Ch 14.
When Scarlett woke up the next morning, Alastor was already out of bed. Fresh, new pants and top were sitting out for her on the dresser. She changed into them before walking out to the living room. Six days left and the others would be back at the hotel. The house was quiet when she walked out. There was breakfast already waiting for her in the kitchen and she quickly at it, wondering where Alastor was. She waited in the living room for a good half hour after eating, but when Alastor didn't make an appearance, she decided to leave.
She walked through the bayou, heading back to Alastor's hotel room to start on chores for the day. She hopped from one dry plot of land to another, taking her time. She wasn't in any rush to do chores. The quiet bayou caused her mind to wander as she moved through it.
She was in bad shape. The bullet from the security guard pierced her waist and she was having trouble moving. They abandoned her when she was injured, her so called 'family.' An injury is unacceptable in their eyes, so they turned their backs on her and left her to die.
Scarlett braced herself against the alleyway wall, feeling weak from the blood loss. She hated them all. Everything she's done for them, everything they put her through and one small injury, and they turn their backs. She fell to the ground then, her vision starting to glow blurry as she leaned her back against the wall, pressing her hand to her wound. Her free hand reached for her knife when she saw someone jump down to the street in front of her.
"Take it easy," the man said, his face covered by his hood, "I just want to help."
"I don't need it." She snapped and he kneeled to look at her.
"Not from where I'm standing." He said with a soft voice. Her grip on her knife loosened as her body started to become weak.
"Come on," he said, "I'll help you. Your associates are heartless for this." So he was the one that had been following her and her group since they entered Greece. She had noticed him a while ago, but didn't bother saying anything. She winced in pain when he moved to lift her onto his back. her arms hung over his shoulders, her head resting on one of his shoulders while he supported her weight by holding her legs.
"You know about us?" she asked as he started to walk, and he laughed a little.
"Ya," he said, "the people I work for know all about you. After all, we are very similar. Except we only take out corrupted people, our services are not for hire. And we certainly never abandon one of our own."
"We're always looking for new recruits." He said after a few minutes of silence.
"I doubt I'm worthy to help your cause." She muttered.
"You can be." He said and her heart pained at the softness in his voice. She was not used to the gentle tone and way he treated her. "How old are you?"
"Sixteen." She muttered and they arrived at a large office building. She figured this was their base of operations, whoever 'they' were.
"My name is Jason by the way." He said as she was placed on a stretcher when medical staff came out.
"What's yours?" he asked, walking next to the stretcher as nurses pushed her down the hall.
"Don't have one," she replied, fighting to stay awake. "I'm always called Two."
"Everyone has to have a name," Jason said as he removed his hood to reveal his brown hair and brown eyes. He looked to be almost twenty.
"That won't work at all," he muttered as he grabbed the clipboard from a nurse to fill out some information.
"Name?" he muttered to himself, tapping the pen against his chin before smiling.
"Your red hair is very beautiful," he nodded then wrote something down on the paper.
"Scarlett." He nodded then looked at her with a smile, "from now on, you are Scarlett." He placed his hand back on her head as the doctors started to administer anesthesia.
"Everything is going to be alright," he comforted, "I promise, I'll look after you Scarlett."
Scarlett stopped walking as she shook her head, trying to get rid of the memories. She missed Jason so much. He is the only family she has, at least what she considers family. Her fingers brushed the dagger strapped to her back. She looked up when she could hear soft jazz music playing on the radio. She followed the music only to end in at the very hut that sent her here. Alastor's radio hut that she found up in the living world was sitting in the middle of the bayou, looking brand new. The door was cracked open, and she placed a hand on it before opening the door and stepping in.
Alastor was sitting in the chair by the radio equipment, his legs were propped up onto the table next to the microphone as he leaned back into the chair with one hand wrapped around his neck and his other dangling off the side of the armrest. She was surprised to see a lit cigarette loosely dangling between his two fingers. She'd never smelled smoke on him before and didn't even think that he would partake in smoking. Although, he did live during the 30s when smoking was very widespread. She walked in further, her footsteps light and almost nonexistent as she moved. Alastor's eyes were coclosed and she would think he was sleeping if his ear had not twitched as hearing her approach. She put her hands behind her back and observed him for a moment before he finally spoke up.
"Is there something on your mind fawn?" He asked, not opening his eyes but moving his hand from his neck. She noticed that his claws left small scratches on his neck making her wonder what bothered him. She moved to lean back against the table his feet were resting on.
