The Next Day…
Laying in bed with a smirk on his face, and a sexually satisfying sigh leaving his lips the moment his girlfriend cuddled into his side. Lazarus felt he had it made as a demon of Hell. He had the girl, money to fall back on. And, he had a hotel room all to himself thanks to knowing the owner. Life was good right now for Lazarus.
Turning his head to the side where Liana was laid. Lazarus plants a tender kiss on the temple on the right side of his girlfriend's head. Causing her to groan lightly before smiling at the male who had disturbed her peace.
"Good morning, My Snowy Owl."
"Morning, Li-Li. Sleep well?"
The woman with the auburn hair nods gently in response. Earning a chuckle from the male sat up beside her. Stroking his girl's hair gently. Lazarus says softly.
"What did I ever do to deserve you?"
Liana smiles gently while putting on a mock thinking expression. She replied happily.
"I don't know. How does a womanizing, alcoholic, former angel of the lord get a simple bar waitress?"
Lazarus smiles. With a chuckle escaping him, he replies.
"I'm offended. I'm not an alcoholic."
Liana gives him a look of knowledge while still lying on her side. This leads to Snow gently swatting his girlfriend on the arm while a laugh escaped the two of them. Knowing Snow needed to get up soon so he could go to work as a contracted hitman that worked under Lucifer. Liana's naked body sat up from under the sheets that laid haphazardly over the two of them. Rising from the bed, she speaks while walking over to the vanity table at the other end of the room.
"Charlie spoke to me while you were dealing with Valentino yesterday."
This surprised Snow. Ever Snow had made Liana his girlfriend. Charlie had been uncharacteristically quiet around the two. She'd offer the two a good morning, or a good evening, in passing. But, when Snow was alone. She avoided him like the deltacron variant of the coronavirus. Lazarus knew why Charlie was doing this. But, his brother knew Charlie would be mad at Snow for what he had done.
"Two shifts today, Li. First, patrol duty for the guard. Then, I have a contract to fulfil later."
Liana nods. She knew her boyfriend was a busy demon with his work. And, with a side glance at the cash on his chest of drawers across the room. He was an effective hitman too. Watching the demon rise from the bed. She watched him dress into a black tank top, jeans, and steel-toed work boots before he sheathed his swords into the sheaves on his back. Once he was prepared. He looked back at Liana and, told her specifically.
"You remember what to do when someone comes looking for me?"
Liana nods before replying.
"You're not hard to find. If you have a problem, take it up with Lazarus Snow."
Lazarus nods. Kissing Liana before departing through the room's door. Liana stays in her bed before going on her scare phone. Though she loved her boyfriend. She still had her ex-boyfriend to worry about if he found out about the two of them. For now, Liana enjoyed the fact Lazarus would defend her. No matter what.
With Lazarus and Zerachiel
Guard duty was a boring affair for Lazarus. Zerachiel enjoyed the shift but, it wasn't for Lazarus. The two, and some other random royal guards, had been charged with bodyguarding the royal family while they attended a party in the Wrath Ring of Hell. Well, Zerachiel was close to the royals while they walked around and chatted. Lazarus was seen skulking about, sipping a glass of whiskey while keeping an eye out for the royal family.
As per the norm. Cain watched Lazarus with disdain while he was with his family. Charlie, however, paid no attention to the male walking around. This was something Lilith noticed from seeing Charlotte keep her distance from the snow-white sword demon. But, since Lazarus had found happiness with another demoness. She'd been reserved with her judgement of Snow taking another demoness as his lover.
"Well, sire. How do you like this little soiree myself and the wife have thrown together?"
Lilith's attention was brought back to Satan speaking to her husband beside her. She needed this distraction from playing observer between her daughter and the demon with the two swords. She would speak to Snow eventually about the rift he'd caused later. For now, she had to keep her elegance at the forefront of her posture. She wouldn't let anyone see she was distracted by her observations.
