The Riddle Of Magic

Chapter 14: Euclidean Spectrum

Another flash of worry issued from his shadow.

"I can take her from here," Vaggie muttered, her voice holding a tense edge.

Let her go, Alastor.

He brushed past the shorter demoness, and to his surprise, she was quiet as he entered Charlie's room.

The princess' room was various shades of pink, because of course it was. There were pictures all along the walls, mostly of herself and Vaggie, though there were pictures of the others as well as the hotel's "grand opening" on her private desk.

Stuffed animals and flowers were on her shelves, soft things surrounding the gentle demoness.

Her bed was large enough for two and made up tidily. Alastor laid her on the pink duvet as gently as he could; and as he pulled away, her golden hair slid through his fingers.

Vaggie went to grab another blanket from the closet, and Alastor took his coat back, folding it over his arm.

The moth demoness gasped loudly at Charlie's clothes, and swore in her language as she quickly covered the princess, as though to hide her from his gaze.

She was shaking in her anger as she whirled back to him, but her eyes were shining and wet. "You killed him?"

The Radio Demon looked away, back to Charlie. "She got the final blow, if that helps."

"Not really." Vaggie went to the desk and pulled the chair there over to the bed, clearly intending to keep her vigil over her girlfriend. "We shouldn't have trusted him," she fumed as she sat.

"There was no reason to suspect he was as sinister as he was." The deer demon silently let his shadow know he hadn't forgotten its part in that, and felt a response similar to shame.

"Except that he's in Hell," the moth demoness scoffed, folding her arms.

"We both know being a good person doesn't guarantee a spot upstairs, dear."

Vaggie sighed, slumping into the chair as she stared at the princess. "She's my girlfriend. I'm the one who is supposed to protect her. Why didn't you let us go with you?"

"I was better equipped, and fight best on my own." Alastor's smile was full of teeth, not reaching his eyes. "Or are you saying you'd have had me abandon her to him?"

Vaggie's pale eye narrowed and she hugged her arms, looking back to Charlie. "Of course that's not what I'm saying, don't be a Shit Lord!" she snarled.

"Then why aren't you smiling? We've won the day! She skewered that beast with his own spear, rather a fitting end for such a pig!"

"I don't want her to have to go through all that! I should have protected her!" Tears overflowed and she turned away from him, her silver hair whipping around herself.

"Anger won't help her heal," Alastor told her as she sniffled. "And neither will blaming yourself. We were all tricked."

"She keeps letting demons in here that hurt her! Velvet! All those other pendejos that come along and leave by the end of the week! That other you-"

"The only way redemption works is by giving chances to those who probably don't deserve it!" His smile tightened as he bared his teeth at her insult. "You'd have her give up on her dream?"

The moth demoness didn't answer as her gaze drifted to watch the shapes beginning to mill about the room. Spectres of various sizes and shapes trailed about, having followed him inside. They floated along the walls and by the window, darkened eyes watching the three demons.