Murder On The Air Chapter Four

Chapter Four: “When We’re Human”

Winter, nineteen hundred and six

Alastor was ten years old, only a few years away from completing primary school. Snow had fallen and covered the grass like a cold blanket. Bare branches from trees intersected with each other, forming un-moving patterns against the white cloudy sky. The boy was wearing suspenders, pants, a buttoned shirt and a hat. Loretta had taught him how to sew before the winter break. She guided him through the needle and thread motions, how to loop and twist in certain ways so the strings could be stitched together. He had slowly gotten the hang of it. Several voodoo dolls were soon put away neatly in his room out of sight.

Alastor enjoyed every moment he had with his mother.

But on one winter day, Alastor was preparing to spend time with his other parent.

"Papa, I don't want to kill any deer or animals," Alastor begged. "Let me stay home."

Alastor had been traumatized last year at the cabin when his father had caught a wandering stag. He had proudly displayed the severed head to Alastor, who fled into the kitchen in tears. Loretta had a long talk with him afterwards, but didn't stop her husband from pursuing his hobby. On occasion, the locals would come up to the cabin and Louis would show his colorful collection of animal furs and heads attached to the brown log wall. Some people were so impressed with his work that they considered buying his items. He happily sold the stuffed creatures, looking forward to gathering more for the next year. When asked if he wanted to join the New Orleans hunting business, he replied: "I'm my own business." It was competitive and risky for a man associated with "outsider folk" to pursue such an occupation. Loretta was having it hard enough with a low-paying secretary job, teaching French in a poor classroom with "colored" children, and daily racial discrimination.

Louis had cheered Alastor up after he used fresh deer meat and duck for their dinner. Momentarily, he had forgotten about the encounter, but still got chills when staring at the displayed head above the mantle.

Loretta helped Alastor pack some clothes in a suitcase on his bed. Alastor's room was upstairs, neat and tidy. The walls were covered with posters of jazz bands and musical groups. Figures of clowns and circus performers stood on display on his bedside table. Voodoo trinkets and dolls were hidden in neatly stacked boxes in his closet. Louis was standing in the doorway, eyeing Alastor's room with scrutinizing eyes at the lack of sport equipment in the room and beautiful women posters. At least the area wasn't messy. There were typical "boy" toys such as cars, dinosaurs and building blocks tucked into a random corner on a shelf. They had remained there for a while, as Alastor was outgrowing them.

"Ah'll be back at the cabin in time for Christmas," Loretta said. "These jobs Ah have are makin' me work more hours all da time."

"But you're treated badly when you're working," Alastor mentioned. It wasn't a question. Loretta had told him how others looked down on her or didn't take her seriously. She had to restrain herself from hitting a bossy white lady for calling her the "n" word.

"Ah have no choice," she explained. "Ah have to bring in a little bit of income and help keep da house presentable. Every little bit counts for da American Dream, right?"

Alastor saw the fatigue in her deep brown eyes. It was easy to get lost in their deep sorrowful depths.

"Besides, this will be a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your father," she added. "With both him and you having a few weeks off and all."

Alastor's eyes lowered. "I…I guess that wouldn't hurt. I'll be learning something new…"

"Turn dat frown upside down," Loretta advised in a playful tone. A big smile crept up his cheeks and he instantly felt better.

"Atta boy," Loretta said. "Now let's finish up so you two can be on your way."

Alastor zipped his suitcase shut, making sure he had everything he needed. Then he followed his father outside to the red vehicle. They both got in and soon were driving away from the city, over a bumpy dirt road.

They didn't speak for a long time, mostly because there was nothing to talk about. Louis drilled him over Bible verses and he chastised him for not remembering them and showing boredom in his voice. Alastor didn't try to hide his lack of interest. He mostly focused on the half frozen bayou and the frost covered tree trunks as they zipped by.

Before long, they parked in front of their secluded family cabin. A small wooden shed filled with tools was close by, connected via a small stone path. It was a slightly lighter wood color than the wood that made up the cabin. The standard deer head with antlers hung over the higher front structure of the cabin, leading to the porch and front door.

Father and son got out of the car, gathered their stuff and headed inside. It was the same as Alastor remembered it: a small cozy family room with a fireplace in the wall to the right of the entrance door. A brown bear rug in front of several soft bluish-gray chairs faced the fireplace. A Christmas tree had white unlit candles in it along with lights and ornaments. There were even a few presents underneath it. Further back was an ice box, an old stove and a round table for eating. The hanging chandelier of electric lights above the dining table was made of white antlers. Down the hall to the left were the bedrooms and a bathroom. Several jackets hung on hooks nearby, one of them a smaller size for Alastor. They both put their coats on and double checked to make sure their boots were laced tight.

