Janette opened the front door slowly. It let out a visibly loud "Creeeeeaaaaakkkkk". She looked around the place. And it was just as bad inside as it was outside. 'How was Aunt Elenore living in this place for so long without any help?!' The drywalls were cracked, there was dust and cobwebs galore all over everything she saw, she swore she saw something slither in the backroom, and it smelled musty with stale air with a combination of.... Perfume, makeup, and... catnip?

'Did Aunt Elenore have a cat? Either way... I have A LOT to do....'

"Which should I take care of first..." she asked absentmindedly.

"I'd save the alligator for last, Sarah loves Sal." Someone said from within the room.

"Well I was going to save that thing for last anyways. No way I'm going near it... with... a...pole... Who said that...?" She looked around frantically.

"Oh? You can hear me? It's been quite awhile since a medium was here." A woman in a Victorian style dress appeared. Her dark hair was in a high bun and she was stroking a silver Russian Blue cat. She looked to be in her mid to late 30s.

Janette wanted to freak out. But at this point, nothing surprised her much when it came to the paranormal. Right now she had stars in her eyes as she "awwwed" at the fluffy kitty. "SHE'S SO PRECIOUS!!!" She squealed as she walked over. "Can I pet her?!" She begged.

"If you want. Will you be taking care of us in Madam Elenore's place? I saw her after she passed. My condolences." The woman spoke, holding the feline out to Janette.

Janette had a melancholy expression. "Yes I am. She was my Aunt. Not blood related but she was good friends with my late grandma. I used to come here every now and then with my siblings to visit her. But as I grew older, my "mother" decided that I should act more like a "proper lady" and kept me from seeing her too much. If I had known that she was struggling with the uptake of this house, I would've come here sooner..." Janette said as she pet and scratched the purring ghostly feline.

"..."

Admiration and wonder appeared in the ghost woman's eyes. "You are related to Maria Daweson? It's no wonder you can see us! She was truly a wonderful woman! I'm sure if you could have you would have taken wonderful care of this place and the Madam. Oh! Where are my manners? I am Madam Rosaline Summers and that is Sapphire. I head the house while Master Alastor and Mistress Arabella are out. I tend to the other 19's needs." She explained.

Now that took Janette for a loop. "T-there's nineteen other spirits here?! How are there so many of you guys here?! And who's Alastor and Arabella?" She said as she clutched the radio in the box closer to her. To which Rosaline took notice of.

"Yes, sometimes more... you don't know? Master Alastor is the head "spirit" of the house and Mistress Arabella is his second... that's his radio you're clutching." She pointed at the object.

Janette paused for a moment. "A-are you sure? Because I've known about this radio since I was a little girl. And I don't think I've met anyone named Alastor. Can you tell me more about him since he's the head honcho of the place."

She shook her head. "No... I cannot. I... no. Anyone else but those two."

"...Why...? Are they evil spirits..?" She said worriedly as she used her other hand to subconsciously grab her silver cross.

As soon as she did, Rosaline and Sapphire were gone. The ghost had been too afraid to speak.

"Okay... well. That's reassuring?" She looked around the place and huffed. "Well first off, there needs to be some airflow in here. Secondly, I'm definitely calling an exterminator." She cringed as she saw the snake skin next to her stuff.

And she did exactly that. She opened the curtains and a few windows that weren't blocked by the ivy. And called an... no.... Several exterminators. She soon found out that the place was CRAWLING with not only bugs and spiders but snakes and a very ornery 80 pounder of a raccoon that lives in the attic. She ended up with five different pest control companies that were in full gear and had all of their ready employees ready for what looked like a war. *Note that we made this chapter WAY BEFORE Russia invaded Ukraine.* But Janette warned them NOT to go in the backyard and said that she'd get someone else to handle it. Which was fine by them once they saw how huge and powerful looking the alligator, or Sal, in this case, was.

It took hours to get everything mostly cleaned out. And that she ultimately had to go spend a few nights at a nearby inn, with her radio, until the exterminators called her back and said that everything was clear.

The place looked ten times better than it was when she got in. She was about to inspect the place after the exterminators left. But a young voice stopped her in her tracks.

