Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Scdcdvd finally finished this art after months of trying to work Krita, huzzah I'll get back to this some day other fic going to have to wrap up first🫠

Chapter Text

Alastor’s earliest memory was hiding in the cupboard while his father screamed and beat his mother.

She had shoved him in and slammed the door on him. Then she shielded it with her body. The door was more of a frame on hinges with a wire grate covering it so Alastor could see out. Part of him wished it was just a regular door and that he couldn’t see. Mabey it would have been better if he couldn’t see but he did see.

His mother had clung to it. Her fingers slipping in between the grate as she forced herself to stay sitting up so she could keep shielding the door. Alastor could see her face and how she cried. Every flinch with each crack of the belt. The way she gripped the wire so hard she cut her fingers. His father, standing behind her a smear in the memory as he moved lighting fast to Alastor’s eyes. Striking her over, and over, and over again.

He called her horrible names.

Alastor was crying too. He was curled up at the back with the cans and the spice jars clutching a wooden spoon.

For Alastor it felt like it lasted hours. It might as well have.

Finally, when Arianna’s back was bloody John stopped.

He left without a word and left Arianna on the floor.

She was weeping and so Alastor pushed his way out of cabinet. He sat down with her and let her wrap her around him.

Alastor let her kiss his head and thumb the bruise John had slapped across his face. It hurt and he flinched back. Arianna kissed the bruise better though so Alastor stopped his sniffling.

Alastor didn’t want to think it was his fault that his father beat his mother but inside Alastor did blame himself. He had dropped the mixing bowl and it had shattered because of him. John has stuck Alastor across the face because he broke the bowl. And Arianna had jumped across shielding Alastor with her body before shoving him into the cabinet to keep him from being hit by the belt.

Alastor helped his mother sweep up the ceramic shards and walked himself to bed. All he had done was hold the dustpan in place trying to keep from shivering as he felt his father’s gaze watching his back from the dark bedroom.

Instead of crawling into bed he crawled under it hiding under the frame with his blanket. He looked out terrified of his father returning. Alastor finally fell asleep from exhaustion clutching that wooden spoon for it was his only defense if his father decided to return.

Alastor awoke to voices. His parents were arguing again. The argument ended with a loud crashing sound and stomping as his father left the house to either work or the bar again.

It was dawn and Alastor could already smell alcohol in the air from where his father had been.

…

“Maman?”

…

“Maman?” Alastor cried harder when his mother didn’t appear at the door.

Finally, Arianna shuffled in dragging her leg behind her in a limp.

“Alastor, it’s okay honey. You can come out now.” His mother cooed at him and Alastor rushed out of his hiding place running up and grabbing her by her good leg in a tight hug. Her skirt bunched up from how he latched on. He buried his face into the soft cotton and cried, still scared that his father would come back and hurt them again at any moment.

“Hey, hey, Alastor it’s over, it’s okay now.”

Alastor finally looked up at his mother who was softly smiling. She squatted down using the door frame to help lower her to be at eye level with Alastor. She stroked his hair back and kissed his forehead. Then she pulled a smile onto Alastor’s face after smooshing it gently with her fingers. She smiled at him again and Alastor’s turned real since his mother was smiling so she must be okay. She wasn’t Alastor didn’t know about the bandages she had wrapped around to try and keep the lashes on her back covered.

“Why don’t we put smiles on our faces we can’t out without our smiles.” She said before pulling Alastor in for a raspberry blowing it onto his tummy making him laugh and as he tried to pull himself out of her tickling fingers.

Alastor let her pick him up and hold him on her hip. She looked down at him as he clutched onto her corset for a hold. She noticed that he was still too skinny since he still weighed almost nothing to her and according to some of her friends, he should be starting to be heavy to hold. Alastor noticed her contemplative look and grew worried again dropping his smile.

“Oh no don’t be like that Alastor put that sweet smile back on your face, your never fully dressed with out one.” She said popping a kiss onto his forehead the surprise making Alastor squeal and hold onto her tighter.

She carried him over to the dresser that held everyone in the house's cloth’s and pulled out an old bowtie of Jonh’s. Setting Alastor up on the top she had him tilt his chin up so she could tie the bow around him. It was ratty just like Alator’s shirt and pants. But it was all that Arianna and John could afford.

Arianna stepped back to look at her son, to small from being underfed, bruises from his abusive father, and to big clothes that Arianna still suspected that John hadn’t actually paid for.
Alastor gave Arianna the biggest smile he had for the day as he played with the bowtie.

“Fancy man!” Alastor cheered bouncing as he fiddled with the tie.

“That’s right Alastor fancy man.” Arianna said laughing while also trying to fix Alastor’s uneven buttons through the bouncing.

“We are going out today so we wear our fancy clothes.” She explained fixing her dress before picking up and setting Alastor down from the dresser. Alastor was still delighted by his bowtie and was happy to run around his mother while she assembled her purse and coins.

Alastor hadn’t eaten dinner last night and Arianna had no food for breakfast for him. It had been lost with the mixing bowl. So it was off to the market to hope she could haggle for decent prices to feed him since as far as she was concerned John would be fending for himself for the foreseeable future after last night.

“Ready Alastor, remember hold on to my hand and no talking to strangers.”

Alastor stared up attentively and nodded holding on tight to his mother’s hand.

They walked out the door to the humid New Orleans morning the sun still peaking up beyond the horizon. Alastor had fun swinging his arm back and forth with Arianna as she sung his favorite song with him.

“Hey hobo man hey dapper dan! Your never fully dressed with out a smile”

They made it to the markets with time to spare and Alastor tried, key word tried to pull his mother towards the smoke coming out of the nearby smoke house where pigs were roasting over open fires. Arianna let him following behind a little slowly so Alastor could feel like he was leading the way.

They watched from the sidewalk as the butcher and his assistants then pulled out a large alligator, impaled it onto the spoke and placing it over the fire too.

Alastor watched in awe as they slowly turned the big reptile over. Alastor turned back to look at his mother surprised to see her not surprised.

“Big!” He said trying to see if that would let her know how shocking the site was.

The butcher looked up at seeing Arianna and her son offered them a polite wave. He pulled a large gator tooth from his pocket and held it to show the pair. Alastor gasped and pointed at the sight and Arianna nodded. The burly man walked over and kneeled down to be level with Alastor offering up the tooth. Alastor scared at the sight of the man ducked behind his mother for protection again expecting a straight. Arianna pushed him out from behind her holding her hand on his shoulder so he knew it was safe.

“Would you like a gator tooth young man?” he said holding it out. Hesitating Alastor reached out his hand and brushed his fingers against the tooth then jerked back.

…

“It’s fine, you can keep it.” The man offered the tooth again and Alastor wide-eyed took it.

“Maman! Tooth!” He held it to show Arianna and she smiled again at her son’s excitement.

“Thank you.” She said to the butcher. She looked at the offered meat sadly her purse to light to afford even a small cut.

The butcher then returned to his shop and returned with a wrapped package. Arianna had tried to move on but Alastor was still enchanted by the sight of the gator being cooked.
He handed the package to Arianna.

“I can’t afford-” She tried to explain. Alastor looked up drooling at the wrapped meat.

“No, it’s a gift, you helped my daughter last weekend with her delivery remember.” The man said pushing it towards Arianna again.

“Oh, oh no that was nothing.” She pushed the package back, blushing as she remembered the girl in question and how she had rushed off at night to go and help. There had been a complication and Arianna had saved both daughter and granddaughter of the man before her.

“No, you saved her life. Please take it. As thanks.” The man said pushing it back into her hands.

Arianna took the package and nodded her own thanks. Alastor standing on tip toe to see the package better. He was still drooling since it smelled delicious.
“Thank you.” Arianna said walking on to the rest of the day.

She and Alastor found a bench and sat down and Arianna peaked into the wrapped paper.

It was venison. Venison jerky to be exact. Arianna wondered if it would be able for Alastor to even eat.

She tore off a small piece and handed it to Alastor instructing him to chew well.

Alastor did and let his mother know he approved of the taste by reaching out for more. Arianna had to hold the package up out of Alastor’s hands as the cuts were too big at first. After she tore them into smaller pieces she let Alastor grab them on his own so she didn’t have to worry about him choking.

Arianna yawned as she relaxed the stress and worry lifting just the faintest bit now that Alastor had some good food.

Alastor watched the passersby and automobiles with her not realizing she was falling asleep. She dozed on the bench and didn’t notice the strange man approaching them from another direction. Wicked gaze locked on Alastor.

Alastor saw the man and grabbed onto Arianna as he came closer. The man broke into a sprint and grabbed Alastor jolting Arianna awake as she felt her son ripped from her hands.

“Alastor!” She grabbed onto the mans jacket trying to pull him back. The man kicked her to the ground and Alastor’s wails alerted those around that this was not some family playing with each other.
The man took off down the street whistles behind him as people screamed for police and help. Arianna felt herself be pulled up by the butcher assistant seeing the mess of panic in front of her obstructing her sight of the kidnapper. Her bandages had given in and blood was leaking out her cloths.

“Arianna, what happened?” A voice asked behind her.

Arianna turned around and saw her teacher, a spirt masquerading as human that she had found wondering the city. The Root of all Evil as she had introduced herself, or Roo for short tilted her head as she watched Arianna struggle past her tears. It wasn’t their usual meeting time for lessons so Arianna was surprised to see the spirit out and about. The remains of the Tree of Knowledge were usually an aloof and distant being, but Arianna had come to her to learn and there was nothing the tree couldn’t resist more than sharing her well of infinite knowledge.

Arianna was her favorite student and this simply wouldn’t do in Roo’s many, many eyes.

“Some crook took her kid!” The assistant explained for Arianna as she cried. She had landed on her injured back and was immense pain.

Roo narrowed her eyes as she took in the madness around him.

“I’ll be back, watch her or else,” Roo told the butcher's assistant before she slipped out of sight into the crowd. Arianna knew Roo was capable of many strange and unusual feats and knew that she had truly disappeared from sight.

Alastor was still screaming in the man’s arms as he was carried down an alleyway out of the street.

Behind Roo unseen slipped past people invisible and her form was covered in all-seeing eyes that locked onto each person learning about their lives and recent memories. She went trailing after the kidnapper and following after using the witnesses to follow ever bend and curve as the man ran.

He was fast but Roo was patient and methodical and like a shadow she crept up just behind him.

Alastor had bit the man multiple times only to be smacked and hit repeatedly for the transgression.

The man ran into an abandoned building and hurled Alastor to the ground. He curled up shaking trying to cover his head expecting more hits.

“Little shit.” The man growled and advanced on Alastor pulling a knife from his pocket.

“Look at you so small…”The man taunted moving to stand over Alastor.

“Yes, malnourishment does that children.” Roo said from the door way of the building standing in her passing human form.

Alastor looked up. Seeing the woman in a red dress and large funny hat black hair cascading down and almost touching the floor.

“Help!” He screamed only to be kicked by the man.

“This isn’t your business lady!” The man called back placing the knife right over Alastor neck ready to stab.

“Just what were you planning on doing to my student’s son?” Roo asked walking into the building and locking eyes with the evil man. He flinched back as the woman's yellow eyes boar into him shifting to a bright red.

“Those are some rather…evil intentions I see, your of some rather disturbing and disgusting inclinations aren’t you?” Roo asked walking closer.

“I’ll kill him.” The man threatened and pushed the knife closer to Alastor. Alastor whimpered but stayed silent after praying that the man would stay distracted by the strange lady.

“No you won’t you like them alive, you enjoy their screams.” She said standing only a few feet away her eyes still on the man.

“How many will Alastor make I wonder, oh I already know he’ll be your third won’t he,” Roo said tapping her chin as the man gaped at her.

“You can’t know that.”

“On the contrary Martin, I know lots of things,” Roo said and her hand shot up and grabbed the man by the neck shoving him off with a root-like growth and pining him to the floor. Eyes erupted all over her hair an stared into the man’s soul. Alastor jumped up and ran ducking to hide behind the strange woman. He grabbed onto her skirt shaking in place of his mother's and hoped that maybe her kindness would extend to taking him home.

“Martin, Martin. Don’t you know hurting others can send you to Hell?” She asked lifting the man up by the neck to dangle him. Alastor didn’t watch face still buried into his savior's skirt.
“Please-please,…spare me.” Martin begged.

“Are you sorry for what you’ve done?” Roo asked, reaching down and offering her normal hand to Alastor to hold onto. Alastor reached up and took it staring up at the woman in awe as she commanded nature itself.

“Yes!” Martin cried struggling in the hold of the roots.

…

“No your not.” Roo said lifting the man higher only to drop him on the ground. He landed groaning in pain, many bones broken. Roo only let him live as in the shadows very eager eyes looked on ready to devour the man. A much more painful death. The rats started shifting around ready to start pouncing once Roo and Alastor left.

“I’ll be seeing you soon Martin,” Roo said reaching around to pick up Alastor and carry him out. Roo either didn’t notice or care that Alastor could see over her shoulder and saw the first of the rats attack the man.

She exited the building closing the door behind her and setting Alastor down on the ground. Her eyes were yellow again and she blinked her vision adjusting to the bright daylight.
“Are these from him?” Roo asked looking at Alastor’s black eye and new bruises blending in with the one his father had left him.

Alastor nodded and Roo sighed as she sat down and pulled something form her dress pocket.

“This is healing ointment, I was going to give it to your mother since it has…” Roo started to explain and a bunch of words Alastor didn’t really listen to followed as he was kind of busy having his face covered in the ointment. Roo rubbed it in gently and sat back looking at her work. Alastor’s face had a bit of an oily sheen to it but it was working. Seeing as the ointment had her own plants in it coming up right from Hell itself and worked fast. The bruises were almost gone and Roo gave Alastor her own smile as she patted off the extra ointment with a pocket cloth she magicked into her hands. Alastor stared in awe as she then magicked it away in front of him.

That was how Alastor met the Root of all Evil though it wasn’t how Roo met Alastor. For Alastor this was his first memory of Roo for Roo this was her first time being able to speak to Alastor and have him, well understand what she was saying.

She looked him in the eye and tilted her head, eyes blinking in and out of her hair. It was always strange looking into the eyes of young souls who didn’t well remember much of what they had lived.
Alastor didn’t remember his birth, because of course he didn’t, infantile amnesia but Roo remembered it, and remembered all the stories Arianna had shared with her of her son, though this was their first interaction since then.

Roo finally pulled her self-back together shaking her head and having to settle for not looking Alastor in the eye if she didn’t want to have to piece together what she was learning.
“It’s always strange watching your kind come into consciousness thought. Just so strange. Humans so funny like that I guess.” Roo said patting Alastor on the head before she pulled an apple thing from her hair. She handed it to Alastor who didn’t hesitate to bite into it.

The fruit of knowledge was softer than an apple and had a pink inside with a red vein-like pattern emanating from the core despite looking like an apple from the outside.
It was sweet but not too sweet not too bitter and had a strange cinnamon-like taste to it that would have reminded Alastor of apple pie if he ever had any.

He ate it all and Roo handed him another, not like it would open his eyes, the damage has already been done back in the garden. Alastor ate that too face now covered in sticky fruit juice.

“Let’s get you home Alastor.” Roo said, and while Alastor didn’t question how this strange magic lady knew his name his face didn’t hurt anymore and she had taken care of the scary man so she must be nice.

She wasn’t but Alastor was too young to understand that.

Alastor held onto Roo’s skirt and hand as she led him back to the main street. They were walking back to Arianna who was receiving medial attention from concerned people who saw the blood on her back.

Before they rounded the corner to Arianna, Alastor saw plush gator sitting in a toy shop window.

“Gator!” He said pointing at the toy and holding up his tooth to show Roo. He smiled as he showed his new thing to Roo, which probably should be given to such a young child to play with. Roo nooded as Alastor held up the tooth to his mouth and pointed back at the gator toy.

“Gator! Gator tooth!”

“Gator? Oh, do you want the alligator plush Alastor?” Roo asked turning back to the window.

Alastor blinked he didn’t really have a toy, well he had his wooden spoon that he hit things with and his favorite sticks, sticks were awesome, and he had his tooth now but that was it. Toy was a new thing to Alastor.

Roo saw this in Alastor’s eyes as he thought over what she was trying to tell him. Alastor knew it would cost money and could tell it wasn’t food so obviously they couldn’t buy it.

“No money?” Alastor said tilting his head as he tried to figure out how Roo was going to go about acquiring the gator plush.

Roo decided this simply wouldn’t do either.

“Toys are things humans play with to help develop their skills and socialize. Children can practice and play pretend to help them learn behaviors and norms that will assist them later in life,” Roo explained to the three-year-old who blinked as the tree of knowledge explained play to him in her way.

Roo decided that if Alastor couldn’t decide for himself that he wanted a toy then she was simply going to gift it to him.

“Come on, let’s get you some toys, you deserve something nice after almost being murdered,” Roo explained leading Alastor into the toy store. Alastor nodded, he did deserve something nice after almost being murdered by a madman.

The clerk looked up and saw the woman in the fine dress guiding a child in dirty and ratty clothes.

“Pick up a street urchin to play charity with?” He asked opening his register for a transaction. There wouldn’t be one as Roo had no intention now of paying for the toy after that comment, that and now Alastor would be walking out with as many toys as he wanted.

Roo laughed as she leaned up on the counter.

“Oh Mike, Mike, Mike, you should think twice before insulting your customers, don’t you know its bad for business.” Roo reprimanded as she glared with a smile at him. Alastor could see what was going on up at the counter and instead was gazing in awe at all the toys around the building.

Mike had no idea how Roo who he had never met before knew his name.

“Are you going to buy anything?” He asked angrily instead not liking the feeling of being watched on his back despite the woman being in front of him.

“Well, I was then you had to go and ruin the nice impression I had of you. So here’s what is going to happen. Your friend Martin just nearly murdered this boy earlier today and so you're going to let him have his pick of whatever he wants, and I won’t tell your wife about your three underage lovers or your father about the money missing from his vault. It would be a shame if your shop burned down wouldn’t it, seeing as you haven’t paid back your dept to the land lord and I think he would be most upset to learn that you are planning on skipping town. With out your lovely wife none the less.” Roo taunted playing with her nails as the man grew more and more pale with each true accusation and fact.

“How?” the man was shaking and collapsed back against the wall as Roo instead turned to watch Alastor very shyly investigate a wooden rocking horse. He didn’t seem to like it very much moving on to one sitting beside it that resembled an elephant. He stared not recognizing the animal.

“So, what will it be Mikey, divorce, prison, and death or are you going to let this sweet boy have the best day ever.” Roo said turning back with an evil smile and red eyes as she balanced her head on her hands looking up at Mike.

“Take whatever you want.” The clerk said running away to the back room to see if any of his secrets had already been exposed. They hadn’t but Roo enjoyed overhearing the conversation in the other room as Mike indirectly revealed all of his sins to his wife who like a good wife started screaming at him for such wretched behavior.

