Heart has been kidnapped and it's up to Alastor to save her, but with that he has to face demons he buried and forgot about.
Ch 24: The Mob Boss
Alastor was finally finishing his conversation with Lou about the horse.
"How does this deal sound to ya? I'll give this stallion to ya for half the asking price and 2 months board since you're going to have him at my place for a spell. I can even help ya build the barn. Send some of my hands over there to help ya out. I do take ya as a man of your word too, pay me when ya can slim. I am not one to get in the way of someone's happiness. Not to mention a favor to help a friend who considered my behind worth saving. If it weren't for ya, my farm and ma family would be gone." The older man suggested and scribbled it on a piece of paper signing his name.
"Lou my friend, you're one of the only good friends I got. Taught me some things to improve hunting and the outdoors. That sounds like a deal. How much do I owe you today?" Alastor asks, signing his name below to agree. Before Lou answers, the radio host sends Shadow to check on heart.
"Oh gosh slim, you don't have to right now, your word is as good as the paper they print the money on." Lou said and took the paper, putting it in a safe box.
Alastor knew Lou was a kind soul and hard to convince to take a gift, so he put down something and gave a wink. "Thank you Lou, you're a good man...a good friend." With that Alastor walked away and met up with his familiar who seemed stressed.
"What is it-? Wow wow! Slow down, where's the fire-" Alastor yelped, almost tripping as the shadow pulled him and spouting off. "Gone-? What do you mean gone?!" He said a bit unnerved as they got to the table. There he saw her necklace lying there, her unfinished food and... across from her he saw ashes from a cigarette. "Shadow... what can you smell around here..?" He asked in a serious tone.
The familiar was going around the area. "Cheap cologne... cigarettes... yuck! Icky sleepy medicine!" Shadow replied, scrunching its nose.
"Sleep medicine...more like drugging and abduction. Shadow... something foul happened here... and we don't take kindly to what's ours being stolen...do we?" He said the last part with a stressed grin, his fist clenched her necklace. The shadow growled hissing like an animal starting to become riled up. He slowly bent down so the shadow could sniff the girl's necklace. "Find her."
Heart was passed out for a good bit. She couldn't remember anything that happened. Wait...that man...Anthony. No Angel. What did he want? Why was it so important to him to get to Alastor? She was finally coming to and when she blinked open her eyes she looked around the best she could. She was in a small shed and when she looked out a window she spotted...corn? Where in the hell was she? She was alone in the small shed and it was hot in there too. Sweat was dripping down her back. Her fear spiked and her heart started to race. Oh gods...what was going to happen? This Angel was probably the one in charge of all the mob incidents in town. He looked and sounded like some kind of mobster. Great heavens...what had she gotten into?
Alastor weaves through the crowd... he has to find her.. he was hot on his shadow's trail as it zipped around smelling her. Tracking where she was... finally it led to a corn maze. "You've got to be joking... this is an ambush waiting to happen I sense it." The host growled under his breath.
"Her scent is the strongest here... do you trust me master?" Shadow asked.
"Always my companion... Do you have a plan of easy escape?" Shadow nodded and whispered it in his ear. "Perfection. As always, my familiar, let's proceed and see if we can outsmart them." He said as the shadow led on in the maze.
Through the corn, the goons were hiding, waiting for the man to come around to them. Angel had tried to test the radio host, to see if what his boss told him was really true. This guy was a menace and the head boss gave him this mission. There was no way he was going to let him down. Besides...the boss was his own father after all. If he wanted to make sure to keep being in the family, he had to do what needed to be done. They needed to be ready for anything the man might throw at them.
Shadow led his master in and warned him when goons were up ahead. He treaded lightly to not make noise as if he were in hunting mode. Alastor took his pocket knife and made a small cut on his arm and allowed shadow to drink then heal it up. This gave it power it needed. The plan was simple, with the sacrifice the shadow now had power to open a small hole beneath each goon. Shadow devoured their hearts and spewed them back out a mangled heap. With each meal, it was stronger. Alastor did need to feed his shadow, human blood, organs, anything to keep the pact going. Could be his or anyone else's. This little feast of gangster hearts just strengthened the pact and caused it to go on for another 20 years alone. Alastor did have a little fun if there was just one or two nearby, silently killing them for revenge to get his own boost.
