TRIGGER WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS REFERENCES TO DEPRESSION, PAST SEXUAL ABUSE AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS!

If it wasn't clear in the previous chapter, Alastor's human form in this fic is based off BlackGryph0n's "Daisies" video. Best for me to go on until the canon series shows otherwise.

Title Song: "Home" from the Broadway version of "Beauty and the Beast"

Before Tina could process what she'd just done, her apartment was swallowed in shadow. Fearing she would fall into the abyss, she clung to Alastor, who was still holding her tight. The darkness dissipated, revealing a living room with a high ceiling and painted red walls. Her jaw dropped at the lavish décor, the plush furniture, the ornate carpeting, a crystal chandelier, all making the place look like something out of Gone With The Wind.

"Where…?" She stared up at the antlers mounted on the wall. "Where are we?"

"My home in Hell, of course!" Alastor draped an arm over her shoulder, gesturing to their surroundings with his microphone. "Well, our home now!"

"This is Hell?"

As extravagant as the place was, nothing about it screamed fire and brimstone. Except for all the red, which seemed to be Alastor's preferred color. Cautiously, Tina poked at a couch and jumped back, prepared for it to come alive or be made of skin or something. But nope, it was an inanimate, velvet couch.

"I didn't expect it to be so…" she searched for the right word.

"Elegant?" Alastor suggested.

"Normal."

He tilted his head. "What were you expecting?"

"I don't know." Her gaze lingered on a gramophone in the corner, something she hadn't seen since visiting her grandparents as a child. "Flames? Pokers? Torture racks?"

"Oh." He waved a hand. "I moved all those things to the cellar. Didn't think you'd find them much appealing."

She turned back to him, searching for any indication that he was joking. Of course, that perpetually smug grin didn't help.

"Well." She focused on the twinkling crystal hanging above. "Ya weren't kiddin' 'bout this being a step up from my apartment, I'll give ya that."

"Oh, this is only the parlor." He offered his arm. "Come, darling, allow me to give you a tour!"

Alastor was a speedy tour guide, detailing each room within less than a minute, barely allowing Tina a moment to take everything in

"This is the kitchen, which I've stockpiled with food and cooking supplies, should you require sustenance." He indicated a wood stove and an ice box that were old-fashioned in style but gleaming with newness. "You do cook, don't you? I've only ever seen you eat," he gagged, "microwave meals."

"I cook a little," Tina said. "I don't usually have the time to—"

"Well, you'll have plenty of time here! And I myself am quite the chef! Wait until you try my mother's jambalaya!" He led her to the dining room with a surprisingly small table, enough to only seat two. "This is where you and I will eat! Make sure to clean up after yourself. The roaches in Hell are even peskier than on Earth."

As he dragged her to the next room, Tina searched the floor for roaches, wondering if they'd have razor sharp teeth or be the size of rats.

"This is the library! I wasn't certain what kind of books you liked to read, so I filled it with the novels I already had on hand!"

It'd been a while since she'd read a book. Not that she didn't like books, but they hadn't been her priority with all the shit going on in her life. Guess I'll have plenty of time to catch up on reading now.

"I think you'll like this part best!" He opened a pair of French doors with a wave of his hand. "A music room!"

Tina could best describe it as a miniature ballroom with a white marble floor. In the center was a sleek, black, grand piano. She had to admit this was the piece of furniture that engaged her interest the most.

Since the beginning of the tour, Alastor had not stopped touching her. Not in a creepy way, but he had kept his hand on her in some way, on her shoulder, her back. But as they entered the music, he finally stepped away from her to sit at the piano.

"I saw you play at the club." He played a brief ditty on the keys. "Any other instruments?"

She shook her head. "Just piano."

Catching her longing stare at the piano, Alastor scooted down the bench and patted the spot beside him. Slowly, she approached him and sat down.

"I play myself," he boasted. "I also dabble in the violin, saxophone and trumpet, but I think I like the piano the best."

She hummed, tracing the keys that were polished and smooth to the touch. She'd played many pianos before, but never one this impressive.

Beaming with excitement, Alastor dared to scooch an inch closer to her. "You were playing that first night I saw you. You were dressed like a demon."

Tina blushed, recalling the outfit he was talking about. "You, uh, thought it was ironic, I bet."

After all, he was a demon and didn't have any horns. Although, as she glimpsed at those red eyes, she wondered if this was what he really looked like. If he could turn into a shadow, why not change his appearance?

Alastor chuckled. "Stereotypical costume aside, you pulled it off well. But what really caught my attention that night was your voice. It was truly mesmerizing. Like a siren drawing sailors to their deaths."

