Chapter Text
The alarm blared into the room to signal the start of the day. Before the second ring could signal out and a large gray paw hit the snooze button.
The sheets ruffled and in a mass of gray, white and red, husk had stood from the bed shakily. Groaning as he looked at the time, he moved from his position towards the bathroom to clean himself up. It was too early for this shit, who wakes up at 6 am willingly nowadays.
He emerged from the bathroom slightly more awake, and moved to grab his prized hat and bowtie.
As he passes the mirror, about to leave he sees a few feathers out of place. He stops to look at himself. Exhausted, sickly and overall looking terrible.
Vox didn't make his employees look anything but perfect. He needs to fix this, shivers run down Husks spine he didn't want to repeat that mistake.
He carefully fixed his feathers, before walking out into the hallway.
Husk looked out into the hall to see no one around which was a little strange, they must be down in the cafeteria. Normally they'd slack off in the hallways, or even have a bit of 'fun' in the janitor's closet.
He walks down the hallway carelessly, yet not making a sound. One of the few perks of being a cat, he supposed. Still, being a cat sucked since he looked like an adult-sized knockoff care bear with his heart shaped paws, ear-markings, wing crests, nose- you get the point.
It made him appear weak and soft to his employees, which ends up in a lot of hall fights. Satan, he hates the security cameras though, they always find out and it turns sour very fast.
His stroll down the hall stopped when he was in front of the elevators, he hummed quietly to himself as he pressed the button waiting for the elevator.
He looked out of the small window, Husk sort of missed going out. Due to this damn contract, he was trapped like a bird in a cage.
Even when he was human he would take his canaries out into his room, it was a pain in the ass to get them back in, but it was worth letting them have more room to fly.
How was he so foolish to just give his soul to the first demon he meets.
*Ding*
Husk snapped out of his thoughts to move into the empty elevator, he moved his arm automatically so he could go to the cafeteria. The elevator door closed.
—---------
*Ding*
Husk stepped out of the elevator, almost tripping over due to the change of flooring.
He headed towards the large crowd like a man on a mission. And that mission was to steal some toast and grab a cup of coffee.
Husk maneuvered through the crowd with the ease of a cat (ha), tail up and out of the way of the crowd's feet. He ain't gonna get stepped on, not today, not ever. The last person to grab or step on his tail ended up in fifty trash bins across the pentagram.
They didn't find enough pieces to allow him to regenerate, they're probably still in the hospital while in a small metal bucket.
Hell doesn't care enough to work out where all his pieces are. He grabbed the toast and cup of coffee, without anyone noticing the demon.
Speaking of work, he needs to check his schedule.
He carefully moved his coffee into the other hand, so he could find his paper copy of his schedule. He moved over towards an empty table before he started to read.
Husker sighed exasperated, he had a pretty shitty day for him. Why couldn't he just get the quiet jobs like cleaning Vox's shelves or organizing the bookshelf that never got used.
Husk could feel a bit of cold sweat going down his forehead, he didn't have enough time to mentally prepare for today.
Today he had to meet Vox in his dressing room to help prepare the overlord for whatever talk show he's gonna be on this time, most likely that damn political show.
Satan, he hates politics.
After that he has to help dress Vox for his next news podcast, which means he is gonna be in Vox's dressing room for a couple of hours.
Then lastly, he has to go to a meeting with Vox and the other two overlords, Valentino and Velvette. He doesn't mind Velvette much, she doesn't even acknowledge him, but Valentino is not someone he wants to be in a room with.
Valentino had always been touchy, petting his head and shoulders here and there, pulling his fur. It isn't something he would normally make a big deal out of, but its something about how he does it that makes his skin crawl.
Yeah, he doesn't like the guy.
Husk started to eat his toast before automatically looking at his watch. He did a bit of a double take, before realizing that he was ridiculously late.
Shit.
He took off running through the crowd, dodging and weaving like no tomorrow. He sprinted for the elevator, and successfully chucked the rest of his food in the bin and made it into the elevator before it closed.