Heart sat in the shed as tears were falling from her face now. Scared and worried not only for her own safety but Alastor's as well. She knew he could take care of himself but that didn't mean she didn't worry. Especially since she was the one that he would be putting himself in harm's way for. Who knows what would happen to both of them with this. They were messing with the mob. No one wants to mess with them...why did they want Al? What had he done? It scared her to know or think about it. She cried more as she was scared of not being able to see Alastor again.
Soon she heard a commotion outside. What was going on?
Alastor had defeated the last of Angel's men. Taken them down silently swiftly and finally made it closer thanks to his shadow. He rounded a corner to see a small shed. "Here sir!"
The host was almost out of breath but when the shadow pointed out the shed he ran to it, "My god.. Heart!" He banged on the door. "Heart, answer me, are you in there?" He started to pry on the heavily locked door.
Heart heard the banging on the door, but her mouth was covered in a cloth but she tried to scream for him.
Angel rounded the corner of the shed and kicked Alastor in the gut, knocking him away from the door. "God if they can't do somethin right ya gotta do it ya self." He huffed as he pulled out his pistol from his coat. "Seems like my goons are no match for ya Al."
"Ah! Fuck! You...nghhhh." Alastor grunted, holding his side since the man had kicked him so hard. Shadow laid low and hidden until his master said. Didn't want his cover to be blown. "You...you have five seconds before I rip you in two...for taking what's mine." He growled almost like a demon.
"Ooo feisty there Al." Angel said with a laugh and put his hands up a moment. "Is dat how ya talk to an old pal? You seemed ta like me before."
Inside Heart was wobbling the chair back and forth and trying to get free. She was doing all she could to see if she could get something to give so she could get free. She managed to get the cloth away from her mouth eventually. "Al! Alastor!" She cried out.
"You're not a pal of mine...you're-" He stopped as his blood ran cold getting a better look at the mobster . He was snapped from his thoughts as he heard Heart. "Darling! I'm here, don't panic, it's okay!"
Angel heard the girl then scream. "Uh oh, seems we have a screama." He laughed and went to the door and managed to unlock it. He opened the door to see the girl glaring at him as her face was red from crying. "Well hello doll. I thought you'd like a show." He chuckled and looked back to Alastor. "So, what da you say buddy? Wunna refresher?"
He saw what he did to her when the door opened and his blood boiled, "You let her go right now! Whatever the hell you want with me, so be it." He glared.
Angel grinned. "Ya know what I want. I want you. Don't think I didn't forget about that time in the speakeasy five years ago."
Heart was stuck still but when she saw everything happening outside she was trying to catch her breath. At Angel's words she looked confused. "What?" She looked at Alastor. "Al what is this mobster talking about? You know him?" She asked.
The blond-haired man then burst out laughing. "Oh, so ya haven't told her. Oh, dis is gunna be good." He looked at Al with an innocent smile. "Well Al, baby, wunna tell her?" The man said with a little higher tone, almost sounding feminine.
"Don't you address me like that you heathen, nothing was ever existent between us! You took advantage when I was drunk on that trip up north five years ago! You never told me you were a fruitcake posing as a woman! The minute you tried anything more in depth with me I left as fast as I could." He hissed then turned to Heart feeling so scared and embarrassed but had a poker face. "Sweetheart, listen to me please... I was still a young man.. It was one of my first trips for business in the radio world dealing with seminars... How else was I going to loosen up after a long day? I went to the speakeasy and got too drunk. This patsy looked like a woman we did nothing but flirt and shoot the breeze I swear to you! I don't want anything to do with this fairy he tricked me!" He said frantically .
"Oh, you did more than that honey." Angel said as he looked at his nails on his hand. "You may have been drunk and left me there but at least you got something out of me that night. Or I should say...I got something out of you." He grinned with a small deep chuckle. "You were really drunk if you don't remember my lips around your dick."
