to hell and back.

I stare at myself in the mirror, admiring how smooth my body's curves look in the burgundy cocktail dress. It is made of a silky, sleek material that gives me an air of power and superiority, making my dull eyes pop. My long hair cascades over my shoulders, straight and brown and soft. I collect my old clothes into a bunch, slide on the black sandals I chose, and walk out of the dressing room.

My heels click on the floor as I strut out and make my way back to the hotel. I need to find Angel and talk to him about what happened with Alastor.

As I enter the hotel, I'm greeted with the familiar, grandiose room. I look up briefly at the pink chandelier hanging from the ceiling before glancing around for Angel. I see him leaning on the bar top counter, conversing with Husk, a neon green drink swirling in his hand.

I make my way over to them. When Angel sees me, a (proud?) smile spreads across his cheeks and his eyes narrow in that way that they always do.

"Well. Look who it is. You're welcome, by the way," he says, taking a long sip of his green cocktail. A gun is resting in another one of his hands.

"Thanks," I say.

"So, tell me about it," he says, his face full of nothing but smugness. "Did he teleport to you?"

I smirk, tilting my head to the side slightly. In the direction of my office. "Yes, and I think I'm going to meet up with him again later today. You know, no biggie."

"Really?" he asks, actually confused. "Why?"

"Because we have things that we need to talk about. I'll tell you later. I can't have anyone... listening," I say before crossing my arms over my chest, giving Husk a friendly nod, and continuing to my office.

Sitting cross-legged in my white leather chair, I listen to the unnerving silence, staring at the fish tank that sits silently only meters away. I wonder if I'm supposed to feed those fish. Charlie never told me. Plus, I don't see any fish food around. Maybe they eat demon meat or something.

The office is quiet when I'm alone, but unlike the way that the lake is quiet. The lake is peaceful and safe. This office is upsetting and depressing and now reminds me of Alastor's obnoxious look when he bounced back from a bullet to the head.

My eyelids begin to droop closed and my tired head starts to swirl on my shoulders. Too many things happened today. Seeing my office for the first time, going to the bar with Charlie and Vaggie, getting drunk, talking to Angel, making a "deal" with Alastor. Too much. Too many things happening in my life. Or, rather, my unlife. If that even makes sense.

My head sags further and further down until it lands on the desk with a loud bang.

I dream about Vaggie.

ᯬ

The noise is piercing my eardrums, little needles stabbing at the center of my brain. My face flushes with irritation as I pull myself upright and search, disorientated, for the source of the noise. Then I see my phone, buzzing on the glass table. I grasp it and hold it in front of my face, blinking the blurriness away from my view.

It's an unknown number. I answer it.

"Hello?" I ask groggily.

"She's coming to your office now. Ask her how her relationship is with Charlie. Ask how close they are. Make sure to get details. Meet me by the lake at 9. Don't be late, and don't do anything that you will regret."

"What? I'm sorry, who is this?"

The phone beeps. I have been hung up on.

My mind begins to race. Who was that on the phone, with the scratchy, secretive tone? It must have been Alastor. Who else would want me to report information about someone to him? After all, I had just made a "deal" with him. He must be eager to use me however he can. But, in other matters, who's coming to my office? As I'm deep in my train of thought, there is a knock on the door.