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Vox looked himself over once more. God, I look so…different. Instead of his usual style, Vox was clad in a tan suit. He had long tan straight leg dress pants, a large tan suit-jacket, a matching vest peeking through, a light-cyan dress shirt buttoned all the way, and a dark blue tie. Instead of his black tophat, a white flat-brimmed hat with a cyan ribbon wrapped around the circumference sat atop his head. Speaking of heads, Vox no longer had his television screen as a head. Now, he had a shark-head connected to his neck. Sure, it took a lot of experimenting, but Vox had perfected the art of deception with this head. Now, he looked like a cannibalistic shark-based sinner. Perfect.
The first step of extending his viewer base was completed. Now, Vox simply had to go down to Cannibal Colony and figure out why these cannibals were not biting VoxTek's bait.
Vox looked up at the security camera sitting on top of his balcony. He extended his clawed blue hand and zapped through the camera. He pulled his way through and zapped out of the security camera.
Vox had landed right at the cusp of Cannibal Colony. Unfortunately, VoxTek had failed to secure a strong foundation in Cannibal Colony, which led to a vast difference of technology usage—and profit—in Cannibal Colony. Vox virtually had no power in Cannibal Colony. While he liked to blame the population, it was most definitely his biggest adversary, Alastor.
Since Alastor had refused Vox’s business proposal, VoxTek could never build a repertoire with the clientele in Cannibal Colony. That was about to change today.
Vox walked into the city. The sinners around him were dressed similarly. Most of their skin was covered, and they all had huge smiles. The children danced and sang. The adults chatted and smiled. All in all, they seemed friendly. More importantly, chatty.
Vox walked towards a couple, “Hello, there. How are you lovebirds feeling today?”
A pale man looked up at Vox, “I’m swell! Thanks for your interest!”
The lady sitting in front of him nodded, “As am I.”
Vox smiled charismatically at the couple, “I have a few questions. You see, I just bought a new television earlier today. Do you guys have shows to recommend?” Of course, the sinners here are so trusting.
The couple looked at each other before bursting out in laughter. The lady covered her open mouth with a fan and continued to cackle. The man, between gasping breaths, responded, “Television? What for? A good ol’ radio is what you need, young man. Those televisions rot your brain with bright colors and deafen your ears with crass language. You may as well return the piece of junk, and get yourself a handy radio. Y’know, the radio demon broadcasts the most entertaining shows.”
Vox’s eyebrow twitched, “Why, thank you for your time. I hope you two have a beautiful day.” Vox’s smile strained as he left the couple alone. Crass? Overstimulating? Bullshit, these pansies are just obsessed with Alastor because he’s a cannibalistic freak just like th-
“Excuse me, good sir. You should watch your step. Less you disrespect someone,” a familiar staticky voice reprimanded.
Vox snapped out of his sulking. Alastor, the Radio Demon, was reprimanding Vox for carelessly bumping into him. No fucking way. Vox forced an apologetic look on his face, “Do forgive me, doll. I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going.”
Alastor’s brows furrowed at the endearing term, “Of course, do be careful.” Alastor was dressed in his usual maroon outfit. And he looked absolutely stunning, as usual.
Vox grinned, “How about I make it up to you? Would a coffee suffice?”
Alastor tilted his head, staring at the towering frame of the shark sinner, “Why not?”
Vox’s smile widened as he offered his arm to Alastor, “Perfect.” Alastor held onto Vox’s arm as they walked together. Vox led Alastor back to the cafe he just questioned the couple at.
“How are you on this fine day?” The shark demon asked.
Alastor responded, “I’m well. I’ve just been strolling around enjoying the calm weather. I’ve decided to take the day off.”
Vox looked down at Alastor. He was never allowed so close to the demon before. He could smell the magnolia-scented hair care Alastor used that morning, and he could see every minute detail of Alastor’s face. If he played his cards right, maybe Vox could get closer. Maybe Vox could become a friend of the overlord, or even more…
Vox held the glass door open for Alastor. Alastor looked back at the shark demon, his eyelashes fluttering slightly, “Thank you, good sir.” Vox’s fans whirred as his body attempted to cool down the blood rushing towards his . He’s never looked up at me like that before.
