Previously: He was in his thoughts when Lumina unexpectedly smiled genuinely at him, her bright brown eyes looking at him with indifference still. "Thank you, Alastor."
And suddenly…
A heartbeat.
And in the most out of character way possible Alastor stood up from the couch, almost stumbling from how fast he did that, Lumina blinked twice in surprise. He had cleared his throat in an awkward manner and the short brunette raised an eyebrow. "You good, dude?"
Chapter 9: A Deer in Headlights
(Okay to let you know that I'm taking this both seriously and not seriously at all I put in a character that serves no other purpose than to piss off Alastor and Micha.)
Alastor was about to say something when a couple of knocks echoed through the apartment, Lumina was startled by it. She had gotten engrossed with the scenelet happening, and stood up off the couch. "Oh right! Micha's here, she's taking me out dress shopping!" Lumina exclaims, if she had a tail it'd be wagging. With a swift motion, Alastor transformed into his human disguise, seamlessly blending into the mundane surroundings.
"Dress shopping?" Alastor questions, she has plenty of clothes to wear already. "Mhm, for the after party. By the way, I slipped an extra ticket in your suit pocket." She starts to head to the door to open it. "Micha! I'm almost ready, just give me a moment." Micha saunters into the place and her attitude changes upon seeing Alastor, he was fixing his attire and fluffing out his hair a bit. "I won't be long!"
As Lumina disappeared into her bedroom to change, Micha and Alastor found themselves alone in the living room, tension crackling in the air like static electricity.
Micha's gaze bore into Alastor with icy intensity. "You again," She spat, her voice dripping with disdain. "I thought I made it clear that you're not welcome here."
Alastor's grin widened, his nonchalant demeanor belying the storm raging within. "And yet, here I am. It seems Lumina doesn't share your sentiment, my dear Micha."
Micha's lip curled in disgust. "You're nothing but a parasite, feeding off her misery and dragging her down into darkness. I won't allow it."
Alastor's gaze hardened, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. "You would do well to remember your place, heavenly agent. Your interference will not be tolerated."
Micha would've been thrown off if she didn't know what Alastor was about, and was part of the meeting about the Hazbin Hotel after the last Extermination. He was talked about a lot but less than Charlie, as the Princess of Hell was more important. Even then it was more about his underling Niffty, who killed Adam. Micha laughed bitterly, her hands curling into fists at her sides. "Don't forget, you and your awful demon friends at that awful 'Hotel' killed Adam," She seethed, her voice laced with venom.
A flicker of something unreadable crossed Alastor's features before he composed himself with a smirk. "Ah, Adam. A tragic loss, to be sure for you. No skin off my nose."
Micha's eyes blazed with fury, her control slipping like sand through her fingers. "I can end you and get so much praise in Heaven," She snarled, her voice low and menacing.
"I'm quite sure you won't, Lumina is rather fond of you…She'd be devastated about losing you if you dare to challenge me. You're a Guardian Angel I presume, and from what I can tell.." He pauses, getting into her face with a prideful grin. "You've been doing a terrible job."
With a primal roar of rage, Micha lunged forward, Alastor had quickly sidestepped which had Micha and her hand connecting with the glass coffee table, shattering it into a thousand glittering shards.
"Still that anger, Micha. You wouldn't want to wreck Lumina's apartment any further~" The demon in disguise laughs, his eyes gleaming with mirth.
Lumina emerged from her bedroom, her expression a mix of confusion and concern. "What's going on here?" She demanded, her eyes darting between Micha and Alastor before landing on the remains of the coffee table. "Oh come on man!"
Alastor quickly stepped forward, his human facade slipping effortlessly back into place. "Oh, Lumina, it's nothing. Just a little... disagreement between friends." He said smoothly, a charming smile playing on his lips.
But Lumina wasn't convinced, her intuition tingling with unease. Mostly because she knows they're not friends at all, they don't even like each other. "This isn't like you, Micha. What happened?"
Micha's jaw clenched, her gaze burning with unresolved anger. "Just... forget it. Let's just go already.." She muttered, her voice strained.
"You've been on edge for like 3 weeks almost, what's going on with you?" Was the last thing Alastor heard Lumina say before they left.
