"So..Anyone knows what happened up there with Charlie and Sukuna?" Angel asked, unsure.
"I have no idea, but I've never seen Charlie that upset before." Vaggie said, looking at the floor.
"I may have an idea...but let's make sure, shall we?" Alastor said, disappearing into a shadow.
Upstairs in Charlie's room, a fiery argument was in progress.
"So you had all this information, and you decided NOT to tell me? You were lying to me all this time whenever I asked for help?" Charlie asked, tears streaming from her eyes.
"Yes. I lied to you. But it was for your own protection." Sukuna said with measured words.
"MY PROTECTION? The hell you mean for my protection? Do you have any idea how much I could have done, if I knew what I do now?" Charlie rebuked.
"Yes. I know. And I also know exactly WHO you would have pissed off. The Seraphim are not the highest authority in Heaven Charlie. Just like the exorcists aren't the strongest angels they can send down here. You were not prepared." Sukuna said calmly, but there was a hint of concern in his voice. Whether he admitted it or not, he grew to like Charlie over the hundreds of years.
"Then tell me so I can prepare. You can help get ready for what's to come." Charlie pleaded.
"No. You're still too young. Still too naive. You're still not at your full power." Sukuna said sternly.
"Fine then. Don't tell me. I'll figure it out on my own. I'm done with you. Get OUT!" Charlie screamed, trying and falining to hold back her tears. "If you're not willing to help, then I don't need you. So GET OUT OF MY HOTEL!" she yelled, surprising Sukuna.
"Very well. Good luck with the fight. You'll need it for what's coming. For WHO is coming..." he said misteriously, and vanished. As he did, Charlie collapsed on the floor, sobbing. As time passed, she gradually calmed down, taking deeper breaths. And as she looked up, she noticed something. Exactly where Sukuna disappeared, as small black cube box was floating, around waist height. As she crawled closer, the box began to hum with an orange energy. She took it in her hands, examining it, trying to open it, but failed.
"Well just GREAT! One last mystery from that ASSHOLE!" Charlie said, throwing the box at the window. However, just as it was about to hit, the box stopped in mid air, and slowly floated back to her. "FUCKING GREAT!" she yelled in frustration.
"Anything I can help you with?" Alastor appeared, slightly startling her.
"Get out, Alastor. I'm in no mood for your games." Charlie said blankly, crawling into her bed.
"Well...I never expected the Princess of Hell to be such a self loather." he said chuckling.
"Fuck you too. If you really want to help, figure out what that box is." she told him.
"What box?" the demon asked, intrigued.
"This little floating box. Wait. Can't you see it?" Charlie asked, confused more than ever.
"No idea what you're talking about, Princess. Are you perhaps losing your mind?" he asked in a jovial tone.
"No I'm not. Sukuna left it here." she murmured. "Anyways, we need to get ready for the battle against the angels, who can only be killed by Sukuna. And I just sent him away. Great." she said in a defeated tone.
"~I know something you don't know..~" Alastor said melodiously.
"Fuck off with that. Either tell me or don't, I don't have time for that now." Charlie said, her patience running out.
"Let's make a deal, then." Alastor offered.
"You want my soul? I don't even know what you're offering." she said.
"I'm offering a way for you merry band to stand a chance against the angels. And no, I don't want your soul. Just a favor." Alastor said with a wide smile.
"I won't hurt anyone for you." Charlie said, resolute.
"Who was asking? Just a favor at the time of my choosing, where you hurt noone. Deal?" Alastor's smile widened and he offered his hand.
"Is your information trustworthy?" Charlie asked.
"I wouldn't have offered if it wasn't." he said confidently.
"Fine. Deal." as she shook his hand, a green energy enveloped the Hotel.
Downstairs in the hall everyone got startled, and started making their was towards Charlie's room, with Vaggie in front.
"Charlie! What happened?!" they burst into the room, seeing Alastor and Charlie in a handshake.
"NO!" Vaggie screamed, weapon in hand, making her way towards Alastor. "What have YOU DONE?!" she asked, furious.
"Vaggie that's enough." Charlie said calmly, working through all the information she just got from the Radio Demon. As she processed a particular piece of information about her girlfriend, her eyes widened. "Wait..no...you? You are one of THEM?" she asked, not wanting to believe. Vaggie, startled by Charlie's reaction, just looked at her, scared. She never imagined her secret would get out like this.
"Charlie...I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you. I really did..But.." she tried to explain, but Charlie wasn't listening.
"Everyone has betrayed me..." she whispered. Charlie's mind sank into despair. She couldn't see properly, the room was spinning, and darkness was encroaching on her vision.
"H' ah na'ah'ehye!(He is free!)" she said in a deep and guttural voice, her eyes fully black. She lost consciousness, and collapsed on the floor. Everyone, startled by this, ran to her side, and when they realized she couldn't be woken up, they put her on her bed, Vaggie sitting by her side.
"It's done." a deep voice said.
"How lost is she?" a female voice asked.
"Sinking deeper into despair as we speak. If Alastor did what I think he did, then she won't wake up any time soon. Now, it's time you let me go of my deal." Sukuna said, as he stepped closer to the woman sitting on a reclining beach chair. "Lilith."
"And why would I do that? You're an incredibly useful tool." she asked, amusement in her voice.
"I can force you to do so if you're not willing..." Sukuna's voice trailed off.
"No need." she looked up, and joined her hands. "Hup hai llll, ymg' ah na'ah'ehye.(From now on, you are free.)" she said in a distorted voice, as a purple chain appeared around Sukuna's whole body, then one by one, the chain rings started to shatter. It took a couple minutes until all the rings were gone, while Lilith held her praying-like pose. "There. Now get out of here."
"With pleasure.." Sukuna grinned, as he sent a subtle scratch towards one of the chair's legs, and then disappeared.
"Haaah. This is the life." Lilith said relieved, but suddenly a chair leg broke and she tumbled backwards. "You petty FUCK!" she screamed, spilling her lemonade on herself.