Vox gulped and nodded silently. The most powerful CEO of Hell meekly followed Alastor. Vox lacked his brash bravado. Somehow, the Cannibal Colony rubbed off onto Vox. The usual domineering energy Vox emulated around other overlords was gone now. Instead, Vox played the part of a gentleman. He sat down at a white metal round table. The two moguls sat outside, Alastor taking great joy in basking in Hell’s twisted version of a sun.
Vox picked up one of the menus lying on the round table and scoured the neat cursive writing adorning the pale menu. Attempting small talk, Vox asked, “What should I call you, doll?”
Alastor’s focus left the sinners he watched strolling about Cannibal Colony, and his gaze locked onto the shark demon. “You don’t know who I am?” questioned the sinner.
Vox gulped, should I play dumb, “Can’t say that I do, doll. I know I'd never forget a face like that."
Alastor’s eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward. His smile widened, revealing rows of sharp teeth. The deer demon tilted his head, “You may call me Alastor, dear. What is your name?”
Whew. He fell for it…I think. Vox smiled at the deceptively sweet sinner, “Alastor is a beautiful name. It fits your gorgeous looks, doll. My name is Vincent.”
Alastor grinned and sardonically responded, “Quite the charmer, Vincent. Your name suits you well, dear.”
Vox leaned back into the chair; however, it was small against Vox’s muscular frame. He looked down at Alastor’s lithe frame. The deer demon sat with his back impossibly straight, long legs crossed, and his hands resting on his knee.
Vox chatted more, “Thank you, Alastor. Were you going anywhere in particular before I interrupted your stroll.” Alastor stared at Vincent’s cyan blue eyes.
His sweet voice responded, “Not particularly. I just wanted to get out of the house and enjoy the pleasant weather. How about you?”
Before Vox could respond, a waiter appeared tableside. The sinner pulled out a small notebook and asked, “What can I get started for you, gentlemen?”
Alastor’s gaze shifted from Vincent towards the waiter, “I’d like a chicory coffee, please.”
I always knew Alastor was polite, but I’d never seen him so placid. Vox looked at the waiter and responded, “Can I get an Americano with double espresso and oat milk?”
The waiter squinted at the shark demon, “We don’t have oat milk,” the waiter explained bluntly.
Alastor tilted his head at Vincent. It’s taking every ounce of self-control to not beat the shit out of this insolent waiter. Vox’s smile strained, and he asked, “No worries, do you have regular milk?”
The waiter nodded and scribbled in his notepad. He looked back up and asked, “Anything else?”
Vox looked at Alastor, “Should we have a treat, doll?” Vox reveled in Alastor’s passivity for once. Instead of hissing and hurling insults towards Vox, Alastor simply furrowed his brows at the endearing term Vox, no—Vincent called him.
Alastor’s smile widened, and he responded, “Why not? Can you bring us half a dozen finger sandwiches?” Vox shivered, recalling Alastor’s cannibalistic tendencies. It is the Cannibal Colony. It was about time I saw some indulgences of cannibalism here.
The waiter nodded, “Great choice. We just got a fresh batch of fingers from the NV sector. They’re delightfully crunchy!”
Alastor leaned his head onto his palm, “Just the way I like it,” his voice came out low and staticky. His rufescent eyes glowed a deep burgundy red, and his pupils flickered to dials for a moment. Those sharp canines glimmered in the blazing heat. Hell’s most dangerous beauty…
“Are you going to order a side?” The waiter’s monotone voice dragged me out of my reverie. I shook my head, “I’m alright, thank you.” The waiter nodded and scurried back to the kitchen.
Alastor turned his head back at Vincent, “Not feeling peckish, dear?” Vox shivered at Alastor’s tone. His voice felt like molasses dripping into his sensors.
“No, not really. I’m not a huge fan of…sinner meat,” Vox confessed. The TV demon struggled to hold Alastor’s piercing gaze. Each word Vox used had to be meticulously curated so as to not scare off the deer. He couldn’t have Alastor finding out the truth so soon. Not when he had the deer demon eating out of his hand rather than chping down on his actual hand.
Alastor looked quizzically at Vincent, “What are you doing down here then?”
Vox gulped, “I heard this place had more,” fuck, “ respectable sinners than any other part of the pride ring.”
Alastor’s razor-sharp claws tapped rhythmically on the wire-framed table, “Ah, that’s quite the truth. The sinners here are just lovely~ I frequent this colony more than any other sector of Hell. Though you should be careful,” Alastor eyed the shark demon up and down, “your flesh could be seen as a…delicacy here.”
