Charlie watched as Alastor threw Vox around like a ragdoll. More cracks were showing up on his plasma face and it made him flicker a prism of colors. If this wasn't such a dangerous situation, Charlie would probably find it lovely. She held her breath as she watched Alastor exert so much energy, knowing that he would lose steam sooner rather than later. He was probably too angry to even think about his holy injury and how it will absolutely impair him. They needed to get out of here quick.
"When I'm done with you," Alastor dragged Vox's face on the floor. "you will be nothing but dust." Charlie watched as Alastor's razor teeth nearly protruded from his mouth like knives. She could hardly recognize him and it terrified her.
A warbled fit of laughter came from Vox, which made Alastor that much more infuriated. Charlie still gave her best attempts with the ropes that bit at her skin, but still to no avail. Alastor heard Charlie hiss in pain as she tried to worm her way free which bought Vox just enough time to land a blow to his lower jaw. Charlie let out a noise of fear as she watched him fly through the air and land in a heap. A gust of air left her lungs as her chest constricted. Alastor collapsed like a sack of potatoes and she felt her heart plummet.
He wasn't moving.
Alastor heard ringing in his ears once he finally came to. His body felt battered and bruised, his limbs screaming at him as he tried to move. His vision was slightly blurred as he blinked multiple times to try to clear it. When his vision finally returned, he quickly searched for Charlie.
Vox stood next to her with a golden dagger at her throat.
"Look who's awake! Finally!" Vox broadcasted. The slight movement of his hand made the dagger pin prick the hollow of Charlie's throat, a stream of dark gold flowing down to her chest. She bit back a whimper and Alastor felt his body vibrate with rage.
"I'm going to destroy you-" Alastor began to stand up when his legs betrayed him. His knees hit the floor with a loud echo, letting a painful shock reverberate through his thighs and to his hips. Vox barked out a hearty laugh.
"It seems that I was right!" He strolled over to the weakened Overlord and with one clean cut, sliced through his dress coat and shirt. His infected wound now revealed for all to see. It pulsed painfully as the air hit it. Spider legs of gold crawled from the slice.
"I knew you weren't fighting with your true strength. Disappointing really. But at least I was able to wear you down enough that you could watch the grand finale." Vox's grin was cracked and warped, making him look more demented than usual. He turned his back to the pathetic Radio demon and returned to Charlie's side.
"You-you touch her," Alastor spit out a dribble of black blood as it ran off his chin. "and I will torture you until you beg for mercy."
"Wow, what a bold claim! It's almost as if you liked her!" Vox smirked, vicar leaking from his broken mouth. Charlie's bottom lip quivered and that was more painful to watch than any injury Alastor had ever received.
"This is between you and I, Vox. Let her go." Alastor snarled. Vox used his skeleton like fingers to brush a stray hair from Charlie's face. She winced.
"But of course! Not before you tell her how you feel though." Vox placed a hand over his chest where his heart would be if he had one. Alastor felt his breath skip and stagger. Charlie looked at him, question marks behind her darkened eyes.
"Alastor?" Her voice shook as she watched his life fall apart from where he kneeled. He couldn't bring himself to stand up again, but this kind of confession probably called for him to be on his knees. He didn't want Charlie to learn about his feelings like this. It only made him want to rip Vox to pieces even more but he couldn't focus on that right now. His shoulders slumped as he raised his throbbing head to meet her eyes.
"Charlie, I am so terribly sorry. This is not how I wanted to tell you."
"Tick tock, limp dick." Vox teased as his blade dragged across Charlie's pink cheek.
Now or never.
"I love you."
Charlie's eyebrows shot into her hairline while the blade paused where it was at on her jawline. Vox smiled maniacally.
"Oh come on, you can do better than that!" He sighed as he applied pressure to her skin until it broke. Another stream of golden blood flowing.
"Vox!" Alastor hissed through gritted teeth.
"Keep going, Romeo." Vox snickered. Charlie bit back a sob as the slice on her face began to sting. Alastor swallowed what was left of his pride before looking back at Charlie.
"I don't. I don't know if I can bring myself to. To speak it." Alastor stuttered. His hands became clammy and his throat felt tight. He fought the feeling of tears working there way to his eyes. Suddenly he couldn't find the words. His entire world was tilted off it's axil and he desperately needed to fix it. He felt like he was drowning and this must've been what his victims felt whenever they fell to his mercy. Pure hopelessness and fear and if he had even an inkling of a heart, he might actually have felt guilt.
