CH 13: Hopelessly Devoted

The conflicting emotions of that night continued to plague her for hours. Within that demon's hold, she could melt into his frame. The temptation was very strong, calling out to her with a soothing pull. Feeling his heart beating close to her, smelling his lifeforce. What if she just allowed herself to fall into him, soak up his essence and enjoy the moment? 

No, that would be very unladylike. She was a married woman, her heart was already counted for. This couldn't be love, this was simply attraction. She would never deny that Alastor was a looker, but she was not one to swoon for a man. 

Esme couldn't sleep at all, waking up several times hearing numerous different voices in her head.

"Trying to woo me, aren't you?"  

"Is it working?"

Not these again...

"I am yours, if you will have me..."

Just let me fucking sleep...

"I'm so wildly in love with you..."

Fuck.

Finally, she sits up in her bed and sighs as she stands up, walking to the door. If she's not going to sleep, she might as well have a drink. She opens her door and walks out into the quite hallway. She keeps her hands in her shorts, feeling the cold air against her exposed skin from her tank top. As she's descending the stairs, she pulls her hair into a high ponytail, tightening it at the top.

Esme walks down the parlor and slips behind the bar counter, reaching out and pulling out several mixing glasses and liquor. She uses her fangs to pull out the cork of the vodka bottle, pouring it into the mixer with some cranberry syrup, and shaking it gently. She takes the glass and outlines the rim with sugar, pouring the liquid inside. She sighs and tosses the used glasses into the sink and leans against the counter, sipping at her drink.

"And exactly what the fuck are you doing?" A low voice comes from the side of the counter. Perfect, she couldn't find solitude if her life depended on it. It seemed like wherever she went, demons attracted to her like flies to honey. 

Esme turns around to see Husk looking at her with an annoyed look, "Making a drink, nothing that concerns you." she narrows her eyes as she sips her martini, ignoring the feline.

"Don't tell me you're on this shit again.." He groans as he approaches her, "Can't sleep?" The former overlord morphs behind the bar, beginning to clean up her mess. He knew that his boss took pride in everything that was attached to his name, and these sinners always kept him working beyond his limits. Couldn't they go to bed when everyone was supposed to instead of making his life harder?

Esme sighs and goes to sit on a barstool, "What do you know? I haven't seen you in fuckin' years..." Her memories of him compromised of infrequent meetups at casinos and bars, bonding over games of poker and blackjack. Again, the overlords were a familial group, but she had a way of forming bonds with those around her. Husker was no different, reminding her of her family's extravagant parties filled with gambling, coke, and champagne. Though they came from different time periods, the two found themselves in interesting banter from time to time. 

When he had lost his status and was torn away by Alastor's leash, she was saddened to see him go.  There was nothing she could do, it wasn't her business. 

"And apparently nothing's changed..." Husk scoffs. Esme looks away in annoyance. "Still that hopeless little girl waiting.."

"I'm not hopeless.." She hisses, glaring at him, "He'll come eventually.."

"Esme, be realistic, it's been how many years?"

Within his unbothered exterior, the man held a soft spot for her. Despite the fact that she was much older than him, he still saw her as someone younger who needed guidance in the world. After all, she had met her fate at a far younger age than he did. Her trauma had blinded her, and yet her mind kept her from the rest of her story. Underneath all the scales and the intimidating hisses, she was still very much a young woman waiting for love. 

How ironic, she could have anyone she wanted. She was never satisfied, always dejected even if she didn't see it. 

When one sip turned into frequent gulps, and frequent gulps turned into many empty glasses - that part of her came out on display. 

When those walls came down, Husk saw who was there. He did enjoy her company in some instances, even if she was a fool.

Esme starts chugging her martini, finishing it rapidly and tossing the glass to him in frustration. He catches it without missing a beat, "You, are hopeless. Me, my friend, am different. I'm not the one who gambled away all their power." She smirks, leaning forward, "So, do yourself a favor and stop fuckin' pushin me." She growls, her New York accent pushing through in her anger. Her eyes glow faintly and her claws reach out, bopping his furry nose.

With a disgusted grunt and growl, Husk moves back and shakes his head from her touch, "You know," He wipes the glass, "projecting your feelings on to someone else doesn't make you any stronger..."

She turns away, he did have a point. She speaks in a low voice, "I can't stop...." Husk raises a brow, "I can't start to think he's abandoned me, I - I just can't. I don't know why."

There's a silence, and Esme looks down at the counter top, "I know he hasn't left, I don't know how but I - I can feel it." She looks away again, "I just wish I didn't have those memories at all." She puts down a bill on the table, "A vodka shot....please?" she pleads.

Husks smirks and turns around to the liquor, pouring her a shot and sliding it to her, "Since you asked so nicely."

