Chapter Text
Vox, the leader of the vees and the head of VoxTek himself was worried. Ever since that absolute cunt, Alastor was back, his life had been going to shit.
Now that Alastor was squatting at that hotel, it seemed he had a goal in mind to protect it and its inhabitants.
Vox rolled his eyes. He was willing to bet large amounts of money that Alastor was not actually invested in the idea of redemption and more the idea of watching the entire thing burn down, and he was no gambler either. That was the Husk fellow's job.
Things had certainly gotten worse from that point on. Then Angel Dust had decided to move and take a shit ton of time off of work so Valentino was constantly bitching and moaning about some new unimportant thing that he was forced to comfort him about. He literally didn't give a crap, he believed that he deserved better than this, even though he was wrong. He definitely deserved this.
What the actual fuck did Angel Dust and Alastor, the fucking radio demon see in Lucifer's skanky daughter's rehabilitation center? She was one of the top most powerful beings in hell. Her parents were Lucifer and Lillith so it was easier for her. She didn't have to even bother working her way to the top. He scoffed.
But then Charlotte had fucked up real good and pissed off that temperamental manbaby, Adam, who had then decided to send down some more angel scum for another extermination.
Vox really tried not to think of the yearly killings. He was always safe, but even safe demons weren't always safe.
There had been cases and instances and he had heard and knew nasty things about that Lute girl. Things that made him shiver.
What if this became the new norm? He wouldn't put it past Adam and his Exorcist army. They have always wanted this in the end.
What had truly been a turn of events though was when Heaven had decided to attack the hotel and Charlotte had actually managed to somehow band them together and help them join forces. It was almost impressive. ๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ด๐ต.
And then they had fucking won. He couldn't believe it. He thought he had died. Well he thought he had died back when Alastor had gotten his ass handed to him by Adam. He actually had to have Valentino pinch him to make sure he wasn't dreaming. It was far too good to be true.
Fucking Alastor would probably get even more fame, he was losing. He was losing fast.
His phone dinged and a message from Velvette came through.
ย
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐๐๐)๐๐: ๐๐๐ฎโฆ ๐จ๐ค ๐ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐จ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ค๐ช๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ฉ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ช๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ก๐ก ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง๐จ๐๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ค๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ช๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ค๐ก๐ ๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐๐พ ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ฏ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฏ๐ฏ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ค๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ :๐ฅ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐จ๐ง๐จ๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ช. ๐๐'๐ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐๐ด๐ต ๐ฉ๐ผ๐ ;/
Vox groaned as he read over the part about the failed Angelic Security project. He was going to owe so many people so much money, and it wasn't likely. That he'd be able to earn their trust easily. Though he could always hypnotise them. But hypnosis could only take you so far and it could only work for s certain amount of time on a certain amount of people.
His thumbs hovered above his keyboard as he thought out a response, typing a few times and then backspacing while trying to find the words.
๐๐๐_๐50: ๐๐ค๐ช ๐จ๐๐ง๐๐ค๐ช๐จ๐ก๐ฎ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐ ๐จ? ๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ค ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ . ๐ผ๐จ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ค๐ก๐ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ช๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐ช๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐จ๐จ, ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ'๐จ ๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ. ๐๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช, ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฃ ๐ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐๐ช๐ฉ๐ช๐ง๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐. ๐'๐ข ๐จ๐ค๐ง๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐ โ๐๐ช๐ข๐ข๐๐งโ ๐ค๐ง ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐๐ง, ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ'๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐ฉ๐. ๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ค๐ฃ'๐ฉ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐ง๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ค๐ฃ๐จ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐๐ค.
ย
He wasn't in the mood for Velvetteโs bitching right now. It would give him such a massive migraine and as it was, he was pretty sure there was no way of saving them. There was no way of digging them out of this massive fucking joke he had dug.
You see, social media is a powerful asset that Vox himself underestimated and didn't take into account how it would be his own downfall.
Once people started to realise that Angelic security was a scam and that Vox himself was a crook with an entire scam business going on, people started to talkโฆ
Sinners experiences began to make their way around the internet and soon enough Vox's shady history was being pulled up before his eyes, as sinners gained in horror at how long they'd been lied to by this fuck. And how'd they been scammed.
and they started to talk on his own apps that he had brought to them. They were stabbing him in the back with his technology.
Apparently he was cancelled. And so was VoxTek. How stupid. But no matter how dumb or stupid he found it, it clearly affected his business because his sales had seen it.
