Juliette

Alastor hasn't attempted to speak to me since the overload meeting.

It's been a little over a month, and I hardly even see him around the hotel.

Though, part of me is just summing that up to him simply avoiding me.

It's not like I've been very nice to him, and I finally have what I wanted... I didn't think he'd ever leave me alone, and now that he has, it still doesn't feel right.

Lately, nothing has felt right.

The only progress I seem to be making is with my powers. I'm able to control a lot more outside of my anger now, and my abilities are growing stronger as well.

Most of my days were spent with Ava, the two of us spending time with everybody and playing Charlie's little activities.

However, today I decided to go out and walk around hell. It's been a while since I've had a day to myself, and thankfully now that I have plenty of willing volunteers, I'm able to be at peace knowing Ava is safe while I'm away.

My walk had been rather peaceful and relaxing, and I'd been able to unwind as I navigated through a park I'd never been to before.

It was on the outskirts of cannibal town, so it was actually taken care of and the plants were well pruned.

The rose bushes were gorgeous, and I ran my fingers along the silky petals. I was being extra careful as to not accidentally cover them with frost.

Part of me wondered how something so beautiful and soft could exist in a wasteland like hell, but the other part of me didn't care. I'm just glad it does.

Though, my peace was short lived when I suddenly felt static in the air.

It was faint, so I almost wasn't sure if I was simply imagining things again. Then, my nerves skyrocketed when I heard his voice.

Quickly, I hid behind the rose bush and then peeked out, looking around.

It wasn't long before I spotted him a distance away, speaking with Rosie.

The pair were seated on a bench, and I couldn't quite tell what the conversation topic was, but Rosie was listening very intently.

It didn't take long for my heart to start beating quickly, and a sick feeling to twist in my stomach as frost started to infect the leaves I was touching.

When the cannibalistic overlord reached over and touched his leg with her dainty little fingers, my heart started to feel heavy.

My mind went to everything they could be talking about, and none of them made me happy.

And that fact frustrated me, because why do I give a damn who he talks to? After making it so clear that I want nothing to do with him, yet here I am...

Wishing he'd just force me to listen... sit me down, and take me by my hands... apologize sincerely, and mean it when he says that he's sorry for what he did to me...

To us.

I know it's silly of me, and that I'm just a hypocrite for being this way, but I can't just forgive him.

There is a part of me that's terrified...

Terrified that he's just going to use me again, and then discard me when he's done.

I don't think I can bear another knife to the stomach.

The frost that had started to creep from my fingers thawed as my gaze fell to the dry grass at my feet.

I'm such a fool...

Before they could have the chance to catch me spying, I turned and went the opposite direction, leaving the park.

It's probably time to head back home, anyhow... Charlie and Vaggie have Ava and I wouldn't want to make them watch her for too long.

My thoughts became occupied by what I'd fix her for supper. She'll only eat food if it's made by me, which is a habit I'm trying to break for her, but we're taking baby steps while I try to convince her food made by the others in the hotel was safe to eat.

Mindlessly, I pushed my way through a crowd that was gathered in front of a television and electronics store.

Several commercials were playing at once and the culmination of noise was an irritating ear sore.

Then, I stopped in my tracks when there was a suddenly sound of white noise, followed by all the Tv speakers syncing.

"Hey, you. Icee. Wait a second."

My brow quirked at that, and I turned.

Is he talking to me?

When I faced the display, my eyes winded as I looked up at the face of Vox, spread across every single screen and staring directly at me with a very large smile.

"Hey, doll face."

I barely had time to be offended before there was a sudden burst of electricity, and then the man himself was stood directly in front of me.

I backed up slightly just so I could look up and see him properly.

"Um... hi?"

I looked around, a bit unsure of why he's speaking to me directly. Am I about to be the victim of a seller's pitch or something?

The crowd around us backed up and a few camera flashes went off, making me squint slightly and hold my hand up to block the bright lights.

Vox's smile looked predatory, almost the way Alastor's does but there was something different... it made my skin crawl, and not just because of the static emitting from him.

"Hello, my dear. Would you care to walk with me?"

Again, I quirked a brow and gave him a once over before looking over my shoulder to see if this was some sort of bit.

"I...suppose not?"

"Fantastic!"

My entire body stiffened when he threw his arm around me and practically started dragging me down the street.

I blinked in surprise before looking up at him.

"So! I heard from a close source that you are the next up and coming overlord in town!"

This caught my attention and I grew nervous.

"What? Oh... no, no I'm not—"

"Oh, nonsense! Not to sound creepy, but I see everything darling. You thought I wouldn't notice a certain somebody who seems to be all over you? Not to mention you tossing my colleague across that meeting room like it was nothing!"

His tone was full of praise, but there was still an uneasy feeling twisting in my gut.

"I only did that because she was being disruptive..."

I dug my heels into the sidewalk, shrugging his hand off my shoulder. He came to a halt as well and turned to face me fully.

I need to end whatever this is right here and now.

"I'm not an overlord, nor am I trying to be one. I'd appreciate if you left me alone."

I turned away from him, but gasped when he was standing right behind me, much closer than I anticipated.

"That's funny. I was expecting you to have a little more fire behind your actions, considering he pays so much attention to you."

I could only assume he meant Alastor. It's not secret the two have a weird rivalry going on, but why would it matter that he pays any attention to me?

"I—"

I didn't even get a sentence out before he had his arm around me again.

"How about you and I take this somewhere a little less...public."

My eyes widened, and before I could protest there was a blinding flash and when the light cleared, we were somewhere completely different.

