Vesper: Look, I hope you know it's gonna take a lot for me to compromise my morals and work under the name of a man I really don't respect. So if this offer isn't suffice, I won't be hesitant to let you know.
Velvette: So you already know the radio demon is back. And he's back with a chip on his shoulder.
I raised an eyebrow. That was an interesting way to start, but I guess they were right, in the last week, Alastor had returned.
Vesper: I don't know how that concerns me. He's after you guys ain't he.
Velvette: Well, I overheard him talking, he said he thinks you're gonna join us. He wants to take you out and broadcast your screams as a warning message to us.
I lean forward. So they were using Alastor to get what they wanted now?
Vesper: Alastor is interested in taking me out? I thought I made it abundantly clear in every meeting that I wasn't a fan of you and your two pets. Why would he rope me in with you?
She shrugged.
Velvette: He thinks it's all an act. He's seen you coming here to meet with Vox almost every month and he thinks that means we're already aligned. And so that's why Vox has asked me to try and get through to you. Because he would rather not have the radio demon target another overlord and expand his influence across hell. If Vox can stop it, that's what he'll do. And because I'm the more convincing of the three, I'm here to achieve what he wants.
I nodded and thought about it for a second.
Vesper: So, what does this deal mean for me?
Velvette: Voxtek will offer you 24/7 protection from that radio demon. Plus your own building and the opportunity to work with the best. It's really a stupid idea to reject my deal and face the radio demon alone.
Vesper: Are you saying you don't fancy my chances against Alastor? Insulting and downplaying my strength isn't exactly a convincing method to get me to join you.
Velvette: Everyone knows that one on one Alastor cannot be matched by any demon, except maybe that damned fossil Zestial. And even then it'd be close.
I chuckled. It was a good point. Alastor hadn't been observed to have ever been beaten alone. He'd killed hells greatest evils to cement his legacy as the most twisted overlord. See, this is why Velvette was someone I could do business with. Unlike Vox, she isn't naive. She knows her limits and she's humble about the fact that someone is much stronger than her. Vox thinks he's better than everyone.
Vesper: It is very convincing, the threat of the radio demon and all that. But, if you'd ever done your research, I'd be putting my past statements and promises aside to work with you three. I've always denounced you in every public outlet that I've been in. Especially that damned moth pimp. I fucking hate his practices, his blatant disregard for consent or for people's feelings. That pimp pisses me off. So I don't know how I could ever work with him.
Velvette: You might not.
I raised an eyebrow.
Velvette: Your medium is public speaking. That's how you reach out to desperate souls. Your charisma and voice is your method of taking people isn't it? Me Vox and Val work together because all our mediums go hand in hand. Yours only goes hand in hand with me and Vox, because I doubt you're gonna go out in public to promote strip clubs and pornos.
I chuckled at her statement. This girl was smarter than she looked.
Vesper: Done your research I see? Isn't Vox quite the confident public speaker anyway? Why would he need me as a public speaker.
Velvette: He's confident behind a camera, you're confident even when the cameras are off. People are controlled by your voice. Don't act dumb. I'm not the dolt in the group.
I picked up the pen and looked over the contract once more.
Vesper: I suppose you want this signed today before Alastor gets to me huh?
My voice has for once turned less cocky and confident. Truth was, I was as terrified of the radio demon as everyone else was. You don't come into hell and topple every strong overlord at the time, taking their powers without a care in the world, without people fearing you. I was lucky he didn't get to me all those years ago, but with his fallout with Vox and the rise of the Vees, and I just so happened to have a name beginning with V, the threat of Alastor had reignited like a lit match in gasoline. I twiddled the pen in my fingers.
Vesper: I'm gonna make one thing clear before I sign this. I'm doing this for my benefit and mine alone. Not out of my moral beliefs. My morals are being compromised for this deal. So I want you to know that if all this radio demon talk was a ruse to get me to sign on the dotted line, I won't hesitate to end all of your lives one by one in the most gruesome way possible. Got it?
I made fire spawn at the fingertips of my free hand just to add that intimidation element. It seemed to have worked as she nodded. I put pen to paper. Signing the official contract that meant I had now joined up with the people who pissed me off so much. See, had Vox used Velvette from the start. This conclusion may have been reached earlier than this.
Vesper: I guess I'm one of you now. There's 4 of us now.
I sighed.
Vesper: I don't wanna do this, but if I'm gonna do this, it's gonna be done right. I'll have to learn over time to get used to you all. To work with you all. But I'm the fire that you all need. The apart to ignite the world.
I stand back up and go to the window. I look out at all the depraved chaos that you could ever wish for.
Vesper: I'm here to change the order. And if I have to work with you, my morals shall be compromised...
She came and stood next to me. She was quite a fair bit shorter than me.
Velvette: Starting with that Radio Demon. We'd be successful now if flat face wasn't holding a grudge.
I stayed quiet.
Vesper: It's time to show the world what I really am. Someone who will stop at nothing to get his own way. Starting with making an example of that old timer...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And that's another chapter of this book. Honestly, earlier chapters are the worst things to write for me. It's when I get the most creative burnout/writers block. It's like all the ideas I had brainstormed for this book just go out the window the moment I actually wanna start writing. But soon I'll have my big epiphany and new ideas will come to me in a dream as they so often do. That's how I wrote Raven and The Dove, so I'm sure something will come to mind with this one.
Let me know if you all enjoyed this part and give me feedback and suggestions that you wanna see. Early word of warning, there will probably be an NSFW scene later on in this book, I will provide warning when the time comes, but I'm just warning you now.
That's all folks.
-Jack
