Chapter Text
Val busts through the door. “BabyDoll, what is taking you so long? Val said, bursting through Velvette’s dressing room door. “The princess will be here any minute. You’re supposed to be waiting in the room—if you miss this cue, the whole thing falls apart.”
Velvette barely spared him a glance. As if anything ever falls apart when she’s involved.
“Don’t rush me, Val,” Velvette snapped, putting the final touches on her absurdly long twin braids. “This video needs to be seen by all of Hell. I need to give the masses something worth watching. Satan knows the princess alone isn’t going to be a big enough draw.”
She stood and pushed up her breast and struck a pose without even thinking about it.
“Well? What do you think?”
She wore a tiny red bra and thong beneath a stark white corset, the whole thing barely contained under a sheer black duster that clung to her curves as she moved.
Val hummed, circling her once before stepping in close to fasten the heart-shaped pendant around her neck.
“A little conservative,” Val said. The pendant’s lens blinked, the hidden camera recording. “But it’s probably more than that poor royal loser has ever seen.”
“HA.”
Velvette grinned, She almost felt bad about how thoroughly she was going to ruin this girl. Almost.
It was probably going to be impossible for the princess to go crawl back to her precious, little angel girlfriend after getting to spend the night with THE Hottest Overload in Hell.
It was a sprawling luxury suite, complete with an adjoining lounge.
Velvette had to admit it—Val had outdone himself. A heart-shaped bed dominated the center of the room. Mirrors lined every inch of the ceiling and everywhere she looked, she spotted the telltale gleam of a camera lens.
Good, she thought. No escape. Every Gasp. Every Moan. Will be broadcasted to all of Hell.
Velvette pulled out her phone and checked the lighting.
“Too cool,” she muttered. “Warm it up. Makes everyone look softer. More pleasant to look at.”
She smirked as he adjusted the setting.
Perfect.
Circling the bed, she glanced back at him. “Did you send the text?”
“You bet,” Val grinned, holding up the phone he’d lifted from Angel’s bag while the spider was on set. “I really laid it on thick. Lots of ‘I’m scared’ and ‘Please, save me’.” He said in a mocking voice. “Perfectly pathetic, just like him.”
“Hmm, And the potion?” Velvette asked, hopping onto the bed and stretching out like she already owned the night.
“Strongest we’ve got. Girl, won’t even know what hit her.”
Perfect.
Val moved back to the door, “She’ll be here any second,” he said. “Smile pretty, BabyDoll.”
She settled back against the pillows, eyes drifting to the door, pulse buzzing with anticipation.
“Oh, I will.”
Everything was set. Now there was nothing left to do but wait for the show to begin.
—
Charlie really should have known better.
But when she’d received that frantic text from Angel, begging her to come help him, the only thought in her mind was that she needed to get to Vee Tower as fast as possible.
So when she burst through the double doors, slightly out of breath and already bracing herself for the worst, the sight that greeted her confused her.
Valentino.
He stood there like he’d been expecting her all along, arms spread wide, a knowing, red-toothed, smile stretching across his face.
“Princessa! It’s so nice to be graced with your presence again.”
Before she could react, he caught her hand and pressed a wet kiss to her knuckles. (At least he didn’t lick her this time.)
Charlie barely had a moment to pull her hand back before Val swooped an arm around her shoulders and steered her deeper into the building.
“Come in! Make yourself at home,” he said too cheerfully. “Can I get a drink? Or maybe a bump to set the mood.” Val offered, leading her towards a lounge area with a small bar.
“No—no, thank you,” Charlie said quickly, trying to regain some control even as the moth deposited her unceremoniously into a plush armchair in a lounge area.
“I received a concerning text from Angel, and I just made sure he is okay.” She says trying to get his attention back from where he was shaking a drink behind the bar.
“Ah, yes, that dramatic whore.” trusting the mixed drink into her hand. “Well, he should finish his last scene of the day, soon I will send him to talk to you once he’s done.”
“Ah, yes. That dramatic whore,” Val replied dismissively, already shoving a mixed drink into her hand. “He’s finishing his last scene of the day. I’ll send him to you once he’s done.”
And just like that, he swayed back out the door, closing it firmly behind him.
Click.
Charlie stared at the door for a beat.
Locked.
She carefully set the untouched drink on the mirrored coffee table, trying not to disturb the powder already on it. She wasn’t stupid enough to drink anything Valentino made. She crossed the room and tugged at the handle anyway. Locked, just as she expected. Still, she had to try.
Do they have the heater on?
The air felt thick, heavy. Uncomfortably warm. How did anyone get any work done in this building? She shrugged off her jacket and rolled up her sleeves. She scanned the room again. A small side door caught her eye—but when she tried it, that one was, of course, locked too.
Was it getting warmer in here? God, Her throat felt dry.
Obviously the drink Val made was out of the question. (it was probably 90% drool) But there was a small mini-fridge tucked beneath the bar.
She opened it.
Inside were energy drinks, bottles of wine… and water.
Charlie paused, inspecting one of the bottles carefully. It was still factory sealed.
Good enough.
She twisted the cap off and chugged it down, the cool water a small relief against the rising heat.
How unfortunate that she didn’t see the syringe prick through the cap.
It didn’t take long. Her chest became tight and her shoulders hurt. She felt like she had just drank 40 cups of coffee and was about to jump out of her skin.
That’s when the inside door opens.
-To Continued