Alastor strolled nonchalantly down the street of Hell, humming a jazzy tune to himself. The Pentagram was just waking up, with a few early morning sinners stumbling out of bars and nightclubs. Some of them gave Alastor a wide berth, others dove into oncoming traffic. He enjoyed the screams of terror, it was music to his ears. He had a skip in his step as he headed towards his destination.
He couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement as he approached The Burning Pages bookstore once again. The idea of seeing Millie again made his ever present smile widen. Alastor allowed his mind to linger on thoughts of Millie. He found her stuttering and shy demeanor utterly endearing and charming...an oddly refreshing reaction to his mischievous antics.
Finally making it to the shop, Alastor paused in front of the door, his gaze fixated on the sign that read 'Closed.' His eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief, and a smirk played at the corner of his mouth.
He knew exactly why he was there at that moment. The idea of paying her a visit out of hours held a certain appeal, and he relished the thought of catching her off guard. Besides, where was the fun in abiding by the rules and business hours?
Using his shadow warping abilities, Alastor slipped into the shop. For an added bit of fun, he unlocked the door once he was inside. Millie didn't need to know exactly how he got in. He didn't want her to know the full extent of his abilities just yet, and he intended to keep his powers hidden from her, at least for now.
She would just think that he picked the lock, a bit of bonus fun.
He couldn't help but smirk at the thought of catching Millie off guard once again. Alastor waited for the little mouse to wake up and make her way downstairs. He was certain that she was still asleep, it was pretty early in the morning. This would give him a bit of time to get a good look at the place.
Letting out a content sigh, Alastor surveyed the cozy little shop. The soft 'sunlight' of Hell streamed through the windows adding a serene ambiance to the quiet space. The scent of paper and ink mingled in the air, creating a soothing atmosphere that seemed to wrap itself around him. He found solace in the tranquility of the shop, feeling completely at ease and forgetting about the outside world for a brief moment.
Upon taking his time to browse the shelves, Alastor's eyes moved purposefully over the various texts, his gaze scanning over volumes, tomes, and novels of all kinds. As he came across a few novels that caught his attention, he mentally noted to return and purchase them at a later date.
He continued his exploration of the shelves, feeling a pang of nostalgia as he came across some books on the Creole language, a lingering memory from his life in Louisiana. It was like he was once again back in the heart of the bayou. He could almost smell the fragrance of magnolia and azalea blossoms, and hear the melodic sounds of cicadas and frogs in the night air.
For a moment, he was transported back in time, and he savored the bittersweet reminiscence. He shook himself out of the
Recollecting himself, Alastor let out a soft sigh, shaking off the nostalgic haze that had momentarily clouded his mind. His gaze returned to the shelves of books, and the previous intrigue returned. He found himself wondering once again how Millie had managed to acquire such a vast collection of books. He couldn't help but feel a flicker of amazement as he noticed titles from his own lifetime, books that he thought were long forgotten.
As Alastor's mind refocused, his senses once again picked up on the faint undercurrent of demon magic that seemed to permeate the air in the bookshop. It was an unmistakable presence that had piqued his curiosity from the moment he stepped foot within the shop's confines.
It was common knowledge that sinners in Hell often gained various abilities and magical powers upon their descent. While some low-ranking sinners might possess basic magical capabilities, it was usually the more powerful sinners who could wield potent magic. In fact, he suspected that Millie herself likely had some level of magical ability. It was the only reasonable answer to how she had obtained such a large collection of books.
The Overlord pondered over the possibilities as he looked upon the bookshop. If Millie truly possessed magical abilities, there was untold potential for growth and power beyond the confines of this small bookshop. Perhaps she had yet to uncover her full capabilities, or maybe she had merely scratched the surface. He could feel his smile stretching to an almost uncomfortable degree at the prospect of uncovering her hidden talents and guiding her towards a power she never knew she had.
He could picture her standing beside him, a fearsome force to be reckoned with. The thought brought a twisted sense of satisfaction to him, and he reveled in the thrill of the possibilities. Alastor began to devise a plan, a cunning scheme to uncover Millie's hidden talents and shape her into the perfect weapon, or possibly even a partner. He couldn't wait to begin the unfolding of her potential for his own gain. He was nearly salivating the idea of it.
He heard movement from the upper floor of the shop indicating that Millie had just woken up. His smirk widened slightly as he heard her shuffling around, no doubt getting ready for the day.
After a short while, Alastor could hear the sound of footsteps descending some stairs, which were out of sight to the public. Millie finally emerged from the back room, her eyes widening with surprise as she noticed Alastor standing there. She couldn't quite mask her confusion of seeing him in her shop before she even opened.
