The wind outside was ruthlessly lashing about the treetops, causing the Hellborne conifers to sway perilously, as if they could topple onto the cabin at any moment. What had begun as bead-sized drops of hail had swiftly transformed into large ping pong ball-sized chunks of ice, pounding relentlessly on the cabin's roof and windows. Charlie and Vaggie had woken up and wisely chosen to seek refuge in the sitting room instead of their usual designated space, seeking comfort in each other's presence. However, their tranquility was periodically disrupted by the haunting, pain-filled groans emanating from downstairs, along with frustrated complaints in Italian, the meaning of which were perhaps best left untranslated.

"Ugh," Vaggie grumbled in irritation. "How much longer is he going to keep this up?"

"Let's be patient," Charlie suggested. "We don't experience storms like this in the city, and honestly, I didn't anticipate the possibility of something like this happening. But you know what? You've also been sensitive to weather changes before, so it's not just him."

"But not to this extent," Vaggie stated firmly.

"Not like what?" Cherri inquired, as she wearily rolled her shoulders upon reaching the main floor.

"Cherri," Charlie quickly changed the subject. "How is Angel doing?"

"He's finally asleep," Cherri replied. "I've never seen him suffer from storm fatigue this severely before. I know when he senses a storm it hits him bad, but not this bad."

"We rarely get level four storms in Pentagram," Vaggie stated. "So, I can't imagine he's had reactions to the weather like this before. Even if his senses are heightened because he's a spider, it still feels strange that he would react like this. This doesn't seem usual at all."

"At least we don't have to worry about Valentino," Cherri sighed with relief. "He's free, all thanks to you."

"He is free for now," Charlie said solemnly. "Valentino will make his attempt sooner or later. All we can do is hope that Angel gets the rest he needs. He went for days with very little sleep or food, and his body needs that energy to heal. I'm genuinely worried about how badly his wounds will heal... when they do."

"I'm concerned about that too," Cherri admitted, her eyes focused on the downstairs landing with worry. "I don't know what Val was thinking, doing that to him and not expecting anyone at the hotel to do something about it. Unless, of course, Angie's fan base is interested in seeing him with massive scars."

"Or perhaps there's more to it than we believe," Vaggie suggested thoughtfully. "Angel has been rebellious and attempted to escape before... maybe more than once. So, why not erase him if he's a problem? Unless, of course, money isn't the reason he's keeping Angel in existence."

"Well, obviously," Cherri snorted, finding the answer to be rather obvious. "Angie is one of the top porn stars around. He's incredibly popular, and his merchandise sales in the Lust Ring are supposedly through the roof. The only performers more popular than Angie would be that Fizzarolli guy and Verosika Mayday. Sinners like Angie, however, are rare to find, and even if someone with the potential to gain his fanbase is discovered, it would take time to train them to be anything like him. Ironically, it's actually his rebellious side that makes him popular. People love his no-holds-barred attitude in his films, so what's bad business-wise for Val is actually turning a bigger profit than those other two chicks Angie has as coworkers. They're just too submissive and compliant, which really annoys people. Even the people they're entertaining in their films sound bored with them."

"Maybe..." Charlie said, pondering the situation. "But something just seems too convenient. Angel just happens to be spotted by Valentino at some point, and he suddenly decides he's someone he wants to market. Or could it be that someone told him where to find Angel?"

"But who would do that?" Cherri asked, appearing lost in thought. "Angie actively avoids the family members he has in Hell and doesn't want anything to do with them. From what he has told me, there's some serious bad blood going around with them, so I don't blame him for cutting ties. The only person Angie has at least some contact with is his brother, but neither of them is on the best of terms. I've never seen or met him, however, before I moved to the hotel, I mentioned to Angie that there had been a group of demons snooping around my old turf. What I didn't tell him is that they are spider demons, because I didn't know if any of them were people Angie knew. The guy leading them, he's this really creepy-looking character that has this perpetual look in his eyes that suggests he'd have no problems slitting his own mother's throat, and then impassively smoke a cigarette while he watches her bleed out on the floor."

"That sounds like the demon that Husk thought could be Angel's brother," Vaggie pointed out as she pulled up her phone and started to look through the internet.

