prologue
The day was one of utter gloom.
The sky was a mess of gray and white as if someone took charcoal across the blue canvas that was the sky and smeared it over the pure baby blue tone.
You loved these kinds of days.
The smell of rain on pavement was a faint one. One that suggested rain to come which only helped lighten your mood with your current situation. You always loved the rain, loved the cold, loved the gloomy.
It made you feel not so alone.
You had no idea why you felt so alone. You were a renowned celebrity loved by all, following in your mothers footsteps. But despite the fans, full concerts, adoring energy around you.
You still felt you stood alone.
You still felt an ever present darkness that consumed and wrapped around your mind. A darkness that never went away.
Until you discovered an enticing white powder.
A powder that seemed to get rid of the darkness and fill you with happiness. That magical powder was one that brought you a happiness you rarely knew. So much so you grew greedy with it.
Leading to you collapsed in your parents bathroom on your fathers birthday. Vomit coating your expensive dress and the marble flooring of the bathroom. Blood leaking from your white powdered nose and eyes wide and bloodshot.
You can still hear the faint screams of your mother and the choked sobs of your father before sleep took you.
You hated the euphoric feeling you got those few moments before you slipped into unconsciousness. The unconsciousness which eventually led to your week long coma.
As if you couldn't hate yourself more for being such an inconvenience.
Now it was a two months later and you were sent away from Los Angeles, to the wondrous and culturally driven town of New Orleans. Truth be told you hated this entire situation.
The only thing you looked forward to was seeing your older sister.
How you've missed her.
"We're here ma'am."
The private driver glanced back at you in the rearview mirror with a polite smile before he stepped off of the car. You cleared your throat and fixed your composure, cool air brushed through your hair once he opened the door. Stepping out of the blacked out vehicle you glanced around with your bottom lip between your teeth.
Looking up to the large building you couldn't help but feel yourself smile lightly,"Happy Hotel?...Really Charlie?..." The driver began to take off your bags and after many attempts at helping him only for him to shoo you away you ultimately gave in and went inside the hotel on your own.
The hotel was one you'd visited before it was renovated. The entire inner decor were different arrays and shades of reds and just dark tones in general. You couldn't help but notice the family portraits adorning the walls. You cracked a smile until your eyes landed on the portrait of Charlie and Seviathan at their prom.
You feel your heart thump rapidly.
"(Y/N)!"
Your eyes whip to the sound of your sisters voice and the bright smile returns to your face. Charlie runs towards you with a large smile on her pale features, her blonde bob bounces.
Her arms are spread open and you run into them with a wide smile on your lips,"Charlie!" You two embrace each other after months of not seeing the other. Only keeping contact through letters and phone calls.
Her hands clutched at the jacket you wore. She was afraid to let you go, not wanting to lose you again.
When she had heard of your overdose she was heartbroken. No one had even known of your drug addiction until the moment you were found. She felt terrible and awful for having never noticed.
She felt even worse when she saw you lying in that hospital bed, tubes in and out of you. Your eyes sunken in and skin cold.
Pulling away she squeezed your cheeks and planted a kiss against your forehead, a wide smile on her painted red lips,"You look amazing! Come come, how was the ride here?" You scrunch up your nose and wipe her lipstick stain from your forehead and allow her to lead you deeper into the lobby.
You smile and nod,"It was nice, I love the scenery of this place." She nods with a satisfied hum and she walks up the front desk. A tall man with broad shoulders and wearing a two piece suit cleans crystal ware glasses. You pinch your brows together at the sight of alcohol and the bar/front desk, looking to your older sister.
She smiles nervously and shakes her head,"Its not for drinking, don't worry.",she whispers before clearing her throat.
You look up at the man as he turns around. His eyes are half-lidded and bag ridden. His salt and pepper hair is brushed back suited with thick sideburns and falter down into a stubbly beard. His thick brows raise at the sight of you.
"Holy shit you're (Y/N) Magne.",he states with a bit of a surprised tone. Recognizing you from the many tabloids and magazines that covered your face and body. He felt his throat dry up as he remembered the other photoshoots you did, his cheeks warmed up.
You nod with a smile and look to your sister before glancing back to him,"Yes I am. It's nice to meet you..."
He glances down to your hand which is outstretched. He blinks back and takes it in his calloused and large one,"Husk." His voice is deep and husky, you felt a bit of a thumping in your heart.
What could you say you were a sucker for a nice voice.
He seems to hold onto your hand for a moment longer than necessary but you brush it aside as nothing. As for Husk he can't help but have his thoughts linger, her hand is soft...
Charlie looks to you and with that telling look you give her a nod of approval. She exhales deeply and looks to Husk, yet before she can speak a landline beneath the desk rings. Husk seems to ignore it until Charlie shoots him a look, to which he rolls his eyes and answers it.