"My gosh lady!" A young boy, maybe nine, appeared out of nowhere. "Ya sure did a number on this place! No more creepy crawlies at all!" He was dressed in the usual 1920's fashion of a child with classy jeans, wingtip shoes, suspenders, and a button up undershirt with a cap on his messy blonde hair. He grinned up at her, green eyes sparkling.

Janette jumped a little. She kinda forgot that the place was haunted. "S-so I take it that you're a resident here?" Janette said while trying to calm her racing heart while clutching the box.

"OH COOL! AL'S RADIO!" His attention was immediately drawn to the item. "Al is really cool, the adults are scared of him for some reason, so what if he leaves a few dead animals around and has those really pointy horn antler things and says mean things... He's cool!"

Janette was starting to wonder if he was one of those "special" children back when he was alive. But she refrained from asking.

"Soooo, what's your name, little guy? I'm Janette Daweson. The new owner of this place." She said as she extended her hand out to him.

He shook her hand violently, smiling even wider. "I'm Benjamin! Benjamin Winthrow! It's a real pleasure, miss! A real pleasure!" He could never seem to sit still.

"Ben, you're going to rip her arm out of the socket if ya keep doing that." A man with reddish brown hair and a kilt pulled the excitable boy away. "I'm sorry about him, he's... always been this way. One of the five children in this estate. I'm Bran. Nice to meet ya lass." His accent was a heavy Scottish accent. It was clear that he wasn't originally from the Louisiana area.

She giggled. "It's alright Bran. And there's more children here...?" She said with a pinch of sadness in her tone.

"Aye, five in all. Ben here, Sarah sticks to the pond, Lial likes the third floor bedroom, Atticus likes to hide, poor boy is shy around newcomers, and Selene likes the attic." He concluded.

The attic... she cringed about the ornery raccoon that stole her sandwich that one afternoon before she called the exterminators. Bran could easily see her cringe and raised a curious brow.

"Aye. The attic... have an experience in there or something, lass?"

"You can say that. Did you happen to see the exterminators take away the... raccoon?" She said with a displeased face.

He laughed heartily. "That ol' humbugger? Ya, Selene's been trying to "tame" him since last winter!"

"Mmm, and has anyone tried, oh I don't know, tried reasoning with her that a raccoon is not a reasonable pet? The little...." She looked at Benjamin for a second. And then back at Bran. "...stinker. Stole my lunch from me when I wasn't looking. I chased him till he ran up the attic. The door slammed on me too. Thought for a minute that I'd have a bloodied nose..." she absentmindedly rubbed her nose.

"Selene... isn't big on reasoning... and she doesn't like trespassers in her attic without permission. Throws a huge tantrum."

"She gets mad easily." Ben piped up.

"And she's how old? Well since she passed." Janette asked.

"Five little piggies!" Benjamin chirped.

"Aye..." Bran looked at the boy weird. "Five years of age."

Janette was both saddened and a little pissed off. Sad and partially pissed that she died so young with probably no one to make sure she was alright in the next life, but also peeved that now she had two five year olds to take care of. Her and Janette's mother.

Ben seemed to remember something. "LIAL IS WAITING FOR ME TO PLAY HIDE AND SEEK-" The boy went running up the stairs.

"That boy.." Bran sighed. "Well, I ought to be sure he doesn't disturb Frank. He gets moody when the children are in that old coots room.."

"Wait! What would your suggestion be in terms of fixing the house.... And I was serious when I asked if they took the raccoon...." She said with a slight cringe.

"The bugger is gone, lass. As for fixing this place... walls or lights should be first. Either works, they sort of go hand in hand if I'm being honest. I should get going though." Bran gave a slight nod and went after Benjamin.

'Hmmm, maybe I could fix some of the walls? Then if all else fails I could just call in an electrician and some local house fixers.'

Janette put the radio down on a nearby table and looked in the supply closet for the necessities. They might've had problems with the walls before since there were buckets of wall mixture and the tools to get it done in there.

"Well this is convenient..." she muttered under her breath.

She grabbed the supplies and made her way towards the fireplace where most of the cracks seemed to stem from.

