The atmosphere of Static Box was so fired up at the moment that they both entered the threshold, after paying cover of 40 souls (Did they really have to pay the entrance, perhaps the retarded-looking Sinner who acted as a bouncer didn't know already whom they are?!), and each one, because the aforementioned bouncer had said that they were lucky because it was "Girls night out and they get in for free", looking at Loona with evident lust, to the boredom and unfathomable expression of the hellhound... and evident rage from the imp that was with her, who hissed to open the door and shut his snout or he'll make the Sinner suck his flintlock pistol... The guy frowned, then laughed stupidly and charged to both to let them pass.
"Why did you have to open the sewer that you have for mouth, Blitz? I was going to use to get a drink for the visual and headache pain." Loona grumbled, still looking at her phone with more intensity than ever, because the noise of drunks wasn't only deafening, but also the blurred vomit of the neon lights around... Especially the one on the long walkway that was in the middle, which glowed faintly in different shades of pink, all forming hearts.
Blitzo just grunted, also wanting a good drink to pass the annoyance.
Fortunately both didn't stand out there due to the abundance of other imps and hellhounds in the place that talked, laughed, drank or looked at the whore-dancers, almost all Sinners and the occasional succubus; Blitzo was no stranger to those kinds of places, in fact it was in one of them working as a bouncer that he met one of his ex-girlfriends, Verosika, before she left the whorehouse and start a singer career... Heh, that was precisely Moxxie before entering fully into the hitman business, although he never told Blitzo why he left it... Although he had a suspicion that it was something related to Millie. Damn, the sniper's life revolved around the little finger and vagina of the southern female imp, Mox even didn't want to accompany Blitzo on the bachelor party that he had prepared with such care for him with alcohol, cake and whores muddy with said cake, just because he wanted a quiet night of wine with his fiancée, for fuck's sake!
Well now, let's forget the happy couple whom better their asses are on the way to meet the client or Blitzo would make them pay dearly for their childish rebellion... He approached the bar to order a beer, finding only one cocktail list with weird names and ingredients that it would make you roll your eyes: A 'Messalina's Dolce Vita' with melted gummy bears and vodka with cherries, or a 'Screwdriver Orgasm', which was a mix of both cocktails, all of them very expensive. Blitzo snorted: Can't they sell regular beer like most bars in Imp City?
"Hey, a couple of beers... the Bacchatio one (1), whatever that shit is."
The bartender, a Sinner with a curious poisonous mushroom head with purple bumps, looked at him as he pulled out some dusty bottles from under the bar that looked like no one had taken them out in a while. Blitzo handed over a crumpled a 50 souls bill from his pocket and took a long drink: It tasted like piss mixed with cheap beer, but well, he has tasted worse things. He took another sip and turned to the bartender.
"Will your master be here soon? We're here to talk on business and he summoned us here."
The bartender scowled at the grinning imp in a ragged coat and the hellhound who was texting endless without drinking from her bottle after smelling it just once. "...Valentino is here for his main star's weekly show. If you're here for business, then you have to wait."
"Ugh, fuck me. And when will that star come out?"
At his words, Loona's ears perked up a bit as they saw the increase in the excitement of the attendees, the catwalk of pink hearts glowed more brightly as the ceiling lights began to dim, making it shine the yellow eyes of demons... and a pair of pink heart-shaped glasses on a dais near them, and Blitzo, using his vast mercenary experience, was able to catch it out of the corner of his eye, glancing at it… Oh, so there was the 'Alpha Bitch'.
The Overlord was sitting in a high chair, quite far from the others, but still his figure was rising, even though he knew that the moth-shaped Sinner was quite tall. Next to him were two whores, a black-haired succubus in a schoolgirl outfit and an orange-haired hellhound in white clothes, which made the hitman imp fidget restlessly from the bar stool at the thought of his Loona, still staring her phone and apparently indifferent to the looks and hisses around… "No, don't do anything stupid, don't go to kill anyone, we need the money, we need the money..." Blitzo repeated gritting his teeth and clenching his Flintlock on the lapel of his coat. He concentrated on glancing at his new patron of the moment who was observing with a complacent smile the back of the stage, a group of neon lights in the shape of a heart surrounded by lines that resembled a spider web… And pink eyes that glowed between.
