Chapter 14: Oh Good Grief!

In the evening...

"Oh wow it looks so much better now!" Squealed Mimzy as she gave herself a quick twirl in the mirror. The gown she now wore was a simple black dress with a slit on the side. It was very beautiful and you would never have known that it was torn and stained in several places before Rosie worked on it. "Well I do try!" The doll demoness responded. All the while, the women conversed as Alastor was deep in thought. He paced the parlor back and forth like he was contemplating a life and death situation. His brows were deeply furrowed and his smile was a little strained, like it was caught between being a grimace and a sneer, but still present. However you could definitely tell something was amiss with the deer, even if you didn't know him. His aura was glowing red with ancient runes surrounding him, his arms were clenched tight behind his back, and his hair tufts were laying flat against his head in irritation.

He grumbled and cursed under his breath, causing the ladies to acknowledge his strange behavior. They'd hardly ever seen Alastor in such a strange mood. Few demons got under his skin so it was a bit worrisome to see him like this. "Um...Alastor dear is everything alright?" Rosie asked. Mimzy then pitched, in hoping a different topic would break Al's strange discordant silent ramblings. "Al sweetie! How do ya like the dress? Ain't it the bee's knees?" She asked showing off the gown. Al's tufts perked up and his expression appeared shocked. He snapped his head toward the two's direction, giving the smaller woman a dark threatening look that made her gulp in fear. "My apologies dear I was a tad distracted by a most detrimental dilemma, in which my entire being is at stake. But no it's a fine dress it is clearly infinately more inimical at the moment, the center of the whole fucking universe!" He animatedly gestured as he released his frustrations out on the shorter woman. "Alright what's the problem Alastor?" Rosie asked nonchalantly while Mimzy hid behind her. It wasn't common but, the older demoness has dealt with her friend's tantrums before. It was more annoying than it was dangerous to her.

Alastor grunted as he held his head trying to think straight. "That...THAT LITTLE..." his voice was starting to take on a more demonic tone as he tried to explain his situation. "Was it Vox again?" Rosie asked. "Ha!- No not even Vox is worth the amount of trouble I'm dealing with, dear." Alastor scoffed. "I think it has to do with his new lady friend." Mimzy said from behind the taller demoness. "She is not...I mean maybe...*growl* what the hell is wrong with me?" his growling was accompanied by garbled static as he put his face in his palms. Rosie tilted her head in confusion. "What lady friend?" She questioned. "He was having tea with some blue deer dame at the café when we met up." Mimzy explained.

The older woman's hollow socket-eyes widened at the description. "Deer dame? Did she look like him but sadder?" She queried.

"How did you know that?" Asked Mimzy.

"Sounds like Allison. She's one of my best customers!" Rosie revealed. "As you know I preside over all the dress and fabric shops in Hell, she frequents them quite often for her business. I've met her a few times for a few soirees of my own, she was the one responsible for planning my Bloodshed Ball!" She explained happily.

"I remember that! It was the most exciting evening I'd ev'a had! The blood fountain, the amazing food! And she planned all that?" Mimzy mused.

"Oh most of those requirements were my idea but she added the special touches to really bring the vision to life!" Rosie said.

Alastor stared with deepened brows, he was very bothered by being ignored. "Yes, yes that's all quite riveting but can we please get back on topic? This is about my plight!"Alastor exclaimed earning an unamused stare from Rosie, and a confused glance from Mimzy.

"Of course Alastor. So she's got you all in a tizzy. Is there any particular reason why?" Rosie asked. "Do you think I'd be here pulling my antlers out if I knew that! It's as if my common sense escapes me whenever I'm around her, even if it were only for a moment! I've been trying to foil her pathetic attempts at coordinating that party, but she somehow... distracts me! Like some kind of wicked temptress!" He growls. Alastor then looks up when he feels eyes on him. Not only were the two ladies looking at him with smug knowing grins, but a few patrons of Rosie's parlor were watching with mixed emotions ranging from interest to heartbreak. "You're obviously in love with her." One of them said. Alastor immediately summoned a tentacle to coil around the customer, prompting all the others to scatter away into hiding. "Don't kill any of my customers Alastor." Rosie said. He obediently put the fearful demon down and moped. "But he does have a point dear, it sounds a lot like you're very found of the girl." The older demoness said as she walked over to some fabrics.

