“Vamonos!” Vaggie’s firm voice echoed from the kitchen doors as she stepped from them to the hall leading to the bar.
Moments later, Cherri stormed out, her face and apron covered in sauce, with messes on her arms and almost everywhere else.
It seemed that Niffty had given her a hard time, as Cherri’s hair was now pulled back under a hairnet.
The way she tugged at it meant it was as much an irritation as the interruption.
Regardless, she followed Vaggie toward the bar.
“Just so you know, mate!” Cherri grumbled, “You keep me out here too long, and the food’s gonna get burned!”
“It’s just for introductions, Cherri.” Vaggie promised, “So you know what is going on.” Vaggie shouted loud enough that she startled everyone who had already gathered at the bar, “NIFFTY!
Meeting at the bar!”
Satisfied she’d acquired everyone or got their attention, Vaggie turned toward Kevin and Charlie, who had already taken seats at the bar.
“I think we’re ready.”
Eryn sat next to Kevin, leaving the stool next to Charlie empty.
Charlie smiled and waved her over, and Vaggie smiled back.
She hurried to join but slowed down as she passed Kevin and gripped his shoulder affectionately.
He tapped her hand in kind, and then she settled on the bar stool to Charlie’s right.
Charlie immediately leaned in and kissed her cheek, “Thanks, Vaggie.”
“Anytime, babe!”
In the meantime, Husk was pouring everyone a drink.
When he got to Eryn, he held up a bottle, and she eyed it.
“Angels don’t partake in debauchery, ” she huffed.
Husk gruffly shrugged, giving Kevin a look, and snarked.
“Some do.”
Kevin chuckled at the comment and tapped the bar twice with his finger, and Husk dropped two fingers of Scotch into his glass.
Kevin nodded, “Maybe it’ll be my drink of choice from now on?
Eh, Husk?”
“A good bartender knows his customers.” With a single nod, Husk turned to set the bottle on the bar behind him.
Eryn eyed the Scotch as Kevin picked up the glass and drank it all in one take.
Her eyes widened as he coughed and wheezed a bit before setting the glass down and shaking his head, looking pleased.
“It hurts?” Eryn’s voice held concern.
“A little, but it’s part of the fun.”
“How is pain fun?”
A sudden cough next to Kevin had him turn his head to Charlie, who looked a little redder in the cheeks.
Vaggie was grinning at the question as well.
Kevin noticed both expressions: “I’m going to ask for some details later, ladies.”
Both girls’ cheeks flushed deeper.
Niffty suddenly appeared and jumped up on a barstool next to Vaggie.
“Ask what?”
Before she felt any more flustered, Charlie straightened up, “Ahem!
Focus, people!
We have a problem to deal with.”
“And I need to get back into the kitchen!” Cherri grumbled, but there was a sparkle in her eye as she watched her friends.
Just then, a gust of green smoke rose from the floor by the bar, and from it, Alastor appeared.
“It appears I have arrived just in time.” He said in a burst of radio static, looking at Eryn with curious eyes.
“And who do we have here?
Another orphaned angel?”
Eryn’s eyes rose at the sight of the Radio Demon, and his mocking voice grated on her.
“Watch your tone, demon.”
Alastor just chuckled.
“Right!” Kevin said to stop any further verbal spouts.
Turning toward Eryn while addressing the group.
“Everyone, this is Eryn.
She is one of the highborn of Heaven, and she is here to assess the hotel and determine whether it is worthy of continuing operations or if it should be destroyed.”
Immediately, everyone became defensive and looked ready for a fight, just as expected.
Charlie raised her hand.
“Please.
Everyone, remain calm.” She looked at each with imploring eyes until they backed off.
“Eryn will be interviewing each of you in turn.
Be honest with her.
She will then stay with us as we begin to help sinners rehabilitate.
As long as we do our jobs right, we’ll be able to prove the hotel works.”
“Ya fuckin’ kiddin’ me, right?” Cherri shouted, “You want us to cozy up to this angel and share our thoughts, knowing she’s deciding if we live or die?”
“That’s exactly what we want you to do.” Kevin firmly stated.
“Eryn is one of God’s creations, very powerful, and her word carries great weight.