The two of them gathered traps, bait, and a rifle from the shed and then they began their backpack trek through the snow. Alastor's two weeks of learning had begun.

Alastor calmed himself as his father taught him many things: how to navigate the woods silently, how to set up various traps, which body parts of a deer to aim for and how to properly prepare the meat. He also did some target practice with the rifle and learned self-defense. Although it wasn't the most ideal experience, Alastor was a fast learner.

"Always go for your gun or knife at signs of trouble," Louis had said. "No time to overthink things or show doubt. You gotta trust your instincts. Use your gun only for hunting and self-defense. And keep practicing on running, you never know when you might become the prey."

"There are bears out here?" he asked in concern.

"Yes, and by the bayou, alligators. They'll chomp you up and swallow you whole if you're not careful. One unlucky fellow got too close a few years back."

Alastor gulped. "Was it…really painful when that fellow died?"

Louis brushed off his peculiar question. "Don't want to know."

Alastor had missed shooting the targets several times, until Louis showed him some tricks to looking through the circular glass scope. His aims got more accurate as the days passed, the position of his fingers improving. He was soon getting less and less tired and found he could run faster, even over rocks, logs and other natural obstacles.

Best of all, he didn't even need to use magic.

And, of course, Alastor learned basic survival skills: pitching tents, rubbing wood for fire, finding shelter when needed. It was a peculiar camping trip with his dad, but he made the most of it. Here in nature, there was little to no pressure to be a "proper man." No worrying about keeping up appearances, showing dominance, studying for school, or worse, making the effort to flirt with girls. Alastor saw girls as good friends but he certainly wasn't interested sexually nor romantically. He wasn't even sure if he could ever fall in love.

They walked along through the woods for several hours. They set up some bear traps and trip lines, Louis instructing his son along the way. They managed to catch a lone rabbit in one of the traps. Alastor had chased after another rabbit and lured it into a second trap.

"Impressive," Louis praised.

After a while, Louis had spotted a young brown stag.

"Stay still and be quiet," he whispered.

He got his hunting rifle set up and made sure the bullets were properly in place. He and Alastor took cover behind a large snow-covered bush. Louis silently watched the deer's every move, the way it walked and grazed at a few grass spots.

A click.

The deer's ears briefly flicked back as it scanned its surroundings. Nothing was heard except the chilly winter air…

Bang!

The gunshot rang out and the animal fell back on the ground with a thud. Louis made his way from behind the bush and toward the fallen creature. The bullet had made its mark through its furry neck. A hole surrounded by blood, nearby snow stained red.

"Don't waste your bullets," he told Alastor. "Be sure your aim is true as possible. Clean, merciful kills are essential."

Louis hoisted the animal over his shoulder with strong arms.

They made their way over toward the shed, where they proceeded to skin the animal and chop up the meat for preparation. They had propped up the carcass on a long table. The longer that Alastor watched, the less disgusted he became. In fact, dare he think it, he found the whole process intriguing. The way his father's hands moved expertly when he used various knives and tools.

He carefully separated the fur from the meat and muscle to be used for taxidermy. He helped Alastor as he used the knife and got to work. They both washed up when they were done.

Sure enough, Loretta did make it back in time for the holidays. She gasped in wonder at the lit white candles in the Christmas tree decorated with colorful lights. A golden lotus French symbol shone on the top of the tree.

The family ate a marvelous dinner together, which included roast turkey, duck soup, venison with wine sauce and various vegetables with sweet potatoes. After lighting candles, they sang Christmas songs and hymns to Jesus and the Lord. Dinner was over and the three Crowleys relaxed in the family room. The snow falling outside was a beautiful sight to look at through the windows. Louis and Loretta even shared a romantic dance together as Alastor rolled his eyes.

Little excited Alastor could hardly sleep that night.

On Christmas morning, they opened their presents under the tree. Alastor had gotten a new red bike, coloring sheets, new clothes and new boots. Louis had given Loretta new dresses, an apron, shiny pots and pans and even a box of chocolates. Louis got new tools and clothes. A few strawberries coated in chocolate were also in the box.

Loretta popped several into her mouth with delight.

