Act 1: Pentagram Wars

Chapter 1: Meetings and Greetings

In one hundred and seventy-three days he would rule Pentagram City or he would be dead.

It had been nine days since the extermination, approximately 16 percent of Hell's population had been culled this time. Hell was in absolute frenzy, another extermination had been announced yesterday, this time it was only six months away instead of the usual year.

Hereticus was sat comfortably in a dark pink leather desk chair, his hands were placed neatly on his lap and were cupping each other, his right arm was made of silver and had a metallic texture to it, from his shoulder to the tips of his fingers. His left hand was crimson red and had a vine-like pink scar running from his wrist to his neck and down to his heart, all but the ends of the scar were concealed by a navy-blue jacket and a white buttoned shirt.

Hereticus raised his head, his small red horns pointing at an angle upwards, he looked up from his hands and down the white table ahead of him, where he was sat on the left side from his point of view, at the furthest point from the head of the table. He was surrounded by the most notable overlords of pentagram city, at the head of the table was Hell's greatest weapons dealer, Carmilla Carmine, who'd arranged this meeting, to her left was Zestial, easily the oldest and possibly wisest person in the room, further down was Missi Zilla, a towering creature that barely fit the seat she was sitting in, if they were both standing upright, Missi would be thrice Hereticus' size. To Hereticus' left was Rosie the Cannibal, and next to her was The Radio Demon, Alastor, who Hereticus had been fortunate enough not to have crossed paths with up until this point. Directly opposite Hereticus were three empty chairs, that the Three Vees should be sitting, it was odd they weren't here, a meeting between overlords like this hadn't happened in a very long while.

Hereticus had his usual stoic face on, but under the surface he felt a tinge of fear in him, he was surrounded by some of the most powerful people in Hell, saying or doing the wrong thing here could lead to terrible unseen consequences down the road. Hereticus knew he was only there because of the number of souls who had sworn fealty to him, approximately a hundred thousand, a number he'd spent the better half of a decade building up slowly and meticulously, although, it was a meagre number compared to some of the other people in the room. Hereticus was an "unproven" overlord, he was yet to demonstrate any actual strength and it was frankly ridiculous how he'd gotten this far without doing so.

Carmine spoke, she welcomed them all and began discussing the recent extermination as well as the next, she didn't get through many sentences until Velvette, the weakest of the Vees, came into the room loudly talking over her phone with Vox, another one of the Vees, insulting the other overlords in their faces with no regard for politeness. Hereticus wasn't really paying much attention to what she was saying to Carmine until she threw an exorcist's decapitated head on the table, its lifeless eyes locking onto his. The fire inside him raged, he would want nothing more than to cross the barrier to Eden and burn the souls of every angel that ever dared to take the life of a demon. The head still had its helmet, it wasn't one of the ones he'd managed to kill, he had stripped them of their armour and used it to forge his right arm. Someone else had killed this one, they were probably in this room.

He barely managed to keep his calm expression, his right eye twitched with hate, he looked to Velvette, he was definitely paying attention now.

"This changes the game." Velvette said "Someone's bested an exorcist, someone's been faster, smarter and stronger than them. I reckon it was one of you, so whoever it is, tell us your secrets, you won't be able to keep them for long, it's time for us all to make a grab for power."

Velvette began to squabble with the overlords around her, Hereticus didn't like her any more than anyone else in the room, but he had to admit she was right, not only had he managed to kill some exorcists but someone else had to. He decided to keep the secret of his own murder-spree to himself for now, and instead decided to feign ignorance

Words came forth from Hereticus' mouth as if he wasn't thinking at all, but he'd been prepared to say something like this for years now, and they came forth as if rehearsed, his words were full of conviction and power, despite what little respect the other overlords had for him they all ceased their chaotic arguments to listen to Hereticus' organised speech, "Velvette is correct. This does change the game, but not in the way she thinks. If we know that an exorcist has been killed, heaven certainly does, this explains the sudden change in schedule for the next extermination, they know someone has found a way to beat them and wish to snuff that knowledge out before it spreads, otherwise, we could rise up and destroy them. Who do you think they're going to go for first? The lowly sinner in their slums, gutters and whore-houses, or us, the most powerful people in the city who already have the means to kill them? Everyone in this room is at risk, we cannot allow ourselves to wait idly in fear, hiding in our towers and fortresses, we need to find out how to fight back, six months from now we need to be a united city, we can't afford to fight amongst ourselves any longer, for the first time we have the chance to stand up against our oppressors, this is an opportunity we cannot afford to overlook!"