Alastor flinched at the sound of the screams but Roo coming back over to his side to hold his hand seemed to calm him. Just another day in New Orleans.

“What would you like Alastor?” Roo asked picking up Alastr so he could see the items up on the taller shelves. Alastor just sort of stared then excitedly reach out towards the wooden deer sitting in front of him.

Roo handed it to him and watched as Alastor ran his hands over the little carved prongs of antlers.

She set him down to see if he would pick anything out on his own and he walked back over to the plush in the window. He didn’t grab it but stared again afraid to reach out for what he wanted. So, Roo handed him the alligator. Alastor hugged it tightly squalling in delight at the softness and the bright colors. He turned back in the store and Roo watch him walk over to the books. She swelled with pride as he opened up a pop-up book and flipped threw the pages. He couldn’t read the words but Roo watched him try squinting at the text and running his finger over it. Roo picked up the book and handed it to Alastor who then showed it to the deer and alligator to show them the pretty pictures. Alice in Wonderland was a fine story in Roo’s opinion and she enjoyed how excited Alastor got every time the Chesire Cat showed up.

“Smile!” He said point at the cat in the tree as it popped out of the paper. Roo looked out at the store to see if she could find anything else that might intrigue Alastor. She found more books and even some early level teaching material at the back and scooped them up, it would help with teaching Alastor to read his new book. The Wizard of Oz and a book all about Pirates among them. Roo also spotted a ghost story collection that again probably shouldn’t be given to a child but Roo didn’t care, it was a book and Alastor was going to learn to read it weather he wanted to or not. At least Aesop’s fables and some other more friendly reading was in the pile.

Huh, Roo guessed she had a new student, she would have to talk with Arianna about scheduling lessons for him. Roo also found a smiling cat plush, it didn’t look like the Chesire Cat in the book but it did have the big smile and was soft like the Alligator. It was a bright red with pink eyes and had a short tail, but Roo was pretty sure it was a cat. It was also fat and round and Alastor also loved it smiling together with it.

Alastor seemed happy with his three toys and book and plopped down on the floor with them around him so he could flip through the book again. Roo tried to interest him in more but Alastor was perfectly happy with his three new friends and the book shaking his head no as Roo offered more.

Huh, usually Roo had an easier time tempting Children into being greedy but she supposed Alastor took after his mother and was just a little on the strange side.

Roo carried the books so she could pass them off to Arianna. Alastor picked up his toys and book, the plushies under his arms and the deer figure and the book in hand. He bounced out after Roo who finally started guiding him back to Arianna.

Arianna saw Roo and Alastor and ran up to them crushing Alastor in a hug.

“My baby, my baby!” She cried checking him over for any further injury and instead finding him completely healed not even the bruise from last night being present. She looked up at Roo only to have books shoved in her face.

“He’ll be able to start learning to read soon, perhaps we should schedule him lessons,” Roo explained as Arianna went threw the stack jaw-dropping at the colorful covers and quality of the paper. These were very fine books and they were all for their little family.

“We can’t afford a tutor and the schools won’t take him,” Arianna said looking up at Roo who hummed in thought. Arianna had her bandages reapplied with help from the kind workers at the butcher shop and was slightly better for wear. Arianna took in the sight of Alastor’s first toys and decided she might not want to know how Roo got them.

“Then I’ll teach him.” Roo said which is what she wanted to do in the first place. Alastor looked up and wondered if they were talking about him.

Arianna smiled and hugged her teacher. Roo blinked and flinched back not one for physical touch but allowed the expression of affection from her student as she had a pretty shitty day so far.

“Thank you Roo.” Arianna said pulling back and offering Roo the smile that just didn’t seem to stay on her face theses day.

Roo sighed and patted her on the shoulder.

“So, your lesson next week, you wanted to learn a bit more about the lymphatic system yes.” Roo said, changing the subject and helping Arianna carry the books. Alastor walked in between them gushing over his toys.

“Yes, I was hoping you could explain how the liver works a bit better.” Arianna said pulling Alastor along by his coat since he didn’t seem inclined to let go of his toys.

Roo nodded, Arianna had come a long way from being just a midwife, she was entering actual doctor levels of skills with all the work she had put in with Roo.

They spent the rest of the day looking at the market and Roo convinced Arianna that the money she had wasn’t stolen though it was having pulled it from the toy store register. They needed more arms to carry the food home, good flour, sugar, and cans that would last Arianna a long time and hopefully put more meat on Alastor’s bones because Roo did not like that she could pick up the three-year-old with one hand. He was so small and she cursed John under her breath blaming the drunk only to be shushed by Arianna who wouldn’t hear otherwise despite the contrary.

“Your husband sucks.” Roo said only to have Arianna sigh again. Alastor asked what suck meant and Arianna had to stop Roo from teaching Alastor future slang, again. She had tried to teach him to say yeet earlier but failed when Arianna convinced him it was a bad word.

“And this is why we made the deal that you wouldn’t kill my husband.” Arianna groaned as she struggled to get the groceries into he house.
Roo and Arianna squabbled as they put everything away and Alastor played with his new toys on the floor. Roo placed the other books near him and watched with the eyes on her back as Alastor carefully flipped through their pages looking for pictures.

Once everything was packed away Roo surprised Arianna with a mountain of fruit pouring out of the mist that was her hair.

…

This happened sometimes when Roo was in a really good mood.

“I was very happy today spending time with your son.” Roo said picking up the fruit and placing it into a bowl.

…

“Can we make it into pie?” Airanna asked, she had eat the fruit many times before Roo having gifted it her countless times.

…

“I’ve never tried before but I suppose it can be done.”

Alastor watched his mother and Roo make the fruit of knowledge pie, they repeated the process used for apples and soon the house was filled with a sharp sweet cinnamon smell.
Alastor wanted to help and Roo had him wash the fruit and roll dough as Arianna was very adamant that Roo not hand him the knife when she tried to.

The trio stared at the pie as it sat cooling on the counter. John came home and saw them at that time since it was now sunset.

He stared at the pile of Roo’s fruit and the pie putting together what he was looking at. It had taken some convincing from Arianna that Roo was harmless, though she wasn’t, but he knew she was the tree of knowledge and that the pie before he was made with the biblical holy fruit.

…

“You made it into pie?”

“Yes, would you like a taste cher?” Arianna said cutting out a piece and handing it to John.

Roo hoped the process of cooking the pie made the fruit poisonous though this was unlikely as John was just fine as he took bite after bite from the pie.

…

“This is really good honey.”

Arianna seemed to have maybe had the same thought as Roo but also seemed fine with her husband living another day though Roo didn’t know why.

“Maman, pie, please?” Alastor asked. John raised his eyes at the sight of the books and toys and gave Roo a glare. Roo glared back and folded her arms challenging John.

John huffed and choose to forfeit this battle, he wanted to accuse Roo of trying to bribe and turn his son against, him which yes, Roo was so down for that. But, fancy gifts were fancy gifts from a biblical being and it would be rude to turn them away no matter how infuriated it made him to know that he hadn’t been the one to get his son his first toy.

They sat in silence and watched Alastor demolish his slice of pie not even a spec making it onto his cheeks in his ravenous hunger, a good meal in a very long time. Roo wondered if she would plant a cut off of herself for the family in their yard so they could have fruit all the time. It might help keep them fed.

“If I could plant a part of myself in your yard would you let me?” Roo asked, then wondered if this would let her spy on the family so she could catch John in the act.

John said no but the chance of a steady source of food for a season made him change his mind and he relented. The family walked outside. Alastor back on his mothers hip, the side away from his father thankfully and they watched Roo pick out the best spot in the yard to plant more roots.

Alastor clapped and let out awe sounds as Roo grew a branch off her arm the leaves like her misty hair and eyes decorating the pale wood texture. She broke the branch off with a flinch and placed it into a small hole in the ground before pushing the dirt to keep it in place.

Then she stepped back and Arianna set Alastor down so he could run up and water the cut-off.

The branch gave a twitch before it shifted to something more tree-like growing taller and way above the house and Alastor who craned his head back to look up in awe. Then flowers that had eyes in their center bloomed before turning into fruit of knowledge and dropping off the tree.

“Holy cow it actually worked.” John said staring up with Arianna at the canopy of dark red leaves and pink fruit on white wood.

“This is incredible Roo! I didn’t know you could do this.” Arianna said walking around the trunk in away running her hands over the smooth bark.

…
“I am a tree.” Roo said laughing as Alastor tried to climb the trunk only to slip down. His arms would grow long enough to wrap around eventually.

Roo found out that sadly she couldn’t look threw the eyes of her non sentient sapling and wouldn’t be unable to passively spy on the family. Oh well, she would just visit more. If her bouts of sanity would let her, she would spend most of her time in the throes of madness after being reduced to nothing but roots when the garden had fallen.

The family then went back inside ready for the night Alastor having passed out from playing in the yard. Arianna tucked her son and his toys, and the wooden spoon because it was still Alastor’s favorite apparently, into bed. She stayed by his side watching him sleep as she sent prayers of thanks to her god and Roo’s for her being there to save him today.

In the other room, John was glaring at Roo, again.

“I know you're trying to steal my family you dyke.” He spit at Roo who raised her brow at him.

“John, If I wanted to steal your family from you I would do so.” She said. Hm, that was an idea Roo wondered if she could convince Lilith that their contract let Roo declare new members of Hell royalty so Roo could make Arianna a princess and Alastor a little prince. It would be nice for little Charlie to have a friend her age in the place, though Alastor would age faster than her as a human since Charlie was only 10 in hell-born years and 100 in human.

Roo always found that funny.

“Bullshit I see the way you look at my wife you -” John started and Roo smiled hoping he would try and strike her so she could finally kill him for the slight.

“John are you ready for bed?” Arianna said hoping to save him from such a fate.

“Of course dear.” He said fallowing behind her into their bedroom. He pointed at his eyes before pointing them back at Roo in the “I’m watching you” gesture. Roo smiled back taunting him.

“Don’t pay for my wife or son next time you’re out. Their mine not yours.” He hissed, slamming his bedroom door. Roo lingered waiting for noise to come from it and when there was only silance she left. And went to Alastor’s room to watch him sleep. She waited unti she was sure he was dreaming before moving on. She headed back to the toy shop she had essentially robbed earlier.

Roo say outside the window listing to the arrangement that was still going on. She finally finished her business on earth at the sound of a gun going off twice. She looked inside the window confirming that Mike had indeed just killed his wife and himself.

Roo had two new souls to greet in hell and another to make sure was greeted at heaven's gate. She so enjoyed playing with her food.

Roo’s form dissolved as she ended her astral projection and manifested in hell again.

By her will the souls of Martin and Mike of New Orleans were before her in the garden chambers.

“Where…?” Martin asked his form done regenerating after falling out of the sky. That was Roo’s favorite thing about controlling Hell’s environment was that she got to drop the fresh sinners in and watch them splat and paint the ground with their blood. Mike reformed and sat up looking at his partner. He had been turned into a doll and Martin a rat.

Roo cleared her throat and the men turned around to see her true form leering over them. Roo’s feet disappeared into the ground massive roots peaking out and twisting across the dirt and pale green grass. Her tall twisting truck sat behind her human figurehead that leaned forward over the sinners her human face and body teetering more into an uncanny valley with how her eyes were slightly set apart and her hair resembled a misty shroud. Her canopy of arcing branching that crossed and held up the cap of dark red leaves and the fruit amongst the little pockets and scattered across the ground.
She in the Garden of Eden Roo had been a centerpiece, a landmark and a teacher for the first humans, in Hell she was mother nature itself and encompassing.

Roo ripped into Mike and Martin pouring out their blood onto the ground to be absorbed by her roots laughing as they screamed.

“Welcome to Hell!” She sing songed as she tossed about their bodies with a vine.

Roo had wanted to drag it out but she was feeling puckish herself after cooking the pie earlier so Martin and Mike didn’t last the night.

Roo was trying to remember what she was doing before she ate the souls of who ever she couldn’t remember their names when Lilith decided to come and check on her.

“Roo how are you?” Lilith asked coming up to take a seat next to Roo’s figurehead. Roo made a humming sound before turning to look over her should at Lilith, a sinners finger poking out of her mouth from where she had started to consume the bodies after feasting on their souls.

Roo spit out the finger grinning as she saw the watering can and fresh fertilizer in Lilith arms.

“I brought you a little something,” Lilith said holding up the offering part of her end of the deal.

“Yes, yes, bring it over here.” Roo waved Lilith over and watched as good water was poured over her base Lilith walking around to wet the ground around the trunk. Lilith then scattered the fertilizer and moved on to trimming.

“Yes! Very good.” Roo said her red eyes lulling about as they couldn’t really focus as their owner was busy enjoying the sensations of a good tending to.

Roo sighed in relief as her bad branches were put in order as Lilith climbed the ladder and snipped away shaping Roo’s canopy into the wide flat saucer shape she loved.
“There that should do it for now, so how was you day, you went to up earth again were you looking for another reaper?” Lilith asked. Roo had many soul contracts but only one at a time ever, she killed them when she grew bored.

Roo hummed.

“No I was else where…doing something….” She said instead trying to remember what it was, she had enjoyed it what ever she had been doing. Her eyes were a vibrate red and Lilith kept her distance knowing that Roo was her most hostile while like this.

“Oh so is Ike still your reaper?” Lilith asked as she cleaned up the scraps of branches and leaves to arrange into a better decomposition pattern for Roo.

…

“No I think I ate him last Tuesday.”

“Ah, then do you want me to find a candidate for you?” Lilith asked.

“Yes, that would be preferable.”

Lilith wondered what was taking up so much of Roo’s time on earth since any bout of clarity see seemed to slip off to some where.

Lilith left Roo in her chamber and Roo leaned back staring up at the protective magic barrier that surround her and hell. Gold bars crossing back and forth like a grate and trapping all of Hell into its little pocket realm. Roo’s form stretched beyond poking out and reaching out toward earth and heaven above. Her personal highway back.

Roo always enjoyed how Lilith went about appointing a reaper for her, her assistant position essentially that had slowly turned into a body guard position for Roo over the centuries.
There would be a hiring call sent out for capable and moral fighters that were most of all entertaining individuals for Roo to pick from to choose to bestow her dark powers onto.
The reapers never lasted long none of them just good enough for Roo to really like. That and they all slowly became curopted with power so she killed thme when they started talking back to her.
Ha, as if her tools were equal to her, they were all only permitted so much in her territory playing overlord and mastermind. Roo decided who ever became dinner and who got to enjoy eternity in Hell.
It was her choice and her’s alone, and she did so love playing with her food.

Roo was trying to remember what it was she was doing before she sate when the little clock she had set as a reminder during a bout of clarity went off again. She had business on earth again.
Oh goodie, entertainment!

Roo reached out toward Earth, the excitement caused her clarity to return. Yellow eyes blinked out into New Orleans which she now instinctively reach out towards and she remembered.

It Alastor’s first day of school.

She looked over at the three year old who was still fascinated by his pop-up book and sitting with his new toys she had acquired for him only a few days ago. Alastor looked up and Roo wondered if his squinting meant he needed glasses or was trying to remember her.

“Roo!” Alastor cheered and ran up wrapping his arm around Roo’s leg in a hug. He looked up beaming at Roo who smiled looking back down, she would permit the hug as he was too young to understand personal boundaries.

…

Alastor just beat Arianna for favorite human position knocking Lilith down to third, damn he was a cute kid.

“Do you want to learn to read or math first, I think science is a little above your grade level.”

“Miss you Roo!” Alastor responded. He still didn’t understand what Roo was saying but she was nice and gave him things so he would behave for her.
For now.

“Mabey they are both above your level, here lets work on something else instead. Like your fine motor skills.” Roo said summoning paper, crayons, and chalk.

Alastor squealed at the magical display and waited for Roo to hand him the things. He was such a careful kid it surprised Roo.

Roo drew out a diagram for a black hole to explain the event horizon and how time itself was folded back since Alastor couldn’t argue back about not wanting to learn about it.
Alastor drew him mom and his new toys.

“As you can see the event horizon is the point of no return for the ergo sphere that lies beyond pulls everything into the singularity that then spits out the compressed and anatomized matter to the white hole. There is no escaping the event horizon once crossed-”

“Roo!” Alastor said and Roo looked up from coloring in the accretion disc to see Alastor had added her to his drawing of his favorite things into the sidewalk chalk drawing.
She was holding his favorite wooden spoon.

…

“You’re going to be a very dangerous man if you grow up to be a player.” Roo said as Alastor replied by making a bubble sound as he drew his father being eaten by rats for Roo to watch.
“Oh, here’s the red add more blood.” Roo said passing Alastor the red crayon.

Alastor let out more happy squeals as he did as Roo suggested. Roo smiled, she was enjoying this.

Chapter Text

Roo liked her morning routine. She really did.

Every day she started off with breakfast. This usually consisted of a sunny side up egg sprinkled with her favorite fertilizer additive and a sauce that was a liquified blood mulch and mineral water mixed together. It was accompanied with a side of fried sliced sinner with the bone in and a soul smoothie.

Roo preferred murders or thieves for her breakfast as she found the evil in their souls gave them a certain rich flavor that she enjoyed in the morning.
You don’t want to know how Roo makes the soul smoothie.

Lillith, as part of her deal with Roo was responsible for bringing this meal on a plate to Roo’s true form every Hell morning. Though ever since her daughter was old enough to follow behind her on her own little hooves Charlie had taken to helping her mother with this task much to Roo’s delight.

“Good morning Auntie Roo!” Charlie, the princess of Hell, yelled running up to Roo’s trunk with the plate held high. Lillith following behind her excited daughter with the soul smoothie in a bucket. Which Charlie wasn’t allowed to help make, carry or, even know what was in it.

“Good morning Princess Charolette.” Roo said bowing her figurehead at the waist and dipping her hat towards the floor in a deep bow of respect that Charlie didn’t really understand but was part of the routine as a way to show Lilith her daughter was revered by Hell’s most dangerous resident.

Charlie giggled and like their routine corrected Roo.

“Its Charlie!” Charlie said bouncing as she set the plate down so she could clap her hands.

“Ah my mistake again Princess Charlie, is this for me?” Roo asked knowing yes the abomination of a meal on the plate was indeed for her.

“Uh-huh!” Charlie said still excitedly bouncing. She may be 10 in demon years or 100 in human but she was still very childlike and happy something that never ceased to amaze Roo.
“Charlie can you help me feed Auntie Roo?” Lilith said making her way to Roo passing the bucket.

Roo tipped her head back and opened her jaw as wide as she could without terrifying poor Charlie. Roo dumped the bucket of refined soul matter knocking it back and used her many sharp spiked tongues to pull it down her throat slurping it up. While this was happening Lilith distracted Charlie with a little handheld shovel and hoe. Charlie had no idea what raw souls looked like and assumed it was more plant stuff that Roo needed to consume to keep her true form healthy.

