I know it's been awhile, guys. For those of you who are still around, I thank you. I hope you enjoy this next snippet.
Note: "Chaton" = kitten in French
A piercing scream echoed through the metaphysical shop as the Radio Demon entered, indicating the arrival of a potential customer to the shopkeeper. Alastor's eyes narrowed on the shrill device that was used as a make-shift chime to alert the presence of patrons. Oh, how he wished those screams were real. He craved to hear those blood-curdling cries of agony and fear. It occurred to him then that he was long overdue for another kill…
"Welcome to Rosie's Emporium!" A voice called from the back, interrupting his twisted yearning for slaughter. "I'll be with you in a moment!"
"I'm in no hurry, chaton," Alastor replied dismissively, scanning the array of whimsical and deadly items on the shelves.
"Oh, Alastor! Is that you?"
"It is, indeed!" he called back, running the tip of his finger along the spine of a book that held his attention before pulling back to smear the collected dust along his gloved fingertips. "How are you fairing on this fine afternoon?"
A slight, lanky character with sunken holes where her eyes should be, appeared from the back room. She was adorned with a frilly dress and an obscenely large and eccentric hat, which only emphasized her small frame. Upon first glance, it appeared that she was carrying a handful of freshly severed fingers. "I'm peachy keen, sweetheart. How could I not be? It is, after all, another glorious day in Hell!"
"You seem to be taking Franklin's departure quite well. Unaccompanied entreneurship suits you well, chaton," Alastor praised, taking note of the radiant glow emitting from the emporium owner. Her previous business partner and fellow shop owner had perished during the most recent extermination. Just another victim the angels had claimed.
Rosie flowed gracefully across the shop, setting the bloody fingers down gently in a bowl for display before turning back to address her friend. "Well, you seem remarkably… shall we say, insouciant, for an overlord who believes that he can outsmart the King of Hell."
Alastor halted his movement, though he gave nothing away in his expression. However, Rosie knew him well enough by now to notice even his most subtle tells. She was sure she saw something like amusement dancing in his red eyes.
The Radio Demon checked himself, purposely relaxing his shoulders while still maintaining his proper stance. "Why, I'm afraid I don't know what you mean."
Rosie's eyes began to narrow, apparently both taken aback and slighted by Alastor's brashness. Would he dare keep something like this from her? Even when directly confronted?
"The human," she snapped as if having caught Alastor red-handed in the midst of some juvenile gimmick.
Alastor paused, just long enough to appear caught off guard. He hadn't quite been expecting that. After all, he hadn't yet informed his friend of his nefarious plans.
"Pardon?" He questioned, hoping that she misspoke. Rosie's expression turned into a scowl as she began to lose patience with Alastor's portrayal of innocence. She knew better. Rosie glared blatantly at the Radio Demon in an attempt to emphasize her annoyance.
"Come, come now, Alastor. You cannot fool me. You know I'm usually impervious to empty gossip. However, you've been far from discreet. I know that you're up to something incredibly naughty and I'm worried for you, sweetie."
Alastor's fingers flexed - an involuntary reaction in search of his staff. He was so used to having it at his beck and call. It had become an unconventional comfort to him during times of trepidation. Instead, Alastor threw his head back as he released a huff of laughter. "Chaton, there is no reason to fret. The human you speak of has been residing at the hotel that I have recently begun renovating. I have simply taken it upon myself to be a most gracious host."
"Is that so?" There was an edge of astonishment in her voice as she shook her head with an awed expression, as if taking Alastor's secret indiscretion personally. "I will say, she must really be something if you've already got your sights set on her. You've always had an eye for opportunity." Her reaction actually made Alastor's usual grin morph into a prideful smirk. If only she knew.
"My, my. Why so intrigued, Rosie, dear? If you were anyone else plaguing me with these iniquitous accusations, I would have to slaughter you where you stand," Alastor warned. Rosie would have taken heed of Alastor's threat, if it wasn't for the fact that she knew Alastor would never truly harm her. Discipline her for heinous acts against him? Maybe. But, nothing that wouldn't heal. "As it stands, I must find a way to silence these preposterous rumors you so speak of."