For a moment, the overlords were silent, there was a slight look of hope in the eyes of some of them, but it quickly faded. What Hereticus was proposing was absurd. The overlords would never unite under a single banner, there were too many feuds amongst them for them to ever get along. The overlords returned to their arguments, Velvette shot Hereticus a look, she agreed with him entirely but he had taken the spotlight off her and had shown the overlords her lack of vision.

Hereticus leaned back into his chair, not interested in the squabbling overlords. That's all that they had done, squabble and fight, ever since Alastor had opened up a power vacuum for them to fill. Alastor himself wasn't speaking at all, he was looking at the chaotic mess ahead of him just as Hereticus was except he was wearing his ever-present sinister ear-to-ear smile, seemingly enjoying the chaos unfold.

Hereticus looked forward, out of the window and towards the centre of the city, the extermination bell tower was visible from the tower he was in, three large purple numbers showed that there were a hundred and seventy-three days left.

In one hundred and seventy-three-days he would rule Pentagram City or he would be dead.

Gabriel Morningstar was stood arms folded away from the round silver table behind her. She was looking out of the window towards the golden tree of life, its fruits dropping and giving souls to the newly born of Heaven and Earth. Her long golden hair trailed down her back, she was tall and thin, her arms crossed, her hands holding the sleeves of her white and blue jacket, a white velvet cape ran over her right shoulder and behind her back, she was wrapping her white wings around her folded arms.

"Gabriel." Said Michael the Archangel of Faith, and her father, his voice was stern and commanding, she turned with little hesitation, not out of respect but out of impulse.

Ahead of her was her father, sat in the chair closest to her, a few seats around were Adam, The First Man, as well as his lieutenant, Lute. Adam was trapped inside the suit he wore, which was needed to keep him from experiencing constant agony from the wounds he had sustained near the end of the thousand-year war. Gabriel felt like crying whenever she saw Adam, he was once a great hero who she had fought beside and an even better friend, but now he was nothing but a husk, devoid of hope and driven by hate. Gabriel pitied Adam greatly.

She looked to her father, who she could barely stand to look at ever since she had learnt of the exterminations. She was the Archangel of Justice and had never been informed of them until a few months ago, she and the rest of the supreme council should've been told of them before they could've been approved, but Michael had snuck them past her and made sure only he, Adam and the exorcists knew of their existence. The only reason Gabriel knew of them now was because Michael needed somebody to make sure Adam was doing his job correctly.

Gabriel spoke to her father, "You pushed the next extermination six months ahead of schedule. Why?"

Michael spoke with little hesitation, "The demons managed to kill some of Adam's exorcists, we must ensure that knowledge of the exorcist' weaknesses don't spread, otherwise, they'll be able to rise up and threaten heaven like they've done before."

Gabriel knew that exorcists had been killed, she had seen it with her own eyes, an enraged and hateful demon had slaughtered them, tearing them limb from limb and overpowering them with superior speed and strength, using their own weapons against them. She had to sever that demon's arm and nearly took his life, with him only being saved by the bell. Gabriel decided to keep this knowledge to herself.

"Don't you see? You fear them rising up so you use these exterminations to reduce their numbers and strike fear in their hearts, yet they will still rise up, not in spite of the exterminations but because of them." Gabriel said with a pleading voice.

Adam finally spoke through a speaker, an imitation of the friend she once had, "The exterminations are only meant to delay, the flame in Eden will soon fade and then we will be free of every hellborne demon, after that, it will be easy to exterminate the sinners and nobles."

