Hey sinners, thanks for keeping up with me with the journey of mine. It's been…interesting. I will say this, though. The way I write stories, there is a lot going on. So not every chapter will have Alastor, not every chapter will have Angel Dust, so on and so forth. Sometimes to move the story along, I have to touch up on other things cause they are vital to the storyline down the road, which I don't want to spoil. I know not everything I write will be everyone's cup of tea. So I don't take offense to it. Just wanted to let this off my chest before I showed the chapter.
Oh, we also passed almost 4k views on here and 3k on AO3. Almost 7000 hits…gonna faint now.
Disclaimer: I don't own Hazbin Hotel or Helluva Boss, Viviepop does.
As Rory slept that night, things in the dark lurked and began to awake. It was biding its time, waiting for the right moment when its cage would be unlocked. At its core, it understood why it stayed put, waiting for the right time. On Earth, it couldn't come out to its full form like it wanted.
In Hell, the door opened finally after the wolf finally triggered her anger. It was just a matter of time with all of the turbulent emotions that raged within her like a hurricane, despite how much this human wanted to hide it.
And, it was ready to manifest to its full potential.
A shadowy cloud rose up from under the darkness of the bed, formless and shapeless like smoke. It angled its way over the bed, seeing its receptacle. Two bright orbs opened, orange-red hot coals burning in the thick darkness.
LooKing at the golden wolf, it couldn't help but confirm what it wanted to be. Yes, it would be everything she needed to survive hell. After all, you need a little devil on your shoulder. Besides, you can't have the light without the darkness following behind.
Using its power, the shadow began to manifest its desired form.
Two arms, two legs, large smoky black tail, shadowy claws, face forming into a wolf snout and ears.
Now, she was here.
The shadowy wolf stood over the golden one, unsure of what to call her. Friend, companion, or annoying nuisance? She didn't know. But it was the original person who held the reins in check, who made the choices with the so-called "moral compass". This wolf demon determines what she will do with the power that she possesses. Still, the shadow couldn't help but be cynical. Moral compass was a joke. Having a conscience was pathetic. She had seen too much depravity to know that there was barely enough goodness in the world, but even though this human soul clung to hope. Hope to be redeemed, hope to be with her mother, hope to some distant dream.
Either way, she shouldn't complain, she was free. She had lurked inside of the wolf's mind for a long time, even back while her receptacle was human. The shadow, while not visible in the earth realm, still lurked in Rory's mind. She was the backbone, the extra fuel, the push to keep her going despite all of the obstacles thrown in her way.
She knew it wouldn't be long before the others within this compound would want to inspect more out of her to see who she was. The shadow knew about one other occupant in this place that had a shadow of his own, that developed his own personality. The shadow wolf didn't trust the Radio Demon as far as she could throw him, especially after what happened before and now with this latest trigger.
The shadow wolf looked at her other self, orange eyes narrowing at the dried tear tracks down her cheeks. Despite things, there were reasons why the wolf held such anger inside of her. While she didn't know the meaning of her existence, she knew why it was beneficial to have her around. The barbed-wire darkness protected the bruised and battered heart inside. It was the first line of defense. The shadow had been there since the beginning as Rory grew up from the first time she opened her eyes. She went through Rory's highs and lows. All of her wins and losses. Everything.
If the darkness, her backbone, her courage being there, Rory would have succumbed much earlier to her trials and tribulations.
The shadow wolf looked around the room, searching in the darkness of the room for anything unordinary. Hmm, nothing to address. Good.
As much as the shadow questioned her receptacle's morals, she would still keep the vow she made a long time ago. To protect her from all dangers, even one's lurKing within the very hotel that she thought that she was "safe".
And the Radio Demon? If he messed with them again, there was no denying it. She would do everything possible to obliterate him.
Deeper within the bowels of Hell…
It was common knowledge that there were three planes of existence. Throughout history, humans managed to keep the steady belief of the main three realms: Heaven, Earth, and Hell.
But you know what was truly murky? The truth of how it began and not confusing legend for fact. (Devil in the details, right?) The only one who knew the real truth were the higher beings of Heaven and Hell. Heaven's highest angels in existence and above, mainly with God. As above, so the ones who knew below. Mainly Lucifer, Lilith, and the Princes of Hell too and…maybe a few others.
