Chapter 3 - The One By My Side

Charlie's POV:

"Hello! It's a joy of mine to finally release my plans and perhaps dream to the public. As of recently, there have been exterminations of my people due to overpopulation and I come with a much peaceful solution." I gazed over at the news anchor giving her a chance to speak as the entire time I spoke I felt as though daggers were piercing through me. She looked furious but maybe it could've been just her natural face.

She bestowed a wide grin to the camera completely washing away her last demeanor. "Peaceful? In a place like this Princess, how could peace ever exist? Please do indulge more in this solution you speak of." Her full smile was now subtly jagged and crooked seeming to hold back from mocking laughter. She wanted so desperately here this idea because once she did, she could tear apart everything I built up.

I knew the risk of coming on a show like this. The stage set and manipulation for the audience's amusement could kill my reputation if I didn't approach this carefully. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them, the Princess of Hell falling into an embarrassing trap as the audience would laugh mercilessly at her.

Well...not the entire audience. I knew that at least I wasn't alone if anything did happen. I could make a fool of myself and I would still have at least one person to be by my side.

I was used to it all. From being at school and even in my own home, if the entirety of Hell chose to hate me so be it. If they chose to laugh then they could but I would do everything in my power to appear calm and serious. My intentions were nothing but a benefit to them...even if I got nothing in return. I don't expect anything back.

"Well, I've had this dream for quite a while. You see, I've seen my people suffer here and if I can offer even just a little chance to be happy again then I'll try for them. Someone once told me to smile when I was down so I want to pass that message along. What I had in mind was to offer a happier and safer place for demons to stay in while offering a chance of redemption. What if instead of killing each other we could be happy together? But that's just my dream to tell everyone. I'm opening a hotel called the Happy Hotel so anyone is free to come."

Silence filled the room. Nothing for a great while but it's not surprising that I would get a reaction like that. After all, the Princess just poured out her inner innocent desires to a cruel world that would smash all over it.

It was just like asking Hell to be Heaven. Two different opposites are meant to exist in a balanced but in every balance...there's a rupture meant to happen. A Princess of Hell meant to be sinister and dark was the light of Hell. A seemingly hopeless dream to have demons of complete sin redeem themselves so they can go back to the light.

Murderers, assaulters, and so much tainted living in an afterlife of sin. How could I expect them to change...?

Maybe I didn't. There are some actions that you can't go back on but there's a point where the punishment has come to an end. Where perhaps redemption could be possible. Or maybe not, all I knew was that I spoke my dream to help my people. I couldn't go back when all eyes were on me.

Including the first person that aided me that day when I was at my worst. My heart impairs so much listening to his voice over and over but...it encourages me to go on.

Unknown to me, another heart and soul felt the same watching me from the TV screen at the mention of him.

To break the suffocating silence, laughter could be heard from the woman sitting across from me. "Haha...you wish to open a hotel that offers redemption? That's impossible, Princess. Any demon that comes to hell never leaves. Any hope for heaven is gone. You can't be serious." She hid a portion of her peering smile behind her hand as she chuckled to herself. The audience in the background started to laugh at me while Veggie glanced away with deep doubt and concern.

She had her hand covering her arm attempting to hide the shame in her body language. A pit of guilt welled up inside of me seeing her in such a state because of me. The stigma and humiliation of supporting my ideals and dreams was a major worry to her. Her unclear eyes reminded me so much of my parents but despite that...

She still chose to support me instead of ridiculing me. So...If I couldn't persuade them through speech then maybe through song. I had a song planned just in case something like this happened. I wanted to prove to all of Hell that I was critical in the devotion of my project.

I smiled back to her giving her a reaction no one could predict and spoke with clear intent," Yep! I'm serious about my dream! It can't be impossible to help at least one soul out there. To prove how serious I am..." I snapped my fingers and within mere moments, lesser demons with instruments in hand alongside a wooden stage appeared out of thin air.

With a song of redemption already prepared beforehand, I sang away giving a show to the demons of Hell. I didn't mind if I was a fool at the moment or if demons cared to come to the hotel after an advertisement like this but...

I gave it all because I feel like I was going to die of suffocation if I didn't give my full voice a chance to breathe.

Close to a musical in a movie, I gave off a sure show for others to interpret as either my way of showing how much I put my soul into this or a true joke to tell. This was my way of showing how meaningful this was to me.

I soon finished off the last bit of the song concluding on a breathtaking note but as soon as I retired from the performance...that's when I saw Vaggie's expression. Shame, embarrassment, but more than that was disappointment for breaking a promise. That seed of guilt before grew to a full tree but it was too late to apologize now.

