Charlie made her way through the crowd in the hotel's lobby, exchanging excited greetings with the patrons as she went. Upon reaching the edge of the crowd, she wheeled around and took in the entire scene. The Hazbin Hotel staff, mainly her in all honesty, had decided that a little party would help liven up the place. An air of unease and fear had settled over the Hotel for a while now due to Vagabond's rampages against the overlords and their retaliation. The number of mercenaries roving the streets had grown, and their battles against the thousands of rioters occurring all over Pentagram City also grew more violent by the day. The fact that the hotel was being run by an overlord and the daughter of the King of Hell definitely didn't help ease their stress.
Despite all this, the number of hotel guests had been steadily growing. Alastor had theorized, as ironic as it was, that his presence here was the main reason behind it. Given that it was under the "protection" of the most powerful demon in Hell, the Hazbin Hotel is one of the best places for the average demon to find refuge from the chaos warring outside. Vaggie had been hesitant to agree with Alastor, but Charlie honestly couldn't disagree. At the thought of the two, she searched the crowd to find what her co-owners were up to.
After a quick scan, she spotted her girlfriend in the middle of a conversation with Baxter. They looked to be talking about something funny due to the giant smiles plastered on their faces. She couldn't help but let loose a smile of her own at the sight. She had been wracked with guilt at letting the cause of everyone's fear live right underneath them, so it was nice to see the party was drawing even the most reclusive of demons out of their shells.
She continued searching and easily found Alastor's bright scarlet form seated at the bar, grinning as always, and overlooking the party with an observant gaze. In his right hand was a glass of suspiciously red liquid that she hoped was wine. But the rumors she'd heard about his diet gave her enough reason to doubt that's what was, unfortunately. She shivered. To take her mind off that uncomfortable thought, she decided to go talk to Angel Dust.
The spider demon was seated at the exact opposite side of the bar from Alastor (which was definitely the Radio Demon's intention) flirting with Husk; who just looked straight ahead with a sneer as he chugged a bottle of "Cheap Booze." She waved to Angel Dust to get his attention and began walking towards him. It took him a bit before he finally noticed and waved back. During her walk over to him, she nearly tripped over Nifty as the little demoness zipped around the crowd, obsessively cleaning even the most minor of spills. Charlie chuckled as she snapped at the leg of one of the patrons who had the audacity to stand in the way of a puddle on the floor.
"Hey, Angel! Enjoying the party?"
"A bit tame for my taste but it'll do. Anything beats that bunker Val had me locked in. Can you thank that Vaga-whatever guy when you get the chance? Haven't heard a word from Val since I got that text that I was free to leave. I'd do it myself if I didn't think the creepy bastard would rip my face off."
Usually, she would have motioned the loudmouth pornstar to wait until later to discuss that particular guest, but she was confident the din of the party would cover up their conversation.
"Yeah uh, next time I see him I will. The guy doesn't really come out of his room very much."
"Sticking to his promises. I can respect it." Angel reached for the shot seated on the counter behind him and downed it. He craned his long neck to face Husk and smiled, gold tooth shining in the light of the bar. "Thanks, babe."
"Stop talking to me. If I'm going to suffer through this shit can I at least do it in silence?"
"Oh, you have such a way with words, Husky."
Husk slammed his face down hard on the countertop and let out a groan of defeat.
"You guys have a very endearing relationship going," she said with an eye roll.
"Eh, could use a little work."
Charlie was about to add that "little" was an impressive understatement when she heard a low creak sound from far behind her. It barely registered over the commotion, but it was sound that had become etched into her mind. The opening of the basement door.
Charlie snapped her head towards the stairs at whiplash-inducing speeds. Sure enough, the squat wooden door hung open with a single massive clawed hand wrapped around the frame. The rest of Vagabond's body was nowhere to be seen, but she wasn't going to dick around until it showed.
"Al!" She hissed to get his attention, but the demon was already standing, eyes wide with surprise.
"Well, this is about to get interesting."
Charlie turned back around just in time to see the white skull rise over the top of the door. The head continued rising until it was above the banister midway up the staircase. Satan, he was tall.
Angel took notice and his eyes widened, but he didn't look especially concerned. "Looks like you can thank him now, toots."
His appearance hadn't gone unnoticed to the guests and the conservation died instantaneously. A silence fell like a heavy curtain over the entire lobby. Vagabond stared back, still in his original position with his hand still on the door. What did he want? A sinking feeling gripped her at the thought that Vaggie's concerns had been right. She had put her trust in something she didn't truly understand and now they were all about to pay the price. All these demons looking for redemption were about to...
