Chapter Twenty-One

MR. V

"Hey, now, I actually like this suit," He tried to joke as he clawed at the hand holding him against the brick wall, but the great Chernabog was not amused.

He growled and those yellow eyes pierced Mr. V deeply. "Where are you hiding her?"

"What the -?" Before he could move or make another comment, Chernabog slammed him back against the brick wall of the alley again. It creaked and crackled, and Mr. V was certain he heard a few seams ripping and was very wary that it was his own skull and not the wall. His grip tightened around his throat and Mr. V was finding himself in a very uncomfortable position.

"I said, where is my daughter?" His growl was feral and there was such a vengeful look in those yellow orbs at having to repeat his question.

"I don't know . . ." Mr. V rasped out, trying to claw his throat free so he could breathe again, "what you're talking . . . about!"

He wanted nothing more than to fight off the great demon king, however, doing so at that very moment would do nothing good for either of them. Mr. V wanted to know why Chernabog was here, and Chernabog wanted to know where his daughter was, he at least needed to cooperate with him long enough to get his own questions answered.

"Hey!" There was a shout from the mouth of the alley way. "Release him, you brute!"

Mr. V had just enough wiggle room to twist his head towards the mouth of the alley to see Mr. Po and Ms. Villa running towards him. Chernabog didn't bother casting a glance their way as he continued to crush Mr. V's windpipe. Dots spotted his vision. Mr. V held his hand up, trying to warn them not to come closer, but they still ran towards him. "Stay back -!"

"Surely we can talk this out," Mr. Po's voice was a little twisted, as though he hoped Chernabog would rather fight to get his own tensions out. "Handle this like gentlemen."

"Begone, vermin." Chernabog slapped his massive tail against the cement in warning and cracked the sidewalk. Ms. Villa gasped, and Mr. Po pushed her behind him. "This does not concern you."

"He is our employer!" Not one to be silenced, Ms. Villa pushed her way around Mr. Po. "We have a hell of a lot of things to do that can't be done without him, and you will release him now!"

"Villa." Mr. V grimaced and gasped for air as he could feel static crawling up the walls. "Stop it."

"I will not!" She stomped her heel and marched up to the large demon king pointing her finger and huffing all the way. "I have already lost one co-worker this month, and I refuse to pick up the work of another. Now unhand him!"

"Or don't, please, whatever it is you feel like doing." Mr. Po chuckled darkly as he stood alongside Ms. Villa, his hand twitched as if itching for a fight. Electricity danced across his fingers as he wiggled them, ready to summon his weapon to a fight. "I wouldn't mind a good workout."

For all their good intentions, and the underlying bad intentions, Mr. V was sure he was soon to meet his end thanks to their 'help'. He barely had the strength to keep his hands up and didn't dare kick his feet else gravity be used against him and truly kill him. He had hoped to have at least another five years to live his life before his own debts and karma caught up with him, but it felt as though things were catching up quicker than he expected. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on breathing out his nose rather than gasping from his mouth. He would rather the man just kill him now rather than drag this whole thing out. As if sensing his fleeting will to live, Chernabog loosened his grip just a hair so Mr. V could open his eyes again. Chernabog growled lowly as he brought his face closer to further intimidate him. "I know she was here. I know she was working for you. Her scent is everywhere in the air here!"

"She's been missing for almost two weeks!" Ms. Villa answered as Mr. V tried to pull the large claw from his throat with no success. "We've heard no word from her since she left."

Upon hearing this, Chernabog turned his attention to her and dropped Mr. V to the ground. A loud gasp for air followed by a rough cough escaped Mr. V and he rubbed his bruised throat as he landed flat on his back against the concrete. If he had any air within his lungs to begin with it surely would have been knocked out of him now. Ms. Villa let out a gasp as she and Mr. Po ran over to his aid, Villa helping him sit up while Mr. Po summoned a jagged and edged scythe that spiraled with thorns of electricity to defend against the demon king looming over them. Chernabog's lips rolled in a growl, irritation evident in his eye roll as his nose wrinkled in displeasure as he looked at the mere mortals before him. Chernabog merely crossed his arms and looked down expectantly for more answers. "You're telling me my daughter ran?"

