"GABRIEL'S RETURNED!" Azrael shouted joyously as she hugged Samur and spun him around.
After all the tragedy that happened six months ago, the angel of death retreated to her domain and has barely left since. She allowed her father, her brother, his wife, and her niece to visit her as she kept to herself, but besides that she was alone most of the time to deal with their losses. However that all seemed like a distant memory now as her entire mood changed, if not indicated by her embrace of the Maykr seraphim then by the bright beaming smile she had. Speaking of, though she had up until now mostly resided in her domain, she decided to keep the form she had made for herself when in Lucifer's circle as she had grown attached to it.
"Yes, but could you please put me down?" He requested though in a completely calm way, as this display of her happiness didn't bother him it was just inconvenient.
"I'm sorry." She apologized while releasing him, "I'm just so...so...gah I can't even put into words how wonderful this is!" She exclaimed.
"I understand completely, however we do still need to help bring back the Slayer and the demon Sir Pentious from Doom, to accomplish this we need your help." He informed.
"Of course! Any help at all I can be to this mission I offer without restraint!" She assured just as a thought came to her, "But wait, how do father and the Wretch plan to go about this? If I'm not mistake you said that the only way Gabriel returned is due to a device known as a Slipgate, but Will destroyed it so how can we save them without any risks?" She asked, having come to call the Slayer by his name in the months that passed.
"Certain details are still being worked out, however the part you play in this is most important." He began as he put his hands behind his back, "Though we've yet to discern a method of sending the Wretch to Doom without giving the Dark One any opportunities, we are working to create a permanent prison which unlike the Slayer's own will be impervious to failure, and part of ensuring its success is you imbuing it with your power." He explained.
"That makes sense, even the Dark One if he is trapped again should be contained for good with my power involved, but that is where the challenge will lie." She responded.
"This is true, however by that point both the Wretch and the Slayer shall fight him together, and since he was able to defeat him on his own victory is inevitable." He said.
"I'd advise you not to think so lightly of the Dark One, after all he did manage to escape before so it would be a fool's mindset to assume he has no schemes being orchestrated as we speak." She warned.
"Of course, but again as the Slayer is already in their domain keeping them busy, our biggest obstacle is sending the Wretch there without playing into those schemes, but that is to be sorted in due time as for right now our concern is making the Soul Cube an inescapable prison." He urged.
"Soul Cube?" She inquired finding that name to be curious. "Your father's choice." He clarified.
"Ah, that does make sense." She replied with a smile as her father wasn't the best when it came to names sometimes, "Well then, if my role is only to give my power to this device then I as said am
more than willing to give it, but seeing as how you do not have it with you I assume it is still being constructed?" She asked.
"Indeed, we also need to wait until the Khans are inside, so it will be some time before it is truly ready." He answered.
"If that is the case then I shall wait with my family, that is if father has no objections." She said.
"All he asks is you refrain from sharing information of our plan with Lucifer and the others, he doesn't want them to be involved in the event something goes wrong, in addition to keeping them safe." He explained.
"I can manage that, though given all he has been through is this level of secrecy applied to Gabriel as well?" She asked.
"No, if you want to speak with him about this you can, just make sure no one else hears you." He answered.
"Can do." She replied as a portal opened up next to her, "Now then, time for another family reunion!" She exclaimed with zest before taking her leave.
Happy to see she was in such high spirits, with his task done he too opened a portal and returned to Urdak to see how things were going there.
A Short While Ago In Lucifer's Circle...
"Alright, I guess we're ready." Lucifer said while readying himself to see another of his siblings.
Not long after their interrogation of Gabriel was over did they too finish their food, also Alastor finally pulled back his shadow from Blitzo's mouth after the Imp nearly passed out from exhaustion. With all their bellies especially the archangel's now full, the two brothers were ready to try and get as much information out of Abaddon as possible. Though given they had ALWAYS been a mute even before the emotional trauma, their chances were about as good as someone walking down the street and finding a unicorn.
"Good luck dad!" Charlie exclaimed as she hugged him, though a bit sad that she couldn't go with as she wanted to meet another member of her family.
"Take as much time as you need hon." Lilith advised as she kissed him on the cheek.
"In truth we have all of eternity to save the Slayer as he and the rest of Doom are sealed away, I say this because we may actually need that much time to try and get in Abaddon's good graces." Gabriel admitted.
"He's right, Abaddon was always the most colorful, cheery, and optimistic of us, after the war however they became the exact opposite of that in every way due to how much turmoil it caused them, it was nearly the same as father's." Lucifer explained.
"Colorful, cheery, and optimistic? Gee who else do we know that fits that description?" Vagatha asked.
"Vaggie..." Charlie replied with a slight whine as an embarrassed blush appeared on her cheeks, which in turn caused her girlfriend to smile.
"Maybe you should take Charlie with you, I mean if they're so alike then she could actually help out." Angel Dust suggested.
