Chapter 8: Chatting And Music

"Venison?" I grin with a chuckle. "I'm a country girl, darling. Of course I know how to cook venison."

"Really now?" He looks delighted, his static crackling. "Did you hunt often?"

"Not animals." I say slyly. "My grandfather was an avid hunter when he was alive. I personally prefer fishing over hunting, unless my prey is human."

"Fishing? Really?"

"Mmm." I give him a positive hum. "Fishing is calming, soothing to the soul. But I know how to shoot, hunt, fish, clean and butcher my kills. Be they fish, human, farm, or forest animals." I send him a smile. "Being able to provide for yourself is a dying thing in my time. But I made sure that regardless of that, I would learn how."

"Admirable." He hummed back. "If venison is on the menu, I know just the butcher on our way."

"Lead the way then, kind sir." I wave my arm ahead of us.

He chuckles. "As you wish, my dear." He reaches out to take my hand to lace through his arm, causing me to stop and flinch from the unexpected touch. His eyes widen, and the scratching of a record was heard from his person. "I do apologize, I didn't mean to startle you, dear."

"Ah, it's not your fault. You didn't know. I don't like being touched, especially without warning... It triggers old memories." I say, taking my hand back and holding it against my chest. My ears back, and tail having stilled it's movement.

His red eyes flash with understanding behind his constant smile, retracting his hand. "I see. I will refrain from unnecessary contact, unless otherwise prompted then."

I give a sad smile. "Thank you." Walking a few steps forward, I turn around to face him. "You will still have to lead the way, darling. I don't know which butcher you are talking about."

"Fair enough, my dear. Let us continue on then." His smile seemingly a little more sincere as a soft jazzy tune began to play, it's sound seeming to come from the demon himself.

***

(Alastor's POV.)

Just having gotten back to Pentagram city, I was walking around, looking to see how much had changed since my absence.

Lady luck must have been with me today. As I turned a corner, I was just in time to see a white fox demon walk by, grabbing a rat demon, and halling him into an alley aggressively.

Having peaked my interest, I melt into the shadows, following them into the alleyway, and attaching myself to the white furred foxes shadow.

The scene that takes place after, leaving me in awe at the brutality the pretty little thing unleashed, completely unbothered by the blood and gore that covered her person. It was a splendid sight to see, the blood splattered like art along the walls. Ending it by ripping out the rat demon's throat.

I quickly moved through the shadows, appearing just outside of the alley. My intention to converse with the little fox. Only for her to very nearly run right into me.

Her apology was full of teasing, her use of magic was was impressive, and when she licked the blood running down her arm, I couldn't help it as my breath hitched. My bloodlust surging, just barely beneath the surface.

Then for her to complain about the taste after that, was quite amusing.

She had fully captured my attention. One thought was ringing through my head. I simply must have her soul. Her entertainment value only went up the longer we conversed. Guessing who I was quite quickly, and the lack of fear radiating off of her, even when she knew who I was. It was both irritating and impressive. The banter between us only grew a little heavy when she rejected my deal, only for her to bounce back and ease the tension. Finding out her ties to my darling friend Rosie, was interesting as well. It was the only reason I didn't push for a deal. I respect Rosie far too much to overstep by taking a soul she had sights on.

I however was not anticipating her to flinch away from a simple gentleman's gesture. That vacant look of pain, fighting off memories one wanted nothing more than to forget, was all too familiar to me.

Her ability to bounce back was second to none, even if I could see the shadows of the offending emotions behind her eyes. If I hadn't been so familiar with fighting memories like those myself, I probably wouldn't have been able to see through her masks as they changed.

The walk to the butcher's shop was made short by the like-minded dark humor, that slowly creeped into the conversation. The way her icey blue eyes would light up with dark delight as the pedestrians around us scrambled, screamed, and ended their own lives in dramatic fashion. The antics of the public trying to evade my presence never failed to amuse me, but it wasn't often someone else found it equally as laughable.

It was charmingly refreshing.

