To Reach the Heavens
Chapter One: The Plummet
The faster she plummeted, the darker Emily's vision began to become. As the abyss closed in around her, the air seemed to take on a foul miasma that clouded the senses and choked the breathe in her lungs. Trying to focus on the city coming into increasing view, Emily stretched out her wings and attempted to slow her descent, but the sheer speed that the descending angel had built up was difficult to control.
Twisting her body in order to direct the "proper" descent toward Hell, Emily just barely managed to pull her self into a downward arc the allowed her to avoid splattering on the concrete just beneath her body. Sticking her feet out, the now officially fallen angel touched down and skidded several yards before finally slowing to a stumbling awkward halt. Granted her feet felt raw and her wings ached, but Emily had actually succeeded in what was probably the most crazy and asinine thing she could have conceived of.
'Okay I'm here, I'll get to Charlie, give my information, then be back to Heaven before high noon.'
At least, that was the idea, but first Emily needed to figure out where exactly she had landed, and where in relation to the hotel her landing place was. There wasn't really a map of Hell in Paradise, not to mention Emily couldn't really ask around without drawing suspicion from her fellow angels. But she was here in Hell, so perhaps asking around was the best option.
Turning her head back and forth, Emily surveyed the surrounding city, taking in as much as she could. Weird thing, Hell wasn't as derelict and decrepit as Sera and Adam made it sound. Of course Emily really couldn't take any of what her sister and the now dead first man had said in good faith, but it wasn't like Hell was nearly as polished as Heaven was.
All around there was filth clinging to every corner and inch of every building, even across the streets there was grime and what looked awfully like blood and other bodily fluids that were supposed to remain in the body and not all over everywhere.
'Well, maybe this place looks very intense, but there at should be at least one sinner that will help me.'
Strolling down the streets keeping her wings hidden and face underneath a light blue cowl, Emily peeked in several windows, trying to find anyone that might speak to her. It was eerily quite, until a loud bang sounded off, followed by shouting and more constant blasts that lit up the area in front of her.
Flung on her back, Emily's head got knocked on the ground behind it, and all the wind was pushed out her lungs. Completely discombobulated, the seraph barely scrambled back the street into a nearby alleyway while a war emerged in front of her. As her vision was gradually restored, Emily clung to one of the nearby walls that somewhat shielded her from the chaos that was caused by only three sinners. Just barely inching over the see the wild sinners fighting, Emily spied two young women fighting a massive wolf like creature with a patch over one eye.
The beast was twice that height of the really pretty ladies, (which were thoughts that Emily knew she couldn't speak about in Heaven), and was a dark charcoal color with bright bloody red teeth, and the one eye a dark gold color. There wasn't a shred of clothing on the creature, but in it's hands were two gleaming long daggers that was just coming short of cleaving the duo in twine.
One of the two girls rolled away from another swipe, landing not to far away from where Emily was hiding. Getting a good look at the very pale beauty, Emily could feel her breathe hitch, and she couched lower hoping not to be seen. The woman was tall, with light blonde hair tied back in a loose ponytail, dressed in a long white lab coat, her eyes hidden behind striking red glasses. The other woman dashed back landing next to her partner.
Emily knew it wasn't even remotely a good idea to keep watching, but the new girl was wielding an angelic spear, something that drew Emily's attention, before it was captivated by the girl holding it. Dark coffee colored skin, black lips, and curly gray hair rising up along with two black horns. Her choice of style was very liberated compared to the Winners in Heaven, since she was a had a sleeveless black top which left her midriff exposed and tight brown shorts that clung to her in a very, distracting kind of way.
The two looked at each other only for a second, then charged the incoming attacker without speaking, yet they moved in perfect sync. When the beast swiped left, the dark girl parried and disarmed them with one swing of her spear. The beast brought the right down, and the light girl whipped out a strange see-through shield that reflected the attack, and with their assailant thrown back by the recoil, her partner lunged and stabbed them right in the throat.
The strike hit true, and pierced straight through the thick muscle and out the back. A loud gurgle escaped the wolf man's maw, then they tilted back, falling off the spear and collapsing on the ground with a load thud.Emily kept her hands over her mouth, not wanting to draw unwanted attention from the very beautiful and fearsome fighters, who just slew a creature more than twice their size combined.
Unfortunately as Emily tried to slide into the alley as quietly as she could manage, her foot hit a small can which clanked painfully loudly behind her. Less than a second passed before two pairs of strong hands seized her and pressed the fallen girl against the slimy wall that had once been her sanctuary. Opening her mouth to protest, it was immediately silence when a holy weapon was pressed to her throat.
"Listen bitch, you must be new or stupid, but first rule of Hell, you don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong. Got it?"