"Alastor." Charlie wheezed. Alastor's tunnel vision focused solely on her eyes. "He's not here. Just me and you. Please."
He saw so much desperation in her eyes it nearly made him blubber on the spot. Her fear was palpable. Hopelessness filled the air. It choked them both and yet they fought for every word that was brought to life. They were clinging to each other for strength and Alastor needed to hold her. He knew he couldn't fight anymore and Vox knew it too. He needed to tell her now because he truly didn't know how this was going to end for them but he knew that she deserved to know his true feelings.
"Charlie you need to know that I have grown to care for you deeply. Words aren't enough to express how I feel about you. Your laugh, your smile, even your chipper attitude that is now only slightly annoying." Alastor quipped. He cleared his throat before continuing, seeing that Charlie was too stunned to speak as of yet.
"I can only imagine that this isn't what you wanted to hear. But you need to know this. I do love you. You are all I think about. I cannot bare to be apart from you anymore. There truly isn't anything that I wouldn't do for you. I am. I am so very in love with you. You are everything. Everything."
Alastor's breathing was severely labored at this point and he didn't know if it was because of his heart wrenching confession or if his injuries are really catching up to him. Probably a mixture of both. Even still, he felt a hundred pounds lighter after getting that off his chest. Charlie was still frozen, her lower jaw slacken.
"Well wasn't that just precious." Vox wipes away an invisible tear and sniffles. Alastor's glare could've cut him if his eyes were knives.
"Too bad it's all a lie." Vox let out a chuckle that crackled with electricity. Alastor felt his whole world crumble around him. He knew that Vox was behind it all, but he still had hoped that he wouldn't say anything. False hope always hurts.
"Wait what do you mean? Why would he say those," Charlie's gaze met Alastor's. "beautiful things if they weren't true?"
"You know that is an excellent question, my dear!" Vox circled Charlie like a shark, his nails lightly grazing her shoulders. "Alastor would you like to say it or shall I?"
"Vox you better enjoy this because when I get ahold of you I'm going to shove a straw through your back and drink your spinal fluid like fine wine." Vox rolled his eyes at Alastor's threat. He was indeed enjoying this too much to care.
"Well Princess it seems that I will be the one to break the news."
"I will harvest your lungs and use them as a sponge to scrub the soles of my shoes."
Vox reared back and landed a sharp blow to Charlie's temple. It knocked her over, still strapped to her chair. She let out a gasp as her head throbbed, her vision now doubled and blurred.
"Tell her or I continue. Your choice." Vox countered. Alastor's heart was beating so hard he thought it would break his ribs. He was completely helpless. He needed to comply so Charlie won't get hurt anymore. It was his fault she was in this mess to begin with.
"Ok ok just stop." Alastor hated begging but that's where he was at. He was truthful when he said he would do anything for Charlie. Begging like a dog was a part of 'anything'. He fell forward, his hands catching him as he got on all fours. His could hardly bare to fight gravity at this point.
"Charlie my feelings were caused. Were caused by a love potion that Vox somehow slipped me." Alastor's voice broke as he finished. Charlie could barely make out what he was saying over the ringing in her ears. She understood what he said, but she didn't want to believe it.
"I. I don't understand." Charlie felt like there were marbles in her mouth, she could barely get a word out. Vox grabbed the back of her chair and hoisted her back up, making her neck whip painfully.
"What's not to understand? He doesn't truly love you." Vox taunted. Charlie shook her head.
"No, you're wrong." Charlie wasn't going to let him get in her head. "I won't believe you."
"Then believe your Prince Charming!" Vox splayed a hand over to Alastor, who was still on his hands and knees. His head hung low, not being able to handle looking at Charlie anymore. This was actual Hell. For the first time since he arrived in this realm, he actually truly felt like he was being punished for all of his wrong doings and even so it was too painful for him to bare.
"It's true. All of it." Alastor managed to get out. Charlie shook her head vigorously.
"No it's not! I refuse to believe that!" Charlie bellowed. Vox sighed as he shrugged.
"Oh well. Can't reason with crazy I guess." Vox took long strides to reach Alastor before grabbing him by the back of his hair, yanking him up. Alastor dangled in the air, only his feet dragging the floor. His scalp burned from Vox's aggressive pulling of his hair but he didn't care anymore. He knew that he was about to die. He just wanted Charlie to escape and get somewhere safe.
