Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Are we there yet?",

Ben asks once again, totally oblivious to the dismal mood in the car. Katherine is trying her best to hide the grief and overexertion behind a rather unconvincing super-mom exterior.

"Not yet, sweetie",

she replies for the tenth time since the beggining of the car ride towards their new home. The car is stocked with with boxes full of furniture, old family artefacts and whatever scheming stuff the youngest daughter has in her ominous cardboard box titled "Esthers - do not touch".

Other then her mother, Esther has no issue voicing her current grudge against the world. Her arms are crossed around her knees while she stares out into the cold landscape that passes by.
While staring out the window she believes to see an unnaturally large shadow roaming. She decides thats a great opportunity to lift her spirits through tormenting her older brother.

"Hey, Benni, look! Its the Vendigo; he's craving a little boys' flesh!", she says with a big grin.

Ben crosses his arms, not falling for his sisters shenanigans ... this time.

"Very funny", he says sarcastically and raised his chin as if he is a wise mature know-it-all, "The Vendigo isn't real - and even if: he doesnt just eat people. He possesses them and forces them to go insane until they turn into feral cannibals. Aside from that: he only attacks people that are subsceptible for acts of greed - like stealing ... like you."

"Esther!", their mother chimes in from the drivers seat. The daughter grumbles:

"Great, he is a nerd and a snitch"

While Katherine and Esther argue, Ben shuts them out through looking out the window and pretending he cant hear them.
Once they reach the property line of the considerable terrain, a raven drops dead mid fly and slams with a thud against his pane. His eyes widen and he decides thats reason enough to interrupt the fight:

"Hey, Mom? Sure we should live in that hotel. Not that I believe the rumours, but uh-"

"Yes!", Katherine states strained, subconscoously gripping the steering wheel tighter, "Yes, we have to. It was the last will of my brother, somebody has to run it for him"

The kids are very aware of the fact that that isnt the true reason for their relocation. Their father cheated- again. Katherines unaffective attempts to protect Esther and Ben from that grief and betrayal only backfires.
They arent oblivious, they can spot lies like 'if you do a grimace for too long your face gets stuck' or 'your isolated uncle died because of simple heart problems'.

Soon the impressive hotel rises in the distance. The dark night and even darker forest, make the lights, that shine through its various windows, seem orange. The old extravagant architecture of the hotel perfectly fits the ground full of gravel. The large metal fence that surrounds the building states 'Freelings Undervale Hotel'.
Seeing your own name ingrained into a fence would feel more empowering if the kids would have known their uncle Nate. But they dont - the only real touching points were when he would gift the children presents almost every christmas.

The three stand infront of the building. Its hard to believe Nate went bankrupt with such an impressive property.

"It looks ... ", Ben starts.
"...nice", Esther begrudingly agrees.

The family grabs their bags and enter the lobby. For a hotel that wasnt in use for almost a whole year, it looks pretty inviting at first glance.
Ben lets out a whistle and immedietly starts playing with the rotary phone and the client index. He holds up one of the flashcards.

"'Satan'?", he reads.

He shrugs it off and rotates on the chair. Meanwhile Esther scrutinizes the old paintings and mirrors.

"Hey, Mom? I think that mirror's bleedin'."

Katherine, busy with actual unpacking, speaks up while turning around.

"Honey, mirrors cant - WHAT THE HELL?"

For her kids Sake she stops herself from loosing it. She nudges her daughter away from the red drops that embrlish the full-lenght-mirror.

"Okay, okay, enough. Go upstairs, choose a room", she urges while her eyes dont leave the mirror for even a Split second.
Ben and Esther simply comply, walking up the from velvet adorned stairs. Esther goes for a room at the very end of the hallway. Its spacious and dimly lit. Her bags land next to the dusty old king size bed – she doesnt intend to unpack at all. That would only encourage her mother to assume Esthers resistance towards moving had faded. She wont stay here, she promised herself.

Ben chooses a room fitting his very own personality. Its small, comfortable and has a walk-in-closet. He inspects his brown hair and freckled face in the mirror before cleaning some dust off of it with his finger.

"Nope, no blood", he happily declares. He sets his glowing globe (that definetly isn't a night light) on his nightstand. Next he sorts his games, cards and cat swearers into his drawer.
While fighting for his life trying to change his bedsheets, something outside catches his attention. Its a shadow - too big to be an animal and too slow to be a trick of light. The creature is doublt the size of the trees, his stomach so slim that one could fully grasp it with a single hand. Its mouth seems to cover half his face and just underneath its antlers are two slim glowing points that stare directly at Ben.

"Bro", Esther suddenly speaks up from the doorframe.
"Vendigo!", Ben shrieks and whirls around, seeing its only his little sister.
"Oh, hey, sis."

„We dont really plan on staying here, do we?“, she asks while hopping onto his desk.

„I mean … it is pretty creepy here“, Ben admits, „but how would we convince Mom to leave? Uncle Nate gave us this hotel and im pretty sure we cant go anywhere else.“

„Pfft, come on, the creepy-level is still the best thing about this place. But we werent even asked if we want to stay with Mom or Dad.“

Ben seems visibly uncomfortable.

„Oh, sis, I … I dont know would you really want to stay with a cheater?“

„Would you really prefer to stay with Know-It.All-Katherine? Shes such a buzzkill and she never listens to us“,
Esther mumbles the last part.

Clearly she loves her Mom, but her anger and hidden sadness about the whole confusing divorce must come out in some way, so obviously the hate goes towards the parents that takes care of the kids staying alive and safe. Katherine isnt totally innocent in this tho, clearly in all the mess she did not take care of her youngest kid feelings. Its easier for the mother to just pretend everything is fine. The question is if that is the best for her kids too.

Ben is still caught off guard by the amount of hurt inside Esther.
„Well... if you would go to Dad ...and I stayd here, then we wouldnt be together anymore. Not the same house, not the same school ...“

„Nobody to tease.“, Esther adds.

She sighs.

„Fine, im stayin´, but only 'cause you wont survive on your own in this horror house.“

„Thanks“, Ben replies genuinely. Just as Esther turns to leave he stops her.

„Oh, one more thing.“

He points to a creature in the croner of his room. Its as big as a fist and hisses at them.

„Is that a bedbug?“, he asks.

„No, kill it“, his younger sister replies deadpan and hands him a knife that she grabbed out of her bud green lightweight jacket.

Ben stares.

„Uh, why do you have a -?“

„Just take it“, she replys and hands him the knife, „Good night, Benni, dont let that bedbug kill you.“

She says and leaves Ben alone in his room.

The same night Katherine wearily goes up to tell her kids goodnight. No matter how hard this time is for her, she knows its not easy for them either. She trys to ignore the fact that her brother killed himself in this hotel and that she just left a man she loved despite his flaws.

The kids are more important. Ben tells her goodnight, Esther simply turns around and earns a sigh from her mother. That night Katherine doesnt sleep an ounce. She turns and tosses in her bed, trying to ignore her thoughts and the odd stomping sound that echoes from the attic.
With a frustrated groan she sits up and starts throwing herself into the logisitcs of the hotel. She works out a plan for income and finances, creates a to-do list and a hotel outline and browses through the online reviews. The laptop is the only light source of the room, she bites her lip and mumbles along while reading:

„`I dont believe in supernatural stuff, but I swear this was the most horrible night of my fucking life` … `I kept waking up with pennys in my mouth` … `I died here and now my friend has to write this review and -` Oh, please! Thats total bullshit! Why did Nathan never fought against those ridicolous allegations, he´s so-“, she stops herself from insulting him and sighs.

„He´s dead.“

Fleeing from her thoughts she spends the rest of the night working. For whatever reason no sanitor, receptionist or server in whole Undervale is open to work here though. Maybe the whole city is insane.

 

The next morning the family decides to go out to eat (after finding the fifth spider in the cabinet where the food is supposed to be). Esther feels grumpy as ever, but doesnt hesitate to order three donuts and two shakes with sprinkles for herself.

Ben decides for something similiar.

„Uhm, isnt that a little girly?“, she asks him.

„Im comfortable in my masculinity, thanks“, Ben simply resort while slurping his strawberry milkshake.

Esther rolls her eyes and Katherine quickly trys to change the topic while holding the menu.

„So the food here is great... and the city...and the hotel as well, arent they?“, she asks with feigned cheerfulness, but her twitching eye calls her out as always.

„The hotel is creepy as hell“, Esther replys. Ben agrees, less hostile and more content in his mood tho.

„Yeah, this bedbug bit me.“ He shows them his red arm.

Katherines eyebrows rise up.

