Part 43

Standing outside the Vees' tower, Angel and Alex felt the pressures of the building bearing down on them. Every stupid fucking decision had led to this moment. Picking up a cell phone, answering a call, stepping in front of a car. Every pill, every line of powder, every moan in front of a camera, all of it had led to this moment where they were forced to either look up at the building or down at the smiling face of the radio demon who had ensured they were brought here, carrying a large silver briefcase in his clawed hand and his staff in the other.

Yet, through it all, Alex had a smile on his face when he turned to look at the demon in red, knowing full well he could be dead in an hour, or worse, knowing Valentino. In return, Alex smiled back, "Why so chipper, my boy? Not everyone smiles on the way to the noose." The lizard glanced at Angel, then back to him, "You said it yourself, Alastor."

"Come again?"

"I need to smile more. Otherwise, it's almost like I'm not having fun. And I'm having fun." Alastor tilted his head. Alex gave his best wide smile, teeth showing. But then Alastor laughed and tilted his head back when he did it. He was really laughing, "Oh my boy...you truly have been a fantastic source of entertainment. See Angel? At least someone gets it." His laughter subsided, but the smile remained. "There are worse things, yes, I suppose. Such a short time, and I think we'll be able to move to more important pieces." He slapped the lizard's back and turned him to face the tower.

"The stage is set, my fine fellow," he indicated to the tower. "The crowd is on the edge of their seats," he indicated Angel, "and we return to our regularly scheduled program. Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart, for staying tuned." The door to the building opened, and Alastor pushed the two boys inside.

Alex put his arm around Angel as the three made their way past a small crowd of people and to the elevators, taking up a position with their backs to it and facing the crowd and, more importantly, Alastor's mic. The crowd there was being held back by Vox's servants, keeping them at bay. But the low hum and chattering made the silence even more pronounced, not a soul making eye contact with the two lovers and their keeper. They knew who they were, which hurt the pit in the arachnid's stomach. The doors to the elevator closed, and they began to ascend.

Part 1 complete.

Inside, Alastor hummed to himself, not a care in the world on his shoulders. He cleaned his monocle on his sleeve, tucking his staff under his arm.

The boys looked at one another, the expression on Angel's face making the ache in his chest hurt, "for the record," Alex cupped his love's face and stroked his soft fur, the arachnid pulling the hands closer, holding his head, leaning in, and pressed a deep and longing kiss into the reptile. He could have been gone the next day or the next five minutes, but god, if he didn't try to leave with a clear conscience, with the taste of his lips, the feel of his body, or the smell of his hair and skin and whatever else he could commit the feeling to memory, "I don't regret coming here, Angie."

The elevator opened. Angel sighed, but there were no tears. His makeup and dress were perfect. This time was memorable: the white suit and white crop top. But this time, the first time, he wore a bright white overcoat, something he had stolen from Carmilla before leaving. Alex wore the torn black jeans from the day before and a new dark green and blue hoodie that complemented his blue scales and black hair. He bounced a little from foot to foot, shaking his hands, and stepped out onto the floor, Alastor following in the back.

The red-suited demon handed Angel the briefcase and turned to Alex, looking him over. "Are we ready to have what could be our final dance, my boy?" Alex didn't meet his gaze at first, instead, his eyes were on Angel, his expression had changed; the glimmer of hope, a small ray of sunshine after the last few days. Alex's expression and energy all changed. It was clear, or maybe it was just Alastor's eyes playing tricks with the younger man. His usual energy and tone of a child that hadn't grown into adulthood had matured, the soft face a little more complex, eyes more apparent, and that spark that Valentino had all but smothered out that rested behind his eyes was burning bright.

"I'm going to kill that monster, Alastor."

"HA!" He patted him, clapping the lizard man across his back, "Oh, of course you will, dear boy. I said that right from the start, didn't I? Haha!" He straightened the boy's hoodie and glanced at Angel, "doesn't your boy look like he is ready for a night on the town?" The spider let a slight smile crack, "he does." He reached a hand down for Alex to take, which he did. Their palms held one another firmly for a moment before Alastor's staff separated them. "Now, boys, I can lead you to the door, but what happens once the theater's lights are on you is entirely up to you. All I can do is give you your shot. After that, you play the parts you were meant to play. Be bold. Be beautiful. And remember, no matter what happens, smile."

With a twirl of his staff, a black and green shadow slid from the dark that Alex cast upon the floor, curling around his wrists and pulling them behind his back like handcuffs. Another coiled around Angel's and pulled all six of his arms behind him, the radio demon catching the silver briefcase before it hit the floor. He carried it under his arm, and the boys followed him as he moved quickly. Angel was struggling to keep up.