Gabriel couldn't believe the words Adam was saying, she briefly reflected on the time she had shared with Adam when they travelled to the first circle of hell to reclaim Eden from the clutches of Lilith. He was always a pleasure to be around, he never seemed to lose hope and he always had a smile on his face, but now all that was left of him was a machine with no purpose other than to wage war and to kill.

"Yes," agreed Michael "In a few years we will never need to worry about hell again, they will never rise up to challenge us again, we will truly be at peace, Gabriel, don't you want that?"

Gabriel stood silently for a moment, she looked at her hand, to her middle finger where a white ring was wrapped comfortably and weightlessly around it, it displayed her symbol of justice, a star with two swords in a cross behind it.

"Is this justice?" She thought to herself.

"Can I stand by and watch billions die so that others may live in peace?" She thought as she clenched her hand in a disgusted fist.

Michael knew his daughter well enough to know what she was thinking, he rose from his seat and walked over to her, he held her clenched fist gently.

"I know you wish that there was another way, I do too," He said with sympathy in his voice "I wish that we could leave Hell to itself, let its people live the lives they wish, but Hell has proven itself time and time again that it does not wish for the same thing, no matter how much we try to distance ourselves from them they always crave power, they always seek our destruction. It's time to let the Dark Realm end, to allow their pain and suffering to truly be over, no longer will they hurt each other in order to fulfil their desires, they can die peacefully; as for Heaven, we will be truly free of our enemies and those who have stayed true may live eternally in bliss, free of worry."

Gabriel looked her father in the eyes, they were filled with sorrow and hopelessness, he wanted it to end, it had been his responsibility to keep Heaven safe and Hell at bay for thousands of years and he was growing tired, he needed to be free of his duty.

Gabriel felt disgust but also pity. Even after his actions she still loved her father, she knew that he thought what he was doing was best for Heaven, she couldn't blame him, Hell wasn't a place for good people, they did seek power and the destruction of Heaven, but they were still people, when Heaven took control of Hell over seven hundred years ago she had imagined that the angels would help the demons, that they would give them hope and help them improve their lives, but here was her father, proposing genocide as a solution to their problems.

She couldn't take much more of this, Gabriel pulled her hands away from her father's grip and walked past him without a word towards the door at the far end of the room, she opened it and took one last look at her father before leaving, who was staring at her with a troubled expression.

Charlie was sat in her limousine in the backseat, looking out of the right window, into the streets of Pentagram City, she watched her people walk by, most of them just going about their day, just trying to enjoy life in Hell. Charlie did this every time she came through the city, hoping to spot anyone with a genuine smile on their face or to see someone who she could ask to come stay at her hotel. She was being driven to it right now, Vaggie by her side as always. Vaggie could see Charlie's reflection in the window, she had a worried expression on her face.

"What's wrong?" Vaggie asked with a concerned tone.

Charlie turned to her quickly, her expression changing to her usual happy smile, "Oh, nothing!" She lied.

Vaggie knew Charlie well enough to know when she was faking a smile, she shook her head and asked again "Charlie, what's wrong?"

Charlie's smile faded and she looked at her lap briefly, and then out the window to her right again, she was silent for a moment before speaking.

"I'm just so worried Vaggie…" She said before pausing, "about the hotel, about Hell, I wonder if there's even a future for any of us anymore, the next extermination is closer than ever and I'm just doubting myself."

Vaggie smiled sweetly at Charlie, she placed her hand on her shoulder and spoke to her.

"Hey, you're gonna make it work, Angel and Pentious are gonna make it to Heaven, we'll prove to everyone that redemption is possible, you just need to believe in yourself as much as I believe in you."

Charlie's eyes lifted and she smiled at Vaggie, she was always there to support her and remind her to keep going, she loved her more than anything.

"Thank you, Vaggie, you always know what to say" Charlie said.

