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There had to be a rational reason for this.... brainwashing, a contract, some clever plan to help the Hotel with their recent troubles with the splinter faction of Exorcists and, whatever was happening with her mom. However, no matter which way she looked at it Charlie was struggling to find the silver lining to the storm cloud of Alastor's betrayal.
He had not only abandoned the Hotel, again but, this time, he had left a parting gift in the form of a raging shadow beast. Said beast had trashed the several floors, maimed many guests and, torn a hole in the side of the building before a combination of attacks from guests and staff had brought the monster down. The shadowy creature vanishing with the Radio Demon's trademark smile on its malformed lips and a taunting message.
"The game was fun while it lasted".
There had to be a clue there.... Alastor just wouldn't.... he could not betray them after everything they had been through... right?
Of course Vaggie and her father were not that surprised but, at the very least, were not going into I told you so mode; though her father did quip about the fact, at the end of the day, no matter how many snakes you helped as a farmer that, sooner or later, you were going to get bitten. Husk had little to say, quite frankly it was a wonder her was still here though, he supposed Alastor had little need for him anymore now that he was, in his own words "Beyond them" now. Poor Nifty was innocently oblivious to what was going on; stead fast in the belief that Alastor would be back before they knew it.
Nobody had the heart to tell her otherwise; Baxter offering to keep an eye on her by requesting her help in overseeing repairs and study of the residue left behind by the beast.
At least everyone was keeping busy, leaving Charlie with nothing but her thoughts.
And, needing a place to think.
......
"Id be careful going up there if I were you" Cherry was lounging on one of the upper floors, sharpening a blade idly while looking out the window in the direction of V Tower. It was a common habit these days and, none asked much about it.
Well aware she was worried about Angel on the constant these days.
"Uh why?" she felt certain that the roof had not taken damage and, even then, it was not like she lacked the power to survive a fall from that height. Cherry rolled an eye " The fish went up there to lick its wounds so, you know who's likely up there to" she noted with distaste for the most recent "guest" at the hotel.
Vox.
Granted, he was pretty much a shadow of the Overlord who had almost started a war between Heaven and Hell a few months ago. Charlie was uncertain if it was due to a power drop or, something psychological but his face for lack of a better word had "regressed" looking less modern and flashy and, instead a retro box TV had replaced his head from the battle all those months ago. And, while he had his moments of being snappy, for the most part he was quite and, in many of the staff's view, baring the attitude of a kicked puppy.
It was either a very good act or, the loss had really broken something in the once arrogant Overlord.
Alastor had been smug; stating with pleasure that Vox got what was coming to him and, he now knew his place in the pecking order. Charlie had scolded him for that but, now it felt like a snowflake compared to the blizzard that was battering the hotel.
Still, she supposed if anyone knew Alastor... who better to bounce ideas off than his rival. The thought gave her some needed resolve has she waved off Cherry's concern and made her way upstairs. If Vox was up there and wanted to be left alone she would respect that and, find somewhere else to think and ponder matters.
But, there was no sin exploring all options.
.....
"Shhh, Shockie, I know, I know" well Shock Wav was here and, so was his master.
The large beast was swimming in slow circles on the platform of the roof; whimpering softly has he was tended to by a surprisingly gently hand. Several cuts and scratches had already been patched and sealed with gauze and soldering material. One eye was dark, glass removed and awaiting replacement; Charlie made a note to look into what kind of glass could be used to make a replacement eye for a cyber demon shark.
It was the least that could be done after the shark had acted a proper guard dog against Alastor's beast; tackling the monster out of the lobby when it made the mistake of charging uninvited into the pool area that he called home. Vox may have been, for lack of a better word "defanged" but, the shark was not going to let anything related to the Radio Demon anywhere near his beloved master.
Even if he would be harmed for it.
Several cables slithered up and down the shark, probing and searching for more to repair "Such a brave sharkie arnt you, we're nearly done ok" if the physical change was one thing it was the softer more tender attitude in the demon that seemed not to have noticed the arrival watching him treat his pet's wounds. Honestly, despite the proof and hope it gave Charlie for Redemption for all, she did wonder sometimes if Vox had an identical twin or defective clone that had escaped the basement of the tower or something.
