The Witch's Devil (Complete)

Chaper 9, How Sweet Home

Alastor POV~

Sighing heavily with my shoulders slumped. Aimlessly walking around the rest of the downtown area. Disappointed, the talk I had with Ember didn't go to my liking. She surprised me yet again. Not letting it take up more mental space then it already has. I put my effort into finding someplace to stay.

Boredom taking hold with each step. Every building looked more like the one before. Such uninteresting architecture. The people around me seem to vanish from view. Sounds of the world around me were becoming silent. A dreary feeling settles in around me.

As the sky above split between cool blue and vibrant orange. The sun made her way down below the horizon of the bay. Losing track of the minutes I spent on the water's edge. Watching the bright sun disappear, salt builds up in the air as dark clouds roll in. Cool hard gusts of wind blow through.

I needed to find shelter soon, or I would be caught out in this fast approaching storm.

Mindlessly heading back in the direction of Amethyst & Tomes. Downtown port came to life as the bars opened. Businesses and shops turning on their neon signs. Music began to echo throughout the streets. It's as though lust had come up from hell itself. Different genres layered over each other in some parts of the road. Desperately exhausted by recent events. A few buildings shy of Ember's shop. Feeling a miserable coldness towards the world at large.

Looking down a dark and filthy alleyway. Nothing like the home of cats. A few corners turned, passing by the backs of other stores.

Following its path leading out to a forgotten part of the area. Lineup next to one another. This perfectly perfect town has some secrets it seems. Warehouses. From the appearance abandoned. Rather purposefully or unintentionally, I found where to hunker down for the storm.

Its brickwork made me think of the shops lining the streets. Yet its unkempt small fenced in yard made a warehouse come to mind. Ideal for the storage of goods long passed and their distribution. Thunder roared from the clouds themselves. Making the announcement that it had arrived.

Taking no time as I hop the chain link fence. Noticing the tires, rusting metal drums, and trash mixed in the patches of tall grass. Are those needles? Trying to see a way in, but all the first floor windows were boarded up from the inside.

Opting to break the lock on the original old wooden doors. A thick wall of rain rushing it's way closer. Loud crack goes the lock. Just in time, for as I stepped in; the rain came hammering down from the skies above.

Shutting the heavy door bracing it with a nearby stud up against it. Black clouds outside making it just as dark inside. Difficult to see the lower floor as I cautiously work my way forward. Finding some rusting metal stairs, I climbed with a creak echoing under each step. On the second floor I was able to see clearer. Windows dirt covered and not boarded up. The glass was nearly intact even after years of neglect.

Popping into what was once perhaps an office space with only two ways in or out. Nicely tucked away in a far corner. There haven't been any other signs of life here. Just in case this room should be good enough. As one of the outside walls across from me was full of windows. A wall of old brick painted an unsettling white. Dirt covered, graffiti painted giving it some nice character.

Lifting to my toes, then dropping my weight down on my heels. The floor felt decent enough under me. Sighing heavily as I sat on the step down into the room. Questioning just how I arrived here.

Running my hand over the headscarf. Slipping it off, breathing in deeply and letting out freeing breath. Something about hiding my appearance seemed so unnatural. Looking down at the stone blue scarf. The scent of lavender, rosemary, mugwort and lemonade softly mixed around. Such a strangely sweet woman. Bringing a slight curl to my lips.