The Rival (Chapter 3)

(Summary: Alastor sought to possess one of the only does in Pentagram City for the rut season, however, you wanted a mate, not a master. But what happens when a handsome new buck shows up one day and tries to capture your attention away from the Radio Demon. Who will you choose?)

<BE AWARE OF VIOLENCE AND GORE TOWARDS THE CONCLUSION>

Both bucks could feel the scrape of steel as their massive crowns clash against each other with enough force to level the entirety of the city and, if not for Alastor’s already-in-place barriers around the hotel, everything surrounding them would’ve been blown away. Feeling the impact straining the wards momentarily distracts Alastor, however, James takes advantage of his loss of focus and uses the grip of their antlers to toss the Radio Demon into the air. The glass of the greenhouse ceiling felt like falling through a frozen lake’s surface as Alastor caught himself just before landing on Charlie’s apple tree saplings. He took a moment to sense his foe’s location before snarling out a warning when the feeling of something wrapping around his massive legs startled him. With a sickening crack, he whipped his head downwards in an instant to find that the small trees were embedding themselves into his legs and crawling up his thighs.

Alastor immediately slashed at the constraining foliage only to have them grow back twice as fast and aggressively before he could take action to leave the greenhouse. Even the surrounding smaller plants broke from their pots as they grew at such a rate to join their comrades in seizing Alastor, and he could feel his magic being siphoned with every touch. A deep, condescending laugh drew his attention towards the entrance of the greenhouse.

“What’s the matter Alastor? Are you gonna let a few plants take down the great Radio Demon?”, James cackled smugly, “From that big mouth of yours, I thought I’d actually have a fight on my hands, but you're just another bloated ego that needs to understand your true place.”

Alastor had already tried and failed to phase out of his ever-tightening floral restraints as his magic was being siphoned at an alarming rate and he was even straining to keep up his demonic form. Despite all of this, though, he knew that his smile was carving his face with maniacal excitement at this unexpected challenge and his mind, already clouded with possessive rage to eliminate a mating rival, truly focused with gleeful abandonment on his opponent. He let out a deep, and chaotic growl that shattered the heavy, glass windowpanes from the overwhelming static released within the Radio Demon’s chest.

 The large shards of glass tore through the plant's hold and Alastor didn’t even notice how his own body suffered the same damage as he shot toward James the instant that the cervitaur was in sight with a thundering blow to the abdomen. The crack that sounded out, accompanied by a pained grunt, was music to Alastor’s ears and only fueled his bloodlust. Oh, how he’d missed letting his muscles flex and allowing his inner demon to run as wild as it liked. The attack had knocked James backwards several feet where he caught his footing before rearing back on his hind legs to mightily stomp into the ground. Once again, a stream of foliage erupted from the surrounding area winding its path towards Alastor’s tall form before trying to aggressively capture him once more.

“Ah Ah Ah~”, Alastor sang out in a barely discernable demonic voice and wagged his finger condescendingly, “I won’t fall for the same trick twice, young man.”

With a shudder throughout his body, a wave of dark purple energy appeared to flow out from his very being that wafted over the incoming plants, which shrunk and wilted immediately coming to a dead halt just feet from the cackling Radio Demon’s shoes. James could only curse, still holding his injured ribs, as he reached up and snapped off one side of his black antlers with a hiss of pain and a river of blood flowing from the wound. Alastor could only stare in amused interest towards the reindeer’s sudden self-mutilation, but his eyes widened when a flash of white vines shot out from the root of the severed antler and braided together to create a long hilt that James gripped tightly with a look of determination.

The smell of fresh tissue hit Alastor’s nose and he realized that James had regrown his lost antler in a flurry of blood and black vines. Oh, this will be fun! James flexed his torso and coiled his muscles before launching himself forward, sword raised, and swiped towards the red demon yet narrowly missing his target’s shoulder. Alastor allowed himself to shrink to normal and reappeared behind his opponent in an instant, “You’re far too slow, chum.”, He again ducked out of the way of another slice against his chest and twirled around with a flourish as if the men were simply dancing, “And you seem to just mindlessly swing in whatever vague direction you believe your target to be while not even thinking where I may pop up next.”. The big brute only blared out an angry, “FUCK YOU!”, as Alastor seemed to effortlessly dodge the sloppy attack, but he felt the growing fatigue from having his magic plundered earlier.

“Such poetry.”, sneered the Radio Demon, “Whatever happened to the brazen young bull who began this tussle? How confident and, I dare say, even bold. Standing tall before me. However, these reindeer games are growing tedious, and I must bid you adieu.”

And that’s when James cracked a smile.