With Snow
The whiskey was flavourless to Snow. Though he enjoyed a good drink now and again since he had a girlfriend to tie him down. It didn't have the same kick anymore since he stopped womanising with demonesses. He wanted to show Liana that he could change. And, he wanted to show her that he could be boyfriend material. He wanted to change, he really did. But, whenever he looked at Charlie. His brother's words would replay in his head from the night he fought off Striker and his hired help.
'You're still pining for Charlie…, aren't you, Snow?'
'I am still pining for Charlie, Zack. But, I can't be with her just yet. It's not the right time.'
That was the thought playing through Snow's mind when his gaze travelled over to Charlie again. For now, he just settled for being an outsider looking in. He was a loyal man now. He wasn't going to throw his relationship away because of a longing feeling he had.
His thoughts were interrupted by a text on his phone. Taking the device from his pocket to check his messages. He is surprised to see Molly asking his opinion on the wedding dresses she'd picked out while shopping with Athena. Scrolling through the pictures sent to him. He texts back his opinion regarding a white dress with pink trim. He chuckled when he got a picture of Molly with stars in her eyes at the cute dress Snow had picked for her.
'My family has just become that little bit more interesting.'
Lazarus thinks to himself the moment he pockets his phone back into his pocket. The minute he does, he spots someone lurking in the shadows of Satan's mansion. He moved to intercept the potential threat.
Back With The Pride Ring Royal Family
Cain was the first demon to sense something was wrong while his sister was conversing with Satan's only son, Damian. He spots Snow slowly blending in with the crowd with a hand on the hilt of whisper, not Crowley. Stepping toward his sister, he says lowly.
"Stay with Damian, Charlotte. Something's amiss."
Charlie turns to face her brother before looking in Snow's direction. She saw him moving through the crowd, just like Cain had. But, she too saw the figure Snow had. This leads to her thinking.
'A being invisible to demons? This could spell trouble.'
Back With Snow
Lazarus was slowly approaching the being he'd seen slip in unnoticed by the denizens around him. Not even his brother had spotted the threat as quickly as he had. But, here he was. He also recognised the uniform the angel was in. It was one of Uriel's elite that was here to, from what Snow could tell, assassinate one of the royals. Moving quickly and, quietly drawing Whisper from its sheath. The elite was unaware anyone could see them until Snow was standing before them with a blade to their throat. This leads to the being saying cockily.
"Lazarus Snow. What a pleasant surprise to see you here."
The angel got the sword pressed closer to the front of their throat in response. This led to the angel holding their hands up further in mock surrender when Snow spoke dangerously.
"Give me one reason I shouldn't cut your tongue from your throat, Samiel."
The angel smirked. He'd lost count of how many times his tongue would get him trouble with his higher-ups in Heaven. This was the first time someone had threatened to cut his tongue out. Knowing the demon before him would bring his threat to light. He spoke.
"Why so serious? I'm just here to deliver a message on behalf of my commander, Lazarus."
This led to Snow approaching the being and, disarming him of all of his weapons to make sure he didn't try anything while the Devil Dog maintained eye contact with the angel. The angel said something that made Lazarus's eyes widen in fury.
"How is your girl, Lazarus? Hope she's keeping well…, considering what is awaiting her."
SMACK
There went the angel's head against the concrete pillar Snow had them pinned up against. With the, now, limp body of the unconscious angel dropping to the floor. Lazarus pressed the button on his earpiece to get a message out to Zerachiel.
"General, do you copy? ANSWER ME ZACK!"
"Snow, what's going on? What the fuck happened?"
"I need one of the guys to come back to the Happy Hotel with me. Something has happened to Li-Li!"
No sooner had Snow mentioned Liana was in danger. Zerachiel was by his brother's side in a flash. This leads to Lucifer questioning the retreating form of the general of his guards abandoning his post.
"General Zerachiel. Where are you going?"