And of course, Lucifer being prideful as ever loved the sense of irony. He loved to make a mockery of the kingdom he once belonged to. He loved to show what Heaven could truly be without the chains of his father's laws. But like every kingdom, they all had their secrets. And as its ruler, Lucifer was no exception. Hell had its own skeletons that were hidden from the commoners.
Hell was created after an aftermath of a battle that was even before Lucifer's time. What became of the circles/rings of hell was the physical scar into the underworld's land. A physical scar or imprint if you will from the battle between the light and dark.
Officially, there are seven circles of hell or the seven rings. Seven rings corresponding to the seven deadly sins. Pride, Lust, Greed, and so on. But remember while there were officially seven rings of hell, there were some who believed that there were actually nine. Most demons didn't have the means to properly investigate after this "conspiracy theory". Most of the demons like the Ars Goetia and higher only scoffed and laughed at such a ridiculous ghost story.
Oh, if only.
The Ninth Circle of Hell.
Mostly known for its main sin, treachery, didn't hold back on bringing on its full cold fury to anyone who sets foot in this place. If you're lucky to even find a way down here with it being such a secret. The last ring below in all of hell, very little light reached this place, leaving it an almost consistent darkness. Ironically enough, the furthest circle wasn't the hottest, but actually the coldest. Being so far from the light of hell's sun and God's light, what little light you had didn't do much good since this was a desolate frozen wasteland. Without the proper means or power, an average demon would surely die from the harsh cold winds and unrelenting snow storms. Only the frozen creatures of nightmares that dwelled here survived in these terrible conditions. Even the Excorcists would have their work cut out for them trying to finish a mission in this place.
But if you had the tools or the power, even a place like the ninth circle could be controlled to an extent.
Within this expansive frozen hell, there was a structure standing above these cold and icy banks, able to withstand everything this cursed land threw at them. The outer layer of the compound sometimes reflected in small amounts of light like obsidian glass. Within this black pyramid, this compound, it housed all of Hell's dirty secrets. Before the sinners were only designated into the Pride Ring, long ago, they used to be sorted within all the rings to their right destinations depending on their sin. The worst of the worst, would come here, being given two terrible choices. To either be stuck within the Lake Cocytus from the neck down and serve their punishment, or to be stripped of who they were, becoming frozen husks of ice, only having room within their minds to be subservient to Hell until their double-death.
These sundered souls/demons, guarding the compound and roaming the frozen lands were called "The Despoiled".
They appeared in different sizes, but all had the same common qualities. Foggy ice blue eyes that lacked intelligence, but possessed a deadly animal-like instinct. They were covered in blue-grey skin or fur with white lines that glowed brightly within the dark snow storms. Most of them were scars from their previous life or new ones now. Most of the Despoiled, the common foot soldiers, staggered around with little to no armor (mostly rags), but dangerous enough to kill even an average demon if not careful. The more powerful and strong ones donned armor and glowing blue weapons that made even the most experienced Exorcist be on his guard.
But the most dangerous beasts guarding the place? The Three Calamities. Corrupted and hulking horned ice giants that guard the gates of the entrances of the compound. West, south, and the east. These ice giants were originally once a mortal sinner, now warped and mutated into the very sin they encompassed. Given their treachery, they weren't given mercy. Each one for every gate had different colored chains that imprisoned them to hell's will. Chains accompanied each limb with special sharp points that dug into the skin, simultaneously making the giants obey but still cause them pain and bleed out, spurring them to howl in anger towards anyone who came near them.
Yellow chains for the west.
Red chains for the east.
Black chains for the south.
Silver chains for the north, for the most dangerous guard of them all. The Dragon. Supposedly similar to one of the most well-known forms for the greatest of the fallen, the ice dragon stalked outer perimeters of the compound. The only one free to roam around the other gates while the Calamities stayed at their post. Anyone that came across its sights was an unlucky soul indeed.
All of these guards, all of these provisions and power to keep something in…or more like someone in.
Within its cold prison walls, one woman made it her home. The whole pyramid was her palace, but not of her own choice. Despite her embracing the darkness, she'd prefer to choose her own fate, but that would never be given to her. Still, she had to make due.
