Chapter 14: The Challenge

Everyone had started dispersing when we walked in. Charlie bouncing over to the us at the door. "Tell me what?"

I give Alastor a grin. "That's all you. I'll be in the kitchen, prepping the stuff for the jambalaya." I wave over my shoulder.

I had just made it to the door to the kitchen, when Vaggie's irritated voice rang out. "You what! How dare you make that decision without consulting Charlie first!"

I just shook my head, and went about my business in the kitchen. They could handle themselves, they are all adults.

By the time Vaggie and Charlie, were done with Alastor, and he walked into the kitchen, I had the rice washed, all the vegetables, washed, diced, separated in bowls on the island counter. And was just starting on the slicing the andouille sausage into even slices. Swaying and humming lightly to one of the many songs in my head.

"It seems like you are just as efficient with creole cuisine, as you are with venison." He commented, taking in my setup.

"I'm efficient in many different types of cuisine, my favorite way to cook is to try different recipes from all over the world. I will admit my partiality for Asian cuisine though, it was always easier on my body in life. Though later I figured out that was because I had intolerance for both wheat, and dairy." I explain without looking up, crinkling my nose in distaste. "You are welcome to either get started with shelling the shrimp, or sauting the vegetables."

"Hmm." He hummed, taking off his outer coat, tossing it on one of the stools as he walked by them, and grabbing an apron off the hook, putting it on his lean form. Starting the stove, he with practiced ease, looked at each herb and spice, adding the spices to toast in olive oil, before stirring in the onion and celery. "Do you have a preference for music when cooking?" Alastor snaps his fingers, and a cathedral radio appeared on one of the shelves by the coffee station.

I shake my head, finishing up the sausage, and starting on shelling the shrimp. "You can play whatever you want, I like pretty much everything."

"Splendid." He perks up a bit, the radio flicks on, the stations changing rapidly until they settled on some older jazz tunes.

We worked together well. Swaying, and singing softly to the songs, as we moved around the kitchen to the rhythm of the music.

In between prepping the ingredients for the jambalaya, and making a salad for a balanced side. I took the time to brew some decent coffee, filling two cups, and handing one to Alastor, as I moved passed him.

"Thank you, my dear."

I nod. "Most welcome, deer sir." I crack a grin behind my cup at my little joke, taking a sip, and setting it down, mixing together a simple vinegarette, and setting it aside to toss with the salad. Before gathering the necessary things to set the table, setting them on a flat ice block, and walking out of the kitchen with it floating behind me.

The others had already gathered around the large dining table, chatting, and laughing. The fluffy pink spider, Angel, flirting shamelessly with Husk, the winged cat. Nifty was running all over the room, even climbing up the walls in her frantic cleaning spree. Dex was quietly, tapping away on their tablet. And Charlie and Vaggie, seemed lost in their own world at one end of the table.

I quickly made used of my ice magic, coating all the dishes and silverware in a thin layer, and floating them into place around the table before dispersing the ice.

"Neat li'l trick there, Ice fox." Angel commented as his plate sat itself in front of him, getting everyone's attention.

"It does indeed come in handy." I reply. "I'll be back out with drink options soon. Dinner should be done shortly." I look up at the now swinging light fixture above the table, quickly coating it in ice to still it's movement. "Nifty, dear. Please get off the chandelier, I don't it's sturdy enough to withstand too much chaos. If you need help reaching something, make a list of places and come see me. I can lift you up, and fly you around on some ice."

"Okay!" Nifty jumped directly from the top of the chandelier chain, face-planting on the floor on the other side of the table. "Ooo, pain!"

My lips twitch into a smile. "Are you alright, hun?"

"Mmm-hmm." Nifty hums out quickly, before trying to skitter off again. "Never better."

"And, Nifty." She stopped and looked at me. "You said something about collecting things, correct?"

She sprints over to me, bouncing on the spot, her eye wide with manic excitement. "Yes!"

I bend down to her level. "Would this work as an offering from me?" I place my hands together and use my ice magic to create a set of small sharp knives in different shapes. "I seen you using a kitchen knife to chase bugs with earlier, and figured you need a special new set for the bugs around the hotel." Maybe she would leave my good kitchen knives alone then.