Zerachiel had only a few seconds to speak when he moved past the crowd to reach the royal family. That was until he noticed Cain was missing from his mother's side. That was when Zerachiel put two and two together when Charlie caught his eye. She too was looking for her older brother who, when Snow was questioning the angel, had vanished without a trace. If what Zerachiel was thinking right now was true. He didn't want to be Cain when Snow returned to the pride ring.
"Stopping my brother from massacring the entirety of Hell, your highness."
Pride Ring
It hadn't taken Snow longer than five minutes to return to his home ring of Hell. After calling Athena to tell her what had happened. Lazarus was a demon-possessed from the seat of his motorbike. Speeding his way through traffic like a bat out of Hell. He was going to massacre anyone who got in his way if anyone had touched a hair on his beloved Liana's head.
'Hold on just a little longer Li-Li. Your Snow Owl is on his way.'
Happy Hotel
The sight of a door blown off of its hinges from the front entrance to the hotel was what greeted the male the moment he arrived outside of the hotel. Unsheathing Whisper and Crowley from their sheaves. Lazarus was in murder mode right now when he rushed into the building.
"LIANA!"
His eyes widened in horror with what he saw before him after calling his beloved's name. On the balcony was Liana. She is seen stripped naked with a cross carved onto her chest going down to her torso. Which also led to the words which read, 'Whore' carved into her stomach. She was nailed through her hands to the front wall of the hotel on a cross with blood dripping down from the balcony she was nailed to. Snow hadn't moved an inch since discovering his girlfriend like this. He couldn't move. There were too many emotions mixing for him to think straight. But, the strongest one of those emotions that broke through? It was his rage. The sound of a gun being cocked behind him told him all he needed to know the moment he recognised the gun bearer who had done this to his precious Liana.
"You betrayed Hell just to get to me?"
"It was nothing personal, Lazarus. But, Uriel made me an offer I couldn't pass up."
Lazarus growled angrily at the betrayal playing out before him. Cain held his revolver to the back of Snow's head while he smirked evilly. He knew what he was doing by laying the trap Eric sprung back at the party in the Wrath Ring.
"Uriel offered to lend me one of his expendable soldiers to, run interference if you will. In exchange. I get to kill you instead of Uriel killing you himself."
Lazarus kept his grip tight on his blades while Cain kept the revolver against the demon's head. This was one stalemate Snow had to think his way out of.
"Surrender quietly, Lazarus. Surrender and, I'll consider letting you live."
Lazarus seethed in anger towards the male that had given him the ultimatum. Luckily, Cain wouldn't be able to hold his threat up for long the moment he heard a commotion outside. It was Zerachiel who had caused Cain to lose focus and, allow Snow to swing his sword around, and cut off the arm of the hand that held the gun. This leads to Cain shouting.
"I DON'T THINK SO YOU CUNT!"
Cain tripped up Snow before he could make a break for it to warn Zerachiel of Cain's betrayal.
Song Play: 'Free Your Hate' by KMFDM
Kicking Cain in the face so he could get back up to his feet. Lazarus had to dodge punches aimed at his face by bobbing and weaving. With an opening. Lazarus pump kicked Cain in the chest before smashing his left knee into Cain's ribs. A horrendous snap from Cain's ribs could be heard from Lazarus's knee strike before the male continued his onslaught.
Despite Cain missing an arm. The two managed to collide with each other. fist meeting fist and, kick meeting kick. Neither demon was willing to give an inch against each other. Despite this sudden stalemate between the one-armed royal and the demon-fighting to avenge Liana.
Lazarus found another opening and, he began lacing into Cain with punches that looked like they would crack the royal's skull open. That is if said royal hadn't thrown a stiff elbow straight into Snow's nose. Sending blood flying everywhere following the horrendous breaking noise coming from Snow's nose and orbital bone before Cain made another move after using a spinning back fist with his only remaining hand before kicking out at Snow straight into his aggressor's gut. Causing Snow to spit up blood before he was seen kneeling on the ground from the attack that had caught him off guard.
"You can't win, Lazarus. I'm too strong for you. Just give up and die!"
