Vane and Charlie sat together on the back steps of the hotel. The sky was a deep and dusty orange. The fight with Static had left a bad taste in the air. Vane looked at his hands. They were still glowing with a faint purple light that he could not quite turn off.
Charlie was quiet for a long time. She was picking at a loose thread on her red coat. She looked at Vane and her eyes were full of many questions. She knew him as the big brother who always stood in front of her. She knew him as the man who made the scary things go away. But she did not really know where he came from before they met.
You looked different when you were fighting him Vane Charlie said softly. You looked like someone I do not know. Static said you were a King. He said you built an empire. Why did you never tell me about the Chaos District?
Vane sighed. The air around him felt heavy. I did not tell you because I wanted you to stay the way you are Charlie. You see a world that can be fixed. You see people who can be saved. But the place I came from was not like that. It was a place where if you did not have a fist you did not have a life.
He looked up at the jagged towers of the city in the distance. I was not born here Charlie. You know that. I fell into this pit with nothing. I was just a soul with too much power and no place to put it. I was angry and I was lost. I started fighting because it was the only thing that made the noise in my head stop. I took over the slums because I wanted to prove that I could own something.
Charlie moved closer to him. She put her hand on his arm. Is that why you became a Morningstar? Because you wanted to own the throne?
Vane shook his head. No. I met you when I was at my worst. I was about to burn down a whole block just to see the fire. But then I saw you. You were trying to feed a stray hellhound and you were crying because it was hurt. You were the only thing in this whole world that did not want to hurt me. I did not want the throne Charlie. I wanted a family. Your father saw my power and he saw that I could protect his name. He gave me a title and a home but you were the one who gave me a reason to stay.
Charlie looked like she was going to cry but she smiled instead. You protected me from everything Vane. But I feel like I made you hide who you really are. You had to be the Prince of the Palace and then the King of the Slums. You never got to just be Vane.
Vane looked at her and his eyes softened. The purple glow faded away until his eyes were a calm and deep violet. I am just Vane right now Charlie. That is why I am here. Static is right about one thing though. The shadows are moving. When I started getting powerful I made a lot of enemies. People like the Vees and people like the ones who sent Static. They do not want a hotel that saves souls. They want a war.
Charlie stood up and held out her hand to him. Then we will give them a war of kindness Vane. We have Alastor and Vaggie and Angel. And we have the King of Chaos. They do not stand a chance.
Vane laughed and took her hand. He stood up and felt a little bit lighter. He knew that the past was going to catch up to him eventually. He knew that his empire was waiting for him to return. But for now he was exactly where he needed to be. He was with the girl who taught a monster how to be a brother.
Let us go inside Vane said. I think I heard Niffty trying to cook a shoe. We should probably stop her.
Charlie giggled and pulled him toward the door. As they walked in the shadows of the hotel seemed a little less scary. Vane knew he would have to deal with Alastor soon. He knew the Radio Demon was hiding things too. But that was a problem for tomorrow. Tonight he was going to help his sister save the world one soul at a time.