Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Something was off.

Charlie wasn’t sure what, but she had this weird feeling of uneasiness and it kept growing stronger and stronger during the entire day.

By now, she gathered everyone in the living room to share her new idea of bonding exercises. The girl got used to silence after her speeches, but her co-host quietness is what alerted her.

Actually, Alastor has been unusually taciturn since at least afternoon. With him being so full of energy on a daily basis, that was concerning.

„Master, would you like a cup of coffee?”, asked Niffty suddenly, when she reminded herself that her soul’s owner enjoyed another doze of his favourite drink around that hour.

„Huh?”, asked the deer demon unconsciously, looking around.

„Do you want coffee, boss?”, repeated the maid.

„Thank you, my dear, I’m good.”

Charlie felt panic rising in her. Normally, she’d be more than happy that her business partner rejected drinking even more caffeine, especially given the fact that there was rather late, but in that moment, that was really disturbing. The more the princess looked at Alastor, the more worn out he looked.

„Damn, you said no to your only love, Smiles? You okay?”, chuckled Angel.

Then others found it uncanny too, Charlie thought, glad that she wasn’t the only one nitpicking.

„Why of course”, replied the overlord, but he didn’t look okay at all.

It seemed like he wasn’t really sure what was happening around him. As if he was feverish, but there was no sign of the unhealthy blush on his face.

The princess wanted to continue questioning him, but she knew there was no point in that. She’d ask him about that later though, she decided and kept talking about her bonding ideas instead.

When she finished and wished everyone good night, the hotel residents left the room, with only people still present in it being Alastor, Vaggie and Charlie herself.

The deer demon stayed in his chair. If the princess hadn’t seen him asleep before, she would have thought that he had dozed off with his eyes open.

„Alastor?”, she began gently, squatting next to his chair. „Are you sure you’re alright?”

„Quite fine, darling”, he responded uncertainly.

„You look tired. I’ll take you to your room, okay?”

„So be it.”

Charlie helped the man get up and took his arm.

„Do you need help?”, offered Vaggie.

„Nah, we’ll do just fine, I guess”, answered her girlfriend, seeing that Alastor was able to stand on his own.

„Okay, I’ll be there. My favourite show is about to begin”, informed the ex-angel, grabbing a pilot.

„Sure.”

The princess lead the deer demon upstairs as she promised. She found his slow steps worrisome, just like his unnatural silence. When they both reached his room, she sat him down on his bed.

„Do you feel like changing your clothes?”, asked Charlie.

„Maybe later”, replied Alastor and lay down on the side.

The girl covered him with a blanket and put her palm on the man’s forehead; it was a bit warmer than it should be, but didn’t explain his strong apathy.

Charlie moved the demon’s walkie-talkie closer to his bed, so the device would be within his reach.

„Call me if you need anything, okay?”

Alastor nodded.

„I’ll check on you soon”, she informed and headed towards the door.

„Charlie?”

„Yes?” The girl stopped walking and turned around.

„Can you bring me the bucket from the bathroom?”

„S-sure.” The princess quickly complied with the request, placing the bucket next to the bed.

„Thank you”, muttered the deer demon.

„Are you feeling sick?”, asked him Charlie, frowning with concern.

He nodded again.

„Oh, my poor thing…” The princess stroked Alastor’s hair softly. „Try to get some sleep.”

She adjusted the blanket one more time before she left the room with worry written all over her face.

~~~

When Charlie went downstairs, she noticed her girlfriend sitting on the couch and laughing at the show aired in the TV.

„Whatcha watchin’?”, asked the princess, sitting down next to her and snuggling into her arm.

„It’s the series about a drunkard hunting down demons”, explained Vaggie.

„Sounds familiar, huh?” Charlie smiled, amused.

„Hunting demons, yes. Being drunk at work was my friend’s thing.”

„Was she cool?”

„Very cool. Not as cool as you, though”, said the ex-angel and gave the blonde girl a kiss.

Charlie looked at the screen.

„What’s with the signal?”, she asked when the show froze for a moment.

„Dunno, maybe there’s a storm coming or something. What’s with Alastor?”

„No idea”, sighed the princess. „It’s as if he had a super high fever and wasn’t aware of anything, but he doesn’t. It’s weird.”

„Well, we’ll see.”

„He isn’t feeling well, either. It’s really disturbing, Vaggie. Think I’ll stay with him this night in case he needs anything. Told him to call me, but I’m sure he wouldn’t.”

„Alright”, replied Vaggie and patted her girlfriend’s head.

„I’ll go to Husk and ask him to help Al change his clothes, then go back to you, okay?”

„I’ll be waiting.”

Charlie stood up and went upstairs. She knocked at Husk’s door with some hesitation. She heard some laughs from the inside and then the footsteps.

Husk opened the door, smiling. The girl noticed Angel sitting on the bartender’s bed, holding two drinks.

„I’m truly sorry to disturb you, but I need your help”, said the princess.

„What happened?”, asked the cat demon, frowning.

„Could you maybe help Alastor change his clothes into pyjamas? I don’t think that he’s able to do it himself right now, and I know that you’ve been taking care of his wounds multiple times, so…”

„Okay”, answered Husk and turned around for a moment. „I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

„I hope so!”, responded the spider demon.

The bartender closed the door to his room and followed Charlie.

„So, what is wrong with him?”, he asked.

„Wish I knew… He’s sick for sure, but I don’t know what exactly he’s suffering from”, sighed the girl.

„Don’t worry, he’s been through a lot.”

„Yeah… I’m going to the living room. Call me in case of any trouble.”

„Alright.”

Husk saw the princess walking away and took a deep breath before knocking at the Alastor’s door, then walked inside. He approached the sleeping demon and started poking his arm. He knew better than anyone else that the Radio Demon was in a defensive mode even while resting.

Alastor reluctantly opened his eyes and gazed at the bartender absentmindedly.

„Hello, boss”, greeted him Husk dryly. „Charlie asked me to help you change your clothes. Don’t make it too difficult.”

„Wasn’t going to”, chuckled the deer demon faintly.

The cat demon was utterly shocked that Alastor didn’t protest during the whole process. He’s been like a rag doll, letting Husk do his work without a word of objection.

It’s so strange to see him like that, thought the bartender. He almost felt concerned. Sure, his soul’s owner annoyed him and harassed him sometimes, but Husk didn’t exactly hate him. In fact, there were times when he kind of liked him and enjoyed his company; the evenings when they were drinking together and sharing news about Hell’s society were rather fun. The cat demon was sure that he could have had a far worse owner, especially after hearing Angel’s stories.

The bartender left Alastor’s clothes on the chair and cast one last glance at the sick demon; the overlord has been already curled up in bed.

„Do you want me to tell Charlie anything?”, asked Husk before leaving.

The deer demon just shook his head in response and closed his eyes. He appeared to be in pain.

„What happened to you?” The cat demon stared at him, startled.

„I don’t know”, murmured Alastor.

Husk walked out of the room, feeling uneasy. He sent Charlie a message and returned to Angel, feeling in a desperate need of a drink.

