Spooooooky

[cornerofmadness]

spook_me has its master post up and already there are so many good stories up, so many fandoms. I can't wait to dive in. I'll share mine in a bit. I wanted to get both of my stories done and today I did finish the second one which is also my fandomtrumpshate story. I was struggling with it for months but I think it turned out okay. I need to clean it up.

thanks to evil_little_dog for her help on my latest story. I think I can fix her issue with it in a couple of sentences (I would have to, I don't have many words to play with)

I was supposed to be cleaning today. I did not. I wrote (sigh).

I wanted to do so much traveling on this sabbatical but did not. I was trying to shornhorn trans allegheny insane asylum into this but couldn't (but as mom pointed out it's like 2 hours from her house too so I can also do it later in Nov) I did think about Woodland cemetery in Dayton (wright brothers) and I think I'll try to do that next weekend because that park with museum thing I fell in love with in Rhode Island and saw again in St. Louis this year also can be found in Dayton (the only thing I've ever seen there was the air force museum). Also I didn't know until today that Columbus's conservancy was having a halloween display but it ended tonight.

I could have gone but I had an Abney Park concert tonight and sitting on my butt doing that sounded better to me. It was all about villains and it was fun (I really liked his Friends on the Other Side cover)

Here's my spook_me story. Hope you enjoy.

Title: It’s a Dead Man’s Party, Who Could Ask For More?

Summary: Angel was shocked his brother turned up at the hotel and no one could have guessed where Arackniss’s simple request would take them and what they’d uncover

Rating: teen

Author Note - Written for Spook_me 2024 for the prompt you’ll see in the end notes (as it’s a bit spoilery but oh so fun) and for Lyrical Titles for the prompt 80's song – Dead Man’s Party by Oingo Boingo, and for the whumptober prompt #12 starvation: cannibalism and the allbingo prompt of Severed Limbs/Body Parts and for templefugate in comment_fic Any, any, witnessing cannibalism


Chapter One


Angel groaned as he cleaned out the fridge’s crisper, having been put on Niffty’s ‘staff’ with the task of making the kitchen spotless, his ‘punishment’ after and he quoted Vaggie ‘for turning yesterday’s redemption session into a farce.’ In other words, he’d pulled a prank on the wrong person, not for the first time, not for the last. Charlie was supervising his cleaning attempts, which he didn’t really mind as much as he pretended. Mostly he was shoveling half of the not-quite-good veggies into Fat Nuggets’ bowl and the rest into a bag to take to his own mini-fridge in his room for treats later. His sweet little hell pig would love him for it but right now he was face down devouring some lettuce.

“Pigs are not clean.” Niffty wrinkled her nose at Nuggs.

“That pig is cleaner than we are. I even oiled him up earlier. I need to find him new feed because the old pellets aren’t giving him the right nutrients.” Angel pouted. “My poor little son was getting dry. I’d mud bath him but you nearly fainted last time, Niff.”

She pointed a knife at him. “No mud!”

“Do I even want to know?” Husk walked in.

“Niffty doesn’t like Nuggs.” Angel threw something he couldn’t even identify into the trash. He gagged a little at the smell. “What’s up? You have that worried look on your face.”

“There’s an overlord in the lobby and he wants to talk to you.”

Charlie stood up from the kitchen table. “It’s not Valentino, right? No you would have just said that. Why does he want to talk to Angel?”

Husk shrugged. “He’s not a bad one as far as overlords go. I used to ally with him on occasion as we didn’t have competing interests and it was advantageous. He was fairer than most so long as you didn’t point out how damn tiny he is. He made me feel tall.”

“And he wants to talk to me?” The light flicked on in Angel’s head and he swallowed a groan. “Is he a tiny-assed spider?”

“Yeah, Valentino didn’t set up another date for you, did he?” Husk growled. He hated it when Angel had to do those dates, hated seeing how torn up he often was when the date was over.

“No, worse.” Angel stomped out of the kitchen with his friends following him, curious and protective. He swore under his breath in Italian. Sure enough, standing in the center of the lobby, with an unlit cigarette in hand, Arackniss eyed the joint like he was going to rob it. “How the fuck did you find me?”

Arackniss curled his lip. “Sei un stupido sfigato! For fuck’s sake, Tony, you were on TV fighting angels and the princess had told everyone you were living here months ago. And I…oh, I didn’t expect you to be here.” His gaze halted on Charlie. “You’re Princess Morningstar!”

Charlie smiled. She strode over, hand outstretched. “Call me Charlie. Welcome to the hotel. Are you here to explore your path to redemption?”

Arackniss stared for a moment, working up what little Italian charm he had; Angel estimated it in negative numbers. Arackniss shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Charlie but no, I’m not.”

“And, Angel…is your real name Tony?” she asked dubiously. “You’ve never mentioned that in any of our sessions.”

“Because I stopped being Anthony like eighty years ago and Arackniss knows it.” He narrowed his eyes at him.

“I’m not calling you by your porn name.” He put his cigarette to his lips.

“Uh-uh, no smoking in the hotel except in your own rooms and maybe at the bar on special occasions,” Angel reprimanded him. He didn’t admit that his brother had a point about his screen name.

“Shall we sit at the bar then or go to your room?” Arackniss suggested that in a tone that said he’d rather be boiled in oil.

“Bar. Husk, this is going to call for your strongest drinks. Don’t even bother with anything under one hundred and fifty proof.”

Husk rolled his eyes but strolled to the bar to look over his options. He put the ashtray on the bar. “How do you know Arackniss, Angel?”

“What am I? A dark secret?” Arackniss growled, hustling to the bar on his bare, tiny spider paws that were somehow even creepier than Angel’s own.

“A dirty one at the very least.” At his brother’s fiery look, Angel threw his head back and drawled out, “Fine. Charlie, Husk, Niffty, this is Arackniss, my older brother. I can’t call him my big brother because, well, look at him.”

“You are the absolute worst, Tony.” Arackniss lit up the moment his backside hit the stool. “Are you going to be an ass the entire time I’m here?”

“Depends.” Angel plopped on a stool. “You gonna to tell me why you’re here or you gonna sit there stinking up Charlie’s lobby?”

Arackniss blew smoke in Angel’s face so he stole his brother’s cigarette and popped it in his own mouth. Arackniss merely lit up another one.

“Can’t it be I wanted to talk to my baby brother?”

Angel snorted, slapping his hand down on the bar, nearly knocking over the tumbler of whatever the hell Husk had just served up. “Please, you ain’t spoken to me in what? Five years? More?”

“Because you don’t want me to,” Arackniss grumbled.

“Angel-” Charlie interjected but silenced when he whipped up a hand.

“Last time you spoke to me nicely, like brothers, Papi beat the fuck out of you for being kind to, and I quote, ‘the dick-sucking rottinculo who should have done the world a favor by dying at birth,” Angel snarled and to his surprise Arackniss hunched up.

“When he said that, I should have punched his teeth down his throat for you, Tony.”

“You were too busy bleeding because our delightful cousins were holding you down for Papi while Uncle Guido and Uncle Vito had me pinned so I couldn’t help you.”

“Shit, Angel, how many of your relatives are in hell?” Husk slammed his own drink and poured another. He grabbed something lighter and poured some for Niffty and Charlie who also sat down at the bar.

“Most of them.” He downed his entire drink and pushed the glass to Husk. “So I’m asking again, why are you here?”

“I need help.”

“And there it is.”

“I’m serious, Tony, about wanting to talk to you and about needing help. Do you have any idea how I felt watching the extermination unfold on camera? Everyone had heard the rumors that the angels made this hotel ground zero. I saw what was left of the original one, nothing but rubble. We all saw what happened to him.” Arackniss pointed his cigarette toward the large portrait of Pentious hanging in the lobby.

“He was a friend,” Angel broke in, in warning.

“I…really?” Arackniss arched his eyebrows. “You and Cherri were always skirmishing with him.”

“Yeah, she and he were almost a couple there at the end. He was a friend,” he repeated with more emphasis.

“Then I’m sorry for your loss. I had no issues with him myself. Anyhow, I saw you battling the angels with your friends here. And I was terrified because we all know what happens with angelic weapons. I was afraid I’d never get to apologize for…everything.”