Including myself, if I wasn't dead already.

His fingers crept along the keys, making their way towards hers. "Would you…would you mind singing a little something for me now?"

For weeks, he'd fantasized what it'd be like to have Tina sing for him and only him. Even better, they could play and sing a duet together. His hand inched towards hers, his pinky reaching. It felt strange having ten fingers again.

Then she retracted her hand from the keys. "I…well…"

As much as she wanted to test this incredible instrument out, so much had happened today. Her fingers trembled and her voice was stuck in her throat. The corners of Alastor's mouth dropped as he nodded in understanding.

"Another time, perhaps." He rested his hand on her head. "You've had quite a day."

She flinched as he ruffled her hair. Random white people had tried to touch her hair before. She realized it looked soft and fluffy, but it was really dehumanizing. Although, she supposed it wasn't out of the ordinary for a husband to touch his wife's hair.

Shit. That's right. We're husband and wife now.

"Darling, you're looking a little pale." His hand left her hair to feel her forehead. "Hmm. Hungry, perhaps? I could whip you up a little snack before bed."

Bed. Tina crossed her ankles, clenching her thighs to hide the pulsing dread between them. Is he expecting us to…? What am I saying? Of course, he is. He just swindled me into marrying him, which makes this technically our wedding night.

"Ah, good." Alastor sighed in relief. "The color's returning to your cheeks already. Must've been the shock."

Tina futilely covered her cheeks, despite him already seeing the blush. Alastor wasn't certain how to respond to her silence. He'd thought his human form would put her more at ease, but the fact remained that he was a demon who'd uprooted her from everything she'd known less than an hour ago.

Perhaps he'd gotten too enthusiastic. Just because she'd agreed to be his wife didn't mean she was comfortable around him. Not yet.

Fortunately, Alastor prided himself in his patience. One needed to be patient when one was a serial killer. Like with his prey, he would simply have to play nice and wait for her to come to him. Except instead of killing her, he would be rewarding her with all the affection he'd been holding back.

All in due time, of course.

"Would you like me to draw you a bath?" he suggested.

She blinked. "Bath?"

"To help you relax." He took her hand, his thumb caressing her pulse. "Now, I haven't been human for quite some time, but I don't think it's healthy for one's heart to be beating so fast."

It'd been so long since Tina had taken a bath, as her old apartment had only contained a shower.

"Uh…yeah." She nodded. "A bath…actually sounds pretty good."

Goodness knows she needed one after the day she'd had.

Alastor's chipper tone was back. "Alrighty then!"

In a single movement, he snuck his arm under Tina's legs, the other taking her shoulders, and swept her off the bench. She squeaked as she was carried out of the ballroom. Her cheeks could burst into flames with all the hot embarrassment she was experiencing right now.

"I-I can walk!"

"Nonsense!" He didn't have to wave his hand as a white door magically opened for them. "You are my bride, and I have yet to carry you over the threshold!"

The first thing Tina noticed about the room he was bringing her into was the king-sized canopy bed. Gently, he settled her onto the mattress, his eyes sparkling with eagerness. Oh fuck, this is really happening, ain't it?

As he removed his bowtie, she tugged her baggy fleece pajama shirt as far down possible. I knew he'd wanna at some point, but does it have to be right this second? God, I ain't ready!

"Make yourself at home, dear!" He gestured to another white door. "I'll be in there, preparing your bath!"

It wasn't until he slipped into the adjoining bathroom that Tina breathed a sigh of relief. Right. The bath. This whole ordeal was making her more squeamish than usual.

Now that her energetic demon husband was gone, she was able to better focus on her surroundings. Unlike the rest of the house, which had been washed in reds and greens, this room was themed in various shades of lavender. From the bedding to the bed's curtains to the walls to the carpeting. The dressers, vanity and wardrobe, however, were all white, matching the doors.

Hearing the water running, Tina figured she had time to explore. She hopped off the bed, making her way to the wardrobe. She gasped when she found it filled with more outfits than she'd had back at the burlesque. She perused them, raising an eyebrow at their old-fashioned style. Most of them were dresses that fell below the knee, some like something her grandmother might've worn, some like the flapper gowns she used to wear while performing at Ethan's jazz club.

These dresses and the postcolonial interior of the house led Tina to wonder how old this new husband of hers was. He certainly talked like he was from another century. Maybe the 1920's, since he seemed to favor the flapper look. The idea that she was married to someone at least a hundred years old made her cringe. Well, at least he don't look it.