"Daughter?" Ms. Villa's head snapped up and pointed a glare at Mr. V. Since Ms. Scatter's disappearance, there hadn't been a good time to explain everything that has happened, nor had Mr. V really had the energy to explain everything; now he regretted procrastinating in providing them with said knowledge. The glare behind those green glasses radiated enough anger that would kill him the next time she opened her mouth. Mr. V grimaced and grabbed her hand, gave a quick squeeze with a promise to properly explain things as he sat up, if he didn't die first that is.

"That's one way, to put it." Mr. V coughed out and dusted himself off as he stood. Ms. Villa assisted him, holding him up by the arm while Mr. Po still stood in front of them protectively, twitching for a fight. "Though if I knew you were looking for me," Feeling bruises on his windpipe, he loosened the tie around his neck and tried to smile again, "we could have set up a proper appointment – "

"Do not lie to me, Shadowman." Chernabog hissed his displeasure, tail tapping the ground impatiently. "I have tried to be civil and do things the human way and you have successfully avoided me these past few weeks. It is a result of your absence that has caused this."

"And what would you have me do?" Mr. V flung out his arm angrily and the shadows rippled around him as he glared up at the demon king before him. His fellow Hosts looked to the shadows around them, to each other, then worriedly to Mr. V. "I don't know where she is!" He spat, the shadows rising with his anger, "She never told me where she went, she just up and told me she was handin' in her two weeks' notice then up and left!"

There was much more emotion in his words than he meant to add, he could sense the tension between his Hosts as they looked back at him; but it was too late to take it back now. He already had enough things to have to retell and explain to them, and him running his mouth now was only going to make matters worse; and yet he could have cared less. The shadows shook and morphed, threatening to act out on his anger as he continued. "I don't know where she is, and if I did, I wouldn't tell you!" He pointed up at the demon king, and both Villa and Po had to hold him back from doing something truly foolish. "Do you even know how terrified she was when she saw you arrive here?"

"I can only imagine." His golden eyes narrowed unsurprised at Mr. V. "She is my daughter after all. After the way she left the state of our Realm she should be terrified to see me."

"What could she possibly have done to your Realm that would cause her to run for her life?" Ms. Villa spouted as she tried to hold Mr. V back.

"You don't know?" Chernabog sneered down at her with mirth. "Well, it looks like she was a good child and managed to keep her mouth shut after all like the wizard told her."

"Now see here," Ms. Villa jingled and jangled as she shoved Mr. V behind her as she pointed an angry finger in Chernabog's face. "I have had it up to here with everyone and I demand to know what the hell is going on! Stop your quibbling and talking in riddles!"

"Eva, dear, I don't think this is the place we want to have this confrontation." Mr. Po hissed lightly as he now had to restrain both of his fellow Hosts.

"I don't care!" She shrieked, hands balled into fists at her sides and her bangles clattering and her magenta hair rising with static. "I have been left in the dark long enough, by our very employer who has promised to answer my questions and I demand to have an answer now!"

There was a crackle in the sky, as if the lightning were cackling with glee and ready to strike at any moment. As angry as Mr. V was, Mr. Po was right that an alley was not the most suitable place for this confrontation and if Ms. Villa did not get a hold of her temper, they would all be shot down by lightning thanks to one of her underlying powers. Though it would ensure little damage to the castle should there be any outbursts, there would be many more casualties if they were to take out their anger on one another out on the streets. While trying to calculate some sort of plan, it was evident on Chernabog's face that he was losing interest in them.

"It would seem as though you are of no use to me, then." Chernabog grunted through his nose and flexed his wings. "If she's not here and you don't know of her whereabouts, then it means only one thing; she's returned to the Fantasia Realm."

Thunder clapped and a chill came with the winds and the promise of a fast rain shower as the three Hosts looked up at the demon king. Mr. V's throat felt so dry and he was suddenly at a loss for words. He was not sure if one way or another he gave her position away, but he had to do something to prevent Chernabog from returning to that Realm. He was not entirely sure what this Villain was capable of, however, he was a demon, so it was very certain that he was powerful. Getting this guy to stay here was going to be rather difficult, but if he feigned enough confidence, he was sure he could convince him to stay. Mr. V let out a chuckle to loosen his nerves before placing his hands on his cane.