"Alastor!" Charlie screamed. She wriggled violently trying to free herself. Vox held his angelic blade that he had used to mark her. Now he was holding it to Alastor's throat and she knew he had to intention of stopping.
"I hope falling for Lucifer's brat was worth you dying." Vox seethed. Alastor's smile was still on his face. Weak, but still there. He let out a chuckle and looked at Vox.
"Always."
Vox reared back his hand that held the angelic blade and rushed it toward Alastor's neck. He closed his eyes, waiting on the devastating blow. Instead, he heard something else that nearly made his heart leap to his throat.
"I hope kidnapping my daughter was worth you dying."
Alastor opened his eyes just in time to watch as Lucifer threw Vox across the room and into his computer set up behind Charlie. The angelic blade dropped to which Lucifer kicked in the opposite direction of them, far from Vox's reach. Alastor collapsed to the floor again but Lucifer was there to help him up once more. Charlie's smile stretched across her face as fresh tears made their way down her bruised face.
"How'd you know where we were?" Alastor managed to get out. Lucifer let one of Alastor's arms wrap around his shoulders to help him stand.
"I followed the path of destruction throughout town. Also he helped." Lucifer nodded toward the door. Alastor and Charlie looked back and saw Alon standing there sheepishly.
"Alon?" Charlie gasped. He gave a meek wave.
"I'm so sorry. They threatened me. I had to." Alon's voice was tight and Charlie could see that he was incredibly guilty about taking part in this. Charlie smiled and nodded.
"No one blames you."
"Speak for yourself." Alastor chimed in. Suddenly something clicked as he looked back at the oceanic demon.
"It was you. You were the one that slipped me the love potion." Alastor whispered. Alon swallowed loudly.
"I mean I did tell you not to drink my coffee creamer." Alon chuckled lightly, trying to make it seem not so bad. Alastor glared.
"I'll deal with you later." Alastor grumbled. Lucifer shook his head as he turned his attention back to Vox who was finally digging himself out of the technological rubble he was buried in.
"Are you able to stand while I take care of him?" Lucifer jerked a thumb toward Vox. Alastor nodded as Lucifer let him go. His legs wobbled a little like a newborn fawn, but he kept his ground.
"I want to deal the final blow." Lucifer gave a stiff nod.
"I think you've earned that much. Be right back!" Lucifer said cheerfully as he borderline skipped toward Vox. Alastor looked at Charlie and desperately wanted to get to her. As he took his first step, his knees knocked dangerously. Charlie shook her head.
"Don't. You'll get to me soon." Charlie assured.
"Not soon enough."
Charlie and Alastor watched as Lucifer absolutely pummeled Vox ferociously. Glass from his face fell to the floor like diamonds. Alastor watched in glee as he saw Vox's smug look get wiped off properly. Aggressively. Perfectly. In record time, Lucifer began to drag Vox's limp body toward Alastor. He was barely conscious but he was alert enough to know that Alastor was about to give him the last blow.
"Are you able to do it?" Lucifer whispered. He knew that Alastor was very weak now and he wasn't sure that he could handle anymore aggression. He looked like he would fall over if a mouse blew on him.
"No matter how beaten I am, I will end his miserable life." Alastor looked around on the ground for the angelic blade and saw that it was a good six feet away. Lucifer summoned it to Alastor's hand as easy as it was breathing. He gripped it with all of the strength he had left as he approached Vox. Lucifer had him on his knees before him and it was a lovely sight to see. Glass missing from his face, making it incomplete. His one eye that was left held so much fear that it nearly made Alastor pitch a tent in his pants. What a delicious sight.
"Any final words?" Alastor asked. Vox took in a breath to say something when Alastor abruptly stabbed the blade through his face, through the screen. The golden blade piercing out the back as the lights in Vox went out with a flicker. Lucifer let go of his shoulders as his body collapsed. Alastor looked down at the heap of metal that used to be his business partner once upon a time. A small part of him felt some kind of sadness that his oldest friend is now gone but then he looked at Charlie and her beaten face and the feeling was squashed quickly.
Anyone who hurts her won't live to tell about it.
"Charlie!" Lucifer choked as he flew over to her quickly, working on the ropes. Charlie felt her breathing become labored as she looked at Alastor.
"Please dad, I need. I need." Charlie couldn't finish the sentence. She needed so many things. Water, freedom, a nap, some first aid but most importantly she needed Alastor. She needed to hold him. She didn't care that his feelings were caused by a potion.
She loved him all the same.
"It's ok I've got you, I've got you." Lucifer soothed. As he began working on the intricate knots, he heard someone enter the room.