She closed the wardrobe and checked out the vanity next. It was certainly fancier than the mirror and foldable tables she'd shared with her fellow performers. She examined the array of beauty products. A brush, a comb, a machine that looked like a prehistoric hair dryer, a perfume bottle, and a bottle of mousse.

The last two items made her pause. It was peach perfume and lavender mousse. The exact same brands she used. Seeing a squiggle on the brush handle, she raised it to her eye level and squinted. There was her name, engraved in elegant cursive. Just how long has he been stalking me?

Tina distracted herself from the nerves by opening the vanity drawer. Her jaw dropped at the assortment of jewelry. Bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings, embedded with every gemstone she could name and others she couldn't. Damn, I really did turn myself into a sugar baby.

This whole arrangement was crazy, but Tina had to give Alastor this. He hadn't been lying when he'd promised her luxury and comfort.

At the creek of a door, she shut the jewelry drawer, as if she'd been caught snooping. Immediately, she realized how ridiculous that was, since this was apparently her stuff. Alastor emerged from the bathroom, steam circling the air behind him.

"It's ready, dear!" Not seeing her on the bed, he turned to her at the vanity. "Oh! I see you got a little curious! Have you seen your wardrobe yet?"

Without waiting for an answer, he opened the wardrobe and fished out a hanger. "Here, you'll want this."

The hanger held a lavender robe. Cautiously, Tina stepped forward and reached for it. Her fingers brushed against the sleeve.

"Is this…actual silk?"

"It is! Oh!" Alastor twirled his hand. "You'll need this too, if you don't plan on wetting your hair tonight!"

A hair bonnet matching the robe appeared in his hand. Tina's eyebrows shot up in surprise. Not a lot of white men understood the purpose of a hair bonnet. Lately, she'd neglected to wear one, due to countless nights of passing out from alcohol.

"Err…thanks?" She meant it but hadn't expected herself to.

"Your towels and toiletries are all inside, darling!" He handed her the robe and bonnet. "But should you require anything else, just holler! I won't be far!"

"Uh, actually…"

"Yes?"

"These clothes." She gestured to the wardrobe. "They're a bit…outdated, don't ya think? I mean I don't mind, but… I got a lotta clothes already. And where am I gonna wear some of this shit?"

He waved a hand. "You're my wife now, darling. You don't need any of those old rags."

She scowled at him basically calling her poor. "They're still my clothes. There's other stuff at my apartment too. Like…stuff that belonged to my parents?"

Alastor stilled at that. "How about this? When I find the time, I will return to the living world, retrieve everything from your old apartment, and store it all in another room. You can then decide what you shall keep and what you don't need anymore."

"Thanks." The realization that she'd left her apartment in the middle of the night made her squeak. "Shit! My lease! My job! I didn't give notice! Once my landlord and boss realize I'm gone—"

"Leave that to me!" He raised a palm. "I'll send word to your landlord and employer that you've eloped and won't be returning anytime soon!"

She winced. God, that makes me sound like a fucking tramp. Not that anyone's opinion mattered now anyway.

"Don't be concerned about your old life, chère. This is your home now. You have me to provide for you. Now then."

His gaze lingered on her lips. For a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her. Sure enough, he leaned in with his lips puckered. Tina shut her eyes, cursing herself for not standing her ground, but what could she do? This demon was her husband now. Kissing should be expected.

Then she felt the lips on her forehead. She opened her eyes in bewilderment.

"Go enjoy your bath before the water gets cold."

He released her and straightened up. When he didn't try anything else, Tina stepped slowly into the bathroom. With her hand on the knob, she glanced back at him to see if he'd follow. Shaking her head, she shut the door.

Alastor stood outside a while, hesitating to leave her alone. The last time she'd entered a bathroom, she'd almost overdosed. There were a number of things in there she could harm herself with, including a tub of water. But it would be rude to linger while she bathed. So, he summoned his shadow.

"Stay outside the door," he ordered, "but do not peek. Listen for her heartbeat. Only enter if she sounds distressed." He glanced at the antlers and deer ears atop the shadow's head. "Oh, and…try to appear more…human in shape."

The shadow tilted its head, chittering in question.

"She's unsettled enough as it is. Let's not frighten her more than necessary."

Shrugging, the shadow's head shifted so that it matched his human form. Alastor nodded at his minion and departed the bedroom to give his new wife some privacy.

Wife. The word tugged pleasantly at his heartstrings.

As soon as he was alone in the library, the Radio Demon dropped his disguise and twirled around with his staff. The phonograph in the corner of the room began playing a jazzy song from his time.