"Ha! I very much doubt it." Alastor responded. "Ya sure Al? I was sure she put some kinda spell on ya but now..." Mimzy was then cut off by Alastor grabbing her upper arms surprising her, his smile looking a bit more manic than usual. "That has to be the only explanation. Yes! She's cast some sort of unholy enchantment on me!" He deduced. "Alastor, if that were the case wouldn't you be aware of your symptoms? Normally when one is under an influence of the mystical sort they hardly notice that they've been affected." Rosie explained as she pulled the roll of fabric, until she had the amount she needed. Alastor silently looked down in defeat.

"Alastor you at the least have an infatuation with her, and that's quite alright." She continued. She then manifested a pair of sheers and began cutting the silky sheet in a straight line. "I thought that too but lately I find myself unable to escape even the slightest thought of her! That's why I have to thwart her foolish coordinating tasks, so I can be done with her and move on with my afterlife!" Alastor ranted.

Rosie turned to him with a raised brow holding her sheet of deep blue cloth. "Oh? And what will you hope to accomplish then? You think you'll just forget about her by some miracle of Lucifer himself? Just talk to her. At the least you'll find out some dire trifle with her character, that will disinterest you." Rosie suggested as she draped the newly cut fabric onto a crudely sewn up headless, armless, and legless, demon mannequin made from several parts of past victims. It was made up of several patches of different skins all sewn and stapled together, into a selfmade art tool for making dresses.

"I've tried that however the more I learn about her the more I enjoy her company. Nearly everything she does delights me rather than repulses me. I wish she would do something to repel my interests." Alastor said.

"Why don't you try staying away from her if it bothers you so much? Focus more on whatev'a ya trying to do to mess up her planning." Mimzy suggested.

"I tried that too. But I somehow ended up meeting with her by chance! Despite being vast, Hell can be a small world." He sighed.

"Well can't say there's anything you can do, unless you kill her." Mimzy said but this earned her a deep groanful sigh from the red radio host, his form slumped like a lumbering willow as he covered his face in knowing shame. Mimzy's eyes widened in shock at the reaction, which brought her to an unreal mental conclusion. "Oh my God you can't do it, can you?" She queried. You could just hear the internal deer screaming emmiting from the man as he sunk lower until he was slumped onto the couch.

"Oh quit your griping dear. The phase will pass and even if it doesn't Allison is [in my opinion] an excellent choice for a suitress. She's sweet and docile and she has such exquisite taste for interior design." Rosie commented.

Alastor on the other hand was still conflicted. Though all those things were true about the doe, he couldn't help but deny even the slightest notion of considering her for a romantic partner or anything at all. So far the only thing he was willing to except her as at this point was a rival. He was more interested in bringing her down than being with her, so he'd have to push those other feelings away even further than he tried to before.

All the while Rosie continued working on the new fabric she'd cut sticking pins into the various spots and cutting away any extra pieces. "She honestly shouldn't even be down here." She added, prompting Alastor to look her way curiously. "Because she was sacrificed?" He asked.

"Oh so she told you about that. Yes some demons in Hell were marked to be here because they were an offering to one of our princes and Allison happens to be one of them." She says with pity.

Alastor did indeed understand the weight of a sacrifice, considering he'd made quite a great many during his life but those souls were killed in the name of vengeance to defend the weak and frail, which made him who was now. But what price was worth sacrificing an innocent for? He wondered. "Yes she told me she was a sacrifice to Lucifer." He said.

"Hm...that's what she told me as well perhap our esteemed king knows something that he's willing to share." Rosie suggested. Alastor thought about it and realized...Yes Magne just might have the dirt he needs to rid himself of these insolent emotions once and for all. Surly then he could destroy the blue dame with a clean almost nonexistent conscience and finally be free from any trace of his accursed infatuation with the doe.

"Very well Rosie I shall consult with my dear friend. I'm sure he'll be an excellent help!" He said sounding more like his chipper self again, even his static tune came back to life. Mimzy pouted with crossed arms. She was weary of Allison at first but now that she's heard enough of the story from both Rosie and Al, she couldn't deny that the girl sounded nice. However Alastor's stubbornness to accept his feelings was becoming a bother to her. She cared a lot about Al but despite being a charmer, he was about as genuinely romantic as a brick wall.