“Now we need to bury these nutrients close to Roo’s top roots so she can absorb them.” Lilith explained to Charlie again who dug a little hole in the ground by one of the large snaking roots.
Charlie did so before reaching over her hand to rub it across the smooth wood bark that had grown over the exposed part. Roo lifted up the root to meet Charlie’s hand making her squeal before lowering it back into the ground.

“Are you hungry Auntie Roo?” Charlie asked lifting the plate of food back up.

“Oh I’m most famished.” Roo said and Charlie dumped the food into the hole and covered it up with dirt. Roo made a humming noise of happiness, an audible cue she had introduced to show Charlie, yes she was eating and tasting her nutrients even through her roots.

Roo could taste things better with her mouth but she absorbed better with the roots.

Charlie jumped waiting for Roo to finish her humming. Roo did and smiled down on Charlie with Lilith as Charlie picked up the shovel to re-digging the hole.

“Look mama! Its gone again!” Charlie said pointing to the now empty hole.

“It is. Look even the bone is gone.” Lilith agreed point at the empty hole. They refilled it again after letting Charlie dig around some more seeing yes there was nothing left of the meal today.
“Can I go play in the garden?” Charlie asked holding her shovel and bouncing up and down.

“Alright, but remember to be safe and come back in later for school.” Lilith said.

“Don’t worry Lilith, I’ll watch her.” Roo said with a grin Lilith frowning.

“I know… but remember if anything happens to her…I’m voiding our deal.” Lilith said and Roo nodded. She knew the consequences of angering her care takers, just as Lilith knew what would happen to hell if it lost its faux mother nature.

It would be mutual destruction.

“As always. I promise.” Roo said nodding and finally Lilith accepted that and went back inside the palace looking over her shoulder at Charlie splashing around in the little creek.

Roo hung back simply observing Charlie try and catch frogs. After realizing the little creatures were to slippery to hold onto, Charlie moved onto digging in the creek bed pulling out buttons, metal buckles and pieces of cloth.

Remnants of Roo’s other meals.

Charlie pulled out a little tin solider toy, something that Roo had spit out of that toymaker doll demon that she ate a while ago that had been rude to her. The memory of that meal nagged at her reminding her she needed to check up on her earthly students soon. Charlie crawled out of the creek running back over to Roo’s body and holding up her new found buried treasure.
“Look!” Charlie showed Roo the solider.

“It’s a little man!” Charlie said before spinning away heading back into the palace saying she was going to show her father her finds.

Roo hummed, not wanting to tell the child that might be a bad idea seeing as Lucifer had just returned from another diplomatic meeting with Heaven and his sadness could be felt on the air.
Roo wondered what state Charlie would find her father in now if she did manage to make her way into the work shop, usually Lucifer took time to unwind and put his mask back on before facing the palace again. Always bad news, no compromise, no lighter conditions to get into Heaven, accusations of uprisings, and more extermination dates.

Charlie did find her father after using her secret tunnel into the workshop. A little door only she and the smallest of imps used to get in and out. She wasn’;t strong enough to sense the magic or how it was different with it melting off her father when she found him slupmped over his table in his true form.

“Dada?” Charlie said slowly approaching the non-human being.

Lucifer had his long neck hanging off the table, toothed bill beak open in a paused sigh, hat set aside so his horns could be seen and the six wings hanging low having been dragged across the floor. His hoofed feet at an awkward angle and his scalely hands hanging limp at his sides as he draped across the table.

It was chimaera like, duck parts mixing with snakes and goats. Once long ago, Roo and Lilith remembered he had looked like a massive white and gold duck, and that was it, shapeshifting flawlessly through forms to handle any situation, but always coming back to his fluffy duck body.

He had chosen snake that day in the garden so he could hide in the grass his white body like a little white sting guiding the humans along behind him as he took them to the center.

“Dada?” Charlie asked again coming up to her father’s goat head with serpentine fangs, and the bill. She tried to wrap her arms around the bill but couldn’t reach settling for grabbing the edge of the top one.

“Dada, … I found treasure.” Charlie said showing her dad’s goat eye the little toy she had just dug up. Lucifer shifted moving his head to look better at Charlie. The demonic features started tucking away, fur, feathers, and scales falling back to revel a soft downy skin and much smaller body.

“Did you now…hm it looks like he’s missing his paint.” Lucifer said, his burned human hand reaching out and picking up the toy.

“Or maybe not, it looks like he’s pewter. Part of a set perhaps.” Lucifer said turning over the little solider in his hands.

“Can we paint him anyways?” Charlie asked looking at her father’s paints on his table.

“Of course.” Lucifer said picking up Charlie and setting her on top of the counter. He handed the toy back and pulled out the model paints.

“Which color?”

“Pink!”

Lucifer laughed and handed Charlie the little bottle and a brush and tried to remember if Pink was ever worn into battle. He watched Charlie paint, head in his arms to hide how his smile fell as he thought back on the meeting he had just come back from.

“Lucifer, can I come in?” Lilith asked knocking on the door. Charlie answered for him instead and Lucifer sat up as Lilith entered in surprise at hearing her daughter’s voice. She smiled and Lucifer tried to as well. Lilith picked up on her husband’s distress and pulled him into a hug as they watched Charlie paint her pink solider. Lilith rubbed Lucifer’s back feeling the little bumps where his wings hid.
Outside in the garden Roo rummaged around in the creek, shifting her roots to upset the bed and see if there was anything else down there. Charlie was so delighted with digging up the toy perhaps she could find more and burry them for Alastor to find in his yard. Roo daydreamed imagining the expression on Arianna’s face as she would come home from work and find her son covered in dirt. Truly a good plan.

The best plan, Roo had amazing plans.

She found a charm, a little gold thing shaped like a fleur de elsie. Perfect.

She was a little early today, she got to watch Alastor on Thursdays and Fridays so she could try and teach him until he was older, then she could actually school him properly, Arianna promising to let Roo teach him if she couldn’t get him into a school. Other days Arianna brought him with her to her job watching him in turns with other nurses that had formed a makeshift nursery after picking up the work when John took a pay cut.

From what Arianna said Alastor got along decently with the other children his age, he preferred the quiet ones, drawing in the corner or trying the puzzles. The others, noisy kids he avoided like the plague sometimes refusing to go into the nursery if none of his quiet friends were there.

Roo had done a test once, and found Alastor had really sharp hearing, and perfect pitch, able to pick up on bad records on air during amateur hour the only time he ever asked to turn off the radio. Bad music and the news, Alastor didn’t like listening to the bland voices read out headlines, and he was already as much a music snob as his parents. Something Roo enjoyed teasing them about endlessly when Alastor would try and turn off their radio on his own.

The big cathedral radio was Roo’s apology gift to the family after the whole, emergency c-section Roo had pulled on Arianna and John when Alastor was born. She had to ask a future seer for the idea but it had paid off.

Roo manifested a little ways from the house charm in hand. It was only July but Alastor’s fourth birthday was coming up soon with November around the corner. Roo didn’t want to miss it and was still trying to figure out what she could give the child this time that he would like, now that they had a vague idea what he did and his personality. That and so it would be sentimental but not to spectacular so it would piss off John more when Alastor inevitably loved it.

Roo was the best evil genius.

She thought this to herself as she walked up the steps getting ready to knock on the door.

Inside she could hear John and Arianna arguing. She decided to go on in worried for the mother and son.

Roo glowered as she saw John lower his hand from where it was raised by Arianna who was cowering back.

There was coughing coming from the other room and Roo could sense a sickness on the air. It wasn’t very strong, likely just infected and taking hold. But one Roo knew intimately.
Tuberculosis.

Roo tried not to show her joy when John stormed off yelling at Roo to do her thing before leaving his terrified wife and the tree spirit alone. Roo was both happy that John was gone but also pissed, how dare he abandoned his wife and ill son.

Arianna came crying over to her Roo making her take deep breaths so she could understand what the woman was saying.

“Alastor, he started coughing last night, I told him I wanted to show him to the doctors at work but John refused, said we should wait it out, that we don’t have the money, he thinks its nothing.” Arianna said still crying.

“Then this morning I found blood on his lips.” Arianna said motioning Roo to follow her to Alastor’s room.

The small child, and he was still small for his age, but he had gained a little weight from the food Roo had helped Arianna get a last month. Better than before when just John was working.
Roo looked down as Arianna crouched next to her still son who was curled up in the little bed, the blood still dried on from earlier. Roo wanted to tell Arianna she needed to get Alastor help, but there was also the fact that if they did it could mean certain death for Alastor.

He was a child his chances of survival almost none and risked getting dropped into a place of more sickness if Arianna gave him to a cruel doctor. Roo suspected Arianna to be in denial, she had to know excatly what it was Alastor was sick with.

“It might be an allergic reaction. I’ll stay with him today, go on to work and I’ll make sure Alastor has everything he needs.” Roo said stroking Arianna’s arms to sooth the other woman.

“Okay…okay.”

“I taught you everything you know about medicine Arianna I can make sure Alastor gets better.” Roo added as Airanna hesitated to leave. Finally and very slowly the woman left the house and started making her way down the street.

Roo worked quickly summoning some chalk so she could start drawing out all the symbols she would need to open her portal. She could come and go from Hell as she pleased, even able to take and bring objects with her.

But humans were a different matter. Roo couldn’t be seen bringing Alastor through the front gate now, Cerberus would see her and Alastor’s visit would be logged.

Heaven would not take kindly to Roo bringing a human child to Hell, let alone one that’s soul was currently claimed by another deity seeing as Arianna and John were both of voodoo religion.
No, Roo needed to bring Alastor threw a private portal directly to the palace if she wanted peace while she figured out how to make the medicine.

Roo finished drawing the symbols the white chalk igniting and trailing in sparks across the wood burning into the floor. The portal opened in a spiral of red magic crackling at the edges and Roo wrapped Alastor up in his blanket grabbing his plush gator too.

Roo wasn’t looking forward to explaining to Alastor and Arianna that they were going to have to burn both after this.

Roo crawled through the portal stepping out with her projected form into her garden at the center of the palace. She passed her body in its dormant state while traveling through the garden to the back exit so she could sneak through the palace unseen. Alastor shifted in her arms breathing deeply Hell’s ashy air agitating him. Roo pulled him closer she hide his trembling.

Medicine, she needed medicine or something. She knew diseases could be treated she wrote the book for crying out loud but she had never had to develop treatments before. She was a teacher, the embodiment of knowledge, not a scientist. She knew everything about how the diseases worked, how fast it moved, the DNA code of the bacteria itself.

She never had to treat tuberculosis.

…

Roo was walking threw the section of the garden where Lilith buried her stillborns away from Roo’s main root system but knowing that like all things in Hell that were buried she would inevitably absorb it. The small clearing filled with crosses, hundreds of them made from what ever Lucifer had on spare in his workshop. Some had names, the one that had made it further along lulling Lilith in thinking this would be the one to make it only to perish in the final trimester.

Roo remember how … different it had been with Charlie, Lilith had been confident, at first she thought it was denial then… Charlie was here and it was like a light went off for Lilith and Lucifer. Roo thought it was over the curse run its course but she saw it. Lilith buried another one a few years ago in this spot. Roo had been waking up from a long period of dormancy and noticed Lilith with a bowl and bloody cloth. But no cross for this one.

Roo made her way through the back halls, Imps holding their heads down so as to not meet any of her eyes that darted about looking for danger. Lilith room was near the center of the palace and while there were many guards between that and Roo.

Roo also knew of the secret escape tunnel from the royal bed chambers.
After all Roo had built this place.

The palace was grand, beautiful a state of constant care, but fortified. Heavily. That had been Roo’s main idea building it. The artistic decoration a front to convince the population of Hell that the royal family was a collective of splendor and legitimate. The white marble, the gold inlay, the biblical images and colors. All just a shell to protect Hell’s first residents. Inside traps and corridors that ran for miles under Hell in the dirt. Lilith’s power let her cast her voice anywhere she wanted to in Hell, but the tunnels connected everything. Hollowed out by Roo herself.
Roo stored the skeletons down there.

Roo drifted out of a staff Holloway into her tunnels dragging Alastor with her she moved the blanket when he gave a particularly big cough a little blood splattering onto Roo’s check. Roo kept marching through the tunnels stepping over bones and rotting flesh, around her bits of souls drifted in all colors. Shredded and left to eventually fade as Roo absorbed them. Roo saw some settle against the wall a new eye grew in for her giving her another perspective of herself. She looked ragged.

The royal chambers were private not even staff allowed in to clean, Lilith and Lucifer handled it themselves. And now Charlie.

Charlie who by everything Roo knew and had seen shouldn’t exist.

Roo emerged out of the tunnels into the center living chamber, Lilith’s favorite room. Her true center of command of Hell. The coffee table had work spread out on it, decree’s and trade negotiations scattered across. Some for her and some for Lucifer. They would sit around it and talk business and what was needed to keep Hell alive. Lilith preferred this home setting over the offices she had to sit in with her advisors and diplomats. The coffee table also had some of Charlie’s drawings and crayons on it, since she liked to work alongside them. In the corner Charlie’s old cradle was set up like a toy box stuffed with plushies wrapped in little blankets sleeping. Charlie didn’t like putting them in boxes. The toys were sinners and imps just like the subjects, Charlie didn’t want to put her subjects in boxes, she needed to see them and make sure they were okay.

Roo knew she was looking for something. A powerful spell, some sort of secret code, anything that would tell her how Lilith did it.

After making sure everything was clear Roo made her way out and over to the large plush couch. It had been shifted into a fold out futon recently. Roo didn’t like to see it but knew Lucifer and Lilith had been arguing badly lately and Lucifer had moved out to the living room some nights. She laid Alastor down and propped his head up with a pillow. One of the fun animal shaped ones Lucifer made when Charlie was born. She adored them, especially the little grey moth one and red goat dragons. Right now Roo used the deer one that Lucifer had made after Charlie begged to celebrate Christmas one year. Alastor made a little happy noise recognizing the animal and pulled his gator and the pillow closer falling into an exhausted slumber.

The rest of the palace was grand but the living chambers simple. Purples and white. Some red, no blues or pinks. Except for Charlie’s many toys Lucifer never seemed to be able to stop making.
Roo went into the chamber that connected to Lilith and Lucifer’s room, the other two branching rooms were Charlie’s bedroom and the small kitchenette that Roo found herself being the main user of. Of course, there was Lilith private garden that branched off her room but right now Roo was still rummaging around in the bed room flipping up the mattress and moving shelves and opening every book.
It had to be here.

Roo let out a frustrated scream after finding another normal book hurling it at the garden door shattering the frosted glass.

Roo froze sensing something she hadn’t in over 30,000 years.

Slowly she stepped into the small garden. Potted plants rare and powerful sat on tabletops, hanging pots with both edible and magical plants dangling from above. Roo used her branches to push them out of the way letting the growths fall off her as she walked towards the answer to how Lilith did it.

It was the little unassuming bonsai style tree with flat oval leaves and black wood. The leaves had a pale blue vein underneath them and there were buds forming. Buds that by the looks of them wouldn’t bloom for another few centuries.

Roo was looking at a sapling of the Tree of Life.

Roo screamed wanting nothing more than to crush the plant and rip apart this holy intrusion. A trick, it had to be a trick. Roo knew her brother, she knew how he didn’t like to grow big and never gave off cutoffs away. Roo investigated the little tree; no this had grown from a flower not a cut off. The flower had to been picked in heaven and passed along. Roo suspected Adam at first, an attempt to make amends with Lilith, no to proud, maybe God reaching out as sorry, no also unlikely he couldn’t get near the gate with out all of Hell going into lock down. A prophet? Maybe.
Lilith had some how gotten her hands on the one thing that could save any life both living and soul and she didn’t tell Roo.

Didn’t tell Roo that a part of Li was right here.

Roo took a leaf off and the plant withered a little but that could be Lilith problem. Roo forced herself to leave the plant, the tiny Li behind and went back to Alastor.
The flowers were the strongest healing property but maybe, just maybe there would be enough in the leaf to heal Alastor.

Roo held the leaf up to show him and he blinked back weakly still coughing. Alastor chewed the leaf making a gross expression before spitting it out and Roo watched for any sign of changes. Nothing. Hell’s air wasn’t good for him Roo knew she risk accelerating it bring him into the polluted air but she had to try something. Dragging him through the catacombs also hadn’t helped but here she was.
Watching the son of her best friend die because she didn’t know something.

Roo grabbed the other animal pillow, a turtle, old wise mister turtle and screamed into his shell. Roo leaned against the couch letting her self drop to the floor as she tried to avoid letting her form grow out of control and rip up the walls. Roo was still screaming into the pillow when the chamber doors opened a crack.

Charlie slipped in seeing Roo crying on the floor by the couch next to a lumpy blanket.

She was on break from her lessons, Roo wasn’t allowed to teach Charlie until she was older and Lilith wanted to let Charlie socialize in a regular class setting so she attended classes in the palace with other high born children.

Roo would get to teach her when Charlie got to university it didn’t matter where, seeing as Roo taught at all the universities in Hell.

Charlie crept up on tip toes to Roo and the lump seeing that all of Roo’s eyes were closed and crying. Charlie had a moment to realize this may be the first time she had ever snuck up on her aunt. Then she heard a cough coming from the blankets and her nose scrunched up. She smelled something really sick, like it was close to death.

Charlie peaked into the blankets since that was where she sensed it and saw Alastor staring back at her blankly. Charlie reached out dabbing away the blood from Alastor’s mouth and the other child blinked at her closing his mouth she didn’t stick he finger in it while she cleaned him. Just like his maman showed him when she cleaned his face.

“Are you a human?” Charlie asked and got a lot of coughing in response. Charlie poked at the blood seeing how it stuck to her finger and how Alastor wasn’t able to croak out a response. Charlie reached out again crying herself realizing she was looking at someone about to die.

“I’m sorry, I wish you weren’t sick.” She said placing her hand on his heart.

There was a bright red light and Roo jumped realizing Charlie was in the room with her. Charlie jumped back from Alastor and screamed as he hand shifted to a large black thing with red veins coursing threw it and claws tipped her fingers. She held it back form her looking at it in horror.

Roo grabbed Alastor who was crying now, loudly the scream setting him off as he clutched his ears.

Roo turned Alastor over in her arms and helped Charlie stand back up after the hand disappeared like ash falling off and leaving her real normal hand back. Charlie looked at Alastor with Roo, at how the humans color returned and his eyes cleared like he was waking up.

Alastor stretched and fussed as Roo inspected him letting out noises of protest and a few words.

“Down now, down now.” And Roo set the toddler back down on the ground he looked at Charlie head tilted as he sized her up before pointing to her paper and crayons on the table.

“You Draw? Share?” Alastor asked folding in on himself as if he expected Charlie to say no.

Charlie’s eyes lit up and she forgot about the bright red light squealing delightedly and grabbing Alastor by his hand to pull him over to her corner.