"I can't give you anything but love, baby," he sang along with Cliff Edwards. "That's the only thing I've plenty of, baby."

Alastor had done it. The first being to enrapture him was now bound to him forever. It wasn't an entirely legal marriage. Marriage was binding until death, and Alastor was already dead, but Tina didn't have to know that.

A blood bond was different from a soul deal. The latter would've granted him complete control over her. While that would've made this arrangement easier, it wasn't the kind of relationship he wanted with Tina. The blood bond not only ensured their promise could never be broken, but linked them together in a way that ran deeper than signing a piece of paper. If they were ever separated, they would always find their way back to each other. Which meant the moment Tina's human life ended, even if she never committed another sin again, she would automatically respawn in Hell.

He thumbed the palm of his blackened hand, remembering the warmth of her hand. He licked his lips at the lingering, sweet taste of her blood. The moment their blood had mingled had felt so intimate to Alastor, more than any hug or kiss ever could.

But his euphoria melted as he also recalled Tina's expression when they'd made the bond. While he'd been excited to pledge himself to her, she'd looked so…defeated. There'd been no love in her gaze, no eagerness in her voice. And while he'd relished in the feel of her hand, it'd also trembled.

If this was how she acted around him while appearing human, he dreaded imagining how she'd react to his true form.

He took a deep breath. This was fine. He'd expected this. Once she got to know him, once she saw how much he loved her, she would feel the same.

Well, as long as she didn't get to know him too much.

Tina thought Alastor might've filled the bath with bubbles or something, but instead he'd sprinkled it with sprigs of lavender. As weird as it was bathing in a tub of floating plants, the effort on Alastor's part was kind of considerate. Removing her clothes and tucking her hair into the silk bonnet, she stepped in. The warm water eased the tension in her muscles, the steam refreshed her sinuses, the familiar scent calmed her thoughts.

It wasn't until her mind was clear that the events of the last hour finally caught up to her. She brought her fists down with a splash.

"God, I'm such a fuckin' idiot!" She cradled her head. "What was I thinkin' makin' a deal with a literal fuckin' demon when I could've just put myself outta my misery then and there? Who cares if I might've gone to Hell anyway? I swore I'd never let another man control me ever again and what did I go and do? Gah!"

She kicked the far end of the tub, immediately regretting it when she stubbed her toe. Tina groaned, curling her knees to her chest and burying her face.

She might as well drown herself in this bath. What would even happen if she died in Hell? Would she just wake up in the same place with red eyes like her new husband's? Maybe she could also get demon powers like him and escape.

Then she recalled the vows he'd made her say. This marriage was supposed to last in life and in death. It wouldn't matter if she killed herself. She'd still be his. And she had a feeling if she managed to escape, he would still find her.

She stared at the water. It would be so easy to put her head under and inhale. But then she thought about how painful it might be to feel the water filling her lungs, cutting off her air, her vision going dark.

This way you won't have to go through the painful trouble, Alastor had said.

She should've said no. At least if she'd killed herself back on Earth, she would've been free. Anything would've been better than sticking around as a single black woman of thirty-three, barely making rent, blacklisted from just about every entertainment establishment in New York, ruined by more than one gaslighting man. Given the political situation, it might've only gotten worse from there.

Sighing, Tina leaned her head back against the rim of the tub. Maybe this wasn't the worst place she could be right now. While Alastor was a demon, and certainly creepy, so far, he hadn't mistreated her. Honestly, she'd thought the moment he dragged her to Hell, he'd throw her onto her backside and force her legs apart. Instead, he'd toured her around this extravagant house, set her up in a room apparently designed for her, drawn her a bath of all things. He'd shown her more consideration in an hour than Ethan had done in two years.

Then came the dreaded possibility that all these niceties were a ploy to get her into bed. After all, Ethan had given her flowers and jewelry. In the end, all men wanted from her was sex.

The fantasy of Alastor removing his clothes in front of her made Tina blush. With his handsome face and lithe body, she couldn't help wondering what lay underneath that old-fashioned outfit of his. Did demons have the same anatomy as humans? Or would this be like those monster fucker novels that were so popular these days? Her skin threatened to evaporate the water at the thought of tentacles coming out of his crotch.

Holy crap I'm even more perverted than he is!

Shaking the messy images out of her mind, Tina focused on her left hand, the ruby ring still sitting there. Aside from when he'd instructed her to slice her palm, his touches so far had been firm yet tender. Like he wanted to ensure she didn't run away, but at the same time was afraid she might break.

You are quite possibly the most remarkable being I've ever encountered in all the realms. His voice had been soft, direct, no sense of exaggeration.