Esme scrunches her nose at the glass, she didn't do shots often, but down it goes. She picks up it and quickly leans her head back, downing it. She turns the glass down on it's top onto the table....something she always does for some reason.

"Rough?"

Esme answers with a high pitched squeak, "Nope."

Husk chuckles, pouring himself a glass of whiskey, "You were always a bad liar."

Esme smiles softly at him, "And you were always a dick." She pauses and looks down at the upside down glass, her smile turning sour, "I'm not hopeless..." She repeats.

"No you're not, kid." He sighs, wiping the counter. There's a beat before he looks back up and smiles solemnly at her, "Just...having a hard time."

Esme rolls her eyes, "A hard century.." She reaches for the vodka, pouring herself another shot and downing it quickly. Sometime passes and the two just keep each other company. Husk doesn't say much, quieting straightening up and occasionally looking over at her.  He notices how she looks down at the shot glass she has turned over, running the pad of her finger over the glass. 

Why did she always do that? Why did her body hold that muscle memory, and why did it make her want to melt into a puddle every time? 

As she looks into that glass, she can hear the faint chorus of laughter and swing music. She can hear the clanking of champagne, smell the tobacco within the air, and feel the warmth of the heat. That tiny 1.5 ouncer might as well have been a looking glass, tempting her to peer into her past. 

Call it the building alcohol in her system, or a siren being pulled in like a fish on a hook, but she finds herself leaning towards it. 

"You still with me?" 

Her dazed eyes look up at him, feeling a little lighter than before. The spell between her and her past memories was snapped, redirecting her to the present moment. Still, she was comforted by the embrace of the booze. She giggles softly, "Startin' to feel a bet better now~"

"Okay, you're done." Husk quickly snaps the bottle out of her hands. 

Esme pouts and hops off the stool, "Oh, go scratch." She scowls as she heads to the stairs. She walks up to the hallway, catching a glimpse of the balcony doors. She pauses for a moment before opening them and walking out on to the balcony, hearing them shut behind her. She sighs and leans over the railing, resting her head on her forearms.

Esme straightens up, looking over Pentagram City. This was a place that she had made her own, taken it by storm. There was not a sinner walking the streets that wouldn't recognize her face. She was everywhere, on the billboard, the music records in the shops, all of it. Was it enough? Was the fame and the power enough to soothe the ache in her chest? She looks down at her ring and twists it around her finger with a saddened expression. There was no possibility that this man didn't see her eyes watching him in her many advertisements and whatnot, which meant that he had made his choice. 

"You're never coming....are you?" She narrows her eyes and attempts to pull it off, but it doesn't budge. She groans and continues to pull at it.

"I hate this thing...I hate this blasted thing!" She claws at it desperately, but it's no use.

She hangs her head in defeat, tearing up slowly. "Just let me go..." She whispers.

https://youtu.be/r-3NvDp28U4

Hopelessly Devoted To You; Grease 🎵

Guess mine is not the first heart broken,

My eyes are not the first to cry,

I'm not the first to know,

There's just no getting over you....

Tears slowly fall from her eyes and onto the railing. She hated crying. She hated how weak she felt. She was supposed to be stronger than this and now she felt as if a gust of wind could knock her to her knees. 

You know I'm just a fool who's willing,

To sit around and wait for you,

Can't you see, there's nothin' else for me to do,

I'm hopelessly devoted to you....

But now, there's nowhere to hide,

Since you pushed my love aside,

I'm out of my head,

Hopelessly devoted to you~

Hopelessly devoted to you...

She begins to back up from the railing, her back to the door.

My head is saying, 'Fool forget him'

She slowly slides to the bottom, sitting on the balcony,

My heart is saying, 'Don't let go'

Hold on to the end,

And that's what I intend to you....

I'm hopelessly devoted to you...

She looks up, standing up, and smacking her hands against the railing.

But now,

There's nowhere to hide, since you pushed my love aside,

I'm out of my head,

Hopelessly devoted to you,

Hopelessly devoted to you~

She stays there for a moment, before turning and opening the balcony door, bumping into a red wall, "Wha-What are you doing here?"

"You really expect anyone to be able to sleep with you singing so early?" He smiles with a hint of annoyance. That voice of hers echoed throughout the land, and yes while some would be amazed to listen to the ballad of The Siren at this hour - he did not want to. Every time she opened that damned little mouth of hers, that voice tortured him to no end.

"You don't sleep." She says smugly, walking past him.

"How do you know that?"

"Well, do you?" She looks over her shoulder.

"....."

"Exactly~" She opens the door to her room and walks inside. 

~ Author's Note ~ 

Are we getting sick of the song chapters??? I'm just curious where y'all are with them. I include them because there's always singing with Hazbin, but I can always dial down if you'd prefer.

🖤Words: 1967🖤

~ Artemis 🦌💗