It was, as most days, a rather boring afternoon when Oisin was walking through the streets of Hell. Screams filled the background, and demons were running through the streets, chasing or being chased. 

The hospital nearby loomed tall over the city. Oisin had been wondering what it was going to be used for, but he preferred to stay out of the queen's doings as much as possible. 

On days like these, he liked to take a stroll, looking for any new souls that came his way. And lucky him, a little white and brown bunny of a demon just appeared in front of him. The air split and wind stopped for just a moment around the two. 

Her eyes were pure black, a quite unusual colour, no light reflected off of them. She was a cannibal, but one so young. She looked no older than 10. 

"Hello little one, how are you this fine evening?" he asked the kid, who smoothed out her dress, before doing a little bow. 

"I'm Alice, sir. Where... where am I? I was just being led to the execution chamber, but I swear sir, I'm innocent!" she said, voice small and shaky. 

Oisin's lamb-like ears perked up at this. "You're unfortunately in Hell. Do you have any idea why you might've landed here?" 

"But I only defended myself! I had no other choice! They would've killed me if I hadn't!" little Alice pleaded, her rabbit-like ears dropping. 

"Unfortunately, it seems that our creator doesn't take that into consideration. But tell me little one, did you ever eat anybody? Your eyes suggest you did." 

"Only myself, but again, I had no choice..." she spoke in a quiet voice, looking at the ground. 

"Ah," he had only seen those eyes twice before, now he knew why. "Not to worry, I will take you under my wing for now. Can have a young child like you running around all on her own." 

"But I'm not a child sir, I'm 14," Alice said, looking around her. She seemed so fragile, Oisin struggled to believe her, but he sensed no lies. 

"Apologies dear, I didn't mean to offend you. Regardless, I will make you thrive down here, I can sense potential in you," Oisin explained. He wouldn't have bothered normally. 

"But I'm... I'm just a girl," Alice responded. How naive. 

"Not to worry, that's simply a fact about you. And simple facts like these don't change your potential," Oisin said, his usual small smile widening, showing his sharp teeth. 

Alice didn't react to it, only shrugging her shoulders. 

"I have no other choice, do I?" Alice asked, looking around once more. 

"You do, but it would be the wrong choice to make. It would mean you'd get killed again, or worse. But no worries, I will not take your soul, I will simply be your guide for down here. Though you still need a place to live, and I know just the spot," Oisin's smile widened further. 

Alice looked at him, tilting her head. 

"Come along, I will show you to my dear friend Cianna, she and her husband are sure to find a spot for you in their district," Oisin explained. 

"Are they powerful down here? They must be if they own a full district," Alice said, looking around as she walked behind Oisin. She must've noticed that those out and about were all avoiding him. 

"Yes, quite so. They're sovereigns, meaning they own a lot of souls, and their power also led them to own a district. But be warned, they're cannibals. However, that does not mean they will hurt you. No, the opposite is true. They have the most humane district in all of Hell, but they only take in other cannibals, which you are. Even if you only ate yourself," Oisin explained further, putting a hand on Alice's shoulder. 

Alice looked away, silently, and Oisin had to hold back a laugh. It seemed that the situation was finally setting in. She walked alongside him, giving a small, sudden shudder halfway there. 

Oisin quickly removed his hand, unsure if she would start to cry or not. He couldn't stand emotions such as those. 

Her lips formed into a thin line, but her ears finally perked up as she stared at her paws. 

"There are those who believe I am the most powerful entity in this realm. I have yet to encounter compelling evidence to the contrary," Oisin said to restart the conversation. 

A few minutes of silence passed until they got to the gates of the cannibal district. 

"Do you think I can be a sovereign too?" Alice asked, her posture straightened. 

"I think you're destined to be one," Oisin answered as he opened the gates. 

Alice looked around more as they continued their walk to the mansion near the entrance. Its door and windows decorated in bone, corners rounded by skulls and femurs lining the outsides. 

After knocking, the door was opened rather quickly. 

"Oisin!" Cianna said, hugging the man. 

"Cianna, it's a pleasure as always," Oisin said, smile growing noticeably softer. 

"And who's this little lady?" Cianna asked, as they broke their hug. She kneeled down to Alice's level. 

"This is Alice, she's a new soul here in Hell, but don't be deceived by her appearance, she's quite capable, and also a young teenager, not a child," Oisin explained, as Cianna scanned the girl with her eyes. 

"Nice to meet you ma'am," Alice said, bowing lightly. Her gaze fell behind Cianna, onto the dresser decorated with skeletal hands. 

"Oh how polite! Well come in you two. We currently don't have any spare homes, but all my guest rooms are empty at the moment. I'm sure Laurent has nothing against this little lady staying with us," Cianna said, standing back up and leading the two inside. 

"So I can stay here?" Alice asked, looking around the halls, which were decorated in furniture made of bones. One particular great piece was a large chandelier made of finger bones. The seats of every chair were covered in a thick layer of human leather. 

"Oh of course! Can't have a little lady like you out on the streets," Cianna paused in front of a room, before opening the door. "Here's the best guest room in the house, you can stay in here."

"Here?" Alice whispered, eyes wide as she stared at the large room in front of here. 

"Of course dear, nothing but the best for someone as polite as you," Cianna said, smiling widely. 

"But..." Alice looked around for a moment, eyes falling on the lamp made of a spine, with a shade made of human leather, "Thank you so much." 

"No problem dear, now, let's have some tea, shall we?" Cianna said, as she walked towards the sitting room. 

Alice and Oisin followed after, Oisin making sure to close the doors on the way. 

And for the first time since Oisin saw her, Alice formed a small smile.