CH 50: Deal

The next morning, Esme is walking down the hall when she hears faint crying coming from Charlie and Vaggies's room. Her fins pop out at the sound and she turns her body to face the direction of the noise. She frowns and walks over, pressing her ear against the wood to recognize Charlie's sobs. She pauses before knocking on the door lightly, "Princess? It's me, it's Esme. Can I come in?"

There's no answer. Esme continues to wait for a couple of seconds before her patience runs thin. She knocks again, "Now, missy, I know you heard me."

Silence.

Ugh, thank God mine never became a teenager.

"Don't make me come in there." Esme says with a stern tone. Charlie swings open the door, her horns protruding and her eyes a flaming red.

"What is it?!" She sneers.

Esme's eyes widen at her obvious display of anger, "Pardon me?"

Charlie gasps and shakes her head, resorting to her normal appearance, "I'm sorry." She cries, "I'm just so overwhelmed." She walks inside, leaving the door ajar and allowing Esme to walk inside. She flops face first onto her bed.

"Darling, is this still about your partner?"

"Who else would it be about!" Charlie shouts, muffled from the bedsheets. She looks up, "How am I supposed to move forward with my plan when all I keep thinking is that she knew it was set to fail?" She crosses her arms and falls back face first into the mattress.

Esme sighs and places a comforting hand on her shoulder, rubbing gently with her thumb, "Sweetheart, I doubt she believes you will fail." She leans over and eventually sits on the bed. "Besides, is this really a big deal?" She asks, throwing her hands up in a shrug.

Charlie snaps up and glares at her, "You try having the love of your life keep the biggest secret from you!"

Esme laughs in amusement, "Been there, done that~" She smiles.

"Well, I guess you're soo much better than me." Charlie huffs and rolls her eyes, turning her back from Esme.

There's a beat.

Esme frowns and hesitates for a second to reach out to the girl. She eventually makes connection with the top of her head, stroking her hair in a motherly way. "You deserve to feel all that emotion right now..." She mumbles, "Have yourself a good cry, but then..." She retracts her hand and stands up, walking over to her and lifting her chin up with her finger, "You must move forward." She smiles, "The show must go on~"

She pulls back her hand and bows her head in respect, "Now then, I'll be downstairs if you need anything. Holler if you desire me!" She turns to the door, looking over her shoulder, "You're going to be just fine, you'll see." She smiles sweetly before exiting.

As she's heading down the stairs, she hears Vaggie getting the third degree by the rest of the group. She looks over the banister to see the scene unfolding.

"Did you ever think she's sensitive about her lack of wings? Just like her lack of tits?"

"Yeah, where are your tits?"

Vaggie sighs and pulls Nifty away, "Any other questions?"

Esme walks over to the group and sits between Angel and Pen, leaning against Angel's chest.

"I got one..." Husk says annoyingly, "How come every time Charlie talks to Heaven we get into deeper and deeper shit."

"It's not her fault." Vaggie says, "Angels are just..."

"Liars?"

"Difficult..." Vaggie opens her mouth to continue, but Esme jumps in.

"Charlie is doing her best!" She says, holding a hand proudly to her chest, "I saw her in that courtroom, she was just as lively as a cricket!"

Angel rolls his eyes, "You and your old-timey talk."

Esme blinks slowly at Angel, turning her head to Alastor, and points, "He got it." Alastor smirks in response.

"Yeah, well, her best is turning out real well so far..." Husk groans and walks away from the group.

Esme and Pen jump to see that KeeKee has decided to take a cat nap on the snake's lap. The two of them stare down at her with adoration.

"And where is Miss Fearless Leader, anyway?" Angel scoffs, making a searching motion with his eyes, "Isn't it about time for another 'doomed-to-fail' plan?"

Esme looks up from petting the small cat, turning her attention to Vaggie.

"She's upstairs, coming up with something I'm sure..." She frowns and looks down, "In our room, alone."

Esme notices Alastor's eyes look up to the ceiling and narrow as he listens in. He smirks and hums in response to this, seemingly disappearing in a cloud of black smoke.

Oh no you fuckin' don't...

~ Alastor's POV ~

I appear in her room, watching her shamelessly crying into a tissue on her bed. What an absolute pitiful excuse for royalty.

"Oooh Chaarlie, you look an absolute mess~" I chime brightly with a wave of my hand.

She glares at me, something I've never seen from her before, she groans, "Ugh, go away Alastor!" She retreats into her blanket.

I plop myself on the bed next to her, crossing my legs and clasping my hands. If she wanted to have this little attitude, then I might as well play along, "Now, now, is that any way to act after picking a fight with all of Heaven and dooming everyone you love?" My eyes narrowed slightly, there must've been a reason why I didn't have to deal with such disrespectful behavior from my own spawn.

She groans once more and sits up, grasping her head, "I have enough on my mind without hearing your sadistic idea of a joke, asshole." She gives me her back.

"Who's joking?"

She screeches and falls out of the bed, "Aargh!"

I sit up, turning my body to her slightly. This was my time to strike and use her own morals against her, "You have a captive audience downstairs waiting to hear what kind of inspiring performance you have planned next~"

"Ugh, I can't! How can I face them after failing them all so hard?"

Oh my, here she goes on her little rant. Might as well get comfy.

I pull myself to the corner of the bed and lay on my stomach with my feet nonchalantly kicking above.