The whistles and screams of the crowd huddled around the runway, watching those eyes converge on four arms and a slim pink body, expertly circling the pole dance tube, just wearing a fuchsia skirt, black fishnet stockings over platform boots, twisting a pink feather boa in the shoulders. Two arms clinging to the tube, the other two squeezing the spongy bulge of his chest, where there was an elegant bottle of wine, moving it up and down as if it were a Russian blowjob, always with a lewd expression to the delight of the assistants.
Blitzo arched an eyebrow: He have heard a lot about the famous pornstar, but he wasn't of his interest. Of course, the smile on Valentino's face was almost cruel when he saw the Spider Sinner spin around in the tube and then roll on the floor of the catwalk, being covered with the bills that fell on him... "And I'm sure he won't even have a quarter of that." Blitzo thought, drinking again from the disgusting beer: It was no secret that the whores who served Valentino seemed more to be paying a debt to the pimp than making money.
How come you ended up here anyway, working for the insect Overlord jerk? Oh, right: It was almost past due the rent for the office, and the landlord, unfortunately, couldn't be killed or deceived by faking their deaths as he had done so many times before...
"Mr. Blitzo? Lord Valentino is waiting for you behind the stage."
Blitzo snapped out of his reverie. How long had it been? Angel Dust's performance had ended and the catwalk was off and people were scattered around the place like the beginning. The imp tossed the empty bottle, ignoring a distant cry of pain and the sound of shattering glass. "Damn, about time! Lead the way. Loony, stay close to me."
"Whatever," The hellhound muttered still looking her phone, but following him. They both followed the bartender toward a dark door off the main walkway, wading the drunks and provocative waiters and dancers. Blitzo looked everywhere, locating a couple of emergency exits in case of making an unexpected exit due to some riot, something common when dealing with this very convulsed area of Pentagram City.
Just as the rag spider had retired, Valentino had done the same. Blitzo feared the worst and that perhaps it was a trap, but upon reaching a simple door guarded by two burly bodyguards. One of them growled: "Do you have weapons? They must have given before see Valentino!"
"Yeaaah well, the little dipshit outside didn't tell us that, so consider it a staff's fault," Blitzo said with a crooked smile. Seeing that the guards raised their AK-47s in his face, he snorted. "Okay, one sec!" And grumbling he handed his Flintlock pistol to the bartender. "Done, happy now?!"
Their response was to point the cannon at his daughter, who just rolled her eyes and reached into her pocket, took out some spiked knuckles and handed them over.
They entered in a dark room barely lit by pink and white bulbs, with one wall lined with screens showing every angle of Static Box, from the main entrance to the emergency exits, each of dancers and whores dancing on tables and pole dance tubes, and everything behind in the private rooms: Extreme sadomasochism sessions, food play, electrostimulation on the genitals and all kinds of humiliation games, including stronger things using… certain body fluids. Things that Blitzo had seen (and experienced) mostly before, but the feeling of unhealthy atmosphere in the place, and by extension in that room, didn't stop giving a bad taste in his mouth... Especially when they saw the ominous figure of Valentino in a luxurious chair, bathed in the bluish light, with a sinister smile, while in the floor, a whitish figure was at his feet, perhaps serving as a rug, or as… Well, you know, to judge by the faint sucking and choking noises.
Near him, manipulating a computer console, was curious Sinner that if one didn't know who it was, his face in the form of a flat-screen television would even be funny: Vox, powerful big fish of the infernal media... And according to the gossips, more than his boyfriend, Valentino's submissive bitch. Vox gave the pimp tremulous glances from time to time while monitoring the security cameras. The Moth Sinner just kept smiling as he pointed to the leather seats where both members of I.M.P. sat down, Blitzo's shoulders tense and Loona looking around with a bored expression.
"I'm glad they were able to arrive, I thought it would take a little longer. Did you enjoy my rooms while you were waiting?"