Heart listened to the men explain everything. She was trying to take all this information in. So...Alastor knew Angel...better than she thought. Yes it might have been in the past...but why did it hurt so much to learn all this? To feel she was lied to this entire time. She just had the tears build up in her eyes as no words came from her. She was left honestly speechless and her chest felt slightly heavy.
He was red in the face, and a lump hit his stomach. He heard sniffles then turned to look seeing her cry. He looked away and down with no expression on his face looking at the ground. Some silence had passed before he knew what had to happen. He whispered as shadow fused with him. "Si je meurs tant pis... au moins tu seras en sécurité... je t'aime." With that and his shadow fused with him. Transforming him into the red demon he was before on the train car. He suddenly grabbed a fist full of dirt and flung it into Angel's eyes, blinding the gangster as he misfired. Alastor got up and slugged him in the jaw causing him to drop the gun. He picked it up and held him at the end of it. "Get out of my town before I put you in a body bag."
Angel couldn't react to everything that happened. He wasn't paying attention and he couldn't react in time anyway. When the dirt hit his eyes then felt the hit to his jaw he fell down. He screamed in pain and surprise. The blond tried to get the dirt out of his eyes and managed to blink a bit to look up at Alastor and the gun pointing at him. He tried to hold it together so he gave a small chuckle. "I like it rough but damn." He said and stood up with his hands up. "You know Al, I took this job because I knew ya were here. My dad wants ya dead. He knows what you've been doin down here. Ya broke my heart dat day. I thought I actually found a guy who cared bout me." He huffed and then spit at Alastor's feet. "Looks like I was wrong. So, I don't mind trying to kill ya now." He looked at Heart who was looking at him with her red eyes from her crying. "I'll go...but don't think dis will be the last time ya see me." The mobster said.
"I want nothing to do with you... you come back here or even think of it, you're going straight to hell I assure you" he said before Angel scurried away.
The effeminate man took off running through the maze. "Then I'll see ya there smiles!" He said laughing as he ran, collecting any living goons on his way and heading away from the festival.
Alastor tossed the gun down and the shadow left his body. Keeping watch to make sure he didn't come back. Alastor quickly went to Heart to untie her the rest of the way and see if she was okay. "My little wolf, he's gone now... it's alright I'm here." He says and holds her after freeing her.
Heart was glad for the mobster to be gone. While Alastor held her she was hesitant for a moment before she wrapped her arms around him and started to cry hard into his chest. The interaction that just happened she didn't know what to think of at that moment, but she just wanted to feel safe and Alastor was that safe spot. She didn't care at that moment, she just wanted Angel to be gone. She cried for a good bit before she calmed enough to lift her head away from his chest. "I'm sorry...for letting this happen."
"This isn't your doing... I love you... so much and was afraid of what that monster had done to you... my.. my everything." Alastor held her trying to be strong and not cry either.
"Was all that true?" Heart asked him as she pulled away slightly to look at him. "You can be honest."
"It is as I said... I couldn't handle my alcohol, so young and naive I was... and he was... dressed like a woman." He admits. "I barely remember what happened... but I know.. I was still pure before meeting you, my love."
"I know." She paused for a moment and her eyes teared up again. "I know...I can't judge people on what happened in the past...but...It still hurts me slightly...I feel like I was lied to."
The man let her go and got up, then helped her too. "I didn't even remember until he brought it up and I saw him dear." He said, his back turning to her. "It was never my intent."
"I don't blame you Al. There is nothing wrong with what you did." Heart said as she tried to calm down and clear away her tears. "Alcohol makes us do fuzzy things...I understand that you realized that you didn't feel the same way for him as he did you." She walked up to him and held his hand. "You just didn't want to make a mistake of doing something with someone you don't love."
"It's not an excuse. Look what this…no... what I did... to you." Alastor removed his hand from hers feeling he has failed her... not deserving anything. "You're...not obliged to stay with me... if you desire to leave...do so." He said with the heaviest heart and a lump in his throat.