Neither brother could meet the other’s gaze. Angel downed another drink and Charlie put her hand on his wrist. He pushed the glass to Husk again anyhow. “It would have meant more if you said that when we were alive.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Arackniss took a huge drag on his cigarette. “I can’t change that. I wish I had been kinder when I was alive. I’m sorry about being a bad brother too. I’m sorry I let our father destroy us both, not that I know what I could have done to stop him. Even if I helped you escape when we were young, he’d have found you. You probably wouldn’t have survived.”

Charlie gave his wrist a little squeeze at that but Angel couldn’t look at her and see the pity.

“I know that too.” Angel sighed and took a more reasonable sip of his drink this time. “We won, thanks in part to Pen. We rebuilt the hotel, mostly with Lucifer’s help.”

“I did notice the triple Xs and hearts up the front. Got yourself worked right into there and I remember your calling card, Husker. The whole front looks like Vegas right about when I got whacked.” Arackniss lit another cigarette from the tip of his. Angel stole that one too. “Christ, Tony. Don’t you have your own pack?”

“I’m sort of clean while I’m here.”

“Says the man who just downed a third of a bottle of absinthe.” Arackniss snorted, smirking. His expression morphed, “Wait, are you seriously not doping?”

“I have no choice but to get high in the studio but here, Charlie prefers I stay clean. It’s not easy.” He slipped his hand free of hers, tucking them against his side.

“And Lucifer did a good job working us all into the hotel itself,” Husk said. “Including his tower and Alastor’s radio station.”

Arackniss made a soft sound. “I’m glad you found a place to belong, Tony. You needed that.”

“I did.” Hearing footsteps, he turned to see Vaggie entering the room. “And I appreciate the concern, Giovanni.” Arackniss narrowed his eyes and Angel sighed. “Sorry, Niss, but you get to call me Tony. You’re going to have to put up with me forgetting and calling you Giovanni.”


“Fine. Your brains are half scrambled with coke most days anyhow except now if I’m to believe you.” Arackniss tilted his head. “I do.”

“And you still haven’t told me why the tiniest overlord in hell is here asking a favor of me,” Angel smirked.

“Overlord?” Vaggie asked, nestling up to Charlie. She slipped an arm around her.

“Vaggie, meet my brother, Arackniss who is here to ask a favor of me.” Angel leveled a look at him.

“You’re lucky the ladies are here so I don’t pound you into paste, smart mouth.”

“See how nicely he asks that favor?” Angel snorted.

“Papi didn’t want me to come here.”

“Probably threatened to beat the shit out of you again if you spoke to me.”

Arackniss pulled his jacket sleeve up and undid his old fashioned cuff to show a couple cigar burns. “He ain’t happy and I told him I was done listening to him about the topic of you. I need your help in finding Elio.”

Angel made a face. “Why the fuck would I want to do that? He’s a miserable pezzo di merda. Why does he need finding?”

“He went missing a few days ago after saying he had a little job to do, something he was bragging was going to make him a big name around hell, had this fantastic plan.”

He snorted. “Elio is dumber than a sack of hair. What plan?”

“Who knows? I don’t want to find him either but Uncle Guido wants his kid back and you know how Papi favors his little brother.”

Angel sneered. “Yeah must be nice to have a brother who cares.”

“Angel,” Charlie scolded. “Husk, do you have a first aid kit behind the bar still?”

“Always with him.” Husk jutted his chin at Angel. He bent down and fished it up.

“Anyhow,” Arackniss grated out. “Elio’s been gone and no one I’ve spoken to has been helpful and I thought, Tony knows everyone. He’s social. Maybe he can come up with a lead that I haven’t.”

“Nah, that’s not what you thought. Tell me what you really thought,” Angel demanded, giving him a hard time.

“Hold your arm out,” Vaggie instructed Arackniss.

“Huh?”

“We’re going to treat those burns,” she said as if unable to believe he didn’t get the concept.

He shrugged. “This is nothing.”

“Yeah.” Angel made a derisive sound. “Papi uses us as ashtrays all the time.”

“Angel, that’s not fun…” Charlie trailed off, her gaze meeting his. “Oh…you aren’t kidding.”

Arackniss and Angel snorted in concert.

“No, Doll face, I ain’t kidding. Our father is not a nice guy,” Angel said. “Come on, Nissy. I want to hear the truth for a change.”

Arackniss made a face, tried to play it off as a reaction to whatever it was Vaggie was smearing on his burns. “Fine. I thought Tony is the charming one in the family. He’ll get further with charm than I’m gonna with threats.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear.” Angel smirked. “You couldn’t charm your way out of a wet paper bag with a hole in it. What’s in it for me? Obviously cigarette burns are what’s in it for you.”

Arackniss rubbed at his arm just above the gauze Vaggie was winding around it. “Family goodwill? Ya get to be the hero if you help find Elio?”

Angel held up one finger. “One, I don’t wanna find him. Let him rot.” He lifted another finger. “Two, even if I do help find him, the family still wouldn’t give two shits about me.”

“I do,” Arackniss muttered, almost too soft to hear. He averted his face. “I…I could come visit every so often. Yeah, never mind, that’s stupid. Like ya wanna see me.”

Angel stared at the floor. “I wouldn’t mind that…if you’re gonna be nice to me. If you’re coming here as Papi’s stooge then nuts to that.”

“I can do that because I can tell you Papi don’t want me coming here,” Arackniss ran a hand through his hair, dislodging his hat. “But...I miss having my brother around. You and I might fight, Tony, but you’re still my brother. I just was never good at being yours.”

“No you weren’t,” Angel snapped but at Arackniss’ miserable expression added, “But you at least tried most of the time, even without Molly pushing you.”

“Molly?” Charlie asked.

“My twin.” Angel held up his hands. “I know, I know, I should have mentioned her before and I was working up to it. I kept thinking in one of Charlie’s sessions I’m going to tell them all about Molly. She’s part of the reason I’m here, trying this. I’d like to see her again.”

Arackniss leaned close and said lowly, “You don’t really believe in this redemption crap, do you?”

Angel shrugged but otherwise didn’t answer. “Where was Elio last seen?”

“Near as I can tell, the social club, you know, the one the family likes and he went off to put this plan in motion and no one’s seen him since. I know he was heading to a club near the Time to Win casino to talk to some woman named Rita. I think she owns the place.”

“If you’re talking about the Same Old Place, then yes Rita does,” Husk said. “I would stop in there every so often while I was keeping tabs on what went down around the Time to Win.”

Angel thinned his lips. He read maybe a little too much into Husk’s tone, a hint of regret. He’d known Husk had been an overlord and a casino owner. Was that his old place? Why did he not ask more questions? He was not a great friend. “Then that should be where we start,” Angel said. “You want to help, Husk.”

“Can’t. Alastor has a list of things I need to be doing but I can give Rita a call and tell her you need a few minutes of her time if you want.”

“I’d appreciate that,” Arackniss said quickly. “Thanks.” He raked his gaze over Angel’s outfit and scowled. “Are you going to wear that?”

Angel grimaced. “I was cleaning the kitchen. No, I’ll go change.”

He jogged up the steps, leaving Fat Nuggets with Charlie who had volunteered to keep an eye on him and put him in Angel’s room when the pig got tired. Angel slipped on something naughtier than his usual pink tux and shorts combo. Husk said this fabric’s pattern looked like 60’s psychedelia in brilliant comic book colors, making Angel sorry he hadn’t lived to see it. The mini skirt barely qualified as one, the sides being one single, simple buckled strap. The skirt had a matching halter top and gloves. He grabbed a small purple purse to go with it.

Arackniss’ eyes bugged when Angel walked back into the hotel lobby. “I said we were going to talk to people, not sell ourselves on the street corner, Tony.”

“And he wonders why I don’t want to see him much.” Angel rolled his eyes. “Look, you said you wanted to me to charm people into talking.”

“Charm yes, bang the info out of them, no.”

“Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it.” Angel reached for the remains of his drink on the bar and slammed it back. “Trust me, this will work.”

“Fine but try not to get us on the 666 news looking like this.” Arackniss slouched in defeat.

“I make no promises.”

Chapter Two

“I’m not sure what I can tell you,” Rita said.