Lazarus growled angrily at Cain's taunt. The image of blood dripping from Snow's mouth and right eye socket was all Cain got before the demon knelt on the ground and gave him the middle finger in defiance. This leads to Cain landing a thrust kick into a kneeling Snow's chest. Collapsing the ribs and causing Snow to spit up more blood. Cain's next piece of offence was followed up by a one-inch punch straight to Snow's jaw. Sending the male flying and, effectively, shaking loose the swords from Snow's grip when he collided with the back wall head first. When Cain began walking over to the male he had sent flying. He pins Snow to the wall with his sword. With the words seething from his mouth in a hiss like a snake. Cain asks angrily.
End Song
"Hmm, why do you not use your strength, Lazarus Snow? Has that whore I killed made you soft?!"
Cain had practically shouted this with hidden frustration as the male makes his way over to the coughing male. With blood staining his mouth and, now covering his face. He found himself being lifted by his blood-stained snow-white hair and, was forced to gaze upon Cain. Who, when Snow saw that Charlie's older brother looked bored by this display shown by the Snow.
"Come on, Lazarus. Fight back, you bastard! Show me your strength damn it! STAND UP AND FIGHT BACK."
With a spit of a bloody loogie into Cain's eye. The royal sighed angrily before dropping Snow onto his front and, punting him full force into his ribs. Effectively sending him flying into the roof of the hotel before awaiting him to fall from the hole Cain had made in his sister's hotel roof.
As he closed her eyes. He began to accept his fate. Until heard a faint noise caught his attention.
"LAZARUS!"
With a half-lidded gaze from the pain he felt. Snow saw Zerachiel shouting at him. This left him with tears in his eyes at seeing his brother watching him fall like this. Something Cain noticed all too well as he spoke with no hint of remorse.
"Hmm. maybe this will help you fight back."
What happened next changed Snow's look from one of pain to pure unadulterated rage.
What he saw was Cain, with Snow's sword in hand that he intended to impale Snow with when he landed, cut down Zerachiel before Snow's very eyes.
"NO!"
Snow's shout landed on deaf ears. As he watched Zack fall to the floor in front of his brother. Cain stood, unmoving and cold, while Snow's eyes had widened in horror while he was recovering from the shock and pain he felt.
"YOU BASTARD!"
Cain slowly turned to face the male who had now landed on the ground with tears in his eyes. As he knelt to face the male laid out on the ground. He gets close enough to his ear and whispers.
"He was weak. And, just like you. I intend to kill the rest of your wretched family!"
Snow's eyes widened in fury at the male's taunt. As he felt his tears evaporate from the burning fire about to be unleashed. He soon found himself standing groggily before shouting.
"YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!"
Song Play: 'You Want a Battle? Here's a War!' by Bullet For My Valentine
In a burst of blinding hellfire. Lazarus burst forth and grabbed Cain by the face while he was screaming in fury. When he got enough power in his arm. Lazarus threw Cain through the ground below them before continuing his assault. Causing Can to cover up and, try and defend himself from the enraged male whose assault was leaving him reeling. And, it was causing Cain to cover up from the sudden onslaught Snow was brought to the royal.
"I'M GOING TO FUCKING KILL YOU!"
Cain couldn't come up with anything as Snow seemed to be too quick for him to defend against. With the punches becoming too much. And, with quick thinking, once Snow stupidly, left an opening while enraged. Cain quickly blinded the rage-fuelled demon with a flash of fire. The blinding was to the point of Cain landing a roundhouse kick to Snow's temple. Sending him flying and, landing next to Zerachiel's bleeding, but still breathing, body. Once Snow was subdued by Cain pinning him to the ground with Snow's other sword Crowley. Cain knelt to Snow's level and, said with sadistic glee.
"Die like the little cunt you are, Lazarus Snow. You, and your weak brother, will die in this hotel. And, when everyone sees your sword through your brother's body and, the burnt remains of my sister's precious, yet useless, hotel. I'll be hailed as the hero who stopped you from betraying Hell!"