Maybe, if he did plan on consummating their marriage tonight, he would be gentle. No, she would demand he be gentle. If she was going to endure this, she refused to become a submissive captive. She was going to face him in the bedroom, but on her terms.

Once her fingers started getting pruney, Tina rose from the bath and grabbed one of the fluffy towels hanging on the wall. The medicine cabinet behind the mirror contained all her toiletries from home. From her toothpaste to her moisturizer to her lipstick. The only thing missing was her antidepressants. She bit her lip, recalling what she'd almost done to herself. She would ask Alastor about the pills later.

After some light grooming, she emerged from the bathroom in the silk robe her husband had given her. The bedroom was pitch black. Tina patted the wall, finding a light switch. As old-fashioned as this house was, at least it had electricity. It was then she realized the reason there'd been no light whatsoever was because the room had no windows. Now that she thought about it, she hadn't seen windows anywhere in the house. Why wouldn't Alastor install any? Did he intend to hole her up like a bird in a gilded cage, or was the rest of Hell so horrible he'd decided to spare her the view?

Laid out on the bed was a sleeveless, violet nightgown, which Alastor must've picked out for her. Upon touching it, she found the gown was also silk. He's fucking spoiling me at this point.

She had to admit the silk felt smooth against her skin. It'd been a while since she'd worn a nightgown, recently favoring baggy, fleece pajamas. The skirt fell just an inch above her ankles, flowing freely to allow a comfortable breeze through her legs. She decided not to question how he'd managed to guess her size perfectly. Magic, I guess. Thankfully, the gown wasn't see-through, but the weightlessness of the fabric did make her self-consciously cover her chest. Get over yourself, Tina. You ain't a virgin.

Even so, the anxiety over what was to come was coming to a boil. Gripping the vanity, Tina took several deep, calming breaths.

"It's okay. He can't control ya. Not really." She held her reflection's gaze. "Just get it over with."

Once she was calm, Tina sat on the edge of the bed and waited for her husband to return.

She waited. And waited. And waited.

She watched the hands of the wall clock tick. When she got bored of that, she paced the room, sifted through all her new clothes, and laid back on the annoyingly soft mattress in various positions.

A whole hour passed since she'd finished her bath and Alastor still hadn't arrived. Where was he? Wasn't this the part he was looking forward to? Did he think she'd fallen asleep? Or that she was still getting ready?

Groaning, she rose from the bed, slipped on her robe and a pair of fuzzy white slippers she'd found in the wardrobe. If he wasn't coming to her, she was going to him. Maybe that'd been what he'd been hoping for all along, to see her come crawling and begging. If that was the case, she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.

The bedroom door opened to the parlor, which was dark. After fumbling for the light switch, she found Alastor wasn't in this room either. She eyed the set of stairs dropping in the corner, which led to a red door. He hadn't taken her down those stairs. Did that mean she was restricted to this floor only? Was he down there now?

Before she could try the door, something tugged at her chest, like an invisible rope, urging her in the direction of the library. Too mentally exhausted to question this, Tina followed this odd instinct.

Sure enough, the library, unlike the rest of the house, was illuminated by a fireplace. Jazz played from a gramophone. She squinted at two armchairs facing the fire, a shadow resting along the armrest of the larger one. As she approached, she saw an open book in his hands.

I waited an hour for him to try and seduce me, and he's been reading this whole fucking time?

Tina wasn't sure why that thought made her angry. She should be relieved he hadn't come to her, shouldn't she?

Well, whatever was happening tonight, she had questions. "Uh, hi?"

Alastor's ears perked at her voice. He'd thought her asleep, so he'd relaxed into his demonic form. Slamming the book closed, he whooshed on his human glamor before standing to greet her.

"Darling!" He paused, his eyes raking over her figure. "You're still up?"

"Uh, yeah?" She raised an eyebrow, wondering why he seemed so surprised to see her. "I was—"

"Having trouble falling asleep?"

"Well, I guess, but—"

He was in front of her in one leap. "Would you like something warm to drink? Milk? Tea?"

With the night she was having, she might as well. "Chamomile?"

"Of course!"

Waving both his hands, he summoned two steaming mugs, a lavender one for her, and a red one that was filled with coffee. In the dim firelight, Tina managed to read the words "Oh Deer" on his mug. The pun seemed random to her, but she chalked it up to his taste in wall décor.

Handing her the mug of chamomile, Alastor gestured to the other chair, which was purple and draped in lace, clearly meant for her. He didn't sit down until she did. She blew on the tea with caution. It was probably drugged or something, but why would he bother if she'd already agreed to this odd marriage? Either way, her capacity to care had run out half an hour ago. Still, her suspicious gaze did not leave him as she sipped the tea. He returned her look with one of fascination as he drank his coffee.