He could woo any gal with all the amenities of a suave, silver-tongued gentleman when he was trying to weed out information or lure a victim. But when real feelings were involved he was a mess as far as she herself knew. Mimzy didn't want this poor dame to suffer just because Al was being too thick-headed to show some tact. From what she's heard so far she didn't deserve it. "I dunno Al, she don't sound like too bad a gal. Why doncha' give it a chance." She said as she watched the deer head for the exit.

"Never! I'll see her drown in failure before all else! Drown in it I say!" He yelled back almost maniacally before pushing the doors open and walking out.

"I don't gotta good feeling about this, Rosie." Mimzy said. The seamstress demoness just kept smiling as she cut the last unneeded piece from her newest creation. "Oh I don't either but trust me, all the pieces will come together in due time." She assured ominously before taking the fabric off the mannequin so she could sew it together, with a few simple touches.

...

Alastor strode through the streets of the Cannibal Column briskly, smiling to himself in joy at his new revelation, while his female admirers gossiped sadly about his potential 'love' for some blue doe. Why didn't he think of it before? For God's sake Allison was basically feeding him all the amo he needed and he hadn't thought once to use it, if the incident with those brutes was enough of an indication. Of course Lucifer would have all the answers he needed. With a little friendly prodding he'd have all the information he'd require to have this woman out of his life for good.

However the nagging voice in his head took the form of his shadow and started pestering him, with whispery-like scolding that only Alastor could understand.

"Don't have a cow man I have it under control." This response was rewarded with the shadow wisping in front of the deer with a hand on its hip, as it waved a finger at him disapprovingly scolding him again.

"Yes...no...I- listen it's the best thing for both of us alright? Vagatha said it herself, Allison will be gone once her job is done. This'll make her departure far easier. Besides I'm sure she's just as eager to have me out of her hair, as I am to have her out of mine." He said exasperated by the argument.

This made the shadow furrow its expression to appear worried. Alastor brushed pass his darker self and continued on down the path. He had to put a stop to all of this even if he...did actually have romantic feelings for Allison, all the more reason to right? He Considered himself unable to fully commit to such feelings anyway. Alastor wasn't the type to put others above himself. How could he ever hope to make anyone happy with the way he was. It just wasn't in his nature and as far as he could help it, it never would be. His shadow disappeared leaving the previously chipper deer alone, with the rose-- still in his breast pocket-- to caress thoughtfully and a gut-wrenching churning in his stomach that made his heart ache, as he headed to the Magne palace to get his answers.

...

Back at the Hotel Briskette paced around in worry, while Vaggie sat with Charlie in the lounge. The cat was still fretting over her friend who was in her room at the moment. After tell her and Vaggie everything that had happened after Devon's shop, the poor thing cried her eyes out to the point of exhaustion. Ever since Brisk has been letting the doe rest, but it didn't mean she was any less afraid for her well-being. How would Allison fair after such a troubling day? Not to mention she was with Alastor. Who knows what that voodoo troublemaker did or said to upset her, even though Allison never said anything about Alastor being cruel or malicious during their time together. In fact she hadn't really said much about her time with the deer other than how he took her out for tea and helped her forget about what happened for some time, until Briskette and Vaggie came along.

Charlie watched the restless lady chimeress with concern, she hadn't seen Allison yet and Vaggie hadn't yet told her what was going on. She was patient enough at first, but after an hour of watching Brisk walk back and forth Charlie started getting antsy, however she was afraid to pry.

Now she just had to know what happened. The suspense was killing her. "Um...did something happen while you guys were out? Where's Allison, is she alright?" She question gently. Vaggie looks up from her own thoughts and places a reassuring hand on her girlfriend's. "She's fine hon she's just...a little upset." She answered. "Why? W-what happened?" Charlie asked again. "Well...she...it's complicated." Vaggie tried to think of the best way to summarize the story. "Let's just say Allison had to do something that she just isn't too happy about right now." She said. "So she had to...kill someone." This guess wasn't formed as a question. Charlie had a feeling something bad must've happened to cause so much silence. Brisk looked up suddenly then quickly walked over, making a pleading gesture with her paws. "She didn't mean to Princess, she was defending herself. Please don't be upset." She begged. Charlie however held up her hands defensively. "It's okay Brisk I get it! It's dangerous out there, so long as no one got killed here in the hotel." She assured.