Lazarus tried to weakly raise his hand in defiance to grab Cain's left suit pant leg. Only to have his hand kicked away and, by Cain's black leather boot connecting with Snow's jaw. Cracking it and, leaving him unconscious on the floor as the royal exited the hotel.
End Song
Outside The Hotel
With a lit match between his index and middle fingers. Cain looks at the small, burning piece of wood with wonder before looking back at his sister's hotel. Kicking the gas pipe that was attached to the building. Cain threw the lit match at the exposed pipe leaking gas into the air before a huge explosion rocked the Pride Ring of Hell while Cain walked away. Without looking back at the damage he had caused. Cain commandeered the bike Snow had ridden back to the Pride Ring on to confront Cain in the first place. He needed to act as he'd just witnessed Snow go berserk and kill Zerachiel, Liana and the hotel's inhabitants before being put down by Cain. If only he knew someone had witnessed the whole thing.
"Mizael. Do you read me?"
"Go ahead, Emily."
"I've found the demon and the fallen angel you wanted me to find. They seem to be in pretty rough shape."
"Good work, Em. Patch them up and, prepare the transport to Heaven. It's time I repaid an old debt to their late mother."
"Understood, Mizael. Preparing to extract them."
Making sure no denizen saw the demon disguised angel approaching the burning hotel. Upon her entrance into the burning building and being careful to avoid the burning debris around her. Emily began to look for the two she had been sent to take back to Heaven. She didn't have to look for long when she saw the bleeding males before her on the floor of the hotel. With a look of sadness toward Zerachiel and Lazarus. She says softly.
"Don't worry guys. You're not dying today. Mizael's orders."
Working carefully to pull the sword from Zerachiel and, as she lifted him with some struggle onto her right shoulder. She turned her attention to the male with the lopsided jaw. Lifting Snow gently onto her free shoulder. Emily hears the approaching vehicles of the royal guard of Hell approaching when one of them shouts upon seeing the disguised female carrying the two bodies of the badly beaten up brothers.
"HALT! PUT DOWN THE BODIES AND SURRENDER YOURSELF!"
Emily, while letting her angelic strength hold the two males on her shoulders, without the risk of falling off. Casually throws a flashbang that, when thrown, stuns demons for up to five hours upon the banger letting out a blinding holy light. When the light died down and Emily escaped with the two brothers. Charlie appeared and, upon seeing her hotel burning and the bodies of Liana and Vaggie were blown to hell in front of her. She could do nothing but fall to her knees in front of the burning building.
She didn't want to believe what her brother had told her about Snow going berserk and causing this. But, since someone had vanished with the two bodies. And, Snow and Zerachiel had run from the law. Charlie's heart broke at having to consider Snow had betrayed all those years of the two being friends. All because of what Cain had told their family.
Her heart hurt even more when one of the guards approached and, told Lucifer and Lilith the news they didn't want to hear.
"Your highnesses. We tried to apprehend the fugitive's family. But, when we got to the house owned by Athena. Lazarus's sister and, Don Marconi's daughter had vanished without a trace left behind."
Lucifer nods to acknowledge the guard's words. Lilith, however, was not so sure about this whole thing. After she had heard the story her heavily bleeding son had told the family. Something seemed off with her only son's story about how the explosion and, Lazarus's, supposed, betrayal of the royal family that had taken in his family and, himself after Cassiel sacrificed herself to make sure Charlie was safe. For now, she would accept Cain's story. But, she would be wary of her son's behaviour in future. Her only thoughts being this.
'I hope you are safe, Lazarus Snow. For everyone's sake.'
A/N: Wow. Writer's block is a bitch, guys. But, this chapter is finally complete. And, it concludes the Hell arc of Morningstar. Sorry if this arc seems rushed. But, I needed to get this chapter out. Otherwise, writer's block would have forced me to abandon the story altogether.
But, it's here. And, I hope you all enjoy this story so far. And, in the next chapter. It begins the Heaven arc of Morningstar.
End of A/N.