I awoke the next morning after last night's fiasco to find Miss Charlie scolding Angel about the appearance of Valentino, making him hang his head in embarrassment and shame as he looked away from her. I quickly stepped up, and told her that I was the one who needed to apologize- especially since I wasn't too diligent on where the invites were going or WHO to, which wasn't Angel's fault in the slightest. After fixing things with Miss Charlie and Angel, I skulked around the hotel in fury as I tried to look for the mole I called a father to confront him when I bumped into Husker. " 'Scuse me, Husker. Have you, by chance, seen my dad today? I've an earful for him when I find him, and I WILL find him and give it to him!" I stated firmly, opening doors to check other patrons rooms. "Uh oh. I'm guessing the lil' princess isn't to happy with daddy dearest?" He asked, raising a brow to me. "He TOLD me- ASSURED me that he was going to send out the invites to those Miss Charlie allowed to the party! Now Miss Charlie's furious, Angel got the brunt of her heat, HER trust with ME is broken, and daddy slipped into the shadows to watch it unfold! How-How COULD he do this?!" I exclaimed frustratedly, leaning against the wall. "It's ALASTOR. He's NEVER cared about what's right, or what's good for anyone as long as it benefits or amuses HIM in some way. Other than that, you'd be lucky if he didn't just throw you aside to please someone else!" "You mean Miss Charlie?" I inquired, standing straight again to which Husk simply shook his head. "Lucifer's brat wouldn't have anything to do with his plan, but someone looking to gain something out of his involvement might." "So he invited Valentino on purpose to try and pick a fight with Angel? Is that SERIOUSLY what you're telling me?!" I asked in disgust, trying to find why in the pits he would do such a thing. Husker shrugged, and said, "The only way you'll know is if you confront him, but don't expect him to listen; especially to a little kid like you." "I'll have you know, sir, that I'm eighteen!" "Compared to your dad who's a hundred years old? Or Lucifer's little darling who's nearly older than the earth itself? Yeah, you still got a LOOOOOOONNNNG way to go before you can say you're old enough to make adult decisions." Husker replied, brushing me away as he briskly made his way past me. I was a little shocked, as I never knew they both were that old, yet still remarkably young for their real ages, but I had no time to follow Husker in fascinated awe to ask more about him. I HAD to know if dad sabotaged Angel's party by bringing Valentino. I searched, and searched- hours going by when I finally decided to check his broadcast tower, which to my luck, he was there recording a bit about killer rats infesting the alleyways of the gluttony ring. I grabbed hold of a plug I had found, and ripped it from the wall; making the whole tower power down, and my father's radio signal corrupt as he looked around in confusion. When his eyes set upon me holding up the plug to him, his eyes flashed with anger as he growled, "You have some nerve to barge in here, and corrupt my broadcast!" "Oh, like you had the nerve to bring Valentino to Angel's party AGAINST Miss Charlie's wishes? What were you THINKING!?" I scolded, throwing the plug aside to make my way towards him. "I don't have ANY idea what you're talking about." "Oh, I think you do! Husker told me you'd pull something like this, and I SHAN'T have it. Now if you'd like this station to remain in one piece, I suggest you start telling me the truth!" "And who is a wretched girl like you to tell ME what to do!?" My father snarled, growing a bit. "The "Wretched girl" you speak to HAPPENS to be YOUR daughter, sir! And I WOULD like you to respect me as such!" I replied, giving into his little game of who the dominant Demon in the room was. "Oh, how cute. A child trying to play a strong being!" He scoffed, growing a little larger. "At least I can respect my fellow Demons, which is more than what they can say about you!" I spat back, growing even bigger than he was in turn. "You don't even KNOW any Demons outside of that disgrace you call a home!" "At least I know I'm LOVED there, which is much more than your miserable soul can say about ANYTHING!" Dad had finally had enough of the arguing, and he extended himself to his full height to tower over me- antlers protruding like gnarled trees, and his face acquiring glowing, green stitch patterns while his red coat took on a more tatty style as he slammed his cane on the ground forcefully. "Now you listen to me, you vile worm! You have NO power over me, and you have NO power here. You have the gall to come into MY territory, and demand I give YOU respect, when you have given me none?! That is the most tasteless, DISGRACEFUL thing someone could EVER do to someone as powerful as I!" "You're about as bad as Valentino, you know? Heartless, and a LIAR!" "WAKE UP DOLL! EVERYONE YOU MEET AROUND HERE IS A LIAR- A SINNER! OTHERWISE THERE WOULDN'T BE AN UNDERWORLD TO BEGIN WITH FOR HEAVEN TO DESTROY!" "THEN TELL ME THE TRUTH INSTEAD OF BEING A COMMON SINNER! WHY DID YOU BRING VALENTINO HERE AFTER YOU HAD TOLD ME THAT YOU WOULDN'T SEND ANY INVITES TO THE LUST DISTRCT OF THE PENTAGRAM!" After that heated