Part 22

Alastor had watched the young demon closely as they walked together down the streets. As they walked, Alastor removed his monocle and polished it with a handkerchief from his pocket. Some stared, some ignored, and some were frightened as the pair passed. Alex picked up on it and occasionally glanced up at Alastor with his big smile and calm exterior. He hummed as he walked, as if he didn't have a care in the world like anyone else did when they walked through the park.

"How do you do it, Alastor?" He paused and looked back to Alex, raising an eyebrow, "what's that, dear boy?" The boy clenched his fist, staring ahead into the horizon. "Make a smile like that. How is that even possible?" After a moment, Alex locked eyes with the demon, who shrugged and continued walking. "When one has no choice in the matter, one might as well smile. You really should try it more. Things are much easier when you have a smile on your face and a song in your heart. You're never fully dressed without one, you know." Alex glanced over to a woman standing by the street. Her face was gnarled with a painful-looking deformation, a bone twisted into a spiral and pushing the right half of her face over. Alastor stopped walking and waved to her briefly for a moment before continuing.

The atmosphere was different. Hell was a mire, an underworld. But above them, the sky was red, the stars seemed alive, the air was thick and wet, and a red haze clung to everything. "Is Lucifer a real guy here?"

He nodded with a grunt, "I believe we passed him on our walk this morning, Alex."

The boy glanced up and did a double-take as he had passed the former king, giving him no thought because he had not yet met him and wouldn't have known it. The demon laughed. "I am kidding, my fine-scaled friend. You haven't met him or seen him. The poor sport keeps to himself unless there is something worth his time to be involved in. Truth be told, with your fancy cufflinks, I'm surprised he hasn't made an appearance. Though I suppose that is our lovely Charlie's decision. You are lucky~."

When they rounded the last corner to Valentino's place of work, Alastor held an arm out to prevent Alex from stepping forward. With a large smile, he turned to Alex. "My dear boy, you decided to leave everything you knew and had behind for a boy you barely knew in this place," he looked around. "You were young. You had your whole life ahead of you with endless opportunities." He gave another laugh. "If this were poker, then you would have been shot for such a ridiculous move. You had all the chances in the world to toss a card or two back to the dealer, and instead, you opted to send back your entire hand for a new one. And the chips are down, dear boy."

He indicated the tower with his staff, "and your hand has led you here to face the one you deem responsible."

Alex lowered his eyes to the concrete. It wasn't fair, and he didn't need the reminders; Alastor leaned in closer to whisper. "Don't hate him, Alex." The lizard blinked. Don't...hate...him? He pulled back and placed a hand over his heart with a shake of his head and a tut of his tongue. "A man is not responsible for the feelings others have. One man could love, and another could hate; the first may never understand why; it isn't fair."

The boy glared daggers into the Radio Demon. "Did you even care what Valentino was doing with Angel? Why didn't you help him?!"

He smiled a little wider at Alex. "Angel made a big boy's decision and decided to sell his soul. He is responsible for everything that happens to him after that. So am I. As are you. All of us are accountable for our own actions." He took a step back, standing beside the door. "I will be here when you get back. I will look for you, or I will look for a garbage bag slung over Valentino's shoulder." After a moment, the demon let out another sharp laugh, "who am I kidding? He will have someone else take you out. I will look for a garbage bag. But!" He indicated the building again, "This is you. What do you plan to do?"

Alastor never got his answer as Alex took one last breath and stepped into the building. The demon began to laugh again, "A bold move. I like it." He continued to laugh, chuckle, and hum as he took the black cell phone he had taken from Angel out of his pocket. He tapped a few keys, looked up to the top of the tower, and rocked back and forth on his heels as he waited.

One ring

He continued to hum and inspected his claws.

Two rings

"Oh, really, what IS the point of these things?"

"Hello?"

The demon's smile stretched from ear to ear when he heard the sultry voice on the other side. "Valentino, my good sir, Alastor here~" Alastor dropped his staff at the base, and the stick bounced up into his hand, the demon catching it with a snatch. "I just wanted to call and let you know that a special little lizard is headed up to you right now." He glanced toward the tower, staring up at the studio floor.

"Mmm? Is that so?"

"Yes, it seems that after spending a little time in hell, our young hero has discerned your exact location. Strange that. Still, due to our standing agreement, I thought it best to call and warn you. Wouldn't...you...agree?"

Valentino gave a grunt in agreement. "And Angel didn't tell you about this little visit, did he?"

"Sadly, no, my good man. He hasn't been in contact with me all evening, which I assumed was due to whatever viciousness you inflicted on the boy. Again, he is your property, and I wouldn't dare to dream to tell you what to do with him." He glanced back down the sidewalk and laughed a soft chuckle. "Still, I am an attentive and concerned party, hence my call to you. That should show good intentions, yes?"

Silence came from the other end, and a wide smile curled upward, pink smoke turning to claws as he exhaled and stood from his desk. "Hello," Alastor tapped the screen. " Is this thing on? Hahaha."

"Thank you, Alastor."

"Oh, and one little thing before I go: the boy has divine armaments on his wrists. That may or may not be important, but I felt it necessary to tell you. Consider it a professional courtesy and a sign of good faith."

Alastor could almost see the demon nodding his head on the other end, his eyes gleaming coldly. "You have always been good to me."

"Good morning, Valentino, ta-ta."

The line went dead, and the demon tapped the screen and slid it back into his breast pocket. He stood there on the sidewalk, watching as the crazy woke up and the fights started. It was a happy day in hell.