Alastor's POV

A cold panic set into my chest as I stared down at the princess.

Yes she did... she had to have called me, who else could have—

Velvet...

My teeth clenched and the princess's eyes widened with worry. My eyes were flickering, and I couldn't stop my antlers from growing.

Right now my entire body is on high alert, and is acting as if my life is in danger.

But it's not my life.

Without another word I teleported back to my studio. That sick feeling spread through my entire body as a rage boiled within me.

I had locked up before I left to protect the girls.

But now the door was slightly ajar and the lock was shattered.

I stumbled towards the door, and immediately recognized the scent of iron. Blood.

I slammed the door open and it fell off the hinges, each breath I took came out as a growl, and my eyes widened at the scene before me.

There was blood everywhere, splattered on the floor and the walls. The front desk was ransacked, but nothing was stolen. It just looked as if there was a struggle.

Both girls were gone.

But...this blood isn't Ariels. It doesn't smell like her it smells like...

It smells like...

I took slow steps towards the front desk, trembling from sheer rage. My eyes widened even further and I felt as if my teeth would shatter they were clenched so hard.

Betts...

No, Betts...

Her eyes were wide open, stray tears left in them. They were dull, and glazed over.

Which wasn't surprising, considering her head was detached from her body.

I bent down slowly, reaching out to push some of her fluff from her eyes.

I glanced next to her body that was laying limply a few inches away. There was a shattered picture frame, the picture of her and her family, splattered with blood.

The air around me grew stale and static began bouncing around. Gently, I closed her eyes, brushing my fingers over her cheek before forcing myself to get up.

I dug my claws into my palm, trying to control my anger. I need to figure something out...

Where is Ariel.

I let out a roar and slammed my fist into the front desk, causing it to break in half.

"Oo, so angry,"

I spun around and shot a blast of fire at the voice, my vision blacking at the edges. My teeth grew longer and my bones cracked as my demonic form began to break through.

Valentino dodged my attempt, and crossed both sets of arms, chuckling. I growled deeply.

"I'll tear you to pieces, insect, where is she!"

My voice glitched and I was trying to control my breathing. Valentino tsk'd and took a step towards me. It took everything in me not to launch towards him and tear his head off.

But I needed him, I needed what he knew.

"So hostile, Alasta, truly Im only here to negotiate," he laughed, giving me a big smile. His gold tooth gleamed in his mouth and I wanted to rip it out and shove it through his eye.

"WHERE THE FUCK IS SHE!"

His eyes widened and that confident demeanor cracked. He lowered his lower set of arms and took a step back. My antlers grew rapidly, and I held my hand out, summoning my microphone.

Valentino quickly fixed his expression and cleared his throat, "listen, she ain't gonna get hurt, baby..." his smile widened, "as long as you cooperate..."

My eye twitched and I thrusted my microphone towards him, causing his eyes to widen and his entire body to seize as a red glow surrounded him.

I was in front of him in a second, and got close to his face, black tar leaking from my mouth and eyes.

"Valentino, I will rip you to pieces where you stand. You think you know what I'm capable of? You think you're in control here? Now..."

I seethed, wrapping my hand around his throat and digging my claws into him.

"Let's make a deal."

**
Ariels POV

My breaths came heavy and labored. I desperately tried to see through the sack on my head, but all I could hear was loud music.

The last thing I remember is a loud bang, and then screaming as something slammed into the side of my head. Then I woke up with a bag over my head.

There were hands touching me all over, giggling all around me. It smells like liquor and cheap perfume, and I felt myself quickly becoming overwhelmed.

"Girls, girls..." came a glitchy voice. It reminded me of Alastor's...but it was drastically different.

"Let's not overwhelm our guest...now," the bag was snatched from my head, and my hair fell all around my face. My ears were flat against my head, and my brain felt like someone punched it.

I blinked and squinted, trying to decipher where I am.

Then my eyes focused on a brightly lit screen in front of me...with a face. Wait...

"Vox?"

"Hello sugar," he said with a chuckle, "good morning,"

I shook my head, looking around. There were whores all around us, obviously high out of their minds. They were on either side of him, and also me.

Immediately I felt uncomfortable.

"W-w-what...where...what...?" I couldn't form a sentence, and Vox's smile widened. He laughed sickly and leaned forward towards me. I noticed we were in some sort of limousine.

"You see...um, you are...involved with a little business partner of mine, and, he is being difficult so..." he motioned to me, "I needed to persuade him a little bit."

My eyes widened.

Alastor...

"W-where is he...?"

"Well, he's probably threatening Valentino right now...I imagine he wasn't happy when he realized we not only tricked him, but also broke into his building and stole his plaything," Vox said casually.

Wait...

"What did you do to Betts..." my voice quivered and I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I remember hearing a scream before I was knocked out.

Vox sighed, "well, if that's the little receptionist, she was putting up a fight so," he waved his hand nonchalantly, leaning back and propping one of his elbows onto a headrest beside him.

I shook my head and my gaze fell to the floor. I tried to blink the tears in my eyes away, but they only ended up falling down my face in big droplets.

I looked at my hands, my little claws feeling useless in this situation. My brain went through every option I had.

Fight...I'd die.

Wait for Alastor...I'd probably still die.

Run...

I'm going to die.

"What do you want...?" I asked quietly, and he sighed.

"I want what he has...his territory. His power. I want it all. Perhaps..." he purred and I felt him grab my chin firmly and lift my head, "even something a little softer..."

I trembled and pulled away from him causing him to chuckle and sit back once again, crossing his legs.

The limo hit a few bumps and then came to a screeching halt. Vox frowned and growled.

"What's going on up there?!" He yelled, annoyed. There was no answer, but the limousine began to reverse.

Very fast.

I swayed and had to hold onto the seat as the limousine frantically swerved and reversed away from something.

Muffled screams were heard outside, but I couldn't see anything through the tinted windows.

"What's happening?" I looked at Vox, my eyes wide. He growled and narrowed his eyes on me.

"Shut up. Sit still. Stay quiet. Or I'll rip your throat out," he seethed and my mouth clamped shut, a whimper escaping my throat.

Suddenly the limo came to a halt, and everything went eerily silent. After about 10 seconds the sound of the little window to the front seat rolling down made Vox and I both look towards it.

There was an imp looking out towards us, but...he looked off. His eyes were rolled up and his mouth was slack.

My heart was pumping in my chest and I swallowed hard. Then my eyes widened when the head was thrown through the window, and rolled across the floor.

Then my eyes snapped back up when I heard a familiar voice.

"Hello!"

Alastor's head popped up in the window, a wide smile on his face. His eyes were glowing a deep red, and he crossed his arms beneath him, using them to lean forward.

"Vox! I believe you have something that belongs to me!" His voice changed and his eyes sunk into his head, leaving two black sockets with a red pupil in their place.

Wow.

It didn't take him long to find me at all.