~~~

After changing her clothes and wishing her girlfriend goodnight, Charlie went to Alastor’s room. She gently knocked at the door and walked inside, tip-toeing. The girl sat on the edge of the bed, next to the sleeping demon. She looked inside the bucket; it was empty. Then she put her palm on Alastor’s forehead again, but it was still only slightly warm. The deer demon opened his eyes.

„Hi. Are you feeling any better?”, asked the princess, now stroking his forehead.

„Not really.”

„I’m so sorry, Al… And I’m sorry if that’s undesirable for you, but I’m staying here tonight. Someone needs to keep an eye on you.”

„Alright”, muttered the overlord and moved closer to the edge of the bed, making some space for the girl.

Why did he agree without a fight? Was he afraid? Or was he feeling so poorly that he didn’t care anymore about anything? Charlie found both thoughts dreadful.

She lay down next to Alastor and closed her eyes. The man’s ragged breathing was giving her chills, but at the same time, she was glad she could supervise him; she wouldn’t fall asleep in her own bed anyway, wondering if her friend needed help.

The princess almost drifted away, but the overlord’s voice made her fully awaken at one moment.

„Charlie, are you there?”

„Yes, of course.” Charlie sat up. „Do you need anything?”

„Please turn the radio off.”

„What radio, Al?”

„The one making that unpleasant noise”, explained the deer demon.

„…What noise? Alastor, I don’t hear a thing”, whispered the princess, now terrified.

„Alright, then that’s just my head”, chuckled the man, but there was no sign of amusement in his voice. „It’s driving me insane.”

Charlie wanted to say something, but she didn’t know what.

~~~

The princess didn’t remember the moment she fell asleep, but she was woken up by the sound of retching and vomit splattering in the bucket. She moved closer to Alastor and started rubbing circles on his back. He finished and let out a groan.

„Do you want water?”, offered Charlie.

The man shook his head, trying to catch his breath.

The girl stood up and gave the deer demon a tissue, then took the bucket to the bathroom to clean it. When she returned and placed it next to the bed again, Alastor was lying on his side, shivering like a leaf.

„Feeling any better?”, asked Charlie with care, lying down next to him.

„No. It hurts”, whined the overlord semi-consciously and turned to face the princess.

She noticed how his smile was now more of a grimace.

„What hurts you?”

„Head, muscles, everything.”

„Maybe you caught some kind of flu”, sighed the girl sadly. „Try to sleep it off.”

She moved closer and embraced Alastor. He reciprocated the hug and hid his face in her arm, still shaking. By his labored breaths Charlie suspected that he was on the verge of tears, and that made her want to cry, too.

Something was very off.

Chapter Text

A quiet knocking at the door woke Charlie up. She looked around the room. It was so dark all the time that she had no idea if there has been still night or morning already. She pulled back from Alastor, whose moving chest was the only sign of him being alive, and stood up from the bed. She approached the door and opened it.

„Hi”, greeted her Vaggie.

„Hi, come in.” The princess moved aside and let her girlfriend into the room, closing the door behind her.

The ex-angel made a few steps towards the bed, stopping at the safe distance.

„He doesn’t look good”, she remarked.

„Isn’t doing good, either”, sighed Charlie and sat down on the edge of the bed. She cast the man a gloomy glance. „I don’t know, it looks like he caught some weird flu, but I have this strange feeling that something isn’t right here. Or I’m just losing my mind.”

„I’m sorry about that.” Vaggie sat down next to the girl and grabbed her hand. „Have you slept at all?”

„Yeah, a bit. What about you? Did you sleep well?”

„You could say so, but I missed you.”

„I missed you, too.” Charlie let her head rest on Vaggie’s shoulder.

„Your dad’s preparing breakfast”, informed the ex-angel after a while.

„Okay, I’ll ask Al if he’s up to eating something.” The princess shook Alastor’s arm. „Hey, Al.”

The deer demon raised his eyelids a little.

„Morning”, greeted him Charlie and forced a smile.

„Good morning, darling”, he answered with a hoarse voice.

„How are you doing today?”

„It’s better to not talk about that.”

„Okay… Do you want to eat something? Anything?” The princess almost begged.

„No, my dear, thank you.”

„Al, please…”

„I’m feeling too sick for that.”

„You have to.” Charlie stared at the man, looking desperate.

„Perhaps Alastor will get his appetite back later, don’t force him now”, suggested Vaggie, pulling her girlfriend up from the bed.

The overlord smiled at the ex-angel with visible gratitude. She smiled back nervously.

„Okay, I’ll be back after breakfast. I’m staying on the line all the time”, said the princess, pointing with her head at Alastor’s walkie-talkie.

The deer demon nodded, still smiling weakly.

Vaggie took her partner’s hand and lead her outside the room, feeling rather dejected herself.

~~~

Charlie returned to her bedroom to dress up, keeping the walkie-talkie close to herself all the time, and went downstairs with her girlfriend. Others must have noticed how dead inside she looked, as they were staring at her, troubled.

„Hello, Char Char!”, called Lucifer cheerfully, placing a plate full of pancakes in front of her. „What’s with that sad face?”

„I’m worried about Alastor”, she confessed, staring blankly at the pancakes.

„Wait, he’s still like that?”, asked Husk, frowning.

„Like what?” The king stared at both of them, surprised.

„Al seems to be very ill”, explained Charlie.

„My master is ill?!”, shrieked Niffty and rushed upstairs without thinking.

„Niffty, breakfast!”, called Husk behind her, but the maid didn’t listen.

„Then make sure to eat well so you won’t catch whatever he has”, suggested Lucifer, placing two pancakes on his daughter’s plate.

„I really hope it’s just the flu”, murmured the princess, forcing the food inside her mouth.

When she finished eating, she grabbed a thermometer and went upstairs. She knocked at Alastor’s door to signal that she was about to walk in and made her way into the room.

She was met with the sight of Niffty holding the bucket for Alastor and him dry-heaving over it.

„Holy shit”, muttered Charlie and ran towards her business partner.

„Master, there’s nothing you can throw up anymore”, whined the maid, staring with fear at her soul’s owner.

Alastor pulled back, gasping for air. A moment later he was embraced by Charlie.

„It’s okay”, she whispered reassuringly, stroking his hair. „You’re gonna need an IV, though”, she added, watching Niffty carrying the bucket to the bathroom.

When the deer demon was shivering a little less, the princess helped him to lean against the headboard; she covered him with the blanket and took out the thermometer.

„I’m gonna check your temperature. It’s a non-contact thermometer, hope it’s okay with you”, she said.

Alastor nodded faintly.

Charlie has just noticed a small trace of blood in the corner of his mouth and felt dizzy. She measured the demon’s temperature and looked at the thermometer.

37.5°C.

That was a subfebrile condition, which wasn’t a big deal, but it didn’t explain Alastor’s lethargy at all. Actually, the princess would feel more relieved if the man have had a higher fever – there would be something to blame his state on.

Charlie put back the thermometer and helped the deer demon lie down.

„I’ll go get the medical equipment. Niffty should be able to insert an IV”, said the girl and left the room.

When she got back a few minutes later, the maid has been already curled up by Alastor’s side; the man seemed to be asleep again.

„Niffty, do you know how to put someone on a drip?”, asked her the princess.

