Grail of sin chapter 6
'Stick it to the radioman'
Husk was busy with his daily routine at the lobby bar. He took pride in it, his own little corner of this now massive hotel. He washed each and every glass, whether used or not, then dried every last one by hand, making sure not a speck of dirt or grime was on them.
He cleaned the counter with meticulous care, but his attention was drawn by Angel Dust's approach. Angel Dust pulled out a stool and sat in his usual spot.
"Hey, Husker. How about pourin' me a glass o' whatever you got. Just make it strong. Actually make it two." Angel Dust asked his bartender.
"Another rough day?" Husk asked.
"Not yet. But I have to do whatever Charlie cooked up in her 'stick it to the man' plan and then I've gotta' to go to the damn studio for a night shoot." Angel Dust replied with an exhausted voice.
"You could just tell her your plate is full for the day." Husk said.
"Nah, I can handle it. Besides, she has been working on it for days. I don' wanna disappoint her." Angel Dust said.
"Cant say 'no' to her can you." Husk said with a smirk.
"Hey, have you seen the new guy runnin' around?" asked Angel Dust.
"Vaggie's handling him for now. She said not to drop your guard around him. If he does anything weird, let her know." Husk whispered to Angel Dust as he placed a single cocktail drink in front of him.
"Husk, I said two." Angel Dust demanded.
"One now, one for the road." Husk said in a serious tone.
"...Alright" Angel Dust said, tapping his finger on the table in annoyance.
"Where is Charlie anyway?" Angel Dust asked.
Husk Shrugs. Angel Dust Leans on his hand while swirling his drink around but his attention is drawn by movement and he spots Vaggie coming down the stairs with Zefriel.
"Hey new guy! Ova here!" Angel Dust said as he waved to Zefriel.
"Alastor should be back soon. I will let him know you want to see him in your office. Sounds good?" Vaggie asked.
"Excellent, thank you, Vaggie. The sooner we handle this the better." Zefriel replied.
Vaggie nodded and walked off in the opposite direction of the bar and into the common room.
"Hey! Yo! New guy!" Angel Dust called again.
Zefriel heard him and approached the bar, sitting on the stool next to Angel Dust.
"Hello, pleasure to make your acquaintance properly. Husk and Angel Dust, correct?" Zefriel asked.
"Yeah, that's right. Say, that was a neat trick you pulled when we first met." Angel Dust said.
"Yes, I apologize about that." Zefriel said. "I was just trying to avoid a physical confrontation with you."
"Oh, don't worry about that sugar. Besides, you don't need mind tricks to have me do whatever you want…" Angel Dust said as he leaned in with a seductive smile.
"Right, sorry to burst your bubble but you are really barking up the wrong tree, friend." Zefriel said as he slightly leaned away from Angel Dust. "Besides, I lost the key to my chastity belt."
"Oh, no!" Angel Dust yelled as he put his hands on his cheeks with an exaggerated expression of dread. "Well, I do know a good locksmith. After all, It might become rather uncomfortable to use the restroom with that thing on." Angel Dust said as he leaned back into Zefriel.
"I think I will just have to hold it in while I'm in Hell." Zefriel replied.
"Hah, party pooper." Angel Dust said as he leaned back away. "Husker, how's about you whip up something for the new guy? Zeffy was it?"
"Zeffy?" Zefriel said with a raised eyebrow.
"What will you have?" asked Husk.
"Whatever whiskey you have on the rocks." Zefriel said after a moment.
"Classic." Husk said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
"So, Husk. What made you want to work at the hotel?" Zefriel asked.
"Hah! What makes you think I had a choice?" Husk replied, his back turned to Zefriel as he was grabbing a whiskey bottle off the top shelf.
"What do you mean?" Zefriel asked.
"Alastor owns Husk's soul." Angel Dust said. "When Alastor joined the hotel, he brought Husk and Niffty along for the ride. Whether they liked it or not."
"I see, so you are an indentured servant. What is the level of control someone can exert on a soul they own?" asked Zefriel
"Depends. If an overlord owns your soul, then they can do anything they want to you, or have you do anything they want. Such souls are propper fucked.
