AN: Took me only a day to make this chapter. I love having weekends off.
Disclaimer: I do not own Helluva Boss or Hazbin Hotel
You can never have too many safehouses. That was a rule you had to oblige by when you were a mercenary, assassin, thief, or even in special forces. Safehouses were places you could rest, recover, and reload for the next mission. It was also a place to grieve, prepare, and come to terms with what you were doing while blocking the world from around you. A safehouse wasn't just a home. It was a lifeline.
Blitzo took his team and beeline for one of their safehouses on the edge of Imp City once they were all done answering questions from the police. The news of all the terrorist attacks that happened with the assault on the Hazbin Hotels had everyone in Hell rattled. This was followed by even more grim news over the past few days. The fanatics and their leaders had played a big move in showing just how far they were willing to go to overthrow the Royal Family.
The Rings of Greed, Treachery, Lies, and Envy, together with Their Ring Lords of Mammon, Samael, Mephisto, and Leviathan, declared a unified denouncement of Lucifer's reign. Jointly they announced their rings to be united in rebellion against Lucifer and the Rings that sided with him: Lust, Wrath, Gluttony, and Pride. Sloth, naturally, declared neutrality from the whole thing, but nobody expected less from the lazy bastards. There was no denying it anymore. Hell was in a Civil War.
The rebellion publicly denounced Lucifer and his family as unworthy of leading Hell by calling them traitors to demonkind. That they had agreed to peaceful cooperation with Heaven and allowed the Hazbin Hotel system to continue was heresy in their eyes and in the eyes of Satan. The blood of innocent demons killed by angels had been dishonored by the Royal Family, who sold them all out.
Needless to say, shit hit the fan as many accusations began going around about what it meant to be loyal and what was not. Many were taking their pride as demons seriously and believed it was proper to rebel to stay true to their roots, while others were happy that they didn't have to worry about dying every year and supported the changes. Riots, fighting, and outright chaos was plaguing the nine rings, and while no major battles had happened yet between the dividing forces, it was clear that things would escalate into a full-on war soon.
Blitzo and his gang were watching the TV grimly within their new safehouse, a small yet comfortable four-bedroom apartment with a small armory and computer room. Millie and Moxxie were holding hands to comfort the other as Millie looked especially worried about how Wrath was already preparing a conscription law for its citizens to join the war. Her family were true patriots, and she knew her siblings would be joining up the first chance they got.
Loona had been leaning against the wall, her tail gently kicking up dust as she rubbed her arms as the news reported about the injured princess. Blitzo knew his daughter was worried about Princess Charlie, who was said to be doing well but was still unconscious in recovery. They had yet to hear any personal news save that both the King and Queen had reported their daughter was recovering well. It was the first time any demon had seen the firm yet worried looks on the King's face for a long time. Meanwhile, Blitzo felt that things had escalated beyond what he had imagined.
Yet has anything changed? Blitzo thought as he gripped the couch he was leaning on. They still killed Stolas. You have to kill them all. Now you're involved in a civil war at the same time.
Deciding that they needed to talk, Blitzo walked over to the TV and turned it off to get everyone's attention. They all focused on him, and he sighed. "Alright, things have gotten beyond all expectations. We're not just dealing with a group of fanatics. We're dealing with an outright rebellion." He paused to let that sink in. "Because of this, I'm open to anyone leaving here and now. Millie and Moxxie? You two can leave if you want because I know this is too much. Just say the word, and you two can go anywhere you want with whatever cash you need. Loona? You are my daughter, but you don't have to follow me into this. Honestly, I'd rather you get out now and live your life without me if it means you get to live."
He took a deep breath and sighed. "But I'm going forward. I meant it when I said I would do anything to avenge Stolas and if that means taking down even Ring Lords, then so be it. I'm not expecting to survive, but I don't care. When I make a promise, I keep it. Even if it takes me forever. But I don't want you guys going down with me because you are my family. If you want out, I will not hold it against you and wish you luck. If you are determined to stay with me, please think it over for a few days before giving me your answer."
"...Dad, I have nobody but you in my life," Loona said as she walked over and smirked at him. "I'm with you until the end, Blitz. I'm not afraid of dying, especially since you always seem to have a way to get out of things."