That nighttime ensemble had been the right choice. The gown and robe complimented her figure better than those baggy pajamas she'd arrived in, making her appear more refined. That bonnet hiding her hair was also adorable. Alastor had noticed how much like a rat's nest her hair would get after passing out on that old couch of hers. He was elated to see his taking care of her was already paying off.

"How's the tea?" he asked.

Having only taken a few sips, Tina lowered her mug. "Good."

"And the bed? Comfortable?"

She shrugged. "Softest bed I've ever had."

"Is the room to your liking?" He stretched his grin to hide his nerves. "Should I change the color? I debated between lavender and peach, since you smell of both, but lavender seemed to suit your complexion better."

So, she'd been right about the theming of the room, as weird as it was that he'd based it purely off her smell. "I like lavender. Purple is actually my favorite color."

His heart swelled with pride that he'd guessed it right. Then it sank with concern.

"Then why weren't you able to sleep?"

He understood the new surroundings would be an adjustment, which was why he'd gone through such lengths to make the room homey and fix her a relaxing bath. Had that not been enough? Should he fluff her pillows? Offer a sedative? Had he picked up the wrong moisturizer?

No longer thirsty, Tina set the mug on the small table beside her chair. She folded her hands in her lap, averting her gaze.

"I…thought you'd be joinin' me."

Alastor cocked his head. "Joining you?"

"I mean," she said, twiddling her fingers, "ain't we supposed to be married?"

After a beat, his cheeks colored. "Oh."

She'd waited up for him because she'd expected them to be sharing a bed.

"I suppose it is…customary." He pulled at his collar. "Of course, I don't require as much sleep as humans. If I do sleep, I have my own quarters downstairs."

So, there was a downstairs. She would ask about it later, but this matter was more important.

"I ain't talkin' 'bout…sleeping."

The blush spread down his neck. "Are you…are you…inviting me to…come lay with you?"

She raised her gaze, puzzled by his sheepishness. "I…didn't think ya needed an invitation?"

This was his house, after all, and he was the one with magical powers. Surely if he wanted to sleep with her, she wouldn't be in a position to say no.

Alastor's heart thumped wildly in his chest. To think he'd been married less than a day, and she was already inviting him into her bed. He knew he was charismatic, but he hadn't thought his efforts would work this quickly.

He'd dreamt of this. He'd only ever shared a bed with his mother, the empty space long since reserved for his future wife. Since realizing his feelings, those fantasies had featured Tina. Lying beside her in bed, holding her while she slept, shielding her from those dreadful nightmares that kept her awake.

In other words, his idea of "sleeping" with Tina was much more innocent than hers.

"Oh." He traced the rim of his mug, his smile small and dreamy. "I…thought you'd want a little time to process before…but if that is what you want…"

His reaction was strange, as if he hadn't been planning on consummating their marriage tonight.

"I mean…" She shrugged. "Might as well get it over with."

He leaned forward. "Take the plunge?"

She returned her attention to her hands, not wanting to see the emotion in his eyes. "Uh, before we do, can we…lay some ground rules?"

"Ground rules?" Alastor's blush disappeared. "Of course!"

He smacked his forehead. In all his excitement of showing her the house, he'd forgotten the most important details.

"Firstly, let me address the elephant in the room, darling." He gestured between them. "Our situation is a…unique one. Although Hell has very few rules, interference with the living world is among them. Sinners can only go up there to strike deals with a living soul." He raised his mug towards her. "Case in point. All that is legal. To an extent.

"But…" He rolled his wrist, choosing his words carefully. "Typically, those deals don't involve dragging a human to Hell. At least…not while still alive."

These weren't the kind of ground rules Tina had been referring to, but she supposed this conversation also needed to be had. Her nerves were replaced with curiosity.

"Ya sayin' I'm like an illegal alien?"

"That's one way to put it, yes." His eyes narrowed in seriousness. "I'm telling you this, so you understand why it's very important that you not leave the premises for whatever reason. Remember the set of stairs in the parlor? The door at the bottom of those stairs is to remain locked, and you are not to answer it for anyone except myself. There are wards surrounding this place, but let's not take any chances."

"Is that also the reason there are no windows?" At his nod, Tina crossed her arms and flopped back in her seat. "So, I'm a prisoner here."

