Out of Darkness (Alastor x human!fem!reader)

Chapter Six: The Beginning of the End

It's been a year since Alastor's sudden disappearance from Hell, his broadcasts failing from making sinners shiver in fear upon hearing them. The silence left everyone wondering where he could be, not a single possible scenario making people feel safe – if he died, who dared to kill him? If he didn't die, what was he plotting? People were afraid of sharing their theories, every shadow feeling like a little spy, ready to tell Alastor who dares to talk behind his. All people except one...

"It's been nearly a year since that old-timey prick vanished!" Vox's voice thundered through Pentagram City, brimming with derision. His broadcasts had become a daily reminder of Alastor's absence, taunting and mocking the fear he once inspired. "Is he dead? Is he hiding? Who gives a fuck?!" His laughter, a sharp, jagged sound, reverberated through the streets. Vox relished in his rival's silence, finding a twisted pleasure in the void left behind.

The Overlords, however, were far from pleased with Vox's indiscretions. Though they rarely voiced their concerns, the underlying fear of Alastor's potential return kept them in check. They understood that Alastor's influence had been a stabilizing force, and with him possibly gone for good, they dreaded the chaos that could ensue if their grip on power faltered.

"Darling, would you please close the door?" Rosie asked one of her clients, an annoyed look on her face. "I wish that good-for-nothing demon would just shut up..." she said harshly.

"Are you alright, dear Rosie?" a woman asked, making her sigh.

"Oh, yes, honey... I can't help but wonder just like the others what happened to dear Alastor..." she faked a little laugh, arranging the shelves in the emporium. She quickly turned to the door, hearing people screaming outside. Everyone rushed to see what was happening, Rosie making her way through the curious people.

"I saw him!" a trembling demon cried out, drawing a wide circle of frightened onlookers. His appearance was a grotesque sight—his flesh was torn, blood oozing from fresh, gaping wounds. His eyes, wild and frantic, darted among the crowd. "Alastor's alive!" he shrieked, his voice a raw edge of terror. Gasps of shock spread through the crowd, some fleeing in panic. "He's in the human world! And he's powerful! He's going to destroy us all!" His dire warning sent waves of fear through the masses.

Everyone looked in shock.

"How do you know?" someone from the crowd shouted.

"I just returned! I was about to die at the hands of human priests, but I saw him! I swear it was him!"

Rosie looked at him, her eyes wide in shock. Alastor was alive. But if he was so strong, why didn't he return? She looked at the crowd and spotted one of Vox's assistants, a sense of worry flashing over her... This was not going to be good.

As expected, later that day, Vox demanded the Overlords to hold a meeting. Without much of a choice, they all gathered, curious of what Vox wanted to say.

"Good evening, fellas!" Vox said a wide grin on his face. Valentino was sitting next to him, a smirk on his face as he already knew what the meeting was going to be about. Behind them stood two assistants, trembling, and holding some pieces of paper. "I bet you've all heard the shocking news, right?"

"Yes, Vox... You broadcasted that psycho all over Pentagram City..." Carmilla said, her eye twitching in annoyance. "If this is going to be about Alastor again..."

"No, no... I mean, yes. But this time is important!" Vox declared, everyone looking at him curiously. The other Overlords looked at Vox with curiosity as he talked... everyone was eager to know what this 'important' thing was that Vox wanted to tell them about. But Carmilla seemed to know what the meeting was going to be about already, the look on her face clearly telling that she really didn't want to be there right now, that she was annoyed and impatient... Carmilla knew that he lived for the attention, but she didn't care all that much about it. If he left her and her business alone, he could say or do what he wanted.