When I tell y'all I screamed—

God I'm so ready for this show. What do you think they've done with Al n' the rest? Like I love the design and name change sm, Morningstar is so fitting (in my opinion, but maybe that's just because I watched Lucifer and I'm biased lol)

Alastor's POV

The moment I stepped through the door it snapped shut. The other keycard was tucked into my inner coat pocket.

Immediately I was slapped in the face with the potent scent of blood. Directly in front of me was a chair...empty.

This entire room seems to be empty, except for three sleeping animals on either side of the chair. One of the animal's eyes snapped open, and immediately shifted to me.

It growled, standing up slowly.

Is that...a hyena?

I guess the image on the business card makes more sense now.

The animal snarled, approaching me slowly. My arms were behind my back, and I tilted my head. Does this creature not know danger when it's staring it right in the face?

It's siblings awoke, but they didn't seem near as clear focused on me as their leader was. I'm just assuming this one is the leader.

"Go lay down if you don't want to die," I said to the animal, and it snapped at me and growled. I sighed, holding my hand out towards it and flicking my wrist.

The entire thing seized, and then yipped in pain. This gained the attention of the other two, which growled and charged at me. My other hand raised and I seized them as well.

"Filthy creatures," I growled, closing both of my fists.

Their were several sick crunching and snapping noises as I brought down several tons of force on the animals. Their bodies went limp and I dropped them to the floor.

If that's his only line of defense, he needs better guards.

Making my way quickly through this labyrinth of a lair, I followed the scent of blood. I followed it all the way until a long hallway opened up to me.

The scent only got unbearable at that point, and I focused on the end of the hallway, narrowing my eyes.

Then I picked up the scent of my woman...her blood.

Worry spiked in my chest, and I teleported towards it instantly, hoping to whatever deity cares enough about me that she was ok.

My eyes widened when I appeared in a large...almost cave-like...room. The entire room was covered in blood and there were bones scattered about.

There were several raised platforms that seemed to just be natural rock.

But the thing I was most focused on was the scene before me of my Aria, Angel Dust, and the bastard who has single handedly pissed me off more than any other living thing in this world or the next.

Angel was slumped on the floor, battered and bruised. I summoned my shadow quickly, giving him a sharp order.

"geri epi pwoteje li." (Heal and protect him)

My shadow nodded and went to Angel quickly, teleporting them a bit further away to heal him.

A low growl rolled through my chest, my bones clicking and cracking as my appearance changed. I roared, causing the entire cave to rattle and many of the rocks to tremble.

Xander, who up until that point was too focused on bringing Aria's neck closer to his teeth, looked up at me and narrowed his gaze.

Aria had her hands against his wrist, and was desperately fighting against him.

"A-Alastor!" She called out, trying to turn and see me.

Xander had her hair in a death grip, though, and she couldn't turn very well. He swiftly tossed her to the side, and her body hit the floor with a pitiful thud.

I wanted to pick her up and soothe her, but I need to deal with him first.

Suddenly a little shadow scampered across the floor, and wrapped its body around Aria, tying her up.

Immediately I recognized it as the shadow Aria had lied about getting rid of.

I fucking knew it.

There's no time to dwell on that, and I focused back on the man in front of me. He held his arms out and chucked darkly, approaching me slowly.

"Alastor! Nice of you to finally join the fun, my friend!" He said as if he's known me his entire life.

I didn't respond, but I was on him in an instant. My hand went around his throat and I threw him across the entire room. He slammed into the jagged rocks, coughing and then falling to his knees.

He growled and lifted his hand towards me, and several shadows rushed at me. I countered his attack with one of my own, lifting my hand and sending my shadows.

I know his are going to tear mine to pieces.

But it's better than them tearing me to pieces.

While they were distracted, I teleported over to him and picked him up by the collar, slamming him back into the wall.

"I'm going to fucking kill you," I seethed at him, black tar dripping from my fangs and down my face, "then I'm going to eat you."