Her favorite place was the library. Ironic how such a high security prison would house such a luxury. Given within her domain, every inch of the compound was like something from a gorgeous palace with only the best taste. It was still a cage, nonetheless.
She stood in front of one of her many walls of bookshelves, littered with every book you could find in the universe. Being a patron of knowledge and secrets, books were the lifeblood of her craft. She took utmost care of them like they were her own children. They were the closest thing she had to children. So many of them tend to. In fact, she couldn't help but look for one in particular.
Her perfectly cut yet dark and long nails made noise as they caressed the spines of the books. Sleek and long black hair fell down her back almost like a never-ending dark waterfall as she walked. Her pale moonlight skin contrasted and glowed against the tight confines of her dress. It would make you wonder how she would be able to breathe in such a thing with it so tight, but that secret was of her own. You could only imagine the dress anyway with it being wrapped by her robe, dyed in a dark gothic purple, lined with an almost silver fur trim.
Catlike purple eyes, lined with thick and dark lashes, widened at the book she spent a while searching for.
"There you are…" she practically cooed at the book, her slim fingers slipping through the pages. "I've been looking for you forever."
The Lady in purple trekked over to her desk, placing the book on the surface to be able to fully see. LooKing at the contents, her eyes widened. Yes…there's been a change.
He would want to see it.
She knew how he relished his rest, but this couldn't wait.
"My love…" a smooth female voice called out as if she were speaKing to a ghost. "I know you are awake."
It never took him long to come. She did have to appreciate that about him. He never kept her waiting. She patiently waited, sitting her over-grandiose chair, one leg crossed over the other. It didn't take long for an inky mass to creep under the doors of her library, slithering like a headless serpent. Its spiked tendrils sprouted back and forth from the blackness as it moved. Anyone with their right sense of mind would have run away, even though it was pointless. But the woman wasn't afraid. She shouldn't be. This was her companion, having been together for eons.
The shadow manifested itself, growing taller in height, even towering over her. Soon its form began to solidify somewhat with the head and arms forming, leaving the bottom expressionless as if it were a dark spector. However, unlike other shadows, this one's form hollowed out within his rib cage, revealing a hollow cavity bathed in the power of red light, a fiery blaze burning in the center like hellfire. Shadowy horns formed behind the shadow's head with the snout becoming more elongated and solid. It didn't take long for the shadow to finish its form, the outline of its shape reminiscent of a horned ram. Its eyes flashed opened to reveal red hot coals blazing. White pupils glowed brightly with the red five-pointed pentagram star sitting in the middle.
He was here. The King of Shadows.
His pentagram eyes shifted over to the woman who stood by side from the beginning. Even with hell's corruption, she was still hauntingly beautiful. If anything, more so now than before. A refined aristocratic face, thin nose, luscious lips that glistened with the color of a sinner's blood. Sinuous curves that would make anyone fall into lust looking at her. The shadow flew over to her, narrowing his gaze.
"Do you ever tire of knowing when I rise or lie in sleep, Azazel?" A dark and hollow voice rang out.
"It comes with the territory of our bond." Azazel explained fondly. "And besides, I have to tease you every once in a while. Otherwise, it would be such a bore here too quickly."
The shadow sweeped over the chair, his horned head laying on her shoulder. An effective chill ran through the woman's bones, but not of fear. "Don't you have your books for company? You seem rather occupied."
"It is because of one such book that I called you here," Azazel replied.
"Which book?"
Her amethyst eyes brightened with pride. "The Book of the Damned."
The large shadow couldn't stop the sigh of annoyance leaving him. A hollow growl rumbled in his throat; his chest brightening with the hellfire flames. "You awoke me from my slumber for another pointless change in information?! What else is new besides another damned soul being logged into the book?"
The witch remained quiet, allowing him to vent. The last several hundreds of years or so had grated the shadow's patience. Being stuck within confinement, with his current form, stuck in a cage like some low animal…it was barbaric. Beyond that even, being confined to a cage can do strange things to even the most powerful creatures. She often struggled with the same issues, her books and thirst for knowledge often being an outlet. But for him…he had his limits on what he could enjoy without being corporeal.
But the Book of the Damned was one of his few outlets.