"Yeah," Cherri said, pausing for a moment. "Angie mentioned his brother, but there have been occasions where he hinted that there might be three kids in his family. It makes me wonder if there's a third brother out there somewhere."

"Perhaps," Vaggie pointed out. "You mentioned that he would sometimes say there were three kids in the family, but did he ever specifically mention three boys?"

"So...what?" Cherri asked, raising her eyebrow. "Are you suggesting that Angie might have a sister somewhere?"

"It's possible," Charlie replied thoughtfully. "Has he ever mentioned or implied anything like that?"

"No," Cherri answered, her expression serious. "Though there have been times when I've been with Angie when he was distressed. Some of those moments, I've heard him calling out for someone named Molly in his sleep."

"Molly…" Charlie whispered the name thoughtfully, her curiosity piqued. "Does he say anything else when he calls out for her?"

"He sometimes said things like Sorella or Sorellina," Cherri explained. "I don't really know Italian, but Angel does use the word Fratello when talking about his brother, so Sorella could mean sister in Italian."

"This demon you were seeing," Vaggie said as she held out her phone. "Did he look like this?" On the phone was an image of a dark-furred spider demon. His eight visible red eyes bore murderously cold holes into the camera lens.

"Ooo, yeah, that's him," Cherri winced, her expression showing a mix of discomfort and annoyance. "You usually don't forget greasy thugs like that."

"You are fortunate you moved to the hotel," Vaggie said gravely. "He's known by the name of Arackniss, and he's a high-ranking official in the... I'm not entirely sure, but I think it's the Rag-No Family Mafia. He holds notoriety in the underworld of Pentagram City as someone you absolutely don't want to encounter. If you end up in a meeting with him, someone inevitably winds up erased. Valentino or anyone could have hired him to take you out, for who knows what reason."

"Hang on," Charlie said, feeling a chill run down her spine as she sensed the true danger of Arackniss. Yet, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something oddly familiar about him as well. "Cherri, do you have any pictures of Angel on your phone?"

"Excuse me," Cherri responded with mockingly offended snark as she handed her phone to Charlie. "It's not like he's been my best friend for the past few decades. I naturally have at least some photos of him. Take your pick."

Charlie opened the photo gallery on the phone and scrolled through the various selfies and images of Angel. There were a lot, but most didn't really capture him well. He seemed to be intentionally hiding his face or wearing disguises in many of the pictures, which was odd behavior for someone who enjoyed attention.

As she continued scrolling, Charlie finally came across a photo that worked. In the picture, Angel was dressed in what looked like men's attire, a departure from his usual feminine or unisex clothing. He posed confidently, holding a Tommy gun under one arm as if he couldn't resist taking a selfie before robbing a bank. This unusual shot gave Charlie the view of Angel's face that she needed, and it confirmed her suspicions.

"Oh, that one," Cherri said with a smirk. "He was raised around people who followed the Italian Mafia lifestyle when he was alive, so I asked him to send me a photo of him dressed as a mobster. He actually looks pretty good that way, don't you think?"

"They're related…" Charlie said, her eyes widening as she put the phone with the picture of Angel next to Vaggie's phone with the picture of Arackniss. The resemblance between the two was subtle, but she could see hints that were rather uncanny.

"Please tell me you're kidding," Vaggie exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice. The revelation of a potential connection between Angel and Arackniss was unsettling, to say the least. "Angel said he was tied to a crime family, I can accept that. But being blood-related to an absolutely dangerous demon within Pentagram City… that's just too much to wrap my head around."

"Really?" Cherri asked, raising an eyebrow. "Aside from the two of them being spiders, I don't see any sort of resemblance." She leaned closer to take a better look at the pictures on both phones, trying to find any similarities between Angel and Arackniss beyond their shared species.

"The similarities are subtle," Charlie pointed out. "But they're there... Arackniss could be Angel's brother." She felt a mix of shock and concern, realizing that there might be a deeper connection between the two demons than anyone had initially suspected.

"Angie has said his brother is pretty bad," Cherri cringed. "But he also said his Dad was even worse. If 'Nissy' here is the mob's equivalent to an executioner, what could be worse than that?" She couldn't help but shudder at the thought of Angel's family being entangled in such dangerous and sinister activities.