„Oh, thats...“

„Dont try to hide it, Mom, theres something wrong with that property.“

Katherine finally resents with a sigh.

„Fine, it is. Also: dont go to the attic", she adds.

 

An hour later Esther stands in fornt of the attic. She climbs up the moldy wooden ladder and looks around. Bunch of dead flys, bunch of cardboard boxes, a single window and … an odd deep shallow breathing behind the corner ...

She quickly grabs a in cobweb covered baseball bat and peeps around the corner. A gasp escaoe her lips as she stares at a younger boy with greasy long hair. He wears ridicolous clothes that nobody in this century could name – a long sleeved Payne's grey doublet is held by a dark brown belt, underneath the child wears white tights.
His bony frame gets hold by thick metal chains. Esther raises her head rather curious and lowers the bat.

"Woah, who is that girl?"

"This vessel is male", the boy replys in a brooming dark voice.

Esther gets startled and takes a step back.

"Jesus Christ-"

"Ah, yes. My enemy", the creature nods while staring down Esther with his glowing red eyes,
"Do you know him?"

"Who?"

"The Christ"

"Uh, no, but our youth pastor used to say I'm quote 'one step into being a witch' and I "couldn't be more far away from pure values'. Whatever that means I guess", she says with a shrug.

She puts her hands into one of her many pockets while the creature looks slightly interested in her now.

"Tell me, child, what do you ger called", he asks.

" 'Stubborn', 'devil', 'impulsive' -"

"I meant your name"

"Ah, Esther."

„Esther“, the creature repeats as if trying out her name, then he continues with a raised chin, despite his restrained form:

„I am Abaddon, the downfall, the personification of fallen angels. Once I came to earth I opened the pit from which the locusts emerged. I have been chained up the past 200 years! All because the previous owners of this hotel could not understand my divine mayhem, that is ingrained in my being“

After his monologue his bitter expression turns casual, so does his voice:

„Could you cut my hands off of those chains with that axe over there, please?“

Esther isnt sure if she should believe this Abaddon, either way she gives a deadpan expression.

„I could also just cut the chains, you know?“

„That shall do too“, Abaddon replys theatrically.

Esther grabs the red handle of a near lying axe and cuts the chains with a grunt. Abaddon raises to his feet with a grim expression. He would kill the previous owners now, but they got taken by time already. He would meet his friends now, but he is being kept away from hell. 200 years of dark thoughts of revenge that emerged from him being left alone with only his thoughts – yet he has no idea what comes next.

The boy might have a friend on this earth here. In this hotel even. As if on cue the ghost of the man emerges. The man that kept Abaddon company for months. All this time Abaddons father figure couldnt free him due to his ghost form that cant touch anything material in this realm.
Esther follows the demons eyes towards the blue shining man behind her.

„Uncle Nathan?“

Chapter Text

„Uncle Nathan?“

The girl is stunned. She never believed in unexplainable phenomenons and despite religiously watching ghost hunter videos, she always thought it was just entertainment. This here isnt entertaining at all. In spite of her usual personality, she takes a step back and raises the baseball bat with sn uneasy expression. Nathaniel speaks up, his voice slightly muffled from his bulky mustache.

„Oh, kiddo, the whole hitting thing wouldnt really work, I just do this … blue frizzy thing“, the ghost explains and puts his palm to the dirty wall for emphasis. They simply reach right through, while some blue static appears around his hand.

„Blue … frizzy … thing“, Esther repeats, still at a loss for words.

„Yeah, you know, like … bzzz“

Esther stares. This is certainly not how she imagined her isolated uncle to act. He seems happy, cheerfull and a little silly even. He doesnt look like a ghost at all, only in a certain light she sees the blue aura surrounding his presence.

„Youre alive“, she mumbles.

„Uh, I dont think I am“, Nate replys with a frown while putting his hands to his hips.

Esther shakes her head and trys to find words – which usually isnt an issue for her at all. She even talked for two hours as a narrator – at a play that her elemantary school organized – despite sleeping in every single rehearsal.
Luckily Nathan seems to be in the mood to talk.

„So you´ve met Abaddon, I see“, her uncle smiles, „.He´s quite a witted little fella, isnt he?“

„He asked me to cut off his hands“, the girl replys deadpan while finally setting the axe down.

„Classic Abbi“, Nathan chuckles while shaking his head.

The demon boy chimes in, he doesnt seem to move at all.

„Patriarch, do you know this mortal girl with witchy hair?“, he asks.

„She is my niece“, Nate replys with a warm and even slightly proud tone. He steals a glance at Esther. She seems to have quite the fierce personality for an eleven year old girl. Nathan could have made some valuable memories with her, if he would have tried a little harder during his lifetime.

„Why dont you leave us alone for a minute, bud? Im glad youre finally free now, I´d just like to talk to my niece“

„I will chase grasshoppers to eat my enemys for breakfeast with my froot loops“, Abaddon declares and leaves the attic.

Esther watches as he leaves. The demon walks a little wobbly and quite hunched over, subtly rubbing his wrists. She cant help but ask herself if the boy is able to feel pain. At the same time she makes a mental note to ask him about his beef with grasshoppers – that should be interesting.
A sudden hug rips the girl out of her thoughts. She can sense the hug, but not quite feel it. The parts, where Nathan trys to wrap his arms around his niece, glow in a beuatiful cold blue light. Esther would tell him that he doesnt have a solid body to embrace her, but maybe that is too depressing for a ghost to be reminded of.

„Uh … uncle Nate?“, she asks.

The man drops his arms and takes a step back.

„Of course, of course, Im sorry, Esther. Its just been a while“

„Uh, sure. Would you mind explaining what the hell is goin' on here?“

„Oh, well, the hotel is haunted, ghosts exist, and Abaddon is a demon, trapped in the body of a boy from the 1700“, Nate explains lighthearted and adds, „Oh, and dont ask him if he can just change those old-fashioned clothes. Its a touchy topic, you get it.“

„ … sure.“ Esther just says. „Wait, does Mom know about all of this?“

While she leans in with a curious gaze, Nate rubs the back of his neck in an uncomfortable gesture.

„No, no, I fear if she knew, she wouldnt let you stay here“, he explains.

Esther eyes light up with determination, her disdain for the hotel, that she believed to be boring and foreign, suddenly fades. The amount of power she could find here mixed with the possibility of lying to her mother seem too hard to resist.

„Then we will keep this a secret! Just imagine what we could do! Ghosts, demons, magic and nobody would know! The power and-“

„Esther“, Nate interrupts, „I want you to be safe and happy too. And I really think you could be just that in this hotel, but achieving that without telling Kathy .... I dont want to stand in between the both of you“

„And if we told her?“, Esther insists, „she´d go nuts! Its better if only I know … well and Ben, he needs to know“

„I suppose so“, Nathaniel reluctingly admits. He just isnt one for confrontation.

„Awesome!“, the girl exclaims and runs off.

