Until Death Brings You

Chapter 3:

     Alistar hummed to himself, his cane tapping against the ground as he left the store. The old man was already locking the door behind him, and the endless night seemed impossibly darker as the humming continued. Alistar had a book tucked under his arm, something he planned on breaking down line by line when he was finally home.

           As he continued down the road, other demons scrambled out of Alistar’s path. Passing an alleyway, the scent of blood caught his nose, and he stopped. Turning slowly, he saw a short red and black imp, knife in hand, stabbing what looked to be another imp repeatedly. Alistar could tell that the imp being stabbed was already dead, but he still watched as the one alive continued his assault.

           Once everything was said and done, the imp wiped his brow, rubbing the knife against his leg to get rid of the blood before he finally noticed Alistar. The imp jumped, knife dropping from it’s grasp before he backed up into a corner.

           Alistar held up his hands, cane dangling from his left. “Please, no need to stop on my account. Carry on, by all means. I was simply critiquing your stabbing and murder technique.”

           “I-I… Alistar… What are you doing here?” The imp’s one black eye jumped from Alistar, to the imp he had just killed, and back to Alistar.

           “My dear fellow, I was simply taking a stroll, enjoying hell for all its worth. I must say, that was exquisite. The blood, the force of which you used to dispose of your victim… Simply…”, Alistar eyed the dead imp, licking his lips slowly. Red eyes followed the blood underneath the body, and as it started to soak into the other imp’s boots, he moved his gaze and continued. “Simply beautiful. I need to know though, what are your plans with the body now that you have finished? Do you plan on taking the body with you? Leaving the body? You know, I really do love delicacies.”

           The imp was shaking now, heading jerking from left to right as a negative. “Alistar… I don’t… I don’t need the body. I’m sorry. It was a dispute… This was the only way to… The only way to…” The creature turned to run away, but before it could get far, Alistar appeared behind him, a shadow appearing in front of the imp.

           “I didn’t say you could leave just yet my fellow.” Alistar picked up the knife, licking the last remnants of blood from it. “Do you need this?” Without waiting for an answer, Alistar threw the knife into his shadow, the knife disappearing until called upon another time. He reached out a gloved hand, catching hold of the imp’s hand. “I hope you have a fantastic day and thank you for the knife.”

           As soon as Alistar removed his hand from the imp’s, the creature fled, running as fast as it’s legs would take it. Alistar laughed, licked his lips once more, and stepped out of the alleyway himself. He continued his way out of the shadows, resuming the humming.

           Tapping continued from his cane as he passed what appeared to be a strip club. Looking at the gaudy bright neon sign, it touted the best girl’s hell can give you, other smaller signs notifying patrons of alcohol, drugs, and s*x. Alistar shook his head, the thought of woman throwing themselves at men causing him to shudder. Before he could completely pass the building though, a few female imps and some mortal souls pushed their way out of the door. “Hello Alistar~”

           “Ladies. You all are looking… particularly harlot like today. Have a good night, ladies.” He waved lightly before hurrying away.

           A large mansion began to close into his view, and the tapping slowed as he came upon a large wrought-iron gate. Taking his cane, he tapped different blocks found to the side of the gate and watched as the gate shimmered and shook before opening slowly.

           Making his way into the courtyard, the gate immediately snapped shut behind him, and a wall of brimstone came up to block any view of his courtyard from prying eyes. Walking slowly to the front door, the ringing started up again from his cane.

           “Boss, Teller is calling again. Did you want me to put him through?” The large eye had snapped open and was looking at Alistar, something akin to annoyance was held in the eye.

           “My, my… now what does this incessant creature want with me?” Alistar sighed, but the grin stayed put as he thought about whether to answer. Waving his hand, he turned his scarlet eyes on his cane. “Go ahead, put him through.”

           “Alistar, you asshole if you-”, Alistar used his empty hand to tap the cane, the eye twitching as the demon’s finger touched it.

           “Ah-Ah my good fellow, I do not hold conversations like this. If you need for me to hang up so you can find a way to have a respectable conversation, please let me know.”

           Sighing could be heard through the cane, the static sound crackling and causing some interruption, distorting Teller’s next words. “… a job.”

           Alistar c****d an eyebrow. “I’m sorry there Mr. Teller, but I didn’t quite catch what you said. Do you mind repeating that for me?”

           “I said that someone is offering a job offer for you. Something to do with the living world. I have bosses in very high places that seem to think that you would be perfect for this job. I’m not so sure… but I follow what they want.”

           The demon walked through his front door, needing the privacy and no one knew who could be listening in at any time. “I’m typically not one for someone to just… ‘call upon’ Teller. I don’t do jobs for others. I am not, how would you say, a slave to others.”

