Angry Alastor.

Trigger warning: animal death. If you like snakes  or any animal in general you may want to skip the bold *.

***Faith's POV***

Shadow woke me up the next morning. I made some breakfast with some of the fresh meat we caught yesterday. I did let shadow try some of the elk since I don't believe he has ever had any before. Elk isn't native to Louisiana, so I won't highly doubt Alastor has had any either. There wouldn't have been any around here in the 1920's. Anyway, Shadow did seem to enjoy it.

After breakfast we went into town and sold the elk antlers to a hunting shop in town. Apparently, the owners were working today and they were a nice married couple. They were surprised I managed to find and hunt down an elk around here. So, they offered me a nice deal on the antlers.

After getting paid. I asked if they would take things made out of antlers to sell in their shop. Luckily for me they would, but they would have to look and inspect them first. Fair enough.

After that little trip to the hunting shop, I went to the store to pick up some things. As I am checking out the older lady at the register smiles warmly at me.

"Well, hello there Faith. It's been a long time since I last saw you. How have you been sweetheart?" She says in a happy tone.

It had taken me a second to remember who she is. Maggie Smith. A good friend of my father before his passing. A sweet friendly lady I remember from my childhood.

"Hey Maggie. Yea it has been a while. I am doing ok. How have you been?" I ask in return.

"I have been just fine dearie. I did hear about what happened to Annaleese. I am so sorry for your loss. You must miss her dearly." She says sadly.

"Thank you. It is hard knowing she's gone. If I knew Anna like I did she wouldn't want me sad forever. It may be hard, but I will be ok. It just may take some time." I say through a sad smile.

"Of course, dearie. Here you go sweet pea." She says handing my bagged items.

"How much is it?"

"Don't worry about it dear. I got it for you today." She says smiling.

"Oh no. I can't let you do tha-" I try to say, but she cuts me off.

"No no. I insist dear. Everyone needs help sometimes. So please just accept it this time." Maggie says with that warm and comforting smile that makes it very hard to say no.

"Ok. Thank you."

As much as I try to do things on my own I guess it is ok to get help every once in a while. As much as I want to be independent and pay for my groceries, this would help make my limited funds last a bit longer. Besides if I remember correct Maggie is sweet, but also can be stubborn as mule.

"Thanks Maggie. See you later." I say leaving the store with a smile and a wave.

"Your welcome. Have a good day dear." She says waving back.

I make my way back to the truck and put my things in the back. I sigh feeling a little worn out already. But I am not done in town yet. I have one more thing to do.

A sudden movement out of the corner of my eye catches my attention. I look down and my shadow moves in an unusual way. It's Shadow and he's probably worried about me. Sure enough he makes the sound he usually makes when he's worried.

"Don't worry Buddy. I am ok. I just need a minute." I say trying to get my thoughts together.

After a minute I open my truck and grab some papers out of the glovebox. I walk down the street to a small café. I walk in and an employee asks if she can help me. I said yes and explain that I am here to hand in an application for the open position. I handed her the application and resume.

She says ok no problem and that she will give it to the manager. I say thanks and that's all I needed. I leave as she walks away to go hand in the papers.

I walk back to my truck and hop in finally done with everything I needed to do in town. I still have work to do at the house. We have to make things out of the antlers and bones. Then I need decide what to do with the hides. They have been dried and softened. I think my best option is to sell them.

As I thought about it, we arrived back at the house. I am bringing the stuff from the store in, but as I reach the door I hear and see movement out of the corner of my eye. I turn and don't see anything. I gently set the bags down on the porch. I walk over to my garden which still needs a lot of work and still don't see anything.

Suddenly I got a chill up my spine. I look down and my whole body goes cold. Right next to my right foot is a snake. It's coiled and ready to strike. Before I could move away it lunges at me, fangs out and ready to bite.

*Before it could sink its fangs into my leg Shadow grabbed it and held right next to head. He glared at it before grabbing its head, snapping its mouth shut. It squirmed and fought against his grip, but Shadows grip on it was too strong for it. With that big and sinister smile on his face he twisted the snake's head hard. The snapping of its now broken neck was slightly louder than I thought. He then tore the head off and threw the head and body into the woods. Which was kind of impressive since the woods are a bit of a distance away. *

It all happened so fast I didn't really realize what happened until the snake's neck was snapped. After he killed and get rid of the snake, he wrapped me up in a hug. He must have saw the shocked look on my face.

After a minute I finally relaxed. As soon as I relax, he lets me go. He is now in front of me with that same big grin, only its softer and his sinister glare is gone. In its place is a soft look basically asking if I am ok.

"I am ok Buddy. Thank you." I say as I motion for bend down.

He is pretty tall so he has to bend down for head pats and ear scratches. As I pat his head and scratch his ears he starts purring. He really does enjoy head pats and ear scratches.

After a minute or two of that I tell him we still have stuff to do. He seems a bit disappointed, but understands. As I walk back and pick the bags back up again a thought crossed my mind along with a memory from years ago.