"It's not that I enjoy the thought of keeping you locked up, darling, but it's for your protection. I can't have other demons discover your presence here." He lowered his tone in warning. "Not only will I be facing terrible consequences, but you may as well. Believe me. There are forces out there much more threatening than I am."

This was all true. On top of Lilith, there were also enemies like Vox who would like to expose any potential weaknesses of his. Not to mention the curse would compel most male demons to take Tina for themselves.

As reasonable as it sounded, she was still confused. "Why'd ya drag me down here then? Couldn't ya just wait till I was dead first? It's not like ya don't have all the time in the world to wait, right? Or do demons get old too?"

Alastor scoffed. "You're smarter than I gave you credit for."

She rolled her eyes. "Ya thought I was some ditz just cuz I agreed to marry a random demon?"

Her sass was returning, which meant she was becoming more relaxed in his presence. And he was living for it.

"Not a ditz, dear," he said honestly. "Just desperate. Bottom line, if you wish to remain alive, it would be in your best interest to stay in this house. Otherwise, you're free to go wherever you like. If, perchance, someone should manage to penetrate my protection wards, you are to lock yourself in your room and summon me immediately."

"Do I need another ritual, or…?"

"Simply turn that ring I gave you around your finger three times, and I'll come running. Feel free to summon me should you require anything else." He held up two fingers. "The second rule is that you are not to inquire anything about my past."

This confused her more than the rule to never leave this house. "Nothing at all? Not even where you're from? How many siblings ya had?"

He considered this argument. "Alright. You may ask some things about my past. But if I refuse to answer, you are to accept it and never ask again."

"Why? Got something to hide?"

His grin was tight. "Let's simply say there are some things you're better off not knowing."

As if being a demon wasn't enough of a red flag, now he'd pretty much admitted he had secrets he was never going to reveal. Then again, Tina had some secrets she'd rather not talk about either.

"Fine." She waved a hand. "Whatever."

It wasn't like she ever planned on getting to know this demon on a deeper level. She'd agreed to marry him, not connect with him.

"Thirdly," he stressed, "and this is most important. If I tell you to close your eyes, or look away from me, you are to do so without question."

Now this rule had to be the strangest. "Why?"

Those red eyes of him began to glow. "Without question."

She flinched a little at the change in his eyes, not wanting to find out what would happen if she pressed her luck further. If she was to survive this ordeal, she had to be careful not to get on this demon's bad side.

"Whatever." Tina waited for him to continue, but he merely took another sip of his mug. "So, uh, what are the ground rules for sex?"

He choked, coffee sputtering from his mouth. "P-Pardon?"

"That's why I'm here, right? To be your wife?"

He stared at her, his smile half an inch away from a straight line.

"Look, I get it. We got married, we gotta do it. I won't fuss, but…can ya not be so rough?" She clenched her thighs together. "I'll try to enjoy it, but it'd be a lot easier if ya—"

"Stop." Alastor set his mug on his side table with a slam. "You think…? You thought I was going to…?"

His mind was on the brink of frying as he put together the pieces of their conversations tonight. Suddenly, her nerves made a lot more sense. He might've laughed at the absurdity of this misunderstanding if it wasn't also…concerning.

The Radio Demon had thought about it, of course. If making love to Tina would make him feel differently about sex. If he might enjoy it, because he absolutely adored her. It was hard to picture, but he knew at some point, he'd like to try it. Just out of curiosity.

But the way she spoke about it threw him off. So nonchalantly, as if having sex with a demon she'd sold her soul to a few hours ago was of no consequence. He knew her to be a fiery woman who guarded her dignity, despite not being a virgin, so this didn't seem like her. Did she really value her life so little that she wasn't bothering to protect herself anymore?

"You…are my wife, yes." He blushed at the image of her removing her robe, revealing the bareness of her arms. "And I would like…"

Before the fantasy could go any further, he shook his head. "No. No, sweetheart. Should we ever…consummate…it shouldn't be done so…tackily." He rested his hand over his heart. "As I said when we made the deal, I will never force myself upon you."

Out of all the things that had happened to Tina tonight, this moment was the most flabbergasting. This demon coerced her into marrying her, dragged her down to Hell, set her up in fancy digs, and he wasn't going to take advantage of her?

"Why…why am I here then?"

He blinked. "I thought we'd already established that."

"No, I mean…" She stood to pace, her hands flying as she talked. "If you're not gonna make me have sex with ya, what was the point in proposing? Ain't that what wives are for?"

"Darling." Alastor snorted. "If all I wanted was a night of passion, why would I bother ascending to the living world when Hell has an abundance of prostitutes?"

"I don't know." She threw her hands up. "Human fetish?"