Before, it was a matter of proving the hotel to Heaven to stop Adam from attacking.
That failed.
Now, Heaven’s decided on a formal investigation, one that should remain peaceful, and if we succeed, they’ve agreed to stop all future executions.”
This stopped everyone, and they looked at each other.
“We are to entertain this angel’s quest?” Alastor’s eye twitched.
“For as long as I deem it necessary.” Eryn snapped back.
“And Kevin is correct; as a Highborn, my power supersedes all of you.
Do not push me into using it.”
Alastor’s expression slightly changed as he took in this new information.
“My apologies, then, mon cheri.
I will be more than happy to oblige your quest and answer your queries.
Perhaps we can discuss it over dinner this evening, just the two of us?”
Kevin and Charlie looked at each other before Kevin gave the Radio Demon a glare, “What are you getting at here, Alastor?”
“Why, my dear boy.
If we’re to prove to this sweet angel the hotel is worth consideration, does it not fall to the hotelier to provide her with every means by which to do her job?”
True words said with nefarious reasons, no doubt.
Kevin thought.
For her part, Charlie saw merit in Alastor’s suggestion, “I think it’s a great idea!
Maybe you will show Eryn more respect than you do for Kevin.
Give the hotel a good impression?”
“Of course.” Alastor smiled widely and turned to address Eryn.
“What do you say, my dear?
Would you like that?
You can grill me to your heart’s content.”
Eryn’s face looked confused.
It was a mix of caution and curiosity.
“I suppose?”
“Most excellent!
I will whip up one of my specialties for you, something that even the most discerning angel of Heaven will find more than satisfactory.” Alastor bowed to Eryn.
“Shall we say, 7 A.M.?”
Eryn balked.
“Breakfast?
I thought you were asking for tonight?”
Alastor blinked in confusion, and Kevin took the opportunity to poke fun at the Radio Demon.
“Heaven runs opposite to Hell for time, Al.
I would think you knew that.”
The smile on his face wavered ever so slightly, and Alastor’s voice darkened in reply to Kevin.
“Heaven’s way of things means little to me, dear boy.” Then he quickly lightened his tone as he addressed Eryn, “But I would be most intrigued to learn more, perhaps see Heaven from a lovely angel’s point of view?
Be convinced it’s not so bad?”
“Well.” Eryn slowly drawled.
“The idea is to prove you demons have the capacity for change.
Knowledge of Heaven is a start.” She looked to Kevin, “So, A.M.
is evening here?”
“It is,” Kevin confirmed, his eyes still squarely set on Alastor, his suspicions high.
“Interesting.” She nodded to Alastor.
“In that case, I will join you.”
With a formal bow, Alastor smiled graciously, “I can’t wait…” He paused for a beat, cast a glance at Kevin, then addressed Eryn in a rather personal way, “…ma petite.”
Eryn blinked at the nickname, but appeared endeared to it.
Meanwhile, Kevin knew exactly what Alastor had done, and he bristled visibly.
Vaggie laid a hand on his arm, stilling any biting reply.
Meanwhile, Alastor stood up straight, turned to Charlie, and nodded subtly.
“As I now understand the reason for this precious angel’s visit, do you need me for anything else?
I have a complicated dinner to prepare.”
“Uh, no.
Thank you, Al.” Charlie said with a shrug.
“Excellent.” Alastor gave Kevin a slight sneer out of habit, then faded into the floor.
“What the fuck just happened?” Vaggie asked, confused.
“I think Alastor has taken up the duty of being Eryn’s guide at the hotel,” Charlie answered, just as confused.
Kevin tapped the bar for Husk to refill his glass.
After he did, Kevin downed the shot, coughed once, and turned to Eryn.
“Eryn, listen to me.
You can’t believe that creep.
He isn’t just a happy face.
He’s a deal maker, pure evil.
He can’t be redeemed.
And is most likely looking for a way to turn you against us.
Whatever you do, do not shake his hand or make any deal of any kind.
Your soul is mighty; he could do great damage if he owned yours.”
Eryn’s eyes narrowed on Kevin.
“Don’t take me for a fool, Angel! Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
I would never strike a deal with a demon and risk my soul.
