Why yes, I'll take your soul

"You... want my soul?" Charlie asked softly.

"Your soul?" Alastor blinked, surprised. He wasn’t even certain she had a soul, technically being a Hellborn and all. ‘If that’s where her mind goes,’ he mused, ‘then it should be positively trivial to extract a favor from her. Though... she looks like she is considering it. Perhaps I could…’

But even Charlie wouldn’t give her soul away for undisclosed information that ‘might’ give her a fighting chance. He’d need to up the ante.

New goal in mind, Alastor pressed the attack. “Your soul to save every sinner at our hotel. Seems a fair price to me."

Charlie gulped and her eyes flicked down to her feet.

"I won’t give you my eternal soul for a favor. Like you said, this is our hotel. We’re in this together and we’re going to save everyone together! And not just sinners, Vaggie too, and me, for that matter!"

‘Of course she won’t hand over her eternal soul just like that. Still, I don’t need to hold her soul forever. Just long enough to secure myself.’

“I thought you would do anything." Alastor said in a lilting tone.

Charlie opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Alastor cut her off.

"Hmm. Fair enough," he said with a shrug of his shoulders. "I’ll own your soul for as long as I continue to work at this hotel, and you can’t dismiss me. In exchange, I'll tell you what I know, and do my utmost to protect the residents of our hotel. Sound fair?”

Charlie took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. ‘It is almost adorable how she’s trying to look in charge.’ "I won’t hurt anyone for you, a-and you have to earnestly support this hotel and our goal of redeeming sinners.”

‘There's a lot of wiggle room in what is “Earnest support.”’

"Acceptable. I’ll own your soul for the duration of my employment at this hotel, during which I will earnestly support your little project of redeeming sinners and safeguard the residents of our hotel to the best of my abilities. I can't compel you to harm anyone or act against the hotel’s interests. Do we have a deal?” Alastor asked, offering a hand crackling with green energy.

Charlie extended her hand, but hesitated before including, "And that means you have to join us for group activities."

His smile grew strained, lips pulled tight as his jaw clenched behind the mask of civility. Group activities. Of all the ridiculous stipulations she could have tacked on. He loathed those silly little gatherings, but he had to admit, he couldn't hope for a better deal. He’d muscle through the indignity.

“Fine.” He said, voice taut, eyes narrowing. “But, I'm a busy man and my patience is finite. I'll make an effort to attend those quaint little meetings when possible.”

Charlie gave a shaky smile and reached forward. “Deal.” She grabbed his hand and the crackling green energy enveloped the room.

"Well! That wasn’t so hard, was it?" he said, voice lilting.

Across from him, Charlie was doing a poor job of hiding her nerves. He noted the way she fidgeted, the tremor in her breath. "You said you’d tell me what you know," she reminded him, forcing her tone steady.

Alastor gave an exaggerated nod, eyes gleaming. "Indeed I did. Let’s begin with something... actionable."

He leaned in close. "Camilla Carmine knows how to kill an Exorcist." His voice dripped with faux aww. "She took one down during the last extermination. Quite the resourceful woman, really. If we want our little rebellion to stand a chance... I’d suggest a conversation."

Charlie’s eyes widened. "Camilla? I thought— I mean— no one’s ever—"

There was a crash as the door slammed open. Vaggie stormed in, spear raised.

Alastor’s grin sharpened. “Right on cue.”

“What did you do? Let her go!”

Vaggie faltered mid-step, her spear lowering slightly.

“No, Charlie, please tell me you didn’t—”

He could see it all play out on Charlie’s face. The way her throat worked uselessly, the tight line of her shoulders, the shame blooming behind her eyes.

“I... I sold my soul.”

Alastor’s smile froze for the briefest instant. A flicker no mortal would have caught. ‘Foolish girl’.

He had intended to keep that particular detail... quiet. There was no need for Vaggie, or anyone else, to know. The fewer who understood the full terms of the arrangement the better.

But now the words were out, and the little angel’s reaction was everything he might have expected. She reeled as if struck, shoulders trembling under the weight of realization. Her mouth opened, shut, opened again, grief swimming in her eyes only to be scorched away by the flashfire of rage.

‘Very well’, he thought coolly. ‘Adjust the game plan’.

“And it is quite safe in my keeping,” he said lightly, voice smooth as honey..

Charlie pressed forward quickly, desperate to steer the conversation. “He gave me information that can save the hotel. But we’re going to need help. The angels can be defeated, and Carmilla is the key.”

Vaggie blinked. “What? Carmilla Carmine?”

“She killed an exorcist during the last extermination. She knows how they can be harmed.”

“But... I—I didn’t even know that was possible.”

“If you did... would you have told me?”

Vaggie faltered. “Charlie, I—”

“I need you to go to her. Convince her to teach us. If she can… we might have a chance.”

“With just the seven of us?”

“No.” Charlie exhaled. “We’re, ugh, we’re going to need numbers too.”

Finally, Alastor slipped back into the conversation, “And I know just who can help. Provided, of course, that our dear Charlie can be her usual... charming self.”

“What’s that you said about smiles?” Charlie asked, trying to inject a little levity.

Alastor chuckled, placing a gloved hand atop her head, letting the gesture linger just a moment too long.

“Good girl.”

Vaggie leaned in, voice low. “Charlie, can we talk about this—”

“Later.” Charlie cut her off firmly. “Right now, we have a job to do. You with us?”

Vaggie sighed heavily.

“Ugh.”