Chapter Text
Charlie bounced on the soft cushions of their ratty red couch from the prickly combination of fear and anticipation.
When she and Vaggie had returned home after the fiasco that was Heaven’s trial, Charlie’s entire world had been absorbed by her failure at the trial and the revelation that her girlfriend, her closest confidant of the last three years, was an angel and hadn’t told her. The one person in all the realms that she had put her full faith into hadn’t reciprocated the same trust.
How was she supposed to process that sort of betrayal? How was she supposed to deal with knowing the woman she loved lied to her since the very beginning? How was she supposed to believe in anything when the relationship that had become her foundation was made of nothing but pebbles?
Vaggie had tried to explain but Charlie had just been so completely overwhelmed by Vaggie’s secret that she’d curled up under her blankets, pressed a pillow to her ears, and turned her back to Vaggie. She knew, rationally, that there were more important things to focus on, like what in the seven rings she was going to do about Heaven, but Vaggie was all she could think about and it was just too much.
After only a couple of hours, they’d gotten up at the knock on the front door. The same knock that announced the presence of a beautiful snow leopard sinner in a white suit that seemed almost familiar.
When Charlie realized she was there for Angel Dust, she felt like the worst person in all of existence. How could she have been so selfish and callous to forget what she’d seen in Heaven? Angel Dust had proven that he was a perfect example of a redeemed sinner and all he would get for his selflessness was Valentino’s wrath.
The day she’d gone to Valentino’s studio still haunted her. The feel of Valentino’s slimy tongue on her skin and the tingle of venom that tried to seep into her blood… The way he’d looked at her as if she was beneath him and how greatly that thought seemed to excite him… The way Angel had looked, worried and nervous and so very, very afraid… The bruises on Angel’s wrists and the swelling on his cheek and the anger that held even more fear in his desperate gaze…
Angel had forgiven her for intruding and she was so, so grateful… but she’d woken from nightmares formed of the things she’d only glimpsed for days afterwards. She’d scrubbed her skin until it bled and Vaggie had to forcibly remove the washcloth from her hands before she’d even begun to feel clean again. She’d sobbed into Vaggie’s chest from resurfaced old memories and fears while Vaggie held her close and reassured her she was safe.
Charlie had cried even harder when she realized that Angel had to be going through everything she feared and more she couldn’t even imagine. Her fingers had hovered over different names on her phone, certain that she had enough contacts that at least one of them had to know how to get Angel out of his contract. But the thought of Angel’s desperate pleas for her to stay out of his business made her freeze.
Charlie just… Charlie needed to get his permission before she stuck her nose into Angel’s life again. For that, though, she needed to talk to Angel, and Charlie just hadn’t been able to pull herself together enough to try.
She would! Without a doubt, Charlie would pluck up her courage and tenacity and help Angel. She just had to wait for the right time.
Now, though, waiting for whatever sick, twisted punishment Valentino and that woman had planned, Charlie felt her nerves becoming frayed at the edges and regret poisoning her veins because she hadn’t acted sooner. Having left that woman behind with Alastor to wait for Angel Dust felt like another regret clawing at her insides.
Charlie should have demanded the woman tell her exactly what was going on. She should have refused her getting anywhere near Angel Dust. She should have done something.
Sir Pentious and Vaggie had attempted to talk to her, but Charlie hadn’t been able to interact, her gaze stuck on the stairs waiting for Angel Dust to come out of his room before jumping to the front door and wondering if he’d already left. She and Vaggie hadn’t even been gone an hour before they’d returned to find only Niffty cackling as she scrubbed the banister with a iron-toothed brush.
There’d been no sign of the snow leopard. There’d been no hint of Husk. Angel Dust had been nowhere to be found.
It’d already been too long for Angel to have just been sleeping in and every minute without hearing one of his crude jokes was just making Charlie more and more anxious. If he didn’t show up soon she was liable to-
Angel Dust unexpectedly appeared from off the first-floor hall and Charlie immediately got to her feet and rushed forward.
Angel’s eyes were red-rimmed and the steadying hand Husk kept on his back as they walked left Charlie feeling cold. “Did she hurt you?” Charlie demanded, her inner demon chomping at the bit, ready to be unleashed.
Angel blinked in surprise. “What are you talking about, Charlie?”
Charlie walked around Angel, lifting his arms and inspecting every inch of Angel she could manage.
“Hey! Watch it!” Angel shouted when she lifted his leg to inspect his foot, two hands holding her shoulders back.
“Charlie!” Vaggie suddenly appeared, pulling Charlie back, “Angel, you’re alright, right?”
“Right!” Angel nodded, shifting slightly behind Husk.
“She wanted something. I know she did.” Charlie insisted, struggling against Vaggie’s hold to get closer to Angel and make absolutely sure he hadn’t been hurt.
To Charlie’s bewilderment, Angel grinned. It was wide and bright and looked… Charlie blinked. She’d never seen Angel grin that genuinely before. Not without that shadow lurking in the corners of his eyes. “She got me out of my contract with Val!” He announced happily, disbelief coloring his tone.
Tears filled her eyes and Charlie couldn’t contain her absolute delight. She clutched her hands before her chest, “She did?”
Vaggie frowned, “How?”
“Not real sure how she did it but basically, signing a new contract with her completed my contract with Val and-“ Angel shrugged, his smile softer and a tremble in his voice that had Charlie’s own lip shaking, “I’m free of him.”
Charlie squealed, broke through Vaggie’s hold, dodged around Husk, and clung onto Angel.
Angel wrapped his long arms around her, patting her head gently. “It’s a good deal, this time,” Angel promised softly, “I swear.”
“I made sure of it.” Husk agreed.
Charlie buried her face into Angel’s chest fluff and began to cry. How long had Angel worked under Valentino? How long had he been forced to perform and obey? How long had Valentino been treating Angel horribly? How long had he been taking advantage of Angel’s good heart? How long had Angel been suffering?