As the hallway came into view, they found it filled with Valentino's men. When they had spotted him, Angel bit his lip, and Alex winced a bit, his shoulders rolling as the demons watched the overlord in red approach with them, humming, "Good morning to you all, my fine fellows. Make way, please, make way. Gifts are abound."

When they got close to the door, Alastor backed up and kicked Alex in the back, which sent the boy face-first through the studio doors and onto the hard floor, unable to protect his fall with his hands being tied behind his back. Angel watched Alex's tail fall limp as he made an audible oomph. Then, with no hesitation, he dropped Angel to the ground. The spider felt the pain, but not as severely. He rolled to the side and quickly got to his knees, Alastor sliding his claws along his back, propping him upright, and straightening him, "Oh, Valentino~! I come bearing gifts~!"

Angel turned around, the shadows coiling back from his legs, freeing them from their grasp. " Gifts you say, my deer~?" Valentino emerged in his typical form. As Alex glanced up, he was in all his tall glory, a large grin across his face.

For a moment, Alex had the same look on his face that Angel did of terror in the moth's presence. It had been a little while since they had seen one another, and that anger and hatred inside of him seemed to crack and bubble to the surface.

Angel had a hard time looking at him, not wanting to see those eyes, "oh...Angel. my sweet, sweet boy..." the pimp leaned over and turned the arachnid's face to make him look into his eyes, "I cannot express how disappointed I am in you. I gave you such a simple task to give this fucking lizard to me, and not only could you not do it, you were with him the whole time." Angel tried to pull his face away, but the fingers tightened and began to dig in deeper, the sound of one or two claws digging deep into the cheek skin just below angels eyes, "If I ever get the chance, my boy, to make you regret what you've done for the rest of eternity, it won't come fast enough. But don't worry, I'll think of something."

"Keep your fucking hands off him, you fat fucking-" Alex felt a bomb go off inside of his skull when Valentino struck him with a hard kick to the side of his head, "KEEP YOUR FILTHY MOUTH SHUT!" There was another sharp, radiating pain that ran from the top of his head down his neck, but it lasted only a moment, "Alastor, can't you control him like one of your little pets?!"

The demon shrugged, "he's not my property, Valentino; perhaps you can shut him up yourself?" He adjusted his sleeves.

"How about the case, darling~?"

The radio host placed it into his other hand, drumming his claws against it, "Oh, this is for later. You need not concern yourself. Now!" The demon stepped forward, "I believe my agreement with you is at an end, yes? I have delivered the boy and returned your property, Angel, to you. I would like to collect what I am owed and be on my way if that is alright with you, Valentino."

It was strange hearing any words coming from Angel's lips besides a 'Yes, Sir' or 'Daddy.' But the boy found the nerve and spoke clearly, "Oh, and what is it you think you're owed, hm?" Alastor used the microphone at the end of his staff to turn Angel's chin to make the boy look at him, "Five and a half percent of Valentino's empire. Oh! And that reminds me, Valentino, the second part of my payment to you." Reaching into his breast pocket, he pulled out a silver lighter, a shiny, almost soapy-looking material and tossed it toward the moth. "The boy, your Angel, and a brand new lighter. As we agreed."

Angel barked at Alastor, his voice laced with poison, "You sold us for five and a half percent?!"

"I would have done it for three."

Valentino leaned down to the lizard, kicked him in the ribs, and sent him back, flipping him onto his back and sprawling him across the floor a bit from the kick. The moth picked up the lizard by his collar and lifted him a little off the ground, staring at him with a wicked smile, "Now, isn't this reminiscent, you little tease?" He blew a mouthful of thick pink smoke into the face of the reptile.

The pain Alex remembered was almost as intense as having his eye stabbed out, but the reptile tried to fight the coughing. When the lizard didn't gag on the smoke, the pimp looked a little less pleased, but it didn't stop him, "all you had to do was fuck off and die, and you couldn't manage." He let him go and stepped down onto his chest, "you disgusting little whore." He ground his heel into the lizard's chest.

A throat clearing caught Valentino's attention. It came from Alastor's bright smile: " My payment...Val." The smile widened, the words drawn out a little. It was cold, calculated, and not the smug enthusiasm that the Radio Demon carried around with him.

With his eyes, the Overlord glanced back to the demon and then to his property. Then he sighed, stepped off the lizard, and withdrew an envelope from his breast pocket, handing it to Alastor: " Nineteen blocks in the southern point of the pentagram. Each resident is yours, each business, every inch of blacktop." Valentino glanced down, "As per our contract, 5.5% of my entire empire."

Part 2 complete.