That was form the dark skinned girl, and up close Emily could see that she and her partner had the same scarlet eye color and almost the same eye shape. But the dark girl was notably more curvy, and the light girl more slender and taller. The latter was also eyeing Emily with a more reserved attention than the very much more aggressive lady.
"Clara, she's not dead, or even a demon. Not too mention the halo over her head."
Clara, who was the one with the spear, glanced up and saw Emily's halo, her breath quickly hitching. Backing up a step, the spear wasn't removed form Emily's face, but Clara looked a lot less eager to stab her on the spot, but didn't' ease up in the slightest.
"What are you doing down her? The extermination was canceled." Clara asked, anger seeping in her tone.
"I'm not here too exterminate, I'm trying to get a message to Charlie Morningstar that it might be permanently stopped."
The moment those words left Emily's lips, both sinners looked completely dumbfounded, then the light themed one adjusted her glasses and placed a hand on Clara's shoulder.
"I'm going to converse with my sister for a minute. You'll remain right here, or we will report your appearance to every Overlord looking to test their angelic steel."
Emily had been made aware of sinners learning of how Hell became familiar with the weakness angels had against their own weapons, so she quietly complied, not wishing to immediately make unnecessary enemies just after arriving. Seraphim she may be, but that wasn't a the kind of test Emily wanted to subject herself to.
Turning away, Clara and her sister seemed to quickly debate back and forth in hushed tones. With enhanced hearing, Emily could still catch the general gist of the exchange. The light one, named Odette , wanted to contact their mother Camilla, thought Clara was more for killing Emily and hiding the body. Thankfully, it was Odette's reasoning that prevailed.
"Look, if she is connected to the Morningstar's, then we could get ourselves and mother in serious trouble with Lucifer. Since our mom has worked with Alastor, who constantly rubs shoulders with the princess, he can over, verify her story, and take the angel off our hands."
Clara still pushed back a little, but Odette was firm in her decision, and eventually her sister was swayed. Their conversation finished, they turned back to Emily and pointed down the sidewalk without elaborating. Not that they really needed to, but Emily couldn't held asking a few questions.
"Is there no was you two could contact Charlie directly?"
"I'm afraid neither of us possess the princesses' information, save the location of the hotel, which is on the other side of Pentagram city. It would be far more efficient for you to be escorted by a member of the hotel staff, than those that have no allegiance to Miss Charlie's business." This was Odette's answer, detailed and concise.
"Have either of you ever considered that the hotel might be worth a try. Charlie is actually a lot closer to succeeding at her dream than I think you two might realize." This was rapidly countered by Clara's blunt and straightforward response.
"Look, even if the little princess, is right on the money, we don't really care. Hell is our home, and this is where our people live. Even if Heaven backs off on the exterminations, they still slaughtered, millions of sinners and no self respecting denizen down here will just forget that for 'redemption' or whatever the royal brat is offering."
With that, they pressed on, ignoring or dissuading any attempt for conversation. Emily decided that if the sisters really weren't interested in Charlie's dream, then she couldn't force the issue. That was still disappointing, knowing what she did, but seeing so many different sinners, who now coming out in droves to get the 'day' in Hell started, reveling in antagonizing each other over every little thing.
No one demon outright disturbed the trio directly, but many of various shapes and sizes gave the young angel scathing glares and sneers. Emily could only imagine the great influence that Odette and Clara had in Hell, but it was enough that neither seemed to mind any of the looks or muttered insults thrown at their passing. Perhaps a straggler or two stepped up to try and impede them, but Clara was always ready to start fighting at a seconds notice, and angelic steel did a good job getting her point across.
Finally, after roughly thirty minutes of walking, Emily was brought to what looked like a colossal warehouse. Glancing over at the silver spear, a small theory began to formulate in the wayward seraphs mind.
"Do you two collect heavenly arms, then store them all in here?"
Odette actually looked impressed by Emily's quick deduction, then held up a hand and pointed to where a camera was focusing on the small group.
"Your deductive reasoning is commendable, but I should recommend that you speak when spoken too, and maintain the upmost respect at all times. Our mother is the most capable Overlord, Camilla Carmine, and she excels at getting the information she wishes as efficiently as possible. So be on your best behavior."
At this point, Emily was wondering whether or not she was even remotely close to getting to Charlie's hotel, but fleeing without any idea where she was, surrounded by dangerous sinners and demons was a risk she doubted was worth taking. At least this way the information that Emily had brought to Hell could be passed around far more expediently, which could help out Charlie in the long run.
Once a large metallic door opened, the sinners guided Emily into the darkness within the building, but a brisk walk took the three into a large two story room with a large staircase that led up to a second level where a the top was a very enigmatic looking woman at the peak. She had an imposing aura, fitting her statuesque figure, severe expression, monochrome colors, and interesting hairstyle that resembled long horns similar to Clara's actual horns.