He was finally free from the sinner who she knew was responsible for most of his pain. Charlie tightened her arms around Angel. She’d never been so happy that one of her friends was under contract.
“So, uh, how was Heaven?” Angel asked, hand still tapping her head like a weird pet.
“Oh God,” Charlie let out a wail. She’d forgotten about Heaven.
In a crackle of static and shifting of shadows, the Radio Demon appeared beside Snow’s table at Gregor’s in Cannibal Town.
Snow continued to flick through the names of her poached contracts, failing to acknowledge his sudden appearance.
“Hmm,” Alastor leaned down until he hovered over her papers and his face was only a stretch of the neck away, “no kiss?”
Snow didn’t look his way. She shifted her papers to the side and continued organizing the names by the information she’d managed to gather regarding their characters and current jobs. “Not in the mood, I’m afraid.”
“Is that so?” Alastor asked, taking a seat across from her. “Then what are you in the mood for, Cherie?”
A waiter came by with his wide toothy smile. He set a plate loaded with perfectly seasoned and sliced raw meat soaked in a thick red wine between them.
Snow put away her list before picking a particularly bloody piece for herself and setting it on her plate.
Alastor followed her lead.
“I want to make a deal,” Snow answered after they’d both served themselves and begun their meals.
Alastor paused with a piece of meat speared on his fork, red liquid dripping down his dark wrist and onto the sleeve of his jacket, blending into his suit’s existing shade perfectly. Alastor didn’t seem to notice or care. “A deal?”
Snow nodded. “We were always good at those.”
Alastor’s grin grew sharper, “We were good at a great many things.”
A part of Snow was tempted to flirt back. To tease and play like they always did when they crossed one another’s paths, but a larger part of herself was just tired. Very, very tired. Her night had been rough. Far rougher than she’d had to face in a very long time. She’d been right that Valentino would be aggressive and that combined with his well-known sadism had left her raw, bruised, and with wounds that continued to bleed at the edges. Her morning had been exhausting and while her fingers and wrist had finally healed, two of her ribs were still tender and made breathing a chore.
Snow had left Valentino’s after the sun had risen and, after a hot shower and spiked tea, she’d spent a while drafting standard contracts for Pentagram and creating a brand new one from scratch for Angel Dust. Then, instead of sleeping, she’d spent a while making sure the new contract was something both she and Angel Dust were comfortable with. Only to then turn her full focus on the other contracts she’d changed, knowing time wasn’t on her side if she wanted to be certain those she’d chosen would be safe.
Snow had had a busy morning and she still had 39 sinners to visit.
That was just the start of her day. She still had to gather up her new contracted souls, settle them someplace safe, and then spend the rest of the night coming up with a way to deal with the sh*tstorm she would soon unleash while still making sure to carve out enough time to adjust the contracts she found worth keeping into something beneficial. All while reassuring Rosie and Dolly that she had everything under control and that they didn’t need to show up at her doorstep of call in Shofar.
Honestly, she didn’t have the energy to play pretend with Alastor. Especially not when she was so out of practice.
“Are you interested or not, Alastor?” Snow demanded setting down her fork and knife. She’d lost her appetite and just wanted to get this over with so she could get on with her day.
Alastor’s eyes narrowed. She could feel his shadow drift up to her shoulder. “Something’s wrong.”
Snow flashed her own teeth in a parody of his smile, her eyes hard. She’d forgotten how difficult Alastor could make things when they didn’t immediately go his way. “Whatever would make you think that?”
Alastor’s eye twitched. “Chaton.”
A ghostly finger began poking at her arm.
Snow swiped away the touch. Alastor’s shadow hissed and slumped back to Alastor’s feet.
“I’d like you to make a special broadcast tonight,” Snow began, dismissing them both, “be your usual charming self, annoy a variety of people I’m sure you’re still not fond of, and get my news out to the public.”
Alastor glared, his annoyance practically palpable. “I don’t remember you being so taciturn.”
“I don’t remember you caring,” Snow smiled back.
Snow could practically hear Alastor grind his teeth.
Snow sighed. “Alastor, I have a mountain of things to get through today. I’d like to check this off my list. Are you interested in this deal, or am I looking for someone else?”
“Fine,” Alastor’s grit out through thick static. He took a vicious bite out of the offered food. “Tell me, Mon Chaton, what do I get in return for this personalized broadcast?”
Anita Mandalay chortled in disbelief at what the cat chick was offering. Yeah, sure, this sh*t seemed nice, and she could appreciate the new addition to her existing contract with Valentino, but what an absolute f*cking joke.
“You expect me to trust my life to some nobody like you and f*cking Angel Dust out of all people?” Anita laughed so hard she had to wrap her arms around her aching stomach, “f*cking ridiculous.”
How many times had she seen that f*cking addict be torn to shreds for Valentino’s amusem*nt? How many times had he been f*cked past breaking? How many times had he been nothing but an obedient little toy to be chewed on and used up? And she was supposed to trust her safety to someone who couldn’t look after his own damned self?
There was no way Anita was risking his fate on herself.
The cat lady’s smile didn’t waver. Snow, and what type of f*cking name was that?, just sat at Anita’s kitchen table, prim, posh, and proper as if Anita didn’t know she’d had to f*ck Valentino, probably the other Vees, a hundred dicks and twice as many c*nts just to get Anita’s contract changed. Anita wasn’t one of Valentino’s top tier but she was high enough that he wasn’t likely to just let her go on a whim. Who the f*ck knew what other twisted sh*t she’d had to do to get anywhere near Angel Dust’s.
Once Anita finished laughing, she looked her over and had to admit that she was disappointed not to have been invited to the “negotiation.” She would have loved to pull this bitch’s hair and shove her face into her puss* while she gave her the ride of her life. She wanted to f*ck the placid smile off her face and hear her scream.