Usually Alastor is avoidant of technology, for many reasons. Living Realm tech had the advantage of not being connected to that flatsceen fuckboy. He much preferred the old stuff. Before he was about to leave he noticed Lumina left her phone, it's funny to think a human in this day and age would forget something like that. Her wallpaper was of a Titan Arum and her being next to it, she had a liking for plants that eat bugs or smelled horrible. He picked it up to see what all the fuss was about with such a device.
This one in particular being a touch screen flip phone, Lumina had got it because she likes the flip part of the flip phone.
"What a persistent woman," He muttered, scrolling through the messages. The tone ranged from guilt-tripping to outright anger, each word dripping with the same ambition that had driven Lumina away.
Before he could ponder further, the familiar hum of Lumina's presence nearing the apartment reached him. She was coming back for her phone no doubt.
Not wanting to deal with Micha's wrath again so soon, Alastor decided to retreat. With a thought, he vanished from the Living Realm, reappearing in the familiar chaos of Hell.
The bustling sounds of the Hotel filled his ears, and for the first time in a while, Alastor felt a strange unease gnawing at him. Charlie's optimistic influence was seeping into him more than he liked to admit. "Damn her and her words of being a good person," He grumbled, making his way to the bar where Damien, the fox-like sinner, was nursing a drink. Husk had quickly ducked away from them.
"Damien," Alastor called, his voice a low growl. Damien looked up, his expression shifting from surprise to amusement.
"Well, if it isn't the Radio Demon himself," Damien quipped, his sly grin widening. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Alastor's eyes narrowed, his patience thin. "I need answers, Damien. You know more about Lumina than anyone here."
Damien leaned back, twirling his drink. "And why would I tell you anything? What's in it for me?"
Alastor's grip tightened on the bar, the wood creaking under his fingers. "Don't play games with me. You know what I'm capable of."
Unfazed, Damien chuckled. "Relax, Alastor. I was just having a bit of fun. You're really worked up about my best friend, you're Ace aren't you? You shouldn't be catching feelings for someone."
Alastor rose a finger but paused his words for a moment. 'What the hell did he just call me?' He inhaled deeply as a dangerous glint flashed in his red eyes. "Watch your tongue, Damien. Just tell me what you know."
Damien sighed, his teasing demeanor dropping slightly. "Alright, alright. Lumina and I were close once. She's had a rough life, more than you can imagine. Her mother, the people around her... all of them used her. That's why she's so guarded."
Alastor's expression darkened. "And Micha? What do you know about her? She's a Guardian Angel…I wasn't sure at first but today proved it."
Damien's eyes widened in genuine surprise. "Micha? She's a Guardian Angel? No wonder she always seemed... off. But that raises more questions. How long has she been around Lumina? Why didn't she help when things got bad?"
Alastor's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "That's what I intend to find out. Micha's presence complicates things."
Damien took a deep breath, clearly perturbed by the revelation. "Micha's human form is all I know. She's been close to Lumina for years, but she kept a low profile. Now it makes sense why she was always so... vigilant."
A flicker of concern crossed Damien's face, quickly masked by his usual nonchalance. "But Alastor, you should know... whatever happens, Lumina's trust is fragile. If she finds out about your true nature, or your involvement in this mess, she'll never forgive you."
For a moment, Alastor seemed genuinely perturbed, a rare crack in his facade. But it quickly vanished, replaced by his usual confident smirk. "That's a risk I'm willing to take. But Micha... she's a threat that needs to be handled."
Why would he care about her trust in him? She's just a soul contract. Yup, that's all she was.
As Alastor turned to leave, Damien called after him, his voice serious for once. "Just... be careful, Alastor." Which wasn't about his well being, it was for Lumina.
Alastor paused, his back to Damien. "I don't intend to," He replied, his tone uncharacteristically soft. Then, with a flick of his hand, he vanished.
Alastor climbed the winding staircase to his private quarters, each step echoing with a sense of urgency and frustration. The moment he reached his room, he shut the door firmly behind him, leaning against it for a brief second as he collected his thoughts.
