CH 4: 1933

Esme was now a year into her life in Hell and much had changed. For starters, Rosie invited her to meet some of her friends, Carmilla and Zestial, who offered The Siren the opportunity to become an overlord amongst the others due to her numerous soul ownerships. In doing so, they recognized Esme's powerful abilities, wits, and potential. Being able to control minds was a powerful tool that they could harness with her on their side, and they were going to need it. 

The year on earth was 1933 and for months Hell had been plagued by a mysterious force that no sinner had ever seen before. A powerful mortal had manifested in the realm and was slowly beginning to dominate every inch of the pentagram. Esme was worried, and rightfully so, as many of her colleagues began to go missing amongst the group. They would be missing for days, weeks even, until strange screams were broadcasted all throughout the streets of Hell. Eventually, the being revealed themselves, and with three little words, Esme's afterlife was about to change...

The Radio Demon.

"Good morning friends, we are gathered here today to discuss a pressing matter..." Carmilla began, sighing at the now empty seats at the table. The overlords weren't necessarily one big happy family, but the absence was strident, "This Radio Demon is getting out of hand. No one knows his agenda. I've called you all here to discuss finding him and getting this settled once and for all." 

Esme sat next to Rosie at the large table, holding another coffee cup she had brought her, "That's an absurd idea." She says, taking a sip, "Do you not see the plethora of empty seats here?" Esme asked, gesturing to the table, "It would be in our best interest to simply leave him be." 

"We hath to keep an air of caution for this demon may cometh with male intent. Gathering intelligence will be the wisest decision this council must make. Understanding thy enemy is paramount to all other endeavors." Zestial chimed in.

"And how exactly are we going to get him here?" Esme asks, raising an eyebrow, "Something tells me he won't come willingly. Are we to all congregate around this sinner, escorting him out for drinks? It's laughable, there's no telling what he is capable of." 

"Understanding this demon's conscious thoughts is of no concern..." Zestial retorted, "However, it would be of note to mention the powerful tool we hath on our side."

"Hm?"

"Perchance a demoness with a potent ability to warp the minds at her own willpower..."

Esme blinks a few times before turning to Rosie, "Do you understand what he said?" 

Rosie chuckles, "He wants you to lure him, dear." She returns to her tea.

Esme's eyes widened and she snapped her head back to him, "Absolutely not! Hasn't he been here for centuries, why do I have to be the sacrificial lamb? Surely, the rest of you have experiences far beyond mine."

"Darling...." Rosie said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder, "You can do this. I've watched you capture the minds of all of my residents, sinking your fangs into them before they could even blink. You are much more talented than ya think, so be a big girl and get it over with." 

Esme's eyes locked on the wood of the table. He is just a man, they usually bend to her command without hesitation, but there's no telling if he has a power superior to hers. The thought made her stomach churn, twisting painfully. Shooting back up at Zestial and Carmilla, she grunts in annoyance, "And what if my seat becomes empty, hm? Do I get a 21 flush salute like some damned goldish?" 

She didn't stand much of a protest, and soon she found herself walking to the Radio Demon's tower. Either she did this for them, or her seat would be given up anyway. Isn't that how it goes with most new recruits at any job site? You're never done proving yourself. She gulped as she saw it and ducked into an alleyway when she heard footsteps. 

Men didn't frighten her, but this wasn't a simple man. This was a being of unimaginable proportions. He hadn't dared enter her waters, but from the stories she's heard of him, he worked swiftly and elegantly. If she were to come out victorious, she had to think this through diligently. 

The woman could hear her heart beating in her throat, teasing to leap out of her mouth and introduce it to him itself. Green magic circles her hands as she conjures up a gun to protect herself just in case. She peers out of the alleyway to see him walking towards his tower. 

My, he isn't what she pictured him to be like. For someone with such a reputation he was rather...disappointing looking. He had conquered so many, brought fear across the ring, and there he was a lanky, tall, red whatever he was. She imagined he would be a similar to that of herculean strength, but alas he didn't appear to be so. 

How, lackluster. 

Although, she mustn't underestimate him. He had destroyed many of her friends. 

She vocalizes softly, humming a low tune. His ears perk up, turning his head.

Oh sweet Satan, please don't let me die.

Being wise, Esme uses her psychic illusion to create a double of herself, sending that to go lure him in. She watches from the corner as her double slowly approaches him, singing a soft alluring tune with glowing green eyes. He turns around to investigate and soon his eyes lock on to her double's, going wide....but they're remaining the same.

Any minute now...

Watching him, her head slowly tilts to the side. Are those ears? What on earth was such a creature doing behaving so out of it's classification? This is a prey animal, a doe eyed little deer who appears to be stuck in the headlights at the sight of her. 

Yet, how charming. How adorable. 