"The guy who he gets orders from," Vaggie stated with an anxious growl in her voice. "The Ragno family is headed by a Spider Demon known as Henroin. He's monstrously sadistic and runs several operations on both the southern and western sides of the pentagram – drug trading, racketeering, exploitation, money laundering, weapons trades on the black market..."

Charlie immediately looked up the name Henroin on her own phone and let out an almost horrified gasp. On the screen was a large spider demon, his fur was dark like Arackniss's, but it was more of a dark shade of gray rather than grayish black. If Angel's resemblances to Arackniss were subtle. This spider demon left little doubt as to any sort of relation.

This spider was obviously used to throwing his weight around, a being who thrived on bullying and tormenting everyone around him. A man who had long since forgotten what it meant to love or care for another person. This man... this monstrosity was Angel's father?! Silently, she placed her phone with that image above the two phones featuring Angel and Arackniss. Charlie didn't even dare to think of Angel or Arackniss as this man's children. They were nothing more than his trained soldiers, weapons he could use and dispose of when he no longer needed them. If Angel was able to run from that life, that obviously meant he saw his father for who and what he was.

The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on everyone present, as they began to grasp the harsh reality of Angel's past and the dangerous connections he might have. The line between family and adversary had blurred, and the demons in Pentagram City seemed to be entwined in a web of secrets and treachery that none of them could have imagined.

"Angie…" Cherri whimpered, using the Spider Demon's pet name for Angel. The revelation of his family's ties to such malevolence was overwhelming, and she couldn't help but feel a mix of compassion and concern for her friend.

"FUUUCCCKKK!" A loud exclamation of frustration echoed from downstairs, interrupting the heavy atmosphere in the room.

"Sounds like he's awake," Cherri sighed, glancing back at the others before making her way downstairs again.

"I'll go look after him," Charlie volunteered as she stood up. "It's nearly dinner time. Can you two get something started?"

"Sure," Vaggie said reluctantly. She had wanted to object and point out that Cherri was more than capable of tending to Angel, but the look her girlfriend threw her brooked no argument. Realizing that Charlie wanted to be there for Angel, Vaggie decided to respect her decision and focus on preparing dinner with Cherri.

"I'm fine with..." Cherri started to say.

"Cherri, please," Charlie implored, his voice tinged with concern. "Let me look after him for the time being."

"You can help me in the kitchen," Vaggie strongly encouraged. Cherri let out a bitter sigh but reluctantly followed the other female sinner, as the Princess descended the stairs.

In the dimly lit office, a crimson smoke cigarette emanated an eerie glow as its owner peered out of the penthouse window, observing the city around him. The Moth Overlord was consumed with frustration over the events of the day. King Luci's daughter had audaciously attempted to dictate that his property was no longer his own, and this gnawed at him from within.

The number she had used to call him was from a secure line, but Velvette had pointed out a few scattered pings originating from outside the city. It became evident that she deliberately went to a place where he couldn't easily reach her. Hell's Royal Family was known to own property outside the city, so it wasn't surprising that she sought refuge at one of her family's private retreats.

Though she didn't explicitly mention Angel's presence, the protective tone in her voice suggested that he might be with her. If the Spider had managed to scurry out of the city, it was undoubtedly to a location linked to the Princess of Hell - there was no room for doubt on that matter.

It had been incredibly difficult to break the news to his directors that the upcoming shoots featuring Angel would have to be replaced with Summer, Dia, or both girls. The financial loss incurred due to scrapping those productions or reworking the stories to accommodate the two demonesses was considerable. Those roles were originally meant for Angel alone, and now having to fit those "lesbian hoes" into them felt like a compromise.

While Summer and Dia had their popularity, they didn't have the same drawing power or revenue-generating potential as Angel did. This situation would have a significant impact on Valentino's bottom line, which deeply worried him.

The fact that Angel had caught the attention of Princess Morningstar was beyond comprehension. While the princess held authority, she wasn't considered a highly powerful figure in the Seven Rings of Hell, as far as Valentino knew. She held a significant position in Hell's power structure, but she leaned more towards being a born pacifist. The origins of someone like her, being the offspring of King Luci and Queen Lilith, remained an enigma to Valentino and much of Hell.

