She didn't know how Julie had looped her and Alastor into going to the mall with her, but the two sat in the food court waiting for her to return from whatever she had insisted she needed to get. She had already asked Alastor for anything he may have on Tucker but luck never seemed to be on their side, there was nothing. Not even the name Hilda was familiar. They had quickly fallen back into the same problem as before, no information.

Ellen let her eyes wander the area in hopes of finding Julie so they could try coming up with a better plan seeing as no amount of research was good enough.

"No way." Elllen's eye were glued to a couple that were making a rather heated display of making out. It felt like she had been punched in the gut, anger slowly building.

She pulled her phone out using the camera hoping she was wrong as she zoomed in, hoping to catch their faces, though she was already pretty sure she knew them. She snapped a photo sending it to Julie.

E: How long has this been going on?

J: Where r u?

E: How long?

J: few years

E:YEARS!?

J: I only found out after u died. Jus let it go El, not worth it.

Not worth it, her ass. She looked up to watch her friend Katie untangle herself from her apparent boyfriend. Ellen's boyfriend, or soon to be ex. It was about time she officially ended things anyway, now seemed like a wonderful opportunity.

She placed her phone on the table not bothering to address any of Alastor's questions, simply walking out to follow the smirking asshole. She had been burned too many times, and now he was going to face her wrath. She was angry and it took a lot to get her there.

Alastor watched her storm off ignoring his inquiries. He couldn't remember seeing her this upset about something. It seemed he was in for a little show. Ellen's phone buzzed on the table, Julie's name and number lit across the screen. The second it stopped, it started up again. It seemed Julie was concerned. Well, this was sure to be entertaining then. How delightful! Alastor turned back to Ellen glad they weren't so far he couldn't hear what was going on.

Ellen had done everything that guy wanted. Everything. Even the stuff she hated, the stuff she didn't want to because she was afraid he would leave her, and he did anyway. Why had she stayed so long? She felt stupid for ever believing this guy ever cared about her, it was so clear now he never did. It only fueled her anger. How many years had she gone to Tristan's defense only for him to just laugh it off. She gave herself completely and he couldn't be bothered to even remember her birthday.

She remembered telling Angel Dust how well Alastor looked after her. It was almost night and day how different the two were with her. Alastor valued her opinion, listened and cared for her. If you squinted past the serial killer stuff, he was the prime example of a gentleman. She now knew what a relationship was supposed to look like, a real one. And now that she had a taste, there was no way she was going to go back.

It seemed crazy how she had missed all of these red flags with Tristan. How could she have been so stupid? It was all so obvious now, like waking up from a hazy nightmare. She should have done this ages ago, it would have saved her so much heartache and disappointment. But none of that mattered now. Now she was angry and she was going to get her closure and it was going to be explosive.

"Hey!"

"Oh hey babe where've you been? Long time no see." He fit a sly smirk on his face.

She pointed an accusatory finger at him, her glare piercing him like she could will him to no longer exist. "No. You don't get to call me that. I never liked being called that and for some reason you couldn't get that through your stupid thick skull."

In seconds, Tristan stood taller, eyes narrowed looking down at her, causing her to shrink back a bit. "You don't mean that, we both know you're just a little emotional right now. Why don't we go somewhere private and -"

"No."

His eyes narrowed more. "No? Babe, you know I'm good at making you feel good. We can even cuddle after."

Ellen felt her skin crawl at just the thought of even having him touch her. She suppressed a shiver regaining her stance, no longer shrinking back. "We're done."

He laughed. "I'm the best thing you've ever had Ellen. You're not ending this."

She surprised herself by laughing. "The best I had? I've been to Hell and back Tristan and you are by far the worst. The WORST! The fuck was that, huh?" She gestured off to where she had seen the two necking.

"What?"

"You've been with Katie for years and you didn't think I'd find out?"

He let out an annoyed sigh. "So Julie put you up to this huh? I knew that bitch couldn't keep her mouth shut."

"I fucking saw it Tristan! What the hell?!"

He shrugged his shoulders. "You disappeared for like a few years. Thought you up and died or some shit."

She clenched her jaw so tight it started to hurt as she pressed out through grit teeth, "I did. You'd have known that if you or Katie ever bothered checking in on me. You know, like friends are supposed to."

His grin grew, taking a step back to get a good look at her. "Well shit death looks good on you babe. You should do it again."

Ellen pressed her lips together, closing her eyes praying for strength. She was about to deck this guy. Unbelievable. Why was she even explaining herself? The guy was an ass, she ended it, she was free. She took a quick inhale and turned. She was not going to stoop to that level.

"It's done. Feel free to tell Katie she's dead to me too. I doubt she'll respond to my texts anyway."

