AN: Hey All, So sorry for the delay, the past few day have been...Rough. I'll post two chapters today to catch up. .
The weather had started getting colder, the threat of snow on the horizon. Most started to avoid being outside longer than necessary, unless bundled up properly, but Ellen had always enjoyed it. Even though she always ran cold, there was some child-like wonder in watching the light swirls and wisps of one's breath lingering in the air. It always gave her a moment of pause, a moment to settle into the small simple things that bring joy into the crazy chaos that the world spun.
So she paced back and forth in the park, steps purposeful and confident as her breath curled in the chilled air. Her arms moved about animatedly as she worked through her thoughts, lost to the internal struggle of her morality.
"Guns won't work, I can't do it."
Xander and Alastor sat side by side on a bench watching her pace, letting her talk while throwing a few suggestions her way.
"It would be the easiest, probably the fastest too," Xander offered.
"Yeah, but it's not…" she paused her steps to find the right wording before starting her march again. "It's not me?"
Xander opened his mouth with some sort of retort but a look from Alastor had him close it.
"And what would work?" Alastor crossed his right leg over his left knee, eyes following her as she passed.
If she hadn't been so distracted by her racing thoughts, trying to piece together a plan that she knew she could follow through she may have taken a moment to admire Alastor's look. Of course shoes and slacks didn't change but he had added a long ulster overcoat in a dark gray that only seemed to solidify his sophisticated look. A dark flat cap and scarf polished off his ensemble.
"I could always try a knife," she suggested weakly.
"Absolutely not. My dear you would end up stabbing yourself."
She let out a small huff, her mind scrambling to put together some sort of plan. They knew where to find Dolion and with Alastor's shadow scouting the building, logging and tracking his day to day routine, all they really needed was to pick a time. And of course some sort of weapon that wasn't going to cause her to freeze up.
Before another side eye could stop him, Xander quickly blurted, "Frying pan?"
Ellen gave him a weak attempt of a pointed look before moving again. "I can't kill him with a frying-"
Before she could finish Alastor cut in, a light smirk pulling at the sides of his mouth.
"You've killed with a frying pan before."
"Once," she corrected, resisting an eye roll. This frying pan thing seemed to keep coming back to haunt her. It just happened to be what she could find at the time, a weapon of convenience. "The first person I ever killed, but," she held a finger up, "that was in self defense and I didn't intend on killing him. Just knock him out."
Xander crossed his arms, a light frown etched on his lips. "Well he isn't going to just keel over from a heart attack, he's basically the picture of perfect health, so you gotta have something."
"If my memory serves me right, he holds some sort of regenerative abilities, so it will have to be quick and lethal.
Ellen finally stopped plopping down between the two with a heavy sigh.
"I had no problem ripping sinners apart when I had access to your power." She didn't mean to sound disappointed, it had been a thought earlier but having more time to think about it, it probably wouldn't work.
"But it's your power and I likely won't be able to use it against Tucker. So I guess I gotta find something else."
"Swords are pretty cool. Maybe you could use that?"
Alastor shook his head, shutting down Xander's idea. "It would need to be something readily available. While I could easily summon up almost anything, I'm sure it would be deemed as assisting, rendering it useless."
Ellen groaned. Was it really so hard to plan a murder? And really anything could be a weapon if you tried hard enough.
The three sat in silence for a bit, all lost in thought. It wasn't supposed to be this hard. Ellen just had to confront him and kill him. It almost seemed foolish to have a plan, all their other ones didn't work, why would this be any different?
"Perhaps," Alastor started, breaking the silence, "we focus our energy on something else at the moment."
Xander relaxed a little, sitting up. "Like what ?"
Ellen looked down at her hands interlacing her fingers over and over again, mind still stuck on the fact she was supposed to kill Dolion. She had a clear shot, she didn't take it. What if after all this she still couldn't?
She wanted to. In some way, vengeance for Julie, for Xander. But it was still the idea that she was taking a life, her morals wouldn't bend, make an exception. And when all of this was cleared up, she'd be living with that. Would she regret it later? What if someone found out; would she go to jail? Would this solidify her fate to hell? Okay, well maybe that last one wasn't bad. And why did it have to be her? There were billions of other people in the world, someone else surely could do it.
"Why can't Xander do it?," she blurted out.
The two turned to look at her.
"Well Al can't, I… I tried and couldn't, maybe Xander could kill him."
Alastor hummed in thought before standing, pulling her to her feet. "Come my dear I think there are some things we need to discuss." His eyes darted to the boy. "I trust you will be fine unsupervised for a bit?"
Xander frowned but leaned back. "Yeah fine. You realize I'm an adult too right?"
Ellen gave him a strained smile before she was slipped into shadow. They didn't go far but clearly whatever Alastor wanted to say, he didn't want Xander listening in.