You stood stock still on the back porch watching the buck’s terrifying fight while a cold chill crept up your spine as the realization of what was happening washed over you with fresh horror. They were going to kill each other if you didn’t stop them, but your doe’s instinct didn’t dare allow you to run in between their blows. However, you didn't miss how their clash ignited something primal and thick within you, but you needed to concentrate.

I’ve got to get Charlie!, you thought worriedly.

Just as you turned to find the princess, the greenhouse suddenly exploded and the blast force knocked you into something fluffy, yet firm, “What the fuc-“, the gruff, disgruntled voice was cut off after another shockwave sounded. You were unceremoniously thrown to the ground and felt soft feathers envelop you protectively as a rain of debris and broken glass whizzed through the air where you were just standing. A sharp hiss of pain caught your attention as you sat up to look at your rescuer. Husk was kneeling above you, trying to dislodge glass from his outer feathers, but when he spoke, he kept a wary expression trained in the direction of the now laughing Radio Demon. “I see that the ceiling finally gave away between those two damn idiots. I haven’t seen the boss so worked up since before his last fight with Vox”, he turned his gaze towards you accusingly, “and I bet I know just what’s got his static so stirred up.”  

You could only look away knowingly as you watched the two bucks continue their battle and (holy Moses! Did James just rip off his own antler??!) noticed how sluggish Alastor seemed to move despite the excited mirth on his face.

“Where’s Charlie, Husk?! She’s the only one who has a prayer of breaking up this fight without losing an arm!”, you asked the cat demon, but he sighed in frustrated annoyance and answered, “We all thought that the boss wouldn’t be around today so she and her girl left to do some advertising for the joint.” He cast a wary look back towards the Radio Demon, “We thought that things wouldn’t boil over while he was gone, but…”, Husk trailed off.

All the both of you could do was watch helplessly. Whatever happened, happened. You thought worriedly but couldn’t help the warm bloom of anticipation that took root within your belly at the thought of two powerful partners fighting for your hand. It was a sickening yet thrilling thought at the same time that made you aware of just how feverish you had suddenly become. Almost as if...

Alastor narrowed his eyes at the sudden smile widening over his opponent’s face as if this fight was already decided but he just didn’t know it yet. What was the reindeer planning?  No matter, some immature stripling couldn’t possibly hope to beat The Radio Demon when it seemed like he barely even understood his demonic abilities yet. However, just when he had geared himself up to make good on his promise to end this game, Alastor’s throat was suddenly caught as searing pain shot throughout his body and ebbed into every limb. He couldn’t move one inch.

All he could do was fight to remain standing while casting a questioning gaze toward a smirking James with an aggravated growl. His energy was all but gone but how? Alastor was beginning to feel the strain of exhaustion from the battle’s turnabout, sure, however, it wasn’t to this degree just a few moments ago. Just a few moments ago? When that brute was haphazardly waving around…oh.  

“Finally caught on have we, old man?”, laughed the reindeer demon cruelly, “Why don’t yous take a gander at your fine form you so expertly flung around my sword?”

It took some effort, but Alastor was able to slowly look down to scan his front, only to feel the shock of surprise and curse at himself for letting his guard down enough to be taken for a fool. Lining nearly every inch of his suit jacket and torn dress pants was a plethora of tiny buds that had sprouted and wound their way around all that they could reach. If that wasn't enough, sharp thorns had also seen fit to line each of the small vines that ensured their hold on his skin making each movement accompanied by blazing pain.

“But how?”, Alastor grunted out, “You never touched me.”

James scoffed in the red demon’s face as he trotted closer, clearly assuming the fight had been finished, and answered, “You older fucks with the giant egos can never resist putting younger demons in their place. Demons you believe to be beneath you simply because we are from a later time, but none of you ever think that maybe that impenetrable confidence will be your eventual downfall.” The cervitaur took a moment to laugh heartedly as he continued, “Sure you dodged my slices, but I sure did touch you. Or at least the spores blooming off my antler did.”, he smiled with vicious enjoyment, “I knew a vain soft serve like you wouldn’t hesitate to show off just how easily you could beat me, especially in front of our sweet doe watching, and present yourself as the better male.” He was inches away from an immobilized Alastor’s snarling face, “You thought that you’d humiliate me by not even offering returning blows. As if I were a child with a wooden sword and you were a chuckling parent just humoring my effort. Well, that sure bit you in the ass, huh? Mister big bad Radio Demon.”