"I was thinking," she said after a minute, "about how to get home. Jason is probably at his wits end looking for me."
"And how can you be so sure he's looking for you?" Alastor asked with his eyes still closed, "you've been gone for a long time. For all he knows, you could be dead."
"He'll never give up on me." She muttered, her eyes landing on the radio, a newer version of the one that made her come back into this hut before falling here.
"He means a lot to you?" Alastor asked and she shrugged.
"He means everything to me," she replied honestly, "he saved me."
"hm," Alastor had opened his eyes a little to watch her. She was staring at his radio, almost looking like she wanted to set it on fire; but she also had a sad look on her face. Her attention was brought back to him when he moved the cigarette to his lips, curling his finger over as he took a puff. The pose almost reminded her of something you would see models do.
"Didn't know you smoke." She muttered and he smiled, showing his teeth as he blew out some smoke.
"Our little secret fawn," he smiled, pressing a finger in front of his lips while still holding the cigarette between his fingers. Scarlett hated how attractive the pose looked, and she had to look away.
"What about you dear?" he asked, "do you ever partake?" She shrugged as she looked up at the ceiling.
"I have to stay healthy," she said, "but I have smoked on few occasions to blend in with a crowd."
"You don't have to worry about your health after you die." He chuckled and she smiled a little. They fell into silence for a while and her eyes moved over all the equipment in the room.
"So," she said after centering her thoughts, "is this were you used to broadcast from, back on earth?"
"I would think that would be obvious." He said while closing his eyes again, taking another drag of his cigarette before moving his arm to dangle off the chair armrest again.
"So now you just broadcast screaming of your victims down here from that tower on the side of the hotel?" She continued as she looked over the equipment on the table. He chuckled, a puff of smoke coming out of his mouth.
"You can find out," he purred while reaching out to grab her wrist with his free hand, "shall I broadcast your screams?" she rolled her eyes.
"Not going to happen." She huffed. He pulled on her wrist then, making her stumble over to him as he moved his feet off the table.
"I've found other ways to make you scream little fawn." He purred and she blushed before yanking her wrist out of his hold while he laughed, moving his cigarette back to his lips.
"So," she cleared her throat, "got any Abbott and Costello?"
"Only Jazz my dear," he replied, moving back to resting his feet on the table and blowing out smoke, tapping the ashes of the cigarette into an ash tray on the table next to him. His eyes closed as she walked back over him.
"Well I guess you like what you like." She muttered, moving to lean against table by his feet again. They sat in silence for a while, listening to jazz music while he finished off his cigarette.
"Now then my dear," Alastor suddenly said, never opening his eyes as he raised a hand and snapped his fingers after putting out his cigarette. The door to the hut closed and locked making her raise an eyebrow at him. He opened his eyes then and moved to stand, he was in front of her before she could react, pinning her against him and the table. She inhaled, picking on the faint smell of smoke on him now.
"First I must praise you for keeping your hands to yourself, last night." he said with a smile while tapping her nose with his claw, "however your persistent nightmares are becoming more frequent. You were shaking in your sleep." Scarlett looked away from him while crossing her arms.
"That's my problem." She muttered and he gave her some space.
"Indeed." He smiled, "but I believe I've been patient enough with you. You did not tell me your full story when we made our deal, and I let it slide. But now it's time to talk, don't you think?" He snapped his fingers, and a small couch appeared then.
"I told you that I don't want to talk about it." She said through clenched teeth, and he smiled as he sat down on the couch and crossed his legs before patting the spot next to him.
"I wasn't giving you a choice fawn" he said, and she glared down at him. When she didn't move, the glowing green cuff appeared on her wrist and Alastor twisted the chain in his hand before pulling it, making her come closer. He yanked on the chain, and she fell forward, straddling his lap.
"So little fawn," he smiled up at her, his free hand resting on her back to steady her. "Will you tell me, or will I have to ask?" Scarlett managed to get out of his hold, and he followed when she stood up.
"Why does it matter?" She snapped watching as he twisted more of the chain around his hand.
"We'll my dear," he said moving closer to her, "you can always get out of this deal. Let's make a new one, give me your soul and I won't ever ask about you again." Scarlett rolled her eyes and pushing his glowing hand away.
"No." She muttered, and he pulled on the chain, making her fall forward into his chest.