Hell, she would have been happy to just focus on her pleasure. The chick was hot. It would be such a turn-on to turn this prim suit-wearing woman into a puddle of need and cum. Plus, getting the clause added left Anita in her debt. She was pretty sure this was another of Valentino’s tricks, probably trying to get his latest whor* a touch of power despite choking her with his own leash. It would be just like the bastard. Still, it didn’t sound bad to have a little fun before the lady ended up just as hollow and used up as the rest of them.
The woman stood before Anita could even offer. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Anita,” Cat lady stated, still just as calm as she had been the entire time she’d been in Anita’s apartment, “I suggest you find another Overlord soon before Valentino decides to once more renegotiate your contract.”
Anita realized the golden contract that had been on offer was gone and only her current one with Valentino remained. She scrambled to her feet. “Wait, that’s it?”
“Yes.” The cat replied easily, stepping to the side as if she was going to walk around Anita and to the door.
Anita quickly stepped in her way. “But you said this was a negotiation.” She scowled. “And you got my contract changed so you obviously want me.”
“Negotiations are over.” Snow smiled in a way that flashed her fangs and made ice crawl up Anita’s spine. She took an automatic step back in sudden fear. “I’m no longer interested in your soul.”
Anita didn’t even have time to get offended before the woman was gone with a gust of freezing air.
Her legs gave way as the display made her realize that Snow wasn’t just some upstart whor* newly arrived in Hell. You had to be a very well-established, very powerful Overlord to display that kind of easy power. Even of the three Vees she’d only seen Vox with power like that.
Which meant that the contract she’d skimmed, that had sounded like the best thing she’d ever seen…
Anita had f*cked up.
Holy Hell, she’d really, really f*cked up.
Anita stared at where Snow had disappeared, her mind in a state of pure shock.
A knock made her snap to her senses and run towards the door. She threw it open without thought, hoping desperately that Snow had returned.
“Hello!” A staticky voice greeted from a sharp yellow grin. Glowing red eyes bore into her soul, his presence looming over her shaking form. “I was told you’re in need of an Overlord.”
Meet me at Rosie’s in Cannibal Town.
Angel gripped his phone in his hands as he strolled up to the ornate wrought iron doors below the large red and white sign declaring the building to be Rosie’s Emporium.
Eyes watched him from every corner. He could practically feel their breaths on his skin and see their sharp toothed mouths salivating. Angel stepped inside as casually and confidently as he could, trying to ignore both his nerves and the threat that those teeth had teased at since the moment he’d stepped into Cannibal Town.
Angel didn’t know if this was a test or what, but he’d followed her little order and now here he was, surrounded by damned cannibals who kept eyeing every sexy inch of him. And not even for a fun reason.
He wished he’d brought Husk like he’d offered. Even Sir Pentious or Niffty or called up Cherri. Anyone to help him feel like he wasn’t completely alone and vulnerable. But he couldn’t, could he? He had to prove to Snow that he was as strong as she thought. He had to prove that he could protect whoever the f*ck she wanted. He had to prove to himself that he was worth whatever she’d had to do to get him free.
If it got him out of the hotel while they tried to figure their next steps against the extermination, all the better.
“Angel Dust!” A tall, skeletal woman with sharp white teeth and empty eyes greeted him, shoving her way through the scattered people in the store until she had his hands in her own. “Snowdrop wasn’t expecting you so soon but everyone else is here, so I know she’ll be thrilled you made it.” Her bony hands led him around the counter and towards the back, pushing him towards the stairs. “Go on up, Angel Dust. They’re in the living room on the right!”
“Thanks,” Angel gave Rosie a shaky grin before heading up the stairs. He couldn’t help but wonder who would be waiting for him. He knew the contract. He knew he was supposed to protect a few more people, he just… wasn’t sure he was ready to meet them.
“Not f*cking likely!”
The familiar growl made Angel’s stomach turn. f*ck. He recognized that voice. It belonged to the pierced dick jackass who liked sh*t way too rough. While he wasn’t the worst guy around, he never needed any motivation to f*ck Angel as rough and painfully as possible to the point that Angel always needed an extra hit of Love Potion before every scene. Usually, that helped make sure Angel wasn’t left bleeding for weeks afterwards, but sometimes even that wasn’t enough.
Angel swallowed back the bile; different leash, same collar.
Angel slinked into the room, seductive smirk already on his lips. He took a quick note of Pierced Dick standing angrily in the middle of the room, Titty-Twister languidly reclined on a loveseat, Mic Dude leaning next to the window, Script Writer twisting her hands on the other side of the window, and Summer perched on the arm of Titty Twister’s seat. They all faced the couch and the black-haired woman sitting with her back to the door. “Hello there, were you waiting for me?”
All eyes turned towards him. He noted Pierced Dick’s nose twitch and his eyes narrow.
Snow turned her head enough to see him. “Angel Dust, lovely to see you. Come on in.”
Angel swished his hips and kept his back arched just the right way as he fully entered the room. He slipped onto the couch beside Snow, his legs on full display and chest fluff at attention.
He kept his attention focused on everyone else in the room, noting their reactions to his presence. Summer gave him a nervous smile. Titty-Twister was eying his chest fluff. Mic Dude had his eyes jumping from him to Snow and back again. Script Writer was staring at Snow, but her gaze occasionally slipped to him or Pierced Dick before resolutely returning to Snow. Pierced Dick was drooling as he stared at Angel’s legs.
Angel turned towards Snow with a grin, ignoring everyone else. “What’d I miss?”
Snow gave a placid smile. “I was just advising them that it’d be best to stay in Cannibal Town for the next week.”
“Why the f*ck would we need to stay here?” Pierced Dick snarled, having apparently decided to shift his focus from his hard-on to his anger. Not that Angel didn’t know the f*cker liked meshing the two. “And you want us missing work, too?”
Snow turned back to Pierced Dick. “Because this will be the safest place for you until things settle.”
Pierced Dick snorted and paced away.
Script Writer cleared her throat delicately.
Snow turned her attention to her.
“I know the cannibals let us through and everything, but I don’t think they’ll like it if we stay on their territory for very long.” Script Writer announced softly.