Like Heaven who had the Book of Life, logging in the names of those souls who have come to paradise or being ready to come, Hell had their own book. The book logged in all creatures of evil who belonged to hell, mortal sinners who fell, and those who were destined for the same fate.
"It's not just any damned soul." The woman hinted, sending him a knowing smirk. "Take a look into the water and search for the name I showed you."
Another thing that kept Azazel occupied was her tool to look into the other rings of Hell. This dark pool of knowledge resided within the middle of the room. Hard black marble glistened within the candlelight in the library. Ornate yet dark decorations were etched into marble, reminding anyone who saw it of its darker origins. The pool was lined up with dangerous and poisonous plants, but usually with the Azazel's favorites: black lilies, dahlias, and nightshade. All of the plants are being fed with life by the water in the pool and the shadows are always coming into hell. With every demon in hell possessing a shadow, The witch could spy on anyone and what they were doing at that moment. There were seldom few she couldn't peer into without letting them know of her presence so she opted not to do that unless absolutely necessary.
She'd spent a lot of centuries keeping up with current events so that she stayed sharp. Know your enemies as well as you know yourself. It had become boring until recently…and she hadn't disclosed the news yet to him.
One thing at a time. She would rather give him the good news first before doing anything.
Deciding to indulge in her notions, the shadow crept over to reflective water, pentagram eyes narrowing at the sight. He knew every shadow in hell that came into being, every single one of them a puppet to his will. But lately, it's been rather boring being bound to this shadow form, not being able to do the things he would like.
Focusing on the name within his will, an image took shape with the shimmering dark water. Like a smoke screen being lifted, he peered into what was hidden. The King of Shadows watched with almost boredom at the wolf demon wrapped up within the covers, fitfully asleep. He couldn't deny seeing the dry tear stains on her cheeks, and her golden fur tousled up from the tossing and turning.
Peering closer inside the demon, the King could see what he was looking for: her soul.
His pentagram eyes widened at the sight. He hadn't seen this in years!
But the King knew he couldn't just assume things. He had to confirm to be sure.
But that wasn't the end of it. He watched as another form similar to his own crept out from under the bed, shaping into something almost solid. It didn't take long for him to put things together, seeing that this was the wolf's inner darkness. It had awoken…or at this point she.
Deciding it was time to meet her, he used the little bit of magic he had access to, the inky mass appeared in front of him. It didn't take long for the process to finish before its orange-red eyes peered upwards towards him, her shadowy form stepping out of the water.
The King of Shadows' eyes observed the shadow wolf, studying every detail. This smaller shadow struck a chord within his memory…it felt familiar yet new.
"My…my…" The King let out a chuckle, its shadowy hand brushing over the wolf's form. "It must feel good to be out of your prison, doesn't it?"
The wolf shuffled down into a submissive position, allowing the dominant shadow to do as he pleased with her. His instincts whispered around him, wanting to give him the hope he desired for so long in this desolate place, but he didn't dare. So much time in the dark, so much trial and error. Within hell, you can't make any mistakes. He wasn't going to allow himself any joy until he confirmed his suspicions. The shadowy claws swept over the wolf's head, it almost appeared as if his touch was corporeal from shadow to shadow. Like wiping away hair from someone's face, he finally found what he suspected…but it was so long. He had to see it for himself. And there it was…a glowing red rune appeared on her head.
It confirmed everything she said.
In a twisted joy he hadn't felt in so long, let out a long overdue laugh of delight. While it was one of happiness to him, to any other soul, it would fill them with terror. The King of Shadows in a gleeful mood now? A disaster waiting to happen.
Has it been so long since the King felt disappointment and anger?
"Oh, this is…delicious." The King cooed as he kept petting the wolf as she was more of a puppy instead of a demonic entity. The shadow wolf said nothing, only allowing the dominant one to do what he wished. She knew who had the true power at this moment, and he absolutely knew that too. And, he relished in this.
He wasn't the thing to be feared of.
He. Was. FEAR.
He was and is The Darkness. The Dark Lord. The one with eyes in the dark.
Or by the common tongue, Satan.
"Now, do you believe me?" Azazel teased, interrupting him, a Cheshire Cat smile enhancing her features.