“Yes! I can share with you, here these are my favorite colors, but you can use them, I like drawing, but I like playing with my friends more but drawing with friends is the best-” Charlie started rambling. Alastor slammed his hands over his ears and curled up Charlie’s joy dropping.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you-” She said in a quieter voice. Alastor gave her a puffed-up angry expression that was more cute then well angry before shaking his head.

“Too loud.” He said and Charlie nodded beaming again.

“Oh okay, I can be quieter here, I have more crayons in my room I can go get them-” Charlie started up again in a quieter voice and Alastor gave her a big smile and nodded much more enthusiastically. Charlie gave a muffled squal of happiness before getting up to go to her room. Alastor getting up to follow behind which made Charlie even happier, they made many stops along the way Charlie pointing out all her toys and their names, telling Alastor he could play with anyone he wanted.

He had his plush gator with him still, that Roo need to burn later if she didn’t want Alastor getting sick all over again. Charlie handed him her shark plush since it had teeth like his gator and Alastor loved it holding it close and kissing it before following Charlie into her room to get the rest of the crayons.

Roo continued staring with all one billion of her eyes at the scene as the two kids came back and proceeded to draw. Roo knew children tended to shrug off, strange events as normal if they didn’t have anything else to compare it to. Alastor used to magical acts thanks to her and Charlie around Lucifer. But it still baffled Roo that Charlie had no idea what she had just done.

Charlie preformed a miracle, an act only angels up until now could do because that was very much demon energy that had emanated from Charlie. A part of a true form manifesting none the less.

Yet Charlie had done it. Cured a disease that had eluded all, even magical healers up til now.

Roo fell to her knees watching the two children draw happily, Alastor holding up his to show Roo he had redrawn the catacombs she had just carried him threw. Charlie giggling saying they were the best places for hide and seek, before running back to her room to get her favorite skull she had saved. Alastor was also delighted by this as it had many teeth and made the skull snap back at Charlie who was playing a game of keep away with it now with Alastor. Though she was letting him win.

Roo let out a sob as it all clicked.

Lilith how ever she got her hands on Li’s sapling had to have ingested a flower from it that let Charlie survive the curse on her mother. It made sense now why Lilith would hide this. This magic was powerful, to powerful, it could cause devastation if its existence was known.

Charlie could preform miracles and if Heaven ever found out it would be the definitive proof of uprising that the Seraphims had been chasing since the start of the exterminations. It didn’t matter how Lilith got the flower, they could claim Hell was to much of a threat and kill all of them since it had already passed.
Roo clenched her fist, she wasn’t letting that happen.

Alastor and Charlie carried on as children did blissfully unaware of the impending disaster that was the Heaven and Hell diplomatic situation.

“Charlie did you find what you were looking for your going to be late to class-” Lilith said stepping into the room and freezing when she locked eyes with Roo before turning to look at the human coloring with her daughter.

…

“I know.” Roo said standing up and going to follow Lilith into the hallway when the woman nodded mutely at her. Roo glared at Lilith who turned away not meeting any of the eyes that bored into her.

Charlie and Alastor continued drawing, happy and quiet.

Chapter Text

“What were you thinking?” Roo hissed as Lilith refused to look at her. The queen composed herself before finally turning to glare back at Roo sternly.

“What any mother in my situation would have, I did what I had to, to save my daughter,” Lilith retorted and Roo snapped.

“You were never meant to be a mother,” Roo snarled and Lilith yanked her chain.

“I was supposed to be the original mother, I was supposed to be the origin of civilization! It has been my purpose to create and I was denied and for what! I wanted this! But I threw my first chance away for the angel I loved because he was the only one who saw me as a person, I refuse to let some higher power dictate and ruin our lives-” Lilith ranted and Roo clapped in her face.

“You’re, dead, you’re not even supposed to be able to get pregnant, the fact you can is your punishment, she isn’t supposed to be able to exist!” Roo said harshly and Lilith pushed her back.

“Don’t you dare speak of her that way!” Lilith said, raising her voice before flinching seeing Charlie, peaking in from the room to see the two women arguing, Alastor hung back hands over his ears trying to ignore the noise giving Roo a pleading look.

“You cheated Heaven for what! A child? If you were so desperate, adopt! You would risk total annihilation just to play house!” Roo yelled with no qualms about Charlie over hearing who gaped in terror at the announcement, she fled from the room taking off Lilith seeing and panicking.

“Charlie wait!”

Roo watched the queen chase after her daughter before storming back into the room. Alastor had retreated curled up hidden under the stuffed animals his eyes dropping as if to go to sleep. Roo felt only a little guilty as she picked him up, he squirmed and she used his tiredness to take the gator plush flinging it away and igniting it, Alastor wasn’t as tired as she initially thought as he noticed and started crying reaching out for it. Roo grumbled but drew the portal gate to take him home stepping out into the front yard from the shadow of one of the trees. Grabbing the shark plush though it clearly wasn’t a good enough replacement.

Arinna came running Roo startled seeing the woman tackle her and Alastor. She sobbed Roo passing the cranky toddler back who was just confused now holding the new plush.

“Where were you?” Arianna demanded in a tone much more forceful than she had ever used with Roo, she fretted over her child blinking in surprise at the grey and white shark. Roo huffed arms crossed.

“He had TB, but he’s better now” Roo said and Arianna whirled around screaming.

“What?!” The woman yelled a few of the neighbors poking their heads out to see what the noise was about seeing Arianna just yell at the air with Alastor under her arm.

Roo was dragged inside and after having to explain everything, most of which Arianna still didn’t really understand they came to an agreement.

“You’re not allowed to stay with Alastor on your own anymore,”

“What?” Roo snapped feeling that notion was absurd, she personally considered herself the only one appropriate for the task.

“You dragged my son to Hell!”

“To save his life!” Roo yelled back and Arianna looked like she was one string away from snapping.

“TO HELL! HELL IS REAL AND YOU TOOK MY SON THERE! FOR PLAYDATE WITH THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER!” Arianna yelled and Roo threw her hands up.

“It’s not that bad!”

“You have said it’s a cesspool of evil and debauchery where the worst of the world festers like an infected wound!” Arianna yelled and Roo

“Charlie is a sweet girl in fact she’s the reason Alastor is even alive at all!” Roo argued while Arianna just kept glaring at her.

“And why couldn’t you bring Charlie here if you were so intent on introducing them.” Arianna snapped, Alastor was calm or appeared so playing with the shark, he was brushing it with a comb meticulously picking out the ashes from Hell’s air that clung to it. Every now and then he gave Roo a look that let her know he was still upset about his gator, Roo wondered if she should have also grabbed the deer plush for him.

“I wasn’t, I took him there to treat him and she found us!” Roo said trying to focus on pleading her case with Arianna.

“And what deal did they make! Demons don’t do anything out of the goodness of their hearts,” Arianna said and Roo grabbed her all eye locking on her. Arianna bite her tongue startled as Roo whispered.

“Charlie didn’t make a deal, she’s 10, she performed a miracle,” Roo said and if it wasn’t for the fear in her voice Arianna would have pushed her back instead the woman sat down reaching into her pocket to hold the gris-gris bag she always carried.

“Fine, how is that different?”

“Only angels can preform miracles, but as a conduit, miracles require reality to bend, and even then, angels have to meet certain conditions in order to invoke one if they’re not arch angels. Lucifer hasn’t preformed one for over 30,000 years, and the last time I remember even hearing about at this kind of power not being wielded by arch angels was that damn oily Josh and the psycho that sunk Atlantis! The fact Charlie did so without even thinking about it puts her in a class above them! She as strong if not more so than her dad!”

Arianna blinked in shock but seemed to finally understand the scale of power Roo was trying to explain. Roo slumped back against the porch head in her hands groaning annoyed.

“I’m sorry but I couldn’t do nothing,” Roo said and Arianna reached out and took her hand.

“Thank you, I think I understand a little bit more,” Arianna said and Roo looked over seeing a much softer expression on her face. “I don’t know what I would do without Alastor, he is the only one good thing in my life aside from you.” Roo felt a warmth spread from her before she frown registering the rest of Arianna’s words.

“If you don’t love John leave him, it wouldn’t be that hard to fake your death I’ll help,” Roo offered and Arianna laughed.

“No, I… I know I would struggle to provide for Alastor on my own but… John is his father and it would be wrong to deny him a connection with his son too,” Arianna said as if reluctant.

“I wish you hadn’t married him, you deserve better that this,” Roo said and Arianna stared ahead numb to it all thinking back, had Roo not seen into her eyes and known the full story she wouldn’t be so adamant about this.

“I could, but I didn’t have a choice at the end of it all. Alastor is John’s son.” She said in a daze.

Roo frowned again still holding onto Arianna’s hand who finally turned back to her.

“Ari…” Roo said using the nickname she only did when she wanted Arianna to know she wasn’t trying to be preachy.

“You are not responsible for him assaulting you, or anything else he had chosen to do to do, you are not an object,” She said and Arianna didn’t smile at least not until Alastor came running over and wrapped his arms around her in a hug. Arianna leaned back against him holding on tightly even giving Roo a look as if asking for her help in cheering up his mom. They heard talking around the corner and what sounded like men laughing the three retreating inside, the shark plush left behind. Arianna set Alastor down who ran hiding in the closet out of habit fearful eyes watching the door waiting for his monster of a father to come back.

Arianna froze up staring at the door in fear, Roo leaning over to whisper reassurances again.

“He forced you, you don’t have to love him,” She hissed as John opened the door.

He glared at them Arianna still stiff as he limped in hurt from something another man walking in behind him. At first Roo was on the defensive until he poked his head out from behind the fuming man of the house, the skinny sickly pale new comer was scraggily and were it not for Arianna’s memories she wouldn’t have known he was friendly with how he reeked of death.

“Hello Arianna, it’s been awhile,” The man said tipping his straw hat. John turned to his escort huffing and glaring before storming off to the cabinet to pull out a bottle.

“John?” Arianna responded a pain in her voice both men turning their heads. Alastor peaked out of the closet curious looking at the new man.

“Ran into Doe on my way home,” John said and Doe waved at Alastor all friendly which made the boy duck back into his hiding place.

“Oh, you did, you’re back in town?” Arianna said a little in disbelief, Doe giving her a weak smile.

“Smart kid,” John Doe commented as Alastor continued watching from his safe conner in the closet.

“Get going Doe you said you wanted to see her, now you have,” John injected snapping.

“Can it Baggs,” Roo snapped at the man playing with him who huffed back at her.

“If I’m going to be Baggs it’s Mr. Baggs to you bitch,” John snapped Doe distracting them both from arguing injecting himself.

“Hey not her fault every other guy is named John, and we’re both every other guy,” Doe said which had Alastor break out into laughter before ducking back into the closet when John Baggs whipped his head over to glare at him.

“Thank you for the help home now scarm,” Baggs snapped not finding humor in anything again. John Doe glared at him before his gaze softened as he turned to Arianna who was still a little breathless, holding Roo’s hand to ground her.

“I wish our introduction was a little more pleasant Ms…?” Doe said turning to her and Roo leveled her gaze not charmed.

“You can call me Roo,” Roo said unflinching the man took the hint and started to take his leave.

“Alright Ms. Roo it’s best I get going now, if you ever need anything Arianna you know where to find me, I ain’t planning on leaving town again any time soon,” John Doe extended Arianna nodding as some warmth come back to her face before the sound of John Baggs breaking the bottle against the floor drowned everything out.

“Get out.”

Doe left without another word after that giving Arianna a concerned look as he did so, Baggs screaming at Arianna to clean up the mess once the door closed.

“I’ll get it, check on Alastor” Roo said staring John down until he stormed off into the bedroom.

Arianna ended up hiding out with Alastor in his bedroom waiting John out until he fell asleep. Roo waited making sure everything was calm before she started getting ready to leave, sneaking some fruit into the cabinet for Alastor to find.

On a hunch she stepped outside eyes narrowing in at the man watching the house from a distance in the shadows. Roo stalked over and thankfully John Doe stepped out.

“You have a lot of nerve coming back here,” Roo said circling him looking for a weapon of some kind in case. On her second lap she got a good look in his eyes his life playing out before her in a second before she stepped back frowning.

“Then you know who I am?”

“I know you left and when you did that bastard took advantage of her, and you left again when you finally got back and saw she couldn’t wait for you. I also know why you smell like death, and it’s not from gator fishing,” Roo warned John stepped back a little scared.

“Unless you’re planning on making there one less John in this story, I don’t think you have a role in it,” Roo added as her olive branch John took his hat off head bowed in respect.

“You’re a good friend, she needs that, she doesn’t need me I know that, but I still want to make it up to her anyway,” John confessed, and Roo rolled her visible eyes, before snapping making him stand back up.

“If you wanted to do right by her you should have done it the first time,” Roo reprimanded and John narrowed his eyes annoyed now.

“I would have if it wasn’t for the storm I was a month late against my will!” John shouted and Roo rolled her eyes again.

“Let’s make a deal, I keep your secret help you ‘do right’ by her and you help me get rid of John?” Roo said hand outstretched smirking when he didn’t hesitate to take it. Almost too easy.

“Fine,” John took off into the night Roo cast her gaze down having been the only one to notice the blood splatter on the back of his pants.

“You may want to wash that,” She could out just to watch him squirm.

Roo sighed, her best friend had terrible taste in men.

…

Doe didn’t come up again in conversation until about a month later Arianna having to take up more shifts to cover for John’s drinking habit. Though Roo had seen him around town, and the bayou doing his ‘real job’.

As it was they were out for a drink themselves no alcohol, Arianna was getting to the point she could barely stand the smell of it even at work.

“I don’t want to leave Alastor alone at night with him, I think he’s going to hurt him or worse,”

“Then I can stay over more,” Roo proposed seeing it as the best option, Alastor nearly five now was having more, articulate thoughts lately though was still almost selectively mute, but had become a bit of an excellent writer, were it not for his skin Roo suspected he be the envy of the teachers. Which was just their lose.

“No, you have a life too, I can’t ask any more of you, you’ve already done so much for me,” Arianna insisted and it was at that moment John Doe wondered in again. His eyebrows rose and he bid them a hello keeping a respectful distance, the pained look of regret in Arianna eyes flashed again as he silently took a seat on the other side of the bar, a plate and glass of water joining him.

“What really happened between you two?” Roo asked hoping to get a more detailed answer then the flashes of a past passionate fling between the two that was all that remained in their memories.

“I loved him, we… we we’re going to get married even though he couldn’t get me a ring, he took a job out of town said he come back with one and he did…” Arianna said before stroking Alastor’s hair back it puffed up again as she removed her hand. Roo watched her expression noting how it was still almost too painful for her to think about.

“I… I had my ‘run in’ with John Baggs, who claimed he was Doe’s friend and looking out for me, then… you know what happened then, a couple weeks later I found out I was having Alastor… I tried to hide it but I knew Doe would be devastated, so much he might not have me anymore, and my parents caught me and made Baggs propose, which at the end of it all he seemed happy with it, so I thought maybe I be happy eventually,” Arianna said Alastor looking up in worry once more hugging his mother, he gave Roo a glare as if upset by her asking about it though he only likely understood half of what was being discussed.

“Did you talk with Doe after?” Roo asked and Arianna shook her head.

“No, last month was the first time we’ve spoken since I broke it off,”

“You didn’t break anything off,” Roo reassured Alastor leaning back and pointing at the man. Arianna turned around giving the man a longing look as he very quietly ate his meal eyes scanning the bar as if anticipating a threat. Roo quirked a brow at least he was more aware then John Baggs.

“Can we talk again? He’s funny.” He asked and Arianna surprised by the request nodded before she could think about it. Roo smiled and soon the trio were sitting across from Doe in his booth. He looked up surprised himself blinking before greeting them warmly.

“Thank you for joining me, it was almost too lonely over here, now I have the best company in town,” He said Arianna and Alastor snickering at the flattering. Roo was still unmoved watching him.

“How have you been?” Arianna asked Alastor joining Roo in the staring at Doe with a judging look.

“As well as I can be, I… I didn’t say it the other day since I didn’t want to upset Baggs, but I am sorry, for what happened between us,” The man said, then jumped in his seat Alastor having crawled under the table joining him on his side from the squished in seat of the other.

Arianna blinked before melting cooing at the sight.

“Oh, he likes you, that’s wonderful. He’s so shy I can barely get him to speak some days,” Arianna said before clapping as Alastor arranged the flatware back in place for John every time he set it down. This amused the man who pulled a penny out of his pocket passing it to the boy. Considering the state of his dress it might be the last oen on him.

“Here for such good service,”

Alastor didn’t react to the penny at first sitting down before looking up glasses askew.

“Game?” He asked.

“What kind of game are we playing?” John replied and Roo looked over at Arianna who looked like she was about to cry from how happy she was right now.

“Spin,” Alastor said spinning the penny on the sauce plate.

“Oh, that’s a good spin, and very smart to do it in the plate so it can’t roll away, you must make all A’s,” John said leaning over to watch the penny spin with Alastor.

“What do we do now?” John asked Alastor smiling now at the quiet voice of the man. Roo was rather annoyed how easy the two got along considering, but she wouldn’t intervene and ruin the moment for Arianna who looked like she was finally breathing again.

“Future. The penny can tell the future,” Alastor said for his game which was the most he had spoken in weeks in one go. Roo was in awe now having barely gotten anything out of Alastor, though she thinks he was still made about the alligator plush.

“The future? We ask it questions?” John asked and Alastor nodded.

“Will we meet again?” Alastor whispered to the penny and it landed on tails. He smiled pointing at it.

“House, house means good future,” Alastor explained and John smiled nodding. Arianna looked like she was about to burst from joy.

“Well I’m very excited to meet you again sometime,” John said before spinning the penny himself.

“Will I win the Olympics?” John asked the penny landing on tails again. Alastor started clapping as John did a little dance. Roo snickered seeing he had caught on to the trick leaning over to Arianna Roo whispered.

“It’s almost always going to land on tails when you spin it,”

“Because of the head?” Arianna asked watching as the penny predicted Alastor was going to get to go on a boat some day.

“Yep,” Roo said popping the P then laughing as Arianna spun the penny.

“Will I live a long life?” She asked joking.

“Gray hair old!” Alastor exclaimed giggling.

“Ahhh so old,” John teased making a hobbling motion in the booth before all quieted as the penny landed on heads. Alastor’s eyes crinkled up letting Roo know he still thought the penny did see the future. Roo picked it up spinning it again.

“Were you wrong about the last answer?”

The penny landed on tails again and the sigh of relief went out.

“See sometimes you need to double check,” Roo said as Alastor spun it again asking if he get a cat.

“Not a dog?” John asked and Alastor shook his head.

“To noisy. Cat’s are better.” Alastor explained as everyone nodded in agreement just to see him smile.