He couldn't hold back the laughter anymore. "First of all, sweetheart, every sinner was human once, so it's not really a surprise for a sinner to find a human attractive. Secondly, if I wanted a human sex slave, I could easily go to Hell's black market."

That made her stop. "I ain't the only human down here?"

"Unfortunately, no. You'll find most demons aren't as…respectable as I am." He gritted his teeth in disgust. "All the more reason you should follow the rule of not leaving this floor."

She nodded, still not believing sex hadn't been on his mind when he'd proposed to her. Sex was always on the mind of whatever man approached her.

"Honestly," Alastor said as he rose, "it's rather insulting you would presume that of me. After all, I specifically asked you to be my wife, not my mistress."

"Yeah, but…" She gestured between them. "A husband and wife still usually…ya know."

The color returned to his cheeks as he stepped towards her. "Would you…like us to?"

She stiffened. "I have a choice?"

"Of course, you do." He bent to her level. "I am at your command, sweetheart." Her jaw tightened as he cupped her cheek. "If you'd like us to consummate tonight, I will oblige. If you'd rather I leave you alone the rest of the evening, I will go. You need only ask, and I shall provide."

That red gaze of his was so focused, that voice so steady and soothing. Tina couldn't remember a proposition this tender. She was used to hearing "Do me a favor, babe," or "I need a little convincing," or "Get naked before I rip those clothes off you." But not only had this demon asked her in the form of an actual question, but he'd offered her an out.

For a split second, she wanted to say yes, as shameful as it was. Just because he'd asked and not demanded. But after tonight's events, she wasn't in the right headspace.

She spoke slowly, watching his expression. "I…I think I'd just rather go to bed?"

She was ready for him to yell at her, slap her, push her down and take her right on the floor. Instead, he dropped his hand and straightened.

"Fair enough."

Tina's eyes widened. "You're not…angry?"

"Why would I be? You're not ready." Alastor showed his teeth. "It's probably for the best, anyway. Why, we haven't even had our first kiss yet! Ha-ha!"

He wasn't upset. He'd accepted her rejection. Like he wouldn't have cared if she'd said yes or no.

"I don't get you."

He shrugged. "Few people do."

She stood there staring, until she was convinced the matter was closed. With nothing left to discuss, Tina started to leave. Then she paused, one last thought refusing to leave her brain.

If this whole thing wasn't about having sex with me, then does that mean…?

"Hey." She turned back just as Alastor was magicking her unfished tea away. "What ya said about…"

"Yes?"

Those intense eyes were on her again, making Tina hesitate.

"Uh, the flowers, did ya…?" She bit her lip. "Did ya mean it?"

He tilted his head. "Mean what?"

He was totally teasing her.

"When…" She fiddled with her skirt. "When ya said… You know."

"That I love you?"

The phrase made her stomach churn. "I…don't think ya used those exact words."

"I didn't?" He hummed in contemplation. "Well, that's an error on my part. It's true, of course." He crossed the room. "You want to know why I couldn't wait to bring you down here? Why I couldn't stand idly by and watch you take your own life? Why out of all the women, all the beings in all the planes, I chose you for my wife?"

With the greatest of care, he took both her hands and raised them to his lips. "It's because I love you, Tina." He kissed both sets of knuckles. "Since that first night I saw you, my heart has been yours. I understand this is a lot to take in, but it's true. I love you, Tina. I love you more than I've loved anything in my life. And afterlife."

These were words Alastor had never thought he'd utter, so to say them lifted a great weight off his chest. He hoped he'd said it right, that Tina could see how much he meant it. Although it was ridiculous to expect reciprocation so soon, he dared to imagine her saying it back, perhaps embracing him in gratitude. His gaze wandered to her lips, brining to mind another form of gratitude.

But her actual response was far from what he'd anticipated. She shook her head with a scoff.

"You're good."

"Hmm?"

She slid her hands out of his grasp. "I almost believe ya."

As he watched her depart from the library, Alastor felt as if he'd been stabbed a hundred times over. And he'd suffered worse injuries in the past. He knew it was foolish to hope, but it still hurt that she didn't believe his feelings were genuine.

He took a deep breath, reminding himself that patience was key.

"You will soon, darling." He placed his hands behind his back, the ghost of her touch warming his skin. "You will."

So, in the myth this is based on, Eros/Cupid is invisible when around Psyche, leaving her to wonder if she's married to a monster or not. I considered that but then realized with Alastor's resources surely he could conjure a human disguise like some of the demons in "Helluva Boss." Of course, he's still hiding his true self from her, which is necessary for the intended conflict.