„Where are you going?“

„Telling Ben!“, she shouts without looking back.

~~~~

Ben is sitting outside the hotel in the grass, enjoying the last few sunrays of this season. His feet wiggle in a rhythmic pattern, while he looks engrossed in a book titled „Warrior Cats“. The wind faintly blows and the oak tree throws gentle shadows onto the ground.

„Ben!!“, Esther runs into him, taking his book and throwing it away for no particluar reason, „Guess. What.“

„Uh, what?“, the brother replys unamused, not even trying to pick up his novel.

„Uncle Nathans a ghost and the hotel is haunted!“, she simply says excitedly. Esther allows Ben to sit up; he dusts off his red cardigan and gives an unimpressed expression.

„Sure he is … „ , he thinks for a moment, „wait, is he?“

Ben thinks back a little. At least so far he encountered a bleeding mirror, a bedbug of the size of a chihuahua and a random room full of endlessly burning candles. Before he can even ask further questions, Nate shows up behind Esther, his face laced with an apologetic expression. Ben starts fidgeting with his "PJ Masks Cat-Boy" key chain – a nervous habit. Nate clears his throat and speaks up.

„Hey, Benni, uh …“, he clearly doesnt know what to say, so he trys to get his prioritys straight, „uh, dont tell Kathy.“

Ben keeps staring. He draws the line at seeing his dead uncle.

„Mom!“, he calls out while Esther immedietly jumps up to reach his mouth – covering it with her hands. The older brother decides for a trick as old as the history of siblings bickering, and licks the hands on his mouth. Esther immedietly slams them away again.

„Ew, are you nuts?“

The kids fall into the grass as they try to pin each others arms down. While Esther trys to sink her teeth into Ben, the boy simply trys to push her off. Rushing over, Nate gives some futile attempts at seperating the siblings. His hands frustratingly reach right through them and he groans, but his efforts dont subside.

„Damnit, how do you seperate feral kids with ghost hands?!“

Ultimately giving up, he stops and sits down cross-legged with a resigned sigh.

„Okay, kids, listen … your Mom needs this hotel right now. She needs a roof above all of your heads - and a job with an actual income. She needs to know both her kids safe and if she finds out this hotel is ridden with ghosts and creatures … what is she supposed to do? She will leave.
You will live in shady motels while she trys to get around with three jobs – if she even manages to get those in this economy. I want the best for her and you two; youre the last family I´ve got left. And if that means hiding things from her: then so be it. So, Ben, bud, are you in on this with us or not?“

The kids stare, frozen in the middle of their fight. When Uncle Nathan was alive he´d never get emotional – let alone real. Ben sighs.

„Fine. Youre right. I´ll play along.“

„Good“, Nate sighs relived.

The small meadow is met with silence. All three of them reflect quietly with their own thoughts. Bashing the peacefulness, a high pitched scream echoes from the inside of the hotel – Katherine. Nate looks up and notes:

„Well, or we just forget about what we just discussed. I think she knows.“

Chapter Text

"Or we just forget about what we just discussed. I think she knows."

Nathaniel, Ben and Esther immediately run over the grass, up the front steps of the hotel and towards Katherines scream. As they reach the common room area the beige jacket of the mother lies in flames on the ground. A gurgling creature with almost foul skin stands only three feet away from her – his greyish skin almost falls from his face and body. They quickly notice his burning torso and head - eternal flames that throw ominous shadows onto the walls.

Esther immidietly reacts. While lunging forward she reaches out for one of the many knives that she keeps in the inner pockets of her jacket.
She trys to avoid the flames surrounding the zombie and slams the blade right into his thigh. The knife simply gets stuck there and the disgusting creature reaches out with his hand to slam away Esther as if she is nothing more than an annoying insect.
The girl flys back from the impact and lands with a thud on the ground.

Hearing the grunt of her own daughter lets a surge of protectiveness rush over Katherine – no logic or self-preservation skills are left in her body when she sees her firce daughter on the ground. Katherine pushes the burning zombi by its shoulders. It stumbles back, but with a swift motion of his hand a blaze rushes through the air - aiming at Katherines head. With a shriek she lets herself fall behind one of the couches.

The only living person standing is Ben. Frozen in place he stares at the scene, wishing with every fiber of his body that he could just help.
Basically out of nowhere Abaddon appears with a bowl in his hand.

"A christmas elf?!", Katherine exclaims from behind the couch.

Abaddon has a blank expression, clearly not caring much about the danger in front of him. The zombie lets out another growl and shoots a flame towards Abaddon. It hits his cereal bowl and it clatters to the ground. The eyes of the demon turn into a threatening crimson red. In a almost comic-fashion Abaddon runs full force into the zombie, almost flying with his fist first.
While the zombie slams into the wall, the demon creates a black hole full or roaming shadows in which the enemy dissapears with a shriek. It leaves a small trail of red-green blood all over the carpet.
Abaddon comes to his feet and speaks:

"Nobody. Messes. With my Froot Loops."

~~~~

Kathy slowly stands up, rushing towards Esther. The girl stands up.

"Im fine", she insists.

Only now the womans eyes fall onto Nathaniel. Her hand comes up to her mouth and she rushes towards him for a hug, yet she just runs through his presence. Suddenly the relief, of seeing the man she grew up with again, turns into a sense of horror.
She shakes her head with an open mouth and grabs her charred jacket with a shaking hand.

"No ... no ...", she whisper.

"Kathy", Nathan speaks up and reaches out, but his sister is in too much of a shock.

"No!, she says resolute, "Esther! Ben! Grab only your essentials - we are leaving the hotel."

Any protests of her kids and the dead brother fall on deaf ears as Kathy shuts them down. She walks up the steps firmly and starts packing. Ben reluctingly does the same – he doesnt exactly has anything holding him here anyway, and if its the best for the family he is mature enough to do whats best for his Mom and Esther.
Nathaniel flows through the wall, trying to find the right words to bring his sister out of the excessive packing. Esther trys her best:

"Mom, we cant just leave!"

"I was attacked! This hotel, its....dangerous. Esther, I dont care what you believe, youre a kid that doesnt know whats best, I wont let you die in here!"

"But I'd rather be in a cool haunted building then alone in a shady motel!"

Nate silently judges himself for saying this to her earlier. While throwing Esthers stuff into the bags now as well, Kathy crouches down a bit and says intent but less panicked:

"I wont let us die in here."

While urging the kids to the car, they notice it started to rain. Due to the lack of light pollution the sky appears as dark as night. The family rushes through the mud towards the car. The rain patters loudly on its metal roof and soaks the familys clothes and possessions. While they get in Nathaniel pleads:

"Kathy, please, I'm -"

"Youre not real!", she insists and starts the car.

"Mom!", Esther protests again - this time more desperate - as the mother drives backwards.

Nathaniel trys to hold onto the car – a futile attempt as he just reaches through it. He doesnt give up though. He picks up one of the walky talkys that fell out of the boxes that got rushed into the car. While chasing after the vehicle he speaks - the signal reaching the other walkie talkies that fell onto the ground I the rush earlier. He speaks into it with a desperate voice:

"Hello? Hey, Kathy! Okay, listen, I know you want to leave, but you have to know: I am real. I remember everything! Your alt phase and how confident you were; our eighth christmas were we wanted to gift Santa something back; the day you tried to leave Ron but got pregnant! Okay? I was there, I still remember everything. I still am - and I miss you. The creatures here, theyre just misunderstood!"

Esther and Ben listen with tense and guilty frowns, feeling rather emotional. Hesitation fills Kathys eyes. But she shakes it off and accelerates. She dares a glance out the window and watches Nathan try to keep up. Suddenly an invisible line slams him back and onto the ground. Blue lines radiate from the spot Nathan ran against as he lands with a grunt.

"Nathan!", Kathy exclaims and slams her foot onto the breaks. She rushes out of the car and spots Nate on his knees, looking down with a miserable expression. Kathy slows down and asks herself what happened. She cautiously speaks up:

"Na ... than? What...?"

"The property line", he replys solemnly, "I cant cross it. Im trapped. I would have watched your kids. I should have when I was alive. Im sorry, Kathy. I really am."

The only noise is the rain that hits the ground and the leaves shaking. Kathy wants to say something, but her voice breaks. She trys a second time:

"I cant ... stay in a haunted hotel, Nate, I ... wish I could, but the kids -"

"The kids would be fine here. Ben is adaptive, Esther is brave. Here they'd had a stable home ... and if you overlook the candle-man-"

"The candle-man?"

"Yeah, i dont know whats up with that guy, but as -"

A low growl cuts through their conversation. Their heads snap towards the forest while the children rush out the car. The large creature approaches with unnatural and twitchy movements. Its the same creature that has been stalking them from the forest since they moved in - a Vendigo. While approching it makes some almost whistling noises –which first sound like a human whistle ... then a human baby ... then like Ben ... then Esther.

The family cant move and stares at the approaching creature. The smell of old flesh fills the environment.
Suddenly the Vendigo rushes with an unimaginable speed towards them. Esther, Ben and Katherine manage to quickly dodge with rolling away on the shatter ground. Nate decides to simply keep standing while the Vendigo runs through him – luckily the ghost cant be infected.

But his living family is in life-threatening danger. While the Vendigo trys to slow down from his running to turn around and try again - Katherine uses the few seconds to grab the keys and jump into the car alone.
She starts the engine, closest her eyes shut and drives straight towards the 13 feet tall monster. The Vendigo simply trys to kick the car away but injures his leg instead. The family car breaks with a loud metallic screech. From the immense impact Katherine gets thrown against the dashboard. As her head hits it the world starts to feel dizzy and dull, she feels blood running from her nose and her head buzzing.

Meanwhile Esther and Ben desperately try to avoid the claws and voice of the Vendigo. Nate cant do anything but frnatically watch while the kids try to hide in between the trees, covering their ears. The Vendigo starts to rip tree by tree, while Nathaniel shouts:

"Abaddon! Buddy?! Some help here!"

Nate doesnt care if Abaddon doesnt know much about family. Cohesion, family consciousness, favors – all words a demon from hell cant make head nor tail of. Nate has only met Abaddon after his death, so in a way Abaddon never had a choice but to spend time in the hotel with Nathan. Still, he was sure that he has a bond with the demon child - a genuine one. As the thoughts "What if he left?" and "What if he wont help?" fill him with more desperation while the kids run, dodge and climb for their life.