Nevertheless, despite not being exceptionally influential, Princess Morningstar was undeniably wealthy. This was one of the aspects of Angel that Valentino admired most – his ability to attract the rich and influential. Even Luci Morningstar himself had chosen Angel Dust as a particular companion on occasions when he sought satisfaction beyond his wife's reach or during Queen Lilith's music tours when he needed to blow off some steam.

Retrieving a Hellphone from his desk, Valentino accessed his private contact list, which contained information about his secret connections. As he scrolled through the names, he came across "Henroin." While being associated with the notorious Ragno Crime family or any criminal elements in the city wouldn't be unexpected, it would undoubtedly tarnish his reputation if such alliances were to be exposed to the public.

Flashback-1982

"I gotta second son, see? He's holed up right here in Hell," Henroin's deep, gravelly voice answered. "Even though he's my own flesh and blood, he's gone down a different road – a road I ain't too keen on. One that would be embarrassing for my reputation if it was to be more widely known. He's cut himself off from the family business, which I don't mind. Since he knows a lot of shit about my family operations, that makes him a liability to me. But, maybe we can arrange things, perhaps he can be of some use to youse, capisce? This queers got some real talents that could be worth somethin' for your operations. He's entertainin' the crowds over at the 'Stygian Dream' Casino. The folks there know him as 'Angel Dust'.'"

The tone of the conversation turned more respectful as Henroin continued, "In exchange for granting him an illustrious opportunity to work with you, I request some territory on the Western side of the Pentagram. This would allow me to expand my influence and strengthen my presence in this city."

The Overlord agreed to evaluate the young man, considering that the "Stygian Dream" Casino was known for employing only high-end demons in their services and entertainment for their esteemed clientele. It was an exclusive establishment where demons with exceptional talents were sought after, and those who couldn't meet the criteria faced a different fate – becoming sustenance for the guests.

Valentino was intrigued by the boy that Henroin had offered, as he displayed remarkable allure and fully utilized his gaunt, effeminate frame. His face stood out as one of his best features, catching the attention of the Moth. If Henroin hadn't disclosed his relation, Valentino would never have believed that this was his son. The young man's appearance and demeanor were in complete contrast to the Mafioso's darker appearance and nature.

The young man had a strategic approach to offering his services to the most influential and wealthy patrons, knowing they could provide significant benefits or opportunities for him. However, he wasn't willing to give himself away to just anyone, as he proved he could stand up for himself when dealing with some overly handsy drunk patrons. Valentino acknowledged the boy's spirited nature, finding it intriguing. His loins ached at the thought of breaking such a spirited whore.

"See something intriguing about our Angel Dust?" The Casino Manager asked, approaching the Overlord.

"Yes," Valentino replied. "What's the price tag on that boy?"

"For the night?" The manager asked.

"No," Valentino purred. "I'd like to buy him from you. What's the coin you're puttin' on the table?"

The manager's eyes widened, surprised by Valentino's proposition. After a moment's consideration, he replied, "You're interested in owning him permanently? Well, he's undoubtedly one of our most exceptional talents, and his skills are highly sought after. For such an exclusive arrangement, I'd have to ask for a substantial offer. Let's say... a hundred-thousand souls

"I'll give you," Valentino said, his eyes fixed on the young Spider demon, "three-hundred and fifty thousand souls."

The manager's eyes widened even further, clearly taken aback by Valentino's bold offer. He hesitated for a moment before composing himself and replied, "That's an impressive bid. However, I must warn you that he can be quite problematic. Several of his clients have suffered injuries from him, and he can be rather outspoken as well. He's been known to throw some rather expensive tantrums. Additionally, he adamantly refuses to participate in any fetishes involving his feet. Are you absolutely certain you want to offer that much?"

"I've crossed paths with characters like him before, no stranger to that type." Valentino smiled. "I've danced with many a soul in my days, and down in the fiery depths, I can really bring out their best qualities, if you catch my drift. Fact is, those very traits might be just what's ticklin' my fancy. You see, I'm settin' up a real classy joint, a place that's gonna turn heads and rake in the dough. A pal of mine dropped a word about this fine specimen, and I'm inclined to think he's worth a pretty penny. There's a whole lotta untapped shine in that young thing... a whole lotta shine, indeed."