However, there are instances of sinners freely choosing to bind themselves to an overlord under contract conditions. The sinners provide the overlord with whatever service the contract dictates in return for whatever the sinner wants from the overlord. This means that overlords can only exert control over them as far as their contract allows and no further. But, If the sinner fails to adhere to the contract, then their soul is lost to the overlord.
Souls or indentured Service Contracts can be sold off by overlords at the Hell Bank for actual money. Or vice versa." Husk explained while chipping the ice.
"So this 'Hell Bank' is actually a slave market as opposed to a bank." Zefriel said.
"No. It is a Bank AND a slave market." Husk corrected. "That's where the overlords keep most of the souls they gather."
"So are you under contract for Alastor?" Zefriel asked.
"Hah, I wish. No. I lost my soul outright. I used to run a casino, back when I was an overlord myself…" Husk began to explain.
"You were an overlord?" Zefriel interrupted.
"Sure was. One day, he showed up at my casino. He made his way to the poker table where I was busy swindling some patrons. I thought he was just another sucker, but as it turns out, I was the sucker. He played me like a fiddle.
At first it was just a friendly game between two overlord and thousand souls on the line. Nothing major. We both had good instincts. The other players at the table took their losses and ran for the hills, leaving only him and me.
How I envy the sense they had because this is where things got serious. He started winning. Every damn chip on the line. He won over a hundred thousand souls off of me. Nothing I couldn't afford to lose at the time. But that is when he laid out the bait. He wanted…to leave.
He wanted to leave, as though he had had his fill and grew bored of our little game. This infuriated me! So, to keep him at the table, I raised my stakes. I just…couldn't stand the idea of losing like some average chump. And yet I did. Over and over and over.
I put more souls on the line. I put my car on the line. I put my damned casino on the line. Even the shirt on my back. He just took it all.
Finally, I thought I had him figured out. I thought I could see through his…smile. I put my own soul on the line, the only thing I had left, in one last gambit to get everything back. Surely lady luck would smile upon me one time…but, no. I lost my soul. And here I am." Husk vented his story.
"Sounds like he was cheating somehow. So many wins in a row doesn't sound plausible." Zefriel said.
"Of course he was cheating! But, I only found out how he was cheating, later . It was his damn shadow. He can see through the eyes of his damn shadow! Through it he could see my cards the whole time!" Husk said angrily.
"Wait, your soul was the last thing you owned? Damn, Husk. You never told us you lost ya' underwear to Alastor too!" Angel Dust said as he laughed.
"He…didn't want those." Husk said with a smile as Angel Dust's humor cut through his anger.
"I am sorry to hear about your...condition, Husk. That's…terrible." Zefriel said, seeming to find no humor in the moment.
"Oh you think that's bad? Angel's soul here is owned by a psycho pimp called Valentino." Husk said. "You don't even want to know what he forces him to do."
"Oh, don't remind me." Angel Dust said with a groan. "But, at least I'm under contract. It's only valid in the porn studio and nowhere else."
"Why did you enter the contract with Valentino?" asked Zefriel.
"I didn't. When I was a new arrival to Hell, I accepted a contract with another…asshole. He promised that he would make me famous. Promised me the world. He just used me on camera and sold my contract to the bank for a quick buck as soon as he got bored of me. I spent years in that hellhole, until my soul was up for auction. No prizes for figuring out who won. And here I am…" Angel Dust explained.
Husk placed the Whiskey in front of Zeriel who sat in silence, seeming in deep thought, staring at his drink.
"Hey, on the matter of souls. You are an archangel right? Any idea if you can break contracts? free souls? That sort of thing." Husk asked.
Zefriel was quiet for a moment taking a sip of his drink. "I am not sure if I can help on the matter. My abilities might be just as likely to incinerate your soul as they are to help, I fear."
"Damn…" Husk said as he went back to washing glasses.
"I will, however, study this matter and let you know If I find out anything about it." Zefriel said as he finished his drink.