With a twist of that black hand, a silver snowflake pin appeared between Snow’s pointer and middle fingers. “As long as you’re wearing this, they’ll know you’re here under my protection and no harm will come to you.”
Pierced Dick snorted again. “Sure. Just like we’re supposed to trust our safety to you and Angel whor*. I shouldn’t have listened to f*cking Anita about you dild*-snorting slu*tbags. I was better off with Valentino.”
Angel didn’t give a sh*t what he was called, having been called far worse and far more creatively, but he could feel the sudden chill in the air at the juvenile comment.
Snow carefully rose to her feet as the temperature continued to plummet until it settled to below freezing. Her silver irises were slipping into red and the nails on her hands began to lengthen and thicken. Her long tail swished violently as the usually soft-looking fur turned spiked and dangerous.
“Is that so?” Snow asked, chilling voice composed and a stark contrast to the demonic form she’d begun to slip into. She stepped forward until she stood before the idiot who’d frozen in place. Physically the wolf sinner towered over her petite stature. Yet, standing before him, Snow reduced the man to nothing but a shivering mess. “You have twenty minutes to get out of Cannibal Town before our contract is voided and my protection vanishes.”
Titty-Twister bolted upright in his seat. “Wait! I’m sure he didn’t mean-“
Snow cut him off with a sharp look.
Titty-Twister shrank back.
Snow turned back to Pierced Dick. “Nineteen minutes and counting, Rocky, before you’re on the menu.”
She took a step back and Pierced Dick took a shaky step forward.
Snow, having already returned to her usual appearance went back to her seat beside Angel.
Everyone but Snow watched Pierced Dick’s progress towards the door.
“Oh, and Rocky?” Snow called, making the man pause at the threshold. “It never would have worked out. I would’ve given Angel permission to erase you the first time you forced yourself on someone.”
Suddenly, the others’ eyes were on Angel instead.
Snow smiled at them. “As I was saying, you have the next three hours to gather what you need and return. Downstairs, you’ll find a car and driver that will help you gather your things before dropping you off at my house down the street from here.” She stood and approached Script Writer first, handing her a snowflake before moving onto Mic Dude. “You’re free to spend the next week how you’d like but you’ll have a room available at the house for as long as you want. They’ll be new phones that aren’t VoxTech waiting for each of you with Angel’s new number programmed in should you feel unsafe. My number will be there, too, but if it’s dire, you can simply think about me with intent and I’ll be able to find you. You’ll be safe in Cannibal Town and Rosie has agreed to provide anything you may need if you decide not to wander outside of it.” Another snowflake to Titty-Twister and another to Summer. “At the end of the week, however, I expect you to have decided if you’d like to try and remain working at Valentino’s studio or if not, what you would like to do instead.” She returned to the couch where she handed the last snowflake to Angel.
“Why are we going into hiding?” Summer asked.
Snow grinned. “You’ll understand soon enough.”
Angel twisted the pretty snowflake between his fingers as he watched out of the big living room window as four fancy cars drove away. Four matt black cars with darkened windows and quiet engines that blended perfectly with the shadows around them.
The snowflake stayed ice cold in his hands despite his body heat and constant fidgeting. It gave off a cool, crisp magic that was almost soothing to his nerves and vividly reminded him of her palm on his cheek. The silver was a lovely almost white shade he’d never seen before. It was smaller than a shot-class but bigger than a quarter, and heavy in his palm but not so heavy that it would weigh him down or pull at his clothes uncomfortably. He practically felt like Goldie Locks.
Snow had money. A sh*t ton more money than he’d expected, even going off the pay she’d promised him in his contract.
He looked around at the empty living room as he distractedly pinned the snowflake to his lapel. It was a nice place. Not overly fancy or anything, but nice. The feel of it was in line with the hotel but not quite as rich. The furniture was of good quality and pleasing shades of red. The curtains were a heavy, thick fabric. The floors were a sturdy hardwood. Rosie’s place, not Snow’s but a place she was clearly welcomed in enough to invite others to.
In Cannibal Town. The one town in all of Pentagram City that everyone knew to avoid at all costs unless they were dressed right and were cannibals themselves. A place even the Overlords respected.
Snow had influence. Enough influence to have Cannibal Town’s Overlord bend to her whim.
He really didn’t know much about Snow, despite everything. Angel had the sudden regret of not asking Husk more about the sinner who now held his contract.
Snow returned with a tray holding three cups of coffee and a side of strawberries. She set it on the table and sat back on the couch. “I hope you don’t mind, Rosie’s closing the store and then coming right up.”
“Um, sure.” Angel nodded uncertainly. He took the seat beside her again.
“I didn’t expect you for another couple of hours,” Snow stated as she picked up a strawberry first.
“You texted me.” Angel shrugged.
Snow paused chewing before nodding. “And I didn’t give you a time. For future reference, if no time is specified in a message, it basically just means come when you can, within reason of course. Same with calls. If it’s urgent or I need you somewhere at a specific time, I’ll tell you.”
“Ok?” Angel frowned. That wasn’t what it’d been like with Val. Or even with his dad when he’d been alive. If they called or messaged or whatever, they expected Angel to get off his ass and be there immediately.
Snow picked up her cup of coffee and studied Angel. “You can ask your questions, you know. We have time.”
“What’s going to happen?”
Snow merely smiled. “I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”
Angel grimaced. Surprises had never really been his friends before. He shook his head. He didn’t want to come off as a brat and test her patience so soon. There were other things she might answer. “How’d you cut your deal with Pierced Dick short?”
Snow chuckled. “Pierced Dick?”
Oh, that was right, Snow had called him something else. Angel tried to remember but honestly couldn’t be bothered. “The tall wolf dude.”
“Rocky?” Snow supplied in clear amusem*nt.
Angel shrugged, that didn’t sound wrong.
Snow laughed again. She settled in on her side of the couch and turned towards Angel. “When I get contracts this way, I tend to add a ‘trial run’ clause to them just in case we’re not a match.”