No one had bothered to tell Angel she was nearly as big as Zeezi and dressed like a long shoreman. She had taken in Angel’s outfit with a smirk but she had seemed to know Arackniss by reputation and had a favorable impression of him. She hadn’t been dismissive of Angel either so he might actually like her.

“Like Arackniss said, we’re trying to find our cousin Elio. He said he was coming here, not that we think you have anything to do with his disappearance. We were just hoping maybe you knew where he might be going next so we can pick up his trail.”

She shrugged her broad shoulders. “He was talking about trying to partner up with a few low level overlords, Rainmaker, Flametip and Chudley.”

“Chudley?” Angel couldn’t hold back a laugh. “Really?”

“What can I say? Some people aren’t good at picking names for themselves or maybe it’s what he’d been stuck with in life. He’s some flesh peddler with delusions of grandeur. Flame fancies himself the next up and comer to challenge Carmine, which means he probably won’t last long and I’d stay away from Rainmaker if I were you.”

“I know Rainmaker,” Arackniss said. “He and Elio have been running around for a while. I’ll talk to him next.”

Rita mixed a drink and sent it down the bar. “If you feel you have to. You might want to check the Time to Win because Elio liked to darken its door too. Might just be he’s holed up in there, gambling away the family fortune.”

Arackniss snorted. “If he is, I’m dragging him home by his balls.”

“God, the images.” Angel shuddered. Leave it to his brother.

Rita started mixing another drink. “You sure you want to find him? He’s not exactly the most pleasant guy.”

“I don’t want to find him at all,” Angel said and Arackniss elbowed him. “But he’s family.” He rubbed the sore spot Arackniss had created.

She snorted. “I get it. Angel Dust, any chance we can get you performing in here? Just singing. I don’t have much of a dance stage.”

“I’ll suggest it to Valentino, doll. I’m not sure he’ll quote you a price you’re going to like and if I go freelance, generally I don’t like what happens to me next.”

She and Arackniss both made faces. Rita handed him a shot. “On the house.”

“I should be paying you for making you waste your time on Elio,” Angel replied.

“It’s fine. I don’t mind helping you and your little brother.”

Angel leaned against the bar and said, “Technically he’s the big brother.” He pounded his shot, nearly choking on it when Arackniss reached just above the strap holding his skirt together, grabbed some fuzz and twisted it hard.

“Thanks, Rita. We do appreciate it,” Arackniss said so sweetly Angel had to look twice to be sure it was actually his brother next to him.

Angel followed him out, rubbing the second sore spot in sixty seconds. “We going to the Time to Win first?”

“It’s just down the street so yeah, we should. I’m not sure how Rainmaker will take to you though. I know I said he should be next but…” Arackniss screwed up his face. “If you think Papi is a homophobe…”

“Fantastic. I can wait outside or downstairs or wherever, maybe talk to his men or will I be shooting my way out of there because they all think I’m gonna give ‘em a freebie?”

“I’m not taking shooting them off the table.” Arackniss glanced up at him, his ruby eyes glittering. “Be prepared. These guys remind me of the Teds.”

It was all he needed to say. They knew the Tedeschi too well, the Nazis. Arackniss especially had too much experience with dealing with them. Angel was half tempted to let his brother deal with Rainmaker alone but he’d promised to help and the last thing he wanted was for anyone in the family to think he was a coward.

They checked the casino first and came up with no clues at all. No one remembered Elio and probably wouldn’t tell them if they had. Angel texted Husk about the possibility of getting surveillance footage if he knew who owned the casino now and promised him an apology bottle of booze for even being so thoughtless as to ask. He knew it was going to open a can of worms emotionally for his friend. Across from the Rainmaker’s place was a small store and while Arackniss when into the overlord’s domain, Angel went there. People were more chatty in stores, especially if they thought a celebrity might be willing to be seen there. He might be a porn star but when the store in question sold bondage gear, who better to talk to?

When Arackniss stormed out of the enclave on his tiny spider paws, Angel intercepted him. How did his brother walk on those tiny things? And Elio was worse, most of his limbs were particularly spidery and he didn’t have the fantastic hands Angel did. Arackniss glared up at him and lit a cigarette. He shook one out of the pack for Angel who took it eagerly.

“Let me guess he don’t know shit about shit,” Angel said.

“He wouldn’t even confirm there’s a pentagram in this sky if you asked him…and do you have fucking shopping bags with you?” he growled, eyeing Angel’s new purchases. “Tony, what the hell are you doing?”

Angel jerked his thumb back to the bondage store. “Buying some toys and new apparel and no you don’t want to know.”

Arackniss glanced over, his dark expression deepening. “Damn right I don’t.”

“Here’s the thing about being a famous porn star; People who run shops like that want to say ‘hey, the award winning actor, Angel Dust, buys his bondage gear here.’ And they tell me things if I pose for pictures.” Angel shook one of the bags. “And give me discounts. Husk is gonna love me in this.”

“Wait!” Arackniss raised his hands. “Are you sleeping with an ex-overlord while being the boytoy of another one?”

“Another two if you want to get technical. Val likes to watch Vox doing me.”

Arackniss’ jaw dropped comically and his cigarette nearly toppled from his lip. “For fuck’s sake, Tony, that’s not something you tell your brother.”

“You asked. And if anyone else had asked, I’d have said no, Husk isn’t my lover. But you’re my brother and you can keep a secret. I don’t have to tell you how important this one is. I don’t want the Vees after Husk. I don’t want to bring problems to Charlie’s door. But…” Angel broke off. He was not ready to put it into words how he felt about Husk, and especially not to Arackniss. “Anyhow, Elio was there, bragging on the street with some of Rainmaker’s goons about how easy it would be to take the territory from some dame. No, I don’t know which one because they didn’t know.”

Arackniss opened the car doors and they climbed in after Angel tossed his bags into the trunk next to more weaponry than he could count. “Rita said Flametip fancied himself a threat to Carmilla Carmine. God, tell me Elio isn’t dumb enough to buy into that.”

“He is. Maybe Carmilla sorted out our problem for us and you can take what’s left of him home in one of my shopping bags.”

Arackniss made a derisive sound. “I’m almost hoping for that. I don’t know where to find Flame, do you?”

“No clue. Bet one of the cousins do though. Why don’t you call them? They aren’t going to give me the time of day.”

“True.”

Arackniss made the call while he drove. From his increasingly nasty answers, Angel doubted he was getting anywhere fast. He hoped Cherri Bomb wasn’t on Elio’s radar for people to steal territory from. Her slice of hell wasn’t large. It probably wouldn’t tempt him. On the other hand, most people knew Angel Dust was Cherri’s ally – even if it always went against his brand of being a harmless twink and he had to hear about it from the Vees when he helped her – and Elio would enjoy hurting one of Angel’s friends.

Elio had been awful to him in life. It was a good thing they usually only saw each other on holidays and on big family meetings since he and his father were over in Jersey City. It had started small with tripping and rug burns. Nipple twisting came next as they got older and then cigarette burns and all out fights but Elio never fought alone. No, he knew Anthony and Giovanni were no fucking pushovers. Everyone considered them to be tough guys. Nobody knew Angel was anything but another mob enforcer, wouldn’t have thought someone could be tough and gay at the same time. It wouldn’t have crossed their minds and Angel had been happy for it because he would have suffered far worse. Elio would have tried to maim him.

“You’re quiet suddenly,” Arackniss said.

Angel flicked the remains of his cigarette out the window. “Just thinking of all the pain Elio inflicted on us growing up. I really don’t want to find him. I can’t stress that enough.”

“I know. Me either but…what am I supposed to do, Tony? It’s easier for me to try to find him than tell Papi no and get worse than the burns on my arm. I do appreciate your help. I will tell Papi you’re the one who came up with the lead about the women.” He grimaced. “Probably leave out the sex shop part of it.”

“Yeah, smart.” Angel pointed to the phone. “Guessing no one knows anything?”

“I swear half our family is nothing but idiots.”

“And the rest are bags of assholes…so we’re no closer to Flametip.”

Arackniss shook his head. “Renzo is supposed to call me back once Al gets hold of him. Theoretically he knows but I’m not-”

His thought was cut off when something exploded in the street sending the car careening. Arackniss managed to keep it on the road. Angel glanced around for whatever the drama was but couldn’t see what had happened or who had caused it.

“You okay?” Arackniss asked.

“Fine. You?”