Finally Abaddon appears. Nate might have only been a blip in the life of the immortal being, but he is a damn fatherly one.
Katherine is currently crawling out of the engine that started burning.
Esther shrieks while the demon uses his mind to rip out a three near her to slam it onto the monster. After a little stumble the Vendigo doesnt seem injured – just angry as fuck.

Suddenly, it closes the distance in between him and Abaddon, with teleportation and digs his claws into his vulnerable vessel.
Abaddon hits the ground and immedietly raises his hand. The burning car rises into the air, slamming the Vendigo sideways away. This time the attack brings the Vendigo down while it gives a chilling human- like scream and catches fire until it lies motionless on the ground.

~~~~~~

The sound of the crackling fire fills the dark landscape. Katherine has her arms around both children - everybody trys to catch their breath.

After looking over to make sure Esther and Ben are okay, Nate walks over to Abaddon and gives a small grateful smile.

"Thanks, bud"

The demon gives back a serious nod. They start to silently walk into the hotel. Everybody except for Nathan is soaked in rain, mud and blood.
The mood is dull while they bring everything that wasnt destroyed inside.

In the utility room Katherine provides her children with band aids. Ben gets a band-aid with a cat on his arm, while Esther needs some whole bandages for her wounds. Nobody talks- Uncle Nate gives silent support, Katherines nagging made place for her concern and Ben is unsure of what to think anyway. Esther knows well this isnt the right time to ask her Mom if they can stay here.

Abaddon sits down onto the Washington machine – right next to Esther while Ben eyes him wearily.

"Who is that?" He thinks to himself. Then the demon child speaks up in his low and stoic voice.

"Faher, I require a penguin band aid."

The family tends to each other.

Chapter Text

The weeks pass quickly as the Freelings try to make the hotel their home. An initial time of shock and disgust quickly makes room for the appreciated weirdness and familiar charme of Undervale.

Esther quickly figures out some rules and laws of the dimension beyond hers – so she starts messing with the ghosts or even befriending them. Her brother, meanwhile, finds many nice spots to read, play cards or draw dragons hugging cats.

Nobody is fully sure what the demon does – but Abaddon stays in the hotel, almost naturally filling in the role of the third child. Or at least he would, if he wouldnt keep eating insects, digging holes or complain about his restrictive vessel in the most old-fashioned language. At least he is throwing in some hellish curse words that Esther picks up.

Bend over a bunch of paperwork Katherine groans. Nate shows up while flowing through a wall with a smile.

"Much trouble?"

"You left me an unmarketable horror house with almost no structute or info whatsoever", she replies while rubbing her temples.

"Absolutely no problem, I can totally help you out", the man replies with a nod.

"You can neither clean anything nor use the computer or a pen", Katherine encounters with a doubtful look.

"Well, I can be a great emotional support"

Katherine stares him down while he keeps smiling with his hands on his hips.

"Or I'll just go over there"

Time flys and Kathy focuses on cleaning all the rooms - which turns out to be more dangerous than she thought, since clearly the ghosts, demons and creatures seem to feel at home in her hotel.
Armed with a helmet, that she borrowed from Ben, a pillow around her torso and a broom in her hand, she opens another closet to tidy it.

Her face turns to surprise as she sees whats inside. She quickly lets her makeshift armor fall onto the ground and touches her old leather jacket. It is even older then Ben and feels a bit stiff and dusty in her hand.

The whole closet is filled with belongings of her and Nathans childhood. Almost in awe she picks up one of the old albums that her brother kept here. Its filled with christmas fests, first days of school and the garden of their old home. Katherine trails her fingers along a specific picture of young Nate dressed as a ghost - and herself dressed as a witch. Next to it somebody wrote "30. 10. 1982" onto the page.

"That was the-",
Nathan suddenly speaks up from behind her. Katherine shrieks and slams the book shut.

"You cant just sneak up on somebody in a haunted hotel!", she scolds him.

"Right, right, sorry", he plays with his mustache and sits down, while his sister opens the album again.

Both reminisce while looking at the Halloween picture. 8 year old Katherine stands there in her well-chosen witch costume whilst 11year old Nathan wears a sheet with holes cut in it - grinning widely. The night was cold and the streets filled with fairy lights and pumpkins. But the memories of that day arent all that sweet.

~~~~~

"Are you done yet, Kathy", Nathaniel asks while peeking over his little sisters shoulder. She is currently cutting holes into a white sheet with the kitchen scissors. Their parents - Bob and Diane - didnt do anything for Halloween. Not that they have work - they simply dont care too much about their childrens happieness.

"If you would have bought a real costume beforehand like me", little Katherine states, "We wouldnt have had this problem."

Despite being the younger sibling, Katherine makes sure Nate has his makeshift costume, basket and blue jacket, before dressing up herself. Her brother just needs a bit more help – thats okay for her, even tho it can get overwhelming.
The little girl grabs her broom.

"We're going trick or treating, Dad!"

She informs him. He barely looks up from the TV. His stained white undershirt barely covers his belly and he only grunts and takes another sip of his beer. The kids simply leave.

Kathy and Nate try to have a blast at Halloween, at least its Katherines favorite holiday. They walk and run around, trying to gather some candy in hopes they're gonna be able to keep them. The kids giggle.

"You make an awesome ghost, Nate!"

"And youre a perfect witch, little sis!"

"I like those fishnet sleeve thingys and clip earrings, I might keep them!"

Since they dont have a curfew they go on for hours until they get tired and stroll home. From a small distance they can see blue and red lights flickering - they freeze.

"What is that?", Nate asks, his heart dropping.

"Police", Katherine replys with a tense jaw.

The siblings rush over. They can see their neighbours stare and talk to the two male police officers. Both hold notebooks with a grim expression. Katherine is brave enough to step forward.

"Whats going on?", she demands to know, but her voice quivers.

One of the not very nice looking officers looks at her while the other one looks like the kids being here is a big inconvenience to him. Despite that the officers speak in a softened voice.

"Are you the kids of Bob and Diane Freeling?"

The kids confirm with small nods, so the officer goes on.

"Your parents had a fight. Nobody is injured, but the neighbours got concerned by the excessive screaming and called us to seperate them. We will take both of them with us. We also noticed that this house is in no condition for kids. Please wait in the car until we find a fitting place for the bith of you to stay."

