Four months ago Lydia Deetz would never have believed that she would find herself willingly wrapped around the specter that had haunted her family all those years ago. He was filthy, in more than one sense, and more than a little unstable, yet here she was pressing herself on him like a five-dollar whore. She couldn't bring herself to feel ashamed, only relieved that after one and a half months of no sleep and her near-miss two nights prior the torment would end. She didn't even care that she'd be married and bedded by the disgusting poltergeist. At least she'd be safe, relatively speaking.
Lydia had even been enjoying the bio-excorcist's cold touch when the demon's presence had crept over her skin like a sludge. Her ardor was doused by the sight of the dark smoke and abrasive energy that lashed against her. She swallowed a whimper as she watched the creature begin to manifest and shuddered at the low growl that rumbled through her body.
Betelgeuse stiffened at the deep sound that was more of a vibration in his bones than anything actually heard. The poltergeist clenched his jaw and glared over his shoulder at the ominous cloud swirling like a vortex behind him. Here he was, hard enough to cut a fucking diamond, and this fuckwit had to choose now to show up?
Goddamn fucking cockblocking piece of shit.
Betelgeuse was vaguely aware of Lydia pushing none-too-gently against him and grudgingly allowed her some distance between them. Looked like he would have to 'collect' after the job was done after all. When the ghost turned with a smart-ass remark halfway out of his mouth he was struck with a sudden force and grunted as he was slammed into the wall opposite. His quip was crushed out of him along with the air in his lungs, and he was damn lucky he was already dead or he would have been, under the suffocating weight of the beast's attack.
The mist solidified into a long tail, whip-thin and powerful despite looking like mere skin stretched over vertebrae. His eyes followed the appendage pinning him and he cursed under his breath, or would have if he'd had any to spare, as he took in the huge skeletal creature. Betelgeuse had taken on demons in the past, mostly because they were encroaching on his clientele, but those things had been low to mid level. Small and easily taken care of.
The thing in front of him was fucking massive, a size that was no doubt exaggerated in the scant space of the bathroom but, hell, it's wing bones arched over it's head to touch the ceiling and flared out to hit either wall, and they were not even fully unfurled. It's body easily spanned the width and breadth of the bathroom with flesh to spare. He had never seen anything like it. Not that was able to cross into the living world, anyhow.
The thing held Lydia's legs pinned with one clawed hand and it's beasts skull glared balefully at her with empty sockets for a few breaths. Suddenly an impossible grin stretched over it's features as it inhaled her scent and took great pleasure in whatever it found there. It lifted it's head to glance smugly between the window of it's wings and quills at the poltergeist and parted it's terrible jaws to release a steaming breath of laughter. The sound was both booming in it's depth and barely audible.
Without breaking it's gaze away from the poltergeist it allowed it's free claw to trail languidly over the exposed flesh of the struggling mortal girl and pause over a single breast. Betelgeuse, who had been cursing soundlessly, suddenly felt a growl of his own building in his throat. Piece of shit needed to get it's paws off of his damn wife or it would learn exactly why he was the ghost with the most. He let his 'juice' loose only to bare his teeth in a snarl as the demon, still laughing, used it's own energy to swat the attack away, like a cat would a troublesome bird.
Seeing that the ghost still had far too much fight in him the beast applied more pressure with it's tail and Betelgeuse felt his already cracking ribs poke into his long-useless organs, it sneered at him before turning it's attention back to his Lyds. Betelgeuse had been gearing up for another, more physical, assault when he saw the look on the broad's face and gritted his rotten teeth in fury. His mother fucking woman was staring up at the thing with an expression torn between terror and admiration, as if she wasn't quite sure if the demon before her was the most amazing or terrifying creature she had ever laid eyes upon. No wonder the fuck tard was fixated on her, with the bitch looking at him like it was some sort of dark god.
Oh hell no. Betelgeuse would be the only one to receive that look from the girl.
The devil leaned over her with it's jaws opened and impossible tongue extended. Globs of disgusting saliva fell on and around Lydia with sickening plops as it's canine skull descended to do god knew what. Just as before, when the creature drew closer her senses cleared as she recognized she was in mortal peril. As soon as it was within range Lydia jolted upwards and slammed the dome of her head into it's bottom jaw with a painful 'thunk'. The beast squealed as it's sharp teeth clamped together and severed half of it's slimy appendage and the girl cringed at the hot spray of tar-black blood that coated her.
The demon reared back as it's severed tongue danced like a sidewinder across the linoleum and left a trail of liquid coal in it's wake.
The stunt freed Betelgeuse who moved immediately to seize the devil's flailing tail and yank it hard. It screeched with fury and doubled back along it's body to retaliate with it's claws. The thing shoved his head hard into the tiles and dug its talons into his sides, that growl still rumbled through the poltergeist's body. Spikes erupted from Betelgeuse's clothes and the beast was forced back with a frustrated snarl. The demon did not relent for long and the poltergeist grunted as he managed to grab the thing by its ram-like horns as it slammed him bodily into the wall once more.