The way his ears flicked back and forth at her melodies. His smile resonated with something deep within her heart, calling out to her. There was something there that she couldn't see, but was fascinating to her. 

In that moment, all of Hell stood still. Alastor recognized her immediately from his memory of seeing her from Lilith's orb. She was so beautiful, even more than before if that was possible. There she was, his darling girl, presented to him in a form that both stole the air from his lungs and threatened to bring tears to his eyes. His breath hitches in the back of his throat as he backs up. He can still hear her voice in his mind,

"Alastor, please! Please, I promise I'll be good, just please let me call my mom..."

His smile twitched and his ears lay flat on his head, appearing smaller. The sight of her was too hard to bare. She deserved to be thousands of feet above where they were, blessing the French Quarter, The Big Apple, or wherever she chose with her presence. That woman, with her beautiful green eyes, deserved far more than what was dealt to her. His heart never understood the concept of regret, remorse, or empathy for any of his victims. Woefully, she wasn't his victim. She wasn't some useless sack of bones. She was his love, the one he cherished. 

Noting his iced stance, Esme's eyes widened from behind him.

Is he scared....of me?

And there she is, right in front of him. She didn't need a siren song, her pull on him was always strong without all that. He still replays the memory in his mind,

"Esme, stay with me....don't you do this to me right now...don't yo-DAMN IT, ESME!"

Striking in his moment of weakness, Esme quickly rushes behind him and lays a hand over his head, desperately trying to enter his mind. His eyes widen, sensing her, and he snaps around, grabbing her by the throat. Esme gasps but uses her magic to push him off of her.

The two both fall to the ground with a grunt. Alastor stays on the ground for a few extra moments. What does he do? Does she even recognize him? How could she...LOOK AT HIM!

That fucking smile, this ridiculous red hair. The cursed antlers and every other characteristic about this form. He was nothing like the man she would hold in her heart. He lacked his caramel skin, his curls were robbed of their personality - straightened clear down. His eyes no longer held the chocolate within them, instead reflecting pure scarlet. There was nothing, not even a morsel of the body she had previously found comfort within. 

Esme groans, standing up and dusting off her dress. Without wasting another second, she cocks back the barrel of her pistol and aims it at him with a clear shot in sight, "I don't want to hurt you."

"That's rich..." He smirks, standing up, and once again finding himself on the tail end of her silencer. 

Some things never change. 

Esme's eyes widened a bit more hearing the static hum to his voice. Again, this wasn't what she had anticipated. Perhaps a deep menacing voice, not a higher pitch being hidden behind a filter. It was very appealing, bringing a sense of nostalgia to her soul. She tilts her head to the side, "Interesting...."

"Pardon me?"

"Y-You remind me of someone." Esme smiles, stepping forward and lowering her weapon. She extends a hand, "Esme."

Either this was a perfect move, or a very poorly thought out one.

He hesitates, but retracts his claws and takes her small hand into his, "Alastor, dear...an absolute pleasure." Lifting it up, he gently places a soft kiss to the back of her glove. Within it, he is met with her scent. Oh, dear heaven above how he missed it. It was slightly different, saltier and covered by the musk of the sea water, but underneath it all her perfume still lingered. 

Esme smiles, "Alastor..." she repeats. His ears perk up and slowly he releases his hold on her. 

Ahh, so you do recognize me?

"What a lovely name." She finishes, before clearing her throat and retracting her hand, "I'm very impressed you were not phased by my enchantment."

He doesn't say anything in response, just smiles. Inside, this had hurt him more than the feeling of those K-9s ripping him to shreds. She was so close, yet so far. Within her, he could sense the warmth of their home. It would be ungentlemanly, and would certainly ruin his reputation...

But fuck did he just want to hold her...

"I'm here to invite you to meet with the other overlords of Hell. We have a proposition for you, and would like to welcome you to our meeting."

"I would be delighted to...." His smile twitched slightly in grief and anguish, though it was covered up with charm and grace. First he had to mourn his mother, then his daughter, then his love, and for a final blow he had to mourn her for a second time. This was worse than dying, worse than the deal he had constricting him. This was his own personal Hell, the torture he had to endure to watch her grow without him, "Lead the way...."

As the two are walking side by side, Esme gets a whiff of a scent so absolutely delectable it makes her fangs protrude in an instant. She raises a hand to her mouth and touches them softly. This craving was different, it wasn't a kin to anything she had felt before. This desire began deep within her stomach and burned into her chest with a throb. 

What is that smell?

He raises a brow as she looks around them while they continue to walk. "Is everything okay, dear?" 

"Of course." She says, turning to him. "I - I'm just hungry I suppose. I shall pick on something during the meeting."

It was a hunger alright, but one she had never felt before.....until today.

Until him. 

🖤Words: 2010🖤

~ Artemis 💗🦌