Husk pressed the floor button and sunk onto the floor. Some sweat was coming off him, but not from running. It was cold sweat.
This was gonna be a really bad day.
"This is gonna be a long day", Husk whispered to himself. The ding signaled they made it to the right floor.
—----
Husk stood outside of a gray-blue cracked door, he wasn't looking forward to going in, but he knew what would happen if he kept Vox waiting. He looks at the Tv symbol on the door before straightening up his bowtie and patting down his risen fur.
He can do this.
He takes a shaky breath before knocking on the damaged door, he can hear the echo on the other side.
Static comes out from the otherside in small amounts. He hears a powerful voice come from the otherside.
"Come in Husk"
Well he is in deep shit, he used his demon name.
The damaged door creaks open, if he wasn't in so much shit right now he would joke about it being the classic horror movie trope.
The static is much stronger and is coming in waves, a single light is on and it is obvious where Vox wants him to go.
Husk walks into the dark room, stepping over the many broken radios and dead flowers.
You'd think that Vox loved the Radio demon instead of hating the guy with the amount of radios he buys. Vox is really just giving the demon money.
He made it to the middle of the room, where the spotlight was hitting. Vox is very dramatic. The waves are getting more intense, before he feels the source standing right behind him. The sweat is sitting in his fur, his hands are getting shaky and his tail is curling around him.
"Husk"
Venom was dripping off his name, Husks ears pinned back and he shrunk down into himself, he wasn't sure if he'll make it out in one piece.
"What did I say about tardiness, Husky?"
He should've learned from last time, he shouldn't've had the opportunity to be told twice.
His eyes stayed to infront of him, he couldn't look back. He couldn't afford to lose his eyes today, even if he could regenerate. He knows he needs to come up with something to save his hide. Husk was trying to come up with an excuse, but he knew it would only end up worse if he said it in the middle of Vox's monologue.
Before husk could stumble out an apology, vox had started to speak again.
"You know what I have to do now right?"
His voice was dripping with fake care and concern, like a snake hugging its next victim.
It honestly sounded insane to Husk, but he didn't doubt for a second that his contractor was insane. He knew he was insane from the first time he met him.
"I can't let you off the hook"
His voice sent shivers down his body, he was pissed. He knows he won't make it out this time.
"Remember, I saved your life. If I weren't there to save you, then you'd be sold off to the black market like the rest of the stray cats in hell. You got that, pet"
Darkness surrounds the room as Vox finally swerves around to meet his eyes, static is encasing the sinner demon's eyes. He's expecting an answer, Husk quickly answers the overlord.
"Yes master"
Husk is trying to remain calm, but the signs always show otherwise. His tail was tightly curled around his lower body, his ears were pinned to the back of his head and his paws were shaking behind his back.
Vox fully moves in front of him, putting his hand out to pet his head softly. Vox gestures towards the corner and speaks in a smug voice.
"Good kitten"
Husk shivers, that voice promised that this wasn't gonna be the end of that. He hopes it's just Vox being an ass.
"Now, go over to your spot. We'll be having some training when we get back."
Husk cringes at the words, training, he was in for it when he gets back. The last time they 'trained' he ended up having night-terrors for weeks.
He moved quietly over to his spot in the corner and sat down, there was a small red dog bed that looked worn-out and torn in some places. It still looks horrible.
Yep, he is Vox's pet. Vox found him in hell newly formed, and tricked him into a contract.
'Cat demons are rare to come by', he hears the smug voice in his mind.
The higher level workers always tease him about being his master's lapcat. He wished he could claw the asshat eyes out. Sadly Vox was in the room.
Some of the animal based demons even got jealous, but after learning what happens here they left real fast. He wished he had that opportunity.
Husk sighed softly and just decided to sleep the hours away, he'll need it.
Husk was swept away in an uncomfortable sleep of nightmares and fear.
….