Moxxie and Millie looked at each other for a while before the former sighed. "Sir, we need to think about this. I'm sorry, but..."
"Mox, it's fine. Take your time. Whatever the choice is, I will respect it," Blitzo said, raising his hand. "In the meantime, we'll wait and see what happens next."
The couple nodded and soon left to go to their room as Blitzo rubbed a hand over one of his horns and sighed. Turning to Loona, he asked, "Am I going too far with this? All for one guy?"
"A guy you fell in love with? You and I both know that love is rare to find in Hell, Blitz," Loona said, crossing her arms. "I think any demon would do what you're doing in your shoes."
"Hmm," Blitzo walked over to a nearby desk where he accessed the web for news articles about the civil war. "Well, the next move is to find Prince Gaap and put a bullet in his head, but from what I'm reading, that's going to be hard."
"Isn't he supposed to live in the Lust Ring?" Loona asked, leaning over her father. "How come he hasn't been arrested already? I mean, Octavia had told the Royal Guards by now everything Stella told you about him."
"His main estate is indeed in the Lust Ring, but that personal island of his in Sloth," Blitzo grumbled as he showed the large island that looked more like a fortress than a place of paradise. "Sloth has officially declared neutrality, so they can't send the army to deal with him. Plus, this is where that NORN security system of his is supposed to be."
"Maybe that's why he picked Sloth," Loona pointed out. "His NORN system must have warned him about this ahead of time."
"You don't need a fortune machine to tell you that the best place to avoid conflict is Sloth," Blitzo answered, rolling his eyes. Everyone knew that the Sloth ring was always trying to avoid any kind of conflict or issue with the others to the point that it was often called the "Switzerland Ring" as a joke. "I'd rather take this guy out when he's off his island than on it. I've looked at past videos and articles of this guy's fortress. Every mercenary army that's gone up against it has lost. Sometimes they came close, but they lost in the end. Outside his NORN system, he's got a private army, and they're all well trained and equipped. We need to either figure out what weaknesses this place has that we can exploit or go in with a well-trained army."
"Any ideas on either of those?" Loona asked.
"A few, but I need to figure out a few more things," Blitz said as he got up and walked towards his room. "Let me know what you want for takeout tonight."
Loona was about to hit the computer to do some of her own searches when her phone started ringing. Picking it up, she checked the number and raised an eyebrow when the caller ID said, "The Imp You Saved."
"Huh?" Loona raised an eyebrow and decided to answer it out of curiosity. "Hello?"
"Um, hey? Remember me, Kari?" A familiar female voice asked on the phone. "The imp you spared when you raided the base I was in? The...one who peed herself?"
"Wait, you?!" Loona shouted before checking to see if anyone heard her before whispering. "What the fuck?! I said to disappear! Why the fuck are you calling me?! How did you even get my number?!"
"I have my ways. Trust me, I'm not supposed to be doing this, but I owe you. Plus, I think you and your group are the only ones who can get the job done."
"Job? What are you-"
"Prince Gaap will be at The Black Diamond Opera House three days from now. Important nobles from all over the rings are going to be there. That's your best chance to get him or get more information about him. Good luck."
"Hey, wait! How do you-" Before she could get an answer, the line went dead. Loona growled before she rubbed her forehead. "Well, this is going to take some explaining to Blitz."
If Octavia had thought her schedule was busy as it was, it had utterly exploded with the now open rebellion happening across Hell. Octavia had no intention of siding with those who had her father murdered and publically put out her support for Lucifer and his side. She had to, in turn, give all the information about her father's murder and who she knew was responsible for it. Octavia kept a few things to herself, such as her father's journal, which she still struggled to decrypt, and any information about Blitzo and his gang. She didn't want to burden them anymore with what they had. Looking outside the window of her office, she could see the armed Legionaries of her forces patrolling her grounds and outside the borders of the palace. With the real threat of assassination or even outright full-scale assault now possible, Octavia took no chances in her defenses. Although the threats to her life might be closer than she thought.