He chuckled, coughing up a little bit of blood before he disappeared from my grasp. I looked at my now empty hand, and then around for him.

"Yoo-hoo!" He called, and I turned my gaze above me. He was standing on one of the platforms, waving at me.

I teleported up to him, but by the time I got there, he was gone. A short whistle brought my attention to the ground, and I growled.

He was standing down there, slowly inching closer to Aria. She was squirming against the small shadow, shouting obscenities at him.

Quickly I teleported down close to her, cutting him off. He smirked and once again disappeared from my sight.

I gave Aria a quick glance, and she was staring up at me with tear filled eyes. Her lips trembled slightly and she mouthed one word to me.

'Sorry'

I took in a quick breath and shook my head at her. It's not her fault. My fist clenched, my claws piercing through my skin.

Using that blood, I sent shadow tendrils up to where Xander was now standing. The tendrils slammed into the rock he was standing on, making it crumble. The cave shook as the rocks fell, some of the dust finding its way to us.

Aria coughed, and I glanced at her.

"Sorry, my love," I said quickly, then teleported.

Xander had jumped to a different rock, and he was leading me to each rock, thinking one step ahead each time.

Playing with me.

Until I gained a feel for his rhythm and anticipated his next move.

I teleported, focusing on the complete opposite spot of where I actually went, and intercepted him. My hand went around his throat, and I growled, picking him up and slamming him down into the rock so hard it made an indent.

He gasped and choked, taking hold of my wrist. He tried to lift his hand and snap, but I had several shadows hold his hands down and his fingers apart.

His eye was wide as he stared up at me, and as I stared down at him I saw just a bit of myself.

The insanity, but also the fear.

My grip tightened on his throat and I tilted my head, leaning closer to him. He struggled slightly, and I could see shadows crawling up the rocks around us.

Some were mine, some were his.

My mouth opened and a growl rolled through my chest, my fangs extending the closer I came to him.

"Do you really not remember me...?" His voice was soft and trembling. I paused.

Pulling back, I narrowed my eyes. His smile was weary whereas mine was stretched wide and threatening.

But the longer I looked at him, the less psychotic my smile became. Something snapped into place, that familiarity I felt whenever I would look at him finally clicking.

"Oh my god..." I breathed out.

"Did my dreams not clue you in at all?" He asked and titled his head.

That little boy in those dreams.

That little boy.

Was him.

And the reason he looked so familiar to me, was not because he looks like myself—although there are many similarities—it was because I'd met him before then.

A very...very long time ago.

**

A soft tune fell past my lips in a hum as I walked down the street after a long shift.

My keys were in my hand, and I spun them leisurely around my finger. Many people stopped to say hello to me, women waving and giggling and men removing their hats to tip them towards me.

I do appreciate the attention, but it can be exhausting.

Finally I reached the quiet park that leads towards my home.

A soft sigh fell past my lips, but my ears twitched at a far away sound. Pausing my steps, I looked towards the noise curiously.

A bit aways away...there was a small form knelt by the river bank. The sound was a bit like crying, and I tapped my foot slightly.

I suppose I have a bit of time...

Turning, I began to walk towards the little figure. The closer I came, the clearer he became. I believe he is a child, very young by the looks of it.

The closer I came to him, the more I realized he seems to be very beat up. His clothing was torn and his skin was dirty.

I let out a quiet sigh through my nose, but kept a smile on my face as I knelt next to him.

He had a stick, and was drawing in the sand.

"Hello, son..." I said, and he startled as if he was unaware I was even there. His head whipped around, and my eyes widened just slightly at the sight.

The poor thing had a black eye and was missing a tooth. He had scrapes on his face, and the dirt caking his skin was streaked with tears.

My brows furrowed, and I reached forward, taking his chin between my fingers. I looked him over, and tsk'd.