Just as he was about to place his glass down, he saw Charlie coming down the stairs from the corner of his eye. She was carrying a sealed box with a clipboard and papers stacked on top of it.
"Pour me another, slave!" Zefriel demanded loudly as he slammed the glass on the counter.
"Hey, what gives?!" yelled Angel Dust in surprise at the sudden outburst.
Husk remained stoic, raising an eyebrow without saying a word.
Charlie heard Zefriel and approached with a frown."Zefriel! Please, do not refer to the staff as slav…".
"Why not?" Zefriel interrupted her. "His soul is literally owned by another if I understood correctly."
As Charlie placed her box onto the bar counter, Zefriel couldn't help but notice several Band-aids all over her fingers.
"Yes, but still, we do not refer to the hotel staff as slaves. And even more so, Husk is a dear friend and should not be treated that way." Charlie said.
Husk remained silent, choosing to only watch.
"Is he free to leave?" Zefriel asked.
"Well…no. I don't think Alastor would allow it." Charlie said, hesitantly.
"Why do you allow this in your hotel?" Zefriel asked.
"I…I can't do anything about it…" Charlie said sadly.
"You, as the princess of Hell, are unable to break soul binding between sinners?" Zefriel asked.
"No…I can't. It's not a power I have. Neither legal…or magical." Charlie said, as she looked away, with sadness.
"Does your father Lucifer have the ability to?" asked Zefriel, not allowing a moment of respite to Charlie.
"No…I…I don't think he does." Charlie replied. "Soul binding is just…the way things are down here in Hell."
"I see. Well then I apologize for offending you, Mr. Husk." Zefriel said as he turned back to Husk. "It was uncalled for and will not happen again."
Zefriel's apology seemed to bring relief to Charlie but Angel Dust was still held a deep frown.
"Thank you! Mutual respect is vital for friendship to bloom." Charlie said with a happy smile as she clasped her hands together. "Angel! I have everything I need for your next step to Heaven! Come with me!"
Charlie picked up her box and proceeded to the common room while Angel Dust let out a deep sigh. He downed the cocktail drink and followed her.
"Hah, nice try." Husk said as he placed another whiskey cup in front of Zefriel. "If she could have done something about it, she would have done so a long time ago. But, to be honest, I don't mind staying here. Sure it was a real bitch when I first got here, but they grew on me over time. Especially Charlie. She has a certain aura that just…cheers me up. Even If I was free, I'm not sure If I would be interested in leaving."
Zefriel swirled the Ice in the cup. "To your health." Zefriel said as he raised his glass at Husk, before downing the whole drink in a single take. He placed the cup on the counter and followed Charlie and Angel Dust into the common room.
As he entered the common room he could see Vaggie sitting at a table, enjoying a cup of Coffee as she observed Charlie and Angel Dust at the couch. Zefriel chose to remain at the door, leaning against the wall.
"Alright Angel, let's get started." Charlie said.
She took the clipboard from the box and showed it to Angel Dust. On the very front she had a paper that seemed to list the requirements for getting into heaven.
1- Be selfless.
2- Don't Steal.
3- Stick it to the man.
"I have been thinking as to what would be the most efficient way to get you into heaven. And I think I have found the solution!" Charlie said, with a wide smile.
"Charlie, what happened to your hands?" asked Angel Dust, noticing the band-aids all over her fingers as she held the clipboard to his face.
"Not important!" she yelled.
She proceeds to open the box and pull out a colorful garment."Ta-da!" she yelled.
"A gimp suit?" Angel Dust asked, seeming unimpressed.
"No! A Hero costume!" She said with a smile.
Vaggie spit out the coffee she was drinking, her eye wide open in shock. "Oh no..."
"A Hero costume?" Angel Dust asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes! What the battle with Adam made me realize is that we are all amazing fighters! We should put our talents to use in our community by fighting off bad guys that are oppressing the weak!" Charlie explained.
"Oh nonono. Charlie. This is not a good idea." Vaggie said as she approached them. "Is this the 'secret' project you were working on