Alastor's POV

This party could not end fast enough.

All I wanted to do was go home with Ariel and curl up under the covers of my bed. Now that I actually get a good nights sleep every night, I've noticed I have a harder time leaving my bed all together.

Especially with her there. Her soft lips form the cutest pout when she sleeps, and I can't help but adore every moment I spend with her.

She had loosened up a bit it seemed, which is good in of itself, but I still feel uncomfortable having her around these cretins.

Right now she was about two feet away from me, chatting with a lower level overlord named Maizebeth. The girls giggled, pulling my attention towards them.

I think Ariel likes Maizebeth because she's relatively small for an overlord. She only owns a small portion of the eastern edge of the pentagram.

Standing only about 3 inches taller than my Ariel, she has buttons for eyes and rose to power through the use of necromancy.

Although we're already dead, she is able to steal the souls of those she kills and traps them within a dagger she holds on her belt. Those souls then reanimate when she fights.

It's a neat little trick.

I watched Ariel lean towards her and cover the side of her mouth like she was telling a secret before the girls broke into giggles once again. I took two steps and was right in front of them, hands behind my back as I smiled down at the obviously up to no good females.

Ariel shrunk away, putting her hand over her mouth to stifle her little fit of giggles. Maizebeth just leaned against the table we were standing by and looked up at me, a small smile on her face.

"My my, girls, what are we laughing at?" I asked, leaning down. Ariel got on her toes and got next to my ear, coving the side of her mouth again.

Oh, I didn't realize I was also going to hear the secret.

"You look funny standing next to us like a guard dog," she whispered and my ears perked up.

Oh, do I?

I lowered my eyelids on her and pulled back to see her eyes. They were glittering with humor as she giggled softly and I couldn't hardly hold my stern expression after seeing her like that.

My expression cracked and I chuckled, pulling back up to my full height.

"I just want to make sure no one is paying too much attention to you, darling," I hummed, hearing a giggle come from Maizebeth.

"And you dressed her like that?" She commented and I looked down at her, unamused. I sighed.

"I'm well aware of what she's wearing," I grumbled, "I wasn't happy about it, but...she looks fantastic, and she's happy in it so..." I realized Maizebeth was giving me a look and I tilted my head at her.

My eyes flashed to their demonic appearance, and she put her hands up in surrender.

That's what I thought.

Lucky for me, Ariel wasn't paying attention. Instead she was eating various little desserts from the table behind her. Her face looked so cute as she shoveled the little sweets into her mouth.

She turned to me suddenly, a bright smile on her face as she held one of the treats up to me. I had to use all of my willpower to not gag.

"Al! Try this one, it's amazing!" Her voice was full of so much excitement, but there's no way in hell that piece of candy is coming anywhere near my taste buds.

I gently shook my head, pushing it away from my face with my index finger.

"I apologize, sweetheart...I don't like sweets," I said, and I really was sorry. She looked so excited to share with me, I nearly forgot my hatred for sweets.

She pulled away and her eyes widened, "oh, I didn't know...I mean you drink black coffee, so I guess I should've assumed...well, Mai! Try this!" She turned to Maizebeth and handed her the little sweet.

She took it and the girls fell into chatter again. My attention wondered, and I scanned the room. Most faces I saw were "friendly", and I hadn't seen the one person I was dreading interacting with.

Perhaps he skipped this one. 

I glanced at the girls, and suddenly felt the need to step away for some quiet time. The noise of this party is really getting to me.

I turned to Ariel, leaning down slightly. She ceased her conversation and looked at me, "yes?"

I chuckled, "I'm going to go step away to the restroom, darling, I'll be right back," I said to her. She didn't immediately cling to me like a koala when I tried to leave, which is a good sign. It's good she's getting used to hell.

The only reason I'm even stepping away is because she has Maizebeth here to look after her.

I shot said little overlord a look, to which she rolled her eyes and nodded.

"Ok...hurry back, I love you," she said, and gave me a quick kiss to the cheek.

I turned away and touched my cheek, my smile softening as warmth spread through my chest. Quickly composing myself I began to walk, making my way towards the quieter hallway of the palace.

Once outside the party, I put my back against the wall and sighed. I let my smile drop slightly but not all the way. I'd give anything to just relax right now.

My eyes closed and I took a soft deep breath through the nose.

"Damn, It's only been like an hour and a half and you're already sneaking away," came the electronic voice I was hoping to Lucifer hadn't shown his face to this event.

With a heavy sigh I looked over to Vox.

He was standing with his hands in his pockets, a relaxed stance. Ok...so he's not here to fight. Then what does he want...?

He must have noticed me analyzing him and scoffed, rolling his eyes. "No, I don't want to fight you. I'm actually just here to talk," he shrugged and I growled at him.

"Whoever told you that I wanted to speak with you has mislead you, television," I spat at him and he chuckled. It was a gravelly, electronic noise.

"Always so aggressive. This is a party, Alastor, why not relax for a moment?" His tone was sickly sweet. There was an obvious darkness laced in it, and I wanted to know the ulterior motive.

"I'm not in the mood for games, Vox," I couldn't help but roll my eyes, "I'd actually better be getting back to the party anyway...I left something in there—"

"Your little toy, right?"

Every ounce of blood in my body simultaneously froze and boiled. I slowly closed my hand, preparing to prick myself if I needed to use my powers.

"She is not a toy." I said through grit teeth. I was truly hoping he hadn't seen her, but when do things ever go my way?

Vox let out a sick laugh, "oh really? Everyone you come into contact with is a toy to you...so what makes this one any different? You'll hurt her. Eventually you will," he took a few steps towards me.

I stared down at him, a low rumble growing in my chest the closer he came.

"And lucky me will be right there to catch her when you throw her off the overpass," he seethed with a sneer.

What.

I snapped and grabbed him by the suit lapels, my eyes flickering violently as I slammed him against the palace wall. A visceral growl was resonating through my chest and throat.

He looked surprised, but not scared. He knows I can't do anything here. Fuck.

"Please, Alastor, this is embarrassing," he sighed. I reluctantly put him down, shoving him away from me.

"If you lay a single finger on her...I will rip you and your little friends to pieces," I said lowly, and we began walking back towards the party. Vox was ahead of me and he peeked out into the room.

I noticed his smile widen and his expression changed to a dark and utterly amused one.

"I don't think it's me that's laying fingers on her," he chuckled and immediately I shoved him out of the way and looked where he was looking.

My eyes widened.

Ariel was right where I left her...still laughing and smiling...but Maizebeth was gone.

And in her place was Seviathan von Eldrich.