That night Nate cried a lot. Katherine was just angry and hurt. The officer spoke in such a matter-of-fact voice as if their life didnt just got turned upside down. Nobody seems to care.
In the end they had luck: they are young, so they get the good homes and they didnt get seperated from each other. Still it sometimes angers Katherine to this day, that this basic comfort was just that – pure luck.
And ahead of them was a life without their parents. In the end that was good – yet their childhood and teenage years will be filled with way more hardship then they could have ever imagined at the time – in the police car with blankets around their shoulders and no stable home.

~~~~~

Instead of dwelling on the pain or talking about what could have been, Nathan simply says:

"You did keep those fishnets"

Katherine chuckles.

"No regrets ... okay, maybe a few. But the ghost fit seems ironic now. And look at that haircut! Is that a bowl cut?"

The adults snicker and tease each other. Their past isnt behind them, but it clearly doesnt destroy them anymore. Esther, Ben and Abaddon soon join and enjoy the colorful storys of their mothers and uncles past. They go on talking about gods and the world – reaching the story of Bens birth.

"I was born in a grocery store?!"

"No, thats only where my water broke. You were born in the parking lot", Kathy assures him.

"Thats even worse!", Ben insists while Esther is doubling over laughing.

"Hey, we had to get our car professionally cleaned after that", she complains in a lighthearted manner.

"You say it as if its my fault."

"Admit it, Benni-boy", Esther chimes in, "You owe her 300 bucks!"

"You", Katherine replys while looking at her daughter, "owe me 500 bucks because I had to pay for the street sign you destroyed."

"Cant you let me live that down?"

"That was last month", Katherine replys deadpan.

Abaddon does his best contributing to the conversation.

"I destroyed Conneticut. Twice."

Nate beams.

"Well, thats great bud."

The conversation keeps moving from holiday to holiday - Halloween, Christmas, Rogation Day, Abaddons Birthday and Easter.
Luckily Nathan can reassure the family about Halloween in the hotel.

"Its really not that bad - its even more peaceful than usual. Some ghosts mess with teens that jokingly try to summon them; others hide in the closet; some demons go into the city to spook around - its probably a hobby, I respect that. But the hotel? Almost fully empty on the 31st."

"Good", Katherine just says.

Ben raises his hand eagerly.

"Oh, oh, what about christmas in the hotel?"

Abaddon answers while playing with some buttons, a serious voice:

"The christians ripped away the celebration of the winter solstice to make the pagan rituals disappear from history. The day of Christs birth was in summer, yet they put the day on the 25th to cover it up. The sun will rise, but the day of the solstice shall be the longest and darkest of them all. Open to stir up war and discord between people! The hotel shall be kept in hours of darkness and accessible to magic!"

Everybody looks at him. Then the demon adds:

"Also: I wish for a three-wheeled vehicle and those pieces on Katherines auricle"

"Tricycle and earrings it is, buddy."

Chapter Text

The winter season and the christmas spirit quickly takes over the hotel: Katherine has been busy decorating the whole building, going full out with the money of her Aunt Rose, that recently died and left her money. The amount really helped her over the feigned grief of the woman that tornemented Kathy half her childhood anyway.
In hopes to get the hotel going while making her kids and Abaddon happy on top: she fills the property with mistle toes, wreaths, green and red lights, snowmen and a large fir tree embedded in candles and ornaments in the lobby.

On Esthers and Abaddons request, the main chimney holds a Yule log that is carved with old symbols and runes.
The demon and the youngest daughter have been going along very well recently. On the outer it clearly looks like they only bond over enjoying causing trouble, but when they are alone in Esthers room or in the forest, she would speak about her Mom and Dad and he about his vessels father -the priest that tried to exorcise him- and his existential doom.

In the secret club cave that Esther and Abaddon claimed as theirs, they discuss the pre-christmas plan. The forest is cold, so a bonfire lights up their club-cave.

"So", Esther says while looking at the ancient book in her hand, "If we draw this circle with symbols on the 21st on sacred ground we can actually summon a christmas spirit?"

"Correct", the demon affirms.

"And where do we find 'sacred ground' exactly?"

"After an old demonic transmission all grounds, on which a human being was killed on, is sacred and holds the trauma and emotional blood-shed", he replies stoic, "so the hotel will do."

"Awesome", Esther exclaims and keeps reading.

Initially she wanted to cause an extreme snow storm, but she will still have to learn a bit more about black magic before she can pull that one off. That and well ... the other thing she got planned in the back of her head. But she didnt tell anyone yet - not even Abaddon.

The 21st december quickly comes by - this will be the longest night of the year. Esther and Abaddon sneak into the main lobby - prepared with the book, ink, charcoal, mistles and a single dead rat.

While preparing Esther speaks up:

"Dude, what's the rat for?"

"Its my snack", Abaddon replies.

"Hm"

The girl copys the sigil circle from the book onto the ground – it got symbols that represent winter, spirits, christmas, the solstice and the past, present and future. Abaddon adjusts the mistle toes and greens onto the lines of the circle to give it life.

"I missed those rituals", he comments.

Then Esther adds a paper - written with inc - into the middle. At exactly midnight she wrote "I summon a christmas spirit" on it. Easy and clear enough.

The children intently stare at the circle while it starts glowing in a faintly blue light. Unfortunelty Ben steps in - driven by sleep and in christmas pyjamas that are adorn in candy canes.

"What are you doing?", he asks with a yawn, stepping into the middle of a rune and messing it up.

"Ben, no!", Esther exclaims and tackles him to save him. Nothing happens at all though, so Ben looks up from the ground and asks deadpan:

"What was that for?"

Before Esther can answer, something new steps out of the circle - a swarm of them even. Creatures with green and blue skin, immense and sharp ears and noses and a small height stare at them. Hunched over they examine the hotel lobby.

"Christmas goblins", Abaddon sighs as if its just a minor inconvenience.

Ben steps back a bit and puts a protective hand on his sisters shoulder, while she raises her book with one hand and holds a knife in the other.

"Christmas goblins arent deadly", Abaddon informs them.

Quickly the creatures start running around, gulping down mistle toes with their sharp teeth, throwing ornaments on the ground and knocking over furniture.

"They do that tho", the demon says with a nod.

The goblins swarm out into other rooms now - its impossible to keep track with that destructive and loud horde.

"We have to stop them!", Esther declares.

"Why?", Abaddon asks.

"Uh, because of Mom?", the daughter replies.

"You dont even like her", Abaddon reminds her.

"Maybe", Esther says, "but if she finds out a bunch of chaos goblins ruined her hotel she will never let us stay! We will have to move into some boring city full of normal people!"

"The horror", Abaddon agrees.

The three kids walk up the stairs to get a bit of privacy from the prying goblins.

"Ben, your ideas", Esther instructs, knowing her brother must have at least some kind of nerdy knowledge about this absurd stuff. He quickly locks in and nods.

"Christmas goblins, lets see ... they are very greedy. They enjoy stealing presents but hate recieveing them. They like chopping trees and enjoy pranking and causing chaos, especially around this time of the year. They also act like drunken jocks."

"Okay, anything helpful or how to get rid of them?"

"Uh..", Ben thinks for a moment, "only if you have a slaughtered pig lying around."

"I do", Abaddon replies, earning a distrustful stare from Ben. But he decides to go on with the plan.

"Alright, we could uh...prepare presents - with a bonfire, salt and the blood of pigs inside- hide it around the hotel and let them open them."

Everybody nods. Esther hands Abaddon a two sided black blade.

"You handle them demon-style."

They go along with the plan - spending the whole night fixing their mess. Ben and Esther prepare the cursed presents in the club-cave, Abaddon slashes the goblins or burns them with the remaining candles. Esther uses some new found sword skills to give Ben the chance to put the presents savely all over the hotel. Five hours and three floors later the kids sit in the broken down lobby - totally out of breath.

"Did we get all of them?", Ben asks.

A single blue-ish goblin steps inside, raising his hands. The girl simply kicks a present right into his face and the goblin dissolves in fire while the girl sits down unbothered.

"Yes."

~~~

The next morning Katherine finds the three of them hugging each other and sleeping deeply on the carpet of the chaotically broken down lobby. Kathy puts her hands onto her hips, speaking sternly.

"What happened to my hotel?"

The kids wake up and quickly try to explain everything, but the mother shakes her head.

"You brought a horde of goblins into my hotel and let them destroy it?", she asks in disbelieve. The scepticism isnt about the creatures, she is beyond the point of questioning that stuff now, but knowing her kids recklessly ruined a holiday she worked so hard on?

"To your rooms. Now. This was it with Christmas."

"Mom!", Esther protests. She might be fierce, smart and frankly dangerous, but she still is just an 11yo excited to get presents and watch movies with her family.

"What do you expect me to do?", Katherine says strained, "Fix a hotel worth of chaos in a few days, just so you can ruin it again? This was for us, this was for the income of the hotel and you wiped it out in a day, because you had to befriend a demon and scheme around with it?"

For a hint of a second hurt can be seen in Abaddons eyes. Katherine might be a bit too harsh, but the stress of the season causes her not to think clearly right now. She takes a breath and goes on, now more dissapointed than angry.

"Go to your rooms, I will have to think about what to do now. Abaddon, you stay in Bens room - not in Esthers."

The kids plod upstairs without another word. While Ben trys to watch The Wizard of Oz on his laptop while munching his chips, Abaddon stares at him. Ben decides this is the perfect opportunity for a peace offering and he hands the other boy the chips. Abaddon slowly grabs the plastic wrapping and eats it. Despite the demons behaviour, Ben cant deny that even he triggers his big-brother-instincts.

Esther, meanwhile, is alone in her room - and totally didnt cry. She wipes her eyes while lifting her head from the cushion. A silent promise pops up in her head: She wont speak to her mother ever again. She will spend christmas with her father.
With the exhaustion of the ordeal she quickly falls asleep.

A small crack and a faint wind awakens Esther in the middle of the night. She looks around the room and spots a young woman in a red dress. She is covered in greens and faintly glows. While speaking up the spirits voice feels like soothing velvet.

"Good morning, child."

"Its night", Esther grumbles back and turns around.

The ghost steps closer, almost flowing in a gentle and surreal aura.

"Arent you curious about who I am?"

"The ghost of the past christmas?", the girl replies unimpressed.

"How do you know that?", the ghost asks with a little tilt of her head.

"Charles Dickins. But shouldnt that be fantasy?"

The woman smirks a bit amused.

"Isnt all fantasy just taken from what was and what can be?"

"I aint in the mood, man", Esther replies.

"But you summoned me", the woman replies.

Esther thinks back to the ritual that Ben ruined. She sighs, resigning.

"Fine."

When taking the spirits gentle and smooth hand, Esther starts to feel a dizzy shift. She finds herself in their old apartment. Little Ben and little Esther are peacfully asleep upstairs, awaiting a magical christmas and the presents of Santa. She can hear arguing voices and steps around the corner to find Katherine and Rod figting in the little living area.