"Happy Hotel here....uh-huh...yeah.",he pulls the phone from his ear and presses a few buttons,"It's for you boss, I already connected it to your office." Charlie internally curses and runs a hand through her hair. With pinched brows and deep frown she looks to you apologetically.
"Damn, I'll be back!",with that she hurriedly disappears into the hall. Husk drops the phone back onto the line.
He looks at you for a few moments and you can't help but notice the tinges of pink on his cheeks. You feel a gentle smile fall on your lips and you nod slowly, sitting on one of the stools.
"You've seen my more racey shots haven't you?",you rest your chin on your knuckles with a raised brow. Husk is a bit taken aback by your blunt question and he snorts while looking away from you.
"Am I that fuckin' obvious?",he questions while turning around and fixing the already good enough glassware. You nod despite his inability to see you and laugh gently.
"Yes you are, you may have a poker face but blushing cheeks never lie. And its alright, it's what I love to do after all.",Husk turns to you and for the first time of many he shoots you a crooked grin.
He cocks his head gently while placing down the rag,"Well you're very good at what you do."
Its your turn to be taken aback. Your cheeks warm up and you stifle a soft laugh behind your hand. Husk lets out a soft hum, his thoughts linger once more. She's a pretty cute skirt.
But despite his indifferent attitude towards the world he was a curious cat at times. Especially this one.
"So what are you doing here anyway? Ain't your family in LA?",Husk inquires while resting his weight on his hands which grasps the edge of the bar. You nod slowly and look around while blowing a raspberry.
"I'm here for the rehab program.",your eyes land to his. He blinks back and clears his throat, tugging at the collar of his gray dress shirt. You recognize that apologetic look anywhere.
"Oh shit, sorry, it ain't—",you place up a hand and shake your head with a ghost of a smile.
"It's okay. It is was it is.",Husk seems to relax as you say this. And its your turn to be curious,"What are you doing here? You don't seem to be the type to care about this sort of stuff. And, no offense, you aren't exactly a welcoming character."
Husk chuckles and rolls his eyes once more at your playful tone,"Sorry I ain't no smiley moron." His eyes fall to yours and he shrugs,"An associate a mines called in his favor. I gotta work here for the broad."
Your brows pinch together in slight confusion before a conversation you and your sister had a few months prior taps at you. She mentioned her first investor, the famous radio host Alastor. You'd never met him but by what Charlies claims of him you couldn't help but feel uneasy about the strange man.
"Is Alastor that associate?"
Just as you ask this you hear a loud door slam shut down the hallway. You smile at the doorframe leading into the hallway,"Hey what was the call...about..."
It isn't Charlie. In fact its a man you don't recognize.
He is a tall and lean fellow with neat chestnut brown hair his almond shaped brown eyes are nearly the same shade. A pair of oval-rimmed cheaters rest on his upturned nose and his tanned skin is seemingly perfect. His angled features hold something that makes you automatically recognize him. A cheshire like grin on his lips.
It's Alastor.
His eyes fall to you and he walks forward with a slight raising of his brows,"Why hello there! You must be out new client! The charming belles sister, yes?" He walks towards you and before you can answer he grabs ahold of your hand and pulls your forward.
You step off the chair with a bit of a stumble as he shakes your hand,"Its a pleasure to meet you! Quite a pleasure!"
You pinch your brows together and slowly step away from him, pulling away your hand,"Um—nice to meet you too?" Trying to remain polite you simply return the formality with a bit of a puzzled tone.
Alastors eyes narrowed ever so slightly when his hand connected with yours. His eyes also roamed over you adorning oversized and warm clothing for the cold autumn day. You were quite a sight to behold even in such lazy attire.
Just before he could get another word in Charlie came bouncing in with a soft laugh,"Sorry about that, (Y/N) I—Oh! You've met Alastor already, great. Sorry to take her away boys but I must show her the rest of the hotel."
Charlie hurried towards you and pointed to your bags now waiting in the lobby,"Husk do you—"
"No no, I can take them up myself, Charlie.",you attempt to tear away from her linked arm but she pulls you back with her stubborn attitude. Husk looks to you.
"It's not a big whoop, I can do it. Just go on and stop buggin' me.",with that Charlie tugs you away and down the hall.
Alastor watches as she does this and Husk looks to him with a pointed look,"You mind?" Alastor grins and chuckles, with a snap of his fingers dark shadows ooze down from the walls and towards the suitcases. Husk nods with a sigh,"Thanks."
Alastor nods and Husk pours him a glass of whiskey,"She's quite a looker isn't she?" Alastor comments uncharacteristically. Husk quirks a brow with a soft snort,"Didn't peg you as the type to say something so casually."
"I may not be interested but I am not blind."
Truth be told Alastor was interested. He loved toying with those vulnerable and small. And by the looks of you you seemed like the perfect prey.
He felt your time at the hotel was going to be very entertaining, for him at least.