CH 23: Enchanting

~ Esme's POV ~

I couldn't sleep that night, my thoughts from being pushed up against the wall tormenting my mind. Believe me when I say, he was beautiful. Hmm, maybe beautiful was the wrong word. He was wickedly delicious. For nearly a century I had been alongside him in small moments, but I had a deep secret that would never meet his ears.

He was enchanting.

Even for me, and I usually do the enchanting.

There was something about him that had always piqued my interest. From the moment I laid my eyes on him, I had felt an energy that I had never known before. I could never describe it, but it always felt like I was inches away from discovering something. If I just peeled back his layers, perhaps I could see it for a moment. I wouldn't dare though, as much as I held power, he deeply frightened me. His presence, he was so confident within himself, and no one had ever seen such godly power emit from a mortal soul before. I knew that he could destroy me with one snap of his fingers.

But, would that be tempting?

Would it be freeing to just let go and trust someone completely?

Being in the same space as him, felt safe...oddly enough. As much as he frightened me, there was one key point that always stood out. He never threatened me. He never came for me, never turned one radio dial, never raised his voice, never ever challenged me. Everyone else was always on the table. Although he was kind to Rosie, even she could push his temper, causing the occasional flick of dials in his eyes. He was always respectable towards her, so he usually calmed down immediately, but with me...

I never saw those eyes.

Why? Why was I different? Could he have a soft spot?

No, that's wrong. If Vox finds out about this, he will be targeted for sure. Worse, I could be used as prey. There was no way that I was going to let that happen, but every time I was around him, the static on my neck reminded me that I had to keep a close eye on him at all times. Vox never said I had to hurt him, but he would surely hurt me if I dared let Alastor slip up. He would drag me back to that tower and torment me from within my own mind.

So my eyes were always on him, and it's not like I minded much. Especially this morning, when he offered to treat me to some breakfast. It was almost as if he was waiting for me to exit my quarters this morning, greeting me with a gleeful grin. He didn't speak one word of our activities from the night before, instead meeting me with a gentlemanly kindness. He extended his hand to me, bowing slightly as he spoke, 

"Good Morning, dearest Esme. May I have the honor of escorting you to breakfast this morning?" 

His chivalry brought a schoolgirl smile to my face with my hand desperately trying to hold in a giggle. I didn't put up much of a fight, following him downstairs and listening to him yap on and on about his preparations for the day. 

Now I sit in the kitchen, watching his every move. I didn't know he liked to cook, how charming.

God, he looks good in that shirt, in those pants....

"Is coffee okay for you, dear?" He asks with his back still turned for me.

"Works for me!" I chirp.

In that shirt...in those pants, I wanna rip them off...with my teeth.

God, the thought of his body against mine was enough to have me laid out across this table right now.

As a matter of fact, forget the breakfast, I'm the meal just eat me instead.

Sometimes I hated my siren nature. I deeply tried to suppress her over the decades, but there were some instances where she begged to come out and play. His scent, his sickeningly tempting scent, was one of them. I could practically feel every drop of that metallic sustenance within him pulsate through his body. I wanted to sink my fangs so deep into that venison that I honestly feared for his safety for a moment. I would run if I were him. In these moments, my head was not talking. To be fair, I didn't know if it was my heart either, but it was certainly my soul. Something deep within my soul wanted this man more than any demon I had feasted on before. 

But, we're just colleagues....right?

Pft, yeah, okay, Esme.

He sits down in front of me and hands me a plate of food. It was similar to your usual breakfast platter, but I'm smart enough to recognize that these are not typical sausages. He knew me too well by now. It was moments like this that made me remember our time together when he first arrived here. He was so kind but also distant, never allowing me to see through his exterior. For some reason, this felt different. This felt like the beginning of something I couldn't describe, other than 'blissful.'

He had become a safe person for me, allowing me to grow within myself around him. In this minute, it was just us. There were no pesky patrons rummaging through the kitchen to interrupt our thoughts, just the other providing comfort. It was a setting that almost felt domestic. I questioned if I had ever felt this before, this normalcy of sitting with a man at the table and feeling your heart beating only for him.

"Thank you..." I smile sweetly as I begin to peck slowly at my food. I can still feel his eyes on me, but I pretend not to notice, secretly relishing in feeling his gaze move across me. I wanted him to look, I wanted him to feel. 

And dear Satan did I want him to fling every plate off this table and devour me whole. 

But, past all of that, I think I wanted him to just want me. I wanted him to have an interest that surpassed our moment of bliss last night and was meant for me and me alone.

I never wanted to go back to what he had before. 