“A match?” Angel asked in confusion. “Don’t Overlords get power from soul contracts?”
Snow shrugged. “Of course, and most young Overlords like to go for quantity for a quick rise to power. I, on the other hand, have always valued quality. The power you gain is steadier and deeper and the right souls can be worth a hundred ill-fitting ones. Those who have been in charge the longest understand true power.”
It felt f*cking bizarre for her to insinuate The Vees were young when it felt as if they’d always been around and when they’d had such a huge impact on his life. She was right though, wasn’t she? Angel had never paid attention to politics but he knew that all three of The Vees had been in Hell less time than he had and that it’d taken them years more before they really started getting their power.
From what she’d implied during their negotiations, Snow was older than him, by far, so it made sense she’d see The Vees as young. Even if it did mess with his mind.
“There wasn’t a trial run clause on our contract.” Angel frowned. He was positive there hadn’t been. Husk also hadn’t mentioned it, unless it had been when Angel had been zoning out?
“I don’t add a trial run clause when I personalize a contract to that extent,” Snow admitted. “If I put that much work into it, I’m confident in the match.”
Angel felt oddly proud of that. He grabbed the coffee off the table to hide the heat of his face. “So, if you care about quality why even sign the initial contract with Pierced Dick?”
Snow’s mouth pursed. “From what I gathered, someone else gave him a head’s up about my possible visit and he lied about his feelings to get the contract signed.”
Angel’s brows rose. “Someone else who signed?”
Snow shook her head. “No, there’s a discretion clause added. It had to be one of the people I decided not to contract with.”
Angel wasn’t that surprised to realize she hadn’t signed everyone. She had threatened to rescind their own contract so it wasn’t that out of hand that a few others would have pissed her off enough for her to follow through. It did make him wonder though, “How many of Valentino’s contracts did you change, anyway?”
“46.” Snow replied, leaning forward to grab another strawberry.
Angel choked on his coffee.
“So, how long have you two known each other?” Angel couldn’t help but ask as Rosie, the charming skeletal cannibal waltzed into the room and immediately began talking both of their ears off about Cannibal Town gossip.
“Oh! I’ve known Snow since I was nothing but a reckless girl trying to get into the business of souls and getting bit in the process,” Rosie sighed dramatically.
“I poached her contract from an Overlord that’s no longer around,” Snow clarified in an aside to Angel.
“You were under contract?” Angel asked in disbelief, “But you’re an Overlord now, aren’t you?”
Rosie laughed. “Oh yes, I even extended my ten years into forty and by the end I used everything she taught me to take over my own piece of Pentagram,” She smiled at Snow, “After so much time, I simply can’t imagine my life without my Snowdrop.”
“So sentimental,” Snow teased.
Rosie smiled. “Sentimentality is all we’re left with in the end, Snowdrop.”
Snow’s black hand reached out. Rosie’s skeletal one slipped above hers.
Angel stared.
Contracted souls could become Overlords?
A contracted soul could like their owner?
Angel looked at the soft expression on both women’s faces and the clasp of their hands. There was affection and moments that didn’t need to be spoken aloud, there. There was history thread with fondness and years of memories made woven with warmth. It was far more than “like” there. There was something closer to love.
The type of love Angel felt for Molly and Cherri. A love that wasn’t coerced or ladened with bitterness or hate. A love he felt confident and secure in.
Angel felt a spark of hope.
Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad with Snow, after all.
“Salutations, demons and sinners all!”
“It’s starting!” Rosie squealed, hurrying over and increasing the volume of the antique radio placed just behind the loveseat.
“We were waiting for Alastor’s broadcast?” Angel frowned as Alastor’s voice began to give a spiel on the latest news around town. He’d actually been having such a nice time just talking to the two Overlords and hearing some of their bizarre reminiscences that he’d almost forgotten he was supposed to be waiting for something. Hearing Alastor’s voice definitely hadn’t been what he’d been expecting.
“Of course!” Rosie grinned, settling back in her seat, “Snow made a deal with him to get the news out.”
“You made a deal with Alastor?” Angel turned towards Snow worriedly.
Snow waved her hand. “Just a little one. I just let him share first dibs with Rosie on any of Valentino’s souls I wasn’t interested in.”
“Sush!” Rosie hissed. “You know Alastor’s only dragging this out so you can actually hear the announcement.”
Snow lifted her finger to her lips and smiled. “Yes, Rosie.”
Angel stayed silent.
As if having waited for them to pay attention, which he probably did knowing Alastor, the Radio Demon began. “Now, for the pinnacle of Pentagram City news, it seems The Vees have just taken a major financial blow! Angel Dust, previously employed by Valentino and Studio 666 is under new management! As outlined in his previous contract all films, photos, endorsem*nts, revenue, etcetera have been immediately transferred over to Angel Dust himself. Poor Vees shouldn’t have hinged so much on a single soul. I’d hate to be their accountants right now!” Alastor laughed gaily. “To close out our exciting broadcast, I’d like to personally welcome a deviously lovely Overlord back to Pentagram City. I look forward to expanding our work relationship, Mon Cherie. Until next time, ta ta, people!”
Rosie hooted with laughter. “Oh! Alastor had way too much fun with that announcement.”
Snow laughed softly in agreement. “He did great, not to mention that the working together comment will be perfect for annoying Vox.”
“Oh! You missed their first little spat! You would have adored it. I know how much you like seeing Alastor take charge.” Rosie winked.
Snow rolled her eyes. “That was a long time ago, Rosie.”
“Oh, Snowdrop sweetie, what’s a century or two to old broads like us?” Rosie laughed. “Not to mention that in all the time I’ve known Alastor, he’s only ever had eyes for-“
“Wait,” Angel cut Rosie off, bringing their attention back to him, “what just happened?”
Rosie blinked at him. “Alastor just let everyone know you’re not under Valentino’s thumb, sweetie.”
“Oh,” Angel squeaked, “but the films and stuff?”
