Two pairs of footsteps calmly ascended the stairs into his office. Alastor glanced at his watch, satisfied that the pair had shown up ahead of schedule. Vox and Valentino's most redeeming quality was their punctuality. After all, they worked for a busy man. Punctuality was more of a matter of survival than it was courtesy. The two of them knew what awaited them if they were to disappoint.
He ran a cloth along a spot on his desk as the pair entered, Vox first with Valentino in tow. They were both dressed to the nines and standing tall. Vox had donned a thick black suit paired with a boxy top hat covering his screen. Valentino was wearing a button-down vest and a matching tie. Both men held canes in their hands that were of shocking resemblance to his own.
"Greetings!" Alastor said with enthusiasm, "I see you got my memmo. You're early. I like that. My time is valuable, and you didn't waste any of it getting here. It almost
makes me want to start paying you."
The two overlords exchanged a brief glance before Alastor sat back down at his desk.
"I assume you two know why I brought you in here," he said without wasting any time, "We have some prisoners in here that need to be taken care of. And we have two days to do it. There are some preparations that need to be made."
"What preparations, sir?" Vox asked, "Aren't we just throwing the little shits into the pit?"
"Well, of course we are. But we need to make sure everything is perfect. The people of hell want a show. And I fully intend on giving it to them."
The theatrics for that day were going to have to be perfect. Lights were going to have to be placed. The floor had to be cleaned. He had to decide how each prisoner was to be positioned for optimal display. Many men before him would have simply thrown them in without any regard to looks. They didn't understand the importance of broadcasting carnage. To send an unmistakable message to the citizens of hell. They were to be shown the consequences for disobeying him. Any demon that would dare to rebel against him after the execution would be a fool.
"Did you really bring us up from our smoke break just for this?" Valentino said with a hint of sass. Alastor liked that sass. If any other demon had dared to address him in such a way they would have been given a one-way ticket into the pit of fire. But Valentino was an overlord. He enjoyed a demon that had a bit of backbone. The men he had elected to the top needed it.
"Don't worry, you'll get your cancer-sticks later," Alastor sighed, "But right now we have important matters to discuss."
He snapped his fingers to create a hologram.
The diagram was simple enough. The prisoners were to be lined up at the western wall. They were to start with the lower-profile prisoners and make their way up. One by one they would be thrown into the pit. A few seconds was to be held between each execution. Guards were to be stationed at each corner in the event that any of the demons made a run for it.
"How many are set to be killed?" Vox asked, "I already know about the imps, the Goetias, and Princess Morningstar and her wife."
Alastor grinned and pulled up the list of death-row prisoners in his hologram, along with a display of their faces on their side. The list was long, with somewhere around forty prisoners set to be killed. And he was going to enjoy every second of it.
"Hey, I remember this one," Valentino said with a deep laugh, "Angel Dust. I used to pimp him around back when Lucy was still in charge. I thought the little slut had OD'd years ago."
"He would only be so lucky," Alastor replied, "He's right up there with Morningstar. He used to work at our little hotel. We pulled him out of Askur a few days ago and transferred him here in preparation for his execution. Askur has a lovely prison system, but ours is far better. I think I deserve to see my old friend again before we throw him into the flames, don't I?"
"I'd like to see that too," Valentino laughed, "Gotta say goodbye to my favorite spider-slut before we throw him in."
The pair let out a chuckle.
"Now," Alastor replied, "I'm having some of my guards set up stage lights to make sure we can make this a true production! Once that part is finished, we'll be ready to bring in our performers for their farewell tour."
"If that's the case," Vox groaned again, "Why did you bring us here?"
"Because I have an important order for you two."
With the single snap of his fingers, a red-flashing siren began to sound in the office and in the surrounding rooms.
"The prison and the grounds around it are on full lockdown. Nobody comes in or out. Every window is to be sealed, and I want at least ten soldiers at every gate, even the internal ones. You two are in charge of organizing the logistics of the mobilization. I also want extended patrols on the bridge around the pit. I've gotten word of some disturbances from across the lake, and the last thing we need is any of them getting in here. Lethal force is authorized on any prisoners aside from the ones on my list. Leave those ones to me. Do you two understand?"
