CH 20: A Matching Set

***WARNING MURDER AND GORE***

The smoke was thick, both figuratively and literally, leaving Esme in a coughing fit as it faded away. This was a space she didn't recognize, a living room of some sort. It was dim with bare minimum lighting, drawn in curtains, dust everywhere. It looked like it hadn't been touched in years, everything frozen in time with old books and records scattered amongst the dressers and tables. There was a humid feeling in the air, being reflected by the peeling wallpaper in the upper corners. Whoever resided here hadn't been upkeeping the home, "Alastor, where are we?" She questions as she watches him drag Vinny's body to a chair, tying him to the wood. 

"My mother's.." He says coldly, without any further explanation. Ah, so the place hadn't been full for the past year. That would make sense considering the dust bunnies scampering across the floor. The lady of the house was no longer with the world, "You didn't think I was foolish enough to bring it back to my home, did you? No, no, it's miles away from society, no one will hear him. You can have all the fun you want." He sings, ripping the twine with his teeth and tightening the restraints. There was a certainly within his movements, precision that accompanied every yank and twist. 

There was something oddly erotic about the whole thing. How his shirt was rolled up past his garters, dark caramel muscles begging to be freed from their restraints. He looked so incredibly deli- wait...no...she had to focus.

"You...you grew up here? In the middle of nowhere?"

He sighs, standing up and adjusting his curls so that they're out of his line of sight. He barely noticed how she was watching him, becoming easily annoyed with discussion about the memories attached to this place. He takes his knife out and places it on the nearby table, "My father was ashamed of us so he kept us far away from everyone. His secret." He notes with a cold expression on his face.

His smitten darling face drops at the realization, "I -" Esme goes to respond but soon sees Vinny beginning to stir. Her eyes narrow as she remembers the task at hand. This is why she had to focus, this piece of shit dirtbag. Her sister, her pure angel of a sister deserved for this man to suffer for his actions, "Oh, wakey wakey, look who is finally up~" She walks over to him, leaning over and tightly gripping his chin, "Did you have a nice nap?"

Alastor smirks and walks over to the kitchen to fetch himself something to drink. He pulls out a bottle of whiskey stored secretly behind a compartment in the wall. He takes out a glass and pours himself just enough to enjoy the show. Certainly she would put on a flawless performance, she never disappointed him before.

"Look at you, always having someone to do your bidding." The victim's eyes dart between the woman in front of him and the patient gentleman sitting behind her. Vinny mumbles with a slurred voice, not appearing very impressed, "You're just like you father."

Esme chuckles wickedly, "Oh no my dear, he is simply here to observe..." She motions to Alastor, who waves from a seat behind her, "You..." She yanks at his hair with a tight grip against his scalp, pulling his face to hers, "You are all mine." She pushes his face back and walks to the kitchen, going through the drawers and counterspace before coming back with a series of knives, sharpening them slowly in front of the man. "Now, Vin, why don't you tell me what really happened. Perhaps I could let you go if you play nice." 

She turns her body to the man, running her knife against the metal preparing the blade. For the first time ever, she wondered what his flesh would feel like under her fingers. Would his blood gush out or would it drip slowly out? Would she prolong his torture by leaving little cuts throughout his skin, or should she go on a rampage with intense stabs? She smiles sweetly at the man, her pearly whites glimmering in the light and reflecting the green embers shining out of the ring on her trusty little finger. All of which goes unnoticed by the useless waste of hair sitting in the chair. 

"You started this Es-"

"And I'll finish it." She interrupts, smiling psychotically at him, the light shining off of a large butcher knife she presents in her hands. There was something about her nature that was unsettling to him, perhaps it was the way her smile was so insanely stretched that it looked as if it would split her face into two. Alas, he wouldn't show weakness. He had to do his father justice, "Now, what did you do to my sister?"

Vinny smirks. "Before or after?"

"After what?" Esme sneers, twirling the blade against her fingertip. She could feel her breath getting caught in her throat and a deep pressure forming in her chest in anticipation. No more games. No more stupid, ridiculous, asinine games. 

"Before or after I made her scream for you?" He laughs wickedly.

Esme screams and raises her hand with the knife, plummeting it down in his direction. Her hand is caught before it strikes him. Alastor is standing behind her, holding her wrist. He looks down at her and taps her temple with his finger, reminding her of his words. Esme smiles up at him knowingly and instead of ending his suffering quickly, takes the knife and swipes it across his abdomen, causing him to scream in agony. A satisfying smirk breaks out across her face as she begins to laugh, a low, menacing, laugh. "Where is she?" she growls. He groans and Esme pulls his hair, picking his face up to face her, "Answer me, you bitch!" 

He groans and smiles up at her, "Her upper half, in the swamp in the bayou. The lower part ... well your father should be getting it any day now." Her eyes widen and she cuts off his ear in one frantic swipe.

Alastor chuckles from his chair, crossing his legs and bouncing them softly, humming to himself. Yes, she was doing just swimmingly. He didn't even have to train her, everything was coming so naturally to her. Perhaps he picked the right incantation after all. 

"We're even Esme..." Vinny groans, his body tensing and blood beginning to pool under his shirt and down to the floor,  "You took my father from me." Esme shakes her head, tears forming in her eyes. That wasn't my doing, you prick. She thinks. "An eye for an eye." 

Her eyes turn a bright, burning, intoxicating green. Vinny's eyes widen at the sight, becoming truly terrified of her for the first time that evening. Her ring finger glows brightly. Alastor smirks. She lowers her face to his, her eyes piercing through to see straight to his soul. "Then how about I cut out both of yours and make a matching set?" She spits at him, pressing his chair up against the wall, sitting on top of him in a straddle, while she pulls apart his eyelids and takes her time as she cuts slowly into his eyesockets.

His screams fill the house, a perfect music to Alastor's ears. He smiles as he calmly drinks his whiskey. Esme is blinded by her rage, no longer affected by the loud noises. She takes her time as she slowly torments him, cutting out his tongue to soften his screams. She tosses everything into a pile behind her, her white shirt soaked in his blood. She kicks the seat down when she's done, "Now..." She growls, a deep, guttural moan, "This doesn't end here." She says, lowering herself to him, "You can't see me, but I will see you again in hell, you pig." She spits in his face before taking her knife and stabbing him ten times repeatedly. One after the other, she screams while she does so. With every slice and stab, she sees Margo's face. She can hear her screams. She can feel how terrified she was to be with that man. Her tears fall on to the body until finally Alastor pulls her back up.

"It's done, you're okay." He says. She snaps out of her rage, looking up at him. The usual grin was different this time, reflecting more sorrow and pity. Even though he knew it was fairly impossible, there was still a part of Alastor that hoped Margo would return. He hoped he was wrong, that the sisters would be reunited. If not, Esme would be devastated. What older sister wouldn't be? The news felt like a bitter taste on his tongue, and not an enjoyable one by that. It was horrid, uninviting, and jarring. How could someone stoop that low to steal such an innocent soul from the world? That was no gentleman, that was a demon straight from the depths of Hell. 

Ironic, isn't it?

Esme's voice cuts through his thoughts, his attention refocused on her whimpers, "He..."

"Well done, mon amor." He coos, releasing her from his hold. Pivoting to face the body, Alastor raises his hand to his head, beginning to snap his fingers.

"WAIT!" She interrupts. She bends down and picks up his eyes and tongue. "Not these..." She pauses. "I want to send these to his mother." She growls. 

🖤Words: 1581🖤

~ Artemis🦌💗