"Then let's talk." He said before pushing her to sit on the couch. The chair by his broadcast equipment was suddenly behind him and he took a seat, the chain disappearing. He snapped his fingers, and two glasses of whiskey appeared in his hand. He handed her one and she took it with a sigh. She took a sip of whiskey while looking away from him.
"The people who raised me started training when I was old enough to walk," she said, "when I turned ten the more intense training began. The first thing they did was leave me and the other kids alone in a cave. This was how they separated the strongest of us from the weakest. That was the first time I saw death. One of the girls in my group slipped. I tried to hold onto her hand, but I wasn't strong enough. She slipped from my hold and fell into the darkness. I can still hear screams." Scarlett looked down at her whiskey, letting her hair cover her face.
"They sent twenty kids into that cave," she muttered, "only five of us came out." She could see Alastor cross his legs, but never looked up at him.
"The five of us that survived were put through intense training," she continued, "every time you lost a sparring match you would be whipped and left alone in a cell with no food. They called it motivation to never lose." She took a deep breath and took a sip of whiskey.
"I didn't lose very often," she muttered, "but I was still tortured at least four to five times a week because I questioned them too much. I don't know, the others just fell in line but no matter how much they broke me, I never actually fell in line. By the time I was fifteen though, I learned to just keep my head down and not disobey orders. But then our first assignment came. We were supposed to kill a family, but they had children, I refused to do it." She let out a sigh, placing her glass on the table and moving to lean back in the couch.
"well, my 'master'" she used her fingers for air quotes around the word, "he was furious with me. They locked me up for a month, I can't even remember some of the ways they tortured me." She pulled her legs up onto the couch and dug her fingers into her hair, "To be a true assassin, you must feel no fear, no pain, no desire, no remorse. You will learn to ride yourself from all that. That's what they told me every day. Eventually, I learned to stop crying at the pain and stopped fearing what they would do next. Their final test was branding us with that mark." She squeezed her eyes shut, her fingers digging into her hair more.
"I can still feel the burning pain on my back. I'm so afraid they will find me." The room was quiet as she took some deep breaths, pushing away all the memories. She refused to go into detail of her torture.
"So you escaped?" Alastor asked after a while, and she took a deep breath. She ran her fingers through her hair before looking up at the ceiling.
"Kind of." She replied, "when I was sixteen, we were sent to Greece for an assignment. Well, I got distracted and a security guard shot me in the abdomen. I became a liability for the others, so they left me to die. To be honest I wasn't opposed to idea of dying." She smiled a little, moving her hair to one side, "but that's when Jason found me. He had been tracking us for a while before I was shot. He took care of me; he was the first person who was kind to me. He was the first person that didn't see me as a number, but instead gave me a name. He made me feel like I was a person and not just a tool. So, there you have most of it. I'm not going into more details, I can't." She took a deep breath before looking over to him.
He was observing her, his attention one hundred percent on her, the smile on his face was small but still present. On of his hands rested on the knee of his crossed legs as his glass of whiskey dangled from his fingers while he rested his cheek on the knuckles of his free hand. Scarlett resisted her eye roll; he looked like he was posing for a photoshoot, and she really hated how much she liked it.
"Well, my little fawn," he finally spoke, "I must say I'm offended that you are more scared of memories than me." Scarlett let out a small laugh at this.
"You unsettle me Alastor," she admitted, and his smile widened a little.
"I suppose I can accept that," he lifted his hands to shrug before taking a sip of his whiskey. "But still," he stood up from his chair and she watched him set his glass on a table.
"You are quite irritating," he muttered, "so much trouble over one little soul." Scarlett huffed at this and rolled her eyes.
"So I take it I ruined another plan of your," she huffed, "what were you going to torture me until I gave you my soul?" Alastor's smile got bigger, and he walked up to her. His legs on either side of hers placing his hands behind his back as he leaned down.
"If you must know," he said, "I had planned on it after our second game. But you went and won that because I underestimated you." He tapped his claw on her nose, and she wrinkled it before rolling her eyes.
"Why do you want my soul so bad?" she asked, and he froze, the green glow appearing around his body made her raise an eyebrow, their deal was becoming more beneficial for her.
"A mortal soul is powerful," he said as he straightened up, "it can give demon powers that can help them achieve a variety of things."
"What-" she went to ask, and he placed a hand over her mouth, his smile going a little smaller and there was a warning look in his eyes that made her freeze.
"No, no" he scolded, "I shall insist you do not ask anymore. Understood?" There was no room for argument in that statement and she decided to let it go for now. She nodded and he pulled his hand away.