"Why is she doing this to me?" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he moved to his desk. Laying out his tools, he began working on a small, intricate charm, carefully shaping it to resemble his microphone staff. "It's not about protecting her," He told himself repeatedly, his hands deftly crafting the charm. "It's to watch Micha when Lumina is with her. If she's in danger, she can summon me by saying my name. Anytime, anywhere."
He glanced at the half-finished charm, his fingers tracing the delicate lines. "She'd absolutely go nuts for a charm bracelet. No need to come up with a lie for this one," He murmured, trying to convince himself that his intentions were purely pragmatic.
But his thoughts kept circling back to Lumina, and an inner battle raged within him. His shadow, a darker version of himself, seemed to loom larger in the dim light of his room, its eyes gleaming with malicious curiosity.
"What's happening to you, Alastor?" the shadow whispered, its voice dripping with mockery. "First, she was just another source of amusement. Now you're making charms to keep her safe?"
Alastor gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing. "I'm not doing this for her. It's a precaution. Micha is a threat."
The shadow laughed, a cold, hollow sound that echoed in the room. "Keep telling yourself that. But we both know the truth. You care about her. She's getting under your skin."
A flash of memory crossed Alastor's mind—Lumina in the Botanical Gardens, her laughter ringing in the air as they walked among the many plants. Her knowledge of plants was vast, and yet she only had a venus flytrap. She talked a lot about the unruly plants that other people deemed ugly and unworthy to be in there. It was …cute. Her vulnerability, her determination, her little mannerisms that made her endearing despite herself. Even though she hated him and feared him, she still chose to interact with him. She tried to enjoy her time, even when he was a constant reminder of the danger lurking in her life. Tea and cookies on random days, her hesitant smiles…
It was infuriating.
He was actually starting to think she was a siren or a succubus, but that'd be ridiculous. He's more rational than that…
"I don't care," Alastor snapped, his voice harsher than he intended. "I can't care. I won't."
The shadow's smile widened. "You do know you can just take her soul and be done with this right? You're doing this to yourself."
Why doesn't he just do that? That is his part of the deal. He'll take her soul whenever he pleases when he's bored of her.
But he wasn't bored of her.
Ignoring the shadow, Alastor focused on the charm, his hands moving with practiced precision. He added the final touches, ensuring it was both elegant and functional. A small part of him hoped she'd appreciate it, even though he refused to acknowledge why he cared.
"I'll give it to her tomorrow night after her performance," He said aloud, trying to regain control over his spiraling thoughts. "It's just a tool. Nothing more."
But as he held the finished charm in his hand, a small, treacherous voice whispered in the back of his mind. "You're lying to yourself, Alastor. You know exactly why you're doing this."
Shaking off the thought, he placed the charm on his desk and stood up, looking out the window into the chaos of Hell below.
He glanced at the charm once more, a mixture of frustration and something far more troubling gnawing at him. Tomorrow night would be a turning point, one way or another. And as much as he tried to deny it, Lumina was at the heart of it all.
Lumina and Micha entered one of the bustling clothing boutiques in New York, the air thick with the scent of new fabric and the chatter of eager shoppers. Lumina's eyes roamed over the racks of elegant dresses, each one more stunning than the last. She grabbed a few options and headed towards the fitting rooms, Micha trailing behind her.
As Lumina tried on dress after dress, Micha leaned against the wall outside, her mind still preoccupied with the earlier confrontation with Alastor. She took a deep breath, deciding to broach the subject.
"Lumina," Micha began, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. "Can I ask you something about Alastor?"
Lumina tensed up, her fingers fumbling with the zipper of the dress she was trying on. "What about him?" She replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
Micha studied her for a moment, then shrugged. "Just curious about your friendship with him. How did you two... meet?"
Lumina forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Oh, we just... ran into each other one day in a Starbucks... He's been... around ever since," She said, her voice faltering slightly. Lying was not her strong suit, and she could feel Micha's piercing gaze.
Micha nodded slowly, of course not buying the lie but letting it slide. "I see. And how do you feel about... the afterlife? Do you ever think about where you want to go when you die? Let's say…Heaven perhaps?"
