CH 24: Secret

~ Alastor's POV ~

How the hell did she find out? For such a naive young woman, she sure did put that together quickly. The good thing about this situation, if there even is any good, is that she doesn't seem to be interested in revealing the truth. But, she is getting close to Esme - too close.

I'm sure that if I played my cards right, I would easily regain control over this situation. Most things were in my control as it was, being I was one of the most powerful individuals in Hell - ha! This should be child's play. 

Although, Esme's smart, she'll see straight through her and know something is up. I knew I had to do something and I had to make haste if I wanted to pull a fast one over this tricky siren.

"Well, here you go!" My lady love smiles brightly, placing the plate of food on the table where she once sat, "I'm going to head to the docks this morning and spend some much-needed time in the water. If either of you needs me, you know where to find me." And off she was, she left the room as fast as she entered with me that morning. Something was eating at her, I could tell. She was jittery, moving quickly from one place to the next.

If I knew her, and I surely did, our little rendezvous last evening was leaving her feeling frazzled. It baffled me as to why. I had watched her be with men throughout the years, putting on a beautiful performance to convince them they they were pleasing her in the way that she truly needed. If this little meeting set her such ablaze, it had to be because it felt different than the others. 

It caused more guilt in her heart, yet pride in mine. She was always mine to play with, whether she liked it or not. 

Silence falls over the room, as I take another sip from my mug. Alright, enough distractions, enough beating around the bush, I'm here to be direct.

"So, you know..." I say nonchalantly, shrugging my shoulders as I finish the sentence.

"I - what?" Charlie looks bewildered, her bright eyes widening and looking side to side nervously, "I, uh, don't know wha-"

"Don't try to deny it now. I know the way you're looking at her, how you keep looking at me with those disappointed eyes of yours. You know, don't you?"

I lean forward, sensing her stiffening. It was always funny to see how sinners tensed around me. Even though she was the princess of hell, she was still a gullible thing.

"I know Esme got hurt...a long time ago." Charlie looks down at her food, moving it around with her fork, "She doesn't remember by who..."

"But you know by who..." Her eyes dart up to mine as I finish her sentence. There's another moment of silence before she looks back down.

Ahh, see, she didn't confirm nor deny.

Come on, don't you have some of your mother within you? How disappointing....

"Just so that we're clear." I place my mug back down on the table with an audible click, "It was an accident. By the time the damage was already done, she was dead. It was not by my hand." I look at her, my smiling never quivering, "And there's one more thing..."

Charlie raises an eyebrow.

"We mustn't tell her about who I really am.."

This very obviously strikes a nerve as she slams her hands on the table. By the way she was acting, you could assume I was her father preventing her from going to a party of some sorts, "But, why! You see how she speaks about her husband, how she's so obviously in lo-"

"Yes, yes, I see how she's been hopelessly hooked for decades. But, I've also seen her become undone. She is unstable, she won't be able to cope. Trust me, I've seen it all." She grows silent once more, so I persist, "Do you want to be the reason why she spirals into ruin? Would it be worth it to see her sobbing and shaking?" 

"No, fuck no!" 

"Ah, well, then you have to be smart about this, Ms. Charlotte. After all, if you want this romance to blossom, you have to be silent. She would never look at me the same, and something tells me she likes where she is right now, so do her a favor and don't tell her."

Charlie glares at me and rolls her eyes, "She deserves better." She grumbles, crossing her arms and shifting from side to side in frustration. She can be upset all she wants, but as long as she is to adhere to my rules, everything will go swimmingly. 

"This is the better option." I respond quickly, refusing to give her the time of day, "Esme has lost a tremendous amount of people in her life. Her sister, her daughter, her best friend, and now you want to tell her that the husband she's been waiting on her entire afterlife is none other than the same Radio Demon that has been broadcasting the screams of all her friends for decades?"

She grows silent, but I can see her expression softening, now is my chance, "Can you imagine what that would do for her? She would never trust anyone again..." She nods.

Checkmate.

"So, it's a deal then? You won't tell her and I will continue to dote on this hotel hand over fist?"

Her eyes go wide, "I'm not shaking on anything..."

"I didn't ask you to, my dear. I'm asking for your word. Can I trust you?" I raise an eyebrow, "Can I rely on your...friendship?"

There's a moment and her eyes soften as she turns closer to me. If I were to gain her trust, I had to speak to her bleeding heart. Tears begin to well in her eyes as she places her hands on her chest, 

"Aw, of course, Al...."

~ Time Skippy, Narrator's POV ~

It has been over 90 years since Esme roamed the earth, and despite not knowing much about herself, she was still the same person she once was. She loved the water. Whenever she was overwhelmed or wanted time for herself, she would retreat to it. In her lifetime that meant time on the beach, walking along the docks, or searching for seashells with her sister. In modern times, this meant swimming. She loved the sound her tail made as she splashed into the water.

She would swim down to the sea floor, spreading herself across the sand. She loved how it felt on her skin. It was honestly no surprise that she was a fish, she was practically one already as a human. She swims up to the surface, throwing her hair back and taking a deep breath, as she floats backward with her tail keeping her afloat. Sometimes she wished she could keep her siren appearance every day, feeling the most herself with it present. Her skin was the light blue of a drowned beauty, with her curls floating along the water, her scales shining in the red sun, and her fangs resting on her lip. She hums in the water as she floats back.