'I'll have to see if I can get a house inspector to see if the foundation is okay...'

She started her work with laying cloths around the floor and nearby furniture, then proceeded to use the mixture and applied it to the walls.

An hour went by and the cracks were slowly beginning to fill in.

'These cracks are pretty deep... I wonder if it's really the foundation...' She went to grab the brush but her hand accidentally pricked the wall scraper. "Ouch! Mother...." She looked around to see if the children were nearby.

Someone ducked away, behind a doorway.

"Duck!" She exclaimed as she held her bleeding hand. But little did she know that some of her blood fell onto the radio that was near her as she climbed down the ladder. "I wish someone would please help me with my life sometimes..." she grumbled.

"Your wish is my command..... My dear." A staticy, radiolike voice replied from right behind her as hands gripped her shoulders firmly.

Janette jumped at least three feet in the air. "What the Hell!" She screeched. She felt spirits before because she was a physical medium but she didn't have the spirits touch her too often without permission since she put up a protective barrier around herself. She yanked away from the intruder's grip and spun around to see a... Strawberry twizzler?

"What the hell...."

The red and black clad spirit laughed. "Quite the introduction, my dear, but I'd be careful of that mouth of yours..." He gestured to the doorway where Atticus, as it was assumed to be, ducked away again. "Anyways, you asked for help?"

".... Who are you...? And I usually watch what I say.... Just never seen a person(?) like yourself before...." She noted the impossibly wide smile on his face that never seemed to drop even for a second. 'Doesn't that hurt your face?' She must've said it out loud because the man laughed along with a laughing soundtrack that seemed to go off without any apparent cause.

"No it does not. Ever. Even demons don't speak of their domain around the little ones, Janette dear." He replied, summoning his cane to lean on.

Janette froze... 'A DEMON?!?! HOW THE FUCKING HELL IS A DEMON HERE?!'

"Umm... y-you're a d-demon...? A-and more importantly... h-how do you know my name..?" She stuttered out.

His smile ALMOST faltered. 'She doesn't remember me..?' "Indeedy I am, Janette dear! I know your name because we have met before!" He replied, "cheerfully".

Janette made an unsure face... "W-we have...? Uggggghhhhh!!!!" She forgot about the injury on her hand.

"Pardon me, I have to get this fixed up..." she walked quickly to the kitchen and started to rinse the cut. It looked worse than she originally thought.

"Allow me." The demon took her hand, looking it over. "Hm, quite deep. I could use my magic, but something tells me you'd rather I not." He looked to her for confirmation.

"You promise not to pull anything...? And afterwards you tell me why you're here and how." She negotiated. The pain was getting to her pretty badly.

"... I promise, my dear. No deals this time around." He cupped her and in his and his red magic sealed the wound. "I am here because you had summoned me from my radio." He explained as he was healing her.

"Y-your radio...? Y-you mean Aunt Elenore's antique radio?!" She asked surprised.

"Yes indeedy. That was my radio once upon a time ago! Back when I was alive in the 1920's and 30's." He hummed.

"W-well... how did Elenore find it? And did she know you?"

"Of course! I don't just let anyone handle my radio. I gave it to her myself, she was well aware of who I was and what I did.." Anyone who handled his radio without his permission was often found torn apart and partially eaten, the consequences for doing so.

She was kinda afraid to ask if he took her soul. But she asked anyways. "Did... did you make a deal with her... and take her soul?.... Did my grandmother know you?" She asked quietly.

"Maria knew of me and no, there are very few humans that I make deals with who's souls I don't take. Elenore was one of them. The woman even made it to the golden gates." He scoffed in lighthearted amusement. "Hell is so much more fun if you ask me."

"Well, at least she can be at peace... she deserved it... grandma too..." she said sadly. She looked him straight in the eyes with a certain confidence that was not common with the humans that he usually dealt with. "But you still haven't told me HOW you got here." She said firmly as she held her cross with her other hand. A silent threat if he ever did see any.

