Chapter 17: Questions

"My dear, what did you do to maim your hand?" Alastor asks, flipping my wounded hand to face him fully.

"It was only a cut. I apparently made it much worse, by not being careful with the temperature of the ice. The cold normally doesn't have much effect on me, so I was negligent." I reply, letting the layer of ice melt just enough for the frozen blood to come off the wounds surface, making an amused face when he pockets the bloody ice cube, before re-examining the wound.

"This will need proper treatment." He pokes the edges of the cut, which had started to die due to the cold.

I sigh, rolling my eyes. "It needed treatment before, but I had wanted to finish what I had started."

His eye twitches. "Do you always neglect your basic needs? Nifty informed me that while you cooked far too much for the hotel to consume each meal today, you failed to eat any of it."

I attempt to turn my head to dodge the question, only to be pulled back by a red clawed hand on my chin. "Taking advantage of the fact that I don't flinch from your touch now?"

His eyes sharpen. "Don't think you can escape the question by throwing out accusations, you will answer me, little fox."

My eyes snap back to his with defiance, glowing blue with my own power. "Oh? Will I now? I wasn't aware you owned me." I growl out, my frustration getting the best of me as some of my form shows through.

His eyes flash to dials, his antlers growing, breath and static picking up, at the challenge, his voice coming out a little garbled by the static. "Answer me!"

My ears twitch back, eyes going slightly wide as my own breathing picking up for a different reason than his. My cheeks lightly flushing, my body's reaction to his change shocking me enough to drop my form, as it's effect becomes a little too obvious with my large chest in my thin black tank top. It was far too soon for either one of us, to act on these kind of reactions. "Alastor, you need to calm down, and back up now." My tone shifts to a false calm, as I place my uninjured hand on his chest to push him gently and create a little space between us.

He takes a deep breath to try to calm himself, and seems to understand the situation immediately as the change in my scent hits, removing his hands from my person, taking a step back, before cocking his head to the side. "Instead of cowering, and feeling terrified, as a sane soul would. You react as though I had spoken sweet words meant to sweep you off your feet?"

I'm full on blushing now. "You know what? It's a surprise to me too, hot shot." I shoot back. "Though I guess it shouldn't be." I mumble under my breath. "You wanted me to treat my hand, right? So let's go do that, I have a first aid kit in my room." I state, walking past him expecting him to follow.

When he stayed standing in the same spot seeming lost in thought, I called out over my shoulder. "I'm not going to jump you, Alastor. I'm not comfortable with the thought of something like that either." At least not yet... "And you still haven't answered my question, yet, you want your own answered? A bit hypocritical, don't you think, darling?" I continue. "I'll meet you in my room. Shade knows which one if you need directions." And I shadow myself away, leaving the next move to the radio man.

Appearing in the hallway outside of my room, my ears twitching as they pick up sounds of skittering in the distance.

"Nifty, dear. Is that you?" I call out calmly, continuing to my door, and unlocking it. The sounds pause, before increasing in volume until the small redheaded maid popped up next to me, one of her hands holding one of the knives I'd gifted her.

"Yes, it's me. I lost the bug I had been tracking, and was looking for it's nest." Her eye twitches slightly.

I smile gently at the shorter demon. "I can assure you that if the bug made it close to my room, it was either thoroughly incinerated, or frozen solid. If it was the latter, I will have another gift for your collection."

Her eye brightens, and an almost manic grin stretches across her face. "Really?"

I hum in affirmation. "Say Nifty, can you do a favor for me? I'll make sure to take you out with me, to pick out something neat for your collection next time I have time." A shadow moving through the hall, and attaching itself to mine, caught my attention out of the corner of my eye.

She looks thoughtful for a moment. "I'd have to ask Alastor, first."

I nod to Nifty. "Very well." I turn to the shadow. "Do we have your permission, Mr Radio Demon?"

"Can I have some fun, before you call me out, my dear?" He questions, brushing off invisible dust as he emerged from the shadows.

I shoot him a raised eyebrow. "Apologies. Maybe another time, I want a timely answer."

"You still haven't answered my question."

I sigh. Since we already crossed the touching line, I suppose it wouldn't hurt too bad.

I step towards him, using one finger to hook the top button on his coat, pulling him slightly forward to lock eyes. "And you never answered mine from this morning. Do you really want to play this little game, Alastor?"

His eyes widen, smile tightening as his body freezes in place despite the lack of ice.

"Alastor~?" I call out in a singsong, giving another playful little tug to his coat before I let it go, and broke eye contact. Turning to push my door open, letting it lightly hit the wall behind it.

He seemed to snap himself out of it, adjusting his coat as he replied to Nifty, instead of me. "I don't see why I wouldn't allow it, go on ahead."

Nifty's excitement was tangible, as she was almost vibrating with it. "Oh goodie! Hehe!"