"You can not weasel your way out of this," he said sternly.
Her eyes widened at the accusation. "I'm not-"
"You just suggested having our son kill Dolion."
Her gaze fell, face looking a bit sheepish. "He'll be living in Hell, it's not like he won't be killing people there," she mumbled.
"It needs to be you."
"Says who! It doesn't need to be me. Why me? I don't want to do it okay? I can't do it. I tried already and I froze up." She turned, arms crossed her chest in annoyance. "What is stopping Xander from just waltzing up to Dolion and filling him full of lead, huh?"
"He won't do it."
Ellen huffed. "Won't. Well isn't that just great," she mumbled.
Alastor moved to stand in front of her. "You know there is a larger game afoot here. There are some things we simply can not control. For some reason you have become the most important piece on the board, the king if you will. The rest of us are simply here to protect you, to support you however we can. You may not realize it, but you have many standing behind you my dear. Do you think Lucifer openly offered to send me here, to the mortal realm?"
Ellen shook her head, eyes trying to find something else to look at aside from Alastor. He grabbed her chin pulling her gaze to his. She could see the seriousness through the grin, the weight of his words seemed to be etched in his expression.
"We all have had a role to play, the same as I and you are no different. We are in the final stages my dear and you can not bow out now. I don't know why it must be you, it simply is, so you must play your part and play it well. If I were to wager a guess, it's likely the reason for all of this." His arm swept out gesturing around them. "The reason for your time in Hell and your return. A path preemptively chosen for you." He exhaled heavily through his nose, eyes scanning her face carefully. He paused for a moment, both of their breaths swirling and colliding between them. When he continued his tone was gentler.
"Whatever you decide to do I will follow, I've always enjoyed a bit of chaos, but it is this world, you're world at risk. So-"
His hand let go of her chin to fold it back behind him. She kept her gaze on him, a slight shiver running down her spine.
"-What is our next move?"
Had Alastor really just given her an inspiring speech? She swallowed thickly, eyes moving downward, shifting back and forth in thought. If she couldn't kill Dolion in a conventional way, then she'd have to think outside of the box.
"We gotta find a way I can kill Tucker," she said resolutely, eyes meeting Alastor with new found determination.
His grin stretched wide, but his eyes softened slightly. "That's my girl."
…
It was another few weeks before Ellen couldn't take the anxiety and waiting anymore. The longer she waited to take out Dolion the more time she had to break her resolve. And the timing seems to fit, her parents were out for a week and a half on a cruise. That meant she had the house to herself, or well with Alastor and Xander.
She couldn't count how many times she went up and down the stairs pulling random things together for the upcoming battle. From the kitchen she grabbed a few knives, which earned her an eye roll from Alastor.
From the bathroom she grabbed a small bottle of bleach, she wasn't exactly sure what she would use it for but one never knows.
A few scarves and she was good to go… or at least as good as she could be considering she was off to commit murder.
From Alastor's shadow they knew he stayed late on Thursdays, and the building was basically empty. Sign in sheets showed the janitor took the same day off every month and as luck would have it, it overlapped with a Thursday. Today was the day it seemed, everything aligned for it to be so.
As she made her way back to the main floor, her mind scattered trying to figure out if there was anything else she would need, she was suddenly pulled into an embrace.
"You are overthinking again my dear. It won't lead to anything good."
She pouted into the familiar red jacket a small groaning sigh escaping her, a bit of tension leaving her shoulders.
"I can't help it." She threw her arms around him in a lazy embrace. "My mind just wanders off and once it starts it's hard to rein it back in," she mumbled.
"It doesn't need to be planned down to a 'T'. As long as he's dead it's a win. However you wish to accomplish that doesn't matter."
"Xander is coming with us."
He pushed her back but before he could retort she continued. "Not because I'm going to loop him into doing it I just… want the extra set of hands if things get difficult. He can help in ways you can't."
He gave her a look, clearly not believing her. "And what exactly would you be referring to?"
She meekly shrugged. "Well he could hand me a weapon, or hold Dolion down for me."
"If it will put you at ease, then I won't object, but keep in mind, I would have a hard time keeping him safe. Not impossible but you will take priority." A hand moved to brush along her jaw before he stepped out of her arms. "Now the sooner we go the sooner we can put all of this behind us, yes?"
She gave him a nod before turning to collect the odds and ends she had grabbed, strapping the knives carefully to her. Once she was carefully outfitted, she turned back to Alastor just in time to watch him take on his human look. Xander peeked his head around the corner leading to the kitchen.
"So this is it huh? Have fun I guess. I'll just…hold down the fort."
"Actually…"
He didn't wait for her to finish, he likely already knew but was trying to play it casual.
"Yes! Let's go! I swear I'll keep on my toes. I won't get in the way."