"Lovely," he said and straightened up.
"I won't ask," she said, "but in return I think you owe me for it." He stepped away from her and tapped a claw on his cheek while tilting his head.
"I advise you to tread carefully fawn," he warned as if he knew what she was going to ask.
"You already know what I'm going to ask," she said, "why not just tell me." The cuff appeared on her wrist, and he twisted the chain in his hand before using it to pull her up of the couch. She stumbled closer to him, and he wrapped his free hand around her throat.
"I dislike talking about such things." He said lowly, refusing to even acknowledge the topic.
"Well, I dislike talking about my past," she hissed, "yet you still forced me." His hold on her throat got a little tighter and she sighed.
"Just one memory Alastor," she said looking into his eyes. He moved away from her, turning his back to her but continued to hold the glowing green chain in his hand. He let out what sounded like a mix between a pained and amused laugh as his free hand when to his hair.
"You are truly irritating little fawn," he laughed out before turning to look at her. "Come." She blinked when he pulled on the chair forcing her to follow behind him as he walked out into the bayou. She followed him past the house and to a small swing set near the house with a single swing. She sat down on the swing when he motioned for her to do so while the chain disappeared.
"I don't know how to swing on these." She muttered as her hands wrapped around the chains of the swing.
"Poor little fawn," he chuckled, his hands resting over hers as he stood behind her. He pushed the swing a little, making her move forward. She smiled as she swung her legs back and forth to get momentum at his instructions and Alastor moved to the side. He leaned back against the wood pole of the swing, crossing one leg over the other, a cigarette appearing in his hand. Scarlett slowed down after a few minutes and rocked on the swing using her leg to move her back and forth a little.
"You know fawn," Alastor said as he blew smoke up into the air, "this was the last thing my father built before he met an untimely end." Scarlett stopped swinging and looked over to him as he smiled.
"What a terrible man he was," Alastor continued, "always hitting me or mother in a drunken state. And then, one day when he was out fishing in the bayou, he fell in. The gators ripped him apart in seconds, dragging him down to the depths."
"Fell in?" she asked, and he chuckled as he brought the cigarette to his lips.
"That's what the police believed," his smile gave him away, "I was only ten years old, just playing on the swing when the cops came to the house." Scarlett stopped swinging and looked out over the bayou. Alastor didn't like being touch, she could understand that coming from abuse. But finding so much dislike in sex until recently.
"Was that all he did to her?" she dared to ask, not looking over at Alastor.
"Her screams from their bedroom were always echoing in the house," Alastor admitted, "it's too bad the gators pulled him under the water, I would've like to have heard his screams until the very end." Alasto appeared in front of her, and she stood up a little, leaning against the seat of the swing as she moved back, and he followed. When she couldn't move back anymore, he leaned down, his cigarette still dangling between his fingers as he held onto the chains.
"Don't you enjoy it little fawn," he asked, "the rush?"
"The rush?" she raised an eyebrow, and he laughed.
"The rush of killing?" he continued, "the suspense of being caught? Oh, my dear fawn, those police were ignorant. A ten-year-old boy killing his father? They didn't even entertain the idea. Fascinating, the rush I got at evading them. I yearned for it since that day. I watched people in town, learned who the police would never consider to be a suspect and who they would approach first. So, I became the man they would never suspect. A well respect man in the town. The best way I was able to achieve that was through radio. Mother was so proud of my radio show and when I became a true success, I desired the chase again. Entertaining clueless crowds was not nearly as fun as playing with them. Seeing the fear in people's eyes as they moved around town, jumping at every shadow."
"You forgot I was trained to not feel anything." She replied to his earlier question.
"And yet you still do," he challenged, "perhaps your time with this Jason softened you." She glared at him, but didn't respond because she knew he was right. Alastor stepped away a little, one hand stayed on the swing chains as he brought the cigarette to his lips.
"You know the most important thing I learned fawn," he continued, the smoke blowing out of his mouth as he spoke. "I learned that patience and control are two traits one needs to have a successful hunt. Watch your prey, learn their habits, their weaknesses, and strike when their guard is down."
"Luckily my guard is always up with you Alastor." Scarlett responded and he chuckled.
"Is it?" he asked, "all I must do is ask one simple question, and you have to tell me the truth. Now what would be the right question to ask to achieve my goals I wonder?" She froze at this for a second before smiling.