That got a small laugh out of me, as I bend down to her level, making my voice sound as serious as possible. "I'm going to let you in on something big, and I want you to go to everyone's room, except Dex, to spread the word before they all go to sleep. Do you think you can handle the mission?"

She nods. "Oh boy, can I!"

I laugh again. "I'm planning a little show to interrupt Vox-tech's after-extermination special." I give them a devilishly wicked grin. "So if they want to watch the show, they are welcome to turn up in the ballroom."

The little maid was actually bouncing in place now. "I like you! You're almost as good as a bad boy! Leave it to me, I'll take care of it." She holds out her hand to shake.

I look at Alastor, for a moment with a raised eyebrow, then back to her. "Hun, we done need to shake on it. If you don't trust me, I'll make you something else now too, as a bonus. But I like to think Alastor, like myself, keeps only the best around."

That seemed to catch them both by surprise.

I looked to Alastor again. "I've held up a bargain between us without such things, I stand by words as long as people are deserving of them."

Nifty looks between the two of us for a moment, before it seemed like something clicked in her head. "Alright, consider it done." And she zoomed off down the hallway out of sight.

I watch her go, chuckling to myself. "I see why you are fond of her, Alastor. She's quite endearing."

"Indeed." Alastor replies, leaning on his cane next to me.

I turn and enter my room, looking over my shoulder at him briefly. "You are welcome to come in, and take a seat. If it makes you more comfortable, you are welcome to leave the door open."

He doesn't respond, but follows behind me, perching himself on my desk chair to look at the wall of books that line the large shelves. "You have accumulated quite a collection already, little fox. A fan of anything in particular?" He makes conversation, as I move about the room gathering my first aid kit, and a sharp knife.

"I read a bit of everything, much like music, I dislike being restricted to one genre. But my favorites are always either the classics, or stuff from lesser known authors or artists." I walk over, placing the kit down on the desk to open it, pulling out bandages and a small jar of ointment I had made.

He looked intrigued at the little jar, picking it up to examine it, opening it to cautiously sniff the herbal contents.

"It's not poison. I simply haven't had the chance to see how it works until now." I say, letting him amuse himself with his examination.

His eyes narrow slightly on the jar. "And where did you get such an item? What is it used for?"

I raise an eyebrow at his almost anxious tone. "I made it myself. After quite a bit of research, mind you. And it is supposed to help boost demonic healing for things like this." I hold up my injured hand, taking the knife in my other, and putting to the wound, only to be stopped by a hand with red tipped claws.

My eyes snapping to his as he questioned. "What are you doing?!"

"Cutting away the dead flesh to speed up the healing process. It will prevent more from dying as the wound heals, and prevent the scar from becoming worse since it was made by my power." I gave him the information, taking my hand back from his grip, and continued to treat the wound. Turning the dead flesh into ash as it was cut away, adding the ointment, then bandages, when I was done.

"Done." I hold out my newly bandaged hand for him to examine.

He takes the appendage, holding it to his nose for a moment as he breaths in my scent, injured, but no longer tainted by the scent of decay. I could see some of the tension in his body leave.

"It bothered you that much, even after seeing me alive and kicking?" That earned me a glare, even if there was no heat behind it.

"You know, my dear little fox. You are simply too direct for your own good."

"I'm aware, it's both a blessing and a curse. But I've always been this way, so you can love me, or hate me, it's not going to change." I give him a small wry smile, letting him hold my hand for a few moments until he was completely relaxed again.

Once he was done, and my hand was returned. I once again moved around the room as he watched, packing up the kit, and the knife, putting them away. Then going through my clothes, setting each piece on the bed for later.

When I faced him again after some time, he was sitting there, leaning forward on his cane, both of his hands resting on top, and his chin resting on the back of his hands.

"Are you not uncomfortable sitting there like that?" I ask, stopping in front of him.

"Not in the least."

I hum in acknowledgement. "I'm done here. I still need to finish what you interrupted downstairs though." I turn to head to the door.

He doesn't move to get up. "When your form shifted earlier tonight, you had glowing markings on your forehead."

I freeze, my back still facing him. I hadn't realized I had let that much out. "Yes? What were the markings?" I wonder which one? I had more than one.

He stands up and walks in front of me, locking eyes with me, using the shadows to close the door. "A flame, a snowflake, and a golden eye."

My eyes widen. "A fucking what now?! The flame, and the snowflake, were known about. But the eye? That is new information." I blurt out, walking over to a standing floor langth mirror, and shifting forms completely, no longer caring that Alastor was in the room to see.

My form had changed, a golden eye now accompanied the icey blue snowflake, that twisted around the slightly darker ice blue flame. The golden outline of the eye, going through the center of the two, so they looked layered.

My colorful tails spread out behind me, had another color added to the mix as well. The blue, red, orange, and yellow tails, now having a pink friend.