„Sure!”, replied the little woman and started preparing everything.

Charlie sat down, staring at her business partner with distress. She was scared the day before – now she was terrified.

„Done!”, exclaimed Niffty proudly; the princess noticed a tube sticking out of Alastor’s hand.

„Good job”, praised her Charlie. She took the overlord’s palm in her own hands and rubbed it softly with her thumb.

„Miss Charlie, what is happening to Alastor?”, asked the maid quietly. She’s been looking intensively at the princess, her one big eye full of dread.

„I don’t know, Niffty”, admitted the girl woefully.

The cyclope demon curled up next to her soul’s owner shoulder again. She’s been unusually serious.

They both remained completely silent.

~~~

When Vaggie walked into Alastor’s room a few hours later to take her girlfriend downstairs for another meal, she spotted Charlie and Niffty lying in quietness on both sides of the deer demon.

„How’s Alastor?”, asked the ex-angel. She wasn’t even asking out of politeness; the girl really hoped that he’d feel better soon.

„Even worse than yesterday”, whimpered Charlie. „It’s not normal. I’m going crazy by now.”

Vaggie cast the sleeping demon a sad glance.

„Why isn’t my master getting better?”, asked Niffty, upset.

„Let’s hope he will soon. Anyway, I was told to bring you both downstairs for lunch.”

„I’m not leaving my master”, said the maid.

„I’m not hungry anyway”, stated the princess.

Vaggie sighed.

„Please?”, she tried again, but was utterly ignored. „Niffty, you missed breakfast. Charlie, your dad will start asking questions.”

„Go, Niffty, I’ll stay with Al”, offered Charlie.

„You both better be going, I’ll stay there until you return”, said the ex-angel.

„Okay”, gave up the princess and stood up. She gave Niffty a hand and they both left.

Vaggie sat down in the chair and watched Alastor. He seemed so vulnerable now. Him, of all sinners, the Radio Demon.

Charlie was right that the state he was in wasn’t normal at all. It looked as if all of his life energy left him. As if his own organism was trying to kill him.

The ex-angel felt truly sorry for Alastor. Sure, he was an asshole and she didn’t particularly like him, but he was a part of their family. He almost gave his life for the hotel Charlie created, he helped her run it, and, what’s the most important, Charlie loved him, and Vaggie loved Charlie. Seeing her girlfriend devastated by the state her co-host was in was breaking Vaggie’s heart.

Suddenly, the deer demon moved and opened his eyes, looking around with confusion.

„Hello”, greeted him the girl. „I told Charlie and Niffty to go eat something. It was hard to convince them, though. Do you need anything?”

„No, my dear, thank you.” Alastor tried to lean on his arms.

„Wait, I’ll help you.” Vaggie rushed to his side and helped him sit up.

„Oh, you didn’t have to.”

„I won’t charge you for that.” The ex-angel rolled her eye. „Are you sure you don’t need anything?”

„Yes. I just got tired of lying constantly. I’m not sure anymore if everything hurts because of that or because of this weird condition.”

„Do you have any idea what are you suffering from?”, asked Vaggie, sitting down in the chair again.

„Sadly, no”, replied the deer demon. He appeared to be extremely exhausted, with his ears flopped and dark circles under his eyes.

„Nothing rings a bell?”

„Do I look like I’m enjoying this?”, snarled Alastor.

„Of course not. I’m just trying to help.”

They’ve been sitting in silence for a couple of minutes. The overlord closed his eyes. Despite the soft smile on his face, Vaggie found it obvious that he was in pain.

The ex-angel couldn’t be happier when Charlie and Niffty returned to the room. Alastor opened his eyes at the sound of footsteps, so their faces brightened up at once.

„Master, how are you feeling?”, asked the maid instantly. She jumped on the bed.

„Unfortunately, still rather poorly, darling.”

„Do you want me to bring you lunch now?”, offered the princess with hope in her eyes.

„I’m sorry to disappoint, but no. Actually, I think I’ll get back to sleep”, answered the deer demon.

„Oh. Okay.” Charlie couldn’t hide her sorrow.

„Let me help you, master!”, exclaimed the maid.

„You’re such a kind soul, dear Niffty, but I’ll do just fine”, responded Alastor and lay down on his own. The cyclope demon covered him with the blanket thoroughly.

„I’ll go take a look how everything’s going around the hotel”, announced Vaggie and stood up.

„Oh shit, I completely forgot about all my duties, I’m sorry”, sighed Charlie.

„Don’t worry, honey, I have everything under control. You stay here and take care of Alastor and I’ll take care of the hotel until he feels better.”

„My dearest angel.” The princess hugged her girlfriend tightly. „Call me in case of any trouble.”

„You too.”

Vaggie walked out of the room and Charlie returned to her business partner’s side.

Chapter Text

In the evening Vaggie made Charlie come downstairs again. The princess wasn’t very keen on that. Neither was Niffty, but they had a deal with Charlie that they would switch once the first girl was finished with dinner.

„How come I only see you on meals today?”, asked Lucifer jokingly. „Even that is granted to me by Vaggie.”

„Sorry, dad. I just don’t feel like doing anything today. I’m hella worried about Alastor.”

„Is he still that sick?” The king was surprised.

Charlie nodded with fright in her eyes.

„Charlie isn’t exaggerating. I’ve seen him myself and he doesn’t look well”, added Vaggie.

„I’m scared, dad”, whimpered the princess. She sounded as if she was on the verge of tears.

„Don’t worry, sunshine. I’m sure he’ll get better tomorrow.”

„What if he doesn’t? He seems to be completely drained out of energy, he’s in pain, doesn’t want to eat, puked a few times… It’s getting worse and worse and I don’t even know how to help him!”

Vaggie embraced her girlfriend and stroked her head softly, whispering some reassuring words to calm her down.

„Maybe he’s been poisoned or somethin’”, suggested Angel suddenly. „Some drugs can cause such strange apathy.”

Everyone stared at him in quietness.

„That makes sense”, said the ex-exterminator finally, breaking the silence.

„But why would someone poison Al and how?”, asked Charlie with a shaky voice.

„Alastor likes to go out and not say a word about his whereabouts, so we don’t know everything. Someone might have had an opportunity to poison him somehow. And when it comes to why… It could be anyone feeling endangered by him. Which is basically most of Hell’s population”, explained Vaggie.

„It’s just horrible”, murmured the princess. The thought of someone willing to hurt one of her friends was killing her from the inside.

„We should get Alastor’s blood sample and bring it to the lab so they can test it for any weird substances. Not a word about whose blood is that”, decided the ex-exterminator.

„I hope he agrees”, sighed Charlie.

„Doesn’t have a choice”, interjected Husk.

„I know, but I’d feel bad forcing him when he barely knows what’s happening around him.”

„If you’ll have to force him, you shouldn’t feel bad at all. You may be saving his life”, stated the bartender.

„I’ll go to the hospital and ask if any nurse could come and take a sample”, announced Vaggie.

„I’ll go with you. Once they see me, everything should go way smoother”, said Lucifer.

„You really will?” The princess was astonished.

„Of course. Everything for you, sweetie.” The king kissed his daughter on the forehead.

„We should be going. Maybe the lab’s still open”, wondered the ex-exterminator.

„Thank you both. And thank you, Angel”, said Charlie, smiling with gratitude.

„Glad I could help in any way”, replied the spider demon. „I’m sorry about Smiles. Hope it’s nothing serious.”

„Yeah, me too.”

The princess watched her two angels leave the building and went upstairs, hoping that it wouldn’t be too hard to convince her business partner into their rather odd idea.

She entered Alastor’s room, not bothering with knocking; the chance of him being awake was close to zero anyway.

„Niffty, go eat something”, said Charlie and sat on the bed.

„Fine, miss Charlie!”, replied the maid and left the room, closing the door behind her.

The princess stared at the sleeping demon, feeling her heart breaking into million little pieces. She knew that the Radio Demon had plenty of enemies and quite dark reputation, but to her he was just Alastor. Her generous business partner, who’d made her wish come true and helped with everything around the hotel. Her beloved friend, with whom she adored talking about everything and who made her laugh. Her dearest father figure, always ready to protect her, by whom side she felt completely safe. The idea of someone hurting him intentionally was too much for Charlie.