Hopefully, she understood why I did all this...

Silence fell once again after the performance I distributed. My breath to speak was gone as I inhaled a large amount of air striving to get some energy and voice back. At least this time...I wasn't suffocated but now I was vulnerable to judgment.

Which I got a lot of after the laughter came. This time except not just the news anchor was laughing. It was like Hell itself was cackling at what was the funniest contradiction in history. My once big ego shrank quite quickly hearing the snickering and gazing over at Vaggie's tiny form.

Vaggie couldn't watch in the shadows any longer as she grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me out of there. She hauled me into the nearest bathroom to hide in as I could tell an intense lecture was coming my way.

"Charlie! What were you thinking?! You promised me-" I intercepted her trailing words by holding a single finger to her lips. "I know I know Vaggie...I'm sorry...I only did this because they were going to laugh at me no matter I did...I could hear the news anchor snicker and laugh it felt suffocating to just sit there...now it's up to Hell what they want to do. Even if people don't like the idea of redemption, they could still come to check-in at the hotel since it's going to be the cheapest place to stay in." I kept going on with excuses frantic to wipe away her concerned and disappointed expression. Before I could ramble on more though, she put her hand to my mouth to shush me.

"Yes, it's fine! I'm not mad anymore Charlie! Just, please...don't do that again. I hate seeing people laugh at you like that...I want to be there for you so no one can torment you again. I know this sounds cruel but I wanted to kill everyone who dared to laugh at you. They may not appreciate your voice but...I-I think it's beautiful..." She...wanted to protect me? A flush of pink flooded onto the grey skin of her cheeks.

So she wasn't disappointed in me breaking my promise or embarrassed of me...?

A tingling sensation from my chest similar to the fuzzy sound of a TV, it was buzzing around inside me. She wanted to protect me again like a close warrior or body guard staying by my side...no one except my parents and some select people ever complimented my singing voice. Maybe it was due to never singing in public but the times I did sing for someone they appeared to be memorized by it.

It gave me the identical fuzzy emotion I felt now seeing my progress from the awkward cracks to full versed lines of song. Just as her cheeks turned an adorable pink, so did mine. It was the same painful ache in my chest whenever I thought of that man's voice. That voice couldn't leave my mind no matter what I did but...they weren't here were they?

As much as I missed to hear it and to give my appreciation to them, the person who has always been there for me had been right next to me.

It made me want to tear up that no matter what, Vaggie was always going to be on my side and protect me when I couldn't defend myself.

Tears began to build up in my eyes as a broad beam couldn't resist to form. I wrapped my arms around her chest in a tight hug admiring her warm and safe presence.

I couldn't see her eyes but I could imagine them being wide with surprise as in this moment she flinched to my sudden approach. She hugged me back but spoke with a bewildered tone," Woah! Are you okay Charlie-" As much as I adored her scratchy and tough voice in my ears, I wished to just keep her near to me.

"I...want to stay like this. You're a really comfy person you know? I...do want to thank you for being so thoughtful and loving to me for all these years. All I want to do right now is stay like this..." Vaggie's body loosened to my words but I could hear an unsure sigh in my ear. "Charlie...you know we could stay in a bathroom for awhile but it kinda stinks in here. Do you want to go back to the hotel and relax there instead? We could watch a movie and be as close as you want." Her hand ran through the strands of my golden hair feeling the silky touch to it.

I was silent for a moment contemplating if I desired to leave so soon due to all the demons out there waiting to belittle me but...

As long as she was there with me, I think I would be fine.

I sniffed the environment around me and she was right. Maybe I didn't notice it with how distracted I was but it reeked of blood and other unpleasant odors. The urge to puke resurfaced again having that smell full in my nose so I glanced up at Vaggie and nodded my head agreeing to leave. She delivered a faint smile down to me with a sweet rim to it. It held a secret within it but instead of anything evil, it was holding back a loving intent.

She held out her hand and jokingly said like a chosen knight," Shall we go my princess? Let's venture out of this shit-infested dungeon and go back to our mission of going home." A chuckle escaped my lips as her attempt to make me feel better from past events worked. My heart lightly thumped as I seized her hand into mine with a snug grasp.

She didn't know but the amount of charm she bestowed when she laid out her hand to me struck me hard. She truly appeared to be a knight escorting me to my next destination.

An enchanting thought came to me as I walked out of the bathroom hand in hand with Vaggie.

Vaggie...my glamorous knight in shining armor. Strong, reliable, and protective of all that she loves.

My eyes widened at another reflection that passed through my senses...did she love me?

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