Alastor just rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath that this was likely going to make tonight's events even more of a mess. Ellen on the other hand just laughed at the enthusiasm.
"I've even gotten better at shifting! Look!"
Xander shifted into shadow appearing in the living room only long enough to declare, "now I'm over here!" Before slipping back into shadow to reappear beside the two.
Ellen laughed, lightly applauding. "You've gotten quite good Xander."
He nodded. "I've been practicing!"
Alastor flicked a wrist dismissing the little demonstration "Yes, yes, we'll meet you there. I would advise you grab something to arm yourself with."
His face lit up, a grin stretching across his face. "Oh! I know the perfect thing!"
Alastor looped his arm with Ellen's. "This will be the beginning of the end." The two slipped into shadow reappearing in a tall office building.
Most of the lights were off, signaling the lack of people still in the building. Ellen's eyes flicked up catching a few cameras. Alastor must have caught her gaze because he said, "not to worry, we won't be visible."
She nodded, nerves starting to build again as her gaze moved down the hallway where a faint light could be seen. He was right there, just down the hall. All she had to do was go in there and…
Her stomach twisted in anxiety again. "I don't know if I can do this," she whispered to herself.
"You are stronger than you think."
Ellen shook her head forcing an awkward laugh. "I'm really not," she admitted to herself. There were times she thought she was, but it wasn't until Julie died that she realized she wasn't strong, she just borrowed the strength of others to push herself onward. Hell was no different. It was Alastor that was strong and she just drew on him.
He raised an eyebrow in challenge. "Behind every great and successful man is a strong woman and you my dear, are standing behind two. You would do well to remember that."
She turned to ask who this supposed second man was when Xander appeared from the shadows.
"Alright I'm ready. Let's do this thing."
"Well at least one of us is," she mumbled under her breath.
The three made their way down the hall, Alastor leading with an air of confidence. Just before reaching the door, Alastor turned abruptly. Brown eyes softened a bit as he found Ellen's.
"You are ready."
She nodded, though she was certain the rest of her body made it evident she was anything but. Her hands started shaking, her mind racing through all the ways this could go wrong. What if she had just led Xander to his death? She grabbed Alastor's arm before he turned.
"Xander takes priority."
The slight slump of his shoulders made it clear he was going to retort so she beat him to it, repeating herself, her tone a bit stricter. "I can't lose someone else. Xander takes priority."
"Very well." His eyes darted to the person in question, who had moved to the door, peeking in.
He cleared his throat, turning to the door giving Ellen one last look before shifting into shadows and reappearing on the other side of the door.
Ellen closed the distance, standing next to Xander to peer through the small window to the office. Dolion was seated with his back to the door, his gaze fixed on Alastor. Unbeknownst to him, a dark tendril slithered across the floor towards the door. The soft click of the lock being flicked was the last barrier between Dolion and his fate.
Xander slowly pushed the door open as Alastor held Dolion's attention.
"…and you're a nuisance, nothing more."
Ellen unclipped a knife from her hip as she watched another tendril slither across the floor toward Dolion's feet, still seated under his desk.
Dolion stood abruptly turning to the two behind him. The next second happened quicker then Ellen could comprehend.
She was tackled to the floor, the knife in hand slicing her forearm before it skittered out of reach across the carpeted floor. A gunshot echoed through the room, likely the reason she was tackled, glass shattering, raining down on her and Xander.
"Oh come now. You can't be serious? Must we do this again? When will you learn, you can't kill me," Dolion laughed.
Black wisps quickly started to fill the room obscuring everything in sight.
"Hiding away are we?" Alastor taunted, though Ellen couldn't see him anymore.
"You have your shadows, I have mine." Dolion was somewhere off to her left.
Something brushed against her side and she quickly turned, a small squeak fumbling out of her mouth.
Red glowing eyes blinked in the darkness before she could make out Alastor's face. "Just me darling."
He grabbed her arm taking a look at the cut she had temporarily forgotten. Before he could make a comment, the smoke around them swirled and Dolion's face appeared beside them, a shit eating grin stretched across his face, eye tinged an unnaturally yellowy- orange.
"Let's put an end to this shall we?"
Alastor wrapped his arms protectively around her, a low growl vibrating in his chest. The two watched Dolion's eyes light up in surprise before he disappeared again in the smoke, hitting the floor with an 'oof'.
"Got'em!"
Ellen just managed to see a tendril slither away from Dolion's ankle, a knowing grin breaking out on her face.
"Here mom!"
Something slid across the carpet and without taking a look she grabbed it and launched herself at Dolion, pinning him to the floor before swinging her weapon as hard as she could at his head. A satisfying 'twang' echoed through the room and she felt the body beneath her sag.
