The Riddle Of Magic

Chapter 73: The Riddle of Magic

As the Radio Demon let them into his flat, Charlie Morningstar let out a long breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, hoping the knot in her gut would begin to unravel now that she and her partner had their solitude in the wake of the utterly disastrous meeting with the hotel residents. "I think tomorrow we owe Husk a 'thank you' for asking the harder questions earlier. He was right about this all needing to come out into the open," the princess sighed.

For as well as the meeting with their friends had gone, the more public version of that forum had gone far, far worse; and Alastor's grin was a tight and frustrated grimace as he shut the door - restraining himself from slamming it, though it still shut hard enough to make her tense. "If the attitude from tonight regarding this redemption nonsense is an indication of what's to come, I'm rather glad we're not remaining on this ring!" His antlers were still extended, and he focused to reign them in. "I'd not likely be able to hold myself in restraint for these worthless sinners' lack of regard for your knowledge!"

"I'm glad you did tonight, thank you," the blonde demoness murmured, stripping off her pink manager's jacket and letting it drop unceremoniously to the floor. How long would he have to do that, she wondered; and a bitter realization settled over her like a particularly dour blanket. Charlie trudged over to the couch, sitting heavily as she stared off at the painting on the back wall, simultaneously trying to calm herself down as well as pick herself up for how badly her emotions hurt right now. "I... don't know if leaving right away is for the best, Al," she sighed as the deer demon leaned over the back of the couch behind her. "From what the others said-"

"I doubt they were serious," Alastor replied. "Likely just bitter regarding this hotel discontinuing its efforts! You said Husker was right, however I think tonight proves he was incorrect." His maroon eyes narrowed, and anger crept onto his grin as he recalled the fallout from their announcement that the Hazbin Hotel was no longer pursuing redemption. "This should have stayed a secret! This is another measure our enemies will use against us now. The fault on that is mine - I should have foreseen this outcome and pushed against tonight's meeting."

The Princess of Hell whirled back to look up at her partner in full. "Oh, Al, don't blame yourself; I don't think there is anyone to blame! I understand why they're hurt-"

"There was no call for any of their accusations!" the deer demon's eyes flashed scarlet. "To accuse you of lying when so many of them were fully aware of your pain!"

"It's just them grieving!"

"It's them tantruming at not getting their way! They deserve discipline," he sneered through his teeth.

"I don't want to argue anymore tonight, please," the blonde demoness sighed, head hanging as she tried to hold back her tears. She felt Alastor's fingers gently stroking her hair before he wandered off across the room towards the kitchenette.

She'd done so well to not cry as the symposium with their residents had descended into question after question about if she was still potentially wrong about her understanding of Heaven and redemption, and eventually into an interrogation as to how exactly she knew the magic worked as she claimed. After all, she'd never tested it for herself in reality.

Her abduction to the other world and the impact of her alter's attack with Authority had been excused as a bad dream, a proclamation to which half the lights in the lobby had exploded. Vaggie and Vox had largely been the reason the Radio Demon hadn't voided the protestors, body-blocking him from the assembly, though Angel Dust had stepped forward to attempt smoothing over some of the discord.

The spider demon had taken up his public relations role with stunning ease - thanks no doubt to his celebrity experience. But in the end, this was her project, and her responsibility; so the princess remained largely in the focus, continuing to field questions and accusations until the meeting had dissolved once enough demons had stormed out.