           Grunting could be heard over the line and a dark chuckle. “Come now Alistar, I’m sure there is something that could persuade you to help. You might think that you are the most powerful demon here, and I do admit, you have taken down quite a few lords without a sweat, but my bosses are bigger than you.”

           Alistar dared to look around his empty, dark foyer. His home was 3 story, and the only rooms that he really used was his bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. No one else lived with him, he was a private person by nature. He laughed as he thought about those who dared think they could best him.

           “So you continue to say Teller, but I’m sure you did not call to gloat or argue. So, I am curious, and I’m also bored, so please, go ahead with the proposition.”

           He made his way to the kitchen, pulling items from the fridge to prepare dinner. Meat of unknown origin sat on the bottom shelve, and he reached for what looked like vegetables and spices.

           “My boss would like you to enter into the world of the living. He is looking for a particular soul. I have a name and location if you are thinking of taking this job.”

           Alistar was cutting the meat as he listened. Thinking it over, he grabbed a slice of the meat, blood dripping from it before taking a bite. He chewed slowly, thinking over what he should do. “And if I chose to take this job, what would I get in return?”

           “I’m assuming that an I.O.U wouldn’t be acceptable, neither would the feeling that you did something for a being much more powerful than yourself?”

           Alistar laughed, a barking sound that was high-pitched and hit Teller’s ear wrong. “My dear Teller, no one does anything for free in hell… unless you are someone’s dog or too weak to take care of yourself.” The demon allowed the insult to sink in, and he heard Teller suck in a breath on the other side.

           “They are willing to offer you anything you ask for, but the job needs to be done tonight.”

           “Anything you say? Well, we’ll see about that. My price is pretty steep.” He took another bite of the meat, then took what looked like a carrot, except black in color, and crunched on it before he continued. “I’m awful curious as to what this job is, and to be completely honest, I am getting a bit bored with hell. I’ve been wanting to stretch my legs for quite a long time now back in the living world. Who is the unfortunate soul that I need to grab for you, and why would I need to collect this soul if your bosses are… as you put it… more powerful, and connected to higher places than myself?”

           Silence stretched on the other line. Alistar shared a look with the cane, his eyes rolling when the silence continued to linger. “Teller, I will hang up, and you’ll have to find yourself another demon who can walk in the living world if you do not start talking.”

           “The soul’s name is Robert Amberson. He’s located in Arizona. Right now, as it stands, his soul is to be brought down to hell, with your protection, and brought to a meeting place once his soul arrives. Any questions?”

           Alistar took another bite of the black carrot, crunching slowly before he replied. “I have many questions, but I’m sure you are too low to have much more information to give me.”

           “Alistar, I swear to Lucifer himself that when I get my f*****g hands-”, with this Alistar ended the conversation. He would travel to the living world, and collect this soul, and maybe see whatever trouble he could stir up before coming back to hell.

           Finishing up his dinner, he took his time getting dressed for the living world. One did not simply appear in front of humans in their demon form if they knew what was good for them. Picking out clothes that he knew were of this century, he changed. Taking off his suit that looked like it might be from the 1920’s, he changed into a pair of tight-fitting black jeans, and a simple black button-up shirt. It was tight enough to define his muscles, but loose enough that he still had full range of motion.

           Turning his sights to the middle of the room, a large pentagram was etched into the dark brown wood. He set his candles up, one on each point of the star, then sat in the middle of the circle. He waved a gloved hand towards the candles, and the wicks ignited immediately. They flickered but burned bright as he put his hands to the ground. His cane sat next to him, the eye closed and wood still. Focusing his energy, he thought of the living world, and a small area of the room started to shimmer.

           As Alistar concentrated on the area, blue and purple light started to circle in the area, the color starting out transparent, but quickly becoming bold and filling the edges with deep royal purple and midnight blue. What started out as shimmering air turned solid, a bubble popping up. In the circle, humans walked up and down streets, none the wiser as the demon focused on where in the living world he wanted to go.

           The image in the bubble faded out, and quickly changed to another location. Arizona had just gained its independence when Alistar had died, but he was pleasantly surprised on how large it had grown. Flicking through the different areas, he allowed his powers to reach through the bubble, his ears perking up when he heard the name Amberson coming from someplace in the world. He focused his powers, and the image changed once again to what looked like the halls of a hospital.

           A young mortal girl sat on a bench; her cheeks stained with tears. Alistar c****d his head to the side, willing his magic to pick up on the conversation she seemed to be having with a doctor.

           “… Take your father home, let him live out his final days surrounded by his home and you… I’m sorry Ms. Amberson…”

           The voice coming through was warbled, as if he was having a long-distance phone call, which, it almost was. Alistar continued to watch the two talk before the doctor finally walked away. He took in the girl’s face, more tears spilling from her eyes.

           “It seems this is where I need to be.” Alistar picked himself off the floor, dusting the back of his pants before he grabbed his cane and took a step through the portal, entering the living world.