He tilted his head. "I didn't say that you summoned me through the radio? Or perhaps you're looking for more insight into how. Very well. Your blood was spilt on my radio, causing me to come investigate. When I saw you, I was overjoyed that you were back and heard you were in need of assistance. So here I am!" He opened his arms in a show of presentation.

She gave a skeptical but amused look into his antics. "That still doesn't answer how we, or at least you, know each other... maybe if you can remind me of a certain memory...?" She suggested.

"Ah. It seems I'd mistaken the question, I apologize. Well! To cut a long story short, we used to play when you visited when you were younger!" He chuckled fondly. "Such good times we had dear Janette, I sometimes miss them... BUT! Now you're back! And you are our caretaker! It's a double win!" If it was possible, his smile became wider.

Then it clicked. That impossibly wide smile that always seemed to cheer her up when she was sad or upset with her family.

".... Smiley Buckeroo?" She muttered his childhood name that she gave to her imaginary friend as a child.

He absolutely beamed with joy. "BINGO! You DO remember me!"

".... Barely... I was six at the time. I don't quite remember everything. But if it's one thing I know. It's that smile. The one that seemed to taunt my family every time they messed with me..." She said as she smiled at a memory of Lukas stealing her favorite doll and kept it away from her. Until her "imaginary friend" took it from his hands and scared the boy out of his wits end. To which her brother ran off screaming and her friend gave her back her doll while patting her on the head with a peck on top of her mess of brown locks. Back then she was made fun of a lot because of how much she looked like a babydoll. She still wasn't taken seriously by her peers even today since she still had some of those cute petite features when she was a child.

"That is fine, my dear. If you cannot remember, I'll just reintroduce myself. My name is Alastor. Most of the children call me Al, most of the other spirits call me Master. One calls me The Radio Demon.." He chuckled. "You can call me whatever you want though." He held his hand out to shake.

Janette looked apprehensive at shaking his hand since from what her grandma told her about demons and their deals. But since he was an old friend... She handed him her delicate but strong hand to him for him to shake. But he surprised her yet again as he brought her knuckles for a kiss.

"You look lovely, by the way, my dear. You should smile, you're never fully dressed without one, you know."

She blushed as she chuckled. "Now THAT I remember you telling me often. And as for help.... Can you check the foundation in the basement? I have been trying to fill in the cracks in the mantle for over an hour and I'm still not even close to filling them. Meanwhile... I have to look up Electricians in the area and alligator wranglers that take giant alligators into an enclosure or reserve or something..." she responded as her hand was fully healed with that tingly sensation of where he placed that kiss.

"I can cash in a favor." He replied, snapping his fingers. "A shame to see Sal go though. Sarah will have to find a new friend..." He hummed, contemplating something.

Janette seemed to think it over. 'Maybe I can adopt a few pets for the kids to entertain themselves with...'

"Well regardless. Sal will most likely end up in the zoo since he sounds like he's somewhat domesticated. I'm tempted to keep him just to scare off my mother and her suitors that she tries to keep setting me up with." She joked.

But Alastor was less than amused. There was even a record scratch played to show his surprise.

"Suitors?" If Sal didn't scare them off, Alastor would... He'd likely kill them, actually.

"Yeah.... My mother has been doing this since I "became of age". My family is.... "Traditional"." She said with distaste.

"How disturbing. We should definitely keep Sal. He was hatched near that pond, you know. Sarah has been caring for him since, he's as tame as an alligator can get." Alastor stated quickly.

"Well okay... But certain precautions have to be put into place. Like a very STRONG fence and I'm probably going to have to get a special license... I was thinking I'd get the other children some pets as well to keep them happy. And if we're keeping Sal, then a fence is definitely needed." She explained.

His blood red eyes glittered. "HOW WONDERFUL! Oh yes, the children would quite like that! Benjamin and Atticus are dog people. Sarah will likely stick to Sal like glue. Lial and Selene are more cat people themselves, though I could also see Selene owning a Ferret after the whole Raccoon fiasco!" He laughed with his "audience" in the background.

Janette cringed. "I assume you saw what happened with my lunch...?"

"I did. May have taught the little beast a thing or two while I was at it. Too bad I didn't have time to eat it before it was taken away.."

