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Once was an accident, twice was a coincidence, three times and Charlie was becoming suspicious. First she had seem them talking amicably in the sitting room, then out and about together to try and find all the ingredients for jambalaya which they had shared with the whole hotel, and now, as Charlie peeked around the corner, feeling a little self-concscious but unable to stop herself nonetheless, she saw Alastor was sitting in one of the chairs in the lobby with his feet kicked up on a small upholstered ottoman and his hands in his lap, a lax position for a demon who was usually tense and taut as a coiled rattlesnake. Around him in the air fluttered Emily, who with her inexhaustible energy flitted back and forth like a humming-bird, her wings blurred with motion, flying around in a close orbit as she enthusiastically recounted some story, pulling Alastor’s pupils this way and that to keep track of her. Occasionally he chuckled or making some interjection. This alone would have been unusual but not so objectionable, but as Charlie watched on, Emily finished with her story eliciting some comment from Alastor that sent her laughing, a sound like wind-chimes, and tumbling in graceful airborne somersaults only to plop down onto Alastor’s lap, folding her wings neatly. Even this still might have been overlooked if not for Alastor’s next move, one he surely wouldn’t have made if he had any knowledge he was being watched, as his hands wandered up her back to give her neck a delicate caress that suggested the intimate, restrained capacity to kill, and then trailed the tip of his clawed index finger to the end of her chin at which point she laughed again and stuck out her tongue, blowing a raspberry. Then Alastor grinned evilly and gave her a chaste peck on the cheek. She giggled.
“Now just hold on!” Vaggie suddenly burst out. Charlie hadn’t even realized that Vaggie was standing not far behind her, also watching the scene from the corner where the hall met the landing at the top of the stairs. Vaggie stomped down the stairs, her hands clenched into fists. Alastor’s head swiveled unnaturally quickly towards Vaggie and for a moment his smile nearly faltered, but he quickly regained his composure, offering up his usual unreadable grin. Emily didn’t seem embarrassed to be discovered at all, unfurling her wings and flying over to meet Vaggie.
“Vaggie!” she said, nearly vibrating with excitement. She seemed to never tire of meeting people, even if she had met them before. “I was just chatting a bit with Alastor here. Say, what’s on the schedule for today? Oooh, I hope we’re doing arts and crafts with the sinners again!” she said.
“Alastor you scum, you better not have-” Vaggie barked out, ignoring Emily.
“My dear, I have no idea what you’re implying.” Alastor said, suddenly very interested in examining his own claws.
“Alastor, um, could we talk?” Charlie said descending the stairs.
“Why of course! What about?” he said, grinning.
“Emily, we’d better talk too.” Vaggie said trying to guide Emily away.
“What’s up?” Emily said confused.
“Its better if we talk, uh, alone.” Vaggie said.
“Ok!” Emily said, smiling, though clearly a bit confused. Vaggie led her into a side room while Charlie sat down opposite Alastor. She wasn’t smiling.
“Alastor, I don’t want to assume anything but, well…” she began. “I um… I don’t judge what you do with your free time, but I have a responsibility to protect everyone else in the hotel too and…” she began again, trying to figure out the right words.
“Oh relax. I’m not going to eat her.” Alastor said grinning.
“Alastor, what the hell are you doing?” Charlie asked bluntly.
“I’m making friends. Something wrong with that?” Alastor said, refusing to meet her gaze.
“You don’t exactly make friends.” Charlie said. Alastor absent-mindedly picked at his teeth with one long claw.
***
“So what did you want to talk about?” Emily said as soon as Vaggie had secured the door behind her. Vaggie inspected Emily’s cheek and neck, ignoring her words, but found Alastor had not left a mark on her.
“Did he touch you anywhere else? Do anything that made you uncomfortable?” Vaggie said.
“What? No!” she protested.
“Emily, you have to stay away from him! He’s a… well, he’s really not a good person, OK?” Vaggie said.
“This is hell.” Emily said. “Everyone here is a work-in-progress, right?” she said.
“He’s different! He’s killed people! You absolutely cannot trust him!” Vaggie said. Emily opened her mouth and then closed it again. She looked away, as if she couldn’t say what was on her mind. In a flash Vaggie realized what she must have been thinking. “He is not like me! He’s not like Sera or you! He’s not even... He doesn’t… he doesn’t even think it was wrong!” Vaggie said.
***
“I’ve behaved like a perfect gentleman.” Alastor said. “Personally I don’t see the issue.” Charlie sighed.