"You'll have to forgive me, Chernabog." His fellow Hosts turned and looked at him with wide eyes, Chernabog looked disinterested as he leaned on his cane and looked up at Chernabog. Disbelief on Mr. Po's face and a ridiculous incredulous look stained Ms. Villa's as the rain began to sprinkle over them. "I've been on edge for the past few weeks," he rolled his sore shoulders and tried to stand with confidence though his body pleaded to just curl up and sleep. "You see things haven't been runnin' as smoothly as I'd like."

Chernabog scoffed, his lips curled back in a snarl, "What should that matter to me?"

"It shouldn't." He agreed with a shrug and took a step forward, "But, surely, as a father, I'm sure you'd like to know what it is your daughter has been up to in her absence from your Realm." The wrinkle of disdain returned to the demon king's nose and he bared his teeth at him. Even if the beast before him did seem like a giant deadbeat, he would have to be a little curious about what Ashe Scatter has been up to. "How's about I let you in and we discuss some things inside?"

"What for?" Chernabog raised an eyebrow at him. "You've both wasted my time and proved yourself useless to me."

"I know I was rude." Mr. V insisted as he freed himself from his Hosts' clutches and held his hands up in surrender. "Allow me to make it up to you," he gestured towards the castle, "and see what we can't discover together?"

Glaring daggers came at him from all sides from both of his fellow Hosts and the fearsome demon king behind him, such a familiar feeling yet sadly amongst friends. Chernabog merely glared down his nose at him, arms crossed, his claws digging into the muscles in the crook of his elbow, and for the first time in a while Mr. V was worried he was actually going to have to use his Friends on the Other Side to assist him if he didn't agree. With a roll of his eyes, Chernabog reluctantly agreed, "Very well."

He relaxed his shoulders and shrunk down to a more appropriate height to enter the Anti-Castle. Mr. V was a good six-foot-high, but Chernabog, in his human height, stood at least a good seven five high. He still just had to be an intimidating stature, even amongst the mortals. The rain was courteous enough to wait until they got to the stoop of the front door before it fell wide open and poured loudly to trap them within the castle. Ms. Villa and Mr. Po huddled together, making sure to stand a good distance away from their new guest but in perfect glaring shots of Mr. V's head.

Doing his best to ignore the glares that dug into his back, he tapped the front stairs with his cane and the door swung right open. Chernabog's footsteps were loud and almost thunderous as he walked in behind Mr. V. The castle was quiet, no ghosts flitting about, the Recruits were locked away in their Realms completing missions, and the remaining Staff were nowhere to be seen. It looked just as barren and abandoned in the foyer as it had when Dr. Facilier claimed it as his own, and it was unnerving to think and to see that the program was quickly reaching its end. With so many of the Recruits succeeding in claiming their own accomplishments, the Staff has slowly faded away to finally be at peace, and the Castle reminds the Hosts that their stay here in the Anti-Realm is just temporary.

They all shuffled inside while thunder rolled mockingly overhead, lightning crackled in cruel amusement, Mr. V stood to the side to allow everyone else in while his Hosts went to the fire and Chernabog glowered at everything. Mr. V grimaced while his back was turned to him and knew that this was not going to be a pleasant afternoon. He was evidently completely unimpressed with Villa's interior designs and rare findings of all the villainous collectibles that Disney had to offer. Chernabog snorted disapprovingly as he looked around the foyer upon entering. "What business did my daughter have here?"

"Ms. Scatter –" Mr. V could hardly get two words out before Chernabog pinned him with a glare that promised to rip his skull from his spine.

"Scatter?" Chernabog rose a brow as he looked at the shorter man.

"Your daughter." Mr. V made sure to tread carefully as he shut the doors behind him. "She chose to go by Ms. Scatter while employed here."

"Fitting." He grunted and rolled his neck, joints popping like rolling boulders. "What did my daughter do here?"

"She was my secretary and assistant." Mr. V answered bluntly and honestly despite his fellow Hosts shaking their heads at him.