His greed had been his undoing and Angelic Security had been the straw that broke the camel's back.
VoxTek had been thriving not even a month ago, it was insane how fast things could come crashing down. How fast a business could come crashing down. He almost couldn't believe it.
It was enough tragedy to please even Alastor.
They were so stupid, it was so easy for him to shut off all of their bread and circuses. But his PR team and Velvette had all advised him not to cause them to panic or he would truly be cast away by the public. Losing one's cool was not professional. And professionalism was his number one priority.
But he felt like a genius who was drowning in a sea of helpless fools. He was at the end of his rope.
They say when you are the end of your rope is when you are willing to try anything, even playing with demons, ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐จ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ด, ๐ฃ๐ช๐จ ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ข๐บ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด.
He checked his phone but Velvette hadn't responded yet.
He couldn't lose them after ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด. After he had worked so hard to fight for
And after all of this time, after he had screamed at and lectured the other two vees about destroying the companyโs reputation. Would he be the one to actually kill it, but would he be the one to destroy it, was he truly going to be the one to put the nail in the coffin?
Not even Valentino, he couldn't even blame Valentino for this, though he much wanted to. He couldn't blame Velvette for her outbursts either. This was all on him.
โFuck, I am not feeling guilty over this. I'm Vox, I have an image to preserve. I am persuasive.โ
He fixed his expression into a smile that didn't quite reach his screen.
Velvette still hadn't responded. The angelic security thing was supposed to help them, but it had become a sword that ended up stabbing them directly in the ass.
Vox's shoulders slumped. He could always disappear to the wrath ring, ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐, but honestly he couldn't think of something that made him want to kill himself more than being a coward and camping out at the wrath ring. They certainly wouldn't like him there. Far from it.
Vox realised he had enemies pretty much everywhere, which in retrospect is something he knew he probably should've not made. That included Alastor right now. If he had Alastor by his side right nowโฆ none of this shit would be happening.
But of course he had to go and help out the princess who was basically hell's laughing stock.
Distantly, his circuitboard made the mental suggestion that he make a deal with Alastor to protect his life but there was no fucking way.
โHell no! Then I'd be at that fuckers mercy 24-7, like Husk.โ
But a twisted part of him almost ๐ญ๐ช๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ฅ that idea. Not just being at Alastor's mercy, but the knowledge that Alastor owned his soul. And it would mean that the radio demon couldn't really escape him or fucking walk out ever again. They'd be bound by fate and he'd see Alastor all the time.
But even hisโฆ complicated feelings towards Alastor, who had literally no interest in the slightest, were not enough for him to strike a deal up with that stupid, grinning, redclad fuck. Even if he was cute.
Vox cracked his neck and stretched his arms. He knew that stressing over this here would probably get him nowhere.
He stepped into the shiny elevator with the VoxTek logo and a large blue V on it. He needed to think fast or it was over.
But maybe it wasn't thinking that would save him from this. Everything that he was being called out for was true, it wasn't like there were any lies but that was the problem, the truth ๐ธ๐ข๐ด ugly.
โFuck fuck fucking hell, I might as well just take an angelic weapon to the head or heart right now because we are done for.โ
Vox didn't believe in miracles. Though he had been raised Christian and had been made to pray every night. Despite what that dumb radio demon thought about the newer generations and their lack of discipline, he thought he had been raised quite well. Yes, he was an absolute train wreck of a person, but who cares? He was successful, he was on top, he had the big bucks. That was all that matters. And despite what Alastor said, the parents of his generation absolutely did discipline their kids.
If Alastor thought that the kids of his generation were spoiled, Vox couldn't wait till he discovered the newest generation on earth, generation Z and Alpha. He had heard of their Shanganinagians up here even. Smashing expensive beauty products in makeup stores, bullying each other on their earthly games and social media apps and doing their stupid suicidal trends like eating laundry detergent. It's no wonder they all die so young these days.
Vox had never played roblox or used a drunk elephant product, nor had he ever received a fairy comment on tiktok, so it wasn't like he had much actual experience with these kids he harshly judged in his mind.
โHe's going to gloat endlessly if he ever finds out I killed my own company.โ
He could already hear that smug radio filtered voice and it made him frown deeper.
โWhy what a truly devastatingly sad display of power only to be hoisted by your own petard, oh the nonsense.โ
Fuckinโ Alastor.