The girl gently stroked Alastor’s cheek.

„Alastor. Al”, she kept whispering.

The deer demon woke up; he smiled warmly at the sight of the princess. Shortly he noticed her troubled expression.

„Smile, my dear”, said the overlord.

The girl tried to, but started crying instead.

„Charlie?”, murmured Alastor, startled.

„I’m sorry”, she sniffed. „I just can’t stop myself anymore. I’m too fucking scared.”

„By what, darling?”

„By the state you’re in. I’m very worried about you, Al”, explained Charlie, wiping the tears off her face.

The deer demon remained silent for a while, unsure how to react to the girl’s weeping.

„Just smile for me anyway”, he asked her to at last.

„I’ll try”, promised the princess, forcing a smile on her face. „Actually, I have a request, too.”

„Ask for whatever you want, sweetie.”

„I guess you won’t like it, though”, sighed Charlie. „But it’s necessary.”

„Alright, what is it?”

„We need to test your blood as it might help with detecting the cause of your sudden illness. A nurse will come to you and take a sample”, informed the girl, playing with her braid nervously.

„Fine.”

„Wait, really? You agree?” Charlie blinked twice and gazed at her business partner in search of any emotions.

„I do.”

„Okay, good”, she said, adding „I guess” in her mind.

The overlord closed his eyes. He’s been still feeling utterly worn out. He almost dozed off, but the princess’ voice reached him earlier.

„Alastor”, she muttered with a breaking voice.

„Hmm?”

„You’re bleeding from your nose.”

The man brought his palm to his nose, then looked at his hand; Charlie was right, his fingers were now stained with red liquid.

„You should sit up straight”, informed him the princess and helped the demon sit up. She grabbed a tissue and wiped off the blood, then sat next to the overlord and pinched his nose. „Breath through your mouth”, she instructed.

Alastor put his head on the girl’s shoulder, panting shallowly, and closed his eyes. Charlie felt like crying again. She felt so helpless; all she was able to do was watching her friend suffer. The girl leaned her cheek on the demon’s head and closed her eyes, too, trying to hold back tears.

The door opened and Niffty made her way into the room. She stood like paralyzed at the sight of the tissue all soaked in blood and placed under her master’s nose.

„What happened?”, she asked, approaching the bed, then climbing onto it.

„Al started to bleed”, explained the princess, shaken.

The maid didn’t say a word, just staring at her soul’s owner with fear.

„Will Alastor get better?”, she whispered finally.

„He has to”, replied Charlie with her voice breaking.

„I heard from Husk you’re testing him for poison.”

„Yeah. We’re checking every possible cause of his condition.”

„Good. He wouldn’t do it himself”, stated Niffty.

„Niffty?”

„Yes?”

„Do you have any ideas what happened? You’ve known Al longer than me and I bet you’ve taken care of him multiple times.” The princess glanced at the cyclope demon with hope.

„Yes, I have. Anytime he’s been hurt or sick and needed that. But he’s never been THAT sick.”

„That’s not very comforting, but thank you”, sighed Charlie.

Her phone rang and she took it out of her pocket. It was Vaggie calling. The princess picked up immediately.

„Yes, hon?”, she asked.

„Could you come downstairs? We brought a nurse”, said the ex-angel.

„Cool, I’m on my way.” Charlie hung up and put her phone into the pocket. She gently laid Alastor down. „I’ll be back with the nurse”, she told Niffty and left the room.

When she went downstairs, she noticed a sheep demon with a huge medical bag. The nurse was talking to the king.

„Remember what we’ve told you – you are obligated to be completely discreet about that. Not a word to anyone that we’ve called you here nor who you’re going to take a sample from”, said Lucifer seriously.

„Of course”, responded the sheep demon. „So who is waiting for me upstairs?”

„The Radio Demon”, replied Vaggie. She noticed her girlfriend standing next to her and took her hand.

The nurse’s face has lost all of its colors in one moment.

„I didn’t sign up to die”, she muttered, absolutely horror-struck.

„He won’t do you a thing. He’s either unconscious or barely conscious.” Vaggie rolled her eye.

„Yes, I promise, I won’t let anything happen to you. You need to help us, please”, begged Charlie desperately.

„I’ve got this”, whispered the ex-exterminator to her partner and looked at the sheep demon again. „Listen here, does your work ethics mean a shit to you? You either take this sample or you’re finished.”

„Alright, alright, I’ll do it”, sighed the nurse. „Just make sure he doesn’t murder me, please.”

„No worries”, answered the princess, brightening up, and lead the sheep demon upstairs. Vaggie followed them.

All three women walked into the room, the nurse with visible hesitation. Charlie approached the bed and sat next to the sleeping man. She shook his arm.

„Alastor, wake up. Hey, wake up, please”, she said softly.

The overlord groaned and looked at the girl uneagerly.

„I’m really sorry to wake you up again, Al, but we need to take your blood. Remember, I’ve told you about it”, reminded him the princess.

Alastor closed his eyes. Charlie felt anxious that he had changed his mind, but then the demon stretched his hand out. Once more, the girl felt relieved and concerned at the same time. He consented, great, but how intense was his pain that he agreed without complaining?

The princess hasn’t known yet if her friend had been poisoned, but the idea of that has made her immensely furious at the person who’d have had done that.

Perhaps some sinners didn’t deserve forgiveness, especially when they felt no remorse, she thought and grabbed her business partner’s hand.

The nurse walked closer to the bed, trembling.

„Careful there”, warned her Vaggie. „Believe me, you don’t want to hurt our friend.”

Charlie gazed at her girlfriend like she fell in love with her once again.

The sheep demon sat down on the edge of the bed and opened her medical bag. She took out the equipment, peeking at the sick man time after time. Then she stuck a needle into his vein. When there was enough blood in a test tube, she took the needle out and put a cotton pad at the injection site.

„Press it for at least five minutes”, she told the princess.

„Okay, thank you so much”, said Charlie with immense gratitude and pressed the cotton pad with her second hand, the first still holding Alastor’s palm.

„I’ll be back soon”, announced Vaggie and lead the nurse outside.

The princess watched Niffty gently brushing her fingers through the deer demon’s hair. One look at the maid and she could tell that she was thinking the same.

How badly was he suffering to just let them do with him whatever they wanted to and not care about how he appeared himself to be in front of strangers? The thought was truly petrifying.

„Miss Charlie?”, asked Niffty quietly.

„Yes?”

„If Alastor was poisoned… Am I allowed to stab the person who did it?”

„You have my permission for it”, said the princess. „But not with the angelic weapon.”

„The regular will do just fine”, stated the maid, grinning wildly.

After a few minutes, Vaggie came back.

„How is he?”, she asked, staring at Alastor with sympathy.

„Not well”, sighed Charlie sadly. „It was a good idea to seek help in the hospital. Did they tell you when we’d get the results?”

„They told us to come to them in the morning.”

„Okay.”

„It’s getting late”, remarked the ex-angel. „Are you staying here tonight?”

„Niffty, are you?”, asked the princess.

„Of course”, replied the maid.

„I’ll go with Vaggie, can you call me if anything happens to Alastor? Even if you have it under control, I’d just want to know.”

„No problem, miss Charlie.”

„Thank you.” The princess smiled weakly. She stroked the overlord’s head with care. „Sleep well, Al. You too, Niffty. See you both in the morning.”

„Goodnight!”, responded the maid.

„Goodnight”, said Vaggie. She left the room with Charlie.

When they both took showers and went to bed, they hugged each other tightly.

„How I needed that”, whispered the princess.

„Me too”, admitted the ex-angel.

„Thank you for everything. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

„You have nothing to thank me for. Let’s just hope that the results show what made Alastor that sick. We’ll know what to do next.”

„What if they show nothing?”, asked Charlie with fear.

„Don’t think about that now. Worrying in advance never helps.”

„But what if…?”

„We’ll find another solution”, promised Vaggie, rubbing her partner’s back reassuringly.

„I love you.”

„Love you, too.”