Vox stared at the deer demon, eyes wide. Vox’s shoulders squared, and his back straightened at Alastor’s words. “Oh, really,” Vox nervously chuckled, “It’s a good thing I can handle my own.”
Alastor tilted his head, “How do you handle your own?” Alastor’s gaze was laser-focused on Vincent’s face. The shark demon had a nervous smile tugging on his lips and was fidgeting with his cuffs. His broad shoulders were pulled back uncomfortably, and he glanced around.
“That’s for me to know and for you to find out,” Vox flirted.
Alastor froze and stared at Vincent. His ears straightened up, and his back stiffened. His eyes narrowed, “Is that an invitation for a scuffle, Vincent?”
Vox’s eyes widen, “No, no, no, of course not. I was only teasing you, doll.”
Alastor squinted at the shark demon, “Why?”
Vox smiled, “I can’t resist such a beautiful temptation, such as your self.”
Alastor laughed, “You are quite the charmer, Vincent.”
The waiter reappeared, holding a silver tray. He placed down the drinks then the platter of fingers. Vox cringed at the severed fingers sandwiched between bread adorning the plate.
Alastor turned to the waiter, “Thank you, dear.”
The waiter nodded, “Of course, is there anything else I can do for you?”
Alastor shook his head, “No, we’re doing well, thank you.” The waiter nodded and left the table. Alastor stared at Vincent’s worried expression. The shark demon was staring at the fingers as if they were live bugs crawling about the table. Alastor sipped his coffee as he stared down the shark sinner.
Vox picked up his coffee with shaky hands, and drank his coffee. “Wow, the coffee here is great,” Vincent exclaimed with a smile.
Alastor looked up from his drink, “Or maybe it’s the lack of oat milk,” he teased. Vox chuckled staring fondly at Alastor. The Radio Demon was much more palatable when he wasn’t at Vox’s throat.
The duo sat in comfortable silence, interrupted only by the occasionally crunch of bones as Alastor consumed the fingers. Vox watched as Alastor snacked. The red tipped gloves stained with blood as he picked up another morsel. The finger laid limp in Alastor’s grasp as he brought it towards his gaping maw. Sharp teeth clamped down on the finger, a sickening crunch rang out. The deer demon looked pleased a he chewed the sandwich. His eyes closed, and quite hum of pleasure rumbled out of him, caked in static.
“You sure like those fingers,” Vincent pointed out, a deep blush on his latex cheeks. Alastor nodded, eyes still focused on his delightful meal. Vox and Alastor ate and drank until they were content.
Vox fought the urge to check his phone, and instead glanced at his watch. He looked back at Alastor. The deer demon’s ears were slightly drooped, and his eyes were lidded. Alastor hummed in content as he enjoyed the warmth of the evening.
“Thanks for your time, Alastor. It has been a pleasure to share a meal with you,” Vincent expressed with a charming smile. He looked at Alastor with a dopey grin.
Alastor looked at Vincent fondly. “Indeed, it has been.”
Vox gulped, he had never been at the receiving end of any positive words Alastor had to say. It was exhilarating. “Can I take you out for dinner tomorrow?” Vox asked nervously.
Alastor’s ears perked up, and he glanced at Vincent. Wide eyes looked at Vincent’s wry smile and nervous glances. “Sure, what time?” Alastor responded with a saccharine tone.
Vox couldn’t help the wide smile that spread across his face, “Does 6 pm work for you?”
Alastor nodded, “Yes, I can fit you in for six.”
Vox gulped at Alastor’s phrasing. The deer demon was more tempting than he would ever know. “Perfect, where should I pick you up?”
Alastor’s smile widened into a wicked grin. He leaned forward, eyes lidded, and whispered, “That’s for me to know, and for you to find out,” and then his body was consumed by shadows.
Vox stared at the empty chair in front of him. The wind felt cooler and the air silent. Gone were the teasing frequencies that Alastor outputed with every breath.
Vox got up from the table and walked inside of the cafe. He paid the check and left the colony. He walked towards an alleyway on the outskirts of the outdated city. A cyan bolt took over Vox’s shark form and he disappeared into the security camera. He zapped through until he stopped at his penthouse.
Vox pulled the latex head off of his neck, and out came power. Pure energy floated where the silicone head used to be. Vox fumbled about before finally connecting his TV screen onto his neck. The media mogul stared out of the window of his penthouse. Just what had he gotten himself into?