He received a nod in response. Good. That was all that he needed.
"You two are dismissed. Go fulfill your duties," Alastor said as he waved the two off, "We have a show to put on. We need to make sure heads roll and sparks fly!"
A few moments later, the door closed in front of him while Vox and Valentino scrambled down the stairs outside of his office. He had the utmost faith in his puppets to make sure the next couple days were nothing but smooth sailing.
Soon enough, he was left alone again. Alone to fantasize about what he would do to the traitors in his hands. How he would listen to them begging for mercy as they were lowered into the pit one by one.
"Ah, you fools," Alastor said to himself, "You had your chances to repent. Multiple chances. I gave you more than most demons would have been given. And you squandered each and every one of them."
He didn't believe himself to be cruel. Many demons would say that he was, but he believed that he was fair. Octavia and Moxxie had been given chance after chance to repent. So had the other imps. And the Goetia prince. And Princess Morningstar. He had even offered Moxxie a job in the Guard! No other imp could say that it had happened to them.
Yet they were stubborn. They stuck to the same values of immorality and anarchy. They would rather live in a society filled with lawlessness and crawling with impulsive, childish behavior. Alastor had brought order to hell. He had proven to the people that he could run the realm just as well, if not better than Lucifer or that bratty daughter of his.
He was almost thankful for them. After he reduced them to nothing but ashes, nobody in hell would dare to defy him again. The rebel groups would fall apart. The ones that the Guard didn't kill would end up killing themselves after the object of their desires was gone and proven to be nothing more than a fantasy. Watching their hope fall as the face of their rebellion went up in flames would be something he would do with great joy. It served them right. They were going to be hit with a hard truth: Just because you don't like the way something is, doesn't mean you can act like a fool and upend a society after you don't get your way. Their actions were reminiscent of those of a spoiled child. No longer being pampered by Lucifer's babying, they were acting out.
They would accept reality soon enough. Alastor was on the throne for the foreseeable future. A man capable of killing the devil himself deserved respect. He wasn't simply asking the people to put him on a pedestal for nothing. He had earned his spot. The title of dictator wasn't one worn by just anybody. It was only worn by the strongest of demons. Those who knew how to assert their dominance and gain the respect of the citizens. The weak and corrupt would never rise to the title.
Deciding that he needed to do his own preparations, Alastor decided to check in on the inmates he was about to slaughter. Watching the fear in their eyes was going to be the best part.
And first on the list were the demons that started it all: Moxxie and Octavia Ars Goetia.
Opening a portal to the cell, he stepped inside with the utmost ease. Teasing his prey before he dove in for the kill was customary. It was what got him out of bed in the morning. Watching demons try to hold on to hope only to fall back down into failure brought him great pleasure.
He caught the two of them sleeping on the floor of their cell. Moxxie was curled up in a ball on the floor, while Octavia was propped up next to him on the wall. They were so peaceful. A princess and an imp fraternizing like that wasn't something he had expected to come out of the ordeal.
If he hadn't been planning to kill them, he might have felt the slightest bit of endearment.
Octavia woke first. She jolted awake and leapt to her feet almost immediately. Her eyes widened with fear as she laid her eyes on him. Even though she was trying to hide it, he could see that she was terrified. And it only strengthened his satisfaction. Typical royal scum. Being pampered their whole life. He was going to show her what happened to spoiled brats like her who acted out. Just like he had with her mother.
"Did I wake you? I'm sorry," Alastor said with a grin on his face, "You seem alarmed. I know you Goetias need your beauty sleep."
"What the fuck do you want?" Octavia asked with bitterness in her voice.
"Watch your tongue there, young lady. A princess should never use such foul language. Especially in the presence of such a noble figure."
She took a defensive position in front of Moxxie, who was still asleep. The imp must have been exhausted. Getting himself into so much trouble must have drained the poor lad of all of his energy. Why she was working so valiantly to defend such a worthless imp was a mystery to him. They were the lowest of society, after all. She could easily abandon him. Her continued loyalty to him almost disgusted Alastor. It was unnatural. Princesses and imps were never to cross paths.