The most disturbing detail that Emily noticed was the angelic steel that circled from her shoes and up her long legs, implying that this woman had a very good means of doing damage to angels if she so chose to. Sucking in a deep breath, Emily bent down and while keeping eye contact with the one who best resembled the vision of a powerful Overlord, gave a gracious bow in deference.
"Odette, Clara, you will leave this room, and report this finding to Zestial, Alastor, Acheron, and Rosie as rapidly as you two can manage. Understood?"
Neither sister appeared remotely content with these orders, but Camilla's tone allowed no room for argument. Unable to allow the duo that had given her passage through a portion of the city, Emily did give a quick 'thank you' as the they left. Only Odette turned for a moment, to briefly nod back at her former charge, then followed after Clara and left Emily alone with Camilla,
"Well, at least some of your kind are capable of basic decency. You should consider yourself fortunate that my daughters discovered you before most of the rest of demon kind."
Nodding in agreement, Emily walked up to the base of the staircase, before pulling down her cowl, reveling the her youthful face and long periwinkle hair to cascade down to the back of her knees. Camilla's expression almost seemed to soften when she saw Emily's beautiful young face, but her burning red eyes kept their striking intensity.
"Why have you come to Hell, especially after the recent felled extermination.?"
"To try and reach Charlie Morninstar and inform her of some serious developments in Heaven. During the last attack Adam attempted to kill a sinner named Sir Pentious that put his life on the line for his loved ones. In honor of this sacrifice he ascended to Heaven as an angel. This has forced the Heavenly Council to reevaluate the so called 'need' for the senseless killing that the exterminators reveled in."
When Emily stopped for breath, Camilla suddenly closed the distance in between the two before the angel could blink, glaring down with a piercing gaze that chilled Emily's blood.
"How am I supposed to know if anything you say could possibly guarantee such an outrageous claim?"
This caught Emily off guard, but this was something she had taken into consideration for Charlie's sake. Holding up her hands, Emily created a small sphere of light, which contained Sir Pentious' face within. Camilla didn't approach, but could clearly see the angelic form of the the former sinner with the sphere, and this she focused on for a good solid minute before a new voice cut the silence.
"The child speaks true, there is no lie in the seraphs voice or spell."
Completely surprised, Emily spun around and saw four green eyes gleaming in the dark of the hallway, and then a demonic figure slip form the shadows into the room. Tall, dark, and creepy, wrapped in a sinewy black cloak with a dark face and a black top hat, this was about as on the nose as a demon could possibly appear.
"Zestial, are you positive? We must know for absolute certain."
Zestial slowly approached with a sly smile that hid much and conveyed exactly that, before leveling his gaze on Emily's for half a moment, then turning back to Camilla.
"Trust in mine words old friend, this child of light brings only sincerity in her tone and composure." Camilla looked over at Emily, her narrowing eyes full of indecision, only to gradually lessen in intensity as the Overlord let loose a heavy breathe.
"Very well, I will take your word in good faith. I can only imagine what Alastor will say when he discovers that his 'business partner' might actually succeed in her ventures."
Hearing this reminded Emily of what exactly she'd intended to achieve by coming all the way down here.
"If Alastor works with Charlie, then he can take me to the hotel, right?" Both Zestial and Camilla stared at Emily in silence, then another new voice broke the stillness, this time coming right behind Emily's back. It had a distorted sound that sent a strong chill right down her spine which rooted on the spot.
"Why I would be happy to oblige my child. Of course, perhaps you might be will to go into greater detail about the fate of the hotel's recent meager hero."
Backing away from the very uncomfortable sounding demon, Emily had to cover her mouth to stifle the small shriek welling up in her gullet. Charlie's 'partner' was a very tall, lanky, if not dapper dressed demon covered in red and black, save for his yellow eyes and unnaturally wide smile always showcasing two rows of sharp, yellowed teeth. Clenched in his hands was a staff that ended in a red microphone ordained with single red eye in the center.
"Are you, Alastor?" Emily asked, quietly praying that this wouldn't be the case, but his smile only somehow slowly started to stretch further across his face.
"Pleasure to make you darling, quite a pleasure. I am in fact Alastor the Radio Demon, as well the staff manager of the Hazbin Hotel. We must be making a great impression if lowly fallen angels are seeking our services." This would have bothered Emily, but she didn't believe it wise to outright correct him, given he was her only direct lead to reaching Charlie. Best not to risk bringing his ire on her when she could hardly focus on any angelic power in front of the Radio Demon.
"In that case, I would greatly appreciate your assistance in reaching the hotel and seeing what it has to offer."
"Indeed, but first, the information that I require, if you might oblige?" Emily could easily sense that this was not a request, so she sadly resigned herself to going over the information she had for all those that were present.