"What a waste of her power." Chernabog looked at him in great disapproval, his claws digging into the fat of his arms as he crossed them. "Were you even aware of her power, or did you give her menial tasks to prevent her from using them?"

"It was her choice." Mr. V snipped and was aware of the glances and whispers from his fellow Hosts. "She helped to establish the Recruiter Program and even went to the many different Realms to speak with Villains to discuss terms."

"And what were you doing that you couldn't do it?"

"I had to regain the title of this enormous building as well as the rights and the licenses for this program." Mr. Po and Ms. Villa shifted nervously to the side as they watched the tensions rising between their employer and the demon king who only grew more irritated the longer Mr. V spoke. "Let's just say that the original owner and title holder of this establishment had to go off to another place and there were quite a few debts to pay off in the process."

Chernabog almost gave way to a smirk under all his displeasure, "You did away with him."

If his throat weren't aching and his temper already high, Mr. V would have been wilting at how easily Chernabog saw through his words. There were much more difficult matters to it all, such as making sure his own Villain never resurfaced in this Realm again and stayed on the Other Side, battling against the other Villains who dared to claim the throne of the Realm as their own, and keeping his fellow Hosts out of all the icky pies that put his own soul in debt with the Other Side. So long as he kept them out of it and had them do their own tasks to aid the Recruits reach their own successes, that was all that mattered in the end.

"I just made sure he paid his debts." Mr. V shrugged his ever-growing tense shoulders and led him to the direction of the elevators. "Shall we bring this to my office?"

Chernabog rolled his eyes with a growl and walked in the direction that was suggested to him. Acknowledging his fellow Hosts' presence, Mr. V cleared his throat as he dared to look at them. Mr. Po had a relatively neutral face, but there was anger brewing in his eyes while Ms. Villa had no problem in showing her displeasure with their employer as lightning crackled outside. Mr. V paused for a moment and took note of the static glare she gave him and released a heavy sigh. "Once the two of you have changed, meet me in my office so that we may all discuss what we are to do as we move forward."

Still holding her glare, her bristled magenta hair flattened again as she turned on her heel and dragged Mr. Po behind her in a huff. Their footsteps echoed on the marble floors while Mr. V turned and led the great Chernabog back to the elevator. The beast walked with heavy and impatient footsteps as she followed after Mr. V while he pressed the button to the elevator.

"What sorts of things did you have my daughter do?" Chernabog groused as he crossed his arms, his reflection glaring back at him as the elevator groaned in taking them to the next floor.

"She managed a schedule for our residents, she kept up with them, organized meetings with Villains, and helped me translate a few documents along the way of things." He listed them off and was only reminded how much he needed her and missed her.

While he continued to list off the many wonders that Ashe Scatter was, he couldn't help but worry about her and wonder where she was. Things had drastically changed, and things were only going to continue to drastically change until they finally reached a point of peace. For the Recruits it meant a Happy Ending and a life away from their Villains, for the Villains, it meant they had their own little world to live happily in away from the darkness of the Anti-Realm. For Mr. V and his fellow Hosts, well, that was to be determined. There was no telling if there would be an opportunity for them to continue the program and extend Happy Endings to others, or if it would all fall apart with just the small handful he had.

He knew that Mr. Po and Ms. Villa would be all right, they handled so many contracts and exchanges with the surface world that they could blend right in if they were forced to leave this Realm. Even Mr. V could easily fall back into his little Realm doing magic tricks on the streets and having fun in the swamps if the whole program fell apart. Scatter, however, didn't have much to return to if she returned at all. Her previous Realm had shattered or broken or whatever it was she had done to break it and she had been a vagabond traveling from Realm to Realm, working odd jobs where she could that she did not have a place to call her own. Though he missed her greatly, he did hope she would be able to return back to her own Realm, however, he would always have an open invitation for her to his own Realm if she wasn't. Whether she would join him in his Realm or choose to stay in her own or even stay in the Anti-Realm was entirely up to her.

When the elevator doors opened a tall man, who stood six foot five with long black hair tied back in a ponytail and almost glowing green eyes behind a pair of square glasses, had a huge smirk on his face upon seeing Mr. V with Chernabog. "Welcome back, Master Valentino."

