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Insomnia sucks. You would think that, being dead, one would finally be able to rest. Nope! Apparently not. It makes sense though, after all, this is Hell. Still, compared to everywhere out there, the hotel might as well be my own slice of paradise. Charlie does her best to keep everyone comfortable. However, even with all of that in mind, I just can’t sleep.
Pushing myself out of bed, pulling on a sweater, I decide to make my way downstairs to get a drink from the kitchen. It’s quiet in the halls this time of night. Usually, you can hear distant shouts from either Husk or Nifty, more often than not yelling about Angel. I don’t mind honestly. It reminds me of home…
The kitchen is spotless, as usual. After a few moments and almost blinding myself with the refrigerator light, I make my way back upstairs with my newly acquired glass of chocolate milk. As I round the corner on the staircase, a soft sound catches my attention. Straining my ear, it sounds like it’s coming from the music room. Who would be up at this hour?
I set my glass down on the floor and softly tiptoe towards the door of the room. A warm glow leaks out, illuminating a rather surprising sight. Alastor is at the piano. His usual jacket is discarded and his sleeves are rolled up to his elbows. A bottle and a small glass of liquor sit atop of the baby grand piano.
He plunks the keys lightly, as if he’s trying to decide what to play. It hits me that he isn’t wearing his gloves, bare hands and claws hovering above ivory. Suddenly, he begins to play and clears his throat.
“Quand il me prend dans ses bras
Il me parle tout bas
Je vois la vie en rose.
Il me dit des mots d'amour
Des mots de tous les jours
Et ça me fait quelque chose.”
His voice is soft and lightly laced with static. I shut my mouth when I realized it had fallen open. My face grows hot as I remain frozen in my hiding spot.
“Il est entré dans mon cœur
Une part de bonheur
Dont je connais la cause
C'est lui pour moi, moi pour lui dans la vie
Il me l'a dit, l'a juré pour la vie
Et dès que je l'aperçois
Alors je sens en moi
Mon cœur qui bat.”
A laugh escapes him and I am suddenly aware of his shadow staring at me. “Caught your ear, did it?” Alastor asks, glancing back at me. He smiles and beckons me closer with a finger. I do as I am told and approach. “Well, you would recognize this more than most, I suppose.”
He scoots over on the bench as I sit down, flashing me with a wink and a smile.
I remember a few weeks ago, I was humming this exact song while washing dishes after dinner. Alastor had heard me and we talked about music for almost 2 hours. It was the first real conversation I had with him. After that, I found we got along rather well, all things considered.
Giving him a smile, he clears his throat once again and sings.
“C'est toi pour moi, moi pour toi dans la vie
Il me l'a dit, l'a juré pour la vie
Et dès que je t'aperçois
Alors je sens dans moi
Mon cœur qui bat.”
His voice fades as he plays out the last few notes. “That was beautiful.” I whisper.
“Nothing like a good performance to set the stage for an evening is there?” Alastor stands up, taking my hand in his.
“Come, my dear. There’s a particular vintage I feel would be lovely to sample at this hour.”
For some reason, that makes me giggle. Alastor hooks my hand into his arm, guiding me through the door and into the hallway. We make it more than halfway to his office before I remember something.
“Oh shoot! My chocolate milk!”