“That’s the second most hilarious bit!” Rosie giggled. “Snowdrop told me earlier that she made sure to add that to the change Valentino signed! It’s so beautifully sad*stic!”
Angel remembered the part of the contract that had given him his freedom from Valentino, but it hadn’t really registered until Alastor said it, that all of it was his now. All of it.
“Technically speaking, I could have argued and negotiated for you to get back some of your work even without the inclusion,” Snow explained, clearly reading his expression, “but it seemed easier this way.”
Rosie cackled. “Oh, you’re being far too modest!” She turned back to Angel, hands taking two of his in her own. “Snow made it so that you and you alone own everything that has your image or name, Angel Dust, and Valentino’s own power will make sure you don’t get swindled out of it!” Rosie squeezed his hands with a large, toothy grin. “Angel, you might have just become the wealthiest sinner in Hell who isn’t an Overlord!”
Angel gawked at her.
He thought of the hundreds and thousands of videos that he’d been forced to perform in and that had been critical in Valentino’s rise in power. He thought of how often they’d used his name to advertise something and how often his picture was splashed across Velvette’s social media and Vox’s tv shows and Val’s buildings. “f*ck.”
Snow’s cool touch enveloping one of his hands drew his sight towards her. “It’s all yours, Angel. Not one cent will belong to anyone but you which means that if anyone threatens or steals from you, you are well within your rights to kill them.”
Angel’s dad had liked to say that money made the wheels spin, but it was power that put fuel in the tank and made the engine roar. He was a parasite who sucked out every inch of power from anyone and everyone around him, usually spreading his cash around to entice the right people his way. He was a braggart and a flasher because that’s the only way he knew how to do things. Angel’s mom was dripping in diamonds because all the high society ladies saw an equal in the look and would only let their guards down with her. Angel’s sister was a student in the top music school because prestige could open a world of doors and a pretty face usually worked to open the rest. Angel and his brother were always decked out with enough drugs in their pockets to get anyone hooked to their image or their product.
The thing was, though, his dad had never wanted for a f*cking cent his entire life. He came from a long line of crime that made the family name shine with dollar bill signs. He married his wife because she was a good-looking Italian girl with a better looking bank account.
Angel’s dad didn’t know a f*cking thing about waking up in an afterlife with a f*cked-up body and rent to pay so you weren’t left in the streets where everyone would take advantage. He didn’t know sh*t about how, in Hell, you couldn’t even f*cking starve to death or OD or get choked out until you stopped breathing, because you still kept existing. No matter what happened. No matter what you suffered. No matter if you were ripped to shreds or turned inside out or doped up with more co*ke than probably ever existed on Earth. It never stopped.
Sure, it was said a few Overlords could erase you for good. Sure, Heaven’s angels could make sure you didn’t come back. But that sh*t had to be planned out. It had to be timed and decided while sober and was never the right option for a broke addict.
Maybe Angel’s dad was right with his car metaphor, but the thing was that even with fuel and an engine you still needed the f*cking wheels to get the car moving.
Angel had never had the wheels before. He’d never had more than a dollar to his name that wasn’t already earmarked for drugs or wasn’t already claimed by someone else.
He wasn’t even sure what he’d do with the amount of money he was getting. It was… f*ck, it was a lot. He didn’t give a sh*t if the car moved. With this much cash, he’d pay someone else to push the damn thing.
A laugh escaped Angle before he could stop himself. He reached out, wrapped two arms around Snow and another two around Rosie and pulled them both in for a tight hug as laughter kept spilling out of him.
He was pretty sure he was suffering from a mental break but who the f*ck cared. Now that he had cash they’d just label him eccentric rather than insane.
Vee Tower had grown very, very silent after The Radio Demon’s newest broadcast.
No one was quite sure how The Radio Demon had managed to commandeer the sound systems of all their video equipment, but he’d been doing so twice a day since he and Vox had had their public row. It had become so expected, and such a great source of news and entertainment, that most employees began to even look forward to it. They appreciated the news, found humor in the gossip, and enjoyed the music. Honestly, for most it was legitimately their favorite times of day.
Most days.
In the wake of the news regarding Angel Dust, Jeremy had to admit that The Radio Demon’s broadcast may have become the worst moment of his afterlife.
Jeremy, working in the research and development area with a few other scientists had traded terrified looks at the news and all work had halted. Angel Dust had become the unofficial mascot of The Vees, becoming the face and name associated with the products that didn’t have their own images stamped on. He wore Velvette’s clothes and took her potions, he starred in most of Valentino’s films and was the headliner for all of his clubs, he was the most consistent commercial star and advertiser for Vox products…
Jeremy and one of the girls that worked with Velvette had even joked, in the way the damned always joked with a mixture of gallows humor and relief in each laugh, how it may as well be named Angel Dust and The Vees with how prominent his face and body had become. They laughed that it would have been nice to have Angel Dust’s popularity and standing.
The joke was how they both knew that Angel Dust was treated worse than most of them. He was just Valentino’s slave and no matter how much his name was shown to the world, Angel Dust would never get a single cent. He would never be more than The Vee’s pretty pet, abused and neglected, but always ready to be put on display.
At least it had been that way until today.
If The Radio Demon was lying, then it was for the best. Vox would throw a huge tantrum, hunt down every radio like a bloodthirsty bloodhound, and disturb, if not outright destroy, various departments inside of Vee Tower. He’d shout at Valentino and Valentino might go on his own gruesome rampage or he’d go collect Angel Dust and take his anger out on him. Velvette would probably simply retreat into her own space while she tried to figure out how to do damage control and keep the company going. Jeremy and many of his fellow employees would likely be mutilated and torn to shreds a few times before the chaos would settle down. But it would settle and they all would be able to recover…
However, if The Radio Demon was telling the truth, and a twisting in his gut reminded Jeremy that The Radio Demon had yet to lie, then Angel Dust hadn’t just escaped, he’d managed to swipe a large portion of The Vee’s cash from under them. Jeremy had no idea what that could mean without taking a look at Angel Dust’s contract but even if it was just his p*rn videos and nothing more…
The Vees had souls, not just cash, but a soul could be sold to pay off a debt and The Vees had put an awful lot into Angel Dust…
If Angel Dust wasn’t just free but looking to claim his cut, well, Jeremy and the others under Vee contract may either be looking at a new Master if they were lucky. He didn’t even want to consider what the horror that three angry Vees would unleash.