Heart went to the front of him and put her hands into both of his. "Al...I still love you...no matter what. What happened in the past is in the past. We can't help that. I know I should have reacted better but...in that heat of the moment it was just all so much to take in at once."
"Dear... I...I feel I'm going to keep hurting you... what kind of a man am I ... if I can't protect...the woman I love? If I'm foolish to be so stupid before.. you deserve better." The radio host said sadly.
"I don't want anyone better." She says softly and hugs him tightly. "I just want you...no one else." The woman started crying as she held him and put her face back into his chest. The thought of losing him scared her.
"It's all right for you to think I'm disgusting... I won't be offended; I'd be the same." Alastor gave a sad laugh. He felt tired suddenly and dropped to his knees...his shadow helped him down the rest of the way. All that magic... and power took a toll on him... he was in pain too from his gut getting punched. Not to mention this new trauma on top of it.
"Al, let's go home." She cries. "Your hurt and your magic took a toll on you." Heart says worried as she kneels down with him. "Let me take care of you."
"I-I'll take you home... shadow...take .. t-take her home.. I'll find another way... with more of our friends... I'm.. I-I'm sorry honey." He said as shadow emerged and grabbed Heart's hand to lead her away. It pulled her back up and away from him as Alastor had a darkness envelop him, it allowed him to sink in the ground then be teleported back to his home.
"Al wait!" She screamed but it was too late and he was enveloped and gone. She stood there crying. "I don't want to be here without you." Heart cried as she curled into herself as she fell to her knees.
"Mistress, come with me. I can take you home...he needs to heal...feels you shouldn't be burdened...he feels...so dirty now and a failure to you." Shadow explained sadly.
"But I want to be with him! I want to help him! He isn't those things!" Heart cried out.
Shadow had a dilemma... he hated seeing her cry..but his master ordered him to take her home. It might get in trouble for disobeying the master... but it can't stand to see the mistress so sad. "Hold onto me." It said, "Will teleport us to him."
"I'm just going to be worried about him if I'm not with him. I just want him to be ok." She says as she wraps her arms around the entity.
With that, shadow teleported her in an instant. They were in his living room. "We are here mistress... he is upstairs... and will be cross with me he isn't totally himself... is embarrassed to have others see him like this." Shadow said, nervously having its tail wrapped around her wrist nervously. It led her upstairs to his bedroom and opened it to see other little shadows working on him.
Heart felt her chest get heavy as she walked up the stairs. When she saw him lying there she covered her mouth to not let out a gasp. She slowly walked into the room and up to his bed. His eyes were closed but she went and sat on the bed, making sure not to interrupt his other shadows. She frowned as she just looked at him sadly and reached out to touch his hand gently.
"He will be okay mistress, he is weak. He is not going to die, but I know he will be cross with me for disobeying orders." It shrunk down, his ears wilted a bit. The other shadows were chattering as they worked to patch up their master. "He didn't want you seeing him like this... and he is very ashamed. Feels unclean and you deserve better than him." It added.
"He can be angry with me. Not you. I asked you to bring me here." She says and holds his hand. "I was just afraid to leave him alone."
"I disobey... it is fine... couldn't bear you to be upset knowing you love us." Shadow hovered and wrapped its tail on her ankle hiding under the bed.
"Shadow, don't blame yourself please." Heart says sadly. "Don't hide." She tried to encourage it.
After some time, Alastor finally started to come around. He groaned, opening his eyes slowly but they shot open as his vision got clear. "Hu-huh?! Heart?! W-what.. I-I.. "
Heart smiled either way as she saw him open his eyes. "There's my strong buck. How are you feeling?"
"D-dear what are you doing here? You.. you can't see me like this... I-I... I told Shadow to take you home." Alastor said, disgruntled.
"Don't be mad at Shadow, I asked him to take me here to see you. I was so worried for you. I wanted to be sure you would be ok." She says as she holds onto his hand tightly.
"He disobeyed me, I gave him an order!" He growled then winced. "You shouldn't be worried about me... I'm fine but in a state you shouldn't see me in!"
