Aria's POV

You'd think for this being one of the king's houses, the tv channel selection would be of more variety.

My finger is getting tired from skipping all these damn imp telenovelas.

I let out a deep, heavy sigh. My head fell back against the headrest as I kept my eyes on the tv, skipping literally every single channel.

It's all telenovelas.

All of it.

Suddenly, there was a shadow above me and I moved my eyes from the tv to whatever was blocking the light.

And there stood my seven foot tall boyfriend.

"What in the nine circles are you doing?" He asked me, tilting his head. Blowing a raspberry from my lips I looked back to the tv.

There was a sobbing woman on screen, feigning away from a muscular incubus.

My eyelids lowered in completed disinterest and I scoffed and switched the channel.

"Trying to find literally anything to watch," I huffed, and Alastor hummed before circling around the couch and sitting himself next to me.

"Must you watch tv?" He asked curiously, "perhaps we could read? Or something similar...?" He suggested.

Huffing, I let the remote fall in my lap.

"No offense, baby..." I let my head tilt to the side so I could meet his eyes, and a little smile quirked on my lips, "but I'm not a million years old...I like a little tv sometimes," I teased him, and immediately he lowered his eyelids and growled at me playfully.

I growled back, and chuckled before focusing my attention back to the tv. Sighing again, I threw in the towel.

"I give up," I digressed, "it's all stupid imp telenovelas," I grumbled.

Alastor chuckled, and then reached over and gently took the remote from my hand.

"Here...why don't we try this," he said, and then pressed a button. A different screen popped up, and I sat up straighter.

This screen had options like voxflix, helltube, HBO Sex...I'm pretty sure that's a porn site down here, but hey! He found the media button!

"What! What'd you press?" I asked him, looking over at the remote in his hands curiously.

He tapped the center home button with his claw.

"The little house, dear," he said innocently, obviously not fully understanding the buttons.

Taking the remote back from him, I went to voxflix.

"Must we support his program," Alastor grumbled, and I tsk'd at him.

"Must you be such a sourpuss?" I mocked his tone and he rolled his eyes, crossing his arms. I chuckled at his behavior, and flipped through the movies.

They're all hell-made, but at least some of them looked just a little good. Picking out a horror, I turned it on and threw the remote to the side.

Immediately I snatched a blanket and plopped myself into Alastor's side, making him break his pout to wrap an arm around me.

"Movie time!" I said excitedly, and he sighed softly, but relaxed into the couch next to me, gently running his fingers up and down my waist.

"Movie time..." he repeated back, quietly.

Then the movie started.

**

"Hngh..." I mumbled, squinting my eyes as I blinked away the sleep. I was laying on my side, drooling slightly as the credits from the movie rolled.

I got maybe...20 minutes in before I passed out.

If that gives me any insight to if it was good or not.

There was that same blanket laid over me, and Alastor was gone. After I fell asleep he must've had to go do something...

Getting up off the couch, I wiped the drool off the side of my mouth and stretched my arms above my head, squeaking softly.

After that, a satisfied sigh expelled from my lungs, and I hummed softly.

By the looks of outside, it's getting to be a little later...I guess I should head back up to the royal chambers and get ready for bed.

So, I made my way upstairs, still trying to shake the sleep from my body.

I half expected Alastor to be up here, but when I arrived in our area it was dark. I looked around with a soft pout, and then flipped the lights on.

"Where did you go..." I mumbled, and then sighed, shrugging it off.

He does this. Slips away quietly whenever I'm asleep because he hates disturbing me. Or so I've been told by him.

Walking back to our room, I trudged to the bathroom and prepared for bed. Just as I was brushing my teeth, there was a bump against my leg, and I jumped slightly.

Then I looked down, and smiled when I saw Zip.

"Hey bud," I greeted him, "Whatcha been up to?" I asked him, and he chittered softly.

I giggled, "sounds interesting, tell me more," I said amusedly, looking back to my reflection to finish my skincare routine.

Him and I chatted for a minute, and by that I mean I responded to his churrs and chitters as if we were having a conversation.

When I was fully ready for bed, I still hadn't heard even a hint of Alastor being anywhere close, so I sighed and headed out to the living room.