“Alastor I just saw you kiss her.” Charlie said. “I can’t… if you’re going to go after Emily… she doesn’t know any better than…”
“Mighty judgmental aren’t you?” Alastor said. “Presumptuous too. Fine. We’ve gotten a little more than friendly, her and I. But I have made no use of deception. She knows I’m an overlord, a wolf. I’ve never been shy about who I am or what I do.” he said.
“You mean she…?” Charlie began.
“Of course she knows. I’ve told her everything. And guess what? She actually forgives me.” Alastor said, putting so much sickly sarcasm into the word it practically fell from his mouth like a stone.
***
“Fine!” Emily said. “We kissed a little, but what’s wrong with that? He’s just like this one winner I used to know, a Monk who was always worried about his soul, he had all this trouble back on earth so I comforted him and…”
“Oh god, I can’t believe this!” Vaggie groaned. “Its like they never gave you the part of the brain that allows you to not give someone the benefit of the doubt!” she said. Maybe they didn't, Vaggie thought.
“Vaggie, how can you discount someone like that? Nobody is really bad you know, they just need a chance to…” Emily began.
“Nobody is really bad in heaven. This is hell! He’s a goddamn serial killer!” Vaggie hissed, leaning in.
***
“You know, everyone is the hero of their own story.” Alastor said, grinning broadly.
“I…” Charlie began.
“And this dove was made to help heroes and saints and good men with the regrets they carried from their mortal life, the things they couldn’t help, the mistakes that weren’t really their fault, the little things that could be forgiven and washed away in the amor dei. She’s made to sympathize. To comfort. To justify.” Alastor said. “Who am I to deny a little birdy what is in her nature? I don’t think she was ever meant to meet someone who had done things that they SHOULD feel sorry about, no, all she has is forgiveness and affirmation. Its veeerry charming.” Alastor said, dragging his tongue across the contours of his words.
“Oh, Alastor.” Charlie said, putting her head in her hands.
***
“You know, they have this horrible thing called ‘racism’ on earth and Alastor was really treated poorly, he only ever killed when someone disrespected him or his mother, I mean I know it wasn’t really exactly right but…” Emily said.
“Emily! He is a goddamn cannibal!” Vaggie hissed.
“Not anymore.” Emily said proudly.
“What?” Vaggie said.
“He said that if I felt uncomfortable with it, he could stop.” Emily said, looking away shyly. “Isn’t that sweet?”
"What did he actually say?" Vaggie said.
"Well, I asked and he just said 'Oh sure, anyyyyything for you, doll.' and then he gave me a pat on the head and changed the subject to..." Emily said.
“He. Is. Playing. You!” Vaggie snarled. “He’s got some kind of plan or something, there’s always some kind of twist! That’s what he’s doing! That’s what he does! He’s a demon! He is not sweet or romantic or anything, he probably wants to sleep with you and break your heart and eat you or something!”
“Vaggie! I am a grown woman, 5500 years old!” Emily said. Vaggie backed away, a little guilty. “My heart is my own business." She paused. "And what this about sleeping?” she said.
***
“Oh I don’t go in for that kind of fun.” Alastor said, chuckling at Charlie's red face. “I’ve always been a herbivore in this one aspect.”
“Well that’s relieving at least.” Charlie muttered.
***
“You don’t know about sex?!” Vaggie shouted.
“Vaggie, calm down!” Emily said. “I know plenty about sects!”
“Oh yeah? Explain it.” Vaggie said.
“A sect forms when someone in the church denies the creed and splits off to form…” Emily began.
“Not sects! Sex.” Vaggie said.
“Oh, well…” Emily said. “OK fine. What is it?”
“Look, just don’t take off your clothes with him. And don’t let him touch you!” Vaggie said.
“My clothes…?” Emily said. She peaked down the neck of her dress. “I’m not sure I understand.” she said.
“Oh god, I’m really going to have to explain this…” Vaggie said.
***
“Come on Charlie, don’t you trust me? Is it really so suspicious I would have a little dalliance? Nothing serious you know… Surely you of all people can understand having a taste for the angelic?” Alastor said.
“I… don’t know.” Charlie said looking down at her feet.
“And why not?” Alastor said.
“I can never pin you down. I can never know what you’re thinking…” Charlie muttered.
“Hm. Well, in any case, the lord has made little birdies that will sit in the mouth of a crocodile, don’t you think he could have made something like that for me?”
***
“Oh.” Emily said, blushing brightly. “Well, I don’t think that sort of thing is really possible without human… equipment, and I certainly didn’t have anything like that in mind. ”
“Argh! I almost wish you did, then I could just write it off as the heart wanting what it wants… what could you possibly see in that creepy fuck?!” Vaggie said.
“Well… he’s refined, he’s all complicated and interesting…” Emily listed off.
