The Riddle Of Magic

Chapter 20: Syncopated Dreaming

Charlie grasped at Alastor's shoulders as he fell forward, his larger frame far too heavy for her to support, and she collapsed under him. "Al!" she whimpered. "Alastor! Please, come on! You have to wake up!"

Frightened tears overflowed as she shook him, and she felt a desperate, wild hope that he might spring awake at once, teasing her about fretting so much.

"Okay, you win. You got me," she sniffled. "Please just get up, Al."

His head lulled on her shoulder, and it was only the soft puff of breath in her ear that kept her from completely losing her composure.

She pushed him off gently, rolling him to his side as she looked down over him, pushing his hair out of his face. "Alastor?"

The blue-faced spectre was trembling as it fluttered over him, and she moved to give it space.

"Can you talk to him?" Charlie asked the shadow.

It turned back to her, ears turned low, but its face snapped to the end of the hall as hasty footfalls rumbled up the stairwell. The shadow vanished under Alastor's form with a soft hiss as some of the others came charging down the hallway toward them, her girlfriend leading the charge.

"Charlie!" Vaggie cried out.

"Vaggie! Are you guys alright?!" the princess called back, glad to see that the others had been alright downstairs.

"Nevermind us!" The moth demoness shook her head, crouching beside her, hands on her shoulders. "What about you!"

"I'm okay, but Alastor's not! I don't know what happened, the Exorcists used some kind of strange weapon and now he won't wake up!" She was trying to keep herself composed, and her hands clenched in Alastor's coat as she tried to shake him again.

Cherri knelt, looking over the unconscious deer demon. "Well he's not voided - that's good," the cyclops noted.

"If Smiles is down, dat means his shadow barriers are too, right?" Angel Dust asked.

Husk looked around, red wings flexing. "Looks like they're up for now. Dunno how all his magic stuff works, but my guess is he's gotta maintain them. If he don't wake up, they're gonna collapse sooner or later."

"Al," Charlie murmured, worried tears forming in her eyes.

The Hotel needed those defenses. The angels were a threat once a year, but the territory disputes were a daily occurrence.

And why wouldn't he wake up? What had the Exorcist done to him?

Panic threatened to make her freeze, icy claws at her chest making it hard to breathe.

What was she going to do?

What was she going to do?

The others were looking at her, waiting for her decision.

The princess bit her black lip, and felt a pang of embarrassment. Alastor would surely mock her for just sitting here.

As if crying would do anything to help anyone.

Charlie rose, sniffling, and wiped her face firmly on her sleeve. She was the Princess of Hell and had to see to her people. "Cherri, Vaggie - please check out the perimeter so we can see any damage to the building proper. I want to be prepared in case anyone comes seeking shelter after Extermination Day."

"Okay, will do," her girlfriend replied, and the demonesses departed.

Charlie looked back to the others. "Angel, Husk- help me with Alastor, please. We've gotta get him back to his room."