"Yay! Thank you!" She practically starts vibrating with her excitement, taking the knives and cradling them to her chest as she lets out manic giggles.

I reach out my hand, and give her head a small pat. Which apparently was taken as an open invitation, as she attempted to launch herself into my chest for a hug, only to be caught mid-air by a shadow tentacle.

"Nifty, dear, you are carrying sharp objects, and our new friend dislikes personal contact." Came Alastor's voice from the doorway to the kitchen.

My eyes flash to him for a moment as I stand up from my crouched position. "Thank you. I see you've taken care of the drinks." I say, watching a few small shadow creatures walking around the room carrying various options, and setting them on the table. "I'll go get the salad, everyone can start on that." I breeze by him, feeling my tail brush up against him as I pass. Tossing out a quick. "Apologies." As I go.

He hummed out an acknowledgement, and followed me back to the kitchen, watching my movements as I worked, seemingly lost in thought for a moment, before breaking the silence. "The jambalaya should be done as well, allow me to carry it, while you take the salad."

I give him a small smile. "Perfect!" I picked up the salad I just tossed, walked back out into the dining room, Alastor trailing behind me with the Jambalaya, and set it on the table.

After helping dishing out food for everyone, Alastor sat at the opposite end of the table from Charlie and Vaggie, with a large bowl of jambalaya, and another cup of coffee.

After making sure everyone had what they need, I too made a bowl of jambalaya, and a smaller bowl of salad, taking the seat next to Alastor.

"No salad?" I tease with a smile, stabbing my own greens with my fork.

He gives me a raised eyebrow, his fork stopped nearly at his sharp toothed mouth. Before continuing to eat.

"I was joking. I know your preferred diet is not anything close to vegetarian." I smirk.

Everyone sang nothing but praise for the meal, conversation flowing freely from the group.

"Hey, Frosty, The V's are slingin' all sorts a mud at ya on the socials, their Sinstagram is popping off about the mysterious fox demon who put Val in his place, and was able to make it put alive." Angel said glued to his phone.

I looked to Dex. "Pull up everything and hand me the tablet, we will probably bump up our little show to after dinner instead of waiting."

Dex nods, not looking up from their tablet. "Already on it boss, here." Dex passed me the device, the tabs on the browser filled with each of the V's social media posts regarding me.

My eyes narrow at the lies they dared to spew. "It seems you are all in for a treat. I was going to wait until after the extermination to go nuclear, but it seems they are inpatient. Pity, I wanted this to last longer." I toss the tablet back to Dex, watching them catch it easily.

"Dinner and a show, you truly don't disappoint, my dear." Alastor's eyes dance with amusement.

I snort out a small laugh. "Of course you're all for it, a showman through and through."

"More like a sadistic bastard." Husk grumbled.

"Sorry to say Husk, but a sadistic nature is par for the course with our shared little side hobby." I shoot back.

Husk paused mid drink. "Shared hobby?"

I raised my eyebrow. "Yes. Surely you didn't think that Alastor, was the only one down here for going on a killing spree? I do believe my body count was higher than his was when I died." I turned to Alastor. "You said thirty three, yes?"

Alastor looked at me with interest. "Yes. Though you failed to tell me yours. Far too busy teasing me, I'm guessing."

"Not necessarily." I tilt my head. "One can't simply give away every on the first meeting." I shoot him my shit-eating grin. "I dropped at least thirty five bodies, that's when I stopped counting. I was too out of it by the last few to care about count, I was dying anyway, I just wanted to bring as many of those fuckers down here with me as I could."

Vaggie seemed to puff up with anger. "I thought you said, you only killed the one guy!"

I looked at her. "No. I told you I died when we killed each other, you never asked if there was more." I shrug. "If it's any consultation, I only killed rapists, pedophiles, and abusers. People that didn't know how the word 'NO' worked. I wasn't lying when I said my sins were of the vigilante variety."

"But you killed people." Vaggie continues her argument.

"Yes, and by killing those I did, I saved many more lives than those I took. And I'd argue that the ones saved, are far more valuable than the trash I took out." I respond calming. "I made sure that there would be fewer children that would have to go through what I did."

Everyone sucked in a collective breath.

Vaggie guiltily looking at me, then the floor. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize..."