His phone buzzed, it was probably Velvette. He quickly unlocked it and tapped on his messaging app. It wasn't Velvette.
It was sent from a number he didn't recognize. An unknown number.
ย
UNKNOWN NUMBER: hey
Vox: Who are you? Who gave you my personal phone number? I'll make sure they are dealt with accordingly.
Probably some employee thought they could get a raise or couldn't just because he was famous. Fuck no, he didn't just hand out his phone number to anyone. He was too important for that, right nowโฆ but maybe in the future he'd have too.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Oh I don't think that'll be necessary Mr Vox, I don't need to give you anything. And don't take out your anger in some innocent employee like you always do, it's truly unbecoming.
Oh okay, now this shit-brain was trying to save face. Not so fast, he'd catch whoever was behind this.
Vox: Don't lie to me, I have my ways of finding out who's trying to stab me in the back. How do you think I made it this far?
Take that, the son of a bitch was going to try to lecture him and give ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฎ, the Vox of VoxTek advice. That was crazy talk, he was going to let this man know that he was completely delusional.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Yeah, I thought you'd say that. I don't know if you are aware of Vox, so I'll try to explain it in a simple manner so plz stay focused, I know that your generation's attention span is slow but I won't do this all day and trust me when I say that it will get ugly if you don't listen. You hold no power here. I've got u cornered and I have all the information to shut down this little clown show of a company that you have running for good. You still have some patrons and people willing to protect your dignity and career but if you dont do as I say, you won't. So if the circus wants to have clowns, listen closely.
ย
Vox gaped at the text. His company was going through shit right now, bad shit, but there were other secrets he had, other skeletons in the closets here at VoxTek that even Valentino and Velvette didn't know about. Things he had to do to protect the life they had fought for. Things that could cost each and every one of them their souls, + the souls under their contracts. His eyes focused in on the part about ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ. The style almost reminded him of Alastor, he was almost afraid for a second that Alastor had gotten a phone and now was going to torture him through that. But the way some words were spelled made him ๐ด๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ that this blackmailer wasn't the radio demon. Alastor wouldn't be caught double dead spelling โ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐ฆโ or โ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ตโ that way.
This person sounded too casual tooโฆ
He began to tap back hastily.
Vox: You don't scare me. You've been very vague this entire time which shows me that you are scared. You know it's too late for you. You are going to be punished for this, actions have consequences, friend. Your actions are that of a coward.
And he truly wasn't scared until the lights flickered and the elevator halted before shooting a little ways up and violently shaking him a little. Then it froze and the power went out. Throughout the entire building.
He had felt a bit fearful easier. Now he was fucking terrified. He was like a sitting duck, sitting in this claustrophobic elevator pod. He panicked and grabbed onto the sides of the elevators. It wasn't like he had much of a choice. Without electricity, he was an easy target.
Mysteriously though, his phone still was on with enough bars to receive a text. A text from the Unknown Number.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: I am not your โfriendโ Vox. You have always been silly. I also know about all the unfinished business and all the money you ripped off from heavy hitters. Yeah, you think I don't know about all the money and product(s) you owe Asmodeus, Carmilla, Lucifer, king of hell and if my eyes do not deceive me, Alastor the radio demon? It seems you owe them and many more, more than just money and crappy Voxtok productsโฆDid you really think you could just bolt off into the electricity like usual?
UNKNOWN NUMBER: How interesting, a friendship between you and Alastor, or should I say Bambi? That's what it says here on the photo I found under the pillow in the bedroom. I can have all those overlords on your doorstep in the mere snap of my fingers. You underestimate your enemies, Vox.
ย
Oh shit, he ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ธ about those. And those were skeletons that he had worked hard to scrub from every corner of hell. It wasn't easy to do all of that extensive black out on information, especially with our Velvette social media presence and knowledge, but he had done or. Mostly. He still kept the records and now those demons would come knocking on his door because of his own stupidity
Secrets always had a way of coming out. Sooner or later. Maybe it was God's plan or some bullshit like that.
And that Alastor stuff could NOT get out under any circumstances. He would never be taken seriously, if this blackmailer truly knew the depth of the situation, which it sounded like he did. He was clearly very capable. It wasn't alastor, but still Vox would keep an eye on this individual when he uncovered their true identity. He decided to bullshit this mysterious texted.