"So creamy and oh so good! You are a lovely soul. Ah'm lovin' these strawberries."

Louis ate a few as well.

"Would ya like some, dear?" Loretta asked, offering a strawberry to Alastor.

Alastor popped it in his mouth and instantly made a face at the sickening sweet taste. He raced toward the kitchen sink to spit it out. Loretta and Louis looked at each other.

Louis shrugged. "Well, I guess sweets aren't for everybody." The couple giggled.

Alastor wiped his mouth and walked back. "Nope, never again."

"Dat's alright," said Loretta.

"Ah'm proud of you Alastor," Loretta mentioned, "for listenin' to your father without complaining. He told me about da last several days."

In a rare moment, his father said, "I agree with your mother. Perhaps you are growing up right after all. I love you, Al."

Alastor beamed in thanks and tightly embraced both of his parents.

A few days later, the Crowleys packed their things and drove back to their home near the city. His parents would be back at work and Alastor would be starting school again. Studying for the entrance exam for high school was bothersome, but he figured he would get through it when the time came.

On an ordinary day, the rotary phone rang. Loretta went over to answer it as she was getting ready for work.

"Hello, this is da Crowleys."

Brief silence, and her eyes grew wider. "Manman? Eske w byen? Kisa k ap pase?"

Loretta took several strained breaths. "Nou pral gen dwa la."

Alastor walked over as she hung up the phone. "Who was that?"

She looked Alastor right in the eyes. "It's your grandmother. She's dying."

"What?!"

"We have to go see her. Quickly now!"

Alastor rushed to get ready. "I'll go get Papa!" He raced down the hall.

"Al, wait!" Loretta called, hand stretched out.

"Papa, my grandmother's sick!"

"Really?"

The two guys hurried down the hall to Loretta.

Louis was already rotating the dials on the phone, calling for a doctor.

"What's the address?" he asked.

Alastor told it to him, as Loretta looked fearful.

"And her name is…"

"Antoinette Marie Duvalier," Alastor said. The doctor looked through the records and said, "Don't know anyone by that name. Whoever she is, she's not in our system…"

"Let's go son," Loretta said.

Louis finished calling and hung up. "I'm coming too."

"No, stay here."

"Not gonna happen."

"Please, love."

"No. Why don't you want me to come? I haven't even seen her place, let alone her face except a few…"

Loretta ignored him, taking Alastor toward the car. Louis followed right behind. The three of them got in and drove as fast as they could to the cottage in the woods nearby. They got out of the car and raced to the porch.

"Stay outside and keep watch," Loretta said to Louis.

Loretta did the secret knock and the door swung open by itself with magic.

There was old Antoinette, lying in her bed with a sweaty forehead. Her breathing was shallow and she coughed every once in a while. Her white curly hair made her head look like a grayish cloud. They moved over to her bedside.

"Grandma?" Alastor asked.

She looked over and smiled at her grandson. "Alastor. Such a pleasure to see you again."

"The doctors will be here any minute," Alastor assured.

"Louis called 'em," said Loretta. "They're da local ones."

Antoinette sighed and shook her head. "No. Ah know those doctors and da place. They rarely care for poor folk and people of color. The chances of 'em comin' here are…"

Loretta sank to her knees. "Louis didn't know…"

She glanced around. "Wait, are there any healing herbs around?"

"Yes, but they take powerful magic to mix together."

"I'll try," said Alastor. He concentrated and levitated several jars of herbs in red auras. Loretta stared at her son in brief amazement.

"Ah don't think the herbs are strong enough to cure her," Loretta mentioned with worry.

"I have to try."

His grandmother listed the ingredients and Alastor got to work stirring them in the air.

"Everything alright in there?" came Louis' booming voice.

"Yes!" Loretta called.

"Let me see…" He walked toward the entrance.

"No, she wants privacy!" Loretta pleaded, blocking the way and trying to shut the door. "Lou, Stop!"

"Out of my way, woman," he demanded, pushing her aside.

He ducked through and glanced around. "What…what is all this?" He stared distastefully at the voodoo dolls, potions and the colorful glass cylinders hanging from the ceiling.

And then, he spotted his own son, holding a chicken foot and an animal part over a small kindle of blue flames. He froze like a deer in the headlights.

"Alastor!" he bellowed. He stomped over and kicked out the blue flames.

"Papa, she needs me to heal her!"

"Go outside, right now!"

"No!"

Louis whirled toward Loretta and pushed her against the wall.