“Fine but that had best not have bent my axle or something.” Arackniss twisted on the seat. “What the hell is that buzzing noise? Did someone fuck with my car and plant something in it?”

“I think that jarred the new vibrator on.” Angel bit his bottom lip, bracing for what was to come.

“What? Tony! Get out there and shut it off. What the fuck did you buy? A jackhammer from the sounds of it!”

“I can promise you it’s not for beginner butts.”

“Tony!”

Angel slumped in the seat, crossing his arms petulantly. “I don’t want to go out there.”

“Get. Out! Also I need to check my tires so we’re both getting out.”

Sighing, Angel got out of the car and riffled in the trunk to shut the new toy – batteries included – off. If it was as fun as he thought it would be, he’d have to text Asmodeus personally and thank him. As he shut the trunk, he realized where they were. He raced around the car to where Arackniss was futzing with the tire.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said.

“I have to check the tires for damage. I don’t know what exploded.”

“I do. That was a lighting thingamabob from the porn studio.” He pointed to the tangle ruin of metal, glass and bloody body parts. “We’re at Vee tower and I bet if you look, you’ll find it attached to some poor sucker who pissed Val off.”

As if on cue, a voice asked, “Angel Dust, and here I thought it was your day off.”

Angel whipped around to see Valentino in the doorway. His boss sashayed out into the street, glancing at the new crater and scowled.

“I thought that would have made a bigger bang.”

“You knocked us right off the road, babe. I was just on my way home,” Angel said hurriedly, hoping they could just get back in the car and go.

Valentino spotted Arackniss and grabbed Angel’s arm, twisting hard as he dragged him closer. Arackniss’s hand went into his pocket and Angel hoped he wasn’t going to draw a gun but knowing Arackniss it was possible.

“What the fuck, Angel? You better not be freelancing,” Valentino growled.

“I know better!” Angel protested.

He shook Angel violently. “Then he better be paying me for your time.”

“It’s not like that, Val.”

“I know you’re not two timing me with another overlord.” Valentino forced Angel to one knee. “I recognize him from the meetings.”

“I’m his brother,” Arackniss said, advancing on Valentino. “Not his lover.”

Valentino’s gaze bounced between them. He made one of those involuntary little mothy squeaks that he hated so much if he realized he was doing it. Angel wasn’t about to tell him. He let Angel go. “Your brother?”

“Uh-huh. I’m helping him today. Like you said, I’m off the clock.” Angel stood up. “We have a missing family member, not one I’d think you’d know, unless he thought he could rent a cheap whore from you.”

“And I don’t run cheap whores, just pricey ones, like you, babe.” Valentino caressed Angel’s cheek, making it a production when he caught Arackniss’s look of disgust. He shifted his caress to Angel’s rump. “Speaking of which I have a client upstairs that is willing to pay time and a half for you, so why don’t you march that sweet little ass of yours up there and entertain the man.”

He tugged free of Valentino’s grip. “Because I’m off the clock and my brother needs my help. You have plenty of entertainers, Val. Offer him any of them.”

“Chudley made a point of asking for you. He is bringing me a lot of fresh faces, some of them even worth the effort so you will get upstairs or I will make you regret your choices.” He invaded Angel’s personal space further. “Do you need another reminder of who owns you?”

Angel almost quailed because it was what Valentino expected of him but he wasn’t going to in front of his brother. “No but I’m also not…wait, did you say Chudley?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Anthony, no!” Arackniss said, getting where Angel’s mind was going.

“Just that this is the second time today his name came up. You’re shooting late tonight, Val. I’m surprised you’re entertaining anyone now.”

“Whatever. Get the fuck upstairs, Angel.” Valentino stabbed a finger toward the door.

Angel refused to budge. “Did you promise him the night?”

“Just an hour.”

“Fine.”

“Tony! No!” Arackniss said.

“It’s fine, Nissy. I’ll be fine. It’s my job.” Angel rolled his shoulders. “You know what you and the rest of the family call me. I’m just a puttana, right?”

Angel regretted the words the moment they were out of his mouth. Arackniss looked stricken. Well, fuck him because he had called Angel that on several occasions and he didn’t get to pretend he hadn’t because Angel had been the one hurting every time.

“I’m not leaving you,” Arackniss said.

“You can probably stay downstairs. We have some entertainment lounges down on the first floor. I’m sure Valentino won’t mind.” Angel was sure he would.

Valentino curled his lip but looked at Arackniss, weighing his options against an overlord that did get invited to the big talks. “Fine, enjoy yourself at the lounge. Drinks are on Angel’s tab, be as gentle to him or not as you please.”

“Fine but an hour, no overtime. I need him working for me.” Arackniss said, thankfully stopping short of saying he’d pay for Angel’s time because that might have killed something inside him. Of course Valentino might suggest it.

Val shrugged. “Fine. I doubt Chudley has money to pay for more anyhow.”

Angel followed Valentino up, leaving Arackniss to properly park the car. He didn’t look back at him. He wasn’t sure he could.

Chapter Three

Arackniss had called in some favors and had the studio surrounded by some of his men. It hadn’t gone unnoticed or at least so he guessed when Vox entered the lounge. He didn’t say anything to Arackniss but his weird-ass head was constantly turned his way, those huge eyes on him. He didn’t care. If he had to make a show of strength to get Anthony free, he would. He wasn’t drunk but he’d had a few shots to take the edge off. It had turned his stomach watching his baby brother slink off to go fuck someone he didn’t even know and obviously didn’t want to do.

You’re upset because he’s doing this for you. He wouldn’t have even been on the street to get corralled if not for you. Of course, Valentino could have just called Anthony in and his brother probably would have gone because could he even say no? The biggest blow out he and Anthony had ever had in hell – one that rivaled their last fight in life – had been when Arackniss learned that the dumbass had signed away his soul.

It was fifteen minutes over an hour but he didn’t want to overreact quite yet. He didn’t relax until Anthony stumbled into the lounge carrying a couple of blankets, his eyes barely focused. Swearing under his breath – because that’s exactly what he needed: Tony all coked out of his head – Arackniss slammed his final drink and caught his brother’s arm to whip him around and march him to the car.

“Ew, why are you wet?”

“Did you want me not to shower before I got in the car?” Tony swayed.

He didn’t even want to think about it. At least the wet was just water and not what he was fearing. “No, let get moving.”

“Oh, Angel,” Valentino’s sing song tone halted them both. “You’re forgetting something.”

“Sorry, Val. I’m kinda out of it.” Anthony walked over and kissed him. Valentino handed him a wad of bills.

“Good night, baby. You’ve been a good boy.”

“Thank you, baby.” Anthony flashed him a sickly sweet smile and staggered back to Arackniss. He jammed the money at him. “Put this next to your gun.”

Arackniss palmed the money, shocked at the bill denomination. He didn’t comment on it until he got Anthony to the car. His brother took a moment to put the blankets on the seat and that’s when Arackniss – who had been concentrating on the people inside the tower hoping no one would get the idea to rob them - realized he had, in fact, been smelling blood. That Chudley fuck had hurt his brother.

“Are you okay? Tony, you’re bleeding.”

“I’m aware. Just drive, Giovanni.” Anthony sank on the seat.

“But-”

“The bleeding will stop. I’m a rough trade whore. This is hardly as bad as it usually is only…I don’t feel too good.” Anthony scrubbed a hand over his face. “It’s really late. Are you going to take me home or back to your place or what?”

Arackniss wanted to push it but it would only cause a fight. He thought for a moment. “I will take you to the hotel. It’s closer.”

“Thanks.”
Arackniss called off his men once they were underway. He didn’t want problems with the Vees if he could avoid it.

“That was an awful lot of money he handed you.”

“I’m a whore, Nissy. I’m not a cheap one. I go for five grand an hour.”

“Five large to fuck you?” Arackniss blurted out, stunned. All eight of Tony’s fixed on him, glowing fuchsia in the darkness, hot as a torch. “Sorry, that came out wrong.”

“I should hope so.”

“No, seriously, five grand? That is….” He shook his head.

“Thinking of a career change?” Anthony chuckled.

“No, I couldn’t do it. I mean that. I don’t think I could be brave enough to follow some freak I don’t know someplace and be that vulnerable.”

“Did you just call me brave?”

