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
FanfictionEvery time I close my eyes, I see a flash of the past. Sometimes, I see the battlefield with bodies at every step, and smoke from artillery fire everywhere you looked. Sometimes I see friends, Odin, Michael, and even Azazel. But most of the time, I...