He called after her, his tone annoyed again. "Yeah well I don't give a shit about you anyway. And you owe Katie. You ghosted her for like a year after your stupid fight."

She spun so quickly it actually caused Tristan to step back. She didn't realize he had followed her.

"I owe her nothing," she spit. Eyes glaring at him and the stupid smug look on his face. "Enjoy Hell Tristan, you deserve it."

Alastor leaned back crossing his arms across his chest, a smug smile on his face. Julie joined him a bit out of breath. "Where is she?"

He only tipped his head into the direction before watching her fall into the seat across from him. "Well shit. I guess it was bound to happen sometime. Anything exciting happen?"

"She's done very well putting him in his place. Not that I didn't think she would, she seemed quite upset."

"Yeah I was hoping she'd just leave it be, but I guess it's gratifying watching her dump him."

"Dump him?"

Julie didn't catch the change in his tone. "Yeah he was a shitty boyfriend through and through. A real piece of work, that one."

Alastor narrowed his gaze at the man that had turned sour watching as Ellen turned away from him. Before he could push to his feet, Julie reached out and stopped him.

"If you interfere now, you're next on the chopping block. There's a reason I'm not jumping to her side. She's mad, like mad, mad. It takes a lot to get her there and she will burn bridges without guilt. Just wait."

"He is one of those men that don't take no for an answer."

Julie's eyes softened understanding what he was referring to. "He is, but that is for Ellen to deal with right now. I will gladly help you hide the body later."

"You'll only slow me down."

She gave him an incredulous look. "Wait you're being serious…"

He chuckled darkly, turning back to the other two. "It's what got me into Hell dear Julie. I don't take kindly to those that mistreat others, particularly someone that I have taken claim to."

"Right…serial killer."

Ellen turned walking away forcing the angry tears to stay within her eyes. She was angry and she wanted to stay angry. Tears were a weakness, something she would never let Tristan see again.

"When you come crawling back don't expect me to take you with open arms. You're being an over emotional bitch right now Ellen."

She kept going. She wasn't going to let him rile her up anymore then he already had. Fuck that guy.

Her body stiffened as a set of hands were placed on her hips slowly sliding inward, pulling her to the chest of their owner, a head resting on her shoulder whispering in her ear. "You're pretty hot when you're mad like this, you know."

She ripped the hands from her hips spinning to glare at her ex. "Touch me again and I'll break fingers." She turned again to find Alastor was already on his feet moving to meet her, though his eyes were narrowed at the body behind her. She really didn't want to involve him. She could handle this. That and she was angry enough to know she would lash out at anyone, and he didn't deserve that even though she knew he wouldn't take it personally.

The second a hand grabbed her wrist she spun, arm up, hand in a fist using her momentum to add to the force behind her swing. Consequences be damned.

Like most things in her life, she had never punched anyone before, but she knew the theory. Thumb on the outside tucked over the tops of her fingers, she wasn't going to break her thumb by having it in the wrong spot. She knew her aim was never good but she did manage to hit him in the side of his face with the first two knuckles splitting his lip. He let go of her wrist as he fell to the floor.

"Don't fucking touch me!"

Alastor had now joined her, probably hoping she would continue her assault, though she had no intention of continuing with this. She had made her point and finished this herself. She spun, stepping herself around Alastor heading back to the table to find Julie was there watching with a huge smile.

There were a few claps and whistles and it was then Ellen remembered she was in the middle of the mall. Glancing up she saw a number of cellphones out, no doubt filming the whole thing. She groaned. Great.

Alastor chuckled, eyes following the disgruntled man as he stood whipping the blood from his mouth. "My dear, I'm not going to keep that promise, do you wish to partake?"

"No!" She pointed a finger at him. "You're going to let him go, Alastor. If anyone was going to kill him, it would be me."

"I do believe I offered for you to partake."

"Not happening. I'm not killing him." She was angry, but she didn't think she would ever be that angry.

"My dear, you are far too refined for that, I doubt you could if you wanted to. I'm simply doing you a favour."

Ellen clenched her fist by her side, her fingernails digging into her palm, taking a second to breath. "No. I don't want any of your favours. Besides, he's not worth it."

"Oh but he is." His eyes finally moved to her and she could see they had turned red. He was pissed and now he was going to go hunt.

"Alastor…" She hadn't intended for the venom to slip into her tone, but she had yet to settle the anger from before and it seemed it was now directed to him.

He hummed unaffected by the tone, taking a few steps away, arms casually crossed behind him. "I suppose you're right. Death is so absolute, too easy. Where's the fun in that? No, he needs to be taught a little lesson. One that sticks."

"Please tell me you got that on film, I am going to be watching that punch for years," Julie said excitedly.

Ellen shook her head, grabbing her phone and putting it back into her pocket. "Let's go. I don't think we should stay."