“You were always brave, Tony. The only one who never saw it was Papi. I never doubted it. I always had you guarding my back. I would never have done that if I didn’t think you were brave,” he replied honestly. Anthony said nothing. “Still, that is one helluva price to pay for a lay.”

“I’m just that good at it.”

Arackniss snorted. “Maybe you are and that fool was willing to pay time and a half.”

“And Val took eighty percent of it.”

Tony’s words came out slurred as his chin tipped down. Was he going to sleep? It wasn’t as if Arackniss didn’t love a good nap after sex but something seemed wrong. He tried to rouse Anthony but got nothing but an angry growl out of him. Worried, he tromped on the accelerator. By the time he got to the hotel, Tony was drooling on himself and the passenger window.

He parked and went around to get Tony out of the car. “Come on, Tony. You need to walk for me. You haven’t even told me about Chudley.”

“I didn’t?” Tony asked, coming around. He snared the blankets, wrapping them around himself.

“No.”

“He looked like someone exploded an abscess and it had teeth.” Anthony staggered his way toward the hotel door.

“That’s a visual I could do without.”

“You could? I had to fuck him. I thought I didn’t have a gag reflex left. I was wrong.”

“Tony, those aren’t the details I want.” He pulled on the door, surprised it opened. Did they not lock up? In hell? He had the reason why instantly. Husk was there, watching the door from the bar. “He’s kind of out of it. Tony what did you snort at the Vee tower?”

“Nothing. How dare you?” He shot him an indignant look.

“You’re high or something.”

“Oh, fuck you, Nissy. I’m fine.” Anthony pulled free of him and stumbled toward the elevator.

“No, he’s not,” he assured Husk. “He even told me at the studio that he was out of it.”

“The studio? What was he doing there?” Husk ran after Anthony after locking the door.

“Apparently his boss hucks bombs out the window tied to his employees when he’s pissed. Blew up the road and he caught up to us when I was assessing the damage to my car. He made Tony entertain a client and he’s been ….holy shit, Tony! You’re leaving a blood trail. You said it wasn’t that bad.”

“It’s not.”

Arackniss exchanged glances with Husk and they hustled Anthony into the elevator. He leaned against the corner of the box, trying to play off he was fine.

“You staying the night? It’s very late,” Anthony asked.

“Maybe we’ll see. I need to check you out. You lied to me about being okay.”

“Eh.”

“For him, this might be okay but Angel, your brother is right. You’re out of it. If you didn’t take anything….” Husk shot him a concerned look.

“S’fine.”

“Liar.” Arackniss snorted but his brother didn’t engage which was worrisome.

Husk helped Anthony to his room once they arrived on the right floor. Naturally he had a big pink heart on the door but inside was a bit spare. Of course the hotel had been destroyed. Anthony must have lost everything. Anthony’s pig rested in a bed by the window.

Husk pointed to the closet. “On the top shelf is extra bedding. You can have the room next to his for the night. It’s more or less clean.”

“Thanks.”

“All right, Angel, let’s get you in the tub,” Husk maneuvered him toward the bathroom.

“I showered,” Anthony said blearily.

“Yes but it’ll be easier to clean your wounds if you sit on the edge of the tub,” Husk said patiently.

Anthony pulled free of him and started stripping. His multi-colored psychedelic outfit hit the floor and Anthony sat on the edge of the tub, still wearing his boots. Arackniss grimaced. He wasn’t sure what startled him more, the fact that the heart marking was real and not something air brushed onto him or the severity of the bites on his shoulders.

“Damn it, Tony. If I had known you were hurt this bad…”

“You’d have done something stupid,” Anthony said, leaning against the wall, knocking his shampoo onto the floor.

Husk picked it up and got the first aid kit out of cabinet. Arackniss reached for the hidden zipper on his brother’s boots.

Anthony stopped him. “No.”

“Tony, they’re going to get messy when we start washing these out. Let me get them off.”

“No.”

“He hates his feet,” Husk said, opening the kit. “He has socks in the top drawer.”

“Okay, I’ll get those. How’s that sound, Tony? I’ll get you socks to put on instead. Is that okay?”

Anthony nodded. Arackniss fetched the socks, getting two pairs. “Here, one to wear now and another to put on if these get wet and gross.”

“Thanks,” Anthony muttered.

Arackniss took off the boots with the barest of help from his brother. Anthony was far from fine, no matter what he said. The only thing under the boots were more pink markings and petal pink paws, what was he worried about? He should try walking around on the tiny paws Arackniss had. Now those were ugly.

“Okay, I’m going to help Husk. Are you feeling worse?”

“I feel wrong,” Anthony finally admitted.

“You said so in the car. You look wrong,” Arackniss said. “And so do these bites. They’re awful.”

“Yeah, there is something in this one.” Husk pushed on the biggest of bites on Anthony’s shoulder. Some thick yellow liquid peeked out of the torn flesh. He made a disgusted sound that Arackniss mirrored.

“Tony, I think that bastard poisoned you,” he growled. “We’re going to have to flush this out. Are there gloves in that kit, Husk?”

“No, but Angel has them in the sock drawer.” He held up his claws. “I don’t play well with gloves.”

“I’ll wear them and put the pressure on the wounds. You flush,” Arackniss said.

“That works. Just hang on kid, we’ll fix you up,” Husk said soothingly but Anthony said nothing. Arackniss wasn’t even sure he was still with them. The wall seemed to be doing the bulk of the work holding him up.

After he donned the gloves, they set to work. Arackniss pushed hard on the wounds, the thick bilious toxin bubbled out. Husk flushed and swabbed them, getting all the poison out. Occasionally Anthony would groan but he seemed to be beyond talking at this point. It took them the better part of a half hour to get them all cleaned out and the room cleaned up. He threw the gloves in the trash since they were disgusting, covered in poison and blood. He scrubbed his hands until they hurt.

Together, he and Husk got Anthony to his feet. He walked on his own, collapsing on his bed in the seated position. Husk touched his arm gently.

“Want your sleep shirt or a nightie?”

Anthony blinked. “No sleeves…nightie.”

“Okay.” Husk opened the closet and got out a nightie. Arackniss helped him get it on Anthony. “It’s really late. If you want, borrow one of his sleep shirts. He’s not going to care.”

“I’ll be fine in my boxers. I will stay the night though, thanks. Tony, why don’t you lie down now?”

“He told me…told me about Elio…who he was looking for,” Anthony said.

“Oh good, at least you didn’t suffer all this for nothing. What did he say?”

“He said-” Anthony’s eyes rolled up and he crumbled onto the mattress.

“I’m going to end that motherfucker. Not tonight, not too soon or Valentino will get suspicious and, if Chudley’s his new buddy, I don’t want any blow back hitting Tony,” Arackniss growled. “But I’m fucking him up for doing this to him.”

“I’d be willing to help,” Husk said.

Arackniss grit his teeth. “I’m going to stay with him for a while, be sure he’s all right. Hopefully he’ll just sleep through the night and not end up having to respawn over this.”

“Yeah. He’s got an ashtray on his vanity. I know you’re a big smoker. If you need anything, I’m down the hall. Just knock. Here.” Husk beckoned for him to follow him.

He pointed out his room and the one next to Anthony’s that Arackniss could use. He thanked Husk for all his help and went back to his brother. He tucked him into bed. He sat next to him and brushed a hand over his hair. “I’m sorry I got you into this, Anthony.”

Even knowing for certain Valentino would have called Anthony regardless of where he was, Arackniss couldn’t escape the feeling his brother did this entirely to please him. In the back of his head, he’d been aware being what Anthony was couldn’t be safe. He had ignored it, had let their father warp his image of his baby brother. His eyes watered. He remembered holding Anthony after he’d been born, so looking forward to having a brother. He took his role of big brother so seriously. He had even helped Mamina with the diaper changes when Papi hadn’t been looking, not that he really wanted to but he was Anthony’s guardian. Molly’s too. No one was touching them, not when big brother Giovanni was there to stop them. He’d been all of five.