Mr. V's nose wrinkled, his lip twitched into a snarl at the title of 'master' as he glared at the human personification of the Evil Queen's Magic Mirror standing before them. "Ischer."

He had forgotten how he had cut the Magic Mirror a deal in achieving Adam's Happy Ending, and now he was to suffer the consequences of his services in Ms. Scatter's absence. Yet another secret that he has managed to keep from his fellow Hosts, and another reason for them to grow more distant from him. Mr. V had confined the Magic Mirror to his office to manage the stories in his absence, and he hadn't left his office since. His voice droned in remark as Mr. V and Chernabog left the elevator. After sealing Adam's fate in achieving his Happy Ending as well as one for the Evil Queen Grimhilde, he was able to exchange his lifelong imprisonment behind glass for a body in which he would serve the Anti-Realm Castle. Seeing his attitude change, Chernabog looked at the new figure before him with interest.

"You don't seem to be fond of your servant, mortal." His voice rolled with a hint of amusement. "Surely you did not treat my daughter in the same manner."

"Of course not, Master Chernabog," Ischer smirked as his green eyes cut a glare at Mr. V. "Ms. Scatter kept my foolish employer here in line and on his toes."

No matter how capable Ischer was at filling in for Ms. Scatter, that did not make him any less annoying. Much to Mr. V's chagrin, Chernabog showed some sort of approval to Ischer and he could only hope he would remain charismatic enough to pull the answers he needed. "Ah, yes, her temporary replacement." Mr. V said with a tight smile. "This is an old pal of mine who has recently been freed from his life sentence of perpetual solitude, Ischer."

"It is an honor to meet you, Lord Chernabog." Ischer placed his hand over his heart and gave a small bow in reverence to the demon king. "I have only heard wondrous tales of you and your endeavors in Fantasia."

Mr. V cast a hard glare at Ischer as he stood to full attention again, oozing with confidence and his infinite knowledge through the power of mirrors. The curl in the mirror's smile only proved that he was as knowledgeable as he portrayed to be about Fantasia.

"What are you?" Chernabog narrowed his eyes at Ischer. "Your scent is unearthly."

"A curse born of curses and cursed to serve others for the rest of eternity." Ischer only smirked in response as he pushed his glasses back onto his nose. "I was previously employed under the Evil Queen, now I'm here."

Chernabog raised his brow as he looked around the office space very unimpressed. "And you chose this life?"

"Not upon my first birth into the world under my previous master." Ischer's face remained firm in his expression. "But now that I am free to move as I wish, I am happy to be here."

"Just because you now look like a mortal does not mean that you should act like one." Chernabog turned his gaze to Mr. V. There was something in his accusing gaze that he didn't like. "Are you the one that restricted him to the body of a mortal?"

"He willingly agreed to it." Mr. V answered coolly. "Unlike my predecessor before me I lay out the rules and the costs for each deal and predicament. Your daughter was just as aware of her circumstances while working here."

Chernabog said nothing, but his golden eyes just continued to scrutinize Mr. V; which only lit a fire within him to his silent challenge. Ischer looked to Mr. V and was thankful for his presence to bring him back down to earth again. "Shall I prepare beverages and a snack for you two gentlemen?"

"Yes, Ischer." Pleased that the Magic Mirror was being helpful rather than difficult, Mr. V smiled and readjusted his hat on his head to recompose himself. "Coffee for me and make it strong. Prepare an additional two cups for my fellow Hosts. They'll be joining us shortly."

Ischer's eyes lit up at this news, then looked to Chernabog. "And for you, Lord Chernabog?"

"Whatever meat you have and the heaviest alcohol you have." He grunted before turning to follow Mr. V into his office. With his back ever so slightly turned to the great demon king, he could feel the knots of tension forming in his spine and the new burdens that were about to fall upon his shoulders. This was going to be another difficult ride with another difficult Villain.