"Oh my love…" The King purred with a proud tone in his throat, levitating over to his companion, using one hand to keep petting the wolf while using his free one to give a ghostly caress to his dark-haired beauty's face. "You know only, but a fraction of how elated I am to hear of this."
"Still…it's kind of hard to celebrate when you're carrying the wolf like a cat." The Lady gave a slight pout, her own long nails scraping through the apparition, unseeing the shadow's uncomfortable expression since the witch's full attention was on the King himself.
"I'll send her away at once." With an uncharacteristic stroke of gentleness, he gingerly set the wolf to the ground. His pentagram eyes settled on her orange ones; the pentagram pupil slowly began to spin until it gained more speed. Soon enough, his eyes encompassed a red glow with the same hypnotic effect appearing in the shadow wolf too. "Go back to her and not say a word of this meeting. You are intelligent to know of the consequences if you disobey me."
The shadow wolf kept her silence, her red eyes fading back to orange before running away from the King of Shadows, jumping back into the pool.
Satan finished his task, slithering over to bonded. "Done and done, my love."
"Do you feel better now?" She asked, her voice tinged with concern. "You see now things are not so in vain?"
He let out a hollow sigh. "While I am much better with this new development, you can agree that this is going to take time. I refuse to fail again."
"And we won't this time." She reassured him, her catlike purple eyes glowing brightly, passion burning within them. "You have my promise with that, my dark one. But for now…let's enjoy the journey. We've waited patiently for this long…who says we can't have some enjoyment in the meantime?"
Knowing that predatory look in her eyes, the King couldn't help but be curious. His own sadistic thirst hadn't been quenched in a while with the rest he'd put himself in. And there was that familiar look in her eyes…one he knew too well. "You know something else, don't you?"
"Possibly…" she answered vaguely, using her own purple-black magic to create tendrils that could wrap around the shadow, slowly caressing his ghost-like shoulders as they went. "Maybe a new group of interesting souls for you to play with and send them to their breaking points…all the while suffer."
"Hmmm, and why can't I enjoy them suffering now?" The horned shadow teased back.
"Because I want you…" Azazel answered plainly, leaning back into her chair, untying her robe slowly. Her nightgown aligned perfectly along her lithe frame, the slits in her dress sat at a high angle, close to the point of her higher milky thighs. One thigh crossed over another, leaving little imagination for the shadow to know what was his. "And it's been so long."
Something else stirred within him - a deep hunger. His cursed form didn't allow him to fully enjoy carnal desires like the way a physical body would. But imagine having the benefits of a sharp and intelligent witch as your bonded. She always thought outside of the paradigms set on her, not to be shackled down. For now, their usual way of being together would have to work. They couldn't be in a rush, anyway. "Alright, I'll allow it. But you will let me know who they are and we will keep an eye on them." The shadow King said, his shadowy tendrils caressing her magical purple ones. "I want to know more about them before I start…playing with my food."
"How about not playing with those peasants up there?" The Lady in purple almost growled, flashing her teeth to him as more of her lust took over. "And we can play in our own playground right here…"
"It will do…for now."
Giving her a hollow smile that should have terrified her, the King of Shadows' pentagram eyes dilated as his form shifted and became less solid. Soon enough, he became like a vapor, leaving only his glowing eyes as the indication of his presence.
She inhaled him like an addict with drugs, feeling the immediate high in her veins. She longed for him like no other, but her cravings for…well…complicated things had to be put at bay. As their essences joined, the Lady in purple experienced the ultimate blend of ecstasy and excitement, her screaming orgasm rippling across the walls of the compound. Only for the icy winds of the weather outside to drown it out.
FUN FACTS:
1) The chapter title was a little bit from one of the lyrics from the song called, Daylight's End. An original song from the League of Legends fandom. I pictured Azazel's singing voice to be of that.
2) Companion, in the old Hebrew times, was a word meaning spouse.
3) A lot of how I set up for the Ninth Circle was inspired from Dante's Inferno with a mix of Star Wars and Game of Thrones.
4) Most anticipated chapter for my good friend who already had his Satan debuted already. HAHAHA! I teased about this chapter for months to him.
5) Keep an eye on this one, guys. He's gonna be…lurking around.