The penny landed on tails again soon the waiter walked over to collect the check. John passed a couple of coins over before the waiter looked over seeing he was a penny short. Alastor was still playing with it while John asked if a cent would be excusable or, paid later. Alastor apparently overheard anyways and picked it up passing it back to the waiter with out being asked much to the amazement of the table.

“Thank you boy,” the staff said before walking away John turning to Alastor.

“That was you’re penny,”

“No you needed it,” Alastor argued back his little huff letting them know he wouldn’t be budging.

“Well then I guess I gotta go,” John said rather sadly, “I’ll get you a penny you can keep someday,” He promised before taking a small box and passing it to Arianna from his pocket as she stood.
“Don’t open it here, and not at your house either, saw them and thought of you,” John said tipping his hat and shuffling out of the bar head down disappearing into the crowd outside.

Stepping out after clearing their own bill Arianna opened the box as they walked back to the house. She gasped and Roo leaned over before staring jaw dropped at the gold earrings with what looked like real rubies in them.

“He didn’t…” Arianna said almost in shock, there was a note at the bottom that said he was sorry it wasn’t diamonds but Roo was more interested in the small dot of blood on the back of the right earing.
Wiping it off before Arianna noticed, who then wore them all the way back Roo relaxed, Alastor staring at them dazzled before hiding them in his room for her as John came back in a mood.
Next time they saw Doe he was at the library. Roo apparently having missed a short meeting in-between when the other two had run into each other at the market.

“And you didn’t tell me because?” Roo asked a little angry and Arianna waved her off.

“It was short nothing of it,” She said walking straight toward him, Alastor saw who they were approaching and ran ahead ducking under a strangers legs just to get there faster.

“Is that when you got that hair pin?” Roo asked Arianna’s hand reach up to cover it.

“Yes but,”

The look Roo gave Arianna was intense but understandable though she dropped it as John approached back with Alastor.

“I believe this little man is your’s” he said passing a grinning Alastor who was trying to show off the new penny back to Arianna.

“Interesting reading choice there,” Roo said her gaze flickering down to the title. John shifted his arm so he covered it back up Alastor blinking confused but going back to playing with his penny easily enough.

“Oh this, it’s nothing,” John said moving the book behind him, Arianna narrowed her eyes looking at it over John’s shoulders before leaning back.

“What are you doing with that?” She asked which is understandable most people don’t pick up the history of grave robbing for a afternoon read.

“Oh just thought I do some research before I start my new job,” He said straightening up in pride, Arianna beamed and Alastor pointed at John.

“Grave robbing is a job?” He asked gesturing to see the book, Arianna and John had to back track before some one noticed while Roo doubled over laughing.

“No, I’m going to be a grounds keeper at the cemetery so I’ll be stopping them,” John explained which still sounded like an adventure to Alastor who stared asking questions much to both the adults surprises.

Roo leaned back resting against a shelf watching almost annoyed with how easy and kind this murderer for hire was with Arianna and Alastor.
Almost like he belonged.

Roo shook the thought off though it was hard when Alastor and John did a goofy full tooth smile together to make Arianna laugh and it was nearly identical, both had sharp longer canines and similar face shapes though John’s eyes were slightly brighter chestnut brown then Alastor’s burgundy brown.

Which was interesting since Arianna’s eyes were green, and John Baggs’s were blue.

Which if Roo was doing the math right made it physically impossible for Alastor to have brown eyes actually.

Fuck.
…

John had gifted Arianna another jewelry piece this one less assuming than the earrings and silver-plated hat pin since it was a tin broach shaped like a dove which she happily wore on the walk back to the house after John helped them get the books they were looking for. Having held up Alastor to reach them off the upper shelves to the boy’s delight.
He had his open reading and Roo kept having to direct him to stay on the side walk as he was nose deep in it.

“Does he understand Sherlock Holms?” Roo asked Alastor looking up to huff and go back to the book.

“Mostly. He’s getting really good at reading, but I did read him the first Sherlock Holms, and he wasn’t happy with him falling off the waterfall,” Arianna said which made Roo snort and Alastor glare at her again before pointing at the little illustration.

“Look! Watson!” Alastor said bouncing before running over to the chalk they kept for him outside drawing the scene in the book that didn’t have illustrations. Arianna and Roo watched him smiling happily as the stick figures chased bads guys.

“What’s your favorite one?” Roo asked, leaning over to see Alastor had stuck the detective duo on a plain fighting an air pirate which was still dressed like a sea pirate but it was Alastor’s story, he also always drew Watson with the stethoscope Arianna sometime wore back from the hospital by accident.

“I like Baskerville, but all the ones with Moriarty are, cool but he’s in more then one,” Alastor rambled a bit redundant before drawing Moriarty which bore a bit of a resemblance to John Baggs then the illustration.

Alastor was still doodling and reading the book when he jolted up right scaring Roo and started scanning for danger before frowning seeing John Baggs himself come stumbling already drunk before sun down home.

“Bad man,” Alastor whispered hiding behind Roo. Taking the chance to look the man over again for any small details to support her current theory Roo caught him before he toppled over letting Alastor run off and warn his maman.

“What did you say boy!” John screamed as Alastor ducked inside.

“Don’t you dare call me a bad man I am your father! I brought you into this world I will take you out of it!” He screeched Roo holding him back.

“Relax he just said Bag man nothing to get mad about you have a nickname isn’t that cute?” She tried to reason which shut him up long enough for her to start dragging him towards the house. Dropping him on the porch she bent down pushing his hair out of the way.

Lose earlobes like Arianna’s, but Alastor’s were attached, like Does. Swearing under her breath again Roo let them man push her away and wonder off.

She looked at Arianna inside the house making dinner with Alastor’s help as she thought about sharing the information.

Though the more she thought about the more she wondered if sharing it with Doe first would be better.

Taking her leave Roo missed John waking up and hitting Arianna over the head with the hot pan come morning though she found the burn later.

…

Roo found John in the cemetery like he said working at night since it was cooler, and let him hide the extra bodies with the other dead that were known without anyone seeing.

No one questioned the scent of death on an undertaker or a body in a cemetery.

Roo watched as he dropped extra limbs into a couple of coffins before then dragging a bag with a much larger body, also chopped up, to the fresh hole he had dug slightly deeper before dropping the overstuffed coffin over it. He started shoveling the dirt back over humming a tune about flowers.

She approached then making sure to crack a stick which startled him before dodging the shover that was hurled her direction.

“Ms. Roo! You scared the dickens out of me!” The man said panting from the fright Roo gave the shove which was lodge into a tomb stone a glance before getting back to business.

“I apparently did but that is beside the point, I have a clause I would like to add to out deal,” Roo said as she got a better look at his ears to double check fused earlobes. She also noted this time how John’s eyes angled slightly down with heavy lids, a bit closer to Alastor to then Bagg’s who’s sat straight on his face and Arianna’s tilted slightly up at the ends.

“Arianna needs someone to watch Alastor and make sure he continues his education when he’s not allowed into the schoolhouse during the day,” Roo started.

“Not allowed?” John asked confused but the level look made him shut his mouth back up.

“I’m going to propose it to her so when she says yes you better be ready for it,” Roo said before taking her leave walking through some of the tombstones before disappearing into the darkness to send her message.

…

Roo watched John from a distance show Alastor how to tie a knot for a fishing hook, the man having come prepared with one that wasn’t so sharp for the boy who went right to it.

“How do you catch gators with little hooks?” Alastor asked still more talkatively with John then he had been with Roo lately.

“Oh these for regular fish these are the gator hooks,” John said pulling one out Alastor’s jaw dropping as he stared at it. The two laughed and went back to prepping the poles. After that was done John pulled out the books and coloring pads for Alastor and to draw with and surprisingly a knitting project for himself.

“You knit?” Alastor aske dmuch more intrigued by this then his books now. John showed Alastor the needles and how to make these knots, he had an older pair that were smaller that he let Alastor practice with though he wasn’t very good at it to be expected.

“Maybe sewing will be more your thing,” John teased as Alastor got frustrated passing the tangled mess back he watched intrigued as John then pulled out smaller needles and patches of fabric.

“I learned how to sew from my maman way back when, she was a seamstress and I liked helping her in the shop,” John shared as Alastor watched him work fixing an old shirt.

“Did you sew all the patches in your clothes?” Alastor asked pointing at the bright spots that decorated the undertakers coat.

“Indeed I did, don’t make enough to take to the tailors or buy new with how worn out they get in my line of work,” John lied since Roo knew he bought cheap to blend in with the other’s and so it wasn’t a big loss when he inevitably had to burn them if he couldn’t get the stain out or chop and patch.

Alastor gave sewing a try and had a much easier time with it. After fixing a few shirts Alastor asked if they could make an animal.

“I had a gator but Roo burned it,” Alastor grumbled and John asked why with indignity.

“Why she go and do that!”

“I got sick and she didn’t want me to get sick again, or something, she says a lot of big words I don’t understand,” Alastor said and John sighed but nodded understanding.

“You’re mighty articulate for your age, you should go into that radio stuff that’s popping up. Talk the ear of all New Orleans off,” He said as they attempted to make plushie together, they went with a simple shape of fish John using a knife to trim the edges closer into the shape.

“No I’m not…” Alastor argued back still working on the outer seem of his fish.

“What makes you say that,” John pressed and Roo continued to watch envious of how easy the two opened up to each other.

“I don’t like talking. And only white people get to go on the radio,” Alastor said sounding immensely sad by that and John hummed before standing and gesturing for Alastor to fallow. He did intrigued as they wondered over to the nearby church across the street though the city owned the cemetery so John had to knock on the door to get in a clergy man opening surprised to see him.

“Shush keep your head down we’re only taking a short cut,” John whispered Alastor eyes alight nodded and Roo hanging back in the shadows watched them sneak through the praying congregation unnoticed. The clergy that had walked off to fetch some book for them left fumbling as his guest were gone. Roo snickered at his expense before going to keep and eye on Alastor and John who were wandering around the white neighborhood, Alastor terrified clinging to John who reassured the boy they were safe.

“I know they’re scary but you’re just as good as them in fact I bet you’re better than some of these lazy bums,” John said teasing as they passed a rather fat man in an expensive suit that huffed indignantly at them.

“You shouldn’t fill that ****** head with nonsense,” The man growled and John stepped on his toe. Still holding John’s hand Alastor zoned out hearing that word dropping his head and trying to be small knowing nothing good came from that words utterance.

“I wouldn’t use that kind of language around a boy wouldn’t want him to grow up to be like you, now would we?” John warned flashing the knife in his coat at the man who back tracked.

“Oh no,” The man said sweating not taking his eyes off the spot in John’s coat even though the knife wasn’t visible.

“Don’t let anyone call you that word okay,” John said to Alastor who started to come back seeing as there wasn’t any screaming or attacks. He looked over at the man who was still panicking before Alastor made a rude hand gesture that had John telling him not to do that as they scurried away from the shocked passerby.

“I’ll see you later Mr. Flemming,” John called over his shoulder and when the man did a double take Roo knew that was John’s next mark.

Eventually John lead Alastor to a local radio tower the kid craning his head trying to see the top. Overhead cords spread out like a web birds and other things sitting caught among them.

“It’s so tall!” Alastor said standing on his tip toes like that would change his view of the thing.

“Now there’s something I wanted you see,” John said guiding Alastor around to the side before scaling a crate and holding the boy up to the window.

Alastor pressed his face against the glass before gasping jerking back.

“They look like me!” He said and John nodded smiling.

“Some local boys, I don’t know em but they’re the best thing on the air if you ask me,” John said as they started to walk back to the cemetery John’s point made, Alastor kept casting looks back at the place as if he wanted to go inside but a security guard in front kept him from asking.

“Do all bands play on the radio?” Alastor asked staring at the lines still snaking over head.

“Only the good ones,” John replied, they took the long way back this time John buying Alastor a snack from a fruit stand.

“What about the talking people? Are there any that look like me?” He asked next and that made John pause as he hummed in thought.

“Host? As of now I don’t think so, but it doesn’t have to stay that way you know,” The man said as Alastor deflated a little.

“Maybe you’ll be the first, give em a real show,” He reassured instead and Alastor nodded and started rambling about what he would talk about on the radio. Roo watched as Alastor stayed happily by Johns side as he worked the cemetery making rubbings off all the cool tombstone and trading them for some pocket change for any visitors that saw him while leaving tributes.

Roo made her appearance with Arianna only a little mad that she reported how well John did. Arainna was practically bouncing as she found the two. John smiled and pulled out another innocuous gift a little silver chain bracelet with a heart charm that Roo had seen him lift of the old woman from the morning procession.

Arianna complimented the gift again before putting it on.

“You know he’s stealing them off the bodies,” Roo said and Arianna sighed nodding.

“I know but it doesn’t change the fact it still makes me happy when he gives them to me, he could easily sell them for extra cash, he needs it, but he’s choosing to gift it to me,” Arianna said smitten and Roo sighed shaking her head. She never understood human romances.

They made it back to the house but Arianna forgot to hide the gift before John saw it. He grabbed her harshly by the wrist slamming it into the counter, she screamed in pain but he didn’t let go.

“Where did you get this!” He hissed Alastor stayed this time holding onto his maman’s other hand frozen.

“I…I,”

“Did you steal it!”

“NO!” Arianna tried to break free kicking him in the shin only for him to slap her across the face sending her to the floor, Alastor threw himself over her stopping the hit towards her ribs, his shoulder taking it instead.

His scream of pain seemed to knock John out of his angry haze as Alastor’s arm hung limply off him. Arianna sat up and examined it in terror.

“Who gave that to you! You’re cheating on me aren’t you!” John screamed again yanking her back from Alastor who was still sobbing in terror.

“Stop it! Stop it John! It’s just a gift!” She tried to plead but he still refused to listen he raised his hand again to hit when there was a knock at the door.

John stormed over opening it to nothing only for Roo to tap him on the shoulder behind him. He spun around ready to hit only for her to catch his fist, he shook trying to pull it back only for Roo to grip it harder. She leaned forward glaring before breaking one of his fingers sending him to the ground.

He clutched his hand screaming all the while was Roo held Arianna relocate the dislocated shoulder on Alastor who didn’t scream this time instead staring ahead into nothing.

Roo stepped back unwilling to leave but feeling Hell demand her presence and soon she faded away terrified John would turn on them again.

…

As the months went on, Arianna grew to hate John Baggs more and more, Roo wasn’t exactly trying to help that marriage but, in turn John Doe was starting to become more prominent figure in their lives.
Roo considered telling Arianna the truth but felt it wouldn’t be wise to drop such a thing on her while she was so stressed planning their escape.

After mentioning the shoulder dislocation to John he started gifting Abigale more expensive jewelry telling her to sell it when she planned to run. Alastor for his part was doing everything he could to help reading an atlas over and over again as he imagined the places they could hide.

Come November and Alastor’s sixth birthday passing they were ready.

Roo wasn’t able to center herself that day instead stuck in Hell until the vague memory she needed to be somewhere slammed into her.

And when she did she found Arianna and Alastor waiting alone cold on the docks. The river boats long gone as they had waited for the third to join them.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” Roo said noticing how Alastor was shivering and Arianna was just numb.

“I’m not leaving without him,” Arianna said firmly. Roo sighed and left to investigate, knowing until the sun rose tomorrow Arianna would not be moving.

She didn’t see John or at least Baggs at the house nor his work at the factory as she passed it on her way to the cometary deeper in the city, turning into the edge of the forest lining the outer edge of this side of the city and the bayou Roo headed towards the shelter she knew John Doe would stay in come weekends or ‘big’ jobs from his other work.

She paused hearing shouting before continuing on towards the noise rather annoyed at the hold up. He sooner Alastor and Arianna were heading up river the better.

The Johns were yelling at each other both pointing guns outside of the deer blind.

“She’s mine! My wife!”

“Do I look like I care!”

Baggs fired a warning shot at Doe who didn’t flinch continuing to glare the man down.

“He’s my son!” The man screamed still waving his gun around. Doe screamed back.

“You have never once been a father to that boy! He’s terrified of you as he should be! If you really loved them you never would have hurt them! I saw it all of it! The bruises on both! The burns! You are-” another warning shot went off and Roo hung back waiting for Baggs to point the gun elsewhere so she

“Oh and he’s shouldn’t be scared of you!” Baggs argued back which got a reaction out of Doe.

“They should be! Compared to you I have a seat at the devils right hand waiting for me in Hell but I will drag you down with me before I ever let you lay a hand on either of them again!” Doe said before tackling Baggs. They rolled in the mud trying to take the gun from each other before Doe pulled the knife from his belt slamming it down into Baggs shoulder who screamed in pain pushing the smaller man off before rolling on top of him, the gun was still pointe doff into the trees and it went off again as the trigger was pulled both shouted as the blast wrecked their hearing. Baggs fell back dazed which let Doe crawl out though he left the knife still lodged in Baggs he made a run for the blinds Roo waiting pulled the rifle up tossing it to him. There was a split second of shock as he saw her before Baggs screamed in rage.

“Do it!” She screamed almost excited the scent of blood making her drool. She almost lost sight of the point, hunger, clouding her mind as she waited for them to die.

John Doe tried to turn around to aim but Baggs fired again hitting Doe in the arm he dropped the gun the deadly round finding a home in the ground before it could hit Baggs.

John lost precious seconds trying to reload which gave Baggs time to catch up and try to take the rifle. The two pushed back on each other forgetting about Roo who retreated to the shadows her eyes melting into red as she forgot why she was here as more blood oozed from their wounds into the dirt.

“I loved her! I loved her and you destroyed her life!” Doe screamed in rage but couldn’t fight off Baggs with just one arm while the other somewhat still had both.

“You left her all for me! You know what it was like watching her all those years run around with you!” Baggs bragged shoving Doe to the ground

“I was building her a home! A life! Something she deserves!” Doe screamed back just barely managing to roll out of the way of the pistol. Doe scrambled to safety covered up in grass and mud so much he looked like he was fusing with the earth and ran trying to put some distance between them.

Baggs yanked the knife out of his shoulder and with his weaker arm grabbed the rifle giving chase.

Roo followed behind slower, absorbing the evidence as an appetizer leaving not a single stain behind of the fight.

It was delicious, so fresh, she almost couldn’t tell who tasted better, the hit man or the stalker.

“You can’t take her from me!”

“I haven’t taken anything! She’s not a trophy!” Doe screamed back stumbling just a second over the mud letting Baggs catch up some more. Roo reached out waiting for the final blows to them both.
Doe picked up the pace then in the dark he tripped over a deer skull that was juting out of the ground. As he tried to stand up Baggs fired the rifle with one hand though he was off hitting Doe in the middle of his back missing the vitals, though the round burst out the other side as the ribs and flesh splattered the ground. Doe fell again shuddering but he wasn’t dead yet Roo watching licking her lips he turned his head seeing her true form crawling towards him eyes watching and jaw unfolding.