She had a lot on her mind. The night before with Alastor, what this meant for their professional relationship, and what was stirring inside her. It was becoming hard to think straight with such hunger burning within her.

"In the water already?" A voice asks from up on the dock. Esme's eyes shoot open and slide to the right, seeing Alastor standing there leaning on his cane.

"Following me are you?" She questions with a smug smile on her face. It was interesting how he couldn't stay away from her. He was attracted to her like a pitiful moth to a flame, bringing a sense of satisfaction to her heart.

"Not at all, my dear, just enjoying some air myself."

"Ah, I see." She sinks back into the water and repositions herself so her upper body is sticking out. "I hope the princess enjoyed her breakfast."

"I didn't hear any complaints." He leans down and sits on the edge of the dock, resting his cane beside him. He crosses his legs and leans back, "It's not so often we get to see this look from you..." He begins, "Such a shame, really."

"My siren form? It's showcased all over my records, of which you have broadcasted. I know for a fact you are a listener." 

Her words don't shake him though, instead his eyebrow raises at the mentioning of his show. So, she too was a fan...

It appeared that subconsciously the two of them were much more entangled with the other than they cared to recognize. 

The radio host chuckles and throws his hands into the air while he bounces his leg in boredom, "How could I not listen, I never said your music wasn't appealing. I'm simply saying that being able to see you in the flesh like this is an honor." 

Esme's fins flutter at his words, "R-Really, well....thank you. That's very sw-" Her sentence is cut short as her enhanced senses get a whiff of something nearby. She turns her head and notes a man walking along the water. "I - well...yes, that was very.." She tries to continue, with her eyes locked on him.

"What's the matter, dear? A little peckish?" Alastor chuckles, looking in the sinner's direction.

"No..."

"It's not very ladylike to lie." He smirks, "It has been a while since I've seen you leave the hotel by yourself, you shouldn't deprive yourself of your animalistic needs." 

Seeing a siren feed. No, seeing his siren feed, would be a indescribable pleasure that he craved to experience. Leaning closer, her reaches out and runs a claw through her soaked curls. He hooks the tip of his staff under her chip and pulls her closer to him, "Just imagine it, sweetheart, the ache in your tummy would be set. His blood providing you just the relief that you so miserably need." 

The charmer's words seem to cloud her head as her jaw drops slightly and her chest heaves. The thoughts he was planting were tempting, bringing her close to snapping. He points the cane in the sinner's direction, "What's stopping you then, go ahead~"

He didn't need to tell her twice, she dives back into the water and sinks below. She quickly stalks her prey, echoing her little tune softly from the water.

Alastor sits on the dock with his head leaning in his hand with his elbow propped up on his knee. This was to be a very entertaining show.

The haunting little melody causes the man to turn his head and walk towards the water to investigate. There's a flash of green light and Esme appears on a rock next to him, legs crossed, but still in her siren form. She begins to sing softly to the man.

My heart is pierced by cupid ~

I disdain all glittering gold ~

There is nothing can console me ~

By my jolly sailor bold ~

His eyes glaze over and Esme can feel his mind slowly begin to slip into her hands. She can smell his blood pumping through his heart and begins to salivate at the scent.

All the while Alastor watches with pride.

His hair it hangs in ringlets, his eyes as black as coal

My happiness attend him where he may go ~

From Tower Hill to Blackwall, I'll wander, weep, and moan ~

All for my jolly sailor, until he sails home ~

She traces her claws along his neck, stopping right above his artery. She can feel the vein bulging in and out with every beat. Now, she's a good person, she doesn't want him to feel pain, so she decides to give him one last melody to lull him into a state of peacefulness.

My heart is pierced by Cupid ~

I disdain all glittering gold ~

There is nothing can console me,

But my jolly sailor bold ~

And with that last lyric, she swings her arm back and plunges her claws into the side of his neck, causing blood to spatter everywhere as he falls into the wall. Esme doesn't waste any time before she dives in and drags his body to the bottom.

She rips off every limp from his body, drains every ounce of blood from him, and chews through every piece of skin.

Alastor can't help but laugh from his seat on the dock. She was like a feral animal having eaten for the first time.

What he wasn't expecting was the insane high she received from it, immediately popping back up from the water in front of him - her jaw absolutely soaked in bright red blood.

She looks magnificent.

"What a rush!" She beams, obviously euphoric. "Mmm, he tasted so good~" Her eyes glowing a sickening shade of green, practically emitting light from them. She was consumed by the feeling. Esme was dormant, and The Siren was at play.

"I bet he did, my darling..." Alastor smirks, leaning down towards her, "You do look exquisite with all that crimson along you. That's a good color on you, you should wear it more often."

Before he has a chance to lean back, Esme, with her playful nature coming through, leans up towards him. She brings the two of them nearly nose to nose, picking up on his scent and tilting her head slightly to the left.

"Mmm, why, do you want a taste?~" She echoes with a faint melody to her voice. Her eyes glow like a distant candle, and she gently caresses his cheek.

"You know I'd never deny that..." He says, as she latches on to his coat and pulls him to her.

And just as the two are sharing yet another one of those moments together, there's a small object in the sky that zooms in on them.

Someone is watching. 

🖤Words: 2335🖤

~ Artemis 🦌💗