"You have to tell me the truth too." She pointed out and he smiled.
"My dear fawn," he said with a smile, bringing the cigarette back to his lips, "do you truly believe I would enter a deal where I would be at a disadvantage?"
"Probably not." She shrugged and plucked the cigarette from his fingers to take a drag. She was a little surprised that he let her as his hands when to hold the chains on the swing, trapping her.
"But do you honestly believe I would give up my soul?" she challenged, and he only smiled while taking the cigarette back. She watched him tap the ash off the cigarette onto the ground below them. She looked up at him through her lashes. He was so closer to her now, and the urge to feel his skin overwhelmed her. Scarlett raised her hand toward his face, wanting to know if his skin was as smooth as it looked. But he grabbed her wrist with the same hand holding the cigarette.
"You were so good last night dear," he scolded, "don't ruin it." She moved to stop leaning on the swing then so she could be more level with him. Unfortunately, her heel found a wet spot on the ground, and she ended up falling back and hitting the ground on her back, minimizing the impact with her forearms. The swing didn't move thanks to Alastor's grip on it. He chuckled at her, moving his cigarette to his lips again as she glared; more annoyed at herself than him.
"Sometimes you make it easy to forget you are a trained killer fawn," Alastor chuckled then smiled, "but I suppose that's what makes you so lethal."
"It's good to keep your enemies guessing." She muttered, moving up a little to be out of the path of the swing as Alastor let it go. He crouched down to her, one of his feet between her legs as he took another drag of his cigarette.
"Indeed," he smiled, smoke coming from his lips as he chuckled. His free hand moved to undo the first couple buttons of her top. She gasped when her hands were suddenly pulled above her head and restrained to the ground.
"Out here?" she muttered, "really?" Alastor smiled, moving the cigarette from his lips as he undid a couple more buttons. She really hated how her body instantly started burning when he lightly brushed his finger over her exposed skin.
"Tell me something fawn," he said moving to hover over her, "do you enjoy what I do to you?" She blushed as she squirmed under him.
"Sure." She muttered, refusing to be honest with him about this.
"What a stubborn fawn," he chuckled, and she shivered when his hand went into her pants to brush against her, "your body tells a different story." Scarlet blushed brightly. She can't believe she misses the Alastor that hated even the thought of bringing up this topic. Damn he was almost starting to get as bad as Angel. He took one last drag of his cigarette before throwing it into the water and leaning down to kiss her, forcing her to inhale some of the smoke as the rest escaped their lips when he pulled away.
"Ugh, you're annoying." Was the only thing she could think of saying, coughing a little from the smoke. he smiled as he removed his tie and covered her eyes with it.
"You did this to me fawn," he said in her ear as he removed her clothes, "now you are expected to take responsibility."
"There are other women." She huffed, then moaned when he entered her. His hands moved down her body before one wrapped around her back and the other moved to brace himself on the ground.
"Only you do this to me," he said in her ear before giving an extra had push making her cry out in both pleasure and surprise.
"Beautiful." He chuckled before moving to bite down on her shoulder as he moved at pace that filled her with pure bliss.
"Alastor," she breathed out as he slowed down a little.
"Hm?" he responded into her neck, understanding she was trying to say something.
"Between you and me," she continued, "I do enjoy the rush." Alastor chuckled into her neck and gave an extra hard push, making her cry out her release and he followed.
"I know fawn," he purred in her ear as they both tried to control their breathing, "I can see it in your eyes. Your talents are truly wasted on trying to save the world."
"Want me to save you instead?" she asked, and he chuckled.
"My dear," he pulled away making her groan in protest. With the snap of his fingers, she was dressed, and her hands were released. She sat up when the blindfold was removed and watched as Alastor fixed up his clothes before grabbing her chin in one hand and moving his face closer to hers.
"I am beyond saving." He smiled, "oh but do try. I love seeing people work to accomplish such things only to fail in the end."
"Hopefully I'll be back home before we can even go down that road." She replied and he smiled.
"Hm," he tilted his head, "we'll see." He got up then and she followed as his staff appeared in his hand and he led her out of the bayou.
"Well, we are staring late on the chores." Alastor muttered, "go on fawn, clean the lobby." Scarlett rolled her eyes but followed him to the elevator anyways, preparing for another long day of cleaning.
So I'm already thinking about going back and rewriting some of this. I feel like I could add more to it to make chapters longer and build relationships. Four now I'm going to continue to post and will let you all know if I've updated anything :)