Hell wasn't the only thing that had been divided. The Goetia Family was at risk of becoming divided as well. Despite being one big family, they were anything but cooperative and happy one. Every rank of their family had different views on what to do regarding the war, and it was clear that whoever they sided with would have a significant advantage. The Goetia, as a whole, had the manpower, resources, and influence to be big players in the upcoming conflict, and there were more than just two sides to this. In fact, the entire family was split into four factions now:
The Royalists, like Octavia herself, who advocated for siding with King Lucifer, felt Hell was better under the Morning Star or believed that the Hazbin Hotel system was necessary. They were those who wanted peace with Heaven to end the conflict at long last. Many of these nobles benefited from the peace themselves and their subjects, including Marquis Phenex, Duke Focalor, and Marquis Marchosias. All of them believed that Hell was finally getting better with this new world they were building with Princess Charlie. And while Octavia believed in that, she was more focused on getting revenge for her father's death.
Next was the Revolutionists, who wanted to side with the rebellion. They were mostly tired of being ruled by Lucifer or hated the idea of siding with Heaven. Angels have been the natural enemies of demons since the days of Satan ruling Hell. Too many good Goetia had been lost to them, and many couldn't live with the idea of peace. This included powerful families like King Beleth, Duke Eligos, and Marquis Kimaris. All of them were willing to do anything to restore what they felt was the natural rule of Hell and end the "depravity" that had taken root in it.
The Neutrals believed the best take was to take the same stance as Sloth and play no role in the war. These demons didn't want to risk losing their status or power. As many pointed out, all the major players on both sides were Fallen Angels. Despite being demons now, they were not originally demonic and once flew on the other side of the fence, as it were. As far as they were concerned, especially those under Marquis Forneus, Duke Crocell, and Duke Allocer, it was a matter between them, not the Goetia Family.
Similar to them were the Independents who wanted to take advantage of the chaos by forming their own faction to rule themselves again without any Fallen Angels controlling them. They were like the Neutrals in mindset, but they wanted to go further by outright uniting all seventy-two branches of the family into one unified family to rule themselves by restoring the Elective Monarchy of Goetia. Families of this mindset, including King Purson, Duke Amdusias, and Prince Vassago, believed that by having both sides destroy each other, the Goetia could claim their rightful rulerships of old before Lucifer's reign.
It was all madness in Octavia's opinion. There were calls for a Grand Council of all the family leaders to make a case of what to do in play, and she knew she would have to attend it when called. If something wasn't going to be done, it was clear the family would have its own Civil War in the making.
But of all the issues she was dealing with, the biggest one was happening inside her home. It had been days since Octavia had spoken to her mother. Not out of anger, disgust, or indifference like before, but out of shame. Octavia had accused her mother of being involved in her father's death. Not only was she completely wrong, but Octavia learned a horrible secret that both her parents had kept from her for years.
Octavia wasn't their first child. They had a son. Octavius, who she was named after in his honor. Her parents were happy together for a time, thanks to this son, until he was murdered and everything fell apart.
Octavia couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if her brother had survived. Would she be born into a much happier family? Would the horrible divide that had occurred between her parents be avoided? Would Stolas even cheat on Blitzo in the first place?
There were too many possibilities, yet Octavia couldn't help but wonder.
A knock on the door alerted the Princess of a guest as she put her pen down and sighed. "Come in."
Her mother was the last of all the people she was expecting to see. Stella had regained her beauty after a few days of drinking and sobbing in her room (another thing Octavia felt guilty for) and looked no worse for wear. However, her stance and facial expression were utterly different. No longer was it rigid with the authority of a mistress full of rage and sharp glares but one of solemn thoughts and weariness. Octavia stood up in surprise as Stella closed the door and walked over to her desk before sitting down. Neither of the ladies spoke as Stella quietly put her hands on her lap and closed her eyes.
"Mom?" Octavia asked so softly she almost didn't hear herself. "Are you...okay?"
Stella took a deep breath and nodded. "Better than I have been for the past few days...Hell, maybe years."
Octavia scratched her arm and slowly looked down while frowning. She took a deep breath and looked at her mother with pleading eyes. "I'm sorry. For accusing of what I...said...I just...I'm..."
"Octavia, it's okay," Stella said, holding her hand up before giving a weary sigh. "I haven't exactly been the most supportive in all of this. Nor have I been the best mother to you in your life."
"That's not true. You-"
"Octavia, please, let's not kid ourselves here," Stella muttered, shaking her head. "I wasn't a good mother to you. Fuck, I barely did anything save for making you do your princess duties. I should have been having tea parties, reading stories to you, taking you out to places, helping you with your homework, and trying to get you ready for dates. Yet all I did was keep you a distance from me."