“What the ever-loving f*ck is that piece of outdated crap talking about, Valentino?” Vox growled, blue claws digging into the conference table with a high-pitched screech.
“How the f*ck should I know?” Valentino drawled, regally reclined in his chair, a drink in each of his four hands. “He’s your little shadow. He’s probably just stirring sh*t up for a giggle.”
Vox grit his teeth. While Vox couldn’t deny the possibility, Alastor had always found it far more amusing to cause misery and chaos by telling the truth rather than by lying. And if Vox was right and even a grain of truth existed in his broadcast…
“Show us Angel Dust’s contract.” Velvette demanded, already sitting on the table with her arms folded over her chest and her glower severe.
Valentino muttered mutinously but did as she ordered with a snap of his long fingers and an outstretched hand.
Velvette violently snatched the golden contract while muttering a string of cruses that had Vox feeling as if everything would be ok. Velvette was dependable. She was their tiny, immovable rock and she’d keep them steady while they all worked to fix this. He could count on her to-
“What ever-loving f*cktard wrote this?” Velvette shrieked, waving the document in the air as she climbed to her feet. She turned her crazed gaze towards Vox and thrust the paper towards him. “Have you seen this?”
Vox took the contract in trepidation.
The first thing Vox noticed was the large red COMPLETED stamped over Angel Dust’s true name.
Valentino laughed. “Don’t act so high and mighty, muneca. We all get everything we can from our contracts. This is Hell, babydoll.”
The rest of the contract was even more f*cked-up and one-sided then Vox had predicted but that was to be expected of Valentino.
“I don’t give a sh*t about you using up the whor*, Valentino!” Velvette snapped, stomping towards him and pulling him to her by the edges of the wings he kept draped over his shoulders. “I give a f*ck about the part where you gave your little f*cktoy an out.”
Valentino blinked at Velvette behind his heart-shaped glasses. “Excuse me?”
“Should an opposing contract be offered and accepted, I, Valentino, the holder of this contract,” Vox began, voice the dangerous low thrum of a live wire, “will willingly relinquish all rights to Anthony’s soul and body to their new owner and sever any deals, contracts, agreements, or promises made between us or made by me on Anthony’s behalf. I forfeit all rights, financial and otherwise, from the moment of signing onwards, to any previous or future use of Anthony’s image, voice, or name; including Anthony’s stage name and pseudonym Angel Dust. Should this contract be broken, all current and future revenue and distribution of property, including the aforementioned, will have to be newly negotiated with at least 75% of all sales, profits, and shares belonging solely to Anthony.”
Valentino gaped. “I didn’t f*cking write that!”
Vox cackled with a crackle of energy as he paced around his conference table. “No, you’re not f*cking smart enough to write anything so well, but it is part of the contract,” He snarled at Valentino, “so how the f*ck did it get there, Valentino?”
“That’s exactly what I want to know, you slimy sh*t,” Velvette shook Valentino, her slight weight no match for the long-limbed sinner.
Valentino only stared at them both with his red eyes and slack jaw.
Vox had never hated Valentino as much as he did at that moment and considering some of the sh*t they’d gone through, that was saying something.
Velvette shoved Valentino back in his seat and growled as she began stalking up and down the table, her thick heels clanging with every angry step. “It’s gotta be that Overlord The Radio Demon mentioned.” Velvette grumbled, sharp finger tapping at her painted-on lips in thought. “They had to have been responsible. There’s no way it’s a coincidence. But who in Hell could it be?”
Vox could hear the snap of his circuits as he recalled how Alastor had welcomed another Overlord and said he was looking forward to working with his “Mon Cherie.” When he found out exactly who this new Overlord was, Vox was going to shove his hand down their throat and rip out their intestines with his bare claws. And when had Alastor ever even alluded to speaking French? Where the f*ck had that come from? Even knowing one another for years, Vox had never heard him speak a word in a different language. And an endearment? Spoken with familiarity and something that sounded suspiciously like affection? Spoken without the usual hint of mockery and bite that tinged the way he called Vox “old pal?”
Who the f*ck-
“Vox,” Valentino’s dark voice brought Vox’s thoughts to a standstill, “did you happen to see the little putita I f*cked last night?”
Vox narrowed his eyes at Valentino. “I saw her at the club, but you turned off the cameras in your room and I haven’t seen her leave. I figured you were keeping her chained up for later or she was still piecing herself back together.”
Valentino’s golden tooth gleamed in his snarl. “I never turn off the cameras in my room, Vox, and she wasn’t there when I woke up.”
The fact that Valentino had passed up both a chance to call him a nickname of any sort and hadn’t even insinuated his exhibitionist kink told Vox more than anything that Valentino was furious.
Velvette tapped her toe on the table. “Let’s say she’s the Overlord,” she mused with narrowed eyes, “how the f*ck did she manage to get her hands on your contracts?”
“She was a frisky little puss* cat,” Valentino bit out angrily, drinks discarded and four sets of golden nails digging into the table, “there was a lot of sh*t going on. I remember at one point she had her fangs in my nipple and was asking to see one of my contracts since I was trying to convince her to sign with me.”
Velvette’s face twisted in horrified disgust. “You willingly showed her Angel Dust’s contract to try and convince her to sell her soul? Valentino! That’s the most f*cked up piece of sh*t ever written! Angel Dust had to be f*cking high to read that and still sign it!”
“We were mid-f*ck when he signed it!” Valentino protested, “I doubt that piece of meat even took more than a glance at the time.”