Upon entering the office, Mr. V tapped his cane to pull up a large enough chair for Chernabog, a suitable table and chairs for his fellow Hosts, for the fire to be aflame and warm them both, and to get things arranged on his desk for notes and contracts to be made and exchanged. Finally behind his desk he gestured to the tall backed red velvet chair for Chernabog to sit in. He removed his hat from his head and placed it on the filing cabinets behind him. Chernabog examined the room looking unamused by all the odd jars and bobbles and trophies around the room. Chernabog slowly made his way up the carpeted floor, looked to the chair in moderate surprise before taking his seat and Mr. V followed suit. He snapped his fingers and skeleton hands appeared with pen and paper and readied itself beside him.

"Amusing." Chernabog almost gave away a smirk. The skeleton hand clicked the pen and started scribbling on the paper.

"Just a classic trick for me." Mr. V spoke curtly as he leaned forward in his chair, flicking the cuffs of his sleeves out of his way as he drew closer to the desk. "What do you want with Ms. Scatter?"

MS. VILLA

Eva shrieked as she stormed down the halls dragging Eito behind her. Her heels clicked angrily, jewelry swishing in time with her anger, while he clomped clumsily behind her. "We should have let the demon have him."

"And be left with his work in addition to our own?" Eito scoffed behind her, slamming the door behind them. "I think not. You even said so yourself. "

She snatched her wet coat from her body and slung it to the ground. "Who does he think he is?"

"Our employer," Eito hummed irritably as he removed his necktie and unbuttoned his vest.

"We hardly work for him," she rolled her eyes and picked her gloves from her hands as she escaped into the expanse of her closet to find something warm to wear.

"Fine, our business partner," Eito hedged as he slid off his own gloves and shuffled out of his suit coat as he followed after her. "Does it matter?"

"We have been beyond patient," she kicked off her shoes as she worked on removing her jewelry, "and he still hasn't told us anything!"

After he escorted Ashe through the Door Between Realms, they literally hit the ground running with work to do, all of them trying to do everything that Ashe did in addition to their own work. Not to mention the Recruits are in knots and tangles in their stories and missions and haven't been to the castle in weeks! Eva was behind on her drafts and projects that they needed to sell for the autumnal season, Eito was running himself to death trying to keep up with all the Recruits in their own Realms, and Mr. V was barley running on coffee fumes doing both his job and Ashe's massive amount of work. Now with the Staff practically gone, the Hosts had to care for almost everything! It has been an entire nightmare being left in the dark for so long and Mr. V refusing to be forthcoming with anything. She grunted in frustration as she slammed the jewelry in a trinket tray on the dresser and reached behind her to reach the zipper of her dress.

"What difference would it make, dear?" Eito kicked off his own shoes as he slowly made his way to her to help her with the zipper. "As frustrating as it is, the man has kept secrets from us the moment we were employed here, we knew that coming here." She gritted her teeth while shifting through the clothes for something simple to throw on while Eito tried to reason with her. "Other than Ms. Scatter's sudden absence from our lives, the man doesn't owe us anything."

He was using reason to persuade her anger and temper, but it only coiled everything she felt within her tighter and sharper. Her hands stopped on a random mauve dress she plucked from the closet and turned to glare at him over her glasses. Static billowed around her and the clothes in the closet and drawers clamored, wanting to cling to her. No matter how pretty his face was and persuasive he could be with his words, she did not want to listen to reason and she wanted to be angry. Eito very clearly saw this, Eva crossing her arms to steel her resolve, and let out a heavy sigh.

"Eva, darling - " She didn't want to look at him and turned her face away from him as he approached, hugging the dress to her torso and squeezing her eyes shut. "The man is the boss of this whole operation for a reason. He's playing his part in all this just like we are." He now stood in front of her, his dress shirt unbuttoned and clinging to his torso as he gently reasoned with her. "No matter how curious we are, he doesn't owe us an explanation."

"Oh, bullocks." She puffed out her cheeks and rolled her eyes as she stormed out of the closet, shimming out of her wet dress down to her ankles while throwing the mauve one over her head. "Ashe was my friend and he knows something!"

"Eva." Eito's tone was losing his never-ending patience as he followed after her. "We hardly know the man."

She harped a laugh and went over to her vanity to freshen her face. "He acts like he knows us pretty well and that we're not good enough to know what is going on!"