"Why would you do this to them, Rod?", Katherine asks.

"I needed the money", he replies.

"You're gambling with our childrens christmas!", Katherine puts her hand to her head.

"I'll make up for it next year."

"Thats what you say every time, Rod!"

"I mean it this time", the man claims.

"How will we explain to them that the presents are gone?"

"Just tell them we needed the money for grocery again. Stop overreacting, I did this for us, I could have gotten 10K!"

"But you didnt! You didnt, Rod! And the kids believe in Santa Clause, we cant just pull the "we are poor" card, they will know he doesnt exist then", Katherine says almost helpless.

"Even better, why lie to those brats? Youre gonna spoil them."

Esthers face drops. She had no idea that her own father would talk about her like this behind her back. It stings - it really does. Katherine tenses up.

"Out", she tells him, "Go work during Christmas and dont come back anytime soon."

Rod suddenly slams a plate against the counter. Esther flinches and looks upstairs as if fearing little Es and little Ben woke up by the noice. Luckily they dont; and Rod stomps out the door.

"Thats why he wasnt there that christmas", Esther mumbles. The ghost of the past Christmas nods solemnly and puts a hand on Esthers shoulder. Esther looks up at her.

"What else happened?"

The spirit seems to speed up time - until a few hours later - she can see Katherine fix and clean second hand toys she got last moment to make up for the presents that Rod took. While fixing a dusty teddy bear and wrapping it up she starts crying. Maybe about her kids, maybe about her marriage or the stress of this Christmas. Either way, Esther walks up and hugs her Mom - even tho she can neither feel nor see her.
Esther closes her eyes and finds herself back in her room.

As if seeing that one wasnt enough, the ghost of the present (a cheerul man with drak skin and a grey beard) shows her what Rod is currently doing. Instead of caring about his own children on christmas, he is drunk and gambling somewhere else. Esther always thought it is an illness and that he just needs some help - and in some cases thats definetely true - but in Rods case? He doesnt care if he ignores his kids. Hell, he is ignoring them on Christmas for his own gain.

The ghost of the future simply tells her there is no definite outcome and that they wont show her anything.

"Real helpful", Esther mutters annoyed.

The fourth and last time she wakes up, she feels like she ran a marathon. She barely wants to stand up or process what she saw and remembered. She keeps lying there. Ben shows up and quickly gets her out of spiraling. He grins:

"I had a boys night with Abaddon and I gave him Red Bull, look!"

Esther gets up, follows Ben downstairs and looks over the railing. Abaddon is quickly walking around, mumbling in five different languages (three of them are even from this dimension). He picks up all the sheds of the ornaments that the goblins destroyed and forms a 6 foot tall statue of a reindeer. The colorful sheds perfectly capture the morning suns' rays and that whole thing looks impressively accurate.

Two hours later Abaddon is sleeping out the rush - looks like demons cant tolerate energy drinks well. Ben and Esther are in a good mood by now: instead of mourning the Christmas they might not have, they work together like the most sappy but best sibling duo.
Quickly the hotel looks well again, sure, most of the decour was ducktaped together, but Abaddon brought some greens in, Esther was motivated to clean and Ben let his artitistic skills brighten up the scene.

On the evening of the 24th the family unwinds together in the common room and watches Kevin alone at home. Sure, the relationship between Esther and Katherine is strained, but in this time it ebbed down and the girl leans onto her mothers shoulder as they watch with hot chocolate in their hands.

The next morning the property is covered in soft snow. Ben, Esther, Katherine and Nate are in awe, staring outside while they ask themselves how its possible to have this much snow in Louisiana.

Abaddon nods.

"Youre welcome."

It looks like the demon remembered Esthers wish for snow on the 25th. They rush out and teach Abaddon how to build snowmen, how to rush down hills on a sleigh and how to make snow-demons (which are pretty much snow angels with horns and tails).
Even tho Undervale is the only property with snow, nobody from the city really dares to step on it. And the few that do try get attacked by a rainstorm of snow balls. Abaddon sees his opportunity and throws 20 pound worth of snow onto them.

Soon after the family unpacks their presents. Its one of those christmas gift exchanges where the joy is big, the presents lush and the mood wholesome.
Ben opens -next to the socks and gift cards he got from some relatives he cant even name- a Dungeons and Dragons set, new exchange cards, art supplies, a shark plushie and new headphones.
Esther gets stuff of similiar worth: a katana, a matching key chain with Abaddon and some cash.
The demon did indeed get his earrings and the tricycle. Katherine recieved bath bombs and a new planner. Finding a present for Nathan was harder, since he cant really touch anything. Yet he got a bunch of new DVDs and a record player.

Maybe its because of the big ornamnet reindeer and the snow - or the fact that Esther is starting to forgive her Mom - or that the family is finally complete for once: Either way, the day seems bright, as if the sun returned.

~~~~~

Meanwhile the snowfall in Iowa is heavy. The sky is dark and filled with clouds. An ominous young man makes his way through the snow. His face is covered by a scarf and on his hand he wears fingerless black gloves. His curvy brown hair glitters with snow, yet his eyes seem stoic. With a heavy and overfilled backpack the boy makes his way through the states on his own...

Chapter Text

Usually Abaddon stays home with Nathan when Katherine makes Ben and Esther attend church with her. But in an attempt to tame the demon boy, she decides to take him along. Everybody except for her seems to understand that taking a demon to a christian church is mostly counterproductive -but she seems desperate.
On their way in the family van, Esther trys to cheer Abaddon up.

"Dude, just do it like me. Secretly play video games and make fun of the hardcore christian fams that come in dresses."

Abaddon doesnt even react. Esther glares at her mother for doing this. Soon they reach the church and walk through the small passage whoms sides are covered in beds of hyacinths and lilys.
After a little bit of pushing through the crowd, they sit down onto the uncomfortable benches that are covered in flat scratchy pillows. Somehow its colder inside the building than it is outside. The family can feel the lingering looks of the villages' population - everybody knows they are the owners of the infamous haunted hotel.

Soon the priest starts talking in his deep voice. Some people seem genuinely invested whereas others dont seem to want to be here at all. Katherine seems to hang on his words, clearly the Sundays in the church mean something to her, which is the only reason Esther and Ben dont always put up a fight when going here.
Soon the preach is over and some people linger, curiously looking around the church or chatting with their neighbours.

Esther, Ben and Abaddon stand in front of a baptismal font in an adjoining room. The demon stares at it as if it could burn him at any moment, Esther meanwhile touches it.

"Hey, Es? Maybe dont touch the holy water.", her brother tells her.

"Why not?"

"Its not allowed."

"Thats the fun in it, dumbass."

Ben decides he cant argue with that and lets her be. Soon a few kids of the city show up, pointing and laughing at Abaddons looks. A boy in a jersey decides to step closer with an obnoxious and mischivious grin.

"Hey, pilgrim fag!", he exclaims and pushes Abaddon right into the font.

Before the demon can kill that jerk, he splashes into the water and shrieks. The noises seem inhuman and he winces and thrashes, meanwhile the whole room seems to darken. A deep black shadow of a creature with horns grows on the wall. The bully and his friends' feigned confidence quickly makes way for their fear and they run away as quickly as possible.

Esthers eyes widen and she desperately trys her best to fetch Abaddon out of the font. His skin seems burned and something is stirring inside him while the animalistic screeches go on. The water leaves painful red bubbles on the girls' skin, but she is determined to help the demon. The shadows keep growing and Ben steps in with a nervous and urgent voice.

"Esther? Esther we should really..."

"No! He's our brother, look at him and help me!" , she yells at him.

After a moment of hesitation Ben steps into the water and grabs Abaddon too - but the water seems to have a tight hold on him. It has no use. After another minute the kids suddenly get slammed onto the walls by a shockwave that went out right from the center of the font.

With a groan, Esther rubs her throbbing head and turns around to see Abaddon on the ground right next to her. She reaches out.

"Are you okay?"

Something about him seems different. The rings under his eyes are gone, his posture better. But the biggest indicator that something just went severly wrong is the expression on his face. He seems frightened, confused and disorianted.

"Don?", she asks unsure.

"What?", the boy asks back in a high unsure voice. He has a faint english accent.

Esther gives an unsure look and glances back into the tank. All three kids stare at a armed creature. The head looks more like a skeleton than a human head; black shadows and fabric surrounds it. Its pointy tail swings from side to side and two rolled up red horns decorate its head.
Bens breathing picks up while Esther takes a step back.
The creature whirls itself into shadows and shrinks - until it takes on the old form of Abaddon. He speaks in his usual voice:

"I didnt mean to scare you."

Ben and Esther still stare. They cant believe what just happened. That is Abaddons true form? Esther trys to regain her bearings, she doesnt want to hurt the demons feelings.

"Hey, no prob."

Abaddon nods and steps out of the font. Aside from the reddened skin and his wet clothes he seems like before. Esther rushes over and hugs him, before letting go.

"Thank you", the demon says.

Then he points to his previous vessel that is cowering in the corner.

"What are we gonna do with him?"