It wasn't too long before the crowd around a storefront drew her attention from me, causing a feeling of irritation to spike in my chest. The store displaying one of those wretched picture boxes, playing a news program featuring Hell's over excitable princess.

The girl was singing a horrifically happy tune about demons and rainbows.

"Huh, I didn't know Charlie was a princess. She must have skipped over that during the tour of the hotel." The fox demon mumbled to herself, her head tilting to the side, blue tipped ears flopping with the movement.

Hotel?

I couldn't help myself as I ask. "You've had the pleasure of meeting our dear princess?"

"Mmm." She hummed, no longer staring at the annoying picture box. "I start work at her hotel later today." Slowly walking away from the display, and picking up the speed a little as we resume the walk to Cannibal town.

"And what hotel would that be, my dear?" I question, hands behind me spinning my staff in my curiosity.

She let's out a laugh, almost mocking in nature. "The Happy Hotel. It seems the princess has a dream to rehab sinners, in hopes of the angels allowing them to ascend to Heaven."

"A guaranteed fools errand. We are all down here for a reason after all."

"I agree for the most part, there are many of us who are irredeemable. But there are those here, that are simply here because of the actions of others. To defend one's self or their loved ones should not be a crime that's punished, it should be rewarded. Yet those who killed in defense are still here, and those who are driven to take their own lives are here." She looks over at me, her icey blue eyes locking with my red ones. "Victims side by side with their perpetrators." In that moment, she sounds far older than she should have.

"It is still a fools venture."

She let's out another small chuckle. "Of that I have no doubt." She turns her eyes back to the path ahead. "It is still a nice thought to create a safe haven for the more gentle souls, even if nothing else comes from it."

How fascinating. To go from brutally killing her target, practically bathing in his blood, to talking about redemption and safe havens, like some kind of saint. It seems the fox is something of a paradox.

It makes me wonder what is truly going on inside that head of hers.

Maybe this hotel could be the opportunity I've been looking for.

***

(Snow's POV.)

The Radio Demon was oddly quiet for a while. His eyes lightly glazed over from whatever thoughts had taken his attention away, the soft jazz playing from him switching to something upbeat as he reigned in his thoughts.

I was humming to the tune as we walked, enjoying the music.

"A fan of jazz?"

My eyes snapped to his as I spin around to walk backwards, my hands clasped behind me. "I'm a fan of music in general. I listen to all genres, what it is at the time simply depends on my mood. Though my least favorite genre has to be rap. It has far fewer songs with a beat and lyrics, that grab my attention."

"Music truly is one of the greatest of human inventions. Though so much of the newer songs and genres is hopeless garbage."

I laugh. "You must listen to only the shitty songs. I may listen to almost anything when someone else is playing it, but I'm really picky about my own music. With so many artists out there, and so many more songs, it takes time to find the real gems."

"Then pray tell, what are your preferred genres?" He asks, twirling his red cane behind him.

"Mmm, I prefer rock and similar genres personally, but my favorite playlist contains a wide mix of different genres, including jazz and classical music."

His reply was accompanied with a soft scuff. "At least you have some good taste, not many these days can appreciate good music."

"I have quite a lot of hobbies and interests. Most forms of the arts draw my attention." My lips twitch at the corners. "But music is something very close to my soul, there's hardly ever a time that there's not at least three songs bouncing around in my head."

I start singing to the song currently playing in my head. My voice a bit lower, and slower than the original song.

"Well, Turn on that radio

As loud as it can go

Wanna dance until my feet can't feel the ground. Say goodbye to all my fears

One good song, they disappear

And nothing in the world can bring me down."

I spin around lightly dancing as walk.

"Hand-clapping, hip-shaking

Heart-breaking, there's no faking

What you feel, when you're right at home, yeah."

I use my ice magic to coat my feet in ice, allowing me to walk on air as I spin around to the song. Walking up invisible stairs, only to glide back down.