His eyes widened before he was tackled again by Baggs but instead of slicing his throat and ending it the man started carving his rival up laughing manically. Roo paused in shock at the turn in violence before circling around Doe’s eye watching her pleading for help.

Doe screamed in agony as he was skinned, Baggs forcing his head down into the mud using his bulk to keep Doe from pushing him off though even if he could crawl out from under he still wouldn’t survive.

Baggs was still laughing after Doe went still and quiet standing over the mutilated body. It was then that Baggs seemed to snap out of his rage looking down seeing the body and his clothes soaked through with blood.

“FUCK! FUCKING DAMNITT!” Baggs screamed kicking Doe as if it was his fault Baggs had just become a murderer.

Roo tried to reach out towards the body her hand emerging from the shadows but Baggs grabbed it by the feet and started dragging it back towards the blinds so she swiped at nothing in the dark.

“You fucking bastard,” John grumbled dragging the body through the boggy water that he was knee deep in. Further in the distance the eyes of watching animals could be seen creeping in summoned by the fresh blood.

John made it back to the blinds shoving Doe and the bloody clothes into it before pulling more branches and plants over it to hide it from sight, the half-naked man running back home in the dark.
Roo didn’t hesitate to devour the body once John was gone ripping open the chest further and feasting on the dirt covered organs, she was about halfway through breaking bones into smaller pieces to savor them when a little box fell out of the man’s coat. Picking it up curious even as she continued chewing on the body’s leg she opened it.

A gold ring sat inside a little perfect diamond topping it and the sight of it made Roo freeze as it prompted her memory to come back in full her eyes though she didn’t see it flashing green before settling into the yellow they had been earlier as she realized what had just happened, what she had let happen.

She looked down at her stained hands and the dull eyes staring up at her from the head.

Quickly lapping up the rest of the blood from her hands did Roo finally crawl out into the morning light looking up at the pale blue sky in despair.

She didn’t bother to check on Jonh or the one that should have died screaming tearing apart the house, as she continued on back to the docks. Arianna was still sitting on the bench staring ahead blankly as Alastor tried to pull her up into standing his little book set off to the side. Roo walked up neither of the two acknowledging her as she looked down on them. Alastor had tears in his eyes but wasn’t letting anyone know just trying to urge his maman on to safety the first boat of the day already pulling into port other passengers getting on and off.

The bag full of the cash and extra stolen jewelry sitting beside them ready to give them a new and better life. Just without the man that had spent years atoning slaving away trying to build it for them, the one that Roo was supposed to make sure was here with them to get on that boat.

Roo sat next to Arianna who finally broke down Alastor burring his face into her skirt to hide his own tears.

“He’s dead isn’t he!” She screamed a few of the passerby giving them upset and concerned looks as they passed.

Roo didn’t respond at first before nodding.

“Animal got him last night,” Was what she decided to go with, what she thought would hurt the least, from the look Alastor gave her she suspected he caught on to her lying but her own pained expression seemed to keep him silent.

“You can still get on the next boat,” Roo said ready to get up and switch their tickets for them though they were technically a day old since they were supposed to get on the last boat last night.

“No… I think I’m going back to the house to rest, I’ll get the boat tomorrow,” Arianna said picking up Alastor and the bag carrying him with her back off the dock. Roo watched from where she stood almost waiting for Arianna to change her mind and come back. Then she noticed the book Alastor had was left on the bench grabbing it she slunk off to return it.

She was looking down at the cover expecting Sherlock Holms or one of the others Alastor was really found of but was surprised to see it was a new one, the library card in the front flap had his name on it and she wondered for a second if he had been planning to steal it taking it with him on the boat but the little note in the corner signed J.D. let her know whose idea the heist was though it was more likely left for Arianna.

‘Don’t return this one, it’s yours,’

Roo then flipped through book looking the Mark Twain collection over before pausing as she got to Huckelberry Fin after seeing he had doodled some drawings for Alastor in the margins of Tom Sawyer.

‘This one is my favorite, P.S. if anyone tries to tell you otherwise they’re stupid but Jim is the real hero of this story, sometimes stories aren’t told from the hero’s perspective but that’s what keeps it interesting,’

Roo then flipped through Huckelberry seeing more little drawings left behind before a big one on the final page of the happy ending with the characters all in a big house, Jim standing on the steps in a suit and top hat, freed wife and kid on each arm, with flowers all over the yard and a cat. Though Tom Sawyer was still in his cast waving with Huckelberry who was sitting on the railing with a big new hat and still no shoes.

Roo stared at book on last time before sighing and closing it. The optimism leaving a poor taste in her mouth.

Sulking all the way back to the house to make sure Arianna and Alastor where at least safe Roo tucked the book under her arm.

She found Alastor on the steps curled up and she sat with him the house was silent which worried Roo.

“Where’s your maman?” Roo asked passing the book back to Alastor who pushed it away.

“He found the bag with the money and took it, maman told me to wait here,” Alastor said which made Roo stiffen before she stood up.

“I’m going to go bring them back, you stay here okay,”

“I want to go,” Alastor said standing and Roo shushed him.

“No you don’t need to see this,” Roo said before taking off into the city.

Alastor plopped back down on the steps looking down at the book the missing man gave him. He frowned before throwing it into the yard and storming inside.

…

Roo found the book in the grass, she hadn’t been fast enough to stop John from depositing the cash into his own account but she had been in time for John to lose the jewelry after taking it to a pawn shop and some stranger seeing before stealing it.

They were right back where they started. Roo lingered though she was stressed by how long she had stayed, Hell calling back to her like a bell. She took the book back to Alastor who was curled up fuming in his bed. He threw it away again.

“It’s a gift why don’t you want it?” Roo asked, Arianna was asleep on the couch refusing to share a bed with John tonight who some how had managed to not brag about murdering Doe. Alastor gave her a look for what she didn’t know but with hos he clutched his shark and hid it behind him as if to protect it left her with suspicions.

“I don’t want it,”

“Why not?”

“It’s full of lies,” He grumbled pulling the blanket over his head.

“It’s fiction all fiction is a lie somewhat,” Roo said and Alastor shook his head.

“No, no, stories teach they still have some truth,” He argued peaking out at her.

“So then what is this book lying about?” Roo asked curious why he was so adamant against it.

“There’s no such thing as happy endings,” He said his sorrow hanging off each word with his blatant disappointment.

“Of course there isn’t,” Roo said leaning down to stroke his hair, “That’s why you have to make them happen,”

Roo took her leave then and when she set the book down by Alastor he didn’t through it away again instead pulling in under the covers with him.

She still didn’t head back to Hell just yet stopping by the blind one more time. She found the suitcase and bag Doe had packed his knitting needles poking out of one along with what looked like the start of a new sewing project. Picking it up Roo inspected the half finished new gator plush and sighed. She took the cases from the blind leaving the half-eaten body behind and tossed them into the water, his clothes, guns and more stolen jewelry with it into the water bellow.

Her final favor for the man, and only then did she close her eyes and open them up again in Hell.

…

It took a few hours but she eventually found John Doe crawling out from the welcome grounds she hung back watching him wander around confused before he saw her again.

“What are you?” He asked terrified backing up. Roo looked the new form over noting the deer hooves he struggled to walk with and the bent legs, his chest also had a massive green bunch of fluff that rather made it look like it had burst from his chest.

“The ending, but not a happy one,” Roo said walking forward contemplating her offer, though she wasn’t sure he actually accept.

“I’m the tragedy,” Roo explained vaguely just to watch him squirm she leaned forward hand offered again.

“How about a deal, I’ll make you strong, strong enough to do what ever you want down here if you agree to serve me as my hand,” Roo said and as she expected John pushed the hand away from her.

“Don’t ever speak to me again!” He demanded storming off though it wasn’t very effective with how much he struggled to stay standing.

Roo shrugged and soon forgot about him eventually making her way back up to the earth.

…

Arianna was staring at the new radios in the shop windows clutching the meager change she had in her pocket, as she had expected John had run though all the money leaving them scrapping by again. Alastor holding her hand staring with her.

“Later?” He said looking up, another book tucked under his arm.

“Yes, later,” Arianna nodded and they kept walking. Roo having just arrived and witness it looked in seeing which model had captured her attention before making a humming sound, she looked at the frost coating the glass and the shivering people hurrying to cover as the wind blew.

She wasn’t sure why humans at least in this area, wide area had started to giving each other gifts this time of year, much like how Hell had been doing so for centuries now but she might as well play along with it if the living humans were celebrating it too.

…

Arianna blinked rather confused finding Roo sprawled out exhausted on the floor one mourning before looking and gasping at the hand made radio Roo had been building all night, the scraps and left over parts still strewn around, by that it was the metal ores she had dug up and chopped branches off her self-leaving the cathedral radio an unusual color.

Roo sat up groaning her hair a mess filled with splinters. Then she heard little footsteps enter the room.

Alastor adjusted his glasses before blinking at the radio and the new gator plush Roo had finished from Doe sitting on top of it.

There was about three seconds of thoughts processing as he took in the scene before screaming in excitement for the first time of his life rushing found bouncing pointing at the dial shouting to turn it on as he held the gator close with his shark.

Roo reach over flicking the dial on.

It let out a static screech before settling in Arianna twisting it to find a station, the noise waking John up from the other room as he came stumbling out gawking at the thing. Roo twisted her head glaring at him and he stayed quiet for now as music filled the house.

Alastor was sitting on the floor holding his plushies listening she hadn’t seen him smile this big since the last time John took him and Arianna out together.

“Do you like it?” Roo asked turning to Arianna who was nearly crying still running her hands over the grown and shaped wood.

“It’s the most wonderful thing I’ve ever been given,” She said and hugged Roo who blinked in surprise before letting her sit on the couch and watch Alastor make the toys dance along to the music.

Roo turned to John who hugged the back wall as Roo stalked over to him while the other two were distracted.

“The only reason you’re still alive is because you lost that money and own this house, hurt either of them again and your dead, I don’t have to be the one to pull the trigger, I have many friends in low places.” She hissed before backing up.

“Don’t worry, Doe’s keeping your seat warm.” She added just to watch him flinch.

She stayed a few more hours watching them flip through the radios to the different stations listening to everything before taking her leave again.

She was lonely in Hell now but maybe it would change. She lazily watched the Sinsmas season get into full swing around the rings before her eyes landed a stray newspaper that smacked into her eye stuck into the walls of the bell tower with her graffitied effigies.

Summoning it to her she gave it her full attention a little ad in the corner piquing her interest.

“Immediate murder professionals?”

Chapter Text

Roo noticed she was having more episodes of clarity lately. While she wasn’t sure if that was good or bad right now it was bad.

She just bit Lilith’s hand’s off and was very much conscious of it as a choice. Aside from the fury of having quiet literally taken the stupid phrase literally she gagging trying to spit the hand out while Lilith stood a few feet away grumbling regenerating her hand. Roo coughed out the hand from her tangible projection’s mouth looking down at the chewed-up thing in disgusted horror shaking. She looked up at Lilith who very nonplused was watching her own hand form a fresh skeleton and the muscles grow over that, she twisted it inspecting as the skin stretched over and the scar tissue formed and faded leaving her new hand in place.

“You’ve been in a mood lately,” Lilith said before picking up her clippers again and trimming the low hanging branches watching Roo critically. Roo’s eyes darted around the vision of a million and one eyes never something that had made her queasy, aside from indigestion or poison Roo was positive there was nothing that could make her motion sick but focusing as many as she could on Lilith did an uneasy feeling that made the cellulous lining of her digesting chamber crawl making it rumble under the ground.

“I have not,” Roo tried to deflect before all the eyes snapped over to the dead hand just laying out in the garden for anyone to find and walk though. In fact, she was tempted to wave it at Lucifer and see if she could trick him into thinking she really had eaten Lilith, though if she didn’t know Lucifer would have no problem leveling her and everything else in the realm the moment Lilith died and flying off into the void with Charlie to find a new world to settle the ashes of his past left to rot she probably wouldn’t have hesitated. The bars of Hell keeping Lilith imprisoned really the only thing keeping Lucifer from destroying it all had he not filled it with life and wonders for her to rule over though, his detachment from those creations as they solely existed as a facsimile of the world Lillith had once called home made it so he had some affection for the prison of their realm. Hell may answer to Lilith’s whims but it would die by it’s makers hands the moment the one it was made for was no longer with them.

The people of Hell had no idea their very lives hung by spider web thin thread that was Lilith’s life and Roo’s barely grasp of sanity that kept her from actually eating Lilith thanks to their deal and or pranking Lucifer with a severed limb having him destroy everything around them like a frowny super nova.

“Not in a mood to share, should I ask more questions teacher?” Lilith teased trimming away at her center trunks canopy. Finally satisfied she had cleared away the dangling offenders leaving the small pocket of a clearing that surround Roo’s trunk tidy. Roo pulling the trimmings down into the ground cannibalizing her own body as most plants do.

“Are you not going to eat that?” Lilith asked looking over at the hand that Roo was staring at pretending the sight of it wasn’t making her sick.

“Later,” Roo said before dragging it into the dirt out of sight before she did something stupid like forget and leave it where knowing her luck, Charlie would find. Lilith clicked intrigued but didn’t ask any more questions nor really think anything of it as Roo watched her.

“How can you be nice to me right now?” Roo asked herself flicking her projections head to Lilith and pretending she didn’t notice the trimming reflected in her form with slightly better kept hair that shifted in an unperceivable wind wild frizzy strands that had been present no longer marring the tree spirits appearance.

“Well I don’t really have a reason not too,” Lilith said amused a hand to her mouth to help cover a smile forming as she saw Roo’s mood was coming from a vivid clarity episode.

“But you do I just bit your hand off and spit it out into the dirt, you didn’t say or even yell at me,” Roo said the faint memory of trying to eat Lilith on the shores of Envy coming back to her that she was sure was millennias ago.

“You took my head off last year,” Lilith said far too casual for some one that was decapitated by their glorified domesticated garden fruit tree.

“I did what?!” Roo shouting looking over in horror looking for a scar though she knew it wouldn’t be visible. The only ones on Lilith left from her time on earth for ever preserved as she looked on arrival save the horns telling her real nature which she could hide these days and usually did so.

The pale woman smiled and shook her head as Roo tried to remember doing that.

“You were a little cranky from an oil spill in Gluttony it put you in a bit of a fever like state for a few weeks until we could clean the water,” Lilith said as if that cleared anything up or made sense.

“How… how many times have I done this?” Roo asked her voice wavering as she looked down at the unusual shape of her projection’s hands one slightly larger than the other, long claw like points and black bark that crawled up and faded into her illusion of skin.

“Taken my head off?” Lilith asked tapping her chin and humming in thought as he remembered trying to count.

“Attacked you, in general,” Roo corrected.

“Oh, I’ve lost count of that,” She said with a shrug unbothered, she cleaned up her tools humming as she carried them back over to the little shed by the duck pond.

Roo watched her from a distance or technically her projection did with her eyes over nearly every surface in Hell it was hard not to see everything in a rather wrapped close lens. As a result she was still able to see Lilith’s face and how, unbothered she was by the conversation.

Roo wasn’t entirely sure why this bothered her.

Pulling herself away she let her mind mull over the conversation before deciding she wanted a second opinion. At first she was about to try reaching out to some of the palace staff, all of who she personally made sure were as thoroughly educated in their fields as much as possible, and well, any that didn’t keep up, she took care of. Deciding she didn’t feel like talking to any of them she focused reaching out to Earth. She closed her eyes across Hell and opened them up, a singular point of view in front of her. The projection was always stiff after manifesting into a new realm so she stretched ignoring the confused looks as she ‘appeared’ in her strange clothes and started her stroll down the street. She manifested a little further away from Arianna’s house closer to the coast so she could see the ocean and the deltas out beyond in the distance. Pausing as she passed a certain place, the energy of the unmarked burial grabbing her attention, Roo made a detoured deciding to visit a certain grave among them nearby.

She walked down some stairs getting closer to the water and a series of smaller docks with the shallow watter fishing boats tied to them, the port of the larger ocean fairing cargo ships back the way she came.
She had to focused again navigating the waters as she had her projected body traverse the murky bottom of the sea bed, eventually she found the entrance to the cave and crawled through that little more then a misty cloud and bundle of sticks and leaves before she transformed back into the humanish form crawling out into the underground chamber.

Roo took in the dark, damp place, the skeletons despite being a good hundred or more so years old still scattered around preserved in their murky tomb. Roo slowly made her way inspecting each one, measuring the heights, skulls and inspecting the shape of the pelvis bones until she found the captain.

Roo hummed, she always had enjoyed haunting this sinner in life and though disappointed she hadn’t been able to manipulate them into pursuing overlorddom she was still content that Susan had made herself a distinctive force among her people, though Roo still really wasn’t sure what to make of her newest additions to her center pieces since well, Susan wasn’t ‘queen’ of the cannibal’s anymore, Rosie and who she assumed was her husband Franklin, but was apparently more of a dear friend who helped, kept the district in order having taken over so smoothly from the ragtag chaos of followers that Susan had amassed that Roo didn’t even notice they had a new overlord until Zestial had the trio over for tea while she had drifted nearby and overheard.

The energy of the place was a like a smell almost to Roo’s sense, the familiarity of one of her favorite pawns and the lingering energy of said human’s psychic abilities like a scented candle pulsing in the distance, it was faint these days but Roo was glad she remembered the location if just to finally have use for the treasures within among the fallen pirate crew. Why Susan who had survived the wreck and lived well into her 70s in a cushy home decided to crawl back and spend her finally days with the bones was any ones guess since none of them had ever known who she really was.

Taking advantage of the opportunity in front of her, Roo rummaged around Susan’s corpus until she found it. The key was rusty but the gun and blades were in surprisingly good condition, though she doubted the gun would be worth keeping it’s value as an antique would still help out Arianna and Alastor if they could sell it for a decent price.

Roo searched through the cave a little more before she found the chest under the wrecked row boats. Pushing that aside she hauled it out, it wasn’t massive in fact it fit under her arm more like a suitcase but it was heavy laden with the treasure inside, though it wasn’t gold or jewels so hopefully this time that fool John wouldn’t lose it or think to steal it.

Roo made her way back to shore carrying the gifts and making her way through down town to get to the other side of the city’s edge.

She saw Arianna’s house in the distance though Alastor wasn’t in the yard this time. Frowning worried since the boy should be home with it being Saturday Roo hurried the rest of the way hiding the loot in the bushes as she searched the house. There was a noise under it leading to Roo looking and finding a hole in the side of the house a small figure hard at work digging.

“Alastor?” Roo called and the little boy jumped, a soft ow was heard as he hit his head on a pipe before crawling out. He was covered head to toe in dirt but thankfully hadn’t ruined any good clothes only dressed in his shorts. A small shovel in hand and some kind of metal pike she assumed must have been utilized like a pick ax.