"He only knows us by our own credits, not our true capabilities." He said flatly, a hint of anger just underlying in his tone. He now stood behind her, watching her through the mirror. "Even then, the man has allowed us to do however we please in return for fulfilling our duties. Don't go throwing his leniency with us back in his face."

"This isn't about him." She turned sharply on him, pointing her finger to his chest as she rose from her seat. Her voice wobbled and the static crackled around her and caused her nylon stockings to shock her a bit. "T-This is about Ashe and her wellbeing."

He scowled with an accusing look as he grabbed her pointing finger. "Are you truly trying to tell me that in the short time we've been here and working with them that you've truly befriended Ms. Scatter rather than use her for your own personal gain?"

She would have answered yes without hesitation, but Eito cut off whatever pitiful excuses she would use in her temper tantrum with that warning look. She hated being angry, she hated the way she felt that silly desperation to remain calm and powerless as well as give into the greedy desire to expel that power. She hated that being angry made her feel powerful. She wanted to remain angry with Mr. V, but she knew she was more furious with herself. She especially hated how she was losing this argument with him and he knew it. More than anything in this Realm she desperately wanted to have a true friendship with Ashe, but even if she lied to herself about the matter, she and Ashe were nothing more than acquaintances and coworkers. No matter how hard Eva had tried, Ashe had kept her at an arm's length away to prevent such a friendship.

How could she have let things go the way they had for so long?

Why hadn't she done more to connect with Ashe?

Why hadn't she done more to be a proper friend with her, to at least give her a reason to stay?

Now this new Villain Chernabog waltzed into their lives, making their already unstable foundation of this program and association crumble. Eva could just scream, or thrash out against Eito, but she wouldn't. She knew that Eito was turning her anger on himself with his badgering to prevent her from internalizing it or taking it out on herself.

The tension in the air clung to her lungs and nearly strangled her as guilt wiggled its way into her ribs again. There was no gentleness or kindness in his words as he stared at her. "Are you using Ms. Scatter to replace what you lost?"

She would rather hold her breath and faint than allow him to believe he was right in this matter. She pushed on his chest and tried to escape from that piercing gaze, but he all too soon snatched her hand and kept her at bay. "It's nothing like that."

"Oh really?" There was an edge in his voice and a bad warmth in his palm as he refused to release her.

"Yes really." She scowled as her eyes grew warm, tears of frustration threatening to peak. "How dare you make such an accusation; they are nothing alike!"

There were few who she claimed as friends or loved ones, growing up in an orphanage with aspiring dreams as a designer limited her time in that childish want of creating social bonds. There were only three people she had ever claimed as friends, the man glaring at her trying to pull the truth from her was one of them, his older sister, and Ashe Scatter. Even though it was a short time that they spent together, Eva truly saw her as a friend and was mournful of the fact she hadn't tried harder to prove that to her. Those brown eyes looking back at her could see right through her and her anger and she hated it. His gaze did not soften as he pressed her hand to his chest, just over his own aching heart, "You're really trying to tell me this isn't your way of replacing Edna?"

"No." Her voice wobbled as she shook her head and glared at him, hating how their hearts cried in sync at the painful reminder of what she lost. "This has nothing to do with Edna and you know she could never be replaced."

Childhood friends, school mates, flat mates while in college, business partners, partners in crime when it came to claiming the fashionista realm of fashion and heroes – the deep friendship she had with Edna was what few people found in their lifetime, and even though she severed the ties with her own hand and actions it was one that could never be replaced.

"I know my sister can never be replaced for me." He admitted softly, his other hand sliding down to her hip and drawing her closer to him, rubbing small soothing circles there on her hip. "I can never truly tell with you though."

"Those glasses must not be working for you to accuse me of such a thing." She snarled and dug her nails into his chest as she pushed him away. He released her and the warmth left her as well as she hugged herself, trying to contain everything that dared to seep out of her. "The friendship I had with Edna was something that I valued even more than my love for you, darling." Her voice cracked and she grit her teeth as she did her best to turn completely away from him. "You know better than to truly dare and question that, Eito."

"Yet here you are lashing your anger out at a man who holds all the cards and the secrets that could expose the truth of what really happened with Edna, and for what? The fear of losing Ms. Scatter?" There was no more anger in his voice as tutted at her, slowly approaching her and brushing his fingertips across her shoulders. "If you're not careful, Eva, you could unintentionally burn another bridge by trying to pry into secrets again."