~~~~~~~~

Back in the hotel Katherine sits with the new boy in a calm room (well, as calm as it can get in a utility room of a haunted hotel).
Clearly Abaddons vessel splitted from the boy during the involuntary bath in the baptismal font. The mood is tense, but Katherine solely focuses on the newcomer.

The boy has a blanket around his shoulders and is freaked out by everything this century throws at him. Since they left the church he didnt say a word, only staring down.
Katherine scoots a little closer, speaking in a gentle soothing voice and asks for the tenth time:

"Whats your name?"

The boy looks up for a split second, playing with his hands.

"Oliver", he replies.

A smile spreads on Katherines face, she is relieved and encouraged when she finally got an answer - and honestly? She is proud as well.

"Hello, Olliver", she greets in an even more soothing and motherly voice.

The boy smiles the tiniest bit, maybe not everything here is scary and threatening. While sharing a moment, the two get interrupted by a bell. Exactly now a rare guest has to show up. Katherine flashes Oliver a reassuring smile.

"Its probably just somebody that needs directions, I will be right back. Just stay here."

She stands up and walks by the living area where the kids and Nathan watch Frozen together. Abaddon seems slightly interested, Esther meanwhile screams at the TV.

"Hit that man-child, Anna!"

That statment earns a "Yeah!" from Nathan and Ben. Katherine quickly keeps walking into the lobby and spots a young man in a grunge-alternative attire.

He gives an awkward smile, his hair is tangled and he has a lot of stuff on him. He seems to be around 17. Katherine moves around the counter.

"Hello, how can I help?"

"Hi, uh, this is a hotel, yeah?", the boy asks not very eloquently.

Kathy smiles slightly amused by the boys awkward behaviour.

"Correct."

"Cool, uh, I wanna check in.", he says determined and puts down his bankcard onto the counter.

"Can I see an ID?", Katherine asks politely.

"Uh...", the boy hesitates.

Katherines face falters into an unamused expression. Clearly that teen must just be another one of those delinquents of the village that like to mess around in the hotel or prank with her.

"Alrigt, go.", Katherine says.

The boys first instinct is to argue, but it seems to have no use against Katherines sternness, so he trots out.

While stepping into the cold he hears laughter from a nearby window. He decides to not give up and walks through the bushes to peak inside the warmth. He watches a family invested into a Disney movie, its a bittersweet scene for the lonely boy.

While he watches two kids play-fight over a keychain and a friendly man laughing along - suddenly a grim looking boy stands directly in front of the glass - staring at the boy from Iowa. He startles and falls back into the bushes. Abaddon meanwhile opens the window and tells his family:

"I found a satanic boy."

The grunge teen sits up and dusts off his clothes.

"No, I'm ... never mind."

Ben and Esther run towards the now opened window.

"Cool!", Esther exclaims.

Nathan joins in, curious.

"Well, who are you?"

"Oh, im...im sorry, Sir, I didnt mean to ... Im Jack.", he says.

"Well, do you want to come in, Jack?"

The boy looks puzzled.

"But, Sir, I... you dont even know me and the woman on the counter said..."

"Ah, what does she know? We have enough room for everybody here!"

Jack awkwardly climbs through thebwindow - even tho its not his first time doing that. Curious, he looks around the bookshelves and old furniture.

"Wow."

"I know, right?", Nathan agrees, filled with pride.

"Patriarch", Abaddon chimes in, "may I sacrifice the intrudor?"

"Uhhhhh....no, bud."

The demon seems down by this, but doesnt protest. Jack chuckles - not amused - and looks at the kids' odd clothing and ... odd everything. Nate chimes in, positive as ever.

"Well, Jack, why dont you play cards with my niece and nephew here, while I talk to Kathy about a free room for you?"

Jack gives a perplexed face.

"A... a free one?", he asks.

"Of course, I can see a struggling young soul when I see one."

"Thank you, Sir. And...and that means no police too?", he asks tentatively.

"They dont come here anymore anyway", Nathaniel replys, unbothered by the question.

He leaves the room, leaving Jack alone with the kids. They all sit down to play, Esther breaks the ice pretty well with her direct personality and gets him to engage in a conversation.

"Dude, youre 17? You look like 14", Esther says.

"Yeah, well, trans", Jack replys.

Both kids seem a tad curious now, but they dont bother him with dozens of questions.

"Well, what are you doing in this hotel?", they ask instead.

"Oh, I got thrown out of home. My parents dont like me being trans. Its hard to find a place to stay when youre scared the police will come and bring you back into a loveless home. Im 18 soon anyway. Just wished I could have left in a better way, y know?"

The kids stare. Jack silently scolds himself for dumping this on kids, he could have said it in a friendlier way. Usually he is better with kids, but he tried to downplay his situation so much to himself and forgot its actually upsetting him too. Ben slowly sets down a card.

"....Uno."

Jack chuckles.

"You got us, man."

"Well, usually Esther wins anyway."

"I cheat", the girls announces casual.

"Well, I'm a self proclaimed Monopoly King. Wanna play?"

The others agree and go on. Jack keeps stealing glances at Abaddon who is playing some game with marbles and weird objects near the chimney fire.

"Hey, uh, what's his deal?", he asks in a lowered voice.

"Oh, Abaddon?", Esther says casually, about to answer. But Ben interrupts her, he doesnt want to hit Jack with the demonic stuff immedietly.

"He's adopted. From an orphanage. It was pretty rough, he's a bit eccentric, just ignore it."

"Okay", the teen replys unsure.

If Abaddon is really adopted and has issues he'd prefer to talk to him instead of ignoring him. But he decides to stay out of it for now.

He has a great time with them - and after hearing his story, Katherine even made him some food that he gratefully accepted. Soon he decides to unpack and go to sleep in his new room.

The family meanwhile holds a small meeting. Katherine speaks up.

"Listen, if Jack is paying now or not, he is a guest in this hotel, so the rules stand. No suspicious or overnatural activity of any kind."

"But Mom!", Esther protests.

"No, we have enough headache with Oliver for now, we wont let Jack see whats going on on top. The boy needs a safe place to stay."

"But the haunting is the hotels charme. He will love it even more."

"And if demonic activity arent allowed Esther and I wont be able to fullfill our plans", Abaddon adds.

"Not helpful Abbi", Esther shushes him.

Katherine gives an unamused look.

"No spooking, no spells, no scheming."

"You will never contain my power!", Abaddon says theaterically, pushes over a plant and waddles into the closet that he likes to sleep in.
The family is used to his harmless outbursts and lets him be. Nate raises his hand.

"What should I do if we cant ghost around?"

"Just try to act solid"

"Thats not-"

"Nate!", she insists.

"Fine.", he agrees, "but I agree with Abbi and Esther, this hotel is haunted and pushing that away isnt longlasting."

With that he leaves. Kathy sighs.

"Ben, youre with me in this one, right?"

"The hotel could take a little less horror.", he agrees.

"Then its settled", his mother agrees, "No bigger problems anymore."

