CHAPTER 3
965 Words
You keep a lot to yourself, 'cause it's difficult to find people who understand.
In the bar the majority of demons became silent, maybe because they were curious, maybe for respect or, more probably, because they wanted to give the impression that they cared.
The interview started. Immediatly Katie Killjoy presented Charlie and, after that, said: -So, Charlie, could you explain to us this new "passion project" of yours.-
-Well- Charlie answered -as many of you probably know Hell is overpopulated and, because of that, every year there is an extermination to reduce, well, our numbers. We've just been through another one today and, well... You all are also my people and I cannot simply stay put and accept this.
"You have my same line of thought my dear" I said to myself.
-So, I started to ask myself if maybe there was a more... "human way" to deal with this problem, and then I came up with an idea.- in that moment she stood on the table in front of her and said: -Ladies and gentleman, I'm opening the first of its kind, a Hotel to rehabilitate sinners' souls.-
In the bar everyone went silent.
"But at the same time that girl believes too much in her people" said another voice in my mind. "She never changes" I responded to that voice shoving it aside. "Besides, maybe it's not a stupid idea" I added.
Then Charlie did something I, no, we, weren't expecting: she started to sing. We were all shocked. With that song she wanted to communicate that everyone, even the worst of demons, had something good inside and that, with a little help, that good part could come out.
The song wasn't actually that bad and you could actually see the effort but, nonetheless, I threw a pat on my head, or, at least, I would have, wasn't for the mask. "What were you saying?" told me that little voice in my head. Again I shoved it aside in the darkest recesses of my mind. This way Charlie would only become the laughing stock of Hell. Unfortunately I was right: nearly every demon in the bar started to laugh. Only the inhabitants of my zone remained serious.
Nonetheless I decided that I didn't want to stay there, so I finished what remained of my cofee and headed out. Anya followed me.
Many demons were still laughing. I started to walk towards the shop. Strangely the "voiceful" demon behind me was silent. I turned a bit towards her. She was looking at her feet while walking and her face expressed sadness. Probably after she heard what Charlie wanted to do she had hoped that there really was a way to leave Hell and, now that everyone had laughed at her, she wouldn't try. I, on the other hand, didn't worry, because I knew one thing that she didn't: Charlie never gave up on anything.
We reached the shop and entered. I turned the sign on the door so it would show the word "open". Then I went behind the counter while Anya went inside the house. And I waited.
Some hours passed and not a soul went inside, which, actually, was pretty normal. People didn't go to a clocksmith when they had to repair their houses and try to survive Turf Wars.
At some point I put my hand in my pocket and took out a pocket watch. It was golden and, carved in the front side, was an X inside a circle. Around this were various plant-like carvings. The X inside a circle was a symbol, my symbol: the eye of an angel. It had always been the most important hint I had. It had also been my first creation.
I sighed. "Will anyone ever understand who I really am?" I asked myself. The problem of wearing a mask, litterally and figuratively, was that people, after a while, forgot that they were wearing them and became accustomed to it, forgeting who they were before. But I couldn't. I wouldn't. I wanted to remain the one I really was. I wouldn't lose that bet.
In that moment the door opened. I immediatly put away my pocket watch and stood up to greet the client. Only, it wasn't a client. The small goat demon that had entered approached the counter and asked: -Are you Poker Face?- he had a timid tone. Cute.
-Yes, it's me.-
-Good.- he handed me a letter I didn't notice he had. Then, as fast as he had entered, he was gone. I was perplexed. Then I looked at the letter and immediatly noticed a thing: on the sealing wax the sealed the letter was the imprint of an apple. Lucifer's symbol.
I immediatly broke the seal and pulled out the letter. It read:
"My dear friend Poker face,
I'm writing you this letter to ask you to come at my palace. I need to discuss some serious matter with you. Come as soon as possible.
Signed. Lucifer."
I read the letter another time to make sure I understood everything, I put it back in and hid it inside a pocket of the overcoat. Then I snapped my finger and a hand appeared near the sign at the entrance and turned it. I went in the back and, after opening the door to the house, shouted: -Anya, put on something elegant and take my sword. We're going to the palace.-
After some minutes she came down. She was wearing a black sheat dress that showed her shoulders and her arms, on which were her inseparable gloves. In her left and was the scabbard of a spanish sword. I took it.
-Do you know why we were summoned out of the blue?-
-Absolutely no.-
-Like always then.-
We went out.
- Writer