She made the face of general displeasure. "Yeah. Can't tell which of his fate would've been better. But regardless, there's another question I need to ask. Who's Arabella?"

"Arabella? She's a friend. A demon like myself who comes to help keep the peace on occasion. Many of the spirits here get restless and aggressive when another enters their "territory" of the house. It happens often since this house is on a layline."

"Woah, woah, woah!!! Back up... this house is on a layline?! As in like the "Greyhound bus" for rando spirits to come and go?! And THIS is one of their pitstops?!"

"Indeed. You see the problem now?" Alastor sighed. "Someone has to keep the peace around here. That was our part of the deal with Elenore. In return she would keep our summoning items safe and keep us from being exorcised or something along those lines."

"Then how come I haven't met her yet? As second in command around here, shouldn't she come out to see if I was doing the job right or something?" She asked inquisitively.

"Well...." He tilted his head in the direction of her summoning item. "She's a little stuck at the moment."

Janette looked to see where her item was. It was a cute little cat figurine that looked both old and new that was sitting on a small shelf on the kitchen wall. "So... not that I enjoy summoning more demons than I want to... but how do I get her out?" She said as she carefully picked it up.

"Same way you got me out, my dear." Alastor replied.

"Uggggghhhhh! Do I have cut myself again or something?" She cringed.

"No, no! I wouldn't even dream of such a thing! Perhaps just a pinprick to the finger... yes that ought to do it.." He nodded as he thought about it. He didn't much like the idea of Janette being wounded.

He took one of her hands and with the tip of his clawed finger, poked her finger. Her blood smelled divine to him. But he held back as much as he could and placed the drop of blood on the figurine. The object started to rattle till Janette had to put it on the floor before she accidentally broke it.

Out of nowhere big puffs of glittery smoke that smelled strongly of perfume, makeup, and catnip (?) started to fill the room till a pink horned creature was dusting herself off. She wore cute but risque black striped clothing and heart shaped black stockings that had white ruffles and her skin was a deep shade of pink and seemed to have a tail and a pair of pink bat-like wings. Her facial features oddly cat-like. Her pink hair curled into twin buns where they looked like hearts and long curly bangs to frame her face.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WxXBprZGAH7RUwYP9

'So THAT'S where that was coming from! I just assumed it was Rosaline. Oh well lesson learned.'

"Whew! THAT was absolutely God awful! Didn't think that annoying priest found my item so easily...." The demoness said as she briefly coughed.

"Yes, hello to you too, Arabella. Wouldn't you like to THANK our dear Janette for helping you out." Alastor prompted, gently placing a hand on the small of her back.

"Aww thanks Al! Such a gentleman~ and as for the human.... Thanks sweetie~...." She sniffed the cleared out air around Janette. "Are you by any chance a virgin~?" She purred. To which Janette went bright red. "Would you like me to fix that~? As a thanks for getting me out~?" She purred suggestively.

Alastor growled lowly, his eyes going to dials and demonic symbols surrounding him.

The demoness backed off, holding up her hands in mock surrender. "Aye aye captain! Her booty's all yours, arrrghhh~!" She teased in a pirate voice. To which Janette flushed at and was horribly confused.

Alastor quickly fixed his appearance. "I don't know what you're talking about Arabella. Oh! Nifty's done with the basement, would you like to see, my dear?"

She was still a little confused but nodded in confirmation as she walked towards the basement. Arabella caught up to her and properly introduced herself while walking backwards in front of Janette.

"The name's Arabella Nekoma. But my fans call me Pop Rox and close friends Poppy or Bella. And I'm guessing you're the new caretaker of the place?" She questioned as they reached the basement door.

"Yeah, my name's Janette Daweson. I was left in charge of the place when my Aunt Elenore passed. How'd you get stuck in the cat figurine?"

"Uggggghhhhh!!! Someone, I don't really know who, *cough* the oldest *cough*, called in a priest to "cleanse" the house. I guess he presumed that he would inherit most of her stuff. Idiot. I tried to get rid of them before they reached the other spirits. But the damn priest found my item and sealed me in. Not one of my finer moments... Hey Al. Are the others okay?" Arabella asked as she turned her attention to him as they opened the door and walked down the basement stairs. To which Janette was glad it was bug, spider, and snake free!