The icey blue tattoo-like marks around my face, were now all over my body. "Nine tailed fox, indeed." I say. touching the glowing marks on my face.

"They look like your flames themselves." Alastor states, reaching out to gently touch one of the glowing marks on one of my shoulders, with the tips of his fingers.

I narrow my red and blue eyes at myself in the mirror. "That would only make sense, I did set the house on fire as I lost consciousness. I suppose, I could have technically died from the fire as well." I turn to face him. "An icey cold snowy night, and a house fire. It fits my powers quite well, don't you think?"

He hummed, seeming distracted by my demon form.

I tilt my head, looking forward the cord that I had seen this morning, my eyes widening slightly at how clear it looked.

"What are you seeing? You have a gold ring that appeared around your iris, and that eye on your head is glowing." Alastor questions, the hand that had been on my shoulder earlier, coming up to brush against the mark on my head with his thumb.

I blink, thinking I may be losing it. I think the cord glows a little when he touches me?

I don't answer as I blink up at him for a moment, grabbing his hand in mine, holding it firmly, and tilting my head again.

There it was! A very dim glow. How interesting.

"It's glowing."

Alastor tilts his head questioningly, his eyes narrowing. "I'm aware you are glowing, darling. I'm asking what you are seeing."

I let out a huff, rolling my eyes. "The cord. It glows when we are in contact."

His stance straightens, but he leaves his hand in mine. "The cord glows? Does it not usually?"

I shake my head. "Only when we touch. It's the same golden color." I motion to my forehead.

I still holding his hand in one of mine, reach out to the cord with my other, trying to circulate the new energy in both hands.

I was hoping to test a theory.

And as I make contact my hand glow, Alastor's eyes flash taking on a gold glow and widen, clearly able to see what I see as he looks at the cord in my hand.

But my concentration is broken as an excited Nifty, knocked on my door.

Alastor stepped back, quickly regaining his composure. As I dropped my demon form, shifting back to normal as I walked to the door, Alastor following close behind.

I stop right before opening the door, my back still to Alastor. "To answer that question, I do have a tendency to neglect my self in day to day life. It's a habit formed by putting the needs of others first. When I finally did put myself first, it was already far too late to save me. So I wouldn't expect that to change much." Then I opened the door to avoid his response, instead focusing on the bouncing Nifty.

"I did it! I gave them all your message!" She beamed at me.

I smile, snapping my fingers behind my back. "Great job, Nifty. Look who I found while I was looking for clothes to wear for my show!" I hold out the frozen insect.

"Oh boy! You found him!" She lets out manic giggles, snatching it from me and sprinting off down the hall.

"Now then." The hair on the back of my head stood up as Alastor's breath blew across it. "Not exactly the distraction you had hoped, was it?"

Fuck.

Nope, I guess it wasn't.

I didn't bother turning around. "If you want more out of me, you have to answer my first question, darling. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm on something of a time restraint." And I melted into the shadows, appearing back on the stage to finish everything.

"Don't think you can escape from me, my dear little fox." Alastor said, appearing right after me.

"I'm not hiding, Al. I'm trying to finish what I started. I need the stage ready, so the performance can be at it's best." I give him a look over my shoulder. "Though, I've already removed the broken stuff laying around that can cause bodily harm, and suffered the consequences." I waved my bandaged hand his way. "This part is easier." I add, using both my ice and fire magic to create more of those multi colored orbs of light, so they can float around the room like colored stars.

Alastor's eyes flash, taking in the colorful lights.

I used my ice magic to create different plate-like platforms, and to coat the current curtains in sparkling frost.

"Your magic, it seems like something out of a picture book."

I turn to him, putting on a gentle smile. "I'll take that as a compliment. Magic like that of a fairytale, in a place like Hell? I always have been a walking contradiction, so it makes sense in a way."

He hummed in acknowledgement.

Dex wonders in at this point, laptop and phone suspended in some kind of electrical field, their attention split between the two devices.

I tilt my head. "Discovering some new tricks of your own?"

Dex only looks up briefly to acknowledge my presence. "Improving every day, as one should. Isn't that what you told us?"

I give them a grin. "Indeed, I'm glad it stuck."

The others start to show up not long after that, slowly filtering in in their pj's, taking seats on sofas that Alastor, had graciously snapped into the ballroom.

"Is the broadcast getting close, Dex?" My eyes flash with mischief, my grin turning devious.

"Yes, they are preparing to go on air. Are we still letting them go for a bit?"

"Yes. Just when they think they have won at the end of their little bit, highjack the broadcast so they can really get the message." I reply. "And Dex?"

"Yes, boss?"

"The rest of the grid can fail, but our broadcast cannot be interrupted, understood?"

"Got it, boss."

"Good. Let's do this then, shall we?"