"While that is not a bad idea, considering they have never met in addition to how we've not spoken to each other in several lifetimes, I don't think we need to add awkward family reunion on top of everything else." Lucifer replied.
"Eh he's got a point, family reunions suck." Husk chimed in from behind the front desk, already opening a bottle to get himself a drink.
"You say that like you've got experience." Vagatha noted.
However instead of responding to her he flicked the cork of the bottle he opened in her direction, followed by downing nearly half its content in a single go.
"Anyway, we should really get going, even with no time limit on this better to get it done as soon as possible." Lucifer said as he looked to Gabriel, "Think you can open a portal back there?" He asked.
Responding with an immediate attempt, to both his and Gabriel's joy he succeeded on the first try, showing that if his powers had been hindered they were back to normal. And so with but one final nod and wave to the others they went through, Gabriel closing it once they were a few feet in.
"Whelp, now we sit on our asses and do nothing." Angel Dust said as he walked over to a chair before plopping down.
"Be honest Lilith, how long do you actually think they'll be gone?" Katie asked.
"Lucifer's told me all about his siblings, down to their unique quirks and mannerisms, so with that said as well as their history...they could be there for days, maybe even weeks." She answered.
"You've GOT to be shitting!" Cherri shouted in disbelief.
"Unfortunately no, Lucifer was telling the truth when he said the fallout of the war affected Abaddon the most after Vega, out of all his siblings they're the only one to truly disappear into their circle of Hell, honestly it's a miracle Gabriel managed to get them to appear to help him." She explained.
"Well that's just fucking peachy keen..." Cherri replied as she threw her head back over her chair, "So we could still be weeks, maybe a few MONTHS away from getting Will back..." She sighed.
"Hey, at least we're getting him back." Millie said to try and lighten everyone's spirits, "Before tonight we thought he was gone for good, but now even though it will take time he is in a sense on his way!" She exclaimed.
"She's right! We shouldn't sit around here moping and wailing like a bunch of depressed orphans, we should be doing our part to make sure his return is as grand as it can be!" Alastor said.
"And how exactly do you want us to do that?" Husk questioned.
"Simple, as it stands there are a few things we've yet to do, such as you Vox!" Alastor exclaimed while pointing to his rival.
"Choose your words carefully deer boy." He warned.
"Now now no need to get all snarly! I'm just saying that you're still working on that thing of yours right? The thing based on Will's fight against Doom?" Alastor asked.
"...You mean the video game?" He questioned.
"Yes that!" Alastor confirmed causing Vox to roll his eyes, as the radio demon's steadfast refusal of all modern inventions still baffled him, "You and Velvet can put your energy and focus to that!
And the same goes for the rest of us!" He explained.
"That's a really good idea Al!" Charlie said as a smile came to her face, "In fact, we could even throw him another party when he returns! But this time it'll be bigger maybe even a whole parade!" She suggested.
"You might want to reconsider that one princess." Husk spoke up as he reached over and grabbed a remote on his desk, "Have you forgotten about this?" He asked as he turned on the TV.
One of the new additions to the hotel after it was rebuilt was a brand new HUGE television in the lobby, which was there for Husk's entertainment and the residents as well. However what he turned it onto wasn't one of his favorite shows or anyone else's, instead it was channel 666 news which was having its late night broadcast. As for why of all things he wanted to show them this, it's because ever since their circle got rebuilt there had been one thing you could always count on, and that was a certain noble causing trouble.
"Thank you as always for being here miss Helsa, to continue discussing the ever growing divide in the public's opinion regarding the reform." Tom Trench spoke as he looked across his desk at the woman.
Skin as black as charcoal, white hair that served as a nice contrast, venomous green eyes that threatened to poison your soul, and an outfit that struck the perfect balance between posh and business, this was the textbook description of Helsa Von Eldritch. But to those who knew her personally, none better than Charlotte Magne herself, she could be described in a far shorter way with but one simple word, bitch.
"And as always Tom it is my pleasure to be here, to serve as the voice of the hundreds no THOUSANDS of souls who are strongly against it." She replied with a smile made for the camera.
"Onto the topic of discussion for tonight, it has been about half a year since the invasion happened which ended with the Slayer sacrificing himself to save us all, however it has also been half a year since the reform was set into motion as well, so I think I speak for everyone when I ask what are your feelings on all of it? I mean there is no denying that a lot of good has come from the reform." He said to get things started.
"Of course, I'm not trying to insult all of the good that has come from lord Lucifer and lady Lilith's more active participation in our society, if anything that is what I am personally most grateful to the Slayer for." She replied.
"What about the princess and her hotel?" He asked.
"Oh, you mean the hotel for hazbins?" She questioned with a snarky grin, "Honestly I think that's the one building that should've stayed destroyed, to serve as a reminder of just how...stupid of an idea it is." She stated.