"Heh, something. But the, beer is shit." Blitzo said looking at his claws. Valentino snorted.
"Oh right, we don't have the same taste. My mistake." He glanced at the creature at his feet and then composed a crooked smile. "My partner finally has the information he needed. I guess only one name will suffice to do your job."
"I've come to kill targets based on how they looked a couple of years ago or after having sex change surgery," Blitzo replied with a shrug. "So if you have the name and where is it, consider it done."
"It's Lord Agares's new private club (2), located somewhere in Gehenna Square. It doesn't have much time open to the public, but it's already causing me problems, my regulars prefer to go there than enjoy our cozy atmosphere..." Valentino leaned forward, his smile had a cruel crease. "…I need you to infiltrate and destroy it from within, including Lord Agares himself if necessary. No one, not even a hell of a fucking parliamentarian should have a more popular club than mine."
"And you should also work on… What was that called? Customer… Customer loyalty, yes. If you don't want your customers to leave." Blitzo thought biting his lip.
In the moment the pimp mentioned the target's name, Blitzo felt a mixture of emotion and fear churning in his stomach: Lord Agares wasn't only a member of parliament, but a fucking Goetia demon! The Ars Goetia demons were well preceded by their status of immense influence and power, dating from the times of Creation and Lucifer's rebellion; The fact that an Overlord like Valentino tried to sabotage a noble Goetia could cause a big problem if discovered… And of course, he would rather send others to get their hands dirty than do it himself.
That was what imps and other low-grade infernal creatures did, other than splitting their backs in the fields or tolerating all kind of assholes between their legs in the cities: Working as errand boys for a noble or powerful person, or cannon fodder in Turf Wars, the latter being both Blitzo and the cloying M&M couple already veterans. Many were gutted or mistreated to death for winning a handful of money, so some had the crazy idea to step forward and start their own business… Like Blitzo himself. And with a lot of companies dedicated to hunting demons for other demons, they had to accept any offer to stay afloat…
…His thoughts dissipated as he felt a touch on his inner thigh, making him open his eyes in surprise and almost jump in the chair: The figure hunched at Valentino's feet, Angel Dust, was now at his feet, licking his pants and getting dangerously close... And Loona was recording them with her phone. After glaring at his daughter for not saying anything, the imp snarled at the pornstar. "Hey, excuse me... what the hell are you doing?"
"I was thinking of making a counterproposal to the original payment method you proposed to me, Mr. Blitzo…" Valentino purred, stroking the end of a golden chain that connected to the neck of the spider. "A heavenly night, for free… And he could please them both if you like…"
"Oooooooh no: If we are going to risk our ass by attacking a Goetia demon, then it will be 20,000, in cash!" Blitzo exclaimed, lifting his feet away from Angel's mouth, leaving him with his tongue hanging out. "Don't be offended kid, but you're not my type… And Loonie is my daughter, and I'm not a Sweet Home Alabama fan..." 'And Loonie already has a hard time with syphilis to get more from this bug, plus I'm not going to leave her near the fucking Valentino' he thought with a grimace, without daring to say it. Angel Dust grimaced, trying to get closer to Blitzo.
"Please... Let me give you a taste of what I do, what I can make you enjoy, don't be shy, I can…"
A rattling noise of chains silenced Angel, leaving him with a livid expression. "Enough, Angelcakes. Come here, baby." Blitzo could see a shadow of fear in the spider's pink eyes before backing away and slowly returning to his employer, who grabbed his neck to hold him still, although it seemed more like he wanted to rip his head off. "What happened, are you losing your touch?"
"V-Val, I just… OOOW!"
The Sinner Moth had caused Angel to stumble and fall to his knees, and a kick to the side that made him collapse, writhing and groaning in pain. "You're not even able to seduce a fucking imp, it's really unfortunate…" Valentino spat on his stripper before sitting down again, crossing his leg, lighting a cigarette and apparently entertained by Angel's quiet sounds of pain. Vox said nothing, but frowned as he continued typing.