There was no malice in his words, just a cold harsh truth that burned her in a freezing pain straight to her heart. It was out of her own selfishness and immaturity of taking things into her own hands that ended the relationship with Edna Mode, and if Eva kept pressing the matter of learning all of the dark secrets that surrounded Ashe Scatter, she could very well lose her too. This wasn't a simple matter of stealing a designer's work and securing secrets through the black market, though. Whatever secrets made up Ashe's past were proving to be life threatening and growing out of everyone's control thanks to their morbid curiosities and meddling.

Angry tears slipped from her eyes and she raised her hand, full with the intention of slapping him to expel her anger on him, but was easily caught mid-swing in his hold and brought to his chest to rest with the other hand. Her brow pinched and she bit her lip to stop the whimper that rose in her throat and pressed her forehead to his sternum. His hand slid to the spot between her shoulders to hold her against him, and she both cherished and hated the comfort that he provided her. He could always use reason to talk her out of her emotions. Her anger simmering, but mostly deflated as she did her best to prevent the tears from pouring from her eyes. She bemoaned and squeezed her eyes tight, trying to will the tears away. "I despise it when you're right."

"I despise it when I'm right." He sighed with a lilt of laughter and rested his chin atop her head and merely held her against him in a gentle embrace. "I'm only right about things when it means everything is about to get extremely difficult."

She laughed weakly at this, for again, he was right. It was just like the night her world burned around her and Eito was the one to save her from the flames she had started. Eva almost wished he would have just allowed her to burn alone, but he was far too sweet and caring for that and reminded her how he could do so much better than her. Even after his own flesh and blood and family threatened to cut him out of their lives, Eito still chose her over his own. He was a fool and she was even more foolish to allow him to do so, nonetheless she couldn't help but be grateful for him. She only hoped that they wouldn't burn in this Realm too.

Slightly lifting her head, she met his puppy brown eyes and couldn't help but meet his lips with a kiss to express her gratitude for his reasoning with her. Understanding was shared between them and the faintest of smiles on his face reassured her that all would be well between them. No matter what happened from here on out, they at least had each other and that was something no one but themselves would separate. The warm and sincere moment was ruined by a knock on the door and an unfamiliar voice reaching out to them.

"Ms. Villa, Mr. Po, are you ready to join Mr. Valentino in his office?" Their heads swiveled to the door, neither recognizing the voice. "He's most impatient and is trying to start the questioning without you."

"Like hell he is." Eito hissed as his hold on her tightened. Eva sniffled as she pulled away from him and ran her fingers under her glasses to wipe the running mascara before marching to the door. On the other side of their door stood a devilishly handsome man dressed in the butler's attire. Long black hair and glowing green eyes peered down at her as she stood in her doorway.

"Who the hell are you?" She sniffled and glared up at him.

"Ischer, Ms. Villa." The handsome stranger greeted politely. "I'm an old companion to Valentino." Her eyes narrowed, this had Mr. V written all over it, and it didn't matter who this man was, he was going to be part of the questionnaire tonight. "Should I assume that you need a few more minutes to get changed?"

"Yes." She huffed and rolled her shoulders back. "Give us ten minutes and we'll be in his office shortly." Shutting the door with a great deal of force, Eva huffed as she turned and looked at Eito who stood with his brow furrowed, staring at the door behind her. "Come on, darling," she popped a kiss on his cheek before sitting at her vanity, "let's finish getting ready so we can get some answers."

Author's Note:

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you're enjoying the story so far.

I sincerely apologize for the great delay in writing this story and updating it. The long and the short of it is the Story and I argue so much about what was to happen next that we both refused to work with one another until recently. After adding Mr. Po and Ms. Villa to the story it has greatly helped to rekindle my spark for this story. I have written an outline that I hope to follow, and I hope you will continue to read and enjoy my works as I continue this series.

Please remember to leave a comment or a review and share your thoughts. If you like my stories enough, please share them!

Thanks for coming along the journey with me, stay tuned for more!

Ko-fi/SarahtheWriter