Fucking thing was strong. He got a good close look at it as they strained against one another and had to bite the inside of his cheek as he realized exactly what it was.
Black sludge dripped from the thing's skeletal jaws and the puddles steamed and bubbled unnaturally where they formed on the floor. As the pair struggled a red light began to shine in the back of the creature's empty sockets. The quills on it's shoulders stood on end and quivered with frustration as the barely-there membranes of it's wings twitched in the air disturbed by it's lashing tail.
"You don't do things by halves do ya babes?" He ground out with a strained chuckle, "couldn't just be a demon, oh no, demon's not good enough for you. Had to be a grade A genuine fucking devil." What the fuck did the thing want with his Lyds? Devils did a lot of fucked up shit, but they did not bother with living mortals, no matter how much said mortal admired their darkness. That said, he never had heard of a devil caring enough to come topside to bother with the humans.
The thing garbled something at him in it's own language, but he wasn't paying attention as he tightened his grip and twisted it's head to the side and sent enough of his juice through the devil's body to fry all of the inmates on death row. The red light within it's empty sockets flared as it hissed and flailed, the thing's lashing tail barely missed Lydia who still sat against the wall, dazed from the force of her headbutt.
"Sayonara." He gloated with a satisfied smirk and he threw the thing upward with as much effort as chucking a baseball. It dissipated into smoke as it hit the ceiling and wafted like an angry storm cloud for a few moments before fading out of sight. Fatigue hit the ghost, but he played it off as he stood up straight and stuck a hand in his pocket. Betelgeuse spat blood to the side and rubbed at his slightly imploded chest where the bones were noisily popping out of his organs and back into place.
Lydia roused slightly as the black faded from her vision and lifted a trembling hand to wipe at some of the demon's blood. She let out a choked sound in the back of her throat and tilted her head to stare up at the pristine ceiling. The strangled sound morphed into giddy giggles and then manic laughter. Tears leaked out of the corner of her eye to mingle with the blood oozing down her cheek.
"what's so fuckin' funny." Betelgeuse groused around the lit cigarette he had pulled from his pocket. Bitch had lost it. He was a little jealous that the devil had managed what he never had. Though truth be told Betelgeuse never seriously attempted to scar the kid before. As the mortal continued to choke on her laughter he contemplated what he'd witnessed and came to a grim conclusion as he rubbed his healed torso absently. Whatever the devil wanted with the human girl, it was not seeking to kill her.
"I'm fucked." She managed through her mirth, "I'm so absolutely screwed." Her hysteria only increased as she continued, "That thing is going to use me like a goddamn prison bitch."
"Forgettin' somthin' babes." He grumbled as he exhaled a puff of smoke and watched her nervous breakdown with less satisfaction than he would normally.
"That thing is going to come back, and you can't do shit about it. Ghost with the most my ass." Lydia slowly regained her feet and nearly slipped in one of the cooling puddles of tar as she made her way over to the sink.
"Cut a guy some slack. Asshole caught me with my pants down!" Betelgeuse ran a frustrated hand through his hair before scratching some of the mold on his neck, "Got rid of it anyway." He grumbled to save face. When she continued to ignore him Betelgeuse grabbed her shoulder only for her to round on him and shove him away with surprising force. He blinked at the action; she should not be that strong, the thought was out of his head at her incensed response.
"Don't. Fucking. Touch me." She snarled with a wild gleam in her eye and ice in her voice, "I don't know why I bothered to call you, shit's just going to escalate. Again." Betelgeuse narrowed his eyes at the last word. That meant that she had been fighting this thing on her own for some time before she had called for his help. The thought just added fuel to his anger.
"Hey, I ain't gotta hang around here." He snapped.
"Go, then! I don't care!" Lydia's voice cracked and gave lie to the statement she turned to bend over the sink to hide the moisture gathering in her eyes. She would figure something else out. There was at least a few days before the demon would regain enough strength for another assault. Truly the infamous 'ghost with the most' had only accomplished what her well-placed kick had. And with one hundred times the mess.
She held her breath against the sobs that wanted to tear out of her. She had not gotten nearly enough sleep to deal with this, to deal with him. "I'm sorry." She sniffled, "please don't go." The truth was Betelgeuse was her only hope, distasteful as it was to admit.
If he couldn't get rid of the creature then it was going to win, and she trembled with terror to think of what it's victory would entail.
A/N
The demon's gender is going to swing from 'he' to 'it' a lot, just a warning. Thanks to The Art Of Suicide and ArtemisRwail for the reviews on chapter 2.