Both Blitzo and Loona were livid, but they didn't show it: It was no secret that the pimp was the cruelest of "The Three Vs", and that included their workers and anyone who came across him. Blitzo felt very uncomfortable and it was clear that everything could go to shit at any moment… Wanting to help the pornstar (and of course, keep the deal), Blitzo said:
"Don't blame him, Valentino, we don't usually mix pleasure with work, it's… mere principles to avoid problems."
Valentino snorted as he smoked another puff of the cigar and blew red smoke over Angel Dust's face, bringing him closer to the pimp, purring and rubbing his face against his thigh.
"...Understandable, I don't share it, but understandable… I have my principles too, don't you think, Angelcakes?" Valentino whispered, stroking the hair of the paralyzed spider with a strange tenderness, and then looking at Blitzo and Loona, piercing them with an icy look behind the glasses of pink hearts. "I hope you do an impeccable job to decline my counterproposal. After all, the reputation of your… venture will be at stake if you fail."
"...Trust me, you won't regret looking for us for this job," Blitzo mumbled, trying his best not to sweat profusely. He cleared his throat, drawing Loona's attention. "Give us a week and it will be all done."
"Vox will give you details of the boring part of the payment. If you'll excuse me…" Pulling him up hard, Valentino took the chain off Angel Dust, who stood up shakily. "Take them out, my little angel. And then go out and make up for your failure."
"Yes, Val." the spider replied, guiding the imp and the hellhound towards the exit, where Blitzo retrieved his flintlock pistol with a blow from the guard's hand. After closing the door, Valentino leaned back in the chair, putting his arms behind his head. Vox snorted, glancing at him.
"Are you aware that you don't expect them to achieve it to pay them that amount they are asking, right?" Vox said, turning his chair to see it, but the moth only expelled smoke, staring at the ceiling. "Are you listening to me...?"
Vox fell silent as he felt one Valentino's claw suddenly grabbing the side of his flat face, gulping at the ominous figure and his carnage grin. His hand started down his neck, stroking the narrow chest beneath his pinstripe suit, leaving the social media Overlord petrified and flushed to his regret. The moth leaned down and licked the edge of his face, purring:
"...You seem like you don't know me, Voxxie."
...
"All right boy, where do we leave you?"
"Ah, wherever, I don't care."
"Really? So I can leave you on the edge of a cliff if I feel like it?"
"If you can deal with Valentino making you his bitch in my replacement, though I still don't care." Angel Dust snorted, stretching his arms in the back of the van, smoking a cigarette and staring at the window with an abstracted expression. After accompanying them to the exit, the pornstar had asked them to take him to a corner and thus find a couple of clients to 'compensate' his employer. Then the spider looked languidly at the driving imp, grinning crookedly, "...Unless you want to reconsider the offer from earlier, babe."
Blitzo grimaced, avoiding eye contact. "I'm fine, thanks." He cleared his throat to get Loona's attention. "Is there any information on this Goetia's whorehouse that can be obtained to make our entry easier?"
"Huh, I'm looking at the old man's Voxtagram and there's nothing, not even post from the site… Either it's so secret that no photos are allowed inside, or the community manager suck shit." After stopping the truck at a stoplight, Loona looked at Blitzo. "So we don't have much to start with."
"Fuck, so it's the old-fashioned way then." Blitzo snorted as he stomped down and hit the road, soon arriving in an alleyway full of other Sinners and gambling establishments, turning to see Angel. "There are good cocks to suck here."
"…So you are interested in Lord Agare's White Crocodile?"
Both Blitzo and Loona stared at the spider. "What?
Angel Dust took one last drag on his cigarette before throwing it out the window. "You hear gossip between Val's boys and girls, customers mention things… Comparisons to Val's club, comparisons to Val himself, how it looks inside… And how to enter."
Blitzo and his daughter looked at each other for a moment before the imp sighed. "...What do you want in exchange for telling us what you know...?" Angel Dust stopped fiddling with the buttons on the van's windows and gave him a suggestive smile. "…That I don't have to suck you off?" Blitzo added, narrowing his eyes.