“Aunt Roo?” He asked eyes squinting again and Roo lowered herself nodding, his eyes went back to normal as he was able to see her face again.

“Hello Alastor, what are you doing under the house?” She asked looking back in, while playing in dirt wasn’t an unusual past time of the youth the location of choice and well the hiddenness of it as well a bit concerning

“Hiding maman’s tresure, like she asked,” Alastor explained going back under the house Roo crawled in after having to shrink her form a bit, fighting with a match Alastor lit a candle pointing down into the shallow hole and the bag he was in the middle of burying.

“Oh?” Roo hummed opening it and seeing the coins and a what looked like some of the surviving jewelry Arianna had let from John Doe. Alastor lifted out the bag revealing a little box underneath which he opened. Inside were some papers, papers that would help Arianna and Alastor move such as the houses deed and other documents with a small stack of dollars.

“Didn’t have another treasure box,” Alastor explained putting it back and placing the bag back on top. He started shoveling the dirt back burying it and Roo helped pleased to see Arianna making plans again to leave.

“Were are you going to go?” Roo asked and Alastor tilted his head.

“Maman says a nice family lives at Virgina’s she says they’ll help us get a boat and we’ll go meet this man named Europe, uh then she said we’re going to move in with this lady named Casablanca who lives with Mr. Africa,” Alastor explained as best he could Roo smiling as she nodded knowing the places and already seeing the map in her mind that Arianna was planning.

“Those are places,” Roo said and Alastor blinked but crawled quietly after her back out from under the house.

They walked out behind towards the water’s edge Alastor grabbing a rag from a bucket on the back porch that was nearly as big as himself that he dragged behind.

“How come your not dirty?” Alastor asked looking her up and down as he circled, he was much more observant and articulate then most six year old humans she had met, Roo summoned some natural soap and shook her head. She let her body go a little translucent and instructed Alastor to touch her knee. When the boy’s hand went right through she gasped and he jumped back before jumping forward again flaying his arms through her misty projection failing to grab onto anything as his face furrowed up in frustrated confusion. Roo let her body become tangible again and laughed as he squeaked in surprise when he finally slapped her leg. Scooping him up before he could make and escape Roo dropped him into the river. He floundered for a bit before finding the bottom and standing. He grumbled but what he said she didn’t pay attention to instead lathering up the soap and scrubbing it into his hair. He raised a hand up snagging some suds that he used on his face and shoulders. Roo hummed noting to make a point to be sure and compliment Arianna on how independent Alastor was already. He scrubbed himself with the rag and Roo dunked the bucket over his head after scooping it up. His chosen method of drying off was to apparently bolt the first chance and run around the house shaking a bit like an excited dog before he snagged a shirt and little vest putting them on and waiting at the front porch. Roo shook her head in exasperation seeing he was still very much a child and joined him in waiting for the working adults to come home.

“How far are the places?” Alastor asked and Roo summoned a map folding it out.

“This is us on Turtle Island, though I can’t for the life of me figure out why they decided to rename it, damn colonial propaganda, but they call it North and South America these days,” Roo grumbled pointing at the little collection of deltas on the coast.

“We’re here,” Roo said labeling New Orleans before dragging her finger up and pointing out Virgina.

“And this is Virgina, this is West Virgina, long story but very funny,” Roo said remembering the rather ridiculous spats between the souls from the two sides of that war that made it down to Hell trying to start it again down there only to be snatched up by overlords preying on their anger preventing any new fractions from forming, though most of the feuds had died down when in a rather comical turn of events a few of the generals from the two sides were caught dating and or having no idea their previous armies were still fighting became friends that met weekly for bridge.

That and the annual ‘Hunt John Wilks Booth For Sport’ bonding activity that was organized helping quell some of the grievances surprisingly well.

Roo dragged her finger across the map to France Alastor pointing at the blue ocean.

“Is this the big water, like by the docks?” He asked and she nodded.

“This is Europe, and down here,” Roo said circling the land mass dragging her finger to the other coastal city down in Africa.

“This is Casablanca. It’s a city by the ocean just like New Orleans and this,” Roo said circling the massive continent. “This is Africa, and this,” She then pointed towards the Mediterranean tapping the swath of the fertile crescent then the Dead Sea where previously the mountain that had sat over Edan’s remains and the gate to Hell stood, the gate though closed tightly was still at the bottom of the sea creating the strange effects.

“This is where I was born,” Roo said fondly looking down at the newer nations that now stood where the old kingdoms did. She was rather fond of them, she hoped they would continue to flourish.

“What’s this?” Alastor said pointing at a random place on the map.

“That’s Russia,” Roo dragged her finger around the massive shape on the map Alastor’s jaw dropign as he saw how large it was compared to everywhere else.

“And that?”

“That’s the island of Tasmania,”

“And that?”

“That’s Prussia,”

“Is it like Russia?” Alastor asked hearing the similarities, Roo laughed and shook her head saying it was just a rather funny similarity and that they were quite different.

“And that!” Alastor pointed at Hawaii, he jumped back squealing as Roo use dher powers to make the volcano animate the drawn fire spewing out.

“Oh, that’s the Kingdom of Hawaii, though I think it’s about to have a Queen. They live on an archipelago with Volcanos.” Roo shared and Alastor stared down in awe as the islands turned green. He pointed at another batch of islands further north.

“Are these an archipelago?”

“I believe that depends on who you ask, but this is Nippon, but I think they’re going by Japan on the international stage these days,” Roo hummed and Alastor nodded before pointing at the coast on the opposite side of the US.

“What’s that,”

“Many names for these places, but right now it’s California,” Roo chuckled and Alastor nodded.

“Does California have a king?” He asked curiously and Roo laughed, shaking her head.

“No that land was conquered and is currently ruled by the United States, they have the same government you do,” Roo said Alastor leaning down gawking at the moutians and perries between it all.

“It’s so far away,” Alastor said and Roo nodded, before folding the map up and reabsorbing the power she used to create it.

“It is,” said nodding thinking nothing of it.

“Have you see all those places?” He asked and Roo chuckled.

“I’ve seen all those and more, I’ve seen everywhere, the old and the current and I’ll be around to see the next ones.” She teased ruffling his still damp hair. He squirmed before shoving her hand off and jumping up running inside.

“It’s time!!!” He screeched turning on the radio. Roo followed in quirking a brow as Alastor sat down on the floor in front of it listening intensely. It crackled a bit with static before a warm voice filtered out.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us again for our music showcase, today we’ll be listening to,”

Roo looked between Alastor and the radio and back outside to where they had just been sitting. At first she tried to puzzle out how the kid knew the show was about to start before noticing a stick in the front yard stuck in the ground pointing up by the bottom of the porch its shadow right on a placed stone.

“… Alastor?” She asked the boy turning from the music show, he was squinting again as she was a little further away and she gestured to the door.

“Did you make a sundial?” She asked and he blinked head tilted.

“What’s that?” He asked jumping up and looking out the door as Roo pointed at the sundial by the porch.

“Oh, yeah, the shadows know what time it is so I marked it,” Alastor said shrugging while Roo laughed amused by Arianna’s work around to the lack of a clock in the house for Alastor so he didn’t miss his shows.

“That’s sweet of your maman making you a sundial,” Roo said and Alastor blinked shaking his head.

“No I made shadow clock,” He said and Roo blinked in shock a few of her other eyes being revealed and going wide though Alastor did not care one bit for their appearnces unphased by them.

“You saw the shadows moving over the day and made a sun dial?” Roo asked and Alastor nodded pointing up at the close to setting sun.

“Maman said time is like the shadows, it moves with the sun which is how we now it’s lunch time and bedtime,” Alastor rattled off and Roo just nodded still floored Alastor had figured out how to tell time on his own from that vague description.

“Well, then I suppose if it works it works,” Roo said seeing his parent’s still weren’t back yet went inside to wait she ushered Alastor back in who plopped back down in front of the radio listening to Beethoven. Roo tapped her foot having expected at least one of them to be back by now it was close to 7 pm now.

Finally steps were heard walking up and Arianna stumbled in through the door exhausted. Alastor jumped up running over wrapping his arms around her legs in a hug. She side tired and bent down to rub his back and kis his forehead.

“Hello Alastor,” Arianna said to the boys big grin, Roo saw he was missing a tooth now and wondered if it was his first.

“Maman! Aunt Roo helped me hide the pirate treasure,” Alastor said and Roo snorted seeing Arianna blush as he little trick to get Alastor to take care of their savings was revealed.

“They had a play on last month, it’s all he can think about some days.” Arianna said with a smile shuffling over to drop onto the couch, Alastor crawled up after her curling up next to her side and tucking himself away into the cushions.

“Does he now?” Roo hummed amused as Alastor peaked out from behind her.

“Pirates don’t take no nonsense from anyone,” He chirped quoting the play and Roo chuckled using on of her hand to mimic a hook and leaned forward.

“Arg matey ye better make sure not to tell any one where you hide yer treasure,” Roo said in ass best a gravelly voice she could do that wouldn’t scare the boy, he laughed before jumping and running off, grabbing his ‘pirate’ hat and map from his room, it was just a map of the city he had drawn over and the hat was a black simple thing that he had some how managed to get yarn sew in for a rough skull and cross bones.

“I just need a boat!” Alastor said and the two woman nodded and laughed the boy went on about what the play had taught him about pirates before he got sleepy, Arianna scooped him up and carried him over to his bed tucking him in. Roo noticed the boy had a lock on the inside of his door but not one on the outside. She didn’t comment on it just joining Arianna back into the living room on the couch. She set about making a small meal for the woman who gratefully accepted the food.

“Speaking of pirates,” Roo said before heading out side to grab the loot.

Arianna quirked a brow and gawked as the spirit came back in holding the wooden chest and blunder buster.

“Theres also some decent knives here you can use around the house,” Roo said pulling out something that was closer to a dagger that had Arianna groaning annoyed as Roo inisited it be good for meat.

“And this,” Roo shoved the rusty key into the lock opening it. Arianna came over before blinking at the contents.

“What?” she asked holding up the strange statuette in confusion. It had a clay like surface and was shaped rather like a pig.

“This is what’s inside,” Roo said taking another piece and set it out onto the table this one was a clay cup with an octopus painted on it. “It may look like nothing, but this is a genuine ancient Greek pottery from the time of Alexander the great, don’t worry they’ll be able to confirm though some test,” Roo said setting out another piece something that looked like a tooth.

“Mammoth tooth, and a saber tooth from a tiger,” Roo set out another massive tooth before pulling out the last antiquity the heaviest.

“This came from Eygpt,” She revealed a snake skull embedded in stone, “Fossil, snake as you can see,” Roo said and Arianna gawked at the thing as big as a dinner plate.

“What in the world? How?” Arinna asked still gob smacked by the size of the specimens.

“One of the local pirates liked to collect antiquities and unique specimens for herself,” Roo shared chuckling.

“Herself?” Arianna asked surprised and Roo nodded.

“Yeah Susan Marquie Velvette, though that’s her second ‘husbands’ name she really only married him so the city didn’t get her estate, sent him off west, she’s more commonly know as One Eyed Suzie or Captain Sully of the Sylvester, she named the boat after her pet bird, her first husband was a piece of shit that ran them into debt so she shot him and moved her to be a pirate took the bird with her.”

“A woman was a pirate captain?” Arianna still asked incredulous but also clearly impressed, Roo snickered and nodded.

“Yep, when the time is right sell these or you know if you don’t want to flee the country and move to Casablanca you can always-” Roo said holding up the dagger again.

“I am not murdering my husband!” Arianna said firm pinching her brow before a knock was heard at the door. Roo used a shadow to open it John stood disheveled and drunk again slugging into the house. Arianna stood still letting him pass even as Roo kept nudging her with her elbow. When Arianna refused to take the dagger Roo sighed and helped her clean up the antiquities by putting them away. While they were in the middle of that Roo paused trying to remember why she had sought the other out at first before getting distracted.

“Is something the matter?” Arianna asked concerned and Roo shook her head.

“No I don’t think so,” She said she needed to get back to Hell soon for her duties she can always visit again now that she knew Arianna was successful in getting her own plan to flee rolling. She refused to accept the gun instead shoving it back into Roo’s hands to take with her.

“Alright, you’re always welcome here,” She whispered and Roo nodded leaving again. She didn’t bother with the door simply bursting into leaves and reappearing back in Hell she figured she remember whatever it was later if it was important.

She frowned though as she thought back to John’s appearance as he had stumbled in, his knuckles were bloody and bruised and she would have thought bar fight but he didn’t have any of the signs of being beaten, his arms were scratched up, and there had been a red smear like lipstick on his cheek now that she thought about it. Disgusted she put it out of her mind using the thought to remember her little ad she had found pulling it out of her pocket space where she had no idea it had been sitting for a good two years.

She searched Hell knowing they had settled in Pride which helped narrow it down significantly before finding then haggling with someone in the new cannibal town.

Moving herself over there she stepped out of a wall walking up behind the three bouncing imps who were arguing with some storekeeper.

“Come on! We did the job just pay us!” The tallest the leader shouted, stomping his foot.

“You burnt my house down!” The cannibal shouted, “I asked you to off that fucking prick that seduced my daughter and killed me not burn our house down! Where is she going to live!” The cannibal screamed pulling at his hair while the imp’s tried to argue some collateral damage was to be expected. The cannibal had enough pulling out a broom and started swatting at them sending them running. Roo tried to get their attention but they just barreled past her as Cannibal Town’s florist chased them with a bloody vengeance. She was about to follow herself when she saw her turn the corner. The woman was thin and wearing a plain violet dress, silver white hair trimmed to a shirt bob and pitch black eyes that now seemed to adorn every cannibal in hell these days.

“Kyle you get back here!” The overlord called waving her hand and Kyle down the road slipped and laid flat on his back. Rosie sighed as her thrall stood dazed and wondered back to the shop. She pinched the brow of her nose as he shuffled up embarrassed.

“What did I tell you about hiring those charlatans?” Rosie reprimained, they had a hushed conversation as the cannibal went back to his shop dejected. Though her head didn’t move Roo knew Rosie had seen her. The woman sighed and walked over arms behind her back and forced smile in place.

“Welcome your ladyship to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” Rosie started straight to the point and Roo snickered liking her more by the second.

“Can’t a gal just enjoy a stroll?” Roo said like what she was doing was that. Rosie didn’t fall for the bait instead humming.

“If there’s anything we can help you with please just ask, but if you’re looking to dine I’m afraid we’re not quiet there yet,” Rosie said annoyed and it was true, cannibal town had notoriously questionable restaurants.

“Actually can you point me in the direction of Susan?” Roo asked pulling out the gun and waving it around enjoying how Rosie cringed as she saw it. “I robbed her grave earlier today thought she might like this back,” Roo joked enjoying Roise’s disapproving frown.

“I believe she is at the bird appreciation club tonight, they meet at the aviary” Rosie said and watched as Roo took off in the direction. Rosie was about to go her own way when a root shout out dragging her over to Roo and pushing her into walking beside the spirit.

“Stay and chat,” Roo ordered not so much requested. Rosie frowned again but complied. She was smart Roo hoped she lasted as an overlord she be a fine one to dine on in a few centuries if she did.

“How long have you been in Hell?” Roo asked already knowing the answers.

“You can know everything about me by looking in my eyes, I’m not sure I can improve on a story already told,” Rosie retorted just as polite and ladylike as always.

“Tell me anyways try,” Roo mocked and Rosie sighed.

“Well, I died together with my current business partner in 1895 so about 11 years now if I’m correct. We started up a general store and have been here since, not much special about me I’m afraid, I lived a quiet life,” Rosie summarized leaving out large parts that were very much not quiet, such as her and Franklin being young children during the American civil war which devastations forced them to eat a human corpse of a solider they came across when they had tried to flee north, though Rosie had partaken in her first husbands corpus after she killed him and escaped the attic he had locked them in. Rosie took up eating her husbands from there, becoming a bit of a black widow with her business partner and accomplice Franklin always trailing behind.

“Where is your dear business partner?” Roo asked having expected to see the mustached man by Rosie’s side.

“He’s fixing up the lights in the house, we’ve been hiving wiring issues lately, the electricity just can’t seem to stay on,” Rosie sighed.

“You know the powerplant is barely producing enough power for the west side of the pentagram the wires may be perfectly fine,” Roo commented which was true, though she knew Rosie was assured enough to know the copper wires in Hell were bullshit, though she didn’t dare call out Roo’s design or part in that current inconvenience. Rosie hummed as they came up to the aviary she tried to bid a goodbye but Roo pushed her in ahead of her.

The bird appreciation club was in the middle of cat calling a power point of bird like goetia’s in the dim room, the plants and birds around them stirring with activity. Rosie took a seat and immediately a vulture flew over landing on her head. The cannibal queen sighed and waited watching the PowerPoint disinterested as the others got out their feathery fetish kicks. Roo snuck up on Susan who was about three joints deep and cackling before freezing as Roo dangled her old gun in front of her.

“Hey Susan!” Roo sung and the old lady grumbled pushing herself out of her chair and trying to snatch the gun back. Roo held it away before putting it back into the pocket space.

“Na ah, I need to hold on to this for now,” Roo teased as Susan followed to a quieter conner away from the horny bird jeerers. Rosie followed as well hanging back keeping an eye on her other second.

“How do you feel about killing a human for me?” Roo proposed and Susan replied no turning around to go back to the bird degenerate before Roo caught her shoulder.

“I’ll make it worth your whiles,” Roo said flicking her gaze over to Rosie who shook her head. Roo pouted not having fun before her smile turned vicious.

“If you don’t do this for me I’ll leave you stranded on earth,” She warned and the two cannibals shared a look before sighing.

“Can’t you get your reaper to do it for you?” Susan grumbled while Roo sighed, she had just eaten the last one a week ago and hadn’t gotten around to replacing them yet.

“The position is open again I’m afraid, are you looking to apply?” Roo asked leering and Susan gagged while Roo also shook her head in rejection.

“Whose ass are you looking to drag down early?” Susan sighed seeing she wasn’t getting out of this.

“…Mark Tuben, the more violent the end the better,” Roo said and Susan sighed. Roo cast her gaze over to Rosie who was watching still suspicious watching. Though Roo was very excited now that she had her work around.

“I’ll give you more details in a moth, prepare a human disgues, if you can if not, make sure it’s a very good mask.” Roo warned before taking her leave, she really didn’t care what Rosie and Susan would get up to while Roo pushed the rest of the pieces in place but she found herself fascinated watching Rosie work.

Their first attempt had been for Rosie to use her powers to manipulate the flesh into looking humanish, or the face on the second try before deciding that meat suit probably wasn’t the way to do it.

Though she only was more confused by the weird like dance Franklin and Rosie did around each other. She was mistaken again into thinking they were dating up nope, wrong they were just falling asleep together on the couch.

Roo wanted some contingencies in place hence her seeking out Susan, another quick visit to Earth had her precure a hat pin from Rosie’s grave and a cufflink from Franklin’s which should keep things interesting.