"Okay but I need someone to airdrop that clip to me first."

"You can probably find it online already, let's just- where's Alastor?"

The two girls looked around to find him nowhere in sight. Ellen groaned as her eyes found the blood trail on the floor. She soundlessly grabbed Julie's wrist following the trail. She found him walking to follow Tristan at a leisurely pace, following the trail of blood, not that he needed it. He would have found him on his own regardless.

"Alastor!"

He ignored her, stalking his prey vigilantly.

"Maybe he's just going to have a little chat?" Julie couldn't even get it to sound convincing.

"It'll be a chat alright. One that'll cause nightmares for the rest of his life likely. Not to mention I probably just landed myself an assault charge for deckin'em in the face."

"It was clearly self defense." Julie rolled her eyes. "You worry too much. He's a reprehensible fuck waffle."

The lights started to flicker ahead of them causing some people to shriek. Ellen started to jog, trying to catch up. Darn those long legs, it made him so fast even at a leisurely pace.

"My good fellow, I do believe we need to have a few words."

"The fuck you want?"

His signature smile was unwavering as he glared down at the mortal. He wouldn't kill him. Yet. Perhaps when this ordeal with Tucker was done he would hunt this distasteful brat down, but for now, he would bend to Ellen's wishes. "I believe you owe my friend an apology. That is no way to treat a lady."

Tristan scoffed, turning away from Alastor. "Yeah no. She hit ME. She ain't no lady."

Alastor moved to stand in front of him, blocking his path. Foolish thing thought he could get away that easy did he? He was going to be in for a shock. "I'm going to have to insist."

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Tristan finally looked him up and down. He moved to step aside, but Alastor blocked, his grin starting to stretch into the unhuman territory.

"What, you're Ellen's new accessory? Take it from me, she's a whiny little bitch, you're doing me a favour taking her off my hands. Now fuck off." He took his sleeve and wiped at the blood still leaking from his lip.

"I would be very careful in how you proceed from here." Alastor's grin pulled higher, almost matching the one he permanently carried in his demon form.

Tristan laughed. "That's hardly a threat. You're what, one thirty? I could take you out in one hit. Bet you can't even take a hit like a real man." He took a look up and down Alastor.

He evidently missed the flash of red in his eyes or the smile that would have had anyone else shrink back. Alastor stifled a dark chuckle. This piece of trash had no self preservation skills. He would be easy prey for later, almost boringly so. Hopefully that would change so their next encounter was a bit more…exciting.

Ellen could see Alastor slowly slipping, his demon features slowly coming to light, skin paling, stature growing taller.

"Uhhh, is he good? He looks a bit…uhh." Julie just stared, unable to find the words to finish her thought.

"Shit." Ellen quickly looked around. They weren't exactly hidden and with the scene Tristan was causing, people were starting to take notice. Not good.

Alastor hummed again. "You really should watch that tongue of yours. It has a way of getting you in trouble it seems. Quite fortunate today seems to be the day you'll find it won't get you out of it."

"I'm not afraid of you."

Alastor chuckled darkly, amused at the declaration. "Oh, you will be."

In a blink he snapped, full demon form on display. Antlers extended three feet out on either side, eyes black, red radio dial pupils. The air around him seemed to pulse with dark energy, glowing green sigils dancing around him as he stood towering over a now horrified looking Tristan. Alastor's signature grin menacing with elongated teeth sharper than a razor's edge. There were screams as others watched, not knowing what was going on or what they were witnessing, many rushing from the area, running for the exits.

The lights in the area exploded, causing the area to slip into darkness, only accentuating the glowing yellow smile and red dials. Whoever had stuck around in hopes of watching quickly fled, following the others, deciding they valued life over curiosity.

Ellen pushed forward past the residual crowd taking to his side, glaring up at him in hopes of shutting this all down now before it had a chance to escalate.

"Alastor stop! Too many prying eyes here, we gotta go!"

He didn't even turn to look at her, eyes remaining on the horrified mortal being held to the face of the Radio Demon in one of his tendrils.

"Jesus Ellen…" Julie looked a bit horrified, moving to be behind her friend, something to separate her and whatever this version of Alastor was.

"This is really the guy you fell in love with?"

"Yup." She popped the 'p'.

"Is this…you know. All of it?"

Ellen crossed her arms, knowing there was nothing she could do to stop Alastor now. He was out to play with his newest victim and she knew better than to interfere. He promised he wouldn't kill him and that was really all she cared about. If Alastor went out to kill on his own time, fine, but she didn't want to know about it. Sometimes it was just better to be ignorant.

"Nah, he hasn't gone all titanic mode. You want a good show, you should see him in a fight, although maybe not, he tends to rip people apart."

"I'm sorry what?