***
“Then why?” Charlie said.
“Isn’t there a certain charm in someone so good, so pure, so innocent, that they are utterly undiscerning? That they don’t know that the lamb doesn’t lay down with the wolf? That they throw good money after bad, far beyond the point of reason? That they don’t even need courage to approach me? Maybe its what I’ve been longing for so long, maybe that’s my deepest wish. Could very well be the case, couldn’t?” Alastor said, grinning.
“Maybe. But is it?” Charlie said.
Alastor’s grin only grew.
***
“He’s not like anybody in heaven...” Emily said, thinking. “And he’s just… well… he likes me and I like him, isn’t that enough? He played me some of his records and told me about his life and I told him about my friends like Pentious and Peter and Abel, and I told him about Sera and he told me that Sera is something called an ‘impudent strumpet’ and I shouldn’t let her bother me and…” Emily rattled off.
“Fine! I guess you’re just pure sugar.” Vaggie said, throwing up her hands.
“Well, it IS most of my diet.” Emily said cheerily.
“I guess you can… I mean, just be careful?” Vaggie muttered uncertainly.
“I can handle myself but, but I appreciate that you were concerned.” Emily said. “You know I love, you don’t you, Vaggie?” Emily said. Vaggie slowly looked Emily up and down.
“We’re angels. Angels have a nature and a purpose. I know my nature and my purpose, and its only because I know it that I can act freely, I can notice the urges and intuitions that flow from it for what they are and use my better judgment. I don’t know if you’ve… done the same.” Vaggie muttered.
“Of course I know my nature! But Vaggie, I was made to do something good! I was made to love everyone and spread joy to all! Why should I try and fight that?” Emily said.
“Because even being here in hell you’re operating outside of your design!” Vaggie said.
“You don’t want me here?” Emily said.
“No! I just… I worry about you.” Vaggie said.
“Well don’t, if its going to make you sad. Don't worry about me at all.” Emily said, embracing Vaggie. She was as soft as a cloud and she smelled like incense and rosewater. Vaggie let her eyes close and embraced her as well.
***
“You’re not really going to punish me for something I haven’t even done, have you?” Alastor said.
“No.” Charlie said.
“If you thought I was too dangerous to be around the people you care about, I don’t think you would have let me through the door. No, you don’t have that sort of prejudice, or sense. Whatever you call it.” Alastor said.
“I suppose not.” Charlie said.
“You're a lot like Emily in that way. Good money after bad. Well then, I suppose there’s nothing to do but let me go on my way.” Alastor said. “What a productive conversation!” he said standing up.
It was then that Emily and Vaggie finally reappeared at the door Vaggie had dragged the angelic girl through.
“Al!” Emily said, flying back over to Alastor, who gave a nod and grin, though of course he was always grinning.
“Did you… explain?” Charlie said. Vaggie shrugged.
“Alastor?” Charlie said.
“Yes, dear?”
“Watch your step.” Charlie said. “You know I didn’t inherit my fathers curse, right?”
“Of course I know that, dear.” Alastor said. Then he turned away from Charlie, apparently unperturbed.
***
“That was kind of awkward. I never knew Vaggie could get so hung up about this sort of thing!” Emily said. They were sitting together on the bench out front of the hotel. Emily was feeding a crowd of filthy looking demonic birds little pieces of pure, white angel food cake.
“Oh, people always have their little worries, their fixations and jealousies.” Alastor said.
“That’s what makes them all so wonderful.” Emily said brightly, tearing off another piece of the angel food cake. The birds greedily gulped it down and squawked loudly, gathering more and more of their brethren for the feast. She had brought two, one for Alastor and one for herself, but she had given her own to the birds while Alastor had thanked her and somehow tucked his in some mysterious recess of his coat. She watched happily as all the birds gathered around to feed in a frenzy.
“That’s why I can’t stand the lot of them.” Said Alastor.
“Oh, Alastor!” Emily said. There were lots of birds now, all squawking for their food. Emily threw them the rest of the cake.
“That doesn’t apply to you little dove, you’re not a person.” Alastor said.
“Oh.” Emily said.
“You’re something far, far better. An inexhaustible well, a tireless lover, where others give up or grow impatient you continue on, where others feel unappreciated, scorned, you smile and persist, where others protect their own, you give up everything you have.” He said.
"Awww... aren't you just a little kitten! I wish Vaggie could understand that you really don't mean any harm." Emily said. As he gave her another peck on the cheek, Alastor waved his hand just a little and the foul birds taking advantage of Emily’s endless generosity all melted into shadows and dust with one final pained cry. Maybe he didn't appreciate what they were doing. Maybe he didn't like competition.