Authors note:
Here's the deal gang, I have written a giant document full of about 30k words. I eventually decided no one is gonna want to read such a big chapter all at once, so you're going to get about three chapters all at once.
Chapter XLIII: One more Knife in the Back
"No, absolutely not. I'm going!" it was the Helltaker being overruled this time. "I want to know what's going on down there!" he crossed his arms.
"Well I don't wanna hear it, stay put until we get back!" and it was Justice who he was arguing with.
"I don't think so, you don't get to make this call" he persisted.
"WE...are making this call" Pandemonica was backing up the former prosecutor, it was only just a few hours ago that the two were at each other's throats. "You can't get involved...not this time".
"Oh ho! Not this time?! This will most likely be the LAST time I can get involved, if it's as bad as I think it is!" he knew he was right, they knew he was right.
"We can't-" Justice knew she was losing, trailing off and remaining silent. Azazel had also remained silent throughout this heated debate, she had sought Malina's company, but the Sour Demon was lost in thought, wondering what had happened to her older sister, fearing the worst. She was also wondering why she had a seizure back at the court, wondering why she was coughing up black shit. Those few moments of darkness...
It had to be connected...it just had to.
Besides...Malina wasn't in the mood for talking...she was in the mood for killing...
They had all returned home from the eventful day in court; himself, Justice, Azazel, Monica and Malina, the demonic family having won the case in a very peculiar manner. The Helltaker relished in the satisfying feeling of his ankle monitor being removed, his skin breathing a sigh of relief. After their charges had been dropped, they bid farewell to the demonic lawyer, the man had earnt the Helltaker's respect, yet the weasel had known something was afoot, wanting to leave the family as soon as possible.
"Till next time" the grey demon had smiled, waving out of his Mercedes as he sped off. The demon had been kind enough for dropping them at home, Justice had been sat in the front, the other four of them had been squished into the back.
He wanted to forgot everything and anyone associated with that stupid courtcase...
It was now early evening, but the family's problems were far from over. Judgement, Lucifer, Zdrada, Beelzebub and Cerberus had all disappeared when they had returned home, confirming his suspicions. It was a dreaded feeling entering his house with no one home...when he was so used to the company...
No Cerberus bounding to the front door either to beg for attention or to scare off intruders...always happy to see you.
No Zdrada asking about your day only to lose interest five seconds in and start blowing smoke in your face...the usual bundle of swearing and masochism.
No Judgement embarrassing herself by not thinking before she spoke...sometimes doing it on purpose...claiming your lap as her pillow.
No Lucifer demanding all your time and attention, always trying her best, trying to make pancakes as good as your's... you always somehow made her smile.
No Beelzebub...
However, upon returning home, Modeus reluctantly emerged from her bedroom, being the only one still around, the poor demon was slightly terrified and it took alot of comforting, hugging and headpats before she properly calmed down. She told them what had happened, how Beelzebub had attempted to leave through a black hole in the floor, taking Zdrada with her...
Judgement had tried to pursue The Great Fly, but the prosecutor's main countermeasure originally designed to prevent demons from leaving the house and interfering with the court business had been used against her. Portal dampeners were used to prevent a demon or being with teleporting abilities from escaping; when an entity stepped through a portal or attempted to teleport they were given a non-lethal shock, designed to render someone unconscious...rather than dead.
Beelzebub had used this to her advantage, her portal allowed her and Zdrada to step through it, baiting the grey demon to follow. But as soon as Judgement tried to, somehow the dampener considered the prosecutor as the creator of the portal...administering quite the painful countermeasure. Initially it would of had little affect on the battle hardened warrior, Judgement being resistant to this type of pain...most types...
But this was something different...
Beel had twisted the dampeners, amplifying them, somehow making them more lethal, lasting much longer, Judgement was left immobile, remnants of the abyss sinking into her...the High Prosecutor was paralysed by electrifying pain, helplessly watching as Beelzebub and Zdrada disappeared into the darkness. That unnatural...dark...evil...unfamiliar smile spread across her face...
