Between Shadows and Flames

4

Alastor awoke to the sound of fear-filled screams echoing through the Hazbin Hotel. His heart raced as he realized they were coming from the bedroom he shared with his demon belle, Charlie. Jumping out of bed, he rushed to her side, finding her thrashing and calling out for him in the grips of a nightmare. "Charlie, Charlie, wake up," Alastor whispered gently, shaking her shoulder. She shot up in bed, tears streaming down her face as she gasped for breath. "What... what happened?" Alastor asked, concern lacing his words. Charlie clung to him, burying her face in his chest as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"I-I was back at V Tower," Charlie managed to choke out between sobs. Alastor's blood ran cold at the mention of the hellish place where she had been kidnapped months ago.
"They...they were torturing me, Alastor. And Vox...he...he..." Charlie's voice trailed off, unable to continue. Alastor's grip tightened around her, a surge of primal rage building inside him. "Shhh, love, you're safe now. It was just a nightmare," Alastor murmured, running a hand through Charlie's hair soothingly. He hated seeing her like this, haunted by the demons of her past. "I'm here, Charlie. I will always protect you," Alastor vowed, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Charlie clung to him, finding solace in his presence as she slowly calmed down. As the tears subsided, Charlie looked up at Alastor with tear-filled eyes. "Why...why are they doing this to me, Alastor? What have I done to deserve this?" Alastor's heart ached at her words, knowing the pain she had endured at the hands of the Vees. Especially Vox. "You've done nothing wrong, my dear. You are a light in this dark world, and they can't stand the goodness within you." Pulling Charlie into his lap, Alastor held her close, whispering words of comfort and reassurance in her ear. "I love you, Charlie. And no matter what nightmares may come, I will always be here to chase them away." Charlie melted into his embrace, feeling safe and loved in his arms. She knew that with Alastor by her side, she could face anything, even the demons that haunted her dreams. And as she drifted back to sleep, Alastor stayed by her side, watching over her with unwavering devotion, ready to protect her from any danger that may come their way.

😈 the next morning 😇

Charlie slowly stirred to Hell's suns first rays filtering through the window, snuggling into the covers before reaching out a hand to her husband's side of the bed finding it cold and empty, causing her to shoot up in the bed as panic and fear seized her. Quickly getting out of the bed she ran to the bedroom door and swung it open and race down the hallway and down the stairs of the hotel, rounding a corner, not paying attention to where she's going and slams into a firm chest, stumbling backwards before a pair of familiar, strong arms wrap around her waist to steady her before one hand gently lifts her chin up for her wild, fear stricken topaz eyes to meet calm, yet slightly amused crimson. "What's the rush, Charlie?" he asked, lifting her chin with his hand. "I woke up alone and couldn't find you," she replied, her voice tinged with worry. He leaned in, placing a gentle kiss on her lips. "I was just preparing breakfast before coming back to wake you. I thought we could take a morning stroll around the Pride Ring of Pentagram City." Charlie readily agreed a smile on her face. As the sun began to rise over the Pride Ring of Pentagram City, Charlie and Alastor walked arm in arm, enjoying the beauty of the morning. The streets were quiet, the only sound being the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. They strolled along, admiring the colorful buildings and bustling shops, when suddenly, the princess stopped in her tracks. Her stag, Alastor, looked down at her, concern in his eyes. "Is something wrong, my dear?" he asked, following her gaze to a stunning shimmering red gown displayed in a shop window. It had a black floral design on the bodice, cascading down to the hips and split on the right side. It was breathtaking. Charlie hesitated, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of the beautiful dress. "It's... it's probably too expensive," she said softly. "Nonsense," Alastor declared, determination in his voice. "You deserve to have anything you desire, my dear." And with that, he led her into the shop, determined to see her in that gown. As Charlie tried on the dress, she couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt for the extravagant gift. But when she stepped out of the dressing room, Alastor was speechless. "You are positively stunning," he said, his eyes filled with admiration. He insisted on buying the gown for her, and after some hesitation, Charlie relented. She knew how much joy it brought him to see her happy, and in that moment, she couldn't resist his charm. The couple then made their way back to the hotel to start the day.