Zip followed me, which was even more solidification that Alastor wasn't anywhere near.

He romped around the room for a second, playing in the shadows. I giggled as I watched him and walked over to the fluffy rug in front of the fireplace.

Sitting down, I pulled my legs up into a cross cross position and Zip scampered over to me. He rolled over onto his back, and made cute little noises.

I played with him for I don't even know how long. He was running around me in circles, and I was just sat on the floor, letting him play his games.

There was a soft smile on my face as I played tug of war with him with a shoelace he found, and I didn't even hear the door open quietly.

Neither did Zip.

Only when the atmosphere in the room grew fuzzy and dark did my smile lessen, and my ears lowered as my back straightened slightly.

My breath turned shallow and my eyes were wide as I immediately realized I've been caught. Zip was staring behind me with his ears back, the same look on his face as the day I brought him to Alastor the first time.

"Aria."

Uh oh...That's not a happy tone.

Slowly I stood up, and took a slight step in front of Zip, who stayed behind my leg and peeked out at Alastor.

Turning around to face him, I gave him an apologetic smile, but he looked angry. Really, really angry.

"What is that?" He asked me, his tone tight as he did a fairly good job of keeping his voice at an even volume.

"I-I...well, I just...he—"

In a split second, Alastor teleported around the couch that was separating him and I. Flinching slightly, I realized that left only a few feet between us.

He looked angry. He looked hurt. He looked completely and utterly awestruck with disbelief.

"You just...? What?" He said, tilting his head, "lied straight to my face?" He asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.

He glanced down at the small creature, and I nudged him behind me more. His eyes raised back to mine.

My immediate response to that was a scoff and my arms crossed over my chest, "that's rich, hon. Considering you lied straight to my face for months." I said, and I could tell that struck a nerve but he growled.

"Aria, If I were you I wouldn't sass me right now," he growled lowly, and my ears that had perked up slightly immediately lowered again.

He nodded to my feet but kept his eyes on me, taking a slow step towards us.

"I thought I told you to get rid of that thing." He said sharply, and I sighed.

"I tried to! I sent him away, but he came right back!" I explained and Alastor snarled his eyes flickering rapidly.

"Then you should've told me!" He snapped, "and I would've killed it!" He finished, directing his hateful gaze to the creature at my feet, who was now trembling.

I tried to shoo him away, but he wouldn't budge, and kept a tight hold on my leg.

My heart was racing, but I'm not going to back down this time. I puffed out my chest and growled back at him.

"Why! He's just a little animal!" I shouted back, and Alastor ran his hands through his hair frustratedly, tussling it slightly.

"Aria, for hell's sake, we don't know where he came from!" He said exasperatedly, "did you ever stop to think why he was trying so desperately to get in! Did you think about that!" He said, bending down slightly as he threw his hands out in front of him angrily.

My eyes widened slightly and I looked down at Zip, who stared up at me and lowered his ears. He finally let go of my leg and backed away from me.

Shaking my head, I closed my eyes and sighed.

No matter how much it hurts, I know he's right. I know I shouldn't have done this, and I shouldn't have lied to him.

"Fine, we can take him back out...for good this time," I said, meaning every word of it.

"No." Alastor said firmly, and immediately my eyes snapped to his. They were a deep blood red, and glowing menacingly.

"I am killing that damn thing," he growled, taking a few steps closer, trying to get to Zip. Immediately I cut him off, grabbing his arms to try and hold him back.

"Alastor no! That's so unnecessary, we can just put him back in the wild!" I fussed at him, and he growled, nudging me out of his way.

"Move, Aria, I'm doing this. I don't give a damn how mad you'll be, you'll get over it," he growled, and I scoffed, once again cutting him off and putting my hands against his chest.

"Alastor quit it!" I pleaded, and he snarled deeply, making me gasp when he firmly grabbed my arm.

"Get out of my fucking way!" He growled at me, his voice distorting heavily. I barely had time to react before he threw me to the side roughly, and I stumbled.

He threw me so hard I lost my balance, and there was nothing around for me to grab as I tripped, falling.

There was a loud crack and a sharp pain in the side of my head before everything went black.