"Pfff, how boring. Assassins usually like to fiddle with their pocket pistols." Angel laughed before rubbing his stomach. I know a good restaurant; why don't we make a… collaborative date?"
Blitzo knew this could be a bad idea: Working with Angel Dust, of all the demons, someone who was owned by the fearsome Valentino, someone who didn't exactly look the most trustworthy and would say any bullshit to get some time away from his fucking pimp… But he knew that with only a week to achieve this hit, they had to accept any help, no matter how unlikely can be.
"Christ, if we fail at this, at least we will have the M&M's hit to pay this month's rent... And my horsie." Blitzo thought, biting his lower lip.
...
Moxxie was dying to stretch, his muscles felt stiff and his joints howled in pain, but he had to restrain himself: If he moved too much he was quite likely to get tangled up in the many loose knots in that hammock where they were lying (Although he was sure that this was more of a roughly woven old fishing net) and they would fall on the ground… To the ground full with rusty nails and a pile of dirt accumulated since Satan will know how much, in the small cabin that he had managed to rent for the two of them. He tried to stay awake watching Millie sleep, refusing to leave her alone for a single minute; Besides of one of those sailors might try to make an unwelcome visit (He had seen the leering glances that had been directed at his young wife), as well as for the anxiety of what awaited them when they reached their destination.
They had departed from the Imp City railway station towards the outskirts where the great Styx river passed, which crossed through the Nine Rings downward; To get to Port Lagneia they had to go upriver, passing through the Ring of Gluttony until they reached the Ring of Lust. The newly married imp stifled a snort: On his original itinerary to the Limbo, he was planning to visit Gluttony and try the exquisite restaurants, despite rumors that diners like waiters ended up vomiting and defecating themselves from being unable to stop... But apart from that, it was said that they offered delicious food, mostly human-based, which in those days was very popular in all spheres of Hell; At least he could console himself with an early dinner of oysters and steamed snails, surprisingly well cooked.
To cross the Styx river, one could pay for a ferry and risk traveling with assassins and thieves on board, or ride quietly in a private boat... Gnashing his teeth, Moxxie had canceled the boat he had booked for the tour of the Limbo and they were supposed to board in a couple of days. After looking for an inexpensive boat and haggling a bit because they were short of money, the couple took a ferry that looked more like a fishing boat than anything else, evidenced by the smell of seafood and dirt, as well as simple hammocks and little else, no feather bed to snuggle up to and gaze at the blood-red waters.
Moxxie ran his index finger across Millie's crimson cheek, causing her to squirm a bit, but still not awake, squeezed into the hammock next to him. She was undoubtedly the most beautiful thing to see in that depressing cabin apart from the piece of the river that could be seen through a small window, her face was close to his neck, enveloping him with her warm breath. Moxxie sighed and moved his black coat over her body a little to cover her better: Due to the rush to meet the client, Moxxie and Millie had to leave with the newlywed suitcase, which means a lot of... very inappropriate clothes for work, including G-strings, stockings, strap-ons, butt-plugs and corsets. Millie, after searching a lot, put on a white nightgown that was the most remotely covered she could find, although it was quite transparent and fell above her thighs... Ironically it was one of Blitzo's wedding gifts, along with to ridiculous horse-patterned boxers.
...Despite being fairly uncovered and could be very counterproductive in the event that an unwanted guest slipped into their cabin to attempt to rob or kill them, Millie made herself more comfortable in an almost petulant manner, perching one bare leg over her husband's hip, drawing closer. When they had boarded the ferry called 'The Phlegethon Fly' (3), the young female imp had thought that they would sleep on sacks of potatoes or even on the ground, although luckily they had found a free cabin and hammock. She had managed to sleep, even a little; She found it amusing the constant rocking of the boat as it was hit by the waters... Although the best sound for her was without a doubt the dry thumping of Moxxie's heart under her ear, as well as his snoring... He looked so cute like that. She smiled slightly, feeling the male imp's fingers on her cheeks, her hair and a little on her neck.
"...Ah've thought that, of all the places we haven't done it yet, a hangin' fishing net would be on ta list." She murmured, opening one eye. Moxxie blushed and laughed.