Bribing I.M.P. into playing along for her game had been easier then she thought.

The office they were in was more of a janitors closet with a desk shoved in, they were renting in the form of working as the office buildings janitors until they could afford a real one.

She slammed the gold down onto the table the imps huddling in to look at it. The leader, Blitzo looked up suspicious which really she was giving them more then enough to turn their start up hole in the wall into the largest professional assasnation service in Hell but sure clearly she was up to no good. Which she was but their was no way they could know that.

“So we fuck up this Mark Tuben for you, you the Root of All Evil, Mother Nature of Hell herself and… we get a fuck ton ass of money.”

“Yes and preferably find him again down here when you do, I have ways to confirm his identity,” Roo teased and the imps all shared another look. Their swishing tails though told her they were biting.

“What he do to you?” The shortest Moxie asked, his girlfriend Millie the melee fighter based one her knives and brass knuckles giggled running her hands through the coins.

“We could move out of the van!” She said and the other two grumbled saying there was nothing wrong with their van house.

“So… are you in? There are some… special conditions to complete the job,” Roo said still having a fun time despite the annoyance she hadn’t thought or been focused enough sooner. Arianna’s deal forbids her from murdering John outright, but she didn’t say anything about staging it so he died as collateral damage.

“Aw shoot, I’m sure it won’t be that hard,” Millie siad smakcing Blitzo’s hand down before he could shake with out knowing the conditions.

“You have to be the ones to put a bullet through him, and he must be dead no vegetable or left for dead, he needs to be completely dead before your eyes,” Roo listed. “Second absolutely no ‘collateral damage’, in the form of women, children, or property I don’t give a shit if you kill any of his staff their all sorry excuse of men,” She said going for reverse psychology and an opening, so hopefully her staging worked. She hoped that this would cover Arianna and Alastor if for some god forsaken reason her bad luck had them visit him at work the night she sends assassins after him.

“And if we uh, fail to meet these terms?” Moxie asked picking up the brain cell.

Roo waved her hand and the massive gold pile shrunk down into a little check with their usually rate a pitiful low ball price for their unique service. They grumbled but nodded shaking her hand.

“Wonderful oh, and if he isn’t dead by your means, meaning if someone else takes his life before you,” Roo waved the little check and the imps narrowed their eyes but nodded grabbing their weapons and getting started on making their portal. Satisfied her murder gremlins were pointed in the right direction Roo visited Rosie’s again.

The month hadn’t been enough time for the trio to figure out a human disguise though they did all scream when she appeared in their parlor so she had that going for her. Rosie clutched her chest before smothering a glare standing.

“Susan is ready when ever you need to send her.” Rosie spoke up for the older lady who was busy puffing her cigarette like it would be her last which it might be.

Roo grinned pleased as she took in the closet to an effective costume Susan was able to swing in the form of her old pirate gear and a large overcoat with messy hair helping hide her eyes. Clearly Rosie and Franklin had no idea they were to be included in her little game as they were still dressed in their usual clothes.

“The rules are simple, finish this task and I’ll leave you and cannibal town alone for a time, in fact I’ll even make the ground here more fertile, those roses outside are looking so pathetic,” Roo taunted enjoying catching Rosie’s brow twitch before she explained the same rules she had read to I.M.P. Susan nodded in understanding while Franklin took Rosie’s hand to offer comfort. Roo pulled out the objects the two other’s eyes going wide at the sight of their old things before Roo casted the spell yanking all three with her to New Orleans. Roo was so fond of this spell since it let her bypasss requesting earth passes from Lucifer and Lilith.

She dropped the cannibals out into the bayou cackling as they swam to shore soaked. Susan immediately recognized the city letting out a hoot before marching off in her wet squeaky boots.

“Best go after her, might as well make sure she doesn’t forget the rules,” Roo taunted before stepping back to enjoy the game.

On the other side of town making their way through the dark was I.M.P. who were somewhat Roo’s favorite imps now. They had chosen to scale rooftops making fast time towards the factory.

The cannibal trio gapped as they took in the street, humans in all sorts of costumes out and about.

“What in the world?” Rosie asked as a human walked right up to them and cooed over how cool their costumes were before walking off waving around a stick in a wizard hat.

“Halloween, new holiday, I quiet like it,” Roo said walking beside them as made their way over to a small fire to warm up with some of the others drying off as best they could. They kept their heads down doing the best they could to hide their eyes. Roo tilted her own hat when a human got closer snickering as they cannibals glared at her seeing she didn’t even bother with a glamor just using the wide brim hat.

“Franklin, could you give me a few coins?” Rosie asked and the man wrinkled his nose but nodded, he rubbed his hands together hiding the use of magic as he summoned some and passed them to Rosie.

“First hat shop we see we are stopping by.” Rosie grumbled as now dried, still slightly muddy, they took off. Eventually they found a shop down the street swinging around and marching in.

The bell jingled and Roo followed in amused behind, before freezing and nearly dragging the group out with her.

Arianna was haggling with the store over a hat with Alastor dressed up as close as a pirate as he could standing bored with her. Roo nearly avoided being seen but Alastor’s head wiped around and the squinting made her believe she had gone unseen only for him to dart over and wrap around her leg.

“Auntie!” The boy cheered while the three demons spun around from where they were looking at the racks to see Alastor trying to crawl up Roo’s side.

“Hey kid, okay go back to your maman,” Roo tried to coax but instead was dragged over by the presistant boy who pointed at the shop keeper.

“He’s a bad guy that sold maman a bad hat!” Alastor announced and Arianna gave her a dazzling smile that for a second made Roo forgot there were three fucking cannibal demons in here with her.

“Did you now?” Roo said turning to the pasty man who was getting paler by the second as she glared him down.

“Yes I paid for a hat just like this last week, because they were out and he gave me this today,” Arianna huffed flipping the hat over to show some moth holes.

“I don’t know what your talking about!” The shop keeper tried then he looked past Roo seeing the cannibal trio walk forwards with their hats.

Susan had some small thing with a peacock feather that was no doubt picked because she liked and not for their disguises which Rosie sighed and glared on at. Though not as hard at the tiny bowler hat Franklin picked and was delighted by.

“If you wouldn’t mind us taking a minute away from you scamming this poor woman we would like to make a purchase,” Rosie said getting snickers from Roo and Alastor while Arianna blushed embarrassed. The shop keeper gulped and reached under his counter switching out Arianna’s hat and not bothering to check the coins Franklin gave him before shooing them out of his store. Rosie quickly donned the large wide brim hat tilting it down to hide her eyes as Arianna turned to her and thanked for her help profusely.

“It was so courteous of you to take our side, thank you,” Arianna said Rosie nodding though the small smile on her lips wasn’t able to be hidden.

“Well lady should be respected don’t you think,”

“A lady should be more then respected,” He teased coughing into his hand to try to hide his eyes. Alastor pulled at his coat flapping it around. Franklin permitted it laughing at the boy’s antics.

“I have somewhere to be tonight, don’t stay out too late,” Roo said before trying to make her escape the demons following. There was some quiet for a second before Arianna shouted revealing Susan had slipped Alastor a small knife as his ‘Halloween’ treat and was excitedly waving it around.

“Susan!” Franklin and Rosie reprimanded her while she argued it would do the boy good. Roo sighed knowing she was going to be tasked with getting rid of the damn thing next visit. Finally they made it to the factory still operating late at night the glow of lightbulbs eerie in their soft emboss.

Just as she hoped John was arguing with his boss as usual on pay day in the office on the top floor. She directed the demons around having them take access stairs up from the outside in the near dark.

“This isn’t what you owe me!” He shouted hands slamming onto the table Mr. Tuben narrowed his eyes.

“That is more actually, you ungrateful tramp,” Mr. Tuben replied which was a lie he was under paying John as well as the rest of his staff.

The two assassin groups didn’t notice each other Rosie and crew slipping into the building through a window and the imp’s crawling in through a vent. The noise of the factory and arguing drowned out each group as the crept closer.

Finally thye noticed each other both cursing under their breath seeing another demon.

“That fucking bitch,” Blitzo snarled, “Of course she sends more,” Rosie groaned.

There was a moment of silence before all Hell broke lose, literlaly, the imps dropped out of the ceiling onto the desk diving for the screaming Mark Tuben only to be slammed into the wall by Rosie’s psychic powers. She slammed the imp up into the ceiling where they struggled as Franklin punched John’s face in the bones snapping under demonic strength and the summoned gemlike knuckles that covered his hands. Susan for her part was shouting down into the factory scaring the rest of the staff away who fled screaming before turning onto the crying Mr. Tuben.

Roo was cheering as she watched the groups attempt to subdue the two men, Franklin kicking John while he was down before Rosie flicked her hand John’s legs twisting and breaking as the man screamed in pain. Before the cannibals could finish the job Roo on the edge of her seat the imps broke out.

A spell burned into the ceiling and Rosie’s powers where blocked a fist and gun fight breaking out between all six with the two humans cowering on the ground.

Blitzo tackled Rosie whit a war cry who despite her dainty appearance still suplexed him into the floor.
Susan had her gun shout out of her hand by Moxie who wasn’t able to stop himself from being punted out the broken window into the factory floor below.

Millie then in a rage screaming about her ‘man’ took on booth Susan and Franklin in a fist fight.

And Fucking won.

Roo gawked impressed as they tiny imp made quick work of Franklin dodging his swing and tripping him before using Susan’s own momentum from her swing to flip the smallest cannibal over her head and into Franklin like slamming a hammer. She then finished off both with a piece of wood from the busted up roof smacking them over the head and out cold.

Rosie and Blitzo were wresting now, the queen’s dress torn and her new hat tossed to the side.

“You listen fucking bitch I am so close to making it fucking big and your tea party ass isn’t getting in the way!” He snarled before gasping as Rosie throat punched him.

“Rosie managed to subdue Blitzo for now with another punch before grabbing Millie and dragging her away from Tuben. For now John had crawled to the side of the room and was trying to escape. Looking out into he factory Roo saw Moxie making his way back though it was dark and a little to far. Roo grinned in glee seeing he still had his rifle with him.

“Over here!” She yelled pointing out John who screamed on the landing of the exposed stairs.

Moxie too the shot but the bullet bounced off the metal and nailed Rosie in the arm. The queen shouted in pain staling her enough for Blitzo to recover and pin her and Millie to make another dive for Mark.

“Fuck this!” John screamed pulling a small hidden pistol from his pants and shooting wildly back into the room. The imps dodged out of the way and Rosie took another hit to her leg this time falling to her knee.

And leaving Tuben open to get shot right in the head by John just in time for Susan and Franklin to see gaining their wits again.

“FUCK!”

Everyone screamed but none more so then Roo who spun glaring down at the crying man.

“You had one job to do tonight and it was to die,” She grumbled the would be assassins all sulked out of the office, a sense of comradery forming as Milie help Susan down the stairs having smashed in her glasses. Franklin carried Rosie in his arms much to the woman’s embarrassment as she flush pink while Blitzo reunited with Moxie telling him the sad news as they met up on the over head pipes. They dropped down joining the others at the front door left wide open from the fleeing crowd. Roo dragged John down the stairs having him bump into each and scream in pain.

Roo was infuriated watching as they tried to go home IMP making their little portal. Roo glared down at John Rosie noticing as she sent the others through first, her powers healing the pea shooter injuries quickly so she was able to stand on her own.

“You just had to die tonight, and I would have probably let you live for a little while at least in Hell,” Roo grumbled. Rosie the last to go through gave John an annoyed look. A flick of her hand and his legs napped back in place with him screaming in agony.

“He’ll be good in the morning,” Rosie huffed before shouting as the portal closed the imps shouting back that she needed to hurry up.

It slammed shut on her and Rosie stared at where it had been groaning. Roo sighed and still dragging John behind her walked with Rosie back to his house.

“Who is this man?” Rosie asked while John was still screaming in pain.

“My mortal enemy,” Roo teased shaking him around for fun. Rosie frowned but didn’t say anything else.

“I suppose I am stranded here then?” Rosie asked a little perturbed.

“No, I’ll take you back just need to take care of something before I forgot.” Roo grumbled as they got closer to Alastor’s house.

“I didn’t think you were the forgetful type,” Rosie commented tilting her hat again with Roo as passerby gave them strange looks.

“I sadly am, it comes and goes,” Roo said feeling that this elongated clarity episode may be coming to an end soon and she would return to her feral madness.

“How terrifying,” Rosie commented before pausing with Roo as they took in the sight in front of them.

Arianna had her head in her hands covered in pumpkin guts as Alastor with a gourd almost as big as him hallowed out. His legs were sticking out off it at he shoved the knife through carving at face, his fingers poking out the slices.

Rosie fell over laughing and Arianna just shook her head. Roo dropped John on the side walk deciding to let him crawl back to his bed or sleep in the bushes as his decioun as she walked over to Arianna.

“You couldn’t take it away from him?” She asked and Arianna sighed.

“He was so happy carving the pumpkins,” She said and Roo saw why there was so much pumpkin guts everywhere as about five jack-o-lanterns now sat on the porch. Roo and Arianna watched Rosie walk over to the tiny Alastor who covered in pumpkin gut’s peaked out of his gourd. At first Rosie tried and failed to hide her eyes with Alastor laying right on the ground the hat not folded right.

“Hello ma’am,” Alastor said all polite even covered in the pumpkin viscera.

“Hello young man,” Rosie chuckled before blinking and shaking her head as Alastor didn’t bat an eye at her appearance.

“What are you doing here?” Rosie asked before Alastor jumped up pulling the pumpkin over his head.

“I’m Tsar the king of Prushin!” Alastor tried repeating some of the places and titles Roo had been teaching him about the greater world and botching them terribly.

“Oh my! My lord I didn’t know!” Rosie joked in a half bow while Alastor jumped around before she had to run dodging the pumpkin guts that went flying. Alastor wasn’t on the offensive for long Rosie grabbing some and flinging them at the boy where they smacked against the side of the pumpkin.

“One of your people?” Arianna asked watching the demon tease the boy using her skirt like a bull fighter swishing it out of place each time he charged.

“Yes, she’s surprisingly pleasant,” Roo shared which Arianna didn’t press for only looking worried.

“She seems lovely, it’s strange,” Arianna shook her head and Roo hummed. “A tragedy such a kind soul was damned,”

“She killed and ate four husbands,” Roo shared and Arianna sighed taking it back. “Though they all rather had it coming,” Roo said snickering, she need to track down their souls in Hell if extermination hadn’t gotten them yet and put them in Rosie’s path she what she do.

Eventually Alastor fell asleep, but only after his maman dunked him in the river washing off the pumpkin guts. Rosie stayed out side studying the crude jack-o-lanters twirling the knife in hand that she only just managed to convince Alastor to give her before the boy succumbed to sleep.

“Thank you for uh, getting that,” Arianna said nodding at Rosie as she prepared to lock up the house for the night. John had dragged himself into the house during their games and was sleeping on the floor in the living room.

“Well it’s not safe for him even though he was quiet adapt at using it.” Rosie chuckled before bidding Arianna a good bye.

“Thank you for permitting me to play with your son,” Rosie said and had she not gotten the woman’s full life story she wouldn’t know the weight this held.

“You were great with him, demon or not, you’re a good woman in my book, though, if you want to eat that one you’re welcome to him,” Arianna teased pointing at John still sleeping on the floor. They laughed and the door was closed.

Roo led Rosie around the house creating their portal and dragging the queen through.

They landed out in the middle of Cannibal town. Rosie shaking off the nausea and walking quietly beside Roo who stuck around as she made her way back to her home.

“You were quiet taken with the boy,” Roo said knowing she was toeing a fine line.

“Children are a treasure and anyone who doesn’t treasure their treasure loses it,” Rosie grumbled a hand ghosting over her abdomen and the scars below.

“Though some don’t want it,” Roo pointed out.

“That’s the fault of men, biology doesn’t answer to the whims of human ethics or demands it does as it’s designed to do,” Rosie grumbled brushing off Roo’s prodding. Roo frowned as Rosie tried to get her to drop the subject but a small bit of sympathy made her take it back.

“It’s not your fault your first husband mutilated you.” Roo said and Rosie froze in place hand fisted in her skirt, the hat flopped in the breeze and Roo leaned forward adjusting slightly pleased it was similar to her own style.

“…I wanted my baby, I wanted them,” Rosie hissed spinning and glaring at Roo who gave a passive look back.

“At 12 birth would have killed you,” Roo pointed out matter of factly while Rosie snarled.

“Don’t, don’t you dare tell me what I should have done! Those were my choices to make, and they were taken from me!” Rosie yelled Roo raised a brow surprised.

“I… I hate that man more then anything in this world,” Rosie took a breath and sighed.

“He was not my baby’s father, no, my baby doesn’t have a father, that man is just… he is just the unwanted assistant, that was my baby not his, he is a murderer,” Rosie said firmly shaking her head. They finally neared her home the emporium a glow and Franklin and Susan waiting out front for her.

“You could adopt,” Roo said, and Rosie chuckled shaking her head.

“I know I am not well enough to be what a child needs me to be,” Rosie said taking her leave. “I had my chance at motherhood and I lost it, I am at peace with that.”

“You had it taken from you,” Roo corrected and Rosie gave her a flat look back. “It’s not wrong to mourn them, you wanted a family, you would have been an excellent mother, and you did in fact want it. It was taken from you before you were even ready to take care of one,” Roo said the story leaving a sick taste in her mouth. She looked out at Cannibal town, the quiet soft picturesque look of the district clashing so harsh with he rest of Hell. But it was homely just how Rosie wanted it to be.

“Thank you for letting me meet your favored humans. Please let me retire for the night,” Rosie requested and Roo nodded letting her go.

Roo watched the woman collapse into her partner’s arms Franklin carrying her inside. Through the eyes in the wall’s Roo saw Rosie break down sobbing, Franklin shushing her, bring warm tea, and blankets to her bed.

Roo sighed, he would have been an excellent father had fate been on their side. Roo never really thought of Hell’s sterile curse to all sinners. She didn’t even think about Lilith’s losts children that much even more so now that Charlie was around.

Roo stomped her foot into the ground before leaving Cannibal town letting the ground turn over. In Rosie’s garden her plants perked up, growing a little taller then the withering stems they had been.

On a whim, Roo sent a single gold bar dropping it on the desk of the imps who cheered having just enough to move out of the van now.

Roo stalked the halls of the palace a few memories coming back of places Lilith had collapsed during miscarriage and others where she had found Lucifer gouging his own skin out of sight from everyone.

She snuck into the royal chambers, the whole family asleep on the bed Charlie on top of her dad’s many wings with Lilith’s arm thrown over her pulling the angle and a half close.

Roo picked up the book they had been reading and fell asleep together on and set it down so it wouldn’t get crumpled.

Sneaking past that she entered Lilith;s secret garden glaring the sapling of the Tree of Life down.