argument took place, my dad merely glared at me in silence before shrinking down, and turning his back to me. I shrunk down to my normal size as well, ready to hear what he had to say as he chuckled maniacally, "You know, you're the first- FIRST sinner to push me past my breaking point, and live to tell about it." "Jolly good for me, then. Answer the previous question at hand." I replied dryly, crossing my arms over my chest. "You want to know why I brought Valentino here, girl? Well, the truth is I DIDN'T!" "Course you didn't. He just MAGICALLY knew the right time to come and was just let through the front door without so much as a question from anyone." I replied in disbelief as I rolled my eyes in shame. "You wanted me to be honest, so there! I want NOTHING to do with the Vees, and I'll NEVER associate myself with such low class, overrated, try hard scum like them EVER! So please, by ALL means my dear, WHY do you have it in your head that I would invite my ENEMY to that blasted party?" "And if I find that you're lying again-?" "Foolish child! The Vees seek to destroy me, and you STILL think I've done them a favor!?" Dad hissed, fury still in his eyes as his nose crinkled in displeasure. I remained silent, trying to find any holes in his explanation, but it was no use. If he were lying, Valentino would've mentioned it at the party that Father had assisted him I'm sure. However he was so cunning that he could turn any lie into a truth, and you'd never even know until it was too late. Either way, I'd still lose this argument by a fifty-fifty chance caused by doubt AND belief. Finally I decided to cave, and I sighed as I plugged the cord back into the wall to bring power back to my father's studio before approaching him, and embracing him gently as I admitted, "I'm sorry, father..." I lingered a bit, hoping he'd return the embrace, which he didn't, and I pulled away from him before gently pecking his cheek, and slinking my way out of his studio. I stood on the crosswalk connecting the tower to the hotel, and leaned over the edge of the railing as I looked beyond the horizon of the city in which sinners resided. Sighing, I propped my head up with my hand, and pondered what was to come from this whole ordeal. Was I setting myself up for heartbreak, and disappointment like Husk warned? Was I just wasting precious breath trying to change the heart of a man who is determined, and more married to his old ways than the thought of being a dad? None of this could be rectified, even if I had that power..... It's steeped for FAR too long to even BEGIN to think that something like this could be fixed.... Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Angel, approaching me before sighing himself, and leaning over the rail with his lower arms criss crossed over each other while using his other two to support his head. He and I were silent, simply watching the tranquil sky above and listening to the screams of the darned echo on the wind before Angel started, "So, uh.... Dad give you heck, then?" "Yeah..." I sighed, "Miss Charlie still cross with you?" "Not really, but she does seem disappointed. I suppose now you really know the truth..." Angel replied, ashamed. "Angel, I'm not going to hold it against you-but WHY Valentino?" I asked, wishing to know more how he ended up stuck in that awful deal. "We were poor.... Very poor..... I just wanted to give my family something to live off of, and for that cost, I gave my soul to Valentino." "And thus landed you here in Oblivion... Sometimes desperation can help you, but as mum told me once, it can also deceive you." "Yeah...." Angel sighed sadly. "But you needn't worry about him anymore, right? I freed you, so you don't have to do a thing he says to you anymore!" I replied, taking his hand in mine softly. He smiled wryly, but faded back into a frown as he said, "I'm grateful for it too, but.... What does that make ME? When he owned my soul, I became a somebody, but now I don't know anymore...." "Mate, you don't NEED to be forced to give your body to BE someone. What does it matter if others here hate you?" "Because it gave me security. I knew that I'd always be, in some form, respected and noticed by someone." He admitted, looking down to the brimstone miles below. "Love, they respected you, and cared for you for ALL the wrong reasons. Tell me, do you not feel noticed and respected by Miss Charlie? O-Or myself?" I asked, looking up at him quizzically. "I-I do, but-" "Then why worry? You're a somebody to us, Angel, and we don't even use your body to make it evident that we truly want what's best for you. So please, Angel, don't doubt your freedom on the account of what people think of you. Enjoy your after life knowing there are others who love you for YOU, and will be there without any strings attached." I assured, hugging him lightly. He returned the hug, and I could sense him smiling as he replied, "Y'know, you ain't bad for a Demon's kid." "Awww, you're sweet." I replied, pulling away from him. There may not be any hope in rectifying my father, or the actions of last night, but to rectify someone's mistakes, and guide them back on track for some reason weighs multitudes in comparison to anything, and THAT I can be satisfied with knowing..... For now, at least...