Towards the end of his monologue, James had straightened up and lowered his voice so that only Alastor could hear him. “Speaking of that sweet little cunt~”, James whistled admiringly and took a long sniff in the direction of their girl. “Yeah, that sweet little piece of ass will do just fine for me. She wants genuine love so badly that she doesn’t care where it comes from. I mean, I’m basically a fucking stranger, and, with just a few pretty words, the whore was ready to be spread out and fucked right here in the garden!” He had caught Alastor’s right ear and held it uncomfortably to his mouth’s level and laughed loudly into it while the deer demon winced and shook with barely contained hostility. "You smell her right? I know you do, brother, how could you not? Such a ripe fucking pussy."

“How dare you…”

“Yeah yeah big boy.”, James winked and patted Alastor’s cheek condescendingly, “Don’t worry bud, I’ll take care of your former favorite cocksleeve. But first”, he raised his makeshift sword and didn’t hesitate to quickly stab into the red demon’s shoulder and smile wider when Alastor’s face twisted into what he assumed was a look of pain. However, what he didn’t know was that Alastor had failed to even register that he was injured as the air around him began to pop and crackle in time with his raising anger and he merely stared at the demon in front of him with hateful disgust. He managed to raise his hand and snap his sharp-clawed fingers once. At first, the still-gloating James scoffed at the seemingly desperate motion but immediately went silent as a dark hue grew up his strong body in what looked like a couple of black shadows snaking up his torso and neck. Within another moment, the reindeer could only gasp sharply in surprise as he was met by a grinning silhouette of a ghostly Radio Demon now restraining his entire form and holding his mouth open. A large funnel of growing darkness then seemed to erupt from Alastor’s heaving chest, his head turning up and laughing with insanity.

“You’d forgotten about my little friend here, eh?”, Alastor spoke as he looked up at the red sky of Hell, “But it was you who oh so generously invited him over when you helped yourself to my magical energy and he saw fit to stuff himself to what his host offered.”

The Radio Demon looked back towards his prey, his widely hanging mouth opened in a grinning maw as he continued in barely discernable speech, “Not to worry, dear boy, I don’t mind sharing with a fellow buck, however…”

It was then that James noticed, with horrifying clarity, how his energy-draining buds had also turned into darkness and were slowly melting into Alastor’s form and mending the places that had been ripped and torn as if they had never been there at all. “You’ve just made the most foolish of mistakes any who walk in my line of sight could…”. Forced, now, to his four sets of knees by his spectral bondage, the reindeer suddenly became aware of just how little fear he’d ever felt in his life as compared to the increasing terror that was clawing its way up his throat. “You have insulted my mate! AND YOU SHALL PAY!!”, the deer demon finished with another wave of hysterical laughter and a grand flourish of his elongating limbs into a horror James knew no one sees and lives to describe later.

The shadow grew bigger and darker around the helpless deerling until all he could see was a twitching, churning void lit only by the sharp yellow teeth that were closing the distance separating them. Gone was the lush backyard of the hotel and all he could hear was the predator’s heavily static-laced voice (or what could be assumed to be a voice) a bit above the multitude of hallowing screams in the darkness. Unseen claws, hands, teeth, and limbs began tearing into his flesh, but he could utter no screams of his own because a hand had already been thrown down his, still held open, throat.

“You know, I believe that you have more to offer than just meat for my shadow hive. A manner of social recompense for the DISGUSTING way you spoke of my darling doe…YES… after all, you did come to this hotel so intent on giving your HEART for the path to redemption, I will help you accomplish just that…MY WAYWARD FRIEND.”

Alastor couldn’t hold back the excited jilt in his voice or the blood that drooled down his chin from biting his lip in anticipation for this most primal of kills. His blood sang as he felt his claws easily shred the soft tissue of the lesser male’s esophagus and a sort of fever took him over once he cracked open the firm muscle surrounding the sternum. By this point, the beta had ceased all forms of struggle and could only hang limp at the mercy of Alastor’s arm as it picked the still-beating heart from its nest like an apple on a tree.

Making sure to keep the connections to the major arteries intact, The Radio Demon withdrew the organ from its host’s unhinged maw and held it out for him to see in all its bloody glory. He spoke with the giddiness of a child, “How would you like to know that I will present this to my love and I’ll use it to feed the seed that I’ll plant within her? Oh yes, women from my time were known to consume such choice cuts of meat to ensure healthy fetus growth and I believe that such a strong bull like yourself would make for a fine meal as the last act of your pathetic existence.”

James could only weep for himself as the red deer continued in a much more poised demeanor, “No? Well then, how about a…deal?”

I'm so sorry that this part took so long 😅 my partner's family matters took longer than I thought they would but I tried to work on this on my phone when I had a second lol

I've never written such a complicated scene and I hope that you enjoyed reading it as much as I liked writing it. I really live for protective deer daddy with a dash of insanity ❤️❤️

-SSPR

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