Modeus had tended to Judgement's injuries as best she could, the grey demon was unable to revive herself. The Lustful Demon drew traces of the abyss out of her like poison, looks she had picked up a trick or two from her time spent looking after Justice. However as soon as Lucifer had arrived, the prosecutor had apparently shoved Modeus to one side and got to her feet, herself and the CEO stepping through an orange gateway in the wall, disappearing from sight. Leaving the Lustful Demon entirely alone and afraid. She had seen the whole thing...
"You promise you're alright? You up for this?" he had now walked away from Justice and Pandemonica who were in the kitchen, coming over to Modeus and resting a hand on her shoulder. The Lustful Demon was sat on the sofa alone, she was watching the angel fruitlessly try and strike up conversation with Malina who was sat in her own chair. The deprived demon almost purred at the feeling of his touch, but she hadn't returned to her normal self just yet.
"Of course, this is my family after all isn't it?" she smiled, now standing up off of the sofa, turning to face him, tempted to hug him again but restraining herself, instead looking him dead in the eye. "I've never had a family before...this is as good as one I'll ever get".
"Damn right, even though you are a crazy bunch, you're still my family..." he confessed. "A crazy, crazy bunch, do you think there are any other lower maintenance demons, ones who are ya know, more normal?" he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Generic, but you wouldn't like her..." Modeus muttered quietly, jealousy dripping off of every word, the demon not quite realising it was a joke.
"What a dull individual" Pandemonica was reading her notepad, she was about to realise her notepad was no longer receiving live updates...
"I think she is pretty awesome, very selfless and kind enough to listen to an old blind demon", Justice was honest, the demon was tightening her gloves.
"Fuck off, Generic is annoying as shit, so bland, less personality than a fucking nacho. Template bitch", Malina suddenly blurted after her prolonged silence. Everyone falling silent at her outburst. After an awkward few seconds of quiet the Sour Demon spoke again. "Sorry, don't like her...don't like alot of people, can we get moving please?" she asked the group at large. Time was of the essence.
"Generic huh? I'd love to meet her" he teased, all the demons giving him mean looks, Justice shaking her head, Monica cringing slightly, Malina was staring at the floor, Modeus was looking away in embarrassment, Azazel just looked at him confused, looks like the angel didn't have an opinion on this demon.
"But in all seriousness, you are all my family. I'd do anything for you" the Helltaker looking initially at Modeus, meeting her gaze, then at Azazel and Malina, finally at the former prosecutor and secretary. "All of you".
He would see this through to the bitter end...
"Going into Hell a third time seems like a cake walk. I'm sure I'll be able to talk Beel down" he smiled with confidence, the human not receiving any support from the demons.
"It's not going to be that easy darling..." Pandemonica was speaking now. "I'm no longer receiving any updates from Hell...we better get a move on" she said swiftly changing the subject, fearing that all of Hell had fallen.
"Agreed" he said, moving towards the kitchen again, going to retrieve his white suit jacket off of the back of one of the chairs at the table. The Helltaker had decided he would be 'The Helltaker' one last time, his full white suit and all, the traditional circular sunglasses already attached to his face. A red 'Lucifer' Crocosmia flower sitting in his breast pocket, a change of flowers had been in order for the lapel. The demons as well as the human had all changed in a matter minutes after returning home, Modeus following suit, the traditional demon outfits were back, red shirts, black horns and pointed tails galore.
This could be the last time to dress up he thought...in fact, why did this confrontation have a sense of finality to it? Why were the demons also thinking that this was the end?
Would he be forced to make a decision, for better or for worse? he pushed that thought to the furthest reaches of his mind. It seemed he was approaching the make or break point with his family, he always knew these last few weeks- no these last few months had been leading up to something...
The Helltaker now realised he had been followed by Modeus into the kitchen, the demon stood behind him, timidly holding her hands and looking at the floor. He hadn't noticed her standing there while we was lost in thought, donning his suit and adjusting his shirt's cuffs. "Something wrong?" he asked, turning around to look at her, finalising his appearance.
"However this ends..." she trailed off, the demon afraid of what she was about to say...afraid of even thinking what-
"This isn't ending...not while I have breath in my body and my demons at my side. We have got to-" he was in the middle of building up to an inspirational speech but Justice just couldn't take it anymore.
