Alastor's POV
When we appeared in my room, I let out a soft sigh. Then, like a little echo, there was another sigh just to my left.
I looked down at her, a calm smile on my face. Her hair was full of bouncy curls, the beautiful dress I'd bought her hugging her body perfectly.
She looked up at me, those bright orange eyes finally holding the recognition I've been waiting for.
And she laid her head on my arm.
"I love you," she said softly and my chest swelled.
I swept her up off her feet and took her to the bed, falling onto my back and just holding her close to me.
I buried my nose into her neck and peppered her skin with little kisses, trailing them up and down. She started purring, and I smiled against her skin.
"I love you too, my darling, and I don't want you worrying..." I mumbled before placing more soft kisses on her shoulder.
She hummed and rolled over, positioning herself in my lap.
Feeling her weight against me...knowing she sees me the same way I see her...
It felt like forever, but now that it's here it was worth the wait.
"I'm not...I mean, I am, but I'll try my best not to be," she giggled softly, "I don't want to spend this time with you worrying..." she said quietly, running her fingers down the side of my neck.
I shivered slightly and trailed my fingers up the sides of her legs. They went past the hem of her dress, and I settled at the divot her hips created.
She leaned down and hovered over my lips, still speaking softly when she spoke her next words.
"I mean, you just got me back...wouldn't want to spoil that..." she whispered against my lips, and I growled in response before closing the space.
I kissed her softly, enjoying the feeling of her hands as she gently ran her fingers down my neck. She started to unbutton my jacket, and I leaned up a bit to help her.
After removing that, she went to work at my shirt and I chuckled into the kiss.
The shirt was gone in a moment, followed immediately by her fingers skimming over my stomach.
She sighed happily, finally breaking the kiss to look down at my torso.
"I missed this...I missed you..." she said softly, "it was so frustrating, because whenever I would look at you I knew I was missing something..."
I toyed with the fabric of her dress, listening silently.
"Now that I have you back...it's just like...everything is so perfect..." she laughed softly, "y'know, despite the creepy man that wants to kill me, but that's not the point right now," she said nonchalantly.
I shrugged, squeezing her sides gently, "he'd have to get through me, first, my love..." I purred, then pulled her down closer to me.
Moving her hair to the side, I placed gentle kisses against the other side of her neck. I started leaving little love bites, which lead to hickeys.
Her fingers tangled into my hair and she quickly became breathless. I forgot how liberating breaking her down to this begging mess could be.
She tugged at the strands of my hair, ultimately pulling a few groans from me, and I pulled away from her skin.
I admired the particularly dark mark I'd left.
Finally able to claim back what belongs to me.
I ran my tongue over her skin and felt her shiver, followed by her thighs subtly squeezing against my hips.
She pulled up to look at me, the dazed look in her eyes being exactly what I wanted to see.
I gently rolled her off of me and to her side of the bed...or, at least it's the side she always took back on earth.
Just as I'd thought, her little body was exhausted, and after my coaxing she was ready for bed. She curled up under the covers as I pulled them over her, and I snapped my fingers.
This left her wearing nothing but one of my shirts and soft pajama shorts.
The short ones I like.
She hummed, a soft smile on her face as she snuggled into the pillow. She breathed in deeply and then barely opened her eyes, looking up at me.
"Smells like you..." she mumbled, and I brushed my fingers over her hair. I pushed it away from her face, smoothing it out.
"Well, it's my bed," I teased, and she scrunched her nose, then chuckled tiredly.
I swiped her cheek with my thumb, "sleep, honey...we'll catch up more when morning comes..." I said softly, her heartbeat already falling into a slow rhythm as her breathing evened out.
As soon as I was sure she was out cold, my smile faded slowly.
"I'll figure this out, peu d'amour..." I whispered, watching her peaceful expression, the slow rise and fall of her chest...
I will protect her down to my dying breath.
If this demon wants her, he will literally have to go through me first. I will not stop fighting until either I'm dead or he's dead.
Her dying is not an option.
And if I'm going down, I'm taking him with me no matter what.
I just hope it doesn't come to that...maybe peace is negotiable? I need to figure out what he wants...
He told her that she "hindered" my works...does he think she's a liability to my reputation?
Only a fool would think such a thing. My reputation was built on fear, a fear that I've deeply rooted into the heathens of this underground society.
He also offered to return her memories...
Which, if I could've done that I would have...however, when dealing with voodoo and dark magic, only the one responsible for the curse can lift it unless the curse is broken on its own.
Which means...if he wasn't lying...he was helping Rosaline the entire time.
I stood up, then, quickly throwing a shirt over my head. I changed out of my dress slacks and into a more breathable pair.
If I want to figure this out, I need to go to the one who started it.
After finishing getting ready, I walked to the center of my bedroom. I sent a quick glance to Aria, feeling a bit nervous about leaving her here unattended.
But I shook it off. She's safe here.
With that, I snapped my fingers.
I believe a proper family reunion is long overdue.
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Narrator POV
"So close..." Xander hissed under his breath, pacing the floor of his lair.
His pets laid over by his large chair, watching him curiously. They'd never seen their master so...twitchy.
"I thought this would be easy, and it Damn near was, too," he grumbled to himself, the silence of his abode the only noise to follow.
There was movement in the shadows, and his sharp gaze snapped towards it.
Sitting there, watching him warily, was the small night creature he uses as his eyes above ground.
He snapped his fingers and pointed to his feet.
Immediately the little creature scurried over to him, laying its "ears" back and lowering its body in submission.
"What did you find?" Xander growled at the shadow. It shook slightly and transferred the information it gathered after Xander took his leave.
Upon getting the news...
"What?!" He nearly yelled, "how did they break my curse?!"
The creature flinched and shook its head as if to convey it doesn't know. Xander snarled and kicked the small shadow, sending it flying to the opposite wall.
The small thing squeaked upon impact, and then slumped to the ground, motionless. Of course, it's not dead, in fact it's used to these outbursts.
It's found if it lays still he abuses it less.
The overlord growled in frustration, then sighed and took a deep breath.
"That's fine. Simply a miscalculation. If anything, it adds to the fun," he mumbled to himself, his smile widening.
In his head, he calculated a new plan. Killing Aria outright would be too much of a hassle for him, as it would indefinitely lead to a fight between him and Alastor.
"Attala." His voice called, immediately causing one of the resting hyenas to perk up.
She got up, trotting over to her master. He smiled warmly at her, and bent down to gently brush his claws through the fur on her head, earning a few happy chuckles from the hellish animal.
"You and your brothers watch my lair. You're in charge," he said to Attala, the smartest of his three.
Then he stood up, preparing to contact his plan B.
"I have to pay a little visit to one of our friends upstairs."