"I took care of it. They are unharmed. I can't say the same for that puny priest though..." He chuckled darkly.

Janette was a little worried about what may have happened. But saved that for later. When they came to the bottom of the stairs, Janette could see a single orange eye shining in the dark right back at her. She reached up and yanked the chain for the lights on. There stood in her three foot glory, was a cute cyclops demoness that had cute red hair and wore what appeared to be a pink handkerchief around her neck, a white tucked in shirt and a cute pink poodle skirt that you would see in those 1950's movies.

"Umm, I'm presuming that you're Nifty?" Janette said uncertainly.

"Indeed she is!" Alastor said before the obsessive demoness could start. "Don't get her started or it will never end." He whispered to her.

"Then I'll let you take it from here then..." Janette said as she gestured to him.

The demon stepped forward professionally, hands behind his back. "You've fixed the foundation?"

"Yes, yes! It was bad, like really bad. Like really, really bad! Like really, really, really-"

"I get it. It's fixed?" Alastor asked, clearly not in the mood.

"It is!"

"You should go back to the Hotel then. Charlie is probably wondering where you are." Alastor dismissed. She disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"Ummm, may I dare ask who's Charlie? And Hell has a hotel?" Janette asked in surprise. Arabella giggled and gestured for him to explain with her wiggling eyebrows.

"Charlie is the princess of hell who decided to create this hotel to redeem sinners so they can go to heaven. For a while, I used it as a source of entertainment. Nothing is funner than watching a demon try and better themself only to relapse and fail miserably." He replied, chuckling. That was no longer his interest though. He had a newer, better goal in mind.

"Well, is it popular? And actually working?" Janette said looking interested.

"Unfortunately. It's not so fun when they succeed." He sighed. "BUT! I have a new source of entertainment now, so I'm not so bored!''

"Do you still help them from time to time?" She wondered what his friends looked like. And she was definitely curious if Charlie was technically the anti-Christ.

"By help you mean keep them staffed, then yes. Nifty keeps the place clean, Husker mans the desk, so on and so forth." He waved a dismissive hand.

"Can... I meet them sometime...?" She shyly asked.

"..."

"Perhaps someday." He replied. He didn't even know if Lucifer would let the princess go to the surface world.

Janette nodded in confirmation. "So all we need to do now is fill in the cracks in the walls and then have an electrician check the lights out." She said determinedly.

"Splendid! Perhaps some repainting as well? Arabella, how does red sound?" Then there was also the lawn, the garden, the floors, the roof, replacing the doors and windows... It was a lot of work for Janette to handle, and he already had an idea for the lawn and garden. "Arabella, would you like to help us as well? There is much to be done, after all."

"Sure thing boss man! What's first?" Arabella loved the place and really wanted it to look gorgeous again.

"Janette is finishing the walls, I'll be working on the yard, that leaves the floors, roof, and replacement of the exits. Which would you prefer?" 'Can I even trust her alone with my sweet Janette?'

"Hmmm, I'll do the roof first since I have some magic to spare. The doors and floors would probably have to be done by a professional. And I have a few suggestions on some companies that have EXCELLENT taste in decor~" she purred out. Oh how she loved fashion.

Alastor was relieved that she'd be outside too. "I'll have Rosaline watch over you so there are no more incidents."

Janette slightly blushed with embarrassment with how klutzy she was. But then her phone went off in her pants pocket. She looked at the caller ID and outwardly cursed. "Crap!!!"

Alastor tensed. "Who is it?"

"It's Austin. One of my partners for the side jobs that I have... that reminds me I still have to call work about the update to the house...." She answered the phone to a slightly pissed Austin. Wondering where the hell she was at.

"Janette, where the hell are you, and why aren't you answering the door?!" Austin hissed.

Alastor's shadow ran a finger across his throat. "Not today old friend, I don't like his tone either, but not today." Alastor muttered to himself.

"Are you by any chance at my apartment complex?" She mentally cursed herself because she realized she didn't tell them her new address.

"Duh, where are you?" Austin replied.