"YOU'LL DIE!" she screamed hating how he was avoiding the elephant in the room. "IF WE GO, YOU'LL DIE AND I CAN'T-" the once formidable prosecutor had now crumbled into a blubbering, terrified mess, tears streaming down her cheeks, her glasses hiding her pained, pale eyes.
"Justice-" he began, coming over to the blind demon.
She wasn't hiding her emotions anymore, she was simply accepting her breakdown now. Justice, the Awesome Demon was now feeling very vulnerable...all those years of training, all her years of building up walls, just to have them smashed down by- by a fucking human.
Lucifer had initially told her...told them all...not to get attached...probably wanting to keep him for herself. Fuck sake...you really got yourself in a mess this time J she silently cursed herself.
He went to hold the demon, one of his hands grabbing her's, his other hand going to up to her head, but Justice resisted at first, moving her head away.
He hesitated from reaching out, but soon tried again. His hands pushing her white hair backwards behind her left ear. Now Justice fully accepted his embrace, letting herself be calmed. She now hid herself in his chest, arms tightly wrapped around the middle of his torso. Her sobs were silent yet they hurt him deeply, the impact he has had on these demon's lives had shown time and time again...now it was here once again.
The Helltaker now resorted to stroking the demons soft hair gently, it was working well to calm her further. In the few seconds of silence, the only sound being Justice's cries, it suddenly hit him: the fact that this demon was not a demon.
She was simply a woman. She had always been strong, powerful, caring, independent, loving, kind... the list goes on, he could say that about most of his demons. Justice had always been an awesome woman, but in these moments...it showed just how similar demons and humans were.
Justice was just a woman...he was just a man.
In these moments it was hard to imagine...a battle hardened warrior that had seen centuries of conflict could be broken down so easily by something they thought had been long forgotten...
Justice was no different...Justice was vulnerable...
In other moments...he was vulnerable and needed constant reassurance, his PTSD and anxiety attacks had been kept under control over the last few years...but every now and then he needed someone's shoulder to cry on.
He need them as much as they needed him...
"We really don't have time for this" Malina was the one to break the silence, her voice loud and stern, shattering the fragile atmosphere, standing and moving into the kitchen, she was itching to leave.
"Malina..." he hissed, dropping the hostile tone after saying her name. "Give us five".
"You got two, Monica let's get ready" the sister commanded, surprisingly Pandemonica obeyed, Azazel had also followed the younger sister out of the lounge and into the kitchen, the angel giving both the Helltaker and Justice a sympathetic look.
The three went into the hallway and began their preparations, the former secretary wanted to ensure their exact arrival point was correct, accuracy was going to be key. Modeus lingered at the Helltaker's side, the man gesturing for her to join the other two. She eventually complied, annoyed she wasn't the one receiving any attention, she left the two alone, standing on the cusp of the lounge and the kitchen.
After a few moments of Justice silently sobbing, the demon finally spoke. "I don't know what I'd do if you died- I can't-" she muttered, a sob cutting her off, the demon's pale face still pressed hard into his chest, her voice barely audible. Her tears were soaking through his red shirt.
"Haven't we danced this dance before? How many times have we laid awake at night, looking up at the stars, both of us exhausted after-well ya know" he stopped, allowing her to giggle slightly between sobs. "We drifted from topics of pumpkin pie to what happens after you die, but mostly we talked about the what-ifs. Remember?" he tried revolving the conversation around anything other than his imminent death.
"I know...it's just-" she sniveled, now slowly removing her head from his chest. The tears slowing now...The demon decided she wanted to look at him, properly. Her hands felt their way up to his face, brushing against his cheek first, moving to his nose and then his brow, moving the sunglasses up, making them rest on the top of above his forehead. She then did the same with her's, the aviator glasses resting on her white ashen hair. He gazed into those pale eyes, longing for her to properly see him now...in this moment.
"I never want those nights to end" she whispered, Justice was ashamed of her current state.
"They will never end" he replied, the human now resting his forehead against hers, both of them now closing their eyes. Their glasses clanging as they collided.
"They will and you know it" she whispered, her voice high pitched and on the verge of breaking.
"I won't let it end", the man whispered back.