Lumina paused, her mind racing. "I don't know," She said finally, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I was purely agnostic before Al... I mean, before something major happened to me. Heaven and Hell actually existing is still new to me." She huffed, turning back to the mirror. "I don't know where I'll end up. Hell is Hell, and Heaven sounds so overrated and superficial."
Micha's eyes softened with concern. "You should be careful who you interact with," She said, her voice gentle but firm. "People have ulterior motives and will do what they can to achieve their goals."
Lumina nodded absently, her thoughts drifting back to her deal with Alastor. She knew she was bound for Hell because of it, but she couldn't share that with Micha. Instead, she focused on the dresses, trying to push the dark thoughts aside.
After a moment of silence, Micha sighed, her expression softening. "I'm sorry for being hard on you these past two weeks," She said, her blue eyes showing genuine concern. "There's a lot going on, and I just want to make sure you're safe and doing okay. I know I was being a jerk and all."
Lumina looked at Micha, her heart aching with conflicting emotions. "It's okay, Micha. I know you mean well. It's just... everything is so complicated."
Micha nodded, reaching out to gently squeeze Lumina's hand. "I'm here for you, Lumina. Whatever happens, you can count on me."
Lumina managed a small smile, feeling a flicker of warmth despite the heavy burden she carried. "Thanks, Micha. That means a lot."
As they continued their shopping, Micha kept a watchful eye on Lumina, her mind still troubled by the presence of Alastor. She vowed to keep a closer watch on her friend, determined to protect her from whatever dark forces were at play.
As Lumina and Micha returned to Lumina's apartment, bags of new clothes in tow.
Lumina had insisted on finding the perfect dress for the after-party, despite having several outfits already. Clothes shopping was one of her favorite pastimes, a small escape from her complicated life. Lumina couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over her. She loved shopping, and today had been especially enjoyable with Micha by her side.
Micha settled down on the couch, texting her friends in Heaven and the few on Earth she kept in touch with. She was waiting for Lumina to heat up dinner, having accepted her invitation to stay for the meal. Lumina, meanwhile, busied herself with hanging up the new clothes in her bedroom closet, humming a tune under her breath. A few moments later, Micha's eyes fell on the new coffee table in the living room, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Didn't I break that?" She muttered to herself. "Who replaced it?"
Before she could voice her confusion, something else caught her attention—a strange cat sitting on the bookshelf, next to the old radio, its intense gaze fixed on her. Micha's eyes widened in surprise. "Lumi?" She called out, her voice tinged with confusion. "Did you leave the window open or something? There's a weird looking cat in your apartment!"
"What?" Lumina hummed from the other room, her tone questioning.
Micha called out again, more insistently this time. "Yeah, there's a weird fucking stray cat in here. It's on the bookshelf!"
Curiosity piqued, Lumina emerged from her room. "Micha, what are you—" She trailed off as her eyes landed on the cat. A smile spread across her face, her love of cats overriding any initial confusion. "Oh my gosh, look at you!" She cooed, approaching the cat with her hands outstretched. "Aren't you just the cutest thing?"
The cat leaped gracefully into Lumina's arms, purring contentedly as she stroked its fur. Micha watched with growing suspicion. The cat's resemblance to Alastor was uncanny, and she couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than a coincidence.
"Poor thing must be lost," Micha said, her voice laced with false concern. "Give it here, I'll ask around the building to see if it belongs to anyone."
As Micha reached out to take the cat, it hissed and swiped at her with sharp claws, leaving a red mark on her hand. Startled, Micha pulled back as the cat jumped onto Lumina's shoulder, nuzzling against her neck.
"Ow!" Micha exclaimed, glaring at the cat. "That thing's got a temper."
Lumina chuckled, giving it chin scritches as it perched on her shoulder. "I think it likes me. Maybe it's a sign that I should keep it."
Micha forced a smile, though her mind raced with thoughts of how to get rid of the creature. "Just be careful, Lumina. You never know where strays come from."
"I will," Lumina promised, giving the cat one last affectionate stroke before setting it down. "Now, let's get dinner started."