"You seem awfully protective of your little friend," Alastor taunted, "It would be a shame if something were to happen to him-"
The princess raised a hand and positioned herself in front of the drowsy imp as he slowly raised his head with confusion. The pathetic imp wasn't even awake enough to marvel in Alastor's presence.
"Don't you lay a fucking hand on him!" Octavia barked with more vigor than she had expected, "You've done enough to him."
"Ah, but that was only a preview. Why do you care so much about him? Not like he can offer you anything."
He watched as a flash of anger appeared on her face. He was finally getting under his skin. He was doing his job correctly. Seeing the princess get so fired up over a few words was quite entertaining in his mind.
"I don't need to explain myself to you, radio-faced dickhead," Octavia shot back, "You're here for something. Just do it so I can get it over with."
"I'm not here for anything in particular. That day has not come yet," Alastor sighed, "I'm simply here to pay a visit to my favorite heir to the Goetian throne. You've made quite the rukkus, you know."
"Why don't you just kill us now? Trying to get yourself hard or something?"
"Very funny, princess. I don't think you know who you're talking to."
"I know exactly who I'm talking to. And he's a fucking psychpath who gets off to watching people suffer. You're crazy."
Behind her, Moxxie rose to his feet.
"W-what…is he doing here…?" he muttered, trying to make himself sound more alert than he actually was, "Octavia…?"
"Ah, if it's not the man behind the magic!" Alastor cheered, "Moxxie! You're finally awake. You rested well, I hope?"
Alastor wasn't given a response. Fair enough. He knew how to deal with the silent treatment. Moxxie was a resentful demon, and Alastor had killed enough of them to know what made them tick.
"You…" the imp spat with disdain.
"A little star struck, I see?" Alastor asked rhetorically, "I would assume as much. Not like you imps would know how it feels to be in the presence of such a noble figure. The best you could manage is standing right next to you."
The same flash of anger came across Moxxie's eyes. That was when Alastor knew that he was finally getting under their skin. They were too predictable. The slightest offense
was enough to get them wound up. And Alastor was loving every second of it. The two of them deserved to get a little heated before they were burned alive. The duo should have been thankful that Alastor was giving them time to contemplate their actions before he tossed them in. Any other prisoner would have been tossed headfirst off of the roof the first chance that he had.
Red pupils tracked them as the duo backed away from him along the wall of the cell. Pathetic. As if they would have anywhere else to go. Alastor could follow them to the other side of hell if the conditions favored him. There was no getting away from the Radio Demon. Not for long. Their little escape had been but a fluke. They weren't going to see the outside of those walls until the day of their execution.
"Can't you just piss off at your office and let us spend our last days in peace?" Octavia asked, "After all the shit you've given us, I think it's the least you can do. Not like we can give you anything you don't already have."
"Oh, but you can, little princess," Alastor whispered as he knelt down to her eye-level, staring directly into her shrunken pupils, "You've provided me with a show more entertaining than anything I've had in years. And you get to be a part of the grand finale."
Octavia responded to him by spitting at face with an expression of disgust. Her eyes darkened. She looked like she wanted to kill him. He would have paid good money to see her try.
Such a sign of disrespect was not to be tolerated. Hell had no room for little brats like her. At least the imp seemed to know his place, hiding behind her. His hands were balled up into fists, but he was at the very least keeping his mouth shut. It was amazing just how powerless he became once he was without his precious weapons.
His priority for the moment was the bratty princess. Moxxie would get his punishment later. Octavia needed to learn that he was not to be addressed with such disrespect and disdain.
With a snap of his fingers, the princess was lifted off the ground. He could see the fear in her eyes as she came higher off the ground. The regret was apparent. Good. She needed to be taught a lesson in manners.
"Now, Ms. Goetia, I think you should know that you never address someone like me with such disrespect. Actions have consequences. And you're about to get some of your own, princess."
"Sit on a cactus," she grumbled with a voice that quaked slightly.
Alastor decided that he was done listening to her. If she wasn't going to treat him with the reverence that he deserved, he wasn't going to listen.