I was in biology class and our teacher was teaching us about snakes. I didn't like snakes at all so I zoned out for most of it. But there was one part of that class I remember clearly. The teacher was talking about a snake called the black mamba and how deadly it is. One bite and you die within 20 minutes. That snake shadow killed looked a lot like if not exactly like a black mamba.

'It couldn't have been though. Those kind of snakes aren't native around here. I mean unless someone had as a pet and it escaped. And somehow ended up here. But I don't think you can have such a deadly snake as a pet.'

That one thought sent a chill down my entire body. I came so close to dying. If it weren't for Shadow, I would be dead.

It's been a long afternoon of making things out of bones and antlers. Shadow has been pretty helpful. Who knew he knew how to make knives out of bone. I use one pair of antlers to make a couple simple dreamcatchers. The other pair was made into rings and small ornaments.

The hides I have decided to sell as they are. I am sure someone could make good use of them. Until I get a job selling the hides would be the best way for me to get money to live on.

Reusing the bags, I brought home from the store, I put the rings and small ornaments in it. The knives were wrapped in cloth and put in a box with the dreamcatchers. The hides were rolled up and put near the door with the bags and box of objects crafted made from bone and antler.

By the time we got done it was getting dark. After fixing a quick dinner, its time for bed. Another long day tomorrow. First job interview that I was called about earlier this afternoon. Then more running around dropping things off. I walk upstairs and get ready for bed.

Shadow usually shows up after I am ready for some head pats and ear scratches before I go to sleep. He then disappears into the I am guessing to watch over while I sleep. But for some reason unknown to me I can't fall asleep. I have been laying here for at least an hour or two and I can't fall asleep. An idea then passes through my head.

"Hey, Shadow." I call out in my room as I sit up.

He comes out of the shadow near my bed. He gives me a look that is basically asking why aren't you asleep yet? I pat the bed next to me.

"Come here. Sit."

Still confused he sits at the edge of my bed near me. I then grab the back of his shoulders and pull him down. He is now laying down with his head on my lap. He is of course tense, but once he feels me give him head pats and ear scratches he relaxes and even starts purring. Soon enough his eyes are closed and he has a soft smile on his face. I think he fell asleep.

I couldn't help but smile at that thought. He works so hard watching over me all the time. I think he deserves a rest. Especially after he saved my life today.

Not long after he falls asleep I began to feel tired. I don't know how long gave him head pats for. But at some point, I fell asleep.

***Alastor's POV***

It's been about a week since I left my shadow with Faith while I take care of business here in Hell. I think it's about time I check in on her. Make sure she's still alive and not messing with things she shouldn't.

The sight I saw when I got there was not one I expected to see. My shadow was lying on the bed with his head on Faith's lap. Asleep. Faith fell asleep while sitting up. That's going to hurt her neck in the morning.

My shadow now sensing a presence in the room begins waking up. His electric blue eyes scan the room and spot me pretty quick. At first, he sits up and growls in a protective tone at me. At least he is doing his job of keeping her safe. Once he realizes it's me, he calms down right away.

'I came to see how things are going up here.' I say through thoughts not wanting to wake Faith up.

'It's going great. Why didn't you tell me how amazing and sweet she is? She is truly a wonderful woman. When your deal with her is done do you really have to kill her? Can't we keep her instead?' He says back in thoughts to me.

What the fuck. How in the hell did she manage to bewitch my shadow into wanting me to spare her life in only a week. I feel my grip on staff tighten slightly.

'No. When our deal is done, I will be ending her life. That is final.' I say to him firmly.

At my words his big grin he always wears actually drops. He seems disappointed at my words. Which I must say is a first. His expression becomes defensive very suddenly. Is he really wanting to disobey me? For her?

'You can just claim her soul. You don't have to kill her. You know that right?'

'What is it with you? Why are you so adamant about keeping this one girl alive?' I ask angrily.

What has she done to him to make him act this way? He has never acted this way before. I don't get it. He has never tried to go against me before.

'Because she really is a wonderful person and if you spent some time with her, you would see that. She doesn't deserve a slow painful death like the one you threatened her with.'

Is he actually challenging me? I look over to the sleeping girl. Alright witch let's see if you can work your charms on me. I look back to my shadow.

'Fine. Just to prove you wrong, I will spend some time with her. But there is no way I will be changing my opinion. This also means you need to go back to Hell to watch over my territories while I am gone.'

He seems fine with that and agrees to go back. Just as he gets off the bed to leave, he turns back to Faith. He gently takes her from her sitting position and softly lays her down on her bed. He grabs her blankets and covers her up. She sleepily snuggles under the covers the moment she is covered up. He then disappears, going back to Hell. My eye twitches in irritation as he takes time to make her comfy. How strong of a spell does she have him under?

Alright Faith you managed to bewitch my shadow. Will you be able to do the same to me?