Something caught her eye; she looked out the window behind Vaggie and at a man in a navy-blue suit. His eyes had caught her attention, they were a deep blue and filled with a hopeful fire. Charlie had a way of knowing if someone could be redeemed, and this man was one of those people.

"Stop the car!" Charlie ordered the driver, who promptly came to a halt.

Charlie moved over Vaggie and rolled down the window to come face to face with the sinner.

"Excuse me!" She said with an excited tone.

Hereticus looked over to his right, down at none other than Charlie Morningstar, heir to Hell's throne.

"Your majesty." He said with a respectful tone as he politely bowed his head.

"Could I talk to you for a moment, please?" She asked with a chirpy voice. She opened the car door and invited him inside.

Hereticus wasn't really sure where this was going, but denying a conversation with the Princess of Hell would be a mistake, he took a seat inside, opposite Charlie, who closed the car door behind him. Charlie extended her right arm for him to shake, Hereticus shook it with his own silver arm, Charlie gave it an odd look before deciding not to question it for now.

"My name is Charlie, Princess of Hell, what's yours?" She asked.

"Hereticus, overlord." He replied with a polite smile on his face.

Vaggie raised an eyebrow upon hearing the word 'overlord,' already she didn't like him, those who deal in souls tend not to be the most pleasant of people.

"I was wondering if you would be interested in coming to stay at my hotel, free of charge, there you can work to be a better person, once you're redeemed you could go to heaven!" She said with her cheerful tone.

Hereticus was silent for a moment, taking the time to process what she had said, she was inviting him to join her hotel, he'd heard of it but never really considered redeeming himself.

"Thank you for the offer," he said before pausing for a moment, "but I'm not looking to go to heaven. I respect and support your cause, but unfortunately it doesn't align with my interests."

"Why don't you come and stay for a little bit? You can stay a few days and join us in our activities and if you don't like it you can leave!" She responded.

"I don't think..." Hereticus began, before looking at Charlie's pleading expression, she was giving him puppy dog eyes, he couldn't just say no. He sighed deeply.

"Alright, I'll come with you." He said reluctantly.

"Yay!" Charlie exclaimed "Thank you! Thank you! You will not regret this!"

They were then driven through the dirty city streets and up a hill, towards the Hazbin Hotel, as they were driving Hereticus looked to Charlie's partner, Vaggie, who he seemed to recognise.

"Have we met before?" He asked, trying to put a name to a face.

"Does Vaggie ring a bell?" She asked, arms crossed, she didn't seem to trust Hereticus entirely, she didn't really see what Charlie saw in him, when Vaggie looked into his eyes, she didn't see the fiery hope that Charlie did, but only a blank expression.

"No, it doesn't." Hereticus said, he had definitely met her somewhere but couldn't quite pin down where.

They arrived at the hotel, Hereticus looked up at it, it was quite a tall tower, he counted ten stories before looking elsewhere, to it's left a blimp was anchored next to it and on the top story of the tower was a radio station, there were many other odd things for a hotel to have.

Charlie opened the door with a smile on her face and invited Hereticus inside, he stepped past the threshold of the door and took a look inside. To his left was the bar where Husk stood, he glanced up from the glass he was cleaning to look at the new arrival. To Hereticus' right was a lounge with a television, on the red couches sat two people, the first being a black and yellow snake-man covered head to tail in red eyes, next to him was a pink and white spider demon who was eating a popsicle.

"Everyone, this is Hereticus, our new guest here at the Hotel!" She said, calling them all to attention.

Charlie walked over to the spider demon first, "This is Angel Dust," Charlie said.

"Sup." Said Angel with very little care in his voice.

"And this is-" Charlie began before being interrupted

"The great Sir Pentious! Inventor, artificer and supreme Admiral!" The snake man announced, holding onto any "S" for a while.

"Right!" said Charlie with approval in her voice, glad that Pentious was showing enthusiasm, "and this is Husk" she said as she walked to the bar, where a cat man stood behind it, who said not a word, only briefly looked up to them and gave Hereticus a nod and then continued cleaning the glasses. A small one-eyed woman jumped up behind the counter with a pin in her hand, seemingly uninterested in anyone.