"YOU!"
Everyone looked toward the door and saw Alon lying on the floor, black blood flowing from his head. Val stood above him with a golden knife covered in his blood. Charlie gasped as she realized that Alon was dead.
"You killed him! How fucking dare you?" Val screamed hysterically. Lucifer felt his stomach drop as he saw Val spread his wings and fly toward Alastor in alarming speed. Lucifer began his flight toward Alastor as well. Charlie screamed as Alastor looked at her with a haunting look in his eyes. Eyes that said only one thing.
Goodbye, Charlie.
Val pierced his knife through Alastor's chest, a wheeze escaping the wounded demons mouth. Lucifer reached them a second too late before he could wrestle Val to the ground. He reached toward Vox's body and yanked the blade from his head and connected it with Val's own. Val let out a screech as his wings twitched one last time. Lucifer got up and looked toward Alastor. He had fallen to the ground, the knife still protruding from his chest.
"Alastor NO!" Charlie felt like acid was making it's way out her throat from the way it burned. Lucifer went to Alastor's side and saw that the light had nearly left his eyes. He let out a breath as he registered the situation they were in. Alastor was mortally wounded.
"Dad get me out!" Charlie's voice made the walls shake. Lucifer flew to her in a nanosecond and finished untying her. She went to run toward Alastor but her legs gave out. As she connected with the floor she began to crawl toward him. She finally reached him after what felt like years, cradling his head in her lap. She brushed his bangs out from his eyes. She heard him attempting a breath but it was shallow and empty.
"Alastor you're gonna be ok! Just hang on!" Charlie's mind raced as she tried to figure out what to do. She looked to her father that had joined them.
"Please dad there has to be something you can do!" Charlie wailed. Lucifer flinched and looked down toward Alastor. He was alive but barely and he certainly wouldn't be much longer.
"I'm so sorry sweetheart. There's nothing I can do. If I was quicker-" Lucifer's voice broke. He failed his daughter yet again and in the worst possible way. He knew what Alastor meant to her and now he had to watch her hold him as he died.
"No no no no no." Charlie said like a mantra. Like a prayer. Her attention turned back to Alastor as she heard him cough.
"Charlie." He choked out. Charlie placed a hand gently on his cheek. She looked at the knife still in his chest and didn't know if she should remove it or leave it.
He's going to die either way.
"No! Shut up!" Charlie yelled, talking to her inner voice rather than Alastor. He must've known she wasn't speaking to him.
"It's ok, Charlie." He raised a weak and shaking hand to thumb away a bit of blood and dirt from her brow. Tears fell from her eyes to his face. It felt like rainfall to him and it made his whole body become warm.
"It's not. If it wasn't for me-"
"If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have made. Made it this long." Alastor said in between gasps of air. "Every moment that I. I got to spend with you was. was worth it. All of it."
"Shh don't speak." Charlie cooed as she caressed his face soothingly. It was the closest to Heaven that Alastor would ever get.
"You need. Need to know that I. I do love you." Alastor's breathing became more erratic as he pushed the words out. "I will al-always love you."
Charlie couldn't hold back the sobs that began to wrack her body. More tears fell to his face, some going into his own eyes or his mouth. He tasted the salt on his tongue and relished the thought that he would die with a little bit of Charlie in him. Even if it was tears that she shed for him.
"You cross your heart?" Charlie squeaked out. Alastor smiled as he moved his hand from her face to her chest. He moved his finger into an X formation over her entire torso.
"Cross my heart." Alastor whispered.
"I love you, Alastor. Please don't leave me." Charlie cried out. Alastor let out a chuckle until he went into a coughing fit, blood spurting from his mouth.
"I don't have a choice, darling. I'm. I'm so sorry." Alastor let his hand return to his stomach, just below the weapon that was still nestled in his chest. His eyes became glassy and it made Charlie's stomach roll.
"Why are you so far away?" Alastor said just above a whisper. Charlie shook her head as her blood ran cold.
"I'm right here, Alastor! I'm right here I'm not going anywhere." Charlie watched as Alastor's breathing hitched.
"Thank God." He let out in one last breath. Charlie felt his muscles relax as his chest concaved slightly. Silence filled the room and it was blistering. Charlie watched as Alastor's eyes went dark, looking right through her.
Alastor was gone.
A/N: Oh boy I hear the readers with pitch forks at my door now :') Trust me when I say that you want to keep reading! Until next time! Xx