Alastor couldn't help but grin. He took in her bewildered expression, thoroughly enjoying the effect he seemed to have on her. He knew well that she couldn't quite hide her confusion at his unexpected reappearance, and Alastor loved every bit of it.
Giving the poor mouse his signature grin, greeted her like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Ah, good morning, my dear! I hope you don't mind me doing a bit of browsing before you open up shop! I just couldn't miss out on some of these lovely titles!" He held up the book and gave it a little shake.
He noticed the hint of annoyance in Millie's smile. He knew she was trying her best to be polite, but her frustration was not unnoticeable. He continued his taunting.
"My, my, you have quite the cozy little shop here! And what an impressive collection of books you have" He exclaims, taking a moment to examine some of the spines.
" I hope you don't mind that I let myself in! I just couldn't wait to get a look at the array of books you sell here." He smiled, the corner of his eyes creasing.
Alastor took Millie's forced smile as a sign of acceptance and continued to browse the shelves, his attention drawn to various titles that piqued his interest. He would occasionally glance over at Millie, trying to gauge her reaction.
' Oh, this is too much fun! Such a polite little mouse, trying to remain composed while clearly being annoyed.'
Millie assured him that it wasn't a problem, that tight lipped smile gracing her face. He was expecting her to start stuttering and rambling, but this reaction was new.
'I wonder how far I'd have to push to get an angry outburst out of her.'
Millie tried to make conversation, and Alastor played along. He spoke about his admittedly limited abilities when it came to voodoo. He even went as far as to talk about his days on Earth. It was very limited information but he wanted to indulge her curiosity.
When she started to ramble and her stuttering came back with a vengeance, Alastor had to hold back his laughter. He could practically see Millie's brain melting. The way her ears trembled and her tail wrapped around her legs. It was all deliciously entertaining. He took pity on the poor mouse and assured her that he was not offended by her question.
Giving her a little pat between her ears, he walked down the aisle and froze when he felt the pull of magic. It was a subtle pull of voodoo magic. It was a familiar sensation to him, one that he couldn't ignore. He was drawn to a large tome nestled inconspicuously in the corner of the shop, and he couldn't resist the urge to examine it further. With a casual demeanor, he approached Millie and inquired if he could take a closer look at the tome. He couldn't deny the allure of such dark knowledge. It was always there, just beneath the surface of his polite and charming demeanor. The thought of studying powerful voodoo techniques consumed his mind. He craved it. It took all of his self-control to maintain his composure...He also needed a Creole to English translation book.
With a final nod of gratitude to Millie, Alastor settled his bill and bid her farewell. His mind was whirling with the thought of studying the contents of the tome. A wicked smile tugged at the corners of his lips. The knowledge within the tome called to him like a siren's song.
He couldn't wait to begin translating the secrets contained within the pages and unlocking their full potential. The thrill of discovering this treasure was an intoxicating feeling.
These ancient books were the stuff of legend in the voodoo community he had once been a part of. He had heard whispers of their power and the secrets they held, always believing them to be nothing more than myths.
But now, as he held the tome in his hands, Alastor couldn't help but marvel at the fact that these myths were real and had somehow found their way into a humble bookshop in hell. Which led him back to Millie and her powers.
Could she procure more ancient tomes of magic? The more Alastor thought about it, the more he realized that he needed to find out more about Millie's abilities. There was a gnawing curiosity at the very core of his being, and he knew he wouldn't be able to rest until he had unraveled the true extent of her magical prowess.
Alastor halted in his tracks as the gears of his mind began to turn, formulating a scheme. He realized that if he wanted to learn more about Millie and her abilities, he needed to keep a closer eye on her. And what better way to do that than to convince Charlie to have her stay at the hotel?
With Millie within the hotel's walls, it would be simple for him to observe her, to unravel her secrets and uncover the true extent of her powers. He had no doubt that he could persuade Charlie to ask Millie to stay, and he knew that Millie's gentle nature would make it difficult for her to refuse.
Alastor felt the corners of his lips twitch into a smirk as the plan solidified in his mind. He could almost taste the success that awaited him if he played his cards right. With her staying at the hotel, he would have ample opportunity to study her intently, like a predator observing its prey. He chuckled softly to himself, eager to set the plan in motion.
Alastor shadow warped his way directly into the hotel. Snapping his fingers, he made his purchases disappear to his room. Armed with his plan, he set out to find Charlie. He knew that timing was key, and he wanted to find her at a moment when she was most receptive to his suggestions.
Alastor prowled the halls of the hotel, determined to find Charlie. And then, as if fate itself had conspired, he spotted her walking through the lobby, her attention fixed on some paperwork in her hands. He approached her, mustered his most charming smile and spoke with an air of confidence.
"Ah, my dear Charlie," he began, his voice dripping with charm. " Might I have a moment of your time?"