"Bugs! Bugs! Where's the bugs?" She said to herself manically as she looked around the counter.

"This is Nifty, our cleaner and maid," Charlie said trying to hide the discomfort Nifty was bringing her.

Suddenly, Hereticus saw out of the corner of his eye a familiar figure, who stepped into view from behind the hotel's stairs, it was the radio demon.

"What is he doing here?" Thought Hereticus concerningly.

"And this is Alastor, one of our managers." Charlie said, she noticed Hereticus was trying to keep a stoic expression but his eyes revealed his concern.

"Pleasure to be meeting you once again my friend, quite the pleasure!" Said Alastor with his altered voice, it sounded like he was speaking through a speaker at all times, although Hereticus could make out whispering voices beyond the static that weren't a part of Alastor's primary voice. "You sure did have quite a speech prepared in that little meeting of ours, such entertaining passion!"

"You've met before?" Charlie asked them both

"Yes," Replied Hereticus "We're both back from a meeting with some other overlords."

Alastor was a terrifying figure to be around, he easily towered over Hereticus and it was difficult to figure out what he was thinking, his ever-present grin making it near impossible to tell what he was thinking. Hereticus thought it would be best for him to get out of the hotel now, but he couldn't leave Charlie with the radio demon, if he made a deal with her, it could be the doom of all of Hell, he would stick around for now, keep an eye on the radio demon and if all went well, he could even end up meeting with King Lucifer, a meeting he had been meaning to arrange for quite a while now.

"It's a pleasure meeting you all," Hereticus said as he looked around the room at the other guests of the hotel. "Would you mind showing me to my room?" He asked Charlie.

"Of course, but don't you want to stick around the lounge for a while, get to know everyone?" She asked.

"I've had quite the day" Replied Hereticus "I need my rest; I've got a lot of work to be doing tomorrow."

"I see, follow me." Said Charlie, a little disappointed Hereticus didn't want to get to know the other guests.

Charlie led Hereticus up a flight of red stairs and down a corridor carpeted with a bright red carpet, gold-coloured pillars lined the wall and the wallpaper was falling off, the hotel seemed to be in a barely functioning state. At the end of the corridor was a door, Charlie opened it and allowed Hereticus to step inside, the room was L-shaped and was covered in vermillion wallpaper, there was a bathroom on the right side of the door and a TV on the far-left side of the room, in the corner of the room was a king-sized bed with a white bedsheet, maroon cushions and a crimson duvet. By the bed was a corner-counter with a lamp and telephone on it. Hereticus thought the room felt quite homely, he could see himself getting used to something like this.

Charlie held out the key to Hereticus, he looked down at her hand and took the key, pocketing it in his jacket.

"If you ever want breakfast, lunch or dinner, Nifty will be more than happy to bring it to you, while you're away she'll also clean your room for you as well!" Charlie said, enthusiastic as ever.

"Your highness," said Hereticus with a formal tone "This is all very lovely, but don't forget, I'm only doing this to show my support for your cause, I have no intention of going to heaven whatsoever, my goals lie elsewhere."

"Of course," Said Charlie "you being here is help enough, I would appreciate it if you help to redeem the other guests, and please, call me Charlie."

"Alright, Charlie." Said Hereticus with a smile.

Charlie gave him a farewell nod and closed the door as she left.

Hereticus walked over to the bed and got undressed, he'd move some of his stuff in properly another time, for now he'd have to sleep in his boxers rather than his pyjamas. He got under the duvet, it felt nice on his skin. He rested his head on the pillow and closed his eyes.

As he drifted off to sleep, he reminded himself of what his plan was, it was very rare for him not to be thinking about his plans to take control of the city. He would amass a force great enough to challenge the Vees, once they were eliminated, he would have enough sway over the overlords to get them to assist him in his goal to defend themselves against the exorcists.