Yes, yes, keep talking - I'm definitely listening ~

"They came here to be saved and all I gave them was more pain. I'm just as bad as the cruelest Overlord in Hell..."

Why, thank you ~

"Maybe worse! At least they don't go around giving false hope."

I have to admit, this was very entertaining. I didn't know she had this in her.

"Well, I never expected to see such a miserable display of self-loathing from you..."

"Oh, fuck you, Alastor!" She shouts before continuing on.

Yes, I should get comfy.

I place my head in my head and cross my legs. My shoes are still on the bed, my mother is screaming somewhere up in heaven at the sight.

"All you do is stand there, smiling while you watch us struggle and fail! I don't know how you can enjoy all this suffering so much."

Perhaps because I'm a sadist?

Alright, you're going to be all doom and gloom, let me hit you with some philosophy. Time to pass on your mother's words to you, oh dear Princess of Hell.

"Just because you see a smile, don't think you know what's going on underneath." I turn to her and grab a hold of her face, looking down at her with an intense gaze, "A smile is a valuable tool, my dear." I pull her skin up to a grin, "It inspires, your friends, keeps your enemies guessing, and ensures that no matter what comes your way..." I lean forward, pointing my microphone at her chest, "...you're the one in control~"

"But I'm not..." She lowers my cane, "I'm the farthest thing from in control. The person I trust most has been lying to me for years." She heads to the window, "Heaven refuses to listen. Even if they did, I can't provide the hotel works." She's beginning to crack, my what a glorious sight, "Adam has an invincible exorcist army pointed right at my doorstep, and there's nothing I can do about any of it!" She bangs on the glass.

Time to strike...

"I know something you don't knooww🎶"

"Huh?"

I slide next to her, pulling her close to my side, "Those big scary angels..." I take her by the shoulders, "Are not quite as indestructible as they seem.."

"What are you talking about?"

My, what a pretty plant.

I pick off the leaves without a care in the world, "Just that you and your little band of misfits might stand more of a chance than you think..." I walk away, waiting for her to take my bait.

"How, I'll do anything!"

Gotcha...

"Anything??" I pause, reflecting on how quickly it took for her to fall into it, "Then, let's make a deal."

"Y-You want my soul?" She backs away from me.

"Your soul?" I growl sinisterly, hearing the deafening cries of my radio in my head. I put my hand up in dismissal and smiled, "Heavens no! All I need from you is one itty, bitty, favor. What's a favor between friends?"

"I won't hurt anyone for you..."

Lame.

"Who's asking?! One favor, at the time of my choosing where you harm no one! In return, I'll tell you what I know. Do we have a deal?" I extend my hand, my power emitting from it.

Her wrenched little frick and frack growl as I await her choice. She dismisses them and looks up, "Deal." She goes to grasp my hand.

I'm shocked and startled by a sudden green mist separating the two of us. It's so bright it makes my eyes squint. I feel a strong grasp around my wrist and when the mist clears, she is standing in between us. I can feel her claws sinking into my skin.

"Figlio di puttana." She growls, pushing me back.

What did you just call my mother?

"Don't touch her!" She growls, dropping her fangs and releasing her serpents to hiss at me.

What do you think you're doing?! Do you have any idea what the fuck you're preventing right now?!

"Esme, no!" Charlie shouts, "He has information that could help. He doesn't want my soul, just a favor."

Esme's eyes never leave me, they just narrow slightly, "It's never just a deal with Alastor..." she mumbles. Her eyes begin to turn into a green glow and I feel myself slowly shaking.

"Don't you dare..." I back away, attempting to break her gaze, but she already has me locked in.

Fuck, I can feel her. I can feel her smoke beginning to cloud my mind, allowing her access to whatever she pleases.

GET THE FUCK OUT - HOW DARE YOU!?

Her eyes widen and she drops me from her mental grasp. I shake my head and begin to take stronger inhales, "Carmilla?" She asks, her breath in a whisper.

Fuck you and your fucking siren games.

"Wha?" Charlie walks closer to her, tilting her head.

"Carmilla Carmine killed an exorcist during the last extermination, he's heard it." She says simply.

"My, my, what a snitch." My eyes narrow on her.

Perhaps a nice sushi roll for lunch, one preferably with the scales still on?

"He wants to take you to cannibal town and recruit help there." She adds. How much did she see exactly? She could see all of that, but still doubted my affection for her? To be fair, at this moment, it was more of a desire to rip her skull straight off her spine.

"Then, let's go." Charlie says, eyes bright and leaning to pull me by my arms. I try to resist but feel my throat closing with a tight grip around it.

"You will make my daughter's plan work, now do what you're told!"

"Of course~" I smile with a slight twitch of my eye. With that, she races out of the room to meet me downstairs. It's just me and her now.

"You know darling..." I begin, "That was awfully foolish of you." I turn to her and walk closer, causing her to back up and press her back against the bedpost.

"You can't hurt her, Alastor, I'm set to prevent that." She spat, "I know you and I know that whatever trick you have up your sleeve can't be good."

"Trust me, my dear..." I lean down to her, my face in hers, "I will get my way, and the next time you stop me I will make sure that pain doesn't feel pleasurable." I snarl, turning away from her and walking out of the room. 

~ Author's Note ~ 

Alexa, play Horny Angry Tango 😏

The vibes for Esme and Al rn 😂🎶

https://youtu.be/GerM1Qv4m74

🖤Words: 2134 🖤

~ Artemis 🦌💗