~~~

When Alastor woke up, there was the middle of the night. He looked around and spotted Niffty curled up by his side. The man smiled warmly; the little woman was always there for him.

So was Charlie, the deer demon thought with affection. She wasn’t there now, though. Alastor assumed that either Vaggie or Lucifer made her leave for the night so she could get some rest.

Alastor was still feeling terrible. Every muscle in his body ached him, he was feeling weakened and nauseous, there was the constant buzzing sound in his head making him want to scream in frustration…

The deer demon knew that his state was serious; he’s seen it in everyone’s eyes. Poor Charlie tried not to worry him, but wasn’t able to suppress her concern anymore. Even Vaggie was feeling uneasy. At this rate, he’d soon be visited by Lucifer himself.

But that was weird. The overlord felt like he was dying, apparently the rest of the hotel was starting to fear it, too, but somehow he knew he wouldn’t.

When Alastor was struck with Adam’s weapon, he was frightened for real. The awareness that he was inches from death left him scarred. But this time it felt more like he would suffer endlessly, that there would be no relief from his current situation.

The demon hoped he wouldn’t die like that, at least. If he was to expire in any way, the only satisfying option was to be killed in a battle, so he would be remembered the way he wanted to be perceived – as a real hazard in Hell’s society.

Alastor closed his eyes again, wishing for pain to end, one way or another.

Chapter Text

Charlie woke up in the morning with the feeling of dread. She couldn’t explain it; the girl didn’t remember what she had dreamed of, but given the current situation, that feeling made her shiver. She stood up from the bed and started dressing up.

Vaggie woke up, too, and joined her.

„How did you sleep?”, she asked, brushing her hair.

„Poorly. I couldn’t fall asleep and even now I feel anxious”, sighed the princess.

„Everything will be alright”, assured her the ex-angel. „I’ll go straight to the hospital and call you when I get back.”

„Perfect. I’m going to Alastor, then.”

The girls left their bedroom and split. Charlie headed to her business partner’s room and knocked at the door, then walked in.

Alastor was still asleep, but when Niffty heard the footsteps, she immediately opened her eye and took out the knife.

„Easy there, it’s me”, said the princess, approaching the bed.

„Oh, good morning, miss Charlie”, laughed the maid awkwardly, hiding her knife.

„Good morning, Niffty. Is this the same knife you killed Adam with?”, asked Charlie, sitting down.

„The very same! I don’t use it for hunting bugs, though. This one is for the bigger parasites who’d want to hurt my master, just like Adam did.”

„Good to know Al has such solid protection”, stated the princess. „How is he, anyway?”

„Nothing really changed. He slept the whole night”, answered Niffty. Her mad smile faded in one moment.

„Well. At least it didn’t get worse”, murmured Charlie, not looking very relieved. She lay down next to Alastor and snuggled into his arm.

Hopefully, the results would show what caused his illness and what could help him get back on his feet.

Both girls remained quiet; their silence was interrupted when the deer demon opened his eyes. They sat up straight right away.

„Alastor!”, called Niffty happily.

„Good morning, ladies”, he greeted them weakly.

„How are you feeling today?”, asked the princess.

„Awful, to be completely sincere”, chuckled the overlord, making both women frown in concern. „Where are your smiles?”

„I’m the furthest from smiling I can be right now”, admitted Charlie, feeling her throat tightening from anxiety.

„That’s the exact reason you should smile, anyway.”

„Should I bring you breakfast, master?”, asked Niffty with hope.

„No, my dear, I still cannot force myself to eat.”

„I’m gonna have to give you another drip, then”, said the maid.

„If that’s necessary.”

„Soon we may be able to help you properly”, informed Charlie, smiling faintly. „Vaggie went for the results of your blood tests.”

„Splendid.”

„I’m so sorry that you have to go through all of this.”

„Nothing pleasant for sure”, sighed Alastor.

All demons fell into silence again, until Charlie’s phone rang. She picked up right away.

„I’m back”, said Vaggie through the phone.

„Coming!”, replied the princess and hung up. She smiled to Alastor, hopeful and nervous at the same time, and rushed downstairs.

She greeted everyone gathered in the living room and sat on the couch next to her father. She kept staring with anticipation at her girlfriend holding an envelope.

„Okay, I’m opening it.” Vaggie sat down in the chair and took out the results from the envelope. She started reading it.

Charlie felt her heart pouding rapidly. Her father must have heard it, as he put his hand on her shoulder reassuringly.

The ex-angel kept glancing at the paper emotionlessly.

Something was wrong. The princess felt lightheaded.

„So? What does it say?”, asked Angel.

„Nothing unusual was detected”, murmured Vaggie.

„Nothin’?”, repeated the spider demon, astonished. „How thoroughly has it been tested?”

„For every substance possible, I guess”, sighed the ex-exterminator, grabbing her forehead. „Charlie’s dad made it very clear that he expected that.”

„So he hasn’t been poisoned for sure”, stated Husk.

At this point, Charlie burst into tears.

„Then what’s wrong with Al?”, she sobbed. „I’m not sure how much longer he can take it…”

Vaggie stood up from the chair and went to hug her girlfriend.