He tightened his grip around her throat as she came higher and higher off the ground. The imp on the ground next to him began shouting and punching his leg. Moxxie was taken care of by a swift kick into the wall, collapsing into a heap as he clutched his head with pain.
"SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DISOBEY ME?!" Alastor shouted as Octavia's face began to turn red.
A glance at the ground allowed him to see Moxxie trying to get back to his feet. Even with the injuries that the imp had suffered over the course of the week, he was still trying to rise to his feet. Alastor made a note to himself to draw out Moxxie's execution for as long as he could. After all, it was the last thing the imp would do. And he planned on making him regret everything he had ever done.
"Put her down-!" Moxxie started before Alastor leapt into action again.
It only took the lifting of his finger to fling the imp across the room. He let out a gasp as he made contact with the wall and had the air knocked out of his lungs.
He watched as Octavia tried to scream. To shout something at him. It was pathetic. Two rebels who would ultimately amount to nothing in their lives. Like their bodies, their memory would blow away like ashes in the wind. Nobody would remember them once they were gone.
"G….Go….t-" the princess struggled in a voice barely above a raspy whisper.
Alastor didn't plan on killing them. Not before the day of his big show. He knew just how much he could toy around with them before they died. And he intended to push to that limit. They deserved every second of suffering that they had. Watching Moxxie bleed out and Octavia struggle to curse him out brought him just as much entertainment as their interrogations had.
"CONSIDER THIS A PREVIEW!" Alastor shouted as he hurled the red-faced princess into a wall with as much strength as he could muster without damaging his expensive infrastructure.
The princess fell to the ground without movement. Moxxie was barely moving, only shuffling uncomfortably with the occasional blink. His job had been done. He had given the two of them a taste of what was to come. After everything he had already done to them, they still tried to rebel against him. It was pathetic. They had to learn how to act.
And Alastor wasn't stopping at them.
Without a second thought, he opened the portal and made his way to the next set of prisoners that he wanted to toy around with. The ones that he could hurt and cause Octavia and Moxxie even more pain. They deserved it, after all.
The first two had already provided him with such an entertaining show. He was eager to see what their comrades would offer. Those five were far too attached to each other. They tied their happiness to their safety. Growing attached to another demon in hell was a choice bound to end with disappointment and heartbreak. Alastor was giving them a dignified death by letting them all die together. If he truly wanted to, he could have staggered their deaths and forced them to watch as their comrades went down one by one. He was doing them a favor. They should have been thanking him, not cursing him out and spitting in his face.
He entered the cell to find the trio fast asleep. A pitiful sight, sleeping away their final days in hell before their hour of judgment. Wasting the limited time that they had been granted sentience before they moved on to the endless void that followed.
For a moment, he wondered if he should have left them alone. Perhaps they had earned a few moments of calm before their agonizing end. He couldn't have them falling asleep on the big day. He wanted them alive and aware. They had to know what was waiting for them.
Mildred started to stir before he had time to dwell on the thought. Something about his presence must have a way of stirring demons awake. He didn't mind it. They should get the chance to marvel in his presence before he whisked them away to the void.
"Shit!" the imp screamed as she leapt to her feet, "What the hell are you doing here?!"
"I am here to observe," Alastor said, "I already paid your husband a visit. I would advise not repeating his actions."
"What did you do to him?!"
Perfect. Another reaction. Injuring loved ones was an easy way to get under the skin of feeble demons like Mildred. She was far too attached to Moxxie.
"You've lost your edge, Mildred. Getting worked up over nothing again, I see?"
The woman's eyes went dark.
The scarred imp was the next one to start talking. Blitzo.
"Here to take us to the gallows, big guy?" Blitzo asked, "What are you going to do? Kill us?"
Oh, you'll wish I'd kill you.
Prince Stolas was notably silent. He stared at Alastor with glowing red eyes that resembled those of his daughter. It made sense that he would seem so threatened by the prospect of Alastor visiting her. Like Mildred, he had lost his edge. His entire existence was now centered around the wellbeing of his bratty daughter. If Alastor had been in charge, she would have been left to the streets as a chick. The little brat couldn't even follow orders correctly. She would provide nothing to him. And neither would Stolas. Stella had been the only Goetia worth his time. She had been the most entertaining of the bunch by far. Watching a royal beg him for mercy was one of his fondest memories.