"I know you like causing trouble, dear friend. As do I on occasion," she answered with a sweet and cheeky smile, showing off her fangs. "But we're already quite well established here in Hell. We've both done unspeakable things to attain all that we have. Greed is an ugly creature that doesn't suit you, Alastor."
"Ah. Yes, well, what can I say? I'm an ambitious fellow, " he jeered, which was a vague truth. "Don't worry, my friend. I assure you that whatever you've heard could not be further from the truth."
Rosie eased her posture just slightly, though her scowl remained. "Well then, let me tell you what I think. I suspect that you're up to your old tricks."
"Cleverly deduced," Alastor mocked, his tone full of distaste. He didn't enjoy being lectured.
Rosie sighed, smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress before proceeding. "You're planning on using that human to return to the mortal world, expecting your powers to remain intact. That's not how it works, sweetheart. It's a fool's errand."
What a clever girl, Alastor thought to himself. It was no wonder he valued their camaraderie as much as he did.
Alastor cocked a brow, careful to remain neutral as she continued. "As your ally - and your friend - it is my obligation to inform you when you've gone mad." Alastor's smirk grew just a bit into a wry grin. He hadn't thought Rosie would take this so personally. It was as amusing as it was surprising.
"Fine, fine, fine," he waved his hand dismissively. "I may temporarily have my horse hitched to the girl's wagon, so to speak. Surely, you of all sinners can understand the desire to expand your empire? Since when did you get so soft?"
"You've said it yourself, Alastor. There is no undoing what is done," she chided.
"Chaton, I can assure you, I have my head firmly about me in this." The mild strain from being caught off guard in Alastor's voice was nearly gone now, replaced with his usual sense of ease and delight. He was relieved that was what all Rosie's fuss was about. Though he was still taken aback by her abrasiveness over mere gossip. That wasn't like her.
"So this is just another stunt of yours then? You can't seem to help yourself, can you? Must you always go against convention? You're a reckless fool."
"No. This is not a stunt. And to be frank, dear, your insults are starting to wear thin," the Radio Demon warned, a crackle of static emphasizing his annoyance. "I have never put more thought into any other decision. I have never been more sure of something. I understand your trepidation, but one would think you would have enough faith in my intelligence to trust in what I am doing." Alastor's eyes flashed red with vexation, his posture becoming more and more domineering as he spoke.
Rosie took a moment to look him over, mulling over how to proceed with more caution. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to offend," she offered sincerely.
"However," Alastor began, flashing a wide, mischievous smile. "Say I did have something… reprehensible in the works… You have no reason to doubt my capabilities. I'll leave it at that."
Rosie's scowl didn't ease, so Alastor disregarded her. There would be a time to discuss his plans in detail, but the present time was not ideal. "Am I to assume that is the reason you summoned me here? To lecture me on my alleged impulsive actions? Or did you feel the overwhelming urge to praise my ability to attain such an incredible asset? In theory, of course" He clarified, rather sarcastically, but shifted his demeanor once Rosie's posture remained rigid.
"No," she hissed. "I summoned you in hopes of warning you."
"Oh? How delightfully ominous! Warn me of what, chaton?" Alastor asked, drumming his claws on the counter leisurely, making it apparent that he was equally unthreatened and bored.
"I'm not the only inhabitant of Hell that was caught off guard by your claim over the human, Alastor. Why, I don't recall a time I'd ever seen those three so roused. They were tickled pink! The way they lit up when they discovered that I had no knowledge of this-"
"Come, come, Rosie. Out with it," Alastor interjected, losing what little patience he had left with her ambiguity.
"Those foolhardy overlords who are always gawking about and maintain residence at that salacious studio. They know of your obsession with that girl and are already planning to make a muck of your plans. I thought I might try and beat them to it in hopes of giving you, and your new toy, a minor forewarning."