„We’ll figure something out”, she whispered, stroking her head with care. She peeked at Lucifer with horror in her eye.

„What a fucking mess”, muttered Husk, taking a huge sip from his beer.

Charlie was hugging Vaggie tightly, sniveling in terror. The king rubbed his daughter’s back, frowning.

„I’ll go talk to him”, said Lucifer at last. „Maybe I’ll be able to heal him somehow, I don’t know. Gotta try everything, right?”

„Thank you.” The princess pulled back from her partner and hugged her father. „Please, save him.”

„Of course, duckling. I’ll do everything I can.” The king kissed Charlie on the head and went upstairs.

~~~

Lucifer knocked at Alastor’s door. He would have never thought that he’d come here willingly, as both men tended to avoid themselves as much as possible. When he heard an invitation, he walked inside.

The deer demon gazed at him in astonishment.

„Niffty, go eat something”, said the king.

„Roger that, your majesty!”, she exclaimed and rushed outside, closing the door behind her.

Lucifer approached the bed in silence.

„To what do I owe the pleasure?”, asked Alastor. He didn’t seem to be mocking the king; he was truly astounded.

„I need to talk to you honestly”, said Lucifer seriously and sat down on the bed, though as far from the overlord as it was possible. „We tested your blood for poison and the results didn’t show a thing. We have no idea what is happening to you and Charlie is freaking out. Is there any possibility that you know the cause of your condition?”

„If I knew, I’d tell. You have no idea what I’m going through right know”, sighed the deer demon wearily.

„Are you sure? Please, I’ll help you. I don’t want anything in return, I promise. I just want my daughter to smile again.” The king stared at the sick demon with desperation in his eyes.

„I truly don’t know.”

„Is your wound fully healed? May I take a look?”

„Alright.” Alastor took his shirt off, wincing in pain.

Lucifer spotted a faint scar running across the overlord’s entire torso. He stretched out his hand closer to it in search for any angelic energy, but there was none. He sighed helplessly and snapped his fingers. Alastor was in his shirt again without having to put it on.

„So, am I dying?”, asked the deer demon. He tried to sound amused, but there was terror in his gaze.

„I have no idea”, answered the king. „I really hope you’re not, but I don’t know.”

Alastor nodded, fighting hard to keep a smile on his face.

„I’m sorry”, muttered Lucifer and stood up. He was almost at the door when he heard the demon’s voice.

„Hey.”

The king turned around to look at the overlord.

„You’re very lucky to have Charlie as a daughter”, said Alastor.

„I know”, replied Lucifer quietly.

„She deserves all the world.”

„Agreed.” The king smiled faintly and left the room, feeling truly depressed.

~~~

Lucifer came back downstairs and looked around to check the situation. Charlie seemed a bit more composed; Vaggie must have succeeded in calming her down one way or another.

He felt horrible that soon he’d destroy it.

„Oh, your majesty, you’re back”, remarked Niffty, jumping off Husk’s lap. „I’m coming back to my master, then”, she said and headed upstairs.

The princess looked at her father with anticipation.

„Did you help Al?”, she asked.

The king sat down in the chair, staring at his palms nervously.

„Dad?”

„There’s nothing I can heal”, he admitted dully.

„What do you mean?” Charlie’s eyes widened in panic. She squeezed her girlfriend’s hand harder.

„Sweetie, I cannot help him in any way. I’ve never seen something like that. I don’t know, maybe in sinners wounds of angelic origin cause prolonged damages that I’m not aware of and cannot do anything with. To be honest, I have no idea if he’s gonna make it”, babbled Lucifer.

„What”, whimpered the princess, feeling sick.

„I’m so sorry, my dearest sunshine. Maybe… Maybe you should say goodbye to him just in case.”

Charlie burst into violent sobbing. The king lowered his head, feeling his heart breaking completely.

„No, NO, it cannot be true!”, screamed the princess in terror. „There has to be something we can do… We cannot… I cannot…”

Vaggie was embracing the trembling girl, staring blankly at the floor herself.

When the Radio Demon had appeared at their doorstep all those months ago, she’d been paralyzed with fear; now the idea of him not being around has been horrible. She accepted him as a part of their family and wasn’t ready for losing another member of it. Not to mention the heartbreak Charlie would go through. The ex-exterminator knew too well that her girlfriend would never recover from it.

„Vaggie, tell me it’s just my nightmare”, begged the princess, choking on tears. „I can’t lose another parent. Not forever. Not like this.”

Tears started to flow through the ex-angel’s face, too.

„I’m so sorry”, she whispered helplessly and Charlie burst into even louder sobbing.

„Holy fuck.” Angel grabbed his forehead, horror-struck. He rarely even spoke to Alastor; most of the time the overlord completely ignored him, anyway. Nonetheless, the spider demon got used to his presence and the last thing he desired after Sir Pentious’ death was to go through the mourning yet again.

Husk’s gaze has been utterly blank. The idea of him not having a chain around his neck seemed too beautiful to be true, but he didn’t want Alastor to die. Especially not in such torment.

Everyone got lost in their own thoughts, the only thing audible being Charlie’s weeping.

~~~

It couldn’t be happening.

When Lucifer left, Alastor just kept staring at the closed door absentmindedly. Was he really dying? Is this how the legendary Radio Demon was supposed to perish?

No, it couldn’t be true. He shouldn’t be considering this possibility, the deer demon thought. Why would he, now? The only way to kill a mortal soul was the use of angelic weapon. Sure, he’s been cut with it, but that had happened a while ago and Lucifer had healed him. Why would he suffer from after-effects after so much time had passed? It just didn’t make any sense.

At least that’s what he was telling himself to stop himself from screaming in horror.

If he really was to die, he didn’t want to be remembered as someone who was scared to expire. After all, he’s gone through dying once; perhaps it had been a lot quicker then, but he wasn’t doing it for the first time.

He wasn’t afraid of Hell, he shouldn’t be afraid of nothingness, right?

Then why did he want to cry?

Someone knocked at the door and opened it. Niffty poked her head through the crack in the door.

„It’s me, master!”, she called and made her way into the room.

„Niffty, I’d like to be alone, please”, said Alastor, cursing at himself in his mind when his voice broke a little.

„Alastor? Is everything alright? Has the pain worsened?”, asked the maid with concern.

„No, my dear, I just want to be left alone for, let’s say, two hours. I’ll be fine, don’t worry. You have plenty to clean around the hotel, do you not?”, he said fast.

„Yes…”, admitted Niffty with hesitation.

„Great. See you later, then.”

„Okay, boss”, she agreed reluctantly and walked away, closing the door behind her.

Alastor sighed and closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down, but the buzzing sound in his head was effectively hindering that.

At least this pain would stop when he’d be dead, he thought, drifting away from exhaustion.

~~~

It took a while for Charlie to calm down at least partially, so she would be able to talk to the deer demon. She really wished she’d be able to articulate a few words before she would just break down completely.

Alastor had always been there for her, so she’d be there for him until the end. She wouldn’t let him die alone.

The girl knocked at the overlord’s door. She heard nothing, but decided to come in anyway.

When she entered the room, she noticed that her business partner was asleep. It wasn’t surprising; for the past two days he’s been seldom conscious.