"I'll repeat, don't be mad at him. Be mad at me." The woman raised her voice and sounded sterner with the man. "He only brought me to you because he saw how upset I was and he didn't want me to be sad." She sighed. "Al...we are a couple. As a couple...we have to face things together. If I can't see you at your worst then how can I handle it in the future? I can see you at your greatest but I also have to see you at your lowest. Do you see me running away? Do you see me turning you down? No...I'm here...for you...for us."
Alastor finally gave up after listening to her and let himself break in front of her. The man let the flood of tears he was holding back go and hid his face ashamed. He was able to turn on his side carefully trying to hide his shame. How could he have been so stupid as a young man... this would never have happened.
Heart watched him cry and just did her best to soothe him. She let him cry, it was ok to cry. She wanted him to let it out. "Shhh, Al its ok." She whispered as she rubbed his side..
Shadow emerged from under the bed feeling his master upset and holding no anger against it anymore. "He is very distressed... I've never seen him cry like this since we lost our mother... please go easy on him... he feels like he failed you." Shadow says with a frown.
Heart nodded at the shadows words and decided to lay down next to the man and hold him from behind. "I'm here Al...I'm not going anywhere. I have you." She whispered into his back.
Shadow floated over their heads and nestled at the top of the pillows to be near them. The radio host let out all his despair and embarrassment... but felt warm once he heard her words, felt her security, and felt his shadows comfort too. He gently turned over once he calmed to a point and held her back. Burying his face in her neck
The librarian let the radio host hold her tightly and she did the same in return. No words were said as they just got lost in the comfortable silence. Nothing needed to be said. Heart was there for Alastor. To let him know that she wouldn't leave him ever. No matter what. Everyone is always young and dumb but we learn from those mistakes in the past. You can never run from them.
After some time in silence and comforting embrace he finally spoke, "I'm...sorry... b-both of you." He looked up to show his red tired eyes.
Shadow got closer to him and rubbed against its master, "It's okay sir, a lot happened...still the best master to me and others." The familiar smiled as some of the little ones that remained nearby chirped and chattered in agreement.
Heart put her hand to the man's cheek. "I forgive you Al. No need to apologize though. I still love you no matter what." She told him as she leaned up and kissed his forehead.
Alastor pets his familiar and his smile returned into a small gentle one, "My little wolf... my friends...thank you." He kissed the woman's cheek in return. Some of the little shadows decided to invade the bed too and made their master feel better. Some try to do silly things either on their own or with one another.
Heart saw the little shadows dance and do little things on the bed with them. It made her chuckle. "See Al, everyone loves you and wants you to be happy."
"Ah they do have a silly side I adore, just like you , mon petite loup." Alastor chuckles and boops her nose. The little shadows paused to see what he did, then got the idea to try it for themselves. It was oddly adorable, little shadows booping their own noses, each other one's faces and even others went and booped Heart's nose.
The woman erupted in a fit of giggles from all the booping that was going on. "Hehe, Al, your shadows are so funny. Just like you."
He got enough strength to sit up and watch them, "You all are quite the lot. Good little friends and deserving of fun too. I order you to boop our darling." He laughed and gave a smirk looking at her. The little army of shadows giggled as they soon overtook the woman and made little squeaks as they boop her.
"Ah! Al!" She said while laughing and being booped by the little army of shadows.
The man ordered them to calm down and now they just sit around and on top of her looking curious and smiling. "Now how does it feel to be conquered by my minions of darkness?" He laughed.
"It was honestly nice and adorable. I mean it could almost be like when being wrapped in your tentacles but that's a different kind of fun." Heart grinned.
"Well dearest where do you think those come from?" He asked her, smirking back as the little shadows giggled, "You may show her," he replies as the shadows change into the very tentacles she was implying.
"Ah so a sweet and a dark side." Heart smirked. "You sneaky deer."
They changed back and giggled "guilty as charged my dear, but I know, you still love this sneaky dear." He held her close planting kisses on her forehead.
She smiled wide. "Always will. No matter what." She kissed his chin and wrapped her arms around him.
Shadow had an idea and thought it would be the perfect opportunity for the master to tell her what he was doing back at the festival. He whispered it in Alastor's ear. "Oh, good heavens my friend you are right! Mon petite loup, I.. I got you something." said excitedly.