"Really? Oh thank goodness." Brisk sigh in relief. "Sorry for worrying you. I wasn't sure how you'd feel about the incident. Allison only gets like that when she's defending herself, normally she wouldn't hurt a fly." She explained. Charlie nodded then looked upward toward the upper floors, beyond the ceiling. "Is she gonna be okay? She's been upstairs for hours." The princess asked. "She will be it'll just take a while before she's in better spirits." Brisk said wearing her own worried face.

She expected it would be about several days at the most before Allison would be back to her old self. At the least she'd be okay by tomorrow, but that would only be for the sake of finishing up their planning. "Well whatever time she needs she can use it." Charlie said. "Princess are you sure? The party..." This time Vaggie spoke. "Charlie's right. The most important thing now is that we all stay safe during these last days of the cycle. Let her take all the time she needs." The moth insisted.

The chimeress was stunned but that expression soon turned into a gracious smile. "Thank you both. I hope this will all blow over soon. I wouldn't want anything to be delayed, but I agree. Besides we've got most of the planning done I just want Allison to get better." Brisk thanked relieved that her friend was going to be given the time she needed to overcome her sadness.

...

Meanwhile upstairs Angel Dust was crouched in front of Allison's hotel room door, with a glass cup pressed against it. He had his head on the bottom end, trying to listen in on the muffled moaning sounds coming from inside.

After coming out of his room earlier He noticed Allison's strange gate as she basically power walked to her room, like she was drugged up or something. Of course he got nosey and tried to listen in on what she doing. What he didn't expect was to hear her masterbating. He couldn't really tell if they were sexual or not at first but what he could recognize other than that were the sounds of slashing and cutting. Only then did the moaning sound more sexual.

'Jesus she's in'ta that masochistic shit? She seemed like such a prude.' He thought. However he now got his answer to what the broad was into and who she was into. He heard Alastor's name as the doe orgasmed which caused him to snicker silently to himself. 'Yes! This bet is mine for da win, baby!' He thought with glee.

Inside Allison fell onto her bed exhausted and ridden with shame in herself, crying her eyes out into her pillow. She had allowed herself to fall in love with the most powerful overlord in Hell. What was she thinking? Nothing about this was right. She had to finish planning this damn party before she lost her sanity, if she hasn't already. "How could I let this happen?" She scolded herself. "I'm suppose to stay professional. I can't have feelings for a client." She whispered lowly through her quiet sobs. "*hic* what do I do? *gasp*! If he ever finds out he'll kill me for certain!" She realized before shooting up to her knees on the bed clasping both hands around her aghast mouth. She then got up and started pacing back and forth across the floor frantically, holding her head in a full blown panic.

Forget her career her afterlife was surely at stake now. Allison wasn't sure how Alastor felt about the concept of love but with his power and sadistic nature, it was safe to assume that he detested the very notion of it. The man might even be immune to such feelings and Allison figured if he caught wind of her affections it was all over for her or at the least he'd leave her with a few disfunctional limbs and a missing organ.

She could imagine how cruelly the monstrous deer would react. He'd strike fast enough to put her in shock, then he'd instantly devour her, until nothing was left. It wouldn't be sensual and slow like how she fantasized, it'd be brutal, quick and painfully slow all at the same time. Allison shuddered but not in pleasure, in fear. She couldn't tell anyone especially not any of Alastor's colleagues. They'd tell him immediately and then everything would be over for her.

She had to get over this now and the only way for Allison to do that was by distracting herself with anything else. "The celebration." She said under her breath. She needed to focus on her work. The sooner she finished it the sooner she and Briskette could leave and never have to come back.

She took a deep breath calming herself tremendously, then smoothed out her wrinkled skirt. She rushed over to her boudoir and used some tissue to wipe away her running mascara, then powdered her nose, before straightening her hair up.

Allison put away her knife that she used to pleasure herself, then locked the drawer tight. She took a long serious look in the mirror and told herself calmly. "You can get through this Allison, just focus on the celebration and whatever you do don't panic." She said then straightened her necktie ribbon and headed for the door.