The smoke in the room started to dissipate and with a grin she turned to see what had done Dolion in. Oh you've got to be kidding me. Held tightly in her grip was a cast iron frying pan.
"A- Seriously?! Guys come on, can't we just let this one go?"
The chuckles from the other two made it clear it likely wasn't something she wouldn't end up living down.
She let out a deep sigh before shifting off of Dolion to retrieve the knife she had lost earlier. Hopefully they were done now and she didn't have to think about this again.
"Can you talk about your contract?"
Alastor tilted his head to the side, not following her train of thought. She nudged her head toward the man in the blue suit.
There was a slight pause before he shook his head. "I can not."
"Right, well I guess that means he's not dead yet," she sighed wearily. Her eyes moved to the blade in her hand.
Alastor sent Xander out to find a first aid kit while he moved next to Ellen. "While I would much prefer to have him suffer and drag this out, I believe you will want to finish this quickly."
She puffed up her cheeks letting out a big breath, gaze moving back to Dolion that she could now see had blood on his face. Whether she broke his nose or something else more serious she didn't know.
"How do I know if…" She turned but stopped when she realized she was alone.
A low groan had her scrambling back to Dolion, blade pressed against his neck. She could slit his throat right? She had seen it done countless times in movies, it wouldn't be too hard.
She quickly settled her nerves, trying to find that determination and fire again that she had when she swore vengeance for Julie.
"Is over Dolion, you're done."
He hummed amused. "You won't do it. You've had ample opportunities and haven't taken them. And now that you're alone…"
He quickly grabbed her wrist, but she fought back, the edge of the blade nicking his cheek before she was able to wrestle her hand from his grip. While scrambling to keep herself steady, the knife slipped her hand fumbling to catch it, resulting in it implanting in Dolion's chest.
She froze as a hiss escaped him. Her mind blanked for a moment, eyes glued to the red patch spreading across the blue fabric. Panicked, she stuck her hand out.
"Give me your soul."
He moved to pull the blade out but she swatted his hand away, instead slowly pushing it in deeper, causing him to gasp. For a split second she understood Alastor on a level she never had before. She wanted Dolion to suffer, she wanted him to die slowly and agonizingly painful. And she would enjoy every second of it.
"I'll make it quick, you won't suffer, not that you deserve it."
He tried to chuckle but it ended in a hollow gasp. "And why would I want that?"
Her eyes narrowed at him grabbing the blade and twisting it causing him to squirm under her.
"Because you killed my best friend and I have no issue dragging this out."
"You don't actually believe I killed that friend of yours do you?" He chuckled, a bit of blood being spit up at the action.
Ellen willed her tears to remain contained, her anger consuming her. She no longer cared to make his death swift, he didn't deserve it.
"I'm flattered you think I'm that good of a shot, really, but you are naive to think Alastor had no part in her demise. She would have survived if he hadn't interfered."
She wouldn't believe him, he was an evil snake, full of lies. Alastor would never have done something like that, he couldn't have.
Dolion leaned up, a bloody grin plastered across his face. "He lined her up to be killed in an instant. Tell me, have you ever seen him shoot? I've seen one of his shots, straight through the heart. A bit too coincidental, no?"
She glanced down at the knife, an echo of her voice ringing through her mind.
"What?! Just because I'm slow at cutting fruit means I can't use a knife in a fight?"
A soft chuckle she recognized as Alastor's returned her question. "Oh no it's all about the grip."
"So knives were your weapon of choice I assume."
"I was quite good with a hunting rifle as well, but yes, I much prefered being up close and personal."
The statement seemed to bounce around inside her head, refusing to leave. Her stomach fell, like it had suddenly acquired a two ton weight. She didn't want to believe it, it couldn't be true…
"I was quite good with a hunting rifle as well…"
A humble brag from someone like Alastor. He was likely a fantastic shot and he knew it. But surely after a century of not practicing, that skill would fade. Unless he still brushed up on his shooting…
All of sudden the world felt like it had tipped off its axis, the sudden realization of what was being said, the words swirling around her head with reckless abandon.
~"He lined her up to be killed… straight through the heart… have you ever seen him shoot?", "I was quite good with a hunting rifle…"~
She tried shaking the thought, sure he could shoot, but to have a part in Julie's death it would need to be planned and he would never… Her blood ran cold remembering the night Julie died. She had been in good spirits before Alastor pulled her aside to talk.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"You'll get through this."
"We," she corrected, turning her head to include Julie. "We'll get through this."
Julie gave her a firm nod before her eyes darted upward, a knowing look passing between her and the Radio Demon.
That was intentional, he knew Julie wasn't going to live. He would only know that if…
Something in Ellen snapped, the world becoming deaf as a sharp ringing filled her ears and all she could see was red, oblivious to the return of Alastor and Xander.