you could say I come by it honestly.”
Lilith’s eyes softened, and she said, “I love you, Charlotte. I hope you know that.”
Charlie hated the water that misted her eyes and the clog that formed in her throat. But it had been so long since she’d heard those words from her mother. “I do, Mom. I love you too.”
Lilith gave her daughter one more warm smile before retiring quietly. Charlie listened to her soft footfalls down the hall and stared into the fire, mulling over the conversation she had with her mother.
***
When Charlie had emerged from the room she had been sorting her thoughts out in, Alastor had been suspiciously absent after her talk with her mother. Charlie had spent a few minutes searching for him, eager to confront him about the conditions her mother set for his release, and to ask him his side of the story. She didn’t doubt his capabiliities for violence, but murder on a grand scale? She needed to know if that was intentional.
However, she wasn’t sure which room he was staying in the manor, and when she came across her old room, Charlie decided speaking to Alastor could wait until later. Exhaustion from the day was creeping up on her, and she was the one who showed up unannounced. As badly as she wanted to talk to him, she would have hated to interrupt him if he was busy. After all, she wasn’t actually sure what it was he did in his free time.
Her bedroom door swung open on squeaky hinges. Inside, the large rectangular room was prim and tidy, her four poster bed stacked with pillows and stuffed animals sitting in the middle with a nightstand on either side. Charlie could almost imagine being her eight year old self again walking into this bedroom. Even her old crayon drawings remained tacked onto the wall. She cringed when she realized they hadn’t improved much over the years.
Walking over to the bed, Charlie threw herself down with a huff, sinking into the soft mattress. What a long day. And strange, at that. Nothing had worked out the way she had imagined, and she wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about it.
Charlie pulled out her phone, fully expecting there to be a message or two from one of her friends at the hotel. She frowned when she saw there wasn’t any notifications, and then saw the no service icon at the top of her phone screen. Well. Hopefully her friends didn’t assume the worst about her saftey.
“Husk knows where I am,” Charlie said softly, mostly to herself. Hopefully he told Vaggie. Angel wouldn’t worry about her, probably. But Vaggie still took Charlie’s safety very seriously, and while she can find it suffocating, her friend’s sentiment was appreciated.
A yawn inturrupted her thought process, and Charlie stretched one arm above her head. Alastor’s folded letter fell from her pocket and onto the thin pink bed spread. Gingerly, she picked it up and scooched up her bed to place it on her bedside table. Sliding an arm under one of the pillows and disrupting her zoo of stuffed animals, Charlie scrunched up the pillow and laid down on her side facing her night stand.
She didn’t remember falling asleep. She knew she must have, because at some point she had stripped down to just her underwear and undershirt, and managed to snuggle under the blanket with it pulled up over her shoulders. Charlie blinked against the darkness groggily, listening to the patter of rain against the roof. The storm must have woken her up.
A crack of lightning outside her window illuminated her dark room briefly. It was just enough for her to notice the outline of a red dressed figure standing beside her bed. The following soft roll of thunder felt like nothing compared to her pounding heart.
“Alastor?” Charlie whispered into the darkness.
His mic must have opened it’s glowing eye, shining just enough light for her to make out his body, though his face remained in shadows.
Charlie swallowed, “How long have you been standing there?”
And why was he in here? As fond as she was of him, seeing any person standing beside the bed would cause a fright.
Alastor didn’t answer. Instead, he came around the edge of the bed and sat at her feet.
“I heard what your mother said,” Alastor said.
Charlie made to sit up, feeling vulnerable laying flat with him sitting above her. However, he moved his hand and placed it on her thigh, freezing her in place.
Alastor continued, “Willingly handing over my mic is not an idea I take lightly. It’s certainly not something I would do as a simple favor for a friend. So, I suppose my question for you is, are we just friends, Charlie?”
Charlie shivered, his tone so serious compared to his usual flare. The dark shrouded his face, leaving her to guess at his emotions behind a guarded tone. She supposed it made sense. If he was going to make a sacrifice, then he’d want to know she was committed to him. But exactly what kind of answer was he searching for?
Charlie licked her lips, and said quietly, “Before I answer that I need to know. Did you know what you were doing when you used my mom’s power? That all those people would get hurt?” Charlie kept her voice even, desperately trying to be prepared for any answer he might throw her way.
There was a pause, then he said, “Do you think that’s what I did? That I purposefully put myself into a position that forced me to use that power?”
His hand felt so warm on her thigh through the thin blanket, but Charlie still shivered. “I don’t know.”
Alastor took a moment to respond, then spoke quietly in the dark, “I can be a bad man, capable of terrible things. But I think deep down that’s what you like about me. I am willing to do the things necessary to win. Is that not exactly the type of person you need by your side?”
Charlie thought of Adam, of the not-so-subtle threat he had left for her. She believed in her plans of redemption completely, but what if she misses the deadline set by Sera? She can’t depend on the Labyrinth next year to shield her people. But… he’s not denying killing all those people.
“I don’t like it when people get hurt,” Charlie admitted.
“I know you don’t, sweetheart. But what about the people that want to hurt you?”
To that, Charlie wasn’t sure what to say. Her personal concerns very rarely focused on herself, but after today, she had to acknowledge there was a real possibility she had made enemies.
“You’ll find,” Alastor continued, the radio filter dropping from his voice, “I can be of great service to you, if you let me.”
Call it intuition, but Charlie could tell he wasn’t proposing his services for free. She dared ask, “And what’s in it for you?”
“Besides entertainment?” Alastor chuckled, then sobered himself to say, “Keep the maze open, Charlie. Just one more year.”
Charlie shook her head, “I can’t. I made Rin a promise.”
Alastor tutted, “And I’m not telling you to break your promise. Just one more year. Rin will understand.”
“Is this your favor?” Dare she sound hopeful?
“No,” Alastor tilted his head, “We’ll call it our agreement.”
Charlie breathed out, “Why? If you believe the hotel works then why would I need it open?”
“Contingency plan, darling. We may need the Labyrinth’s power yet.”
Charlie frowned. She disliked this. She had promised Rin she would close it and leave her and her people alone in exchange for the other sinners’ freedoms. He’s strategizing, Charlie reasoned. He wants to be prepared for every outcome, including failure. Her mouth felt a little dry when she answered, “If we need it, then I’ll wait one more year. But no more than that.”
He must not have been smiling to show his teeth, because after she said that, she could make out the barest of light reflecting off his teeth. He purred out, “I am glad to hear that, sweetheart.”
Suddenly, he stood, his weight and warmth leaving the bed. Now Charlie did sit up, her heart pounding within her. “So does that mean you’ll do it? You’ll hand your mic over?”
”Depends.” He leaned down towards her, placing his hands on either side of her. His breath stirred her hair as he said, “You never answered my first question.”
Charlie hoped her top wasn’t lopsided from sleeping, but didn’t look away from Alastor’s direction. She swallowed thickly, grateful her voice was steady when she said, “No, we aren’t just friends.”
Alastor hummed, “In that case, it doesn’t seem like I have a choice. After all, we’re in this together now, aren’t we darling?”
Charlie nodded mutely, her mind spinning with conflicted feelings. Without any warning, he straightened, pulling his hands away. Instinct had Charlie clutching the blankets to her chest in an effort of modesty Alastor doesn’t seem to pay attention to. She felt rather than heard him leave her room. The room felt much colder after he left.