As if to vanquish her fears, Vaggie appeared next to her, spear in hand. She exchanged a brief look with Charlie that betrayed her fear before her face hardened again and she turned to face the beast again.
"No need to fear everyone! Just an old friend of mine stopping by for an unplanned visit!" Alastor's voice caused everyone to nearly jump out of their skin as it tore through the silence. As he confidently strode forward out of the crowd, spinning his mic as he went, Charlie took notice of his shadow slinking by the entrance to the hotel. With an intangible hand, the shadow drew a large pentagram over the door frame which flashed a bright red and emblazoned itself upon the wood.
"Alastor, what the fuck is going on with that?" she snapped at him and pointed at his shadow's antics.
Alastor quirked an eyebrow at her and looked where she was pointing. "Just ensuring no unexpected losses occur, darling. And I'd suggest you avoid swearing. It doesn't suit you."
'Stop dicking around, Alastor! What's going on?" Vaggie snarled.
"That is exactly what I am trying to figure out myself. Do try and pay attention, dear."
"I have a message to convene," Vagabond suddenly spoke from across the room.
His harsh voice instantly dashed the tension between the Radio Demon and Vaggie. Even the crowd was affected as several gasps and murmurs broke their omnipresent silence. Charlie swore she heard Nifty ask "Is that a man?"
"And what would that be, dear fellow?"
"I am departing from this hotel."
Charlie froze. The secret was out to everyone in the entire hotel! By Vagabond's own words that spelled doom for all. She could already feel the horns beginning to protrude from her head as the fire within her prepared for a fight. A fight they most likely wouldn't win.
Even Alastor was made unsure by the announcement. His outward appearance didn't give this away, but Charlie could tell by the way his shadow bristled at the entrance.
"Well, I hope your stay was satisfactory. Although I do believe this means our deal has come to an end." Alastor's smile grew to enormous proportions as he extended a hand wreathed in green flame. "Let's shake on it."
Vagabond finally moved out from behind and began walking slowly towards the door. All the hotel guests instinctively shrunk back, moving closer and closer to the exit. Vaggie raised her spear and took on a fighting stance.
The towering entity didn't seem interested in any of this. His attention was solely on Alastor. The Radio Demon'sstance didn't falter even as Vagabond stopped only a few feet in front of him. He looked down at the offered hand and back up at the scarlet demon. In a very robotic movement, he raised his hand and extended one long claw into the air.
"There is one thing left before our deal has concluded. A gift bestowed for keeping to your promise."
"I didn't take you for the gift-giving type."
"Only a fool fails to realize the importance of rewarding allies. The gift takes the form of a symbol carved above the entrance to this establishment. It holds great power and will grant protection for what is to come."
"And what exactly is coming? I hate these vague statements," Vaggie interrogated. Angel snickered in the background.
The skull turned to meet Vaggie. "The end," he stated simply. As if that explained everything.
"Wow, that explains absolutely not..."
Charlie put her hand on her girlfriend's shoulder to calm her down. "He's giving us a gift, Vaggie, and while I'm...concerned about what 'the end' means exactly, we shouldn't jump down his throat so aggressively. He did keep to his word this entire time. He even brought Angel back from Valentino."
"It's true. Thanks for that by the way," Angel called from the bar, sounding legitimately grateful.
Vaggie deflated with a sigh but still kept her spear held high. "Alright."
Having mostly overcome her initial fear, Charlie addressed the Vagabond directly. "So, when do you plan on putting this symbol up?"
"It is already in place. I only grant Alastor the deal's conclusion if he ensures that the symbol remains in place as long as the hotel still stands."
"Seems fair to me. A gift from the Vagabond is not something you get very often after all. I'd be fine with displaying it."
"Very well."
His massive hand enveloped Alastor's and the room was briefly awash in a bright green and scarlet flash that caused everyone present to cringe and shield their eyes. Once it dissipated and Charlie regained her sight, she saw that Vagabond had already turned and begun walking towards the basement. Odd, but it wasn't crazy to assume he had an exit down there somewhere. It would actually make sense given that she'd never seen him come or go from the hotel.
"Just like that?" She regretted the words the second they left her mouth. Vaggie was right, she did let her brain take a backseat to her mouth a lot.
Vagabond stopped midstride and turned to face her. He held her gaze for several moments that dragged as if they were centuries. Then his serrated teeth parted.