No matter how charming he seems.” She stopped, realizing she’d said something she’d been thinking, and blushed.
“I mean, he seems nice enough to have dinner with, at least.” She calmed down and put a hand on Kevin’s.
“Look, I know he’s bad, and I know he probably has bad intentions, but if I am truly doing my job, I need to interview everyone, and if he’s offering a one-on-one, it’s a great place to start.”
Eryn’s demeanor from the moment she arrived had changed remarkably.
Kevin feared that Hell’s influence on emotions was getting to Eryn quicker than he’d expected, and she was not processing them well, leading her to possibly not being clear-minded when associating with the Radio Demon.
He licked his lips and tried another approach, “Just be careful, okay?
Your emotions are stronger down here, and you’ve never experienced the endless variety that can cause a person to make terrible choices.
I’m just looking out for you.”
“I know.” Eryn conceded.
“And I appreciate your concern.”
“I don’t get it,” Husk interjected.
“Why are you looking out for this angel’s safety, especially since her decisions could cost us our lives?”
“Eryn is an old friend,” Kevin explained.
“And I do care about her.
Also, if we show her compassion and help her do her job, we show that sinners can be good, presenting a better side of themselves.
I am not asking all of you to be friends with Eryn, but don’t cause unnecessary conflict.
Please?”
“I suppose,” Husk muttered.
“Okay, Sir.” Niffty nodded, her eye narrow on Eryn, but her stance was calm.
“So, no stabbing?”
“No stabbing!” Everyone said as one voice.
Niffty nodded.
“Sure, what the fuck ever.” Cherri groused, “Can I get back to the kitchen now?
Or you’re all eating dry bread for lunch!”
Vaggie nodded quickly, “Of course, of course.
Go on, Cherri, we can finish up here.”
Cherri huffed and stormed away.
Husk dropped more Scotch into everyone’s glasses, even if they didn’t ask, and in a show of support for Kevin’s request, set a glass in front of Eryn and poured.
“If you’re gonna live among us, you’re gonna learn to drink like us.” And he walked off before Eryn could reply.
Niffty downed her shot then jumped of her stool.
“I guess I’d better go make up a room for our new guest.” And she scurried off.
Charlie sighed softly.
“That… could have gone better.”
With Husk at the end of the bar, purposely ignoring everyone, and all the others well on their way, Vaggie spoke up.
“Okay, care to tell me what’s really going on?”
Kevin downed his fresh shot and stood up.
“Let’s take this conversation upstairs.
Charlie parroted him, downing hers.
“Good idea.”
Vaggie followed suit, knowing she needed the boost, and threw back her shot as well.
Eryn observed each of them down their drink in turn before glancing at her glass.
Tentatively, she picked it up.
Never in her life had she indulged in any form of sin; she was the purest of angels.
However, Sera had tasked her with a mission to learn how the hotel operated.
In doing so, Sera granted her the power to lie, which was a sin in itself.
Eryn questioned whether she would ever be allowed to return to Heaven, and now her emotions surged to the surface faster than she could manage.
Fear permeated her soul, anger lingered just at the edge of her control, and worry for her future made her heart race a bit faster.
Soon, she would be having dinner with a sinner, one who had done evil in life, and she would be doing so by choice.
Quickly, she realized that if she was going to be forced to do all of this, she might as well play the part well.
With a deep breath, Eryn copied the others and downed her drink in one swallow before she heard Kevin’s warning.
“Eryn, wai—!
It was too late, as Eryn promptly fell unconscious.
As Kevin dropped to check on her, Husk’s voice gruffed from across the bar.
“Well, it seems someone can’t hold their liquor, huh?”
Charlie and Vaggie both face-palmed at the same time.
Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind them.
“Ya guys have all the fun when I’m gone!”
Kevin sighed, bent down to pick Eryn up, and looked up at the Spider Demon, Angel Dust.
“Want some fun?
Would you put those six arms to work and help me with her?”
Chuckling, Angel Dust obliged and helped Kevin lift her up onto his shoulder.
“So, who’s da broad?”
Kevin shook his head.
“Would you believe it’s a long story?”