Hearing that everyone slowly turned their heads to look at Charlie, and to their absolute shock her usually happy demeanor was nowhere to be found. Standing there with a clearly forced smile and
tightly clenched fists, her eye began to twitch ever so slightly as a result of the other woman's words.
"Hazbins?..." Charlie questioned.
"Hon..." Vagatha said as she gently grabbed her shoulders, "She's just talking out of her ass, don't let it get to you." She told her.
Taking her girlfriend's advice she breathed in and out for a few seconds to keep her cool, which sadly proved pointless as the interview went on.
"I see your feelings about the hotel haven't changed since our very first discussion miss Helsa, does this play into your family's stance against the reformation? As well as so many others' shared view?" He asked.
"Oh most certainly, see while we welcome all the good that has come from the reform, we do think that this enforcement of moral improvement is a direct betrayal of the entire purpose Hell is meant to serve, we're not here to be better people or learn to sing in any church choirs, we're here to revel in sin and do as we please with no repercussions." She answered.
"But you and your family are natural born Hellspawn miss Helsa, yet you say this as if you were cast down here after a life on earth." He pointed out.
"True, but if anything I feel that gives me, my family, and all the other Hellspawn who were born here the best perspective and opinion of how things should be run, now again I cannot stress enough that this reform is not entirely a bad idea, it is merely the pressure to be good people rather than letting it be our choice that's one of the core issues, and to prove that this is how we feel we are in full support of the Authorities as it is nice to no longer worry about yearly exterminations, plus they ensure the worst of us are kept in line when they get a bit too big for themselves and cause actual trouble, but we must keep in mind that it was the Slayer who helped fix that problem, NOT the reform." She responded.
"Ah yes speaking of the Slayer, as the months have gone by you and your followers have been surprisingly quiet about him, which is a shock to myself and others keeping a close eye on things as we assumed you'd blame him for all of this, what are you thoughts on that?" He inquired.
"Like the other nobles and demons of our circle I and my family at first were terrified of him, even after the death of Valentino when we showed our support we were still wary of the possibility that he might point his shotgun in our faces, but once his story and his museum were given to us we learned of his pain, learned of how much he suffered over the course of his now immortal life, and we also learned that the reason for his torment and the invasion those six months ago, was because our lord Lucifer and the other devils of Hell came together and created Doom, so just like us he was but a victim and was only trying to make things right." She explained.
"Forgive me, but didn't you just say that you, your family, and your followers approved of what lord Lucifer is doing now? That his more active role in our lives is a good thing?" He questioned.
"What he does now and what he did then are two completely separate things under completely different circumstances, allow me to clarify." She said as she cleared her throat, "What lord Lucifer and the other devils did during the war between Heaven and Hell we do not blame them for, it was a war and in such times you must try everything to win it, thus it has no bearing on his actions now as he strives to create a far better life for us than we have ever had." She explained, "With that being said however the whole reason for our protests, this movement, and these discussions you and I have together are about the flaws in this plan as a whole, hence why I mentioned the hotel
and why it is a terrible idea, in fact I will go so far as to say that IF the Slayer had approached anyone else in Hell such as my family or the other nobles, that this reform, the invasion, all that we have endured and continue to endure wouldn't have happened, it is because he was tricked into believing the bullshit they sell at the hotel that we are where we are now, if anything I'd go even further to say that Charlotte is partly responsible for why he isn't here now." She stated.
Yup, that was it, the straw to break the camel's back, for the moment she finished speaking the television exploded in a terrifying eruption of fire. Same as before everyone in the room slowly looked towards Charlie, only to find her horns were out, her teeth now fangs, and she was more pissed off in this one moment than she had ever been in her entire life.
"THAT FUCKING BITCH!" She shouted out in violent anger, her eyes as red as the fire that consumed both her hands, "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK DOES SHE KNOW?! WHAT IN THE EVER LOVING FUCK DOES SHE THINK SHE KNOWS ABOUT ANYTHING?!" She asked to
no one.
Watching this unfold in stunned silence none of them, not even Vagatha or Lilith knew how to respond or try to calm her down. Thankfully the spirit of perfect comedic timing was present, as without warning a portal suddenly opened up and out stepped Azrael, who most of them hadn't seen in half a year.
"GABRIEL! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE BACK!" She shouted with an ear to ear smile, arms open wide ready to hug her angelic brother.
Sadly as the portal closed and she took in the scene in front of her, it didn't take long to figure out she showed up late to the party.
"Oh...he's not here..." She said as she put her hands back to her side, "Also...are you alright Charlie?" She asked now noticing her niece's altered appearance.
"Bit of advice." Husk spoke to her while lightly swirling the contents of his beverage around in the bottle, "You might want to take a peak into where you're gonna pop up next time, ya know make sure you're not walking in on a nuclear detonation." He said before chugging the remaining half of the booze.