Micha nodded, watching as Lumina moved to the kitchen. Her eyes drifted back to the cat, now perched comfortably on the couch, where she previously sat, its antlered head turned to meet her gaze with unsettling awareness. There was no doubt in Micha's mind that this cat was connected to Alastor. She would have to find a way to deal with it without alarming Lumina.
As Lumina prepared dinner, Micha's mind churned with plans and contingencies. Alastor's influence was growing, and she needed to protect Lumina at all costs. The evening continued with a facade of normalcy, but beneath the surface, the tension was palpable, and the strange, antlered cat watched it all with knowing eyes.
The evening wore on, Lumina's apartment was filled with laughter and chatter, the strange cat watching silently from its perch, it was comfortable next to the radio. Its mysterious presence adding an air of intrigue to the cozy atmosphere.
As Lumina busied herself setting up a cozy spot for the strange cat to sleep in the living room, the cat itself was doing what cats do best—exploring, knocking over small objects, and generally making its presence known. Micha, however, seemed to be the particular target of its mischief.
The red cat batted at Micha's purse, sending it sliding off the coffee table. Micha's eyes narrowed as she picked it up, glaring at the cat. "Lumina, this cat is doing this on purpose," She muttered, her irritation growing.
Lumina laughed, shaking her head as she rearranged some cushions to make a makeshift bed for the cat. "Cats are just like that sometimes, Micha. They can be little troublemakers, but they're harmless."
The cat, perched on the armrest of the couch, gave Micha a snide look, its eyes gleaming with a crazed amusement. Micha could swear it was grinning at her.
"Look! Look at the look it's giving me!" Micha yelled, her voice a mixture of frustration and incredulity. "Look at it looking at me!"
Lumina glanced over from the stove where she was heating up dinner, her eyes filled with amusement. "Now, now, you two play nice. You leave that cat alone, Micha," she scolded gently, her tone reminiscent of a mother chastising her children.
Micha threw her hands up in defeat, exasperated. "Fine, but I'm telling you, this cat is not normal."
As soon as Lumina turned back to the stove, the cat's grin widened, and it seemed to laugh silently, its shoulders shaking with mirth. Micha clenched her fists, feeling a surge of frustration and helplessness.
The cat continued its antics, knocking over MIcha's purse again and then pouncing on a loose piece of paper, tearing it to shreds. Micha could feel its eyes on her the whole time, its presence a constant source of irritation.
"I swear, that cat is possessed or something," Micha muttered under her breath, glaring at the feline.
Lumina's voice floated over from the kitchen. "Dinner's almost ready! Why don't you set the table, Micha?"
Micha sighed, moving to the cabinet to fetch plates and utensils. The cat watched her with an almost human intelligence, its eyes following her every move. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was all part of some larger game orchestrated by Alastor.
As she set the table, Micha couldn't help but feel a growing sense of dread. She had to protect Lumina, but how could she fight against something as insidious and pervasive as a demon's influence? Especially when that demon seemed to be everywhere, even in the guise of a seemingly innocent cat.
Dinner was served, and they sat down to eat. The cat jumped onto Lumina's lap, purring contentedly as she fed it small bits of chicken from her plate. Micha watched in silence, her mind racing with plans and contingencies.
Lumina noticed Micha's tense demeanor and reached out to touch her hand. "Hey, relax. It's just dinner. Let's enjoy it, okay?"
Micha forced a smile, nodding. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry, just a bit on edge.."
The cat's eyes glinted with amusement as it curled up on Lumina's lap, its presence a constant reminder of the unseen battle waging around them. Micha knew she had to stay vigilant. Alastor's influence was growing, and she couldn't let her guard down, not even for a moment.
Daimen is a reoccurring character, a bit of a foil for Alastor if anything. He's a little ignorant, but means well. He's a fox because he was a sly person when he was alive. He was Lumina's best friend in the elite social circles her mother forced her in.
Lumina doesn't mention him at all because she has PTSD from that fateful night when he died and she was in a coma, she fully blames herself for it. As the only person who wasn't using her was just gone.
Micha is a Guardian Angel, at first she had a goal given to her by the big man upstairs but when Adam was murdered it was changed.
I have no idea who Calastor belongs to but credits to them!