After a cough and a slight giggle, her voice was more softer, more in control. "You bet you're fucking arse it won't end, you think I'd let it end either?" she was now being more positive.
"Precisely. How could I abandon my demons?" he smirked despite the demon being unable to see it.
"We will never abandon you...".
"Promise?".
"Promise".
"You bet you're fucking arse...I'll haunt you as a ghost if not" he joked, mimicking the saying she had just said, the two moving their heads away from one another. The Helltaker also leaned down to kiss her forehead gently, he always was good at lightening the mood. Justice let loose another short giggle. They remained silent for a while...the two simply just holding one another.
Should he tell Justice about Behemoth killing him...how he was forced to use his...immortality...again?
. . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
No, not now. After this was over, he would tell them all. They already knew he could come back...the true power. Maybe Justice had forgotten?
He couldn't understand half the time why they got so worried when he was injured. He had been through so much worse already...
"You already know dying won't stop me. We might be down there for sometime if I have to reset" he spoke softly, knowing it was a delicate subject right now. "Why the worry? You know I can't-" he didn't get to finish.
"I know that! Something just feels...different...this time, like that no matter what we do, someone, most likely you...will get it" she was trying her best to explain her concern. "It feels like the endgame".
"We are a couple of years away from that I hope" he tried again lightening the mood.
"Yeah...years...years are like minutes in a day for me" the depression was creeping back into her voice.
"Well I don't plan on dying anytime soon, so neither should you", he tried again to make the atmosphere less fragile, the Helltaker literally didn't know what else to do. It was the Gallows Humor in him, when faced with a bad situation, the only thing he could do was laugh. Justice did not reply to this remark, so he changed the subject, running out of things to say.
"I miss the sunglasses you gifted me...always liked looking as awesome as you" his hands moved down and squeezed her waist gently, her arms now moving to his hips. Yet the demon did not speak, but she was smiling, simply savoring the moment, soaking in the embrace.
She wanted to drown in it.
"You remember what Lucifer said...we would come find you...no matter where you are, up in the clouds or down there with us...no matter the consequences. She meant that... I mean that...I will go to the ends of the-" their lips suddenly crashed together, Justice now wrapping her arms around his neck, bringing herself closer...never wanting to let go...
"I'll never let go"...a distant memory, they were at a beach? Sat on his car? There was an arm around her, the smell of the sea air, the sound of seabirds, the waves crashing...the warm sun on her skin...the beautiful silence...
When they finally parted, she stared into him, her tears had vanished, she was now back to normal...yet lost for words. The memory now fading...
"Okay" is all she could say, the Helltaker sliding his glasses off of his forehead and onto his nose. The human moved her glasses off of her hair and onto her nose.
"Ready?" he smiled, releasing his hold of her.
"Ready".
"Alright, what do you think we ought to expect down there?" the Helltaker asked the group at large, himself and the Blind Demon had now joined the rest of the family.
"Ten bucks on abyssal corruption, you know who being the main source of all of it" Justice chipped in, the Awesome Demon having swiftly recovered from her breakdown, beaming as she spoke.
"Do you think it's angels? My fellow brothers and sisters?" Azazel pondered aloud.
"Doubt it dear, we should expect nothing pleasant, as I said previously I've stopped receiving reports...that isn't a thing to be taken lightly" Pandemonica had replied.
Malina remained silent, the demon growing incredibly impatient, arms crossed, glaring at the back of Pandemonica as she finished the creation of the portal. Orange light began flooding the hallway, sparks flying off in all directions.
"Where are you dropping us? Close enough to the action I hope" the human smiled, cracking his knuckles, making Modeus flinch and cringe slightly. She hated the sound...even though she had spent years torturing the damned...breaking bone and such...
"Right outside her front door" Pandemonica returned a smirk. "We will be placed a short space away from her main stronghold- well what was left of it. Sorry I can't get us any closer".
"Ah no worries, I'm sure we will land right where we need to be" the Helltaker wondered how long they would be down there, how many hours would pass up here?
"I imagine you passed through it on your second journey into Hell, you did come from that way didn't you? Past the oil fields?". The former secretary had now finished the portal, the demon's body relaxing, no longer needing to tense and concentrate, the channeling of energy was complete.
