"Go, go! Faster!" The legionaries shouted. Rhythmically, without feeling. They had done it several times today, holding guns, unloading the semi trucks. The sun was beginning to set, and the sparkle in the white snow began to fade. Their hot breaths condensed with the frigid air. "Faster!"

Inside the line were families. Many were torn from Wrath. Joe, Lin, Sallie May, her siblings marched in the snow, teeth clattering, a guard threatening them with the muzzle of their rifle. They were walked into one of the various entrances of Lucifer's abode. The hallways were dark, wet, decaying. There was no resistance. It's hard to know why. Perhaps they had already been broken from the crowded truck ride, or perhaps they hoped that they would receive a hot meal after this was through. After all, they were under the Emperor's care, right? Those others… foolish. Fighting, dying, and for what?

Seviathan knocked a couple of times at the Emperor's door. On the other end, he heard another man, along with the monarch's steely, powerful voice. Taking the leap, he opened the door and stood to attention. "Inferna invicta, my liege. That should be everyone. We're just unloading the trucks now-"

"Aight, bitch, I'm talkin'." Valentino, towering over both of them, threw his hand up as if to dismiss him. "…actually, no, c'mere, maybe ya can explain this shit." To his side was the flatscreen, the Media Mogul… although he was particularly quiet.

A small laugh from the sovereign. Lucifer looked over, past the pimp, his grin beaming over to his spymaster. "Don't mind him, he's just frustrated. Come on over, at ease."

The Eldritch prince relaxed, strolling over to the desk. He could smell Valentino's horrific strawberry perfume. "We had a few mishaps along the way, but that should be everyone who has had contact with patient zero."

The fallen angel nodded. "Tsk- yes! I heard about that- you should be more careful with your men. You started a riot out there."

A small gulp from the prince. "I do apologise, my liege. An imp came at them, tried to grab a legionary's gun. We needed to use physical force to dispatch him. The body is in the truck."

Valentino squinted down. There was almost four feet of difference. "…uhhhh, hello? We were talkin' 'bout somethin'." He points with his claws at the receipt. "Why the fuck did this cost fifty hellbucks!?"

The spymaster and the monarch looked at each other. Lucifer let out a small laugh. "And I was explaining that it's because the ingredients are getting more expensive. These things happen, and we apologise, but there's nothing we can do."

Sev cleared his throat before piping up. "If our estimates are right, it's going to get a lot worse. We're operating at quarter harvest right now."

"…quarter… harvest." The moth digested those words. "Aight, look… I need food. My men need food. Otherwise they'll get all… fussy, ya dig? So… whatever ya got left after whatever the fuck ya do, it should be goin' to us." He put his index finger up before swirling it around. "We run this ring, an' shit's gonna get dicey if we can't."

The Emperor leaned back, crossing his legs. "No need to worry. Once we implement rationing, you'll be one of the first on the priority list. Although… you may want to consider downsizing."

"Downsizin'!? Ya fuckin' kiddin' me? Bitch, ya kno' how many capos I need to run yer motherfuckin' streets? It ain't pretty, can tell ya that goddamn much."

Lucifer closes his eyes. "I'm sure not every single person in your organisation is useful. Either way, there's no guarantee I'll be able to give enough food at your current employment levels. And it isn't just you I'm giving this advice to." He looks up at Valentino… then over to Vox. "You as well."

The Media Mogul said nothing.

The Emperor clapped. "Right! Well… if you do need anything else, let me know, or forward your concerns to Lilith. She always knows what to do about these sorts of things." He got out of his chair, tapping his fingers against the desk. "Speaking of Lilith… Sev, she wants to speak with you. Said it was important."

The spymaster blinked. "Oh. Of course, my liege." He stood to attention and saluted. "Inferna invicta."

Lucifer gave a small salute back. "Inferna invicta."

As the spymaster turned around and marched away, Valentino found it hard not to laugh.

A room. Cold, devoid of furniture, concrete walls. There were no windows. It was hard to see in front of oneself, the new arrivals shoved into the huddled mass of imps already occupying the space. When the crowd wouldn't give, a legionary would shoot his gun up into the air. A warning in case anyone decided not to comply.

The family, having been marched in together, was now separated. They cried out in protest. It was inaudible with the rest of the noise, the commotion, the screaming.

The sounds of the imps echoed out into the halls. A legionary looked to his co-worker. "Close it." A steel door sealed the room, along with everyone inside.