"I'm so sorry Austin! I forgot what day it was and that the apartment complex is no longer in use. I had to move because my landlord sold the place without me knowing till you dropped me off a few weeks ago. I forgot to tell you the new address because my home is... a fixer upper and I've been busy getting it organized. I'll text you the address and the directions. Just give me a sec."

She hurriedly texted him the new address attached with directions on how to get there.

"It's about a half hour drive from there to the house. When you get to the gates, just call me and I'll let you in."

"Gates? Fine, whatever." He hung up, assuming it was one of those weird secure neighborhoods.

"And who was that...fine...fellow?" Alastor asked between grit teeth.

"I can volunteer my services to fuck, dump, and kill him for you~ it's one of my specialties~" Arabella purred out in bloodthirsty and horny excitement.

"Arabella, no." Alastor stated. "If you're leaving... we will finish the walls and our sections of the house. I'm still sending a spirit to watch over you. I'm not a very trusting guy towards humans like him."

Arabella pouted. "Can I at least be there to threaten him~?" She begged.

"No, you're doing your part." He didn't trust her with Janette either.

She sulked and pouted like a child.

Janette giggled. "That, was Austin. He's my co worker and lead investigator of the paranormal hunts that we do here in Louisiana. We're relatively new and work at an upcoming channel station. He's a bit... much... but he's always been moody. He's a bit older than me but still has that teenage angst...heh..." She awkwardly explained.

"Oh wonderful..." Alastor rolled his eyes. "I know just the spirit, I'll be back momentarily." The demon disappeared and returned just as quickly with a male spirit in a trenchcoat and fedora. "Jackson, shoot to please, not to kill." The man seemed to be the silent type as he gave a simple nod. "Jackson here is mostly harmless... unless someone else gets hurt. He's quite overprotective in that sense."

"Oh okay. Um, is he one of the residents here?" She held out her hand for him to shake.

"Indeed. His spirit is attached to this toy that belonged to his son. A tragic story, really." Alastor held up an old stuffed dinosaur.

Jackson reluctantly shook her hand.

"Oh, my condolences...." She then heard a bing on her phone to let her know that the crew was twenty minutes away. "Oh I gotta get ready. It's nice to meet you Jackson. I'll see you all back on the main floor when I'm done." Janette said as she ran upstairs and closed the door behind her, Jackson following behind.

"Shall we get started then?" Alastor asked Arabella.

"Fine, do you or me show up in our human forms to greet our "guests" when they get here?" She asked curiously.

"How about both?" Alastor said, shifting to his human image. A thin man with brown hair, amber eyes, and glasses. He looked rather nerdy, but he didn't care. It helped him blend in.

"Excellent~!!!" Arabella transformed into a young woman that had sandy brown hair with little pink highlights. Her hair was done the same style though, and she wore a cute but risque pink dress with a kitty on it along with dark brownish stalkings. Her eyes were the same shape but her irises were forest green.

"Let's get this train movin'~!!!!" She cheered as she grabbed Alastor's arm and dragged him upstairs.

Le time skip brought to you by Twizzlers

Janette was dressed in blue jeans and her team's paranormal team logo black and white t-shirt. Her makeup was done modestly and her dark brown hair into a braid ponytail. She carried the right equipment downstairs and saw the two strangers on the main floor, working on the walls.

"Do I know you two? How did you even get in?!" Janette worriedly asked.

Alastor and Arabella looked at each other and laughed.

"In a sense, my dear. We figured it'd be best to remain hidden while your guests are around." Alastor replied.

Janette's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "I DIDN'T KNOW YOU GUYS COULD CHANGE FORM!!!" She frantically gestured with her gear to Al's form.

He laughed. "Naturally. I was a human before I became a demon. This is only temporary though." He warned lightly. "Usually we use these forms to stalk our prey, but... this works too."

"Well you're not too far off Al. Technically we ARE stalking something possibly delicious~" Arabella purred out her innuendo while wiggling her eyebrows. "But seriously though, one wrong move from the guy, and I personally will eat the guy's virginity and soul. If not, I'll just give him frustrating wet dreams for a week." She "reasoned".