"Those old ruins? With some sort of a well in the middle" he asked, " I remember it...well" he smirked, "No pun intended, but that was considerably close to the citadel".
"Yes, her stronghold is underneath, underground, perfectly hidden, out of sight. One of the smartest decisions Beelzebub has ever made, hiding right under Lucifer's nose" Pandemonica brushed herself down, removing the residue of discharged energy that was clinging to her body. Tiny orange sparks spitting out from under her gloves, the energy being safely removed.
Sometimes demons would receive a build up of this residue Hell Energy after the process of creating a portal, entering said portal with a high discharge, especially with dampeners enabled would have deadly consequences. Pandemonica was a professional and naturally removed this discharged energy before entering her own portals.
"Took us centuries to find that place, bitch was clever, I'll give her that...but always too smart for her own good." Justice spat, even the mention of Beelzebub had made her blood boil, her fighting spirit now reinvigorated.
"Any other questions?" Pandemonica looked at both the human, the demons and the angel.
"I have one" Malina muttered, giving all of them a solemn gaze. "Say if we find Zdrada, say if we find anyone at all down there...You know I will do anything to save my sister" Malina unable to believe the words that had just escaped her lips, but her stubbornness pushed away this embarrassment so she didn't even feel it. "I want to know you would all do the same".
"That's not a question, that's a statement!" Azazel's cheery voice piped up, thinking that she was being helpful, but she had misread the scene entirely. Malina's deadly gaze fixed itself on the angel, Azazel taking this as her cue to remain quiet and out of the conversations focus.
"What do you mean-" he began to ask.
"That if it came to it, you would sacrifice one of them...one of us...so that she can live" Malina did not waver, she was dead serious. A dark and ominous atmosphere descended on the family.
Azazel looked quite worried, the idea of anyone dying was making her feel incredibly stressed. Justice simply turned her head away, aware of the price of sacrifice. Pandemonica stared blankly at the Sour Demon, puzzled that she would even think of such a concept. Modeus had kept silent for a while, feeling she had nothing to contribute, but the idea of death scared her, especially now, when they had come so far. Malina addressed this question to all of the family, but secretly it was aimed at the Helltaker.
Everyone knew this.
"I would do everything in my power to ensure that everyone survived, we do not trade lives Malina, you kn-" but yet again he wasn't allowed to finish.
"Wrong answer" she turned her back on them all, standing just a step away from the portal's entrance, the orange glow illuminating her face. "I hope you make the right choice when the time comes" she said finally, breaking the tense silence, but immediately stepping through the wall after that remark.
"Malina! Wait!" he pursued the demon, not hesitating to step through the portal after her. Azazel silently followed, feeling she needed to be involved in this argument.
"Taker, she doesn't mea-"the angel was cut off as she travelled between the two realms.
This day was a turning out to be a rollercoaster of emotions; court cases, accusations, the winning of the trail, petty arguments, discussing matters of life and death...now diving head first into the unknown with the highest chance of oblivion. These thoughts were swarming the former head of Demon Resource's mind
Pandemonica sighed, glancing over to the Lustful Demon. "Go on Modeus, after you, portal will be closing in a minute" the former secretary gestured toward the portal.
"Thank you Monica" Modeus beamed, cautiously stepping towards the diminishing portal, eventually she took a big step into it, leaping almost, she never trusted portals. Her black demon tail disappearing into the swirling orange mass.
"Well, what do you say Monica?" the former high prosecutor was now stood at the precipice of the portal, the demon looking forward, knowing that the Tired Demon would soon stand at her side. "Don't want an espresso before we leave?" Justice teased.
"Don't even joke about that" Pandemonica spoke sternly, she had wanted to grab a coffee at the Courthouse but obviously the plans had changed. She hadn't had a coffee since yesterday...the start of a long withdrawal most likely...maybe she could steal a few bags to take into Hell with her when this...when this ended.
She already knew how this would end...with heartbreak...
"Once more unto the breach?" she was now stood at Justice's side, the two poised to enter.
"You can buy the beers when we get back".
"Only if you buy the coffee".
"Deal".