...

Upon hearing the approaching footsteps, Angel got up from the door and bolted toward the nearest wall, across the hall. He plastered his body up against it, then camouflaged into the wallpaper, disappearing from view. Just then Allison stepped out of the room, closing and locking the door. She then looked around for any sign that she wasn't alone. It appeared she was indeed the only one in the hall, though she sensed Angel Dust's presence.

However he lived on the same floor as her maybe she was just picking up on him because he was in his room, perhaps. Allison hummed in thought then turned away from her room and stopped to study the glass cup in front of it. She looked around again fearing, that someone might've been listening in on her. The doe gulped at the thought but didn't let it stop her new resolve. So she snapped away the glass and walk down the hall and onto the elevator.

It was only when he heard the doors close that Angel became visible again and stepped back out into the hall. He then burst into laughter, giddy at everything he'd learned. He was right about Allison being interested in Alastor, now there was just the matter of if Alastor was at all interested in the same way.

...

Allison made it downstairs hoping that the girls were willing to finish planning for the celebration. She came upon them in the lobby as Charlie lead the Briskette to the kitchen. "Come on Brisk let's go start on dinner. Everyone must be getting hungry by now." She said. "I-I'll h-help." Said Allison's small but well-heard voice from near the lobby entrance. The three ladies looked back and saw the blue doe standing near the bar looking like her normally downer self. Brisk ran over to the doe and hugged her tight. "Are you alright now sweety?" She asked in her usual motherly tone. "Y-yes I'm a-alright Briskette." Allison responded trying her best to sound convincing. Brisk looked at the demoness' face from side to side making sure she was being honest. She couldn't detect any falsehood, so she accepted the answer. "Well okay then." She stepped back to give the doe some space letting her walk over to Charlie and Vaggie. "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused please-..." She was then cut off by Charlie.

"You didn't cause any trouble at all Allison. It's fine." She assured. "We can also postpone the preparations for the celebration till after the cycle, so that everyone is safe during it." The princess concluded. Allison's eyes widened and her face paled. Postpone? No! She had to finish planning the party, she needed to or else that demon would be the only thing on her mind. "A-are you sure? I-I wouldn't want you to have to put anything back b-because of m-me." She tried.

Vaggie then spoke up. "It's okay Allison, nothing is getting put back by this. I'm pretty sure no one will be here if things get any worse than they were today." She said and she was right. Allison was so close to being raped and torn apart, where as other denizens weren't as lucky. There were demons that died during sex or were killed for sex. If that's the extent of how bad things were today, then how much worse could it get? Honestly the doe didn't even want to imagine it. It wouldn't be ethical for them to risk the problematic nature of the Lustlorne Cycle while preparing for a celebration, especially since the rest of the decorating would be done outside of the Hotel.

She sighed at the truth behind the moth's words, then spoke. "W-well if that is w-what you both want." She meekly agreed, her hands fidgeting slightly against her lap. "Don't worry Allison we'll get back to it when the cycle ends. It won't be too much. Besides we could use this as a chance to take a break!" Charlie exclaimed.

Allison gave a small smile. The girl had such a pleasant energy, it made her lighten a little. "Okay then." She agreed. "Perhaps I could help with dinner then? I can cook." She offered.

Charlie beamed and excitedly nodded. "Sure! Vaggie and I were gonna help Brisk too-..." She was then gently inturpted by the moth Latina. "Actually hon, Allison and I can cook tonight, why don't you and Brisk just go let everyone know, it'll be about an hour before it's ready." She insisted. "Oh! Alright that's okay!" The royal responded. "Is that alright with you Brisk?" The chimeress was confused. She didn't want to leave Allison's side but maybe it was best that her blue friend be around someone, who wasn't going to dote on her constantly. She nodded to the blonde before turning to the doe. "I'll see you in a bit, yeah?" She said earning a polite nod from the taller demoness, before she walked off with Charlie.

She looked back one last time, as Vaggie and Allison made their way toward the kitchen. Her blueberry looked so tired and upset, she hoped she was really okay after everything. She may have seemed like she was now but Briskette felt that something much worse must've been plaguing the deer demoness and all she wanted to do was shield her from those dark thoughts.

To Be Continued...