Alastor opened the envelope and quickly skimmed over the paperwork before offering his hand to the moth to shake. Valentino obliged, the two demons firmly gripping the other and a snapping, popping noise between their taloned fingers, claws digging into one another in a pathetic attempt to assert dominance. Valentino blinked a few times, as did Alastor, their heads tilted with a sick smile before both let go of each other's hands. Alastor's smile never wavered, even for a moment.

"Well," Valentino said, withdrawing a pistol from inside his coat, "I suppose I should get this over with." He leaned down, pressing the pistol's muzzle to the side of Alex's temple. Angel could feel his heart skip a beat, feeling the tension and fear well up again, and he almost fell to his stomach. " Please," he started to shake, "Val, please."

Oddly, Alastor spoke up next: " The boy makes a good point, Valentino. If memory serves me right, you commented on Alex not wanting to see Angel cry. Is that right?"

"I suppose if I'm to shoot the lizard, it's best not to get the floors all messy. Of course, I do have to punish him. I've put a lot of resources into him, not to mention time and effort." He shoved the gun harder into the side of the boy's head.

"I'm not saying not to kill him, my good man, I'm simply saying not in front of your toy here," he gave Angel a tap with his staff, "kill him if you like, it means nothing to me."

Valentino rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. I need to call in a team to clean anyway." The moth's red eyes fell on Angel and indicated Alex: " Final words, my sweet, sweet boy?"

The lizard tried to push himself up to his knees, hissing, "Let..." he was silenced when Val struck him with the butt of his gun, "shit, Angel, the little fag doesn't know when to keep his fucking mouth shut, does he? I usually like that in a boy." He shrugged, "All right, my boy. Angel, final words, and then we have much to catch up on." Angel glanced at the radio demon, but he was no help, simply standing there as if nothing in the world would bother him.

He wanted to speak, to say anything, but his words turned into a ball in his throat. Alastor grabbed the boy by the shoulder and pulled him towards the door, glancing back at Val and Alex as he led Angel out of the room and back into the hallway. He turned around only for a moment to close the doors. " Have fun, you two," Alastor sang from beyond the doorway.

At that moment, the black bindings on Alex's wrists disappeared.

Part 3 complete.

The moment the bindings disappeared, an explosion of sound and scuffling erupted from behind those doors, gunshots, glass breaking, and wood splintering. Fear gripped deep inside Angel's chest, and he wanted to open the doors, but Alastor stopped him.

The rest of the demons in the hallway moved to aid their boss, but a glance from Alastor made them stop as his antlers protruded from his head, and the sound of a screaming stag seemed to emanate from him and cascade down the hallway, "if I were you...I'd run." Angel watched in horror as they turned on a dime and left. The Radio demon's arm, solid and thick, held his arachnid shoulder and forced him backward against the wall. Teeth like razors, claws of the most terrible beast that had ever invaded his nightmares, Alastor addressed the boy, his voice warped in radio static, "Dear...boy. Today may be a terrible thing for you." He pushed the spider back, who fell to the floor, "So if it is going to be terrible...then I suggest you have fun." He kicked the briefcase towards the spider, the silver case stopping against his legs.

When the arachnid reached for the case, he pressed down on the locks, and inside sat six stunningly beautiful silver and rose gold pistols. The weapons' grips were alabaster, and the pistols' weight was something to be held and admired. Only a hand like Angel's could genuinely appreciate such fantastic tools.

It was as if these beautiful creatures were made for the hands of the spider to fire them. The radio demon chuckled in his terrible voice, "If he fails, ensure Valentino has to pay dearly for the damage." He indicated that the demons had run down the hallway, "go have fun. And remember...smile."

The thing inside Angel's mind broke again. He stood at the end of the hall, staring down at the far end towards where the other demons had run. Demons that he had filmed with, demons that had been rough on command, demons that he had been subjugated to. He felt the sharp talons of the radio demon on his shoulders, and one curled around, using his thumb and middle finger to press his lips up into a smile, "Go on, dear boy. I'll guard the door." Angel felt the weight on his chest lighten, and there was no doubt in his mind what he would do with that moment to enjoy it.

The laughter that followed wasn't the laugh of an animal but a genuine laugh as he dashed down the hallway, all six hammers pulling back as he ran after the others. He was going to make this cost Valentino a fortune. He was going to have the time of his afterlife, of which he was sure. The laughter kept coming out like an oil spill, the horrible truth behind those things always spilling from his heart and mind as he moved like lightning from door to door, listening for the sound of panic to hunt down those under the employment of the moth, bad crops, ripe for reaping.

Part 4 complete. Alastor only needed to wait for part five to play out.