The Riddle Of Magic

Chapter 14: Euclidean Spectrum

The spider demon was quick to draw the deer demon's attention after his pupils and claws began to elongate. "Why don't ya get some rest, Smiles? Been a hell of a day," Angel Dust offered. "Me and Cherri can take care'a stuff!"

There was much he still had to see after, but he could feel weariness sinking into his bones. His smile was a small, exhausted line as he trudged back inside, headed for the office.

He went through some paperwork, making sure there was no outstanding business for the remainder of the day. He made his notes regarding the repairs to the facility, taking special care to see that he eliminated any potential lingering trace of the other Radio Demon's magic.

He'd have to partition off the section of the hotel where the other deer demon had been staying. Spirits knew what that bastard had been cooking up when they'd not been paying attention.

The rest of the hotel would have to be double or even triple-checked for good measure. He wouldn't be so careless again.

The Radio Demon felt like a fool, and it pissed him off.

The office was too quiet, the desk too large. It felt wrong having the chair to his left empty. He left the office, knowing he was too drained to complete anything he was planning today anyways.

Alastor returned to his rooms, and stared at the couch as he entered. The deer demon realized then that his and Charlie's sitting arrangement was the same in his study as it was in their office, him at her right and her at his left.

Would she ever want to come back here?

He wandered past the sofa and climbed the spiraling staircase to his broadcast tower. From up here the city looked quiet and still, but he focused on his task, knowing something else might come if he let his guard down again.

The blue-faced spectre reappeared as he studied the hotel's barrier. "I can maintain the barriers for the next few days, but we will need to hunt again after that," it told him quietly.

He bid the shadow to keep the umbral barrier surrounding the Hotel steady and alert him if anyone approached, then returned to the private room downstairs, slumping back onto the sofa on his usual seat.

The room was too quiet, the couch too large. Even jazz from his microphone cane didn't help the stifling silence as he sat alone.

His maroon eyes drifted to the painting of the landscape upon the back wall. The paint shifted across its enchanted surface, reflecting a gentle afternoon breeze brushing through trees. Warm golden rays shone between the leaves, illuminating a wooded bayou.

The color was far too much like sunlight-hued hair.

His eyes drifted closed at some point, because the knock at the door jolted him far more than it should have.

The blue-faced spectre drifted down the spiral staircase, eyes narrowed at the entrance.

Alastor went to the door and opened it, surprised to see Charlie on the other side. She'd changed into her white blouse and suspenders, and her eyes looked tired, but she smiled at him cheerily regardless.

"Hey Al," she murmured, leaning against the doorframe.

"It's a pleasure to see you up, but you should be resting, my dear," he replied.

"I- I know, Vaggie already read me the riot act," Charlie said, dark lips pulled tight.

Doomed, his shadow whispered, but Alastor ignored it. "It's only because she cares, darling! It's been a trying day."

"Yeah, definitely," the princess replied. "Can I come in?"

The spectre didn't seem to care for that, a stark contrast from the amusement it held whenever she'd come to him previously.