He couldn’t remember when their father decided Anthony was too weak nor knew why their father thought so. Did he enjoy tiddly winks too much or Mademoiselle Lenormand’s Fortune-Telling Game or did Papi catch him doing a jump rope rhythm or hopscotch at Molly’s insistence? The little bastard had been a crackerjack at marbles. That’s when Arackniss had known Anthony would have a good eye once their father inevitably moved him to pistols. He remembered fighting with his father, getting the belt many times because he refused to hurt Anthony to ‘toughen him up.’ Eventually he caved when Papi had taken it on himself to do it and held Anthony’s hands to the lit stove. They had told Mamina that Anthony had grabbed a hot skillet. They had slept three to a bed in those days so he had held Anthony all night – as had Molly – for days until he started to heal.

“And then you started hurting him,” he whispered. The pig looked at him and Arackniss reached out fingers to him, hoping to come back with all of them still attached. The pig head butted his hand so he gave it a scratch. “What did I do to him, Porkchop? How much of this mess is my fault?”

Porkers made some soft snuffling sounds but, of course, had no answer. Arackniss got off the bed, smoked a few cigarettes, rooted in Anthony’s fridge finding a lot of greens, which he assumed were for Porkchop, and some beers. He drank one and gave the pig some lettuce leaves. Eventually, he relaxed a little as Anthony seemed to be breathing fine. He found Anthony’s phone in his purse, hearing it buzzing away. Using his brother’s thumb, he opened it and ignored the vile texts from Valentino, trying not to see what they said. When ignoring him proved impossible, he answered back.

This is Arackniss. That fucker poisoned Tony. He’s out of it. He isn’t coming into work tomorrow. He’ll be lucky to be awake. If you want the lost wages, go get it out of Chudley. Tony will need at least two days off and he’s working for me when he is better.

To his shock Valentino replied in spite of the late hour. You paying to waste his time?
This time he took a moment to look over the texts to get a feel for this moth motherfucker. Arackniss grinned ferally spotting something. If you kept your text chain, look up about 13 texts, you gave him off until next week anyhow. So no, not paying for my brother’s time.

Valentino replied with a string of emojis that he barely understood. God, he really did text like he was a hundred and ten. He replied simply F. U. and turned the phone off. Arackniss got a sleep shirt out of the closet and stripped off everything but his boxers. Skinny ass’s shirt hung past his knees. He sighed.

Arackniss shoved Anthony over just a bit and his brother didn’t even stir. “I’m staying here a little while. Someone has to watch over you.”

He laid back, staring at the ceiling. This felt weird and at the same time it felt exactly like when they were kids. Porkchop curled up on his belly, his back spines pointing upwards thankfully. Arackniss stroked him, the events of the night spinning in his head. What a damn mess.


Chapter Four

Angel rolled out of bed, Fat Nuggets sleeping next to him where he didn’t belong. Arackniss had been there before Nuggs. Angel’s sheets stank of cigarettes and he’d woken up at one point in the early hours that passed as dawn to find his brother sleeping next to him. Angel had resisted the urge to snuggle up like he used to when he looked to Giovanni to protect him. Fuck that these days. Arackniss couldn’t be trusted.

He still felt awful but functional. He was never sleeping with Chudley again, no matter what Valentino said. He went to pee and brush his fangs while Nuggs ate. He dressed in the 30s era suit he had left over from the commercial – honestly Alastor could give Velvette a run for her money in magicking up clothing – and he put a leash on Fat Nuggets to take him downstairs.

Sounds from the room next to his drew his attention. That’s where Arackniss had to have gone, probably getting ready for the day. At least he’d gotten some sleep. Angel ducked back into his room and got a spare toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant and set them against his brother’s door. When he got downstairs, Husk was at the bar – also looking exhausted – while Alastor sat there, hopefully just listening to the radio at the edge of the bar and not pestering Husk. Vaggie and Charlie sat on the couch. Nuggs started pulling on the leash when he spotted them. He adored Charlie especially.

“Oh, you’re awake. How are you feeling?” Charlie bounced off the couch, walking over to him.

“Like I fell off the top of hotel and landed on my back. Nuggs, don’t paw Charlie!”

His pig didn’t listen, pattering away at Charlie’s leg until she knelt to give him chin rubs. Hearing someone on the steps behind him, he turned to watch his brother walking down them. Arackniss obviously hadn’t slept much. His bow tie was crooked and his hair was a charcoal rat’s nest because Angel had forgotten to get him a brush.

Arackniss’s eyebrows went up. “You’re awake and…what’s with this outfit?”

“It’s for where we’re going today.” He straightened his red jacket a bit. “I’ll get you a brush after breakfast.”

“You do look rather dashing today,” Alastor said, recognizing his own handiwork.

“Thanks, Al.”

“Where we’re going? What are you talking about, Tony?” Arackniss eyed the Radio Demon warily.

“I told you last night.”

“No, you said a lot of garbled nonsense and then passed out after saying ‘Chudley said.’”

“Oh, well, he gave me two places Elio was talking about going. Jackie’s over by the Doomsday District but she’s pretty small time as far as overlords are concerned. I’m not sure that’s Elio’s big plan.”

Arackniss’ features puckered. “I think he might be sleeping with her.”

“The brain melts at the thought.” Angel let Charlie pick up Fat Nuggets and he walked over and sat at the bar opposite Alastor. “The other is Rosie and she prefers a more conservative look, hence the suit.”

Arackniss slid a cigarette from his pack. “You’ll do that for her but not Papi?”

“Papi doesn’t deserve my respect. Rosie does.”

“Wait…do you mean Cannibal Town Rosie?” Arackniss shuddered.

“I do.”

“Why would Elio mess with her?” Arackniss whined.

“We’ve said it before, Elio is a dumbfuck. And Rosie is a sweetie. She and her people helped us here against the angels.” Angel sighed. “When most others wouldn’t have.”

“You never asked the family.”

“Most of them I wouldn’t care if the angels removed them forever from my life but a few of you….”Angel let the thought trail off. Half the time he hated his brother but he loved him too. He hadn’t been ready to potentially sacrifice him. “Anyhow, could you imagine Papi saying yes if I asked?”

Arackniss shook his head, his impressive bedhead waggling.

“And I repeat, I’m taking you upstairs and giving you a brush by the way. I’m not being seen on the streets with you like that,” Angel declared and Arackniss slotted his eyes. “But I am grateful that you helped Husk with me last night. Thanks, to both of you.”

“Anytime,” Husk said.

“You shouldn’t have done what you did in the first place.”

“Do you think I really had much choice? No matter what, Val was going to have me fuck that guy last night!” Angel snapped and Arackniss averted his gaze. Angel took a breath counted to five and then said in a more even tone, “Alastor, we really need to speak to Rosie. I need to know if Elio has been there and if he hasn’t shown up yet, I want to give her a heads up a stupid spider is heading her way. You and she are good friends, can you let her know? I’d like to go today.”

Husk frowned at his request and Alastor, of course, smiled. Angel doubted he had much in the way of expressions otherwise.

“Do you really think she would be concerned this cousin of yours?” Alastor asked.

“Truthfully, no, but why not warn her of upcoming agitation? And if Chudley had his disgusting head up his ass and this isn’t Elio’s grand plan, maybe she knows where he was heading. For all I know he might have wanted her help. All we know is our idiot cousin has a grand plan and then disappeared. I’d appreciate it.”

“And what would be in it for me?”

“Alastor,” Charlie scolded lightly, letting Fat Nuggets lick her chin as she giggled softly.

Alastor sighed.

“And it’s not like I have my soul to bargain with and even if I did, I sure as hell wouldn’t do it for Elio, the pezza di merda.”

Arackniss snorted. “No one would.”

“I could smuggle a little radio into the studio and hide it somewhere and you could use it to annoy Vox,” Angel offered.

“I will write a letter for you.” Alastor gestured and paper and pen appeared. “Hand it to her people and they’ll bring you to her. I doubt they’d harm you as you worked well with them, without judgement. This should get you in immediately. However, she is preparing for a big party tonight. A lot of sinners will be there. She won’t have a lot of time for you.” He cocked his head to the side, thinking for a moment. “In fact, I’ll give the letter to Husker to deliver. They know him well.”

“Wait, what? Awwww,” Husk groaned. “Don’t you have anything else for me to do other than listen to Cain and Abel over here bickering all day?”

Alastor’s smile grew larger, more smug. “No, this is the perfect assignment for you today, my dear Husker. You might want to put on a shirt.”

“Of course,” Husk said through gritted teeth.