This felt complete. I wanted his heart in my hands, allowing me the opportunity to hold it with care and shield it from others. 

I desired freedom and security with The Radio Demon, which felt like an oxymoron entirely on its own. 

~ Alastor's POV ~

I can't believe she's sitting there, just sitting at the table in front of me. She looks so pretty.

If perfection were to take on a demon form, it would be her, just sitting in front of me eating so peacefully. I would do anything to keep her in front of me, just in my sight where I could embrace her in my mind. I needed to be careful, extremely careful. She had been my once weakness during our lifetimes, with the exception of our little creation, but I would be damned if anyone found out she was my weakness here. But, she ignited a fire within me that I hadn't felt since I last had her over my desk with my hand pressed up against her mouth.

Was it lust? I'd call it passion, worship, and devotion. Any of those would do. But, as much as I wanted to consume her, I mostly just wanted her near me. I wanted to watch her, treasure her, and make up for the time that I had lost due to my own foolish, dull-witted, ignorant ego.

I wanted to apologize for all my wrongdoings, to shower her with gifts and promises that I would surely keep in this afterlife. Alas, there were no rubies, diamonds, or sapphires, that would ever truly express the feelings I had for her. I would slain every wretched soul I came across if it brought me more seconds of her time. It was almost ridiculous how much she consumed my mind.

There was one thought, feeling rather, that I could not budge from my brain. What was the static around her neck? That was never there before. The more I got closer to her, the more I would study her to wait until I could figure it out. I was almost envious of her abilities. If I could enter her mind, I wouldn't have to bother deciphering anything.

She was heaven to touch, to watch, to be near.

I could lose myself in those pretty little seas of green. She was everything I remembered and more, leaving me with this ache deep within my chest that I could only imagine was my soul beckoning her to fill the void she had left. It was very unbecoming of 'The Radio Demon', but to be frank, I didn't give a damn.

Don't ever leave me again...

The door opens and within a moment, Ms. Charlotte walks into the room. I'm suddenly panged by the ache in my chest of the reminder that my job is to stay focused on the task at hand. She's going to be a distraction, a lovely distraction, but one nonetheless. "Good Morning, Charlie, how lovely for you to join us." I smile, but it's not genuine like how it is when her, it's forced and almost painful.

I had wanted this morning to be just the two of us, but I had forgotten that this was a wrecked hotel and not our lovely little home. We are in a space where we can't find solitude often, being interrupted by the many nuisances that resided here. 

For the most part, they didn't bother me. I could care less what they did during their spare time, so long as they left me alone, but it was troublesome in moments like this. I just wanted her, not an audience to broadcast to. 

"Wow, Alastor, it smells wonderful in here." Charlie smiles, going towards the stove. I chuckle, knowingly. This would be fun. Yes, go ahead Princess, why don't you try one of them. I'm sure you will enjoy it. 

"No!" My lovely shouts, getting up and grabbing her hand. Her movements were quick and determined, rushing to her aid before she made the foolish choice to take a bite.

Oh, come on...

"My dear, this is food for Alastor and I, if you know what I mean..." She mumbles, raising a hand to the blonde's cheek and stroking it in a nurturing fashion, "Are you hungry? Surely I could help prepare you something proper to eat.." With that, she turns around and begins to get to work, talking on and on about Ms. Charlotte's nonsensical plan for the hotel. 

She's still a mother at heart.

Interesting how she found comfort within caring for this girl. Perhaps she was filling a void within this, providing herself a distraction.

She smiles and without hesitation, begins to crack some eggs and pour them over the pan. Charlie stands next to her smiling, thanking her for her kindness. I carefully watch the two, peering over my mug, when my eyes suddenly meet Charlie's.

What was that within her gaze? It was an emotion I hadn't seen expressed toward me before. Was it pity, disappointment? Not many individuals had dared to look at me in such a way. 

She continues to look me up and down, her eyes darting back to Esme's head, turning her body around to not face me. It couldn't be, it wasn't possible...

....She knows.

...Fuck.

~ Author's Note ~ 

This chapter was very loosely based on yet another song from The Notebook. Honestly, someone start a drinking game where you take a shot every time I use one of those songs (21+ obviously! LOL). 

😂😂😂😂😂😂

Anyhow, I hope you're ready for the emotional torment to come next....

Did you really think we were in the clear? HAHA, nope! 

🖤Words: 2010🖤

~ Artemis 🦌💗

(P.S: JUMPING BACK IN HERE TO SAY I'M #1 IN VOX?! ARE YOU SERIOUS AHHHHH!! I love writing this story sm, thank you! 💖💖🥺)