The Spider Demon had caught the eye of what appeared to be one of the Goetia Demons. His alluring smirk transformed into a triumphant smile as his client offered a few souls in advance before being led away to indulge in their desires.

The manager seemed intrigued by Valentino's response but still felt the need to ensure he understood the situation fully. "Very well," he said cautiously, "I'll present your offer to the owners, and we'll see if they agree to it. But remember, once the deal is done, there's no turning back."

Valentino nodded firmly. "I understand. Make sure they know I mean business."

"I'll make sure to summon Angel to my office once he's finished entertaining his current customer," the manager said.

"I'll be loungin' in my stretch ride, all primed and ready for that boy to grace my presence." Valentino said. "That young man right there? He's just the ticket for the grand plans I've got cookin' up."

After an hour had passed, the Casino's manager emerged, dragging Angel Dust by the arm.

"I got you the souls you wanted," The Spider protested. "I should be free now, right?"

"You should have gotten me the money before you were sold to this gentleman, here," the manager said sternly as he took the envelope of money from Angel's hand. "But all this should cover any damages and expenses that putting up with you has cost this establishment. If you weren't so highly valued, you'd be fortunate to have not found your scrawny carcass served during the evening buffet for the trouble you've caused. I'm just glad I don't have you as a problem anymore. Now be a good little worker and do what your 'new' master tells you."

Putting the phone down, the Moth took a couple more drags of his cigarette, his mind deep in thought as he pondered the situation. Angel had always proven to be the most challenging of his employees. Over the years, the Moth had exerted enough influence and control to make the Slutty Spider instinctively cower in fear and become submissive. However, that didn't mean Angel didn't resist him at every opportunity.

The Moth leaned back in his chair, a cloud of smoke swirling around him.

The Moth frowned, well aware that the recent escape of one of his workers posed a threat to his credibility and authority. If one whore managed to escape, it wouldn't be long before others entertained the idea as well. He couldn't afford to let this situation escalate.

He knew Angel couldn't hide forever, especially with the Princess still involved in her project. Sooner or later, Angel would resurface, and the Moth needed to be prepared for that moment. The boy had a restless spirit, and confining him to a hotel room wouldn't work for long. It was only a matter of time before he grew agitated and sought to leave his sactuary.

The Moth decided it was crucial to act quickly and decisively. He would reinforce the security measures around his operation, tightening the reins and ensuring there were no further chances for anyone to escape. He would need to act strategically to prevent any more escape attempts and bring Angel back into the fold. This incident would serve as a wake-up call to tighten his grip on the operation and ensure that no one else dared to defy his authority.

The issue of Angel's drug use was an additional concern that weighed heavily on the Moth's mind. He knew that those involved with the hotel had to give up their addictions upon joining, but Angel's deep-rooted addiction made it challenging for him to maintain sobriety for long periods. The Moth understood that even if Angel managed to appear clean on the surface, he was resourceful enough to find ways to indulge in his habit without being caught by his caretakers.

Val considered Angel's recent drug usage history. It seemed evident that the last time Angel had indulged in drugs was a few days ago. With this knowledge, Val was certain that Angel would soon enter a withdrawal period if he hadn't already. The cravings for drugs would start to take a toll on him.

Knowing Angel, the spider wouldn't be able to endure the withdrawal for long and would eventually succumb to the temptation to use drugs again. The pull of addiction was strong, and Val was certain that Angel's resolve would weaken the longer he tried to resist the need for 'Dust'.

Val suspected that if they could find a way to lure Angel out of the Happy Hotel under the pretexts of drugs, he could be apprehended and forced into the "Special Room," where he would be manipulated and broken. A process that would play out until Val was sure that Angel would never consider escape ever again.

"Savor that slice of liberty while it's on your plate, Angel Baby." Val smirked. "'cause mark my words, you'll be slippin' right back into my tender hold before too long. And when that day arrives, oh, I'll ensure you stand as a prime lesson, a living testament to what befalls when one of my darlings gets a bit too big for their britches."