"I do have one thing to say. To all of you. There is no redemption for what any of you have done. I know far better than most." He splayed his palms out before them. She swore the claws had grown since he'd first appeared. "The blood of billions rests upon these hands. There is no redemption for me and there shouldn't be. All those men, women, and children will never see it so why should I? I have accepted my role in the universe for there is no other path. So I urge you all to look back on those you have harmed and ask yourselves not if the redemption you seek is possible, but if it is just."
Charlie stood speechless. You could have heard a pin drop in that lobby.
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Alastor agreed.
Without another word, the being plodded towards the still-open basement door, slipped through with speed and gracefulness that shouldn't be possible for something that large, and was gone. The door creaked closed.
The sound of the door closing seemed to break the spell everyone that had settled upon them. Her relieved sigh was joined by more than a few demons.
"Well, that was intense," Angel laughed nervously.
"Uh yeah that an understatement and a half," she agreed. "Let's go check out that 'gift' of his I suppose."
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the shadow Alastor hastily wipe away the pentagram on the door.
"Let's, indeed," Alastor said with a twirl of his microphone. "Oh and Nifty, do hold off on cleaning the basement for now." Charlie hadn't even noticed that the small demoness had begun scurrying to the room to clean up after their departing guest. Nifty looked depressed but gave an understanding nod.
Upon exiting the hotel, it didn't take them long to find the symbol. It sat conspicuously right above the front door.
"That's an...interesting design."
"Figures he'd see himself as a king. Arrogant douche," Vaggie snarked.
"I'm afraid that symbol isn't referring to himself," Alastor noted almost somberly.
The circular symbol that was about as big around as a dinner plate depicted flames surrounding a scarlet crown with black antlers protruding from the top.
The Slayer and his group crested the hill and took in the hotel the late Velvet had spoken about.
"There it is!" Blitzo exclaimed, once again too loud than was necessary. "Yeesh, what an absolute clusterfuck of architectural design."
"Blitzo, nobody is interested in your 'artistic critiques' right now," Moxxie grumbled.
"I think it looks cool as fuck. I mean it's tall but not too wide. Pretty good for a hotel if you ask me. The name is pretty stupid though. What the fuck is a 'Hazbin'."
"Don't trouble your little mind about it, Ricky. Save that brain cell for the dope," Loona mocked.
"One more than you, asshole," Ricky replied and blew a cloud of cigarette in her face. She responded by smacking him upside the head.
"Hey idiots, we're about to go up against the most powerful overlord in Hell. Try and focus!" Moxxie hissed.
The Slayer tuned out their stupidity and zoomed in on the hotel with his helmet. As he scanned the soon-to-be-battleground, his mind wandered to the hotel's purpose. Redemption for demons. He'd never heard such steaming bullshit. If these beings could be redeemed, they wouldn't be here in the first place. Even the demons he'd formed an uneasy alliance with had few redeemable qualities between them. Granted, they still had more than he thought demons ever could but still not enough for 'redemption' to be possible.
He froze when he spotted it. Freezing in surprise was something he never did, but the sight of the symbol centered right above the entrance to the hotel was more than enough. It was the symbol that had set him on this warpath. The symbol of his greatest failure. An entire universe destroyed and billions of lives lost because he couldn't stop the Vagabond, and the apocalypse the beast had ushered in. The thought of all those innocent lives lost made his vision go red. Raw fury began pumping through his veins, and he had to struggle tremendously to restrain himself from taking out his rage on the demons next to him. He glared deep into the symbol and knew with one hundred percent certainty that it would never happen again. The Earth of this universe will not die.
He smacked Moxxie on the shoulder, nearly knocking the imp off his feet, and pointed towards the symbol. Moxxie activated his aetherium armor and peered through the scope of his triple-barreled machine gun.
"You're pointing to the symbol, right?'
He nodded.
"What? Does it mean Vagabond's there?'
He gave another stronger nod.
"Fuck me," the imp looked noticeably paler from what little of his skin was visible under the armor.
"Alright everyone, this is the real deal here. Remember the plan?" Blitzo announced, trying his best to sound confident, but the nervous tinge to his voice didn't go unnoticed to the Slayer.
"Hit em' hard. Hit em' fast," Millie responded while brandishing her aetherium ax. "Let's fucking do this!"
Loona activated her cube and took on her giant quadrupedal wolf form. "Let's get this cash," she thundered.
Ricky just shrugged and put his cigarette out on her metal armor before activating his aetherium armor.
"Slayer, remember you're going straight for Alastor and taking him out so we can all focus on Vagabond," Moxxie unnecessarily reminded.
The Slayer materialized the BFCS and cracked his neck.
Author's Note: The next chapter will take place the night before this one and will focus on Vagabond. It's already pretty much complete, so I can focus mostly on chapter 18.