Heart's face dusted softly with a blush. "You got something...for me? What is it?" She wondered.
"Remember that friend of mine back in the stables? He owned the stallion you seem to bond with. I struck a deal with him, that is now... your horse my beloved." Alastor smiled, waiting for her reaction.
Her eyes went wide at his words. "What? Al...you...I don't...why did?" She was honestly at a loss for words as she stared at him with disbelief.
"Yes. Yes I said it right and you heard me right. That beloved horse is yours. You should know my darling." He paused and held her face tenderly in his hands, "I will do anything to ensure your happiness. To make things you never got to have, become yours."
Tears filled her eyes as she felt a wave of happiness come over her. "What did I do to deserve you?" She cried as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "But...where are we going to keep it?"
"I have planned out everything, my love. Lou, my friend, is going to help build a proper pasture and stable on my cabin's land since I have so much of it. He offered to keep the stallion at his place and board him until the enclosure was complete. He owed me quite a favor as he claims. I saved his life when I was just starting to hunt one winter when he injured himself and became trapped. So, in short, it worked out well and we see each other a handful of times each year, especially when I want the freshest ingredients for my dishes." Alastor explained.
"You have thought of everything...and you did all this for me?" Heart started to have tears fall again. "You make me the happiest woman in the world, I swear."
"No one else, only for you my love. I told you when I say you are my everything...you are... when I love only you... I mean it. When I say you have my heart... you truly do. It only beats for you." The radio host whispers, looking into her eyes as he wipes her tears with his thumbs still holding her cheeks tenderly.
The librarian smiled even though her tears still fell and she leaned into his touch. She then leaned up and kissed his lips softly. "Thank you, my love...I don't know how I can repay you."
"Ah ah don't you say such things dearest, you owe me nothing... You've already repaid me. You're here with me at my best... now with me at my worst. You didn't run for the hills and leave me behind. That is all I could ask to be repaid... to be loved by you still."
"Nothing could scare me away from you. Not even your voodoo powers." She gave him a reassuring smile. "We can still have the weekend together as well. Maybe go back to the festival and do more activities?"
"My darling, anything you desire I'm happy to do with you. I say we go and paint the festival red and perhaps school me at more of those games." He chuckled. The little shadows picked up two prizes they found nearby from the fair. It was Hearts wolf and Alastor won a deer. They brought the little statuettes to the pair. "Oh my... our prizes cher... look." He said in surprise. "What are the odds of that?"
Heart chuckled as she took the wolf from one of the little shadows. "Coincidence? Or maybe it was just destiny?" She guessed with a small chuckle.
"I really didn't pay mind to what I won, I know yours was indeed a wolf. Strange how destiny works or could be a sign from the Loa's on my end... either way, I would not have it different." Alastor held the statue and then put it closer to hers giving it a little poke to mimic a kiss.
She giggled and did the same back to his deer. She then gave a yawn. "Oh goodness, I'm sorry." She apologized. "It feels too early to be tired, but I guess a lot did happen today after all."
"My little wolf a great deal of things happened today I'd say on each end of the spectrum. How about we tuck in early, letting our bodies and minds rest?" He suggested cuddling close to her.
"I think that would be a wonderful idea." She says as her eyes got a little heavy.
"Here my love" he hummed and snapped his fingers, with help from his power and minions they both were in their pajamas under the blankets. "Much-" He yawns. "-better."
"Agreed." She sighed softly in content and snuggled up to the man beside her. "I love you Al."
"I love you... Heart, my little Wolf...always." Alastor kissed her, holding her close as he hummed softly.
Heart had a small soft smile on her face. "My great buck." She whispered before she finally found a place to sleep and rest while being in the man's arms.
He heard her whisper and replied as she fell into slumber, "mon petite loup...J'taime..." he eventually fell asleep after as a peace spread over the room. All was well once again.
So cute they are. Lot happened in this chapter to unpack. Don't worry though Angel will be back eventually. I hope you enjoyed his introduction though!