Stella chuckled. "I have nobody to blame for this but myself. In losing one child, I grew so fearful and cold that I pushed away my other one. I'm not a mother to you, I'm a total stranger, and it's because I...I..."
Octavia quickly got up and rushed to her mother before embracing her without hesitation, much to Stella's shock. "Mom, just...stop...I'm sorry too."
"Octavia?" Stella whispered.
"I accused you of wanting to have Dad killed," Octavia said as tears dripped from her eyes. "I really thought the worst of you for that moment, and I felt so horrible, I just...I thought..."
In what felt like the first real-time since she was born, Octavia felt her mother wrap her arms around her back and nuzzle her cheek. Cooing, the swan princess pecked the side of her daughter's chin to soothe her tears as the two slowly got up yet continued to hold each other. After a long time of silently embracing one another, the two slowly separated yet never let go of each other's hands. With a warm smile, Octavia looked at her mother with warmth instead of the coldness she had given her since Stolas's death. "Mom? Can we start over?"
"What do you mean?" Stella asked.
"I mean, let's start from scratch," Octavia said as she touched her mother's chest. "We don't know anything about each other. Or well enough to really call each other Mother and Daughter. But I want to. You're the only family I have left, and I already lost Dad. I don't want to lose you either."
"Even though I wasn't the best mother to you?" Stella whispered, looking away in shame. "Octavia, I-"
"I'm willing to forgive you if you promise one thing," Octavia vowed as she made her mother look at her. "Please be honest with me from now on? I don't care what it is, but I want to know the real you. Not this icy princess you put yourself up as after Octavius died. I want the mother I've wanted to have and the one you wanted to be. That's who I want to know. Please?"
Stella slowly smiled, took her daughter's hand, and held it against her cheek. "Okay, I promise. In return? Let me promise you this. I'm with you a hundred and ten percent in avenging your father. No matter what happens, even if it leads us to ruin, I'll never abandon you. Just promise you'll listen to me. I do know some things about politics that you should take to heart. I don't want to see you join your father. Not until I've long passed away and you've had a few grandkids."
"Thank you, I promise," Octavia said with a smile.
Stella slowly nodded before tilting her head as she noticed something on the desk. "Is...is that your father's journal?"
Octavia's eyes snapped to it, and she cursed herself for forgetting to hide it when she paused and turned to her mother in surprise. "Wait, you know about it?"
"I've seen him write in a few times, and he told me it was important to his work," Stella said as she looked at it and flipped through some pages. "It's all in ciphers."
"Yeah, I've been trying to figure it out, but-"
"I know some of these," Stella said, surprising Octavia again. "When your father and I were on good terms, he taught me some of these languages. Get a pen and paper."
Octavia didn't hesitate to grab them as Stella put the book down and started to get to work writing one of the pages. She continued to write until she finished the page, and yet what came out had both birds speechless:
Dear Journal,
My work has hit a breakthrough, and my theory has been proven! I cannot believe that this is happening! All my work has finally achieved what I suspected: Demonic Souls Do Not Die Permanently! Or it's more accurate to say that they do not really cease to exist. All this time, we thought that Angel based weaponry erased our very essence from existence itself, but this is not true. We are still living, but not in the sense that we think.
When a Demon dies from an angelic weapon, the soul doesn't get reincarnated. It's too damaged by the purity of the heavenly aura, but it doesn't permanently destroy us. Just as my love has said, God's Power, even at its most powerful, will never permanently destroy anything. Which leads to the question of where the souls remain to go? The answer is right under our feet the whole time, literally! It's Hell. Hell is where the permanently deceased's souls go after they've been killed. The earth, water, air, mountains, and plant life that make our world is where we go when we permanently die. The spells and inventions show the essence of the faded remains of those we experimented on to see what happens. The very aspects of their spiritual beings were found under my garden and mixing with the energies of Hell's demonic aether.
Yet it's not a complete soul, but bits and pieces. One has to wonder if they keep any sense of sentience upon death, but my love theorizes that it's all one giant hive mind of a collection of memories and personalities mixed in. Both have merit to it. Now the question becomes this.
Can we revive a permanently deceased back from the dead?