"You've been practicing that filthy art of magic behind my back. Satanic witch."

"Let me go!" she gasped, trying to push him off.

"And leading our son astray as well?! What kind of proper Christian wife delves in the forbidden arts?"

"It was for good purposes…"

She was cut off by a hard slap in the face from her husband. She gasped in pain while Alastor flinched back. "She's sick," she breathed, mentioning to her mother. "Let us be in peace…"

Louis gave a deathly glare in their direction. "Your punishments will be severe, both of you…"

Antoinette's heavy gasping made everyone freeze, opened mouthed.

"Al," she croaked. Her eyes were moving rapidly and she coughed. "Let…me see your palm again."

Alastor walked over and held out his hand. Feeble fingers took it and squeezed tight.

Antoinette gasped as magic flooded through her. The visions were there:

The year was twenty something in the future twenty first century. The year two thousand twenty one, perhaps?

Alastor taking over various areas in Hell, him wearing red and entering a hotel. His face was grayish, sharp teeth yellow and his hair red and black. A vintage microphone glowed in his left hand. He was singing and dancing with Charlie, a blonde girl, as Angel Dust, Husk, Vaggie, and Niffty watched.

The visions moved forward…Alastor turning his back on his group of friends, having betrayed them all along. Him grinning as he trapped Charlie and her friends with tentacles, his shadow minions surrounding them.

Alastor handing Husk and Niffty money for cleaning up bodies and helping with his plans. Yelling at Husk and Niffty for questioning him.

His voodoo imps running amok with knives and pitchforks as the demons screamed in terror.

Alastor and Lucifer butting heads, canes slashing, with poor Charlie in the middle.

Demons with red dialed eyes and sharp smiles staring hypnotized at various radios. Alastor's shadow grinning as Alastor's possessed army invading Heaven and Earth.

"Yes, darkness is in your future, Al…"

Alastor looking small in front of his demonic parents: a man wearing a dark red suit and bow-tie with a black stag head and fiery red eyes. A woman with red and black hair and red eyes and doe ear tufts, wearing a dark red dress with voodoo symbols on it. Louis and Loretta, as Lord Neleus (king and father of Greek Alastor) and Lady Poena (Greek vengeance spirit like Alastor's name).

"…but so is light."

Alastor dancing with Charlie, Mimzy and Rosie on stage at a jazz club. Rosie and Alastor strolling down in the city, laughing and smiling.

Alastor drinking hard liquor and telling Dad jokes as demons booed.

Alastor taking down Sir Pentious' ship with tentacles and blood magic.

She could see Alastor riding on a shadowy skeletal deer as he charged at black flying angels with deadly spears.

Alastor happily serving clients jambalaya as they discussed redemption at the Hazbin Hotel.

Alastor protecting the group as he fought off a man with a TV head and his associates. Vox, Valentino, and Velvet.

Alastor kissing the blonde princess on the lips on the roof of the hotel as Vaggie fumed.

Alastor, Charlie, Lilith, and Lucifer confronting Gabriel, Michael, and the archangel brothers who wanted those in Hell to suffer powerless throughout all nine circles and districts.

Alastor in Heaven, with white feathery wings, a white dress coat and a new face of a brown deer.

Alastor smiling as Vaggie and Charlie got married in Hell, with all the redeemed demons there to celebrate.

"Yes…there is hope for ya, yet."

The white winged angel form of Alastor in Heaven, hugging and kissing a familiar dark brown motherly face with doe features. The group of misfit demons in new animal-like forms in Heaven. Angel Dust with extra limbs and white hair with a more human-like face. Vaggie with long dark hair and dark tan skin with large mouth wings sprouting from her back. Niffty with black hair and Japanese features and Husk as a silent white man with cat ears and red wings.

Every character was singing and holding hands as they sang in front of a rainbow. Instead of "Stay tuned," for the next episode, Alastor said "That's a wrap!" before the curtains closed with a "Fin."

She didn't know what any of that meant. But one thing was crystal clear:

Alastor was with those he cared about, thus his smile was genuine and one hundred perfect real.

Antoinette smiled one last time, as she could see Alastor fulfill his destiny.

"Alastor…"

Her face and body went slack, her eyes glazed over.

Loretta and Alastor buried their faces and cried. Alastor stroked her cooling cheeks while Loretta closed her mother's eyes.