"Katherine?!", Nathan yells, "We have a big problem!"

~~~~~~~

Rushing towards Nathan they see him stand in front of the door where Oliver was staying. The office chair is empty and the window wide open.

"Sooooo", Nathan says, "who tells Abaddon we lost his vessel?"

Chapter Text

The sun rises behind the hotel, making it shine in a peaceful light. Despite Olivers' missing status, the hotel has been calmer with Jakes' presence.
After the holidays, Katherine had to rack her brains over where and how to get the four kids to school.
Esther and Ben have been registered at the nearby Carlsbad High and are about to attend, but its a bit more tricky with the 17yo Jack, that came without papers.

Katherine wasnt sure about the alternative boy at first, but she quickly found out that he is genuinely helpful and smart and could need a place to stay more than anything. So instead of risking to register him at a school - or letting him find out that the rumours about the haunting are real, through letting him work in the hotel - she makes a deal with her friend that owns the coffee shop down the street.

Jack was genuinely grateful and attends his job - even tho he tends to be late or ditch- he does give his best and the owner has a lot of understanding for the teen.

Now the only one left to place was Abaddon. In hopes of some free time, she registered the demon at Esthers and Bens school - with the request for them to keep an eye on him. Esther took those news the best. The amount of chaos she can cause in school with her demon friend is truly unimaginable.

Soon the first day of school rolls around. Esther, Ben and Abaddon stroll into the coffee shop thst Jake is working in. The demon looks fairly unusual with his big school bag.

"Blackjack!", Esther greets and casually leans onto the counter, "One espresso, one strawberry milkshake and ... Abaddon, for you?"

"Coffee beans. Pure.", he replies.

Jake nods.

"Coming right up. But dont let Katherine know that Im giving yall caffeine."

"Just some juice to survive the work day", Esther sighs.

"Yeah, 6th grade is tough", Jack says and efficiently hands them their drinks.

"Have fun, guys"

"Thanks, Jack", Ben smiles and sips on his straw.

Later in school Abddon flys under the radar ... for about 15 minutes. After injuring 5 bullys - and trying to eat the pigs' eye ball that the kids where supposed to biopsy - he, Ben and Esther sit in front of the principle and the schools' social worker. Esther gives them a glare while Ben fidgets. The social worker turns to Abaddon, her calm tone is laced with a bit of hesitancy.

"So, Abaddon, is it? Interesting name. You seem to be... a young boy with a lot of internal anger, is that correct?"

"Rage is fuel", Abaddon replys in his guttural voice.

The adults stare at him a little until Miss Wynbell clears her throat and speaks in an annoyingly high voice.

"Okay, um...Abaddon, you recently moved to life with your aunt Miss Freeling, correct? That must have been a big change for you."

"Change is an undeniable element of nature and ongoing in the laws of this dimension."

"Ah-hah", Miss Wynebell nods.

"Well, not to presume that anything is wrong with your uh, family dynamic, but how about we send one of my co-worker for a home visit tomorrow. Good? Good."

With that the social worker closes her book and leaves. While walking through the halls Esther pushes Abaddon.

"Way to go, Abbi!", she says frustrated.

"I do not understand.", the demon replys in his flat tone.

"You never know! Youre what, a gazillion of years old and you dont know how to behave in school?"

"You dont behave in school either", Ben chimes in from behind.

"Maybe! But I know what ratio of chaos to cause before they send a woman with a clipboard that wants to rip pur family apart!"

"Es", Ben say calmly, "They wont do that, we're a good fam. Sure, Mom is stressed, Dad is gone, I have anxiety, you cause trouble and Abaddon is Abaddon, but .... but ... okay, I lost my train of thought, the point is: we can behave for a day and prove we're a good fam, cause we love each other."

He looks around to make sure none of the other kids in the hall could hear him. Esther grumbles and walks away, so it stays onto Ben to tell Katherine and uncle Nate what happened later.

~~~~~~

The evening before the visit, Esther sits on the balcony of her spacious room. Abaddon wordlessly walks in and positions himself to dangle on the railing like a bat.

"My apologies, for causing your family trouble", he admits. He isnt one to care much, but he gets treated well and feels slightly .... guilty.

"Its not your fault", Esther mumbles listlessly, "... and its our family."

Abaddon nods with a determined expression, as if its his personal job to protect this clan.The girl finally looks up slightly and asks a question thats been on her mind for a while now.

"Don? Why didnt you leave? I mean, now were youre not tied to Oliver anymore, you could take any form and just...got back to hell. To your home." She plays with her bracelet.

Abaddon looks away with a grim expression.

"I cant. They dont .... dont exactly like me there." , he sighs.

Esther nods and doesnt ask further questions. People in her school dont really like her either. Or people anywhere - by any means. Shes too much for them. She doesnt know what Abaddon did or didnt do to not be welcome in hell, but she doesnt care. She nudges his shoulder.

"Hey, no prob. To me you'll stay the king of hell."

He smiles a little.

"And you the master of witches."

~~~~~~

The next morning is tense and filled with anticipation and battle plans to deal with the biggest threat the haunted hotel has ever faced: an official.

Katherine is excessivly cleaning (even more then usual) while the kids are awfully quiet. Nathan - as the unoffical mood booster of the family- trys to stay positive. The way he occasionslly breaks out into sobbing hugs, might be a small indicator for his real emotions tho.

Abaddon seems serious and even prepared for once, as Katherine reads questions from flash cards to him.

"How old are you."

"Nine"

"Whats your favorite game?"

"Connect four"

"Who am I?"

"Aunt Katherine."

Nathanial chimes in and raises his fist.

"Way to go, buddy, we got this!", he pauses and trys to hug the demon, "I will mis yall so so much."

"Okay, enough, Nathan", Kathy says unimpressed and guides him out.

As if on cue the doorbell echoes through the hotel.

"Showtime", Esther says and stands up.

The colleague of Miss Wynebell - Ms. Lyme - is a woman in a tight suit dress and a concerned face. She inspects the tidy hotel and compliments Katherine for it. The bleeding mirror is covered and all the ghosts got warned (if that encouraged them to show up anyway is another story tho).

Ms Lyme speaks up kindly.

"I understand if this visit might be a little nerve-wrecking, but I assure, I want the best for everybody in this family. How about I talk to the kids under four eyes. Benjamin? Why dont you show me your room."

"Huh?", Ben seems startled, "Oh, sure, yeah."

They walk up and Ben lets himself fall onto his bed.

"How do you like it here?"

"I mean, its cool. My sis likes it by now, I got a lot of space to read. Its cool."

Ms Lymes eyes fall onto Bens various pictures. She looks through them, while Ben trys not to mutter something about privacy. The social worker holds up a picture that Ben copied in the hallway.

"Who is this?", she asks concerned.

"Oh, thats just Stabby Paul."

"Ah-hah...a friend of yours?"

"I mean...not really."

"Why does he hold a knife, Benjamin?"

"I dont know...he's...stabby."

"And ... can your peers see him too?"

"I dont like where this conversation is going", Ben tells her in a deadpan voice.

Later the lady focuses on Esther - the girl shows her best acting skills and uses her quick stragetic wit - that she usually uses for scheming- to convince Ms Lyme that she is a normal and nice 11year old.

So far so good, later they all talk in the kitchen area. Nathan trys his very best to act solid and Abaddon trys to speak as little as he can.

"Could I get a coffee?", Miss Lyme asks politely and Nate jumps up.

"Yes, Miss Socialworker, Sir."

She frowns but shrugs it off and gives her honest opinion about the family dynamic, but the attention of the family quickly shifts outside the window. The old cook of the hotel stands there, one eye missing, a spatula for a hand and a half burned chefs hat from which a worm is peeking out.

"Uh, Excuse me for a second", Esther says and stands up quickly.

"Me too", Nate adds and leaves after his niece.

Katherine desperately trys to keep Ms Lymes attention away from the window.
Esther and Nate quickly arrive outside by the ghostly cook.

"He-Hey! Chef! My guy, what's up?", Nate greets, trying to negotiate in a friendly way, but his nerves are showing.

Esther takes a more offensive approach.

"You have to leave, dead Ramsey!"

The cook tilts his head and gives a creepy grin.

"Why would I?", he suddenly floats behind Esther, "I dont take orders! Im an artist! Yet you living ignore my creations!"

"And if I eat your stupid creation?", Esther asks unimpressed.

Suddenly the ghost looks interested.

"You shall, child! Behold", he shows them a plate of something that looks like a mix of worms, bugs deceased fruits.

"Uh, no way in hell.", Esther shakes her head.

"Then you all shall suffer! I will eat and haunt you all, starting with that woman!"

"Dramatic much?", Esther mutters.

Luckily Nathan chimes in.

"I'll eat it", he trys to grab it or pretend to consume it, yet as a ghost it has no use.

"Abbi will eat it!", Esther suggest, "he'll love it. Just watch."

She grabs the plate and rushes inside as soon as Miss Lyme takes a small break and excuse herself to go to the bathroom.

Quickly Esther hands Abaddon the plate and he devours the trash and bugs - appeasing the cook.
After coming to an agreement that Chef will be cooking for the demon from now on - he leaves them alone.

Miss Lyme comes in with her clicking shoes while drying her hands.

"I feel like the school must have been a little overconcerned, this family seems normal enough to me and the - "

She pauses and watches Abaddon stare back while slurping on a worm.

The next thing the family sees is Ms Lyme running out the property while swinging her hands like a lunatic. They all watch after her.

"Its fine, the officials always run like that", Esther declares casually.

"But this was the first official that visited us?", Ben replies.

"That yall know of", Esther shrugs and turns away from the window, "the good thing is: she wont come back."

"Victory!", Abaddon agrees.