Alastor seemed far too happy as he turned back to writing the letter.

“Are you going to eat? Are you even up to any of this?” Arackniss asked.

“I’ll survive. I want coffee more than food. And I need to take Nuggs for a walk.”

“I can do that,” Charlie said. “Husk told me what happened last night. Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I’m not great but I can do this. Thanks for taking care of Nuggs, Charlie. I appreciate it. I’ll feel better with some coffee and a little breakfast. I’ll get to it after I find my brother a brush because that hair is not walking out the door.” Angel eyed him.

Arackniss grimaced, trying to finger comb out the snarls. “Okay, you might have a point.”

“Just accept it, I’m the smarter brother.” Angel smirked.

“Not even close. Not even the better dressed but at least this suit is better than your rainbow slut wear from yesterday.” Arackniss rolled his eyes.

“I’m getting weak again.” Angel put a hand on his chest, making a melodramatic swoon. “Maybe your mean, little, slut-shaming self will have to do this all by yourself with Husk.”

“I will literally drag you by your heels before I go alone with your brother,” Husk grumbled. “After you got me into this mess.”

Angel blew him a kiss and knew he was going to hear about it tonight. That was fine. He’d give Husk the chance to show him how bad boys get dealt with later – not that Husk would. He was a bit shy about the whole bondage kink stuff and hyperaware of the abuse Angel had been through. They still needed to find their path forward as far as indulging Angel’s kinks safely and in a way they both could enjoy.

“Just go sort out your brother. I’ll grab something out of the kitchen for you both,” Husk said.

Angel nodded. “Make it something light. Just in case we see party preparations we’re not ready for. Wouldn’t want to puke all over Rosie.”

“It won’t be anything you haven’t seen before. Did you not make a movie in Cannibal Town?” Alastor asked.

Angel cocked his head. “There is no way you saw Sweeny Todd’s Barber’s Pole. You don’t watch porn.”

“No, but I heard about it. They said you were very kind to your local actors. Rosie was impressed, one of the reasons I’m willing to write this letter.” Alastor tapped the page.

“Okay, thanks again.” Angel grabbed Arackniss’s arm and started him toward the steps.

Arackniss whispered as they ascended the stairs, “Tell me you didn’t fuck a cannibal.”

“I could but it would be a lie.”

“That’s disgusting, Anthony.”

“It wasn’t that bad all things considered. Certainly better than fucking Chudley…if I didn’t think about where that mouth had been before it was eating my ass out like I was dessert.”

Arackniss’s eyes bugged and Angel shrugged. His brother was never going to understand his life. He barely understood it himself.

“Again, things you don’t tell your brother, Tony! Where is your filter?”

Angel scowled. “Come on, let’s get you presentable. Don’t want to offend Rosie and end up in the stew.”

“That’s not funny, Tony.”

“No, it really isn’t.”

# # #


By the time they were approaching Cannibal Town in Arackniss’s car, they all were wilting from both the heat and the nerves created by the awful company they were keeping. Arackniss’s spray of hair – not all together unlike Angel’s own – sagged under his fedora. Angel refused to look in the mirror because he was sure his white fedora was the only thing salvaging his own appearance. Husk’s top hat appeared ready to give up and just crumple into the corner of the car.

They had made Jackie their first stop, hoping Elio had simply holed up with his girlfriend and wasn’t answering phones. The Doomsday district lived up to its name with several panicking citizens mobbing them for rides out of town. Arackniss had shot a few for emphasis and then their car had been given a wide berth. Jacki herself was no prize, not that Angel had been expecting she would be. She rather resembled a scarecrow come to life and he was certain her head was stuffed with straw. It would have to be to think Elio was a good catch.

Jackie hadn’t seen Elio in days, she informed them with big tears in her tiny eyes. Angel kept looking for a crow to come peck them out or at the very least a baby Goetia. As she answered Arackniss’s questions about Elio, her personality rubbed on Angel like sandpaper on bare skin. They made halfhearted promises they’d send Elio her way whenever they found him. Angel’s throat and chest hurt from all the smoking he’d done trying to get through it. All of them smelled like ashtrays on the move as they climbed back into the car and headed for Cannibal Town.

Arackniss slid his car into a spot close to Rosie’s Emporium. Angel noticed she had a new sign with Franklin’s name entirely removed. Down the street were picnickers in the park making Angel regret his morning croissant. Those were definitely not pork ribs they were slurping on.

“Try not to look anywhere but where you absolutely need to,” Husk suggested, ruffling his wings.

Angel decided he needed to look at those wings but not for too long.

“Quit thinking unholy thoughts, Tony, and get inside,” Arackniss hissed.

“I’m in hell. I’ll think all the unholy thoughts I want,” he replied tartly.

“And have the nice cannibals on the street see and think, ‘ooo salami?’” Arackniss cocked up his eyebrow and stubbed out his cigarette on his heel. He put it in a trash can as if afraid to dirty Cannibal Town’s shockingly clean streets.

Angel tugged at his trousers as Husk shot him a look.

“He’s imagining what you’d taste like in the non-cannibal way,” Arackniss surmised. “But I’m betting he already knows.”

Husk snorted and opened the door. Lovely scents greeted his nose from the perfume counter and the far wall was all clothing. Rosie’s Emporium had a little bit of everything. He walked over to the counter where candied ‘bacon’ was displayed along with, human chicharrónes and chocolate coated ‘lady fingers.’ Angel was sure his ‘salami’ had retreated far more than he usually tucked it away, maybe somewhere up past his navel and his tummy wanted to shove itself out his mouth. Yes, he had made a movie here but it had been in a controlled environment. He hadn’t gone shopping. That said, there was an amazing dress in the window’s luxury clothing display.

“Hi, Portia.” Husk put Alastor’s letter on the counter. “From Alastor. We need to see Rosie, a.s.a.p. if you could please give this to her.”

“Sure thing, Husk. Who are the delicious tarantulas you have with you? Oh wait, is that Angel Dust? I barely recognized you in that gangster get-up.” Portia leaned on the counter, peering at Angel.

“Hi, sweetie.” Angel had no idea who she was but he knew how to greet fans. “I thought I should blend in with the locals. This is my brother, Arackniss.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Definitely doesn’t have your coloring.”

“Or my height or beauty but what’s a brother to do?” Angel batted his lashes at her and Arackniss pinched his side.

Portia laughed, picking up the letter. “I’ll let Rosie know.”

“Thanks, Portia,” Husk said.

Angel wandered over to the dress display to check out the one in the window. He could make this work. Feeling eyes on his back, he turned to find his brother behind him. “What?”

“Trying to decide if I tell Papi you’re buying dresses in Cannibal Town, will he be even more irate than usual or actually be impressed at your bravery.”

“Papi is never impressed with me. Bet he didn’t even say ‘good going, Antonio,’ when he saw me fighting angels.”

“You’re wrong. Okay, he didn’t say that but he did say, ‘now there’s my boy.’”

Angel shook his head. “I’ll count that as being impressed.” He pulled out the dress, holding it against his body while singing a little Dead Man’s Party.

Arackniss stared at him harder.

“It’s a song Cherri taught me. Seems appropriate since everyone at Rosie’s party is a dead man.” Angel chuckled, looking at himself in the mirror. “I really do like this dress.” He glanced over at his companions when no one said a word. “Husk, you okay? You look…concerned.”

“Sorry, just found jars of jellied brains being sold as a fat-rich treat for the keto dieters. What the hell is keto?”

“How would I know?” Arackniss grumbled.

“It’s a diet where you pound fat and protein to lose weight,” Angel replied and off their looks, he shrugged. “What? Valentino is always up our asses about our weight. We have to try every diet fad the newly dead bring to hell with them.”

“Then we have a jellied treat for you.” Husk waved a hand to the shelf.

Angel made a face. “I’m going with the ‘I’m never eating again’ diet plan, thanks.”

“As if you could possibly lose more weight. You and your brother are stick figures.”

“We’re wiry,” Arackniss protested as Portia returned from the back rooms.

“Sorry, Husk, Rosie is way too busy with the party to sit down with you three for tea but said, if you don’t mind her working while you talk, come on back,” she said.

“We can do that,” Arackniss said.

“And Angel Dust, I can get that dress wrapped up for you if you want it. Just could you take a selfie with me when you’re done?” Portia asked.