“The point is still that you showed your little c*nt that contract.” Vox snapped back.
Valentino pouted. “She was really good in bed.”
“And how the f*ck did she manage to make you sign?” Velvette screeched.
Valentino frowned. “She was kinky, too?”
“Vox!” Velvette screeched turning back to him, her long ponytail cutting through the air like a whip. “If we kill this bitch, we’ll get back Angel Dust’s contract, right?”
Vox dropped down in his seat with a sigh. “If she hasn’t written in a death contingency and we can convince Angel Dust to sign a new contract.”
“Show me what she looks like.” Velvette ordered.
With a thought, Vox brought up the club video of the girl in question from the night before and projected it onto one of the blank screens in their conference room. She was a snow leopard sinner who’d been at Valentino’s side most of the night. Beautiful girl, sure. Valentino would have been right to think she would have made them a sh*t-ton of cash, but she hadn’t looked like anything more than a pretty face and an exploitable body.
If anything, she’d looked like a scared little girl newly arrived to Hell. An incredibly stupid one if her continuous hits of Love Potion had been anything to go by.
“She’s got to be new don’t you think?” Velvette echoed his thoughts, hands on her hips as she studied the girl and the way she was practically draped over Val’s lap. “I’ve never even heard of a snow leopard sinner, let alone seen one. Valentino obviously hasn’t either. And look at the way she was downing her drinks! She’s definitely got to be new not to realize how f*cked up Love Potion can get you.”
“Which means there’s no way she would have thought of adding a death contingency in her contracts.” Vox realized.
Velvette grinned, the nasty expression turning her doll-like face demonic. “Exactly. So, we’ll kill the bitch, Valentino will work his magic on Angel Dust, and we’ll force him to give us back all our money.”
Vox smiled.
He knew he could count on Velvette. From the moment she’d appeared, fire in her gaze and venom dripping from her mouth, he’d known that the force of nature before him could either propel him forward or become his biggest competitor.
They’d resolve this mess with Velvette’s help. He knew they’d be just fine.
“Then we’ll be able to get back all the contracts if we just erase her?”
Charged blue met burning white. Vox and Velvette slowly turned back to Valentino.
“All the contracts?” Velvette asked sweet as nightshade.
Valentino shifted in his seat with a squeak, “I showed her a few.”
“How many?” Vox growled low and full of teeth.
Valentino shifted again.
“How many, Valentino?” Velvette demanded.
“She was really good in bed.”
“Valentino!” Vox felt his synapses snap.
Summer, Jersey, Dexter, and Blade stared at the radio in their new living room in stunned silence.
Surprisingly it was Dexter, the ever-quiet “screen writer” and mouse sinner, whose hysterical laughter finally broke the quiet and seemed to knock them all back to reality. Considering that Valentino had always made Dexter do more of the prepping and clean up on p*rn shoots then any actual writing, Summer had always figured there was nothing that could ever make Dexter draw any attention to themself. Apparently, this announcement had finally been enough to break them.
Jersey leaned back in his seat, hands running down his face in a move Summer only ever saw the bull sinner use after a long day at the studio when the sh*t he’d been forced to do had made him so wildly uncomfortable that not even the drugs he’d taken had been enough to dull his brain. Those nights usually had him going over to the cleaning cabinets and downing bleach like it was liquor just so he could get some time off. Even if it was only long enough for his body to fix the damage. “f*ck.”
“Well, I’m sure as sh*t glad I’m not at the tower tonight.” Blade chuckled, his sharp clawed hands shakily setting a blunt between his lips. Summer knew from experience that there were at least two other drugs rolled into his blunts at all times. On normal days. Harsh days and brutal scenes had him smoking nonstop with every known drug and additive spiking his high in the hopes that something would work. Summer wondered what was in the blunt now.
Summer’s fingers rose to the strap of her shirt and the still cold snowflake living there. Her mind returned to that soul-saving sentence that had gotten her out from under Valentino. At the time, her freedom had been all that had mattered, the rest being completely inconsequential. Now, though, she suddenly regretted that she wouldn’t have the chance to own all of her own videos the way Angel Dust did. And with her new contract it wasn’t as if she would be able to just sit back and retire.
Snow had told them that they would have a week to decide what to do with their futures but her contract had specifically stated they would need to spy for their income, generous as it may be. What type of place would she have to go to? What would be expected of her? Who was she going to have to sleep with? Who was she going to have to pretend with?
Should she insist on staying with Valentino? He was twisted, but Summer had already earned a bit of his favor. If she had to, she was pretty sure she could survive her ten-year contract at his side… Although Angel Dust not being there to act as the lightning rod to his fury and attention was a terrifying realization.
What was she going to do?
Had she really made the right choice, signing with Snow?
She thought of the three storied house they were in with its dozen suites, full kitchen, living room, library, and patio. Where only the four of them lived and where, apart from the single door that seemed to take up half the third floor, they had full run of the place.
Did Snow own this place? Was she that wealthy? Or did this belong to someone else and she had been given use of it through some sort of favor? Or blackmail? Would she even be able to afford to pay them if none of her contracts came up with something worthwhile? Or what if they did? Or maybe she was paying everything with Angel’s money? Maybe that was why Angel was so involved in her contracts? Maybe they’d gotten together and planned all of this?
Summer rubbed her forehead. What had she gotten herself into?
She vaguely registered Jersey and Dexter talking quietly while Blade moved from his smoke to popping a few pills and staring at the ceiling in a daze. Summer dropped down beside Blade. A clumsy hand offered her a variety of pills of different shapes and sizes. Summer took four at random and lay down beside him. Blade was all spikes and too hot skin, but Summer didn’t mind. They’d been on friendly terms for a long time, and she liked his prickly attitude.
She liked them all really and Summer felt herself begin to drift as the knowledge that she wasn’t alone in this mess settled into her bones and let her let go. She was finally able to relax and forget all of her troubles.
Summer would worry about her future later. Snow had given them a week, after all. She might as well take advantage before reality set in.