Janette gave her a scolding look. "None of that will be necessary. I've known them for over a year. And I know how to protect myself. I'll be fine." Janette tried to reassure.

"Plus she has Jackson." Alastor pointed to the spirit standing beside her.

"Yes. There's also him---"

"BZZZZZTTTT"

'The old call buzzar seems to work fine...' Janette sighed as she was interrupted by the gates call buzzar. She checked her phone and had gotten a text from Rich, saying if they were in the right place. She looked out the window and saw a black SUV. She then activated the old automatic iron gates to let them in. As the car drove in and parked. They got out with their mouths still open in awe.

"Hey guys! I'm ready when you are!" Janette called from the front door.

"Janette. What the hell! When did you get.... THIS!" Austin got out, and gestured to everything.

"I-is that an alligator..?" Rich asked quietly.

"It's... um... complicated. I inherited it from my Aunt Elenore. She passed away a few weeks ago." She said sadly. "But now, I have this place to renovate and make new!" She was gonna say more but Alastor piped in with Arabella wrapping one of her arms around Janette's shoulder and giving them a deadly but sultry stare while twirling one of her bangs suggestively.

"Arabella, no." Alastor told the demoness before greeting the "gentlemen" in a "friendly" manner. "Why hello friends! I am Alastor, and this is my coworker Arabella! We are here to help Ms. Daweson with the renovations!" He put his hand out for Austin to shake. Austin took it only to find out how strong the "nerd" was. He winced and tried to pull away. Alastor held on a moment longer before letting go. Austin cradled his throbbing hand.

"Q-quite the grip you got there.."

"I work more than my mind, friend." Alastor replied. He offered his hand to Rich who politely declined.

"Hello~ I'm Arabella~ Nice to meet you two morsels--- I mean, gentlemen~" she purred as she held her hand out.

"No thanks" Austin immediately declined, not wanting more pain.

Rich took it though. "Nice to meet you too, Ara. Is it alright if I call you Ara?"

"Holy hell not again.." Alastor muttered, annoyed.

She purred out and gently trailed her finger down on his palm.

Rich shivered, completely spelled. "Wanna come to my place tonight?"

"Rich, what the hell?" Austin had no clue what was going on.

Arabella seemed to contemplate something. "Austin~ do you have a crush on someone~?" She moved her eyes back and forth to Janette to himself. Wanting to confirm her suspicions. "But as for that free night out Rich, I'll think about it~ maybe later tonight after I get some work done. I owe it to my friends to put work first~. K~?"

"OK!" Rich agreed. Maybe was better than nothing.

"N-NO!" Austin crossed his arms. "Come on Janette, we should let these guys work while we get to ours."

Arabella shot a certain look to Alastor to which he nodded. He did NOT like Austin.

"Okay? I'll be back guys and I'll help out. Bye!" Janette and Jackson followed them to the car. As they drove off Alastor reformed back into his form while Arabella did the same.

"You okay Al?" She asked him tentatively.

"I want to torture him slowly and eat him alive." Alastor replied while demonic runes surrounded him.

"Mmhm~ I can also sense that you want to do the same with Janette. But in a different way~ If you need anything for that, let me know~." She tried to ease the atmosphere.

Alastor was effectively thrown off guard. "W-wha- I don't know what you're talking about, Arabella, I don't speak flirt."

"Mmhmm~ and Earth's sky isn't blue during the day. I know you like her~ You strawberry jelly boiyo~~~." She teased.

"Impossible." He scoffed. "I don't LIKE anyone."

"Oohhh~~ so you LOVE her~ interesting~~~" if it was possible, Alastor grew more red.

"I DO NOT LOVE!!!!" He yelled before disappearing to finish the walls and do the lawn.

Arabella sighed. "The sooner you admit your feelings the sooner you can have more kids running around here~" she cooed out as she followed him inside to finish the walls. 'And the sooner I get done the sooner I can get my free virgin meal~'

"Shut up or I'll make you finish this by yourself!" Alastor snapped.

"Aye aye captain sexual tension~~~!!!!" She called out as she picked up a bucket. Alastor groaned in frustration.