The princess approached the bed, not taking her gaze away from Alastor. He looked so worn out and sick.

Is this why she had this weird feeling of dread this morning? Or why she was so stressed out about his condition? Did she suspect subconsciously that this illness would be the end of her friend?

Charlie pushed away those thoughts and sat down next to the deer demon. She started stroking his hair softly and whispering his name.

„Al. Alastor. Hey, wake up.”

The overlord opened his eyes and saw the girl’s face. He smiled tad wider.

The princess smiled through tears which had gathered in her eyes by now.

„Do you know that I love you very, very much?”, she asked, her voice breaking already.

„Of course”, replied the demon, feeling uneasy. He suspected in which direction this conversation would go; one look at the girl’s face said it all.

„We started this hotel together… You made my wish come true. You were always there for me.”

„Well, that’s what friends are for, right?”

„I can’t imagine my life without you, Alastor”, whimpered Charlie and started crying, unable of holding back tears any longer. „Please don’t leave me. You cannot leave me!”

Alastor moved in his bed to make some space for the princess. She lay down and snuggled into him, sobbing uncontrollably.

„Don’t you dare ever leave me. I cannot do this without you”, choked out Charlie between her sobs.

The overlord reciprocated her hug and put his hand on the girl’s head, running his fingers through her hair. He felt like crying himself. His sweet Charlie, desperate to seek goodness even in a scum like him.

„I’m not planning on dying”, said the sick demon with a hoarse voice.

„Good. I won’t let you die. You’re staying there with me and we’re running this fucking hotel together until the end of time”, murmured the princess, still weeping. „Oh, my poor Al… I can’t stand to see you suffer. I’d do everything to help you, you know? I’d gave you my soul if that could save you. Would that save you?”, she asked with hope.

„Doubt it, but thank you for your most generous offer.”

Charlie burst into intense sobbing again.

„I can’t lose you”, she whined. „I just can’t. I won’t recover from that.”

Alastor dozed off shortly, drained out of any energy, but the princess continued to weep into his chest.

Chapter Text

After a while someone knocked at the door, but Charlie didn’t care who it was; she was still in Alastor’s embrace and wasn’t planning on leaving it soon. She stopped crying by now, as her complete despair had been replaced by stupor.

The girl heard footsteps and looked up. Vaggie sat on the bed and placed her hand on Charlie’s arm. The ex-angel was frowning.

„Your dad locked himself up in his room, but wanted me to tell you that he’s truly sorry and he really did all he could”, she said quietly.

„I know.”

„I’m also not sure if that’s the right moment, but Angel wanted to talk to you as well. You see, just yesterday he convinced Cherri to join the hotel.”

„I’m not gonna run it anymore”, informed the princess.

„Say what.”

„We created this hotel with Al. It wouldn’t be the same without him. Every fucking wall here would remind me of him.”

„Charlie, you can’t be serious”, sighed Vaggie, staring at her girlfriend in disbelief. „What about all those sinners who could be redeemed? We now know that it’s possible to rehabilitate them and you’re giving up on them?”

„I don’t fucking care!”, snarled Charlie. „The next time extermination happens, I’m slaughtering every angel I see. They’re responsible for all of that and they deserve to suffer. Heaven banished my parents, killed millions of my people, gave up on you for showing you had a heart, turned Sir Pentious into dust and now someone who I kind of see as a father is dying in suffering because of their precious First Man”, she kept saying; with every word, her voice was getting more and more demonic.

Vaggie just gazed at her in shock.

„I wish Al could join me. He’d love that”, sighed the princess, stroking the man’s cheek and bursting into tears again. She hid her face in his shoulder.

„When Al wakes up, I want to talk to him, too”, sait the ex-angel, rubbing her partner’s arm compassionately. Charlie nodded.

The door opened all of a sudden and Niffty walked in.

„Husk told me”, she whispered in terror, approaching the bed.

Vaggie grabbed her forehead, expecting another outburst of hysteria, this time from the cyclope demon. Charlie was right, it couldn’t be happening for real. All of that resembled some kind of a sick nightmare way too much.

Niffty climbed on the bed and cast the sleeping demon a glance full of pain.

„My poor master. Why do you have to suffer so much?”, she whined.

The princess was still sniveling in Alastor’s embrace. Vaggie was inches from declaring a war on Heaven herself.

„If Alastor dies, I’m stabbing myself with my angelic knife”, informed the maid calmly, as if she was telling the girls what would she wear for a party.

„Niffty, don’t say such things. Alastor wouldn’t want you to commit suicide, you know?”, said the ex-exterminator.

„Do you know what our deal is?”, asked the cyclope demon.

„No. Tell us”, replied Vaggie.

„I promised Alastor that I’d do everything he would ask me for in exchange for his protection. Hell is a rough place when you’re so little and powerless like me. I was scared. I knew I wouldn’t last a minute in an upcoming extermination, but I’ve learned by that time what soul deals were. So I kept asking around who was the strongest overlord down there and most of the sinners told me to avoid the Radio Demon at any cost.” Niffty smiled to herself, amused. „I went to him anyway. I didn’t have much to lose, did I? I offered Alastor my service and he agreed to protect me from Hell’s perils shall I meet any. He’s always been good to me, so this service was nothing but a pure joy. He let me accompany him in his carnages”, the cyclope demon sighed with nostalgia. „He cared for me and I cared for him. It’s been that way for decades.”

„Wow.” It was all Vaggie was able to articulate at the moment. Even Charlie stopped crying, listening to the story, fascinated.

„It may seem as if Alastor was making me do what he wants, but it’s quite the opposite. I’m the one following him everywhere. He never forced me to anything. I just want to be near him because that makes me feel safe”, explained Niffty.

„You’re safe here, Niffty. Even if something happened to Alastor, Husk would protect you, we’d protect you…”, said the ex-angel.

„I know, I trust you. But I can’t live without my master.”

The maid snuggled into Alastor’s neck and closed her eye. She looked so miserable that Vaggie wanted to hug her, but the ex-angel knew that there was nothing that would comfort the little demon now.

~~~

Angel Dust and Husk were left alone in the living room as all of the other hotel residents went away. They’ve been sitting in a complete silence for a while, not finding words for the current situation.

„So you may be free soon”, remarked the spider demon.

„I don’t wanna think about it.”

„Don’t wanna get your hopes up?”

„I just don’t know what I feel in this moment”, explained the bartender, opening another bottle of liquor.

„Get it”, stated Angel. „I just wanted to ask you if you’d still be here if you didn’t hafta.”

„Yes”, answered Husk after a brief consideration.

„Cool.” The spider demon grabbed a pilot and turned the TV on, not being able to stand the grave atmosphere in the room. „What’s with this fuckin’ cable recently?”, he groaned audibly. „Anytime I turn this shit on, the image is all blurry and it keeps glitchin’. If Mister Fancy Talk Creepy Voice was now in the room, he’d say somethin’ about the radio supremacy”, chuckled Angel, but his smirk quickly faded. He sighed gloomily.

The bartender just drank more of his beer.

„Y’know what?” The spider demon turned the TV off. „I’ve had enough of this shitty signal. I desperately need somethin’ to watch so I can think of anythin’ else but the mess we’re in right now. Husk, sober up, buddy. Ya takin’ me to the roof.”