"Why did you think I have a problem with people touching me." I question softly, not accusatory, just curious.

"I didn't really think about it."

"To run a place like this, you will need to question everything, and try to be both guarded and emphasis with the sinners seeking redemption." I give Vaggie an understanding look. "Most souls come to Hell with trauma, the level of which will very, but all trauma must be treated with respect. No one will feel safe in a place that tears open their wounds, instead of gently opening them so they can heal."

Vaggie looked thoughtful. Charlie's eyes brightening as the information set in.

"Well said." Alastor softly says to me.

"Of course. I'm empathetic, I know when people mean well, and when they are digging for information." I reply just as softly, tilting my head to look at him again. "You seem to have quite a few moments of sincere behavior sprinkled throughout that facade of yours, it makes me more curious each time."

He stiffens. "You must be imagining things."

I nod. "Oh, I'm sure I am." I say without sincerity.

I turn to look at Dex as everyone finishes eating. "I want to surprise everyone with the songs, so I'll text you the list. This is going to make a splash, so don't forget to record it and post it along with the truth. With that the V's will be too busy doing damage control, and hiding from the extermination to do much for a bit." I send them the text.

Dex looks up and nods at me. "These are good choices, do you want anything else done?"

"The video of the actual fight playing behind me. I just bought fabric for curtains in my room, so I have plenty of solid colored fabrics for a backdrop." I snap my fingers, and bags of fabric appear in the corner of the room.

"Should be easy enough then." Dex replies.

I clap my hands once. "Fantastic!" I turn to Charlie. "Would it be too much of a bother to barrow the stage in the ballroom?"

Charlie looked excited at the prospect. "Of course not! You're welcome to use it!"

I nod. "I'll go set up the stage then. I'll come get everyone when it's time." I pause as I get closer to the door, and look at the dishes.

"I will take care of things here, my dear. Don't you worry your pretty head about it." Alastor snaps his fingers, the dish stack themselves, and little shadow creatures start cleaning everything up.

"Thank you, Al." I toss over my shoulder as I walk out the door.

I hurry to the ballroom, and get to work cleaning the years of dust off the stage. Snapping the bags of fabric into the room, and using my ice magic to create temporary curtains along the back of the stage with the black fabric. As I debate on what to do with the floor of the stage, I hear the soft clack of dress shoes echo as they enter the large room.

"Hello, Alastor. Welcome to my temporary stage." I turn around swinging my arms out, and letting my ice coat the stage in sparkling frost.

"You've been able to do much, with the little time you've had."

"I'm a simple girl, whether I have more to work with, or not doesn't really matter. It's how we make the most of what we do have, that matters." I jump down off the stage in front of him, my tail swaying to a beat in my head.

He looks at me curiously. "And what will you do for lighting?"

I grin. "That too is a surprise. But know that I always have something up my sleeve, don't expect to know all my secrets tonight."

Dex walks in, laptop in one hand, a camera drone in the other, and a wireless microphone set clipped to their clothes. "Ready when you are, boss."

Alastor snaps his fingers, and Nifty pops up out of nowhere. "Nifty, dear. Do go inform the others that the show will start soon."

"Okay!" And off she zoomed.

My lips twitch. "She really is quite nifty."

"Are you making puns now?" Alastor asks, his own lips twitching.

"What would you do if I said that wasn't the first pun, but simply the first you've caught?"

"Have you been trying to make a fool of me? My dear." Alastor tilts his head.

"Not at all." I flash a shit-eating grin. "But I have been enjoying myself with the deer puns."

He twitches. "You're incorrigible."

I laugh. "I am always going to be unapologetically me. You can either learn to love it, or you can hate me like some others do. That is all on you."

Dex pipes up from their seated position on the floor. "Are you sure you only want these two songs?"

I hum. "It will be enough for today. Next time we may do more, but our goal now is to wreak havoc on social media, so the V's are left doing damage control."

"Got it!" Dex responds. "You should change though." They point to my dust covered clothes.

I snap, and change into the bloody clothes I had on earlier. Braiding my hair off to the side, like I had it in the video that will play in the background. "There, now I'll match the video." I take the microphone from Dex, and jump up on stage as the other demons file in. "I hope y'all are ready for this." I use my magic to make lots of ice orbs, distributing them around the stage. Hiding my flames inside the orbs to create stage lighting.