"What's your name, kid?" I asked him, releasing his chin. His eyes immediately fell, his arms wrapping around his bent knees.

"Xander..." he mumbled and I tsk'd again, making him look over at me.

I reached forward and tapped under his chin.

"Chin up, son..." I said gently, "put a smile on that face to tell whoever did this to you you don't give a damn," I said, whispering slightly towards the end as if I were letting him in on a secret.

He looked at me for a moment, and the pitiful sight was enough to make me pull out a handkerchief, dipping it in a bit of the lake water.

I pulled him towards me slightly, wiping away the tears and snot and dirt from his face. I was careful around his hurt eye, and by the time I was finished he had a little smile on his face and he giggled softly.

My smile widened, "there it is..." I said softly, and tucked my handkerchief away. His eyes lifted to mine, and I noticed the one that was blackened was also bloodshot, and severely hurt.

There's no way another kid did this to him.

And that alone makes my blood boil.

Alas, it's none of my business. I have my own business to take care of, but that doesn't stop me from giving a bit of advice.

"Keep a smile on that face, Xander," I said with one of my own, "don't ever let them see you down, don't ever let them see you frown...there's power behind a simple smile, my boy. Lift yourself up high, and chin up. Show em' hell."

With that I stood up, holding my hand out to him. He was now wearing a smile, and took my hand. I helped him up, and then ruffled out his hair before brushing it back away from his face.

"Now go clean yourself up, son," I said, sending him off. He waved to me, and I waved back.

Then I turned and continued my path home.

**

"After that day, I never let anyone see me as weak again..." he said to me, no longer struggling against me.

My grip slowly loosened around his throat, and I shook my head.

There were tears building up behind his eye, but his smile was widening.

"You were my only inspiration in life and in death...until that whore corrupted you!" He shouted, his voice trembling, "you are the only man I've ever looked up to! I thought I could make her hate you when I made it seem like you were the one draining her life, then you could focus on what's really important!"

At those words, everything around me because crystal clear, but at the same time a loud ringing slowly set into my head.

My eyes widened, and I grit my teeth, immediately tightening my grip on his throat again.

I knew I generated enough power on my own...it was him the entire time. He was sucking the life from that beautiful woman...Simply because I desired to be with her.

I have always been hurting her...nothing I have ever done has ever been safe for her...

"When she never caught on, I had to manipulate that old hag, trying to make her send you back to hell through force!" He continued, choking slightly.

My arm was shaking and low growls rolled through my chest, but looking down into his eyes I could hardly be mad at him.

I'm mad at myself.

I'm furious with myself.

I created this, I made him who he is.

Taking a few deep breaths, I stopped choking him, loosening my grip.

I was conflicted...now knowing that he's just a scared child who lost his mind.

Influenced by a man that lost his mind...

Influenced by me.

Xander started laughing, and finally I let go of him. Stepping back away from him, he stood up slowly, coughing slightly.

My brows furrowed and I looked down at my hands.

I am a monster. I created this monster.

Every mistake I've ever made...has put me where I stand today. Every event, every tragedy in my life...it's all my own doing.

Had I ignored that child, perhaps he wouldn't have looked up to me his entire life. He wouldn't have idolized me.

And perhaps he wouldn't have grown up to be the man I'm staring at right now.

Taking a few steps towards him, he watched me closely seeming apprehensive about letting me get close to him.

I glanced over my shoulder at Aria, and she was just watching from the ground. Smiling softly, I turned back to Xander.

Lifting my hand, I placed it on his shoulder and squeezed lightly before I pulled him forward and hugged him.

He was stiff for a second before he slowly hugged me back.

"I'm sorry I did this to you..." I whispered to him, grabbing the talisman around his neck and yanking it off of him before stepping back and snapping my fingers.

Without this he's powerless.

I won.

His entire body went rigid and his eye widened. He struggled against my spell and began breathing heavily.

"Checkmate." I growled.