VOX: No, you are right. We aren't friends, you don't know the full stories of what happened in each scenario. If you are as gullible as to think you'd actually be able to get into something important of mine, then you really are the worst blackmailer in hell. For all you know those documents are merely a rouse. I am a closely guarded man after all|
Vox continued to type. He didn't even know how to excuse the ripped photo of Alastor, with his arm slung around the other demon like they were close. What could he say? He was panicking.
Another text popped up from the blackmailer.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Don't play with me, I know that you are vulnerable rn. You are losing power fast, TV boy. You are a sitting duck. I'm being generous enough to do something for you. I know that a little snack-like thing like yourself wouldn't last on the streets for a minute. Your sister, the other clown; Velvette, maybe. She'd have a fighting chance, but not you. You are truly the weakest of the vees, Alastor was correct about that. I know your games Vox, but I also know about your story, Victor.
Don't be a bitch, answer me.
Vox backs paved everything he wrote.
VOX: Fine, what your you proposition? What do you want? Money? Take it! VoxTek? You know it's a dumpster fire anyway. Sex?
He knew he was a coward, but by fuck, he was not dying. He sent the message and waited nervously for a response. Three sweat bubbles appearing on either side of his screen, signaling that he was nervous.
Ding.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Haha, well the last one actually isn't a bad suggestion for a trade, considering you aren't half bad. Not bad at all, in fact Idk what you arent in Valentinos field instead considering what he does. That pretty screen of yours would certainly suite that atmosphere better.
Vox felt himself short circuit at the bold advancement, what? Okay, he ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฅ have some weird fans. Maybe he shouldnโt be surprised that's what this weird fucker was after, but stillโฆ it felt out of character. He must have gone completely red with a whole fucking blush and everything.
Vox: Val, istg if this is a fucking joke I will end youโฆ
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Attachment
Vox looked down at his phone only to receive a photo attachment.
He opened it and nearly felt every circuit in his body stop. It was a photo of himself, but it was from a few minutes ago when he was flushed.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Does Val give you such little attention that you are just find yourself flustered by the advances of anyone? I think you should question why you so easily want to okay victim my television friend.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Attachment
UNKNOWN NUMBER: ATTACHMENT
Two more were sent, followed by an audio message.
Vox opened them, and felt his wires bundle with dread at the site of what he saw next. The captor had a pissed off but comfortable looking Velvette.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Look, I'm a reasonable guy. I didn't even hurt your sister, shes got gorgeous taste dude! But I know what you people have done. Youโve hurt and angered a lot of souls and a lot of people. I'm going easy on you because I have reasonsโฆ
โ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ง๐ถ๐ค๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ด๐ช๐ด๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ, ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ต ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ข๐ต๐ฆ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ.โ Is what Vox thought
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Lets just meet somewhere. Somewhere neutral maybe? We can discuss the conditions. Sorry if I am rusty, it's been a little while since I've done a blackmail like this. I'll arrange your ride, clothes and everything. If you agree, I accept you to. Be ready immediately. You have met me but I guarantee you wont believe it. But what I do know is that youll submit. Or sumthing like that, haha. We can even bring the girl along. Shes a gem, honestly!
Vox quirked an eyebrow. What a freak. And why were they so sure that he was going to agree to any insane conditions that this fuckwad had for him.
There was something oddly familiar about this texter but he couldn't put his electric finger in it. Still, he felt like he had met this person somewhere. And he felt stupid for forgetting, because this was obviously an important person. Maybe he needed to cut back on the drinking and Cocaine.
Vox: Fine.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Great!! We'll arrange a place to meet. How is Rosie's? Sounds good? Nice and civilized there, it's not so much like a sex dungeon. Y'know, like the ready of hell?
His blackmailer was strangely cheerful.
Vox: Yeahโฆ of course.
He waited there for a few minutes.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: Oh shit, are you still stuck in the elevator?
Vox rolled his digital eyes,
Vox: yeah.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: OOPS- That's embarrassing! I'll let you go now.
Without a second, all the power was restored and the elevator began to rush upstairs, seeing Vox a clear signal that he was to get ready.
UNKNOWN NUMBER: I was kidding all that other stuff btw. I'm only sending a cab. I'll save those other bits for when we know each other better ;)
Vox couldn't help the blush and hated even more was that he was kind of looking forward to having a break.
At this point, being kidnapped and taken far far away from Valentino, Velvette, The Vee's HQ and alastor would be more like a welcome vacation.
This was something he could handle. A bargain, a business meeting. Somewhere he could use his charm and slip his way out of trouble.