Still one thing at a time and....
Shock Wav let out a soft growl, functional eye igniting and looking in her direction suspiciously, the jaws parting and a questioning whine leaving his frame at the intruder. His owner looked up, screen glitching for a moment in a surprise before a sneer plastered itself on his face.
"Princess, to what do I owe the pl...." "Is... is Shock Wav ok?" the V paused, the metaphorical fangs retracting in surprise has his attention was drawn back to his pet. The large shark wagged his tail slowly like an actual puppy now that father had finally closed the unseen gash in his side from whatever thing Alastor had loosed in the hotel. The thought made Vox's blood boil for a moment but, now was hardly the time to get petty and snappy.
Not like he had the power to get into a spat on behalf of Shock Wav.
"He's fine" he replied curtly, cables disconnecting from their tasks and retracting into his body; he would make another diagnostic when Miss Bleeding Heart swanned off. Shock Wav rumbled, lifting into a shaky glide and circling to settle down at his side; he kept his eyes, well the working ones focussed on the princess. If a shark could scowl the pet certainly would be wearing one right now at Charlie. Either way it spoke one clear message.
Leave
Charlie hesitated "Listen... about today and what happened I..." the sinner cut her off with a dry chuckle "Not your fault Alastor finally got board with this place" he rolled an eye and walked to the railing to look over the city. Or, more specifically the sky.
Seemed fitting that storm clouds were rolling in after everything today.
He closed he eyes for a moment, senses reaching out and feeling at the currents within the moving clouds; lightning storms were rare in this ring of Hell and be it irony on the Inferno's part or part of the shark side of his body had given him a sort of advanced electroreception. Either way it would have been a useful quirk for the "Weather gig" back in the day. A thought that makes him want to actually laugh were it not for the princess. Thankfully Shock Wav was good at reading the metaphorical room; settling himself again next to Vox and using his tail like a make shift barrier to keep the Princess from getting to close. Absently he rubs at Shock Wav's side, earning him a pleased chuff from the shark before he returns his gaze to the princess, watching and judging.
And, what Vox sees is a mirror; the fool who bought into the Radio Demon's song and dance only to have the carpet ripped out from under their feat and his heart stepped on for good measure.
"I just don't understand...." he cuts her off "There is nothing to understand with that prick" he replies simply "Take it from someone who tried you will drive yourself nuts if you try" gods she looks like a wet kitten with those large eyes "But... he...I..." again he see's himself, the... not so innocent but, certainly naïve demon who had his processor ripped out with cruel words and a spiteful tongue and, Lucifer help him, despite everything, he was not going to wish that on anyone.
Alastor would get a kick out of that.
"Look, Charlie, you need to stop focussing on what ifs and maybe because, we are not in a fairy tale and Alastor.... he certainly aint no prince in a story waiting for someone to break his curse" honestly Alastor was the freaking curse has far as Vox was concerned.
"But I thought we were friends and..." Vox's screen glitches hard, colour draining and looking like a black and white snapshot for a moment "That prick only cares about himself princess end of story" he looks back over to Shock Wav who is rumbling softly, trying to keep him calm in lieu of the efforts of Vel and Val. Unlike them the shark does not need to worry about his daddy ever hurting him but, at the same time he does not want his father hurting himself.
There had been enough of that.
He sighs "Word to the wise princess, whatever you are feeling, put in the backseat and keep it there where the Radio Demon is concerned" the clouds rumble, sounding for a moment like taunting laughter. "Because now your blood's in the water and, take it from a shark, Alastor will be back and, unlike a shark he will not make it quick" again he was speaking from experience; experience the little fountain of naivety could not comprehend even if Vox pulled out several spread sheets and charts.
"W... why?"
The media overlord actually looked sad now.
"Because suffering's a game and we're all the game pieces"
End.