~~~

Charlie and Niffty were still lying beside Alastor, while Vaggie was sitting at the edge of the bed, gazing blankly at the floor. The ex-angel wondered how it was possible that two days ago everything had been alright and now Alastor was dying, with two girls dying along with him, but on the inside.

„We need to let Rosie know”, said the princess out of blue.

„Right. Anyone else?”, asked Vaggie.

„Mimzy, perhaps. But Rosie should be informed as soon as possible.”

„I’ll go call her right away”, decided the ex-angel and stood up.

Suddenly, Alastor woke up and sat up straight, looking around in surprise.

„What’s wrong, Al?” Charlie stared at the man with concern. She sat up, too.

„Actually, nothing is wrong anymore”, he stated, utterly shocked himself.

„That’s not good”, said Niffty. „Just before death there is a temporary improvement in well-being.”

The princess’ eyes filled with tears again. She glanced at her business partner with despair.

„I’m calling Rosie”, repeated Vaggie with fright in her eye and headed towards the door.

„What for?”, asked her the deer demon.

„She should know that your state is serious.”

„I haven’t been feeling that well for a couple of days! Can’t really tell how many as I’ve lost the track of time, but I’m doing great, I assure you. I still feel weakened, though, but it’s nothing a few mugs of coffee wouldn’t fix.”

Charlie covered her mouth, trying to hold back a sob. Niffty kept staring at her soul’s owner with fear. The ex-angel gazed at him acutely too, keeping her hand on the doorknob.

She moved away after hearing a knocking and opened the door.

Husk and Angel walked into the room. The spider demon was holding a strange device resembling a briefcase; it had a transmitter and some tiny lamps.

„I guess we accidentally found the cause of your strange condition, Al”, said Angel.

„What’s that?”, asked Vaggie.

„No idea, but when we flew to the roof to adjust the TV antenna, we noticed somethin’ attached to Al’s radio antenna. We approached it and spotted this.” The spider demon pointed at a small VoxTek logo at the device. „Dunno what it does, but nothin’ good for sure. It probably fucked up the radio waves and made you that sick. Anyway, we’ve removed it.”

„That explains the constant buzzing sound in my head I’ve had for a few days”, stated Alastor. „And the overall malaise.”

„So that means Al is going to be okay?” The princess’ face began to brighten.

„I already am okay, my dear.” The deer demon smiled broadly.

Charlie squeaked happily and embraced him tightly. Tears flowed through her face, but this time they were the tears of relief.

Niffty climbed on the overlord and sat on his shoulder, snuggling into his neck. She was smiling widely, too.

Everyone in the room looked relieved, even Husk.

„Thank you, thank you, thank you, Angel!” The princess gazed at the spider demon with limitless gratitude, still almost crushing Alastor’s bones with her hug.

„Thank you, good fellow”, added the deer demon seriously. For the first time in his afterlife, he looked at him with deep respect.

„Nothin’ to thank for. Glad you’re doin’ better, Smiles”, said Angel, smiling himself.

„Yeah, it was hella weird to see you like that”, admitted Husk.

„You scared us all”, added Vaggie.

„Oh, you must be exaggerating, my dear”, chuckled Alastor, patting Charlie’s back with one hand and Niffty’s head with another.

„I’m not. But we’ll talk about that later.”

~~~

By the afternoon Alastor was doing a whole lot better; Charlie made him stay in bed, still not leaving his side, while Niffty kept bringing him meals and refilling his coffee mug, cleaning the entire hotel in the meantime.

„You have no idea how much you’ve scared us all”, said the princess. She was smiling with relief, seeing the man eating the soup Niffty brought him.

„How long was I like that, anyway?”

„A day and a half.”

„Hm. Felt like much longer”, remarked the deer demon.

„You’re telling me… Ask whoever you want and they’ll confirm how fucking terrified I was.”

„I know, Charlie. I’m not saying I don’t recall a thing.” Alastor put the empty bowl on the nightstand. „Actually, I remember everything, I just didn’t know how much time had passed between those moments when I was awake. I know you were here almost all the time. I’m truly touched that you care so much.”

„Of course, Al. Like I was saying, you’re very important to me. It was so painful to see you suffer, and I was so worried, and then I thought you were dying…” The princess’ voice broke a little. „I don’t know what I’d do without you. I told Vaggie that I didn’t want to run this hotel after your death.”

„Darling, don’t come up with such ghastly ideas. You were going to run it before you had met me and you’d run it if I’d have died.”

„This is our shared success, Alastor. We wouldn’t be where we are without your help. Oh right, I haven’t told you yet – we’re gonna have a new family member!” Charlie grinned joyfully.

„Who’s that, sweetie?”

„Angel’s friend, Cherri Bomb.”

„Ah yeah, the one who’ve destroyed the wall about six times already.”

The princess giggled.

„Oh, I’m so happy you’re feeling well again”, she repeated and hugged the man.

The overlord patted her head impatiently. The amount of hugs he’s received since the morning has surpassed a bit his daily limit, but he didn’t blame the girl; he owed her any dose of solace she wanted after everything she’d done for him.

„Thank you, Charlie”, he said. „For everything.”

„That’s what friends are for”, she replied and pulled back.

„The nurse was here”, reminded himself Alastor. „Did she tell anyone outside of the hotel about my state?”

„No. Everything was kept in a secret. My dad made sure of that.”

„I guess I need to thank him, then”, sighed the deer demon. „I wouldn’t want anyone to find about my temporary indisposition. I feel pathetic enough with the knowledge that everyone in the hotel has seen me like that.”

„Al, we’re family. This is your home. You should feel at ease here.”

Alastor didn’t answer.

„Why did Vox want to put you through such suffering?”, asked Charlie with pain in her eyes.

„That is a long story. I’ll tell you when we have a couple of drinks one evening.”

„Can’t wait for you to get back on your feet”, said the princess, smiling broadly.

„Good thing that idiot damaged the TV antenna while attaching his little device”, remarked the overlord. „And that logo… He wanted me to know who caused my illness once someone figured out somehow what was wrong. I should have thought about that earlier. My head has been like a signal interference all this time and yet it hasn’t crossed my mind that the radio waves were to blame.”

„You’ve been feeling awful, Al, don’t blame yourself for not being able to think clearly. We should have thought about that, too”, sighed Charlie.

Everytime she thought about Vox, she felt rage rising in her. That man made her friend go through such torment just because he wanted him to suffer. The media demon not only made his rival go through hell; he also let all of the hotel residents believe that Alastor was dying, even poor Al himself. The princess didn’t trust herself anymore; the next time she saw Vox, she’d probably just rip him to shreds.

„I want Vox to pay for this”, said the girl.

„Interesting…”

„I know I shouldn’t, but he deserves that for all the pain he put you through.”

„Oh, he will pay, don’t worry about that, darling”, assured her the deer demon, grinning ominously.

Charlie smiled happily, seeing Alastor regaining his energy, along with his typical bloodlust.

Finally, everything was getting back to normal.