“Sure, no problem.”

Portia escorted them to the back. Something smelled amazing. Several somethings. Angel could scent a stew – he was pretty sure – and several baked goods. That said, remembering where he was, he tugged his gloves on tighter. He didn’t want to accidentally taste anyone through his fingers, stupid spider senses. Portia deposited them in an industrial sized kitchen and went back out front to the store.

Husk’s words about not looking anywhere but where he needed to flew out of Angel’s head. There were dismembered body parts everywhere. Rosie had given her large hat the day off and she resembled a 1930s housewife more than anything in her cheery but smeared white apron and her perfectly arrayed pale hair. She smiled broadly at them.

“Hello, Husk, Angel Dust and is that Arackniss with you?” she called merrily. “I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“My territory is small. I don’t often get invited to the meetings.” He shrugged. “Thank you for taking time to see us, Rosie.”

“We could really use your help,” Angel said, edging closer to the stove in spite of himself. Thank god his gag reflex was more or less dead because the delicious smelling simmering stew had tons of eyes floating in it. It wasn’t as if his grandparents weren’t serving up sheep eyes as part of the Easter ritual but they were just that: sheep. He wasn’t going to be eating sinner eyes any time soon. He’d cried about the sheep.

“If I can, I’m happy to,” she replied, going back to her deboning of a roast.

Arackniss stepped forward with his phone to show her a picture. “This is our cousin, Elio. We heard he was coming your way either to ally with you or cause trouble. If it’s the former, fine, but if it’s the latter, we wanted to warn you. Also we want to find him. He hasn’t been seen in a few days.”

“Ah,” she said as Husk elbowed Angel.

Angel followed Husk’s pointed claw to the pie cooling on the counter. He grabbed for his brother. “Niss, it’s fine. Rosie has it handled.”

“What?” Arackniss shook him off, irritated.

Angel turned him so he could see the cherry pie with spider legs sticking out of it. Arackniss did not have the gag reflex control Angel did. “Like I said, I don’t think he was any trouble for Rosie. Sorry to take up your time, sweetie,” Angel said hurriedly as Rosie advanced on them with her bloody butcher knife. “I think we have all the answers we need.”

“No trouble at all, love. Tell Portia to give you some lady fingers on the house.” Rosie’s smile grew. “You’re welcome to stay for the angelic pulled pork and sinner brisket picnic tonight.”

“I appreciate it but my boss is a real stickler for my diet and you know Valentino and his temper if I disappoint him. We’ll just be rolling out, thanks for your time,” Angel said and Husk tipped his hat to her.

“You’re welcome, sweetie. Like I said, he was no trouble at all.”

Rosie went back to her cooking of the angel meat, which she must have had frozen since they attacked the hotel. As much as he hated Elio, Angel felt sick over his fate and it took everything the trio had not to flee like this was a horror movie. No one took up the free lady finger offer.

Portia waylaid them with a package in hand, Angel’s damn dress. He yanked some bills out of his wallet and slapped them on the counter so they could get out of the emporium faster. “Keep the change, sweetie,” he said, taking his dress. He ignored Husk and Arackniss in the doorway trying to hurry him along. If he ran off with the dress unpurchased after he had arranged to buy it, Rosie would be offended.

“And my selfie?” She pouted at him.

“Sure.” What would one picture hurt? He was already traumatized by the sight of his cousin’s limbs sticking out of the pie. He hoped his mental state didn’t show up in the photo.

Angel let Portia slip an arm around him and she took the picture. Before he could escape, she whipped around and bit right into his neck, her phone camera still clicking. Angel screamed and thumped four of his fists into her belly, knocking her back. Portia licked his blood from her mouth, laughing.

“Sorry, couldn’t help myself. Wait until my friends learn I got to taste Angel Dust. You’re the real sweetie.”

Too stunned to talk, Angel clamped a hand over his bleeding neck as Husk and Arackniss grabbed various arms and yanked him out of the store. He nearly dropped his fucking dress bag. His brother opened the trunk and grabbed the first aid kit and Angel’s shopping bags from the night before.

“Fix yourself up or Husk can help. And maybe you should just stop shopping and greeting fans.” Arackniss threw the bags on the back seat and the vibrator started thumping again.

“For fuck’s sake!” Arackniss shoved Angel into the back too, and Husk clamored in after him. Arackniss squealed tires on his way out of town.

“How the shit do I tell Uncle Guido Elio got his dumb ass baked into a pie?” Arackniss groaned.

“That’s your problem. I helped you find him. Drop us off at the hotel,” Angel said turning off the vibrator with the quick switch. “I have new wounds to treat,” he added taking off his tie and opening his collar so Husk could bandage him up.

“Nope, I need moral support when I have to tell this to the family…and therapy.”

“And he thinks that’s us?” Husk snorted.

“Elio wasn’t the only dumb spider in this family. Part of me is inside a cannibal! If anyone needs moral support and therapy it’s me!” Angel moaned, fingering the bite mark in his neck.

“Just pass me up that flask you have in your jacket, Husk,” Arackniss said.

“It’s not bottomless,” Husk warned and took his own portion before passing it forward. Angel took his share too before giving what was left to Arackniss. “And mostly it’s just your fluff she got hold of. Your skin is still there, kid, just torn open.”

“Yes, that’ll be a comfort in my nightmares tonight,” Angel replied sourly. “All this for a cousin who abused me. Take me home, Nissy.”

“No.”

True to his word, Arackniss took them to their father’s compound. Husk elected to remain with the car. Arackniss refused Angel that option. At least Henroin didn’t seem too put out to see him. Angel was glad he went with the suit.

“You went and got the pink pansy involved anyhow,” Henroin grumbled.

“He was instrumental in finding Elio,” Arackniss said. “And he got poisoned by one idiot last night and bitten by a cannibal less than an hour ago in the process.”

Unconcerned about Angel’s injuries, Henroin glanced behind them, looking for Elio.

“I don’t know how to say this.” Arackniss trembled slightly, glancing up at Angel.

“He pissed off Cannibal Town Rosie and she baked him into a pie,” Angel said bluntly because that’s the way to deal with their father.

Henroin’s little eyes popped open wide. “He what?”

“He’s pie. Can you even respawn if you’ve been cut into pieces and consumed?” Angel mused and Arackniss quailed.

“For fuck’s sake, Tony!”

“I’m curious and disgusted and a little bit terrified,” Angel admitted. “At least the skin flap stayed on my neck or I might have a permanent divot! I think that’s what happened to Valentino’s antennae. I think Alastor bit it off.”

Henroin curled his lip. “Being pie might be the best use of that idiot.” He sighed. “Now I have to tell Guido.”

“And on that note, I’m out. I helped you find him. Like Giovanni said, I got poisoned by some small time chump. I had to see my cousin in a pie. I got bitten by cannibal fan and I’m exhausted now.”

“Oh yeah one more thing, I was texting your boss half the night.” Arackniss glanced up at him.

“Kill me now.” Angel groaned loudly. “How badly did you piss off Valentino?”

“I pointed out he’d already given you a few days off and you were taking them and my thoughts about Chudley poisoning you.”

“Fantastic. Can’t wait to see what punishment he’ll cook up for all the sass you gave him.”

“Could be worse.”

“Yeah I could be pie.”

Arackniss sighed. “Sorry it wasn’t better news, Papi. Let me get Tony and Husker home. Tony really was hurt badly last night but we wouldn’t have tracked Elio down so easily without him.”

Henroin shifted his bulk, bringing his ugly face and the full weight of his disapproving stare to Angel. “What’s he want? Compensation for helping family?”

“No, I just want to go home, Papi. Like Niss said, we have Husker waiting in the car. I could use my bed and a bottle of booze to erase all the images of Rosie’s kitchen from my head.”

“You know what, the hotel has a nice big bar. Let’s all go get blotto and I’ll stay the night again. There’s already sheets on that bed. I could use a good black out drunk after today,” Arackniss said. “Sorry, Papi. You’re better at handling Uncle Guido than I am. Sorry it wasn’t better news.”

Henroin grunted and waved them off. They raced to the car and Arackniss pointed it in the direction of the hotel. Angel seriously doubted there was enough booze on Husk’s bar to erase the images of Rosie’s cooking but they sure as hell were going to give it a try.