Elle shrugged. "You get kinda desensitized to it all in Hell, it's kinda common. Besides, those in Hell just respawn."

Julie shook her head, gaze back at the demon. "Looks kinda like a living nightmare."

Ellen turned her head over her shoulder, a proud expression on her face. "Pretty sweet right?"

"Pretty horrifying. How the hell did you just get over that?"

She waved her wrist dismissing the thought. "I find it kinda charming in a…disturbingly elegant way."

Julie moved to stand beside Ellen, crossing her arms and watching the show. "You're nuts."

His voice distorted, carrying loud enough for those close by to hear it. Him, the two girls and his terrified, captive audience.

"Let me make one thing very clear to you, mortal. Women are to be treated with gallantry, respect and nothing less than simple dignity. I make a point in clearing the world of disgraceful, filth like you. You best hope you don't make it into Hell because no one can protect you from me. I promise I will find you and end your miserable afterlife over and over until you beg for the sweet release of death that you'll never be fortunate enough to receive. So yes, you should be afraid, very afraid because I will be worse than any nightmare that empty little head of yours could ever conjure."

He moved the mortal a little further from his face. Alastor shrunk down to his normal form in his casual stance, arms tucked behind him, cane in hand, tendril still holding Tristan tightly. His voice returned to its usual showmanship flare, a stark change from the previous threatening tone.

"Now, you are going to leave these two young ladies alone. Should you even cast another glance their way, I won't hesitate to simply end your miserable existence a little early. Understood?"

At some point during the spiel Tristan had wet himself in fear but he didn't seem to notice, nodding enthusiastically eyes wide staring at the demon. It was the only time Ellen could recall Tristan ever being rendered speechless. It was a good look for him.

"Lovely. Now rid yourself from my sight before I change my mind and personally escort you to Hell myself." Alastor tossed him aside like he was nothing and watched as he scrambled to his feet sprinting away as fast as he could, stumbling over his own feet. There was a second pause before Alastor returned to his human form. A hauntingly enthralling sight with the ambient flickering of lights in the background.

Julie stared after Tristan with a slightly horrified but impressed expression on her face. "That was awesome."

Alastor beamed at her, bowing for his performance. "Why, thank you, my dear. You should see some of the delightful performances I put on in Hell."

Ellen grabbed his arm, her eyes watching as people were starting to point and stare from the shadows, phones pointed in their direction. They had drawn way too much attention.

"We gotta go." She wanted to be angry at him for creating such a scene, but watching him literally scare the piss out of her ex was too good. He really shouldn't have, but the small curl of her lips begged to differ.

"Hold tight miss Julie. Deep breath." Before Ellen could protest he wrapped an arm around each of them slipping them into shadow.

The three appeared in a back alleyway a few blocks from the mall.

"Okay WHAT the fuck was that? Where are we?" Julie practically threw herself away from Alastor stumbling a few steps before catching herself, her head whipping around trying to get her bearings.

Ellen sighed. "You shouldn't have done that. Someone's bound to have recorded it."

Alastor just shrugged. "No more prying eyes. Besides, I refuse to appear on this modern technology stuff. It was dark enough to be relatively discreet."

"That-that was the shadow thing right?" Julie was trying to keep herself calm, trying to put together what had just happened.

Ellen nodded. "Yeah and it's probably going to be all over the internet by tomorrow." She turned to look at Alastor. "You may not be visible, but we are." She gestured to Julie and herself. "The world is probably going to figure it out, and we won't be able to go anywhere without people knowing who we are."

She let out an annoyed huff, running a hand through her hair. "Not to mention people are going to put two and two together and figure out you're… well not from here. There goes any chance of having the element of surprise. Dolion will know exactly who we are and that we are headed his way."

"Where's the sportsmanlike conduct in that? It's only fair he knows we're coming his way."

"Yeah, except he bested you Alastor, in your own game," she reminded him with a flat tone, arm crossing her chest.

He rolled his eyes. "I was still young and naive then, I've had decades to perfect my form."

"Yeah and so has he," she retorted.

"Not a concern. This isn't a game of contracts and deals, it's one of wits. A game we play well."

Ellen ran her tongue over her teeth, holding herself from replying. A game of brute strength or agility was simple, the rules and end very clear. It was simply, whoever was left standing was the winner. A battle of wits was much more difficult to regulate. Where was the line drawn for cheating? Was emotional or psychological warfare fair game? When did the game really end?

"So is there a limit to that shadow thing? If I want to move, can I call you to move all my stuff in one go? Do you have to see the place first? How far can you travel doing that? Do you have to hold your breath to do it? What about when you- " Julie continued her questions as they slowly made their way back to Ellen's car. She was glad Alastor seemed to be entertaining Julie's inquiries, because she was lost in thought for the rest of the walk.