"I wouldn't mind if I didn't have to worry about getting tangled up and falling to the ground, as well with possible voyeurs that aren't Blitzo showing here... And instead of just watching, they're going to try to participate, to our misfortune."
"Eww, better not," Millie snorted, sticking out her tongue. "Their snouts stink of dead fish."
"So we better wait? You said patience must be cultivated despite being demons." Moxxie replied, tentatively stroking her fleshy bare thigh. Millie giggled.
"Ya better stop talkin' and hug me, so we both win." she murmured gently rubbing her face against the crook of his neck. She felt the sniper musician flinch for a moment and then feel his stiffed arms wrapping around her small figure, pulling her closer to him. They stayed like that for a long time, enjoying each other's warmth.
...
After a day and a half of discomfort and confinement, where of course, an unscrupulous passenger tried to get into the cabin of the imp couple by pillage and possible assault, ending up practically skinned and thrown overboard after stripping him of his belongings, 'The Phlegethon Fly' arrived at Port Lagneia, one of the most important tourist locations in Ring of Lust. Moxxie helped his wife down from the elevated hammock and Millie leaned on his shoulders as he held her around the waist, then couldn't help but wrap her powerful legs around him, rubbing a little against the bulge of his pants, laughing and gasping silently because they knew they had to hurry; Blitzo would skin them if they lost their audience with the client, and it was irritating enough to answer the endless calls and messages from his boss, confirming that they were on their way and that they weren't going to evade this assignment.
Dragging the suitcase, the newlywed mercenary couple watched the sailors as they got off the ship, but they were already busy unloading the goods and paid no attention to them. The air carried spicy and pungent smells, mixed with other less pleasant ones, but it definitely smelled better than on any street in Imp City. At this time of the afternoon the bay was quite crowded with people either crossing the wooden harbor or boarding the other ferries, so Moxxie and Millie advanced with daggers prepared under their clothes in case someone became too interested in them, in particular being the only Wrath imps around, not to mention Millie's beauty and their short stature.
"Do ya see him anywhere, Mox?" She asked him in a whisper, trying to glimpse the pile of Sinners who were almost pushing them aside to make their way. According to Blitzo's instructions, an owl-like Goetia demon with long white eyebrows protruding from his head would be waiting for them and to lead the way to his master. A few seconds later Moxxie stopped, craning his neck.
"I think I saw it, come on, Millie!" And she hurriedly followed him, because she was carrying the suitcase as she was the stronger of the two. After struggling a bit to get out of the tingling of people, the couple was in front of a tall owl demon with white face and long white eyebrows that reached up to his ears and whose red eyes were glued on theirs as if evaluating them when they presented themselves. It was curious that there was only one person in the name of his imposing client waiting for them, but being a Goetia demon, he was superior to any of the Sinners on the esplanade, including them.
After a few tense moments, the demon owl lowered his lids and muttered: "Your size is very unimpressive compared to the reputation." He paused, leaving the imp couple confused. Was that an insult? "...Perfect for this job. I'm Lophos, the master's valet and your guide to the residence. Let's not waste the master's time anymore and follow me, save the presentations and questions when we arrive. Allow me the luggage, madam, so we can go faster."
Haste and abruptness were common in this kind of work, so a gesture of hospitality this minimal like that was to surprise as well as suspicion. But hey, they were already into this.
Moxxie and Millie looked at each other and nodded, almost running after Lophos who strode with his long legs and carrying the couple's heavy suitcase with absurd ease toward the end of the esplanade, where flanked by two guards, was a carriage with a teleport orb to the summer residence of Lord Asmodeus.
TBC
(1) Bacchatio: Spree/Orgy in Latin.
(2) Agares: Grand Duke of Hell with thirty-one legions of demons. He belonged to the order of the Virtues before the fall of the rebel angels. According to the Ars Goetia and Pseudomonarchia daemonum, in addition to causing earthquakes and teaching languages, he finds pleasure in displaying immoral expressions.
(3) Phlegethon: One of the five rivers of the Underworld/Kingdom of Hades according to Greek mythology.