"Music's in my soul

I can hear it every day and every night

It's the one thing on my mind

Music's got control

And I'm never letting go, no-no

I just wanna play my music"

I spin to face him, my grin lopsided and genuine. Meeting red eyes that seem to glitter.

"Whoo... Music."

I snap my fingers summoning one of my guitars to drape across my back.

"Got my six-string on my back

Don't need anything but that

Everything I want is here with me, here with me.

So forget that fancy car

I don't need to go that far

What's driving me is following my dreams, yeah, yeah."

I snapped again and sent it to my new room at the Happy Hotel.

"Hand-clapping, earth-shaking

Heart-breaking, there's no faking

What you feel, when you're on a roll, yeah, yeah."

I float myself farther into the air, doing a little flip.

"Music's in my soul

I can hear it every day and every night

It's the one thing on my mind

Music's got control

And I'm never letting go, no-no

I just wanna play my music

I just wanna play my music"

I dance happily through the air around my grinning companion.

"Can't imagine what it'd be like

Without the sounds of all my heroes

Singin' all my favorite songs

So I can sing aloooong!"

Floating ahead I spin around with my arms out, stopping to face the other demon.

"Music's in my soul

I can hear it every day and every night

It's the one thing on my mind

Music's got control

And I'm never letting go, no-no

I just wanna play my music"

I drop to the ground, and dispersed the ice.

"Music's in my soul

I can hear it every day and every night

It's the one thing on my mind

Music's got control

And I'm never letting go, no-no

I just want to play my music all night long...Yeah!"

I burst into giggles as I finish the song. Only settling down as we finally reach the entrance to Cannibal town.

The red demon claps his hands. "Spectacular show, darling!" His smile a bit softer, more genuine. "What a performance!"

"Thank you, thank you! Hold the applause!" I reply playfully with a grin. Taking a bow, and turning around to walk normally as he passes me.

The closer we get to the center of Cannibal town, the more people stop to wave, or say good morning. A couple of kids playing nearby see me and sprint over to greet me, I little boy lightly tugging on my skirt to get my attention, stopping me from moving forward. "Miss Snow! Miss Snow!"

I crouch down to his level, tilting my head and speaking softly. "Yes sweetheart?"

"Thank you for making the toy for my sister, she liked her birthday present." He excitedly says, his expression shy, and a small blush on his face.

I smile back. "That's wonderful! I'm glad see liked your gift." I close my hands together in front of me, a blue glow showing between the cracks of my fingers. Then I open my hands to show a bunch of ice marbles, ice forming a box below my hands as I place the marbles inside. "Here, since you liked the last toy, why don't you go share these with your friends."

His little eyes light up. "Really?!"

"Yup! But I've got to go now. Rosie and Tinkerbell are waiting for me today."

"Awww, you don't have time to play today?" The childs smile falls a little.

"Not today. I promise next time I'll make some extra time." I tap his nose, handing over the new toy.

"Okay! Thank you for the new toy too!" He throws over his shoulder as he runs back to his friends.

"No problem, dear." I stand back up, dusting off my dark blue pinstripe skirt, and looking towards my companion.

His grin is still in place, but his expression is soft. "You are very good with children. Did you have any in life?"

"No. Not from a lack of wanting them though, my poor health simply wouldn't have allowed it." My smile turned sad. "If by some miracle I had managed to get pregnant, the odds were that neither I, nor the child would have made it to the end." We walk together towards the town square where the emporium was not yet open.

"A shame. You would have made a wonderful mother." His eyes look far away.

"I slowly excepted my fate. Instead, I worked in childcare for years. Letting all of the kids that needed the extra love and attention, get it from me. Until that to, became too much for my ailing body to bare."

"Were you sick, my dear?"

"I had chronic issues for years, but it was the cancer that was going to kill me." My expression hardening. "I decided that if I was going to die, I wanted to take out as many predators with me as I could. I would have died from the cancer, not long after that rat demon and I killed each other."

Respect seemed to reflect in his eyes. "How many did you send down here before you joined them?"

"That, dear sir, is for only me to know." I send him a wink.