III
In a flashy club full of neon-lights, scantily clad entities with serving trays, and flowing libations, Lucky sat high above the other patrons in his private room.
Several near-naked spirits and imps worshipped at his feet.
A handsome demon with curled horns fed him grapes, a succubus rubbed his shoulders with her long, sharp nails.
He’d had several cocktails, savored the thrum of the music, and enjoyed the views as the dance floor moved like a heatwave across blacktop.
He settled into the booth and extended his glass as an imp poured him some wine.
So many of them had come to praise him, to kiss him, to touch his chest and stroke his horns in the last few hours that he’d lost track of who all had come and gone, and he was soaking it up like a rag on spilt wine.
Though he’d never admit it aloud, it wasn’t his favorite way to unwind.
He’d much rather have spent his night with a bottle of wine and a good smutty novel, but this was proper for an heir.
It was a job requirement, it helped him keep up appearances, kept the economy going.
The moment the natural aphrodisiacs of the incubi and succubi managed to bypass his senses he’d instantly loosened up.
He’d enjoyed the worship, and his stress had vanished.
Many of them had asked to head to the hotel across the street. That wasn’t uncommon, but his heart wasn’t in it. He didn’t feel like getting laid tonight. He simply wanted to drink and feel his ribcage rattle in time with the music.
As he brought the glass to his lips, that annoying as all hell pang hit his chest again and he winced. That wasn’t the feeling he’d been wanting. That was the feeling he’d been trying to rid himself of… but he couldn’t remember why. He was too drunk.
“Are you well, m’Lord?” the devil feeding him grapes asked.
“Yeah… what time is it?” Lucky mumbled.
“Does it matter, m’Lord?” Another inquired.
“It does. It’s—” He pawed at his chest. Something was wrong.
Charlie.
He set his glass down and stood on unsteady feet.
He’d completely forgotten about Charlie.
The servants who had been pampering him clawed at his body, scrambling to keep him in place, but he shoved them off and stumbled toward the spiral staircase.
He hurried down the steps and made his way through the mass of bodies toward the exit.
Stepping out into the nighttime air, he inhaled and brushed back his hair as he attempted to orient himself.
The horrid heat sobered him up quickly as his internal fire recalibrated.
He spotted his father’s big ass tower in the distance so he started making his way down the street with a rapid pace, pushing through crowds of demons and shoving orcs out of the way.
Something inside of him was roaring with… worry?
He turned a corner and his fire spiked even higher.
Fist clenched, he stomped forward, locking eyes with the massive orc who was looming over an obviously frightened Charlie.
The priest was shaking like a leaf in the wind, begging to not be eaten.
The massive creature’s smarmy demeanor faltered when he locked eyes with a fuming Lucky who had walked up behind the priest with his arms crossed over his chest. Smoke rolled out of the Prince of Hell’s clenched teeth and pierced nose, and the orc knew better than to play with the ruler’s toys.
The tusked creature left, grumbling angrily about losing out on a meal. But Charlie remained tense, still as a stone, and whimpering.
“Charlie,” Lucky said quietly as he set a gentle hand on the priest’s shoulder.
Charlie jumped. His cheeks were tear-soaked and his lip trembled, he was pale as a sheet and looked terrified. It sent Lucky’s already amped up system into a frenzy.
“What are you doing out here?” Lucky asked.
“I was… I was hungry,” Charlie whimpered.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“I don’t have a phone…” he cried. “It’s late, I think? I’m scared, my head hurts.”
“Okay… okay… I’m here… Wait, you’re hungry?”
Charlie nodded.
“You’re dead, you shouldn’t be hungry! Y-you shouldn’t be hurting!”
Lucky shouldn’t have felt so guilty. He shouldn’t have lifted his hand to wipe away the tears, to fix Charlie’s glasses. Shouldn’t have opened his arms and pulled the priest in. He shouldn’t have been lying to him like this.
“Let’s go home…” Lucky said quietly. “Let’s… I’ll get you home. You’re safe.”
“I thought you said we were going home?” Charlie said nervously as he looked around the posh penthouse.
“Yeah?” Lucky questioned with a shrug.
“This… isn’t my apartment.”
“No, it’s mine, duh,” Lucky said with a gesture to the portrait of himself that hung over the fire. “You’re hungry, right?”
“Y-yes, but—”
“There’s pizza in the fridge. Unless you don’t want pizza?”
Charlie’s pale pink lips parted in question before he clamped them shut. Lucky cocked an eyebrow and tossed his keys on the nearby credenza before he walked back to Charlie. He leaned over again to look him in the eye, unsure of what he needed.
“I feel funny,” Charlie finally admitted.
“What does that even mean? Are you about to tell a joke or something?” Lucky inquired.
Charlie’s eyes seemed distant, as if he was staring through Lucky again.
Looking elsewhere. To the tall windows? The views outside?
The massive bed in the corner? The bar cart?
The flaming fountain on the balcony? It didn’t really matter what it was, Lucky just knew the priest wasn’t looking at him, and it made him mad.
He lifted his hand and waved it in front of Charlie’s face.
“Hell to Charlie, you in there?” Lucky asked.
“I hear a beeping…”
“A… beep—Charlie?!”
Lucky scrambled to catch the priest as Charlie crumpled, the human’s limbs turning to liquid as he toppled to the sparkling, recently polished floors. He snatched up the mortal in his arms and carefully cradled his head.
“H-hey, Chuck? Charlie? C’mon don’t… be weird. Stop being weird,” Lucky demanded, lightly tapping him on the cheek with his much-too-large palm. “Why are you cold? Nothing is cold down here… Charlie, c’mon man, this is weird.”
Charlie’s head rolled and rested against Lucky’s broad, spectacular chest. He mumbled something soft as Lucky brought his frail body close in a manner that was both scared and protective.
He didn’t know what to do. He had to get some help, which meant he needed to make a long distance call.
He just hoped the folks upstairs were awake at this time of night.