"I'm in, when you're ready." Dex nods to me.

I grin. "Hit it!"

Dex counts down on their fingers, giving my a que to start.

As I go live, my voice rings out around the room, my body moving to the beat.

"Ha-ah, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha

Ha-ah, ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha"

"Oh, don't I look nice batting my eyes?

Isn't it pure perfection?

Cute, think I'm polite, stereotype

Got your full attention

Think that you can play with me, you better watch your back

The last thing that you'll hear will be my laugh (haha, yeah)"

"'Cause baby, dolls kill

Don't provoke us or we will

Push you downhill

Might be pretty, but we're still

Bitter as much as we're sweet

Knife hidden under the sheets

Baby, dolls kill

Don't provoke us or we will (go)"

"-Voke us or we'll

Pretty, but we're still"

"Heels, made out of steel, how does it feel

To be walked all over?

Nails leaving a trail, got 'em pigtails

Blood drips down your shoulder

Baby, there's power in numbers

Better warn all of your friends

You're down to less than an hour

We all know how this ends"

"Dolls kill

Don't provoke us or we will

Push you downhill

Might be pretty, but we're still

Bitter as much as we're sweet

Knife hidden under the sheets

Baby, dolls kill

Don't provoke us or we will (go)"

"-Voke us or we'll

Pretty, but we're still"

"Sugar and spice and everything nice

No, that's not what we're made of

Venom and ice, tequila that bites

Go ahead and pray 'cause (haha)"

"'Cause, baby, dolls kill

Don't provoke us or we will

Push you downhill

Might be pretty, but we're still

Bitter as much as we're sweet

Knife hidden under the sheets

Baby, dolls kill

Don't provoke us or we will"

I make a slicing motion across my neck to finish the song.

The video of what happened earlier today, truly the icing on the cake, as Dex matched clips of it to the lyrics. Letting the full video play with audio in between my songs.

When the video was close to done, Dex counted down for me again.

I take a breath, changing my stance with the change in genre.

"Driving through this world unknown, I've built my life on broken bones

Not living for this anymore, you want a fight I'll bring a war

I feel alive inside I won't be terrorized, I'll take all the blame"

"This heart of fire is burning proud

I am every dream you lost and never found

This heart of fire is stronger now

Build your walls but you can't keep me out

I'll burn 'em down"

I stomped my foot on the stage, letting my fire magic sizzle through the air and ignite in an explosion of blue flames around me. My eyes shifting and glowing the same icey blue, and the flame on my forehead on display.

"I am every vow you broke, they left for dead and turned to smoke

Arm yourself with words of hate, I'm ripping through the souls you take

I feel alive inside I won't be terrorized, I'll stand up to the pain"

"This heart of fire is burning proud

I am every dream you lost and never found

This heart of fire is stronger now

Built your walls but you can't keep me out

Let's burn it down"

"This heart of fire is burning proud

I am every dream you lost and never found

This heart of fire is stronger now

Build your walls but you can't keep me out"

"This heart of fire, fire, fire

This heart of fire (fire), fire (fire), fire (fire)

This heart of fire"

I laugh at the end of the song, and deliver my message to the crowd that it surely gathered.

"I am the Bifrost Fox! If the V's really want to bring the fight, I'll be more than happy to bring the war, and take their territory. It's up to them. But don't go spreading false news, Voxy-boy. It's bad manners." I gave Dex the sign to end the stream, and shifted back to normal as I left the stage.

Charlie squealed, bouncing in place. "That was AMAZING! Wasn't it Vaggie?"

Vaggie looked a little stunned. "Oh, uh, yeah."

"That was pretty good, toots." Angel gives a toothy grin.

"Ya did good, kid." Husk says.

"You can use fire!" Nifty giggles maniacally.

Alastor on the other hand, was standing as if frozen.

I walk up to him. "Al?"

He jumps slightly, like he had been stuck in his mind. "What a performance, my dear. I haven't been to a show quite so spectacular in a very long time." He gave me a smile that looked a little off. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some business to attend to before turning in for the night." Without giving anyone a chance to speak, he shadowed away from me. And for the second time that day, I was at a loss of what to do with him.