By the time the doctors arrived, she was long gone. Her body was carefully taken outside. Alastor was furious at them for being so late, but he remained silent. They all mourned her passing outside for a while.

Before the Crowleys left, Louis walked over toward the cottage and threw a lit match at it.

It had all happened in the blink of an eye.

Loretta and Alastor gasped.

"Papa, no!" cried Alastor.

The wooden cottage was ablaze in minutes. All of Antoinette's work, herbs, pictures, healing recipes…her cultural legacy…now reduced to ash.

"How dare you?!" Loretta called, whirling around to her husband.

"She's not living there anymore," Louis replied. "Burning the Devil's work was necessary."

"It's not da devil's work!" she exclaimed.

"Monster!" Alastor cried out.

"Enough!" spat Louis. He leaned in closer, sternness and malice in his eyes. "Bible memorization, church every Sunday, and fasting."

His hand gripped a lethal black whip in his belt as he turned to Alastor. "When we get back home son…you'll wish you had never set foot in that old hag's house."

Alastor stared at the consuming flames, anger rising in his core.

Antoinette's body was buried in a cemetery near the bayou. At a church, the Crowleys had a small funeral. Uncles, aunts and cousins were there too. Alastor, dressed in black, was silent the entire service. They sang songs about her and nearly everyone joined in.

The next day, a ceremony was held by her community to celebrate the "finest Voodoo Queen of New Orleans." They performed rituals to help her in the afterlife and invoked Bon Dieu, Damballah, Papa Legba and Eruzile. Alastor joined them in secret.

The days passed. Alastor and his mother sat watching the trees and the water.

She had been silent for a long time. Loretta had been reprimanded at work for being late the day her mother died and her wage was cut short. She had been fired from her teaching job and was left with little pay in her other job.

How Alastor missed hearing her musical voice that sang along with the birds during their walks through the forest. Not even the birds felt like singing.

Judging by the upset looks, Alastor felt he had done something wrong. And he knew what it had been.

"I broke my promise…err, deal, didn't I?"

Loretta nodded.

"I'm so sorry, Mama."

Loretta sighed.

"I didn't know Papa would…you know…"

Loretta said, "Ah was worried about what his reaction would be. Ah've visited her and swore to keep the art of magic a secret. Ever since Louis became more…emotionally distant, Ah knew he wouldn't approve of it."

Tears rolled down Alastor's cheeks. "I didn't know what else to do. He's my Papa. I thought he could help."

"He hasn't spoken to either of us," Loretta said. "He may hide his sadness, but Ah could see it in his eyes."

"I cut off the deal I made," Alastor said. "Will I…I…"

"No, no harm will come to ya. It was a rare benign agreement. Ah said all those years ago that the price to pay would only be guilt."

Alastor nodded. "Deep guilt, I feel it."

"Not everyone is so pleasant. Be warned, dear, if Ah was an evil demon and wanted to hurt ya…Ah would've done so already."

Alastor continued, "I was so sacred…and…I should've saved her books and items. Stopped Papa, done something!"

Loretta put an arm around him. "We can't change da past. Ah feel like Ah let her down. If she hadn't had the magic energy to call us when she did…"

"…She would've died alone," he finished.

Both of them hugged each other and sobbed for a while. They then broke apart. As they stood up to go home, Alastor remembered to put his smile back on. As his mother had said, "You're never fully dressed without one."

Summer, nineteen hundred and six

The arguments and troubles reached a bubbling point back at the house.

The ten year old child screams and wails coming from the upstairs bedroom made the neighbors down below uneasy. Then again, it wasn't their problem, so they continued on with their day.

"Take this punishment like a man and stop that fussing."

"Stop…stop it, Papa!"

A crack echoed through the air followed by a high pained yell.

"You're an impure sissy homo unworthy for His eyes."

A brief silence.

"Say it."

"No."

Another crack. Another lash. Then another.

"Say it!"

Alastor yelled and repeated, "I'm an impure sissy homo…unworthy of God!"

"I can't hear you!"

The loud cries could be heard around the block. Passerby avoided the Crowley house like the plague.

Raging red lashes ran across Alastor's light brown back like scratches left by a demon. During their troubled times and forced devotion to the Heavenly Father, all Loretta and her son could do was cry and hug each other like their lives depended on it.

"They'll heal," she said, one of her eyes was swollen from her husband's fist. "Trust me, Al…we'll get through this."

"How so?"

She lifted up the corners of her mouth and then his. "Smile all the way through."

So that's what he did.