But just from the colors and patterns on the walls, I knew where we were...

V Tower.

~*~

Alastor

The sidewalks cleared for me as I made my way back to the hotel.

After spending so much time away from Juliette, I decided I needed to consult someone that I trusted on the matter of romance.

So, I went and saw Rosie.

She and I had a long talk about what I truly want, and whether I'm just being selfish or if I truly love her...

There wasn't a second thought in my mind that I truly loved her.

After I explained the extent of it to Rosie, she seemed to understand a bit better, although I did get a short lecture about how I handled things on Earth...

Rosie always was the one who was more in tune with her emotions and whatnot... and she told me that Juliette is probably expecting and waiting for me to apologize for what I did.

I told her I'd been trying! Several times I attempted to speak with her, but she brushed me off!

I was then informed that she most likely didn't actually want me to leave her be... which confused me.

This is why Rosie is helpful. She lets me know these things.

She also gave me a plan to follow.

Once I get back to the hotel, I'll find Juliette and sit her down to talk whether she wants to or not.

I'll tell her how much she means to me... and how much that night has haunted me since the day we died.

I'll tell her how much I regret it, and I don't regret many things from my life... but that is my biggest regret, and a black spot on my pride.

I came to a stop at the hotel door, sucking in a deep breath before swiftly pushing the doors open and entering with my usual flourish.

When I entered, the first person I saw was Charlie. She was sitting at a table in the lobby and creating some of her very special hand drawn posters.

I scanned the room to see if I could find Juliette anywhere, but it seemed out of them all, she was the only one missing.

Even Angel Dust was here and lounging on the couch as he usually does, eyes glued to the picture box.

Miss Vaggie was sitting in a chair, also paying attention to the television.

Walking over, I could see that Vaggie was actually holding little Ava, who seems to have fallen asleep in her arms.

They finally paid attention to me once I stood in front of their show, and Angel glared at me, sitting up slightly to throw his hand out towards me in exasperation.

"Hey asshole! We're watchin' a show!"

Vaggie glared at Angel when he raised his voice, shielding the child in her lap from the noise in hopes she'd stay sleeping, which she did thankfully.

"Oh, my apologies Angel, however I'm looking for someone who seems to be missing from the group. Has anyone seen our lovely Juliette? I need to speak with her."

That's when Charlie chimed in.

"Juliette? She went out a while ago. I don't think she's come back yet, but it's been a while..."

I turned towards Charlie slightly and then my ear swiveled towards the television when there was a loud scratch of white noise before the voice of the news hostess came blaring through.

"Breaking news! Vox, our very own television overlord, has been spotted with some random bitch!"

The shrill voice of the reporter woman grated on my ears, and then I could feel the blood drain from my face while simultaneously boiling in my stomach as the video shifted to a still image of Vox with his arm around Juliette.

The room was so quiet it was almost painful.

The longer I looked at the screen, the louder the ringing in my ears became.

"Sources say the two disappeared into thin air! Who could this mysterious broad be?! A new overlord maybe? Who the fuck knows, we'll tell you when we find out!"

The news ended and the tv clicked back to the show, and I could practically feel the eyes on me but all I could see was that image of her and Vox burned into my mind.

My nails dug into my palms as I gripped them into tight fists, and the lights flickered and buzzed as the static around me grew angrier and louder.

I'm surprised my teeth didn't break they were grit together so hard.

Vox...

Put his hands on my wife...

A low growl came from my throat as my bones cracked and grew, my demonic form peeking through the cracks of my proper exterior that was barely hanging on by a thread.

"Al..."

My neck snapped as I turned my attention to Angel, his voice falling silent as his eyes widened at my appearance.

I was on him in a second, looming over his stringy form as he flattened against the couch trying to escape me.

"Did you have something to do with this, spider?"

My voice was hardly even comprehensible, and I could see him trembling.

If he had anything to do with this development, so help me and everything in my power I will find a way to buy his soul from that rancid moth and tear it apart so slowly and painfully—

My thoughts were cut off as several pairs of hands took hold of my arms and torso, pulling me away from Angel.

Then Charlie was in front of me, hands on my chest holding me back as she looked up at me with those eyes of hers that were always full of so much compassion and understanding.

"Alastor, calm down! Don't accuse Angel of something so horrible, he's been here with us all day!"

It took several deep breaths before I could properly focus on the princess, and even then I was having a hard time calming down.

I was so furious, I don't even have words to describe the rage I'm feeling.

I realized that Vaggie and Husk had taken hold of my arms, and I was honestly debating throwing one if not both of them across the room.

That is until I felt a tug against my pant leg, and I looked down expecting to see Niffty.

Instead, I locked eyes with those of Ava.

Hers were wide and glossy, looking up at me full of fright and confusion.

Despite her not being related to her by blood, I swear I could see Juliette when I looked into her face...

My breaths slowly calmed, the growl behind them dissipating. The hands holding me hesitantly pulled away when they realized I was no longer actively trying to tear Angel apart.

The toddler tugged against my pant leg again and I lowered my hand to carefully place upon her head.

She didn't flinch away, despite my probably ghastly appearance, and I sighed before my brow pinched together.

"Vaggie, take Ava and you and Charlie will need to watch over her while I go retrieve miss Juliette."

"But Al—"

"Charlie."

I turned to look at her. My appearance had returned mostly to normal, and the princesse's mouth sealed shut.

She looked at me for a long moment before she deflated with a sigh.

"Okay... just be careful."

I was relieved I wouldn't have to fight her on this and simply nodded before turning back towards the front doors.