I push through the front doors with the same enthusiasm I reserve for waking up. Blood still drying. Coat heavier by one corpse named Prick. The lobby hits me like a flashbang made of smiles.
The place is packed.
I stop walking.
Dozens of women. Maybe more. All shapes, all wrong in their own special ways. They are alive enough to clap. They do.
That is new.
I leave for one job and come back to a parade. I hate parades.
A few of them recognize me instantly. Eyes widen. Someone gasps like they just met a celebrity instead of a guy who snaps necks for cardio.
Prostitue: It's him!
Whore: You're totally right, it's him!
Courtesan: Thank you, handsome!
I scratch my beard.
Y/N: What?
They cheer louder.
Great.
A blur of red and sunshine barrels toward me.
Charlie appears, beaming so hard it should be illegal. Arms open. She goes for a hug like this is a musical number.
I sidestep.
She almost faceplants.
Charlie: Oh. Wow. You are fast.
Y/N: You are loud.
She laughs like nothing bad has ever happened to her, which means she is either lying or dangerous.
Charlie: Welcome back. Oh my gosh, you have no idea how excited I am!
Y/N: I have a pretty good idea.
She gestures wildly to the crowd.
Charlie: All these people are here because of you. After you rescued them, they wanted to redeem themselves. I have never had this many guests before. Never. It is amazing.
Redeem. That word crawls on my skin.
Y/N: I didn't rescue anyone.
Charlie: You totally did.
Y/N: I killed people.
Charlie: Sometimes that is step one.
I stare at her.
She smiles harder.
From the shadows near the bar, a presence unfolds like a bad radio signal given teeth.
Alastor steps forward, grin sharp, eyes old. He claps slowly. Each clap echoes too much.
Alastor: Ah, my dear Harbinger of Death. Denial does not suit you, but it is charming. I witnessed it with my own eyes. Chains shattered. Desperation turned into hope. Quite the spectacle.
Y/N: You enjoy spectacles.
Alastor: Immensely.
He leans closer, voice smooth and wrong.
Alastor: Tell me. Did you take care of Prick?
Y/N: With extreme prejudice.
Alastor: Music to my ears.
The guests start murmuring. Some nod. Some look relieved. One looks like she might cry.
Charlie: See? You helped them. You helped all of them.
YOU ARE READING
Madness: DxD
FantasyWe are taught that strength is what keeps us alive. So he became strong. Strong enough to endure the battlefield. Strong enough to command men into hell and lead them back out. Strong enough to win a war that should have destroyed him. They called h...