A tense silence hung in the air before Alastor could process her words. "Those imbeciles were here? Openly threatening me? And you're just disclosing this now?" Alastor seethed, his irritation sparking anew. Rosie glared and crossed her arms over her chest, a pose that was unbefitting of her normally elegant stance.
"Do not chastise me for the consequences of your actions, Alastor," she warned as a slight gust of wind cascaded through the shop, indicative of the power she held. "Should you have not been so careless with your little human, your secret may have remained concealed. Is it true that you allowed her to seek council with Valentino? Unaccompanied, no less! What did you think would happen?"
Rosie carried herself in that sanctimonious way of hers, inclining her head toward Alastor like he was a child to be patronized. Oh, how he hated that.
"I was not responsible for that atrocity. It was that vulgar, ostentatious spider who does Valentino's bidding. Had I not immediately gone to retrieve her, who knows what events may have transpired. I was hoping that once I disclosed that Lucifer had his sights set on her, they would leave well enough alone. It appears I presumed incorrectly."
"Oh, Alastor," she murmured, tilting her head sympathetically. "Dear boy, you're doing too much. That human is more trouble than she's worth. There are too many people in power who want a piece of her. If you want to secure her as your own, you're going to need to get ahead of this." Her tone was placating but only marginally effective. Alastor held her stare for a moment longer and then turned away from her.
"I can deal with those three cretins. I'm not intimidated in the slightest."
"Your expression says otherwise," Rosie affirmed, stepping around to force him to face her. "They're going to be difficult to subdue. They have new artillery. That irksome small one was bragging about how she was able to get her hands on fruit from the forbidden tree."
"...come again?" Alastor asked, quirking a brow.
The elegant demon tapped a long, pale finger against her mouth thoughtfully, continuing as if she hadn't heard him. "I don't know what they're planning on doing with it, but it can't be anything good."
Alastor was glaring again. The look was heated and impatient. His jaw tensed as he bit out, "I'm afraid that ship has sailed. The girl has already been infected with it."
Rosie, unfazed by his trite display, gave him a surprised expression. "Oh? And she survived?"
"It would appear so," he sneered.
That explained the girl's hallucinations. Alastor was please to have that mystery solved, but he did not enjoy being outdone by his rivals. Especially those he considered so far beneath him. They would not even have known about his attachment to the human had Angel not gotten involved. This angered him further. The spider had come so close to running his plans. So very close. No, no, her continued companionship with him would not do. He would have to sever those ties immediately.
A sudden lurch to his insides alerted him of another demon within close proximity, though not from inside the shop. It seemed that his shadow was communicating with him, sending warning signals that his human was no longer unaccompanied. Though Alastor felt no threatening presence, he did not trust that whoever was with her meant her no harm.
"I think it's time I bid you farewell, chaton" Alastor stated, deciding that it was time the conversation ended. Though he was displeased with the amount of knowledge that Rosie possessed regarding his plans, it was too late now. Alastor would never be foolish enough to fully trust anyone, even his closest of friends, but maybe they could somehow work together in the near future. Rosie was certainly a formidable ally. Perhaps, this could potentially work in his favor.
Regardless, Alastor was getting more and more antsy the longer he left the girl with the unknown stranger.
"As you wish. But please, Alastor. Heed my warning," Rosie replied, escorting her friend towards the exit.
"Yes, yes, chaton. I hear your concerns," he promptly dismissed before placing a delicate parting kiss on her cheek. "I thank you for your guidance and for your hospitality."
She smiled genuinely at him, showing off her pearly fangs. "It's always a pleasure, sweetie. Please be careful."
"Always," he winked as he turned to leave.
"And be mindful of that temper of yours!" she insisted, wagging an accusatory finger. "It's going to consume you one of these days!"
His smile widened into a sinister grin. "Oh, I'm counting on it."