Alastor hummed softly and twirled his cane as he strolled next to the demoness. Around them, fire's burned and screams echoed. They hadn't seen a single exorcist but his eyes darted back and forth for them. They were almost there. Almost to the hotel.

"That it?" The demoness's voice was barely audible, as if afraid of alerting one herself despite Alastor's noisyness.

He chuckled as the hotel came into view. "Yes my dear, home sweet home."

He saw her shoulders relax out of the corner of his eye and again felt the slightest bit of pride. Maybe this old dog could learn a new trick or two after all. But a sudden sound gave him pause. A soft rushing of air, barely detectable, but his ears still flickered back. He turned just in time, to shove himself and his ward out of the way as an exorcist came flying towards him, spear brandished.

"Oh ho, Nellie," he said with a dark chuckle. His voice began to heighten and static grew. "Almost, friend." There was a sickening crack as his spine began to stretch, jaw dropping, features lengthening. The demoness gasped as he turned to her, started to run, but a shadow caught her ankle, dropping her to the ground. "Stay right there darling...you're in for a show."

As Katherine's hand touched the door, the room filled with deafening radio static.

"Hello my fine denizen's of hell," a familiar voice began to overpower the white noise. "I know it's been a moment since you all had a show...and tonight, we have a very special treat…"

Katherine's eyes halted in their glowing as she turned to the others, all fixated on the corner radio. "Is...is that…" But no one responded. Seemingly entranced. Husker's eyes didn't leave the radio, didn't blink, but she caught the faintest jerk of a nod.

"LIVE FROM OUTSIDE MY VERY OWN HAZBIN HOTEL we have a special message about what happens when these meddling exorcist decide to do their business where they are not welcome," Alastor's voice continued. Katherine shook her head. There was something hypnotizing about his voice. It didn't sound anything like she had heard before. A higher pitch, luring cadence, a dripping of poison that made her blood run cold. "Stay tuuuuned ladies and gentlemen...for the slaughtering of angels…"

Katherine shook her head hard, something overcame her. A spell? Fear? Shock at the man she now knew to be her son dripping with such-

She gasped. Outside. He was outside the hotel.

Alastor snarled and gnashed his teeth, now a towering and surrounded by three exorcist. They swirled around him, trying to find an in on the terrifying monster. One took a shot, zoomed toward his back, but his head swiveled backwards like an owl, his long, branch like arms knocking it do the ground with a clawed swipe. The demoness at his feet covered her head, sobbing.

The exorcists were not afraid. They smirked and made a small high pitch noise. A giggle. Their glowing eyes blazed at the challenge. Around and around they swirled, stabbing, striking, a near miss every time. Alastor fended them off deftly, but it was clear that being rooted over the girl put him at a disadvantage.

And then a sharp stab to the shoulder. A giggle. He cried out, shocked at the pain. It burned like nothing he had felt and demon form began to slip. With a howl, he lashed out with his good arm at the fiendish exterminator but it easily moved out of his grasp. Another stab to his leg and he felt his vision blur from the white hot burning.

Below him the demoness opened her eyes, staring in horror at the demon protecting her. His eyes flashed between normal red pupils and radio dials, his demon form seemed to glitch as normal features reappeared and stretched again. His mouth opened as if screaming but only a horrendous static filled the air.

He slowly began to shrink down to his normal form. Still fighting. Now using his cane to bash at them. A strange sword fight between spears and a microphone, the sound of feedback hurting her ears with every parried strike.

He looked normal again, the shadow released her leg. She started to run but felt a hand grab her shoulder. It wasn't a tight grip, he couldn't hold her if he tried with his burning arm, but as he fought against the exterminators she heard his voice break through the static. Softly. The same human tone she had barely caught before. "Stay behind me. If you run they'll follow. Just stay behind me and I'll hold them off until you're close enough to get inside."

Her eyes widened. He could just teleport away. He could leave her. If she ran, it would at least take the attention of all of them off him. Why was he-

But he was already backing slowly towards the steps, she grabbed the back of his coat and held tight, letting him lead her. In what felt like an eternity, the front door was only a few yards away. She saw him glance over his shoulder, and when he noticed the same, his face broke into a wide grin.

The exterminators stopped their attack for a moment, exchanging confused glances at the deer demon's smile. He took a deep breath and slammed his cane into the ground, shadow tentacles erupting and grabbing at his shocked opponents. They dodged and twirled to avoid them, no longer able to get close to the demons they pursued. Alastor's smile was terrifying, teeth clenched and eyes flashing. A laugh like a radio searching for a channel filled the air. "Now's your chance my dear," his strained voice fought to sound jovial. "Run."

She didn't need to be told twice. She was off, as fast as her legs would carry her. Her hand touched the door knob and she turned to shout back that she had made it but her voice caught in her throat.

The shadowy tentacles were shrinking, moving slower and slower. And with a sickening sound a spear found Alastors stomach. The static cut out and she couldn't even scream as she watched him fall. The giggling exorcists floated over him, pleased at their conquest. The demoness felt herself begin to lurch toward him, but again felt someone grab her shoulder. Only this was no shadow. This hand glowed.