𝕋𝕙𝕖 H𝕖𝕝𝕝'𝕤 𝕄𝕚𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕣

Chapter 12. A Rosie Present

There was hardly a sense of when it was day or night in the place of Hell just as there wasn't any sense of how far until it ended. You can be looking out the window and still see the same red pentagram sky as yesterday.

A little imp rose from her slumber having taken a quick nap to rest before having to do another set of daily tasks. It could be since her brain never fully developed that this all felt like some Dungeons and Dragons mock arcade game from the local pizza shop down the street.

The newly purchased radio was found in the dump jumping with morning music along with the morning broadcast. She needed to pursue Gem into adding a television. At least Hell dares to still receive decent seventies and eighties music.

She never did get to bet the local champion score, now coming to think of it, making her jump out of bed and hurriedly change into a different change of clothes.

The current assignments were nothing but mediocre in her mind going from point A to point B. Hell was becoming a bit boring. She took a quick reflection as she skidded in front of her dressing mirror seeing the waves within the reflection blessed by her aunt.

Hearing the usual call of her name from outside, Gem no doubt got whatever snack it was settled on the table outside for her to try. A mutual agreement on trying each other's favorite food from their respectful periods; that way they could know what each other liked and avoid any misconceptions.

Taking a once over in the mirror finding her outfit somewhat of a throwback to when seeing that one space movie only her claws were protected by silver tips and didn't make any familiar buzzing noise or light up. She wondered if there were any movies in hell.

Noticing that her breath had fogged up the mirror Niece used the palm of her hand to wipe it away only to see that it still appeared making her somewhat annoyed and a voice in the back of her mind reminding her to get to her task soon.

In a last attempt at cleaning her mirror, Niece grabbed a rag hanging off her desk table behind her rubbing furiously against the chrome to get rid of the fog only to jump back when she saw two large black voided eyes peer into her from the other side.

"What the!" She gasped holding the rag above her head as if she were ready to hit whatever entity was in her mirror. Looking more closely the voided eyes paired with a smile of large teeth as the entity's face became more apparent as a woman in dapper gray and red clothing.

A hand of slender gray fingers tapped the mirror like it were a lover's face as its smile crested softly and voided eyes slightly hooded to appear more neutral. "Hello darling," she said kindly "Is Gem home?"

"Aunty!" She screamed at the top of her lungs feeling fear rush through her veins in a cold wave even after all she had currently seen in this demonic world. Bursting out her door flying down the stairs.

—

Hands on her hips and lopsided grin Gem glanced at her Niece who was on her bed holding up the blanket like a frightened child was afraid of seeing a monster coming out of their closet.

Shiny hair swaying with the shack of her head peering at the mirror seeing the familiar voided eyes and wide sharp grin of her past friend.

"Sorry for her behavior Rosie" Gem apologized running her hand gracefully up the mirror causing it to ripple and then disappear like a barrier had been lifted. "I have yet to introduce her to my friends."

Niece blanched at this new revelation throwing her blanket to the ground and hopping off the bed waving an accusing clawed finger "You knew this person?" She asked dumbfoundedly, "You could have warned me that your friend would be using my mirror as a gateway!"

Gem rolled her eyes not looking back at her Niece as she held a hand out for Rosie to step through. Admiring how she always wore the same gray and red dress and sunhat and yet she still felt intimidated but that could be since she was at a more vulnerable time when they first met.

—

"It's been a while, my dear" spoke Rosie sitting down on the white silken couch placing her matching parcel on the side and folding her hands properly in her lap.

Gem hummed sitting upright having chosen a simple white silken dress that covered her shoulders by a three-finger width. Wearing her usual white ballet shoes that wrapped up to her knees.

Niece brought tea and treats to the center table glancing only briefly at Rosie. Feeling if she were to have taken a longer look then the lady would probably eat her just from how intimidating sharp her teeth were when smiling.

Watching as the little Imp shily wandered to the neighboring armchair holding her knees to her chest with her tail curled at her feet, monochromic eyes looking anywhere but her. It prompted a giggle "I meant to have dropped this off earlier" Rosie reached into her dress pocket holding out a compact mirror simple in design but was polished that it almost appeared translucent with a light green hue "I've lost track of time but only now did I remember. Sorry, my dear Gem."

Delicately holding the compact mirror examining it like it was a fine china tea cup with delicate painted art. Gem smiled at her two fangs that stuck out on the side of her upper lip causing her bottom lip to pout "You didn't need to spoil. This may come in handy sometimes" Gem said, placing the compact mirror in her dress pocket.

"When was it that you got yourself a little imp?" Rosie gestured to the Niece in question "Figured you refrain from how unsocially you found it"

Gem's eye twitched as if an eyelash had gone to her eye – even rubbing her eye with the palm of her hand seemed to do nothing. "She happens to be my Niece. Supposedly from the other side of the family."

Rosie nodded, voided, eyes closed, smile still ever-present, and hands still poised on her lap. Placing one of her gray hands to her chest in position to speak but stopped when the Niece spoke.

"Do you know the Radio Demon?"

Gem's eyes burnished like a mother scolding her child wordlessly – only for Rosie to laugh at her Niece's interruption "Of course I know him," She answered unbothered, prompting Gem to relax, still holding a warning in her eyes. "He's quite popular across all the seven rings. Why do you wish to meet him?" her questioned bristled Gem.

"Is it suicidal that I wish to?" The Niece dared, timidly fiddling with her clawed hands.

"Then perhaps Gem Dear will introduce you to him," Rosie said casually, paying no mind to how the Mirror demon was figuratively staring daggers at her from across the table "Given how often she encounters him it'd be no trouble to set up a meeting."

Gem dropped her head back "Please don't give her any ideas."

The Niece snickered, "Maybe it's because he likes her!" she declared "You should have seen how he looked at her from when we went to—!" The Niece had found herself locked in a glass cage before even finishing that sentence.

Rosie's grin switched to see Gem crossing her arms with a pointed expression. "I'll be sure to give Alastor a hello for you" She teased walking to one of the full-body mirrors that rested on one of the podiums "Pity I couldn't stay longer. I do miss these assemblies."

Gem rolled her eyes yet couldn't find it to frown at Rosie. "I missed these too" Gem replied, helping Rosie enter the Mirror carefully holding her hand over the chrome ready to cast the seal.

"Oh, my dear Gem!" Rosie abruptly announced, causing the Mirror demon to stay in her hand casting an addled expression. The gray woman peered a bit closer but not enough to exit the mirror, a fully smiling face still present. "The apple is more ripe than it tastes."

The mirror was closed.