"You're awfully quiet, prince," Alastor said, "What, going to start rambling about your bratty daughter again?"
"My daughter is not a brat," Stolas almost yelled, "Like you have any right to speak."
"You have the same sass as she did. Shame. Your family doesn't know how to act around true nobles, do they?" he snickered, "Your daughter took a single glance at me and it…well, took her breath away."
Stolas charged him and grabbed Alastor's arm, as if it would do anything.
'WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Stolas asked, far more aggressive than Mildred had, "TELL ME, YOU BATSHIT STRAWBERRY!"
Alastor's eyes began to glow as the lights dimmed, "Raise your voice one more time and you're going to find out."
Nothing seemed to be able to stop the prince from getting lost with his temper. The similarities were predictable. The imps remained quiet, while the Goetia in the room had to lose their temper. The imps knew that their opinions weren't to be regarded. They knew to stay quiet, or at the very least, quieter than any Goetia. All three of them were pampered and spoiled. They acted out because nobody had ever denied them what they wanted. Alastor was the first thing in their life that money couldn't get rid of.
"YOU LITTLE BASTARD-!" Stolas started.
Mirroring what had happened with his daughter, Alastor picked Stolas up in his hands and prepared to give him hell. The imps in the room ran up to try and stop him. They only ended up in the air with him as his magic got to work. Believing they stood any chance against him was foolish.
"You act just like your daughter," Alastor spat, "And you imps should know your place. You're all the same. None of you can behave," He raised the trio higher in the cell as their heads scraped against the ceiling, "You're lucky I'm not killing you yet. Because I could make this so much worse for you."
Mildred held up a middle finger, while Blitzo tried to claw against the magic and free himself from the grasp of his spell.
They were getting angry. He found it quite entertaining. And entertainment meant that the show was only going to get better.
"You're going to regret doing this!" Alastor said, preparing to throw them across the room like their other comrades. He wasn't to go easy on them, either. The full amount of force he could use without being lethal was going to be at his disposal. If the wall was damaged in the process, he could get Edrich to fix it. All he wanted at that moment was to see them squirm.
"Foolish little imps. Now you get to enjoy the same treatment your friends had," Alastor grinned, "Let this be a lesson to you: Don't talk back to the man in charge of your fate."
Listening with joy as the demons let out a loud scream, Alastor thrust them into the wall with almost all of his strength. The wall shook and reverberated, but no cracks formed in the structure itself. Good. It would be one less thing for him to fix.
A few seconds later, he saw them shuffling uncomfortably as blood began to drip from their sides. They would survive, but only by the skin of their teeth. They would still be able to walk to the gallows when the big day came. And that was all he needed out of them. To make sure they were strong enough to walk to their doom and feel every last second of it.
Fine by him. They were paying for their actions.
He considered stopping by Princess Morningstar's cell, but decided against it. He didn't want to get carried away and end up killing her before the big day. He was riding the high of his rage, and knew that he would almost certainly ruin his plans for a climactic execution if he went in there.
And so, he left the five central focuses of his attention bleeding in their cells. His next plan was to scout the pit and make sure the flames were at their highest, along with clearing out the corpses near the base of the prison. The newest set of death row inmates deserved to be the center of the show. He didn't want the charred remains of previous adversaries getting in the way of the display.
"Just you wait," he muttered to himself as he opened a portal to the top of the tower, "You'll get your punishment soon enough. All of hell will see it. And I'll finally provide the people with the entertainment that they desire.
Looking out over the bloodied sunrise, his heart fluttered with anticipation. Two more days, and he would get the biggest show of his reign. Even killing Lucifer paled in comparison. All of hell was going to see what he was doing, not just a set of witnesses. Everyone was going to see just how truly powerful he is. How superior to Lucifer he was.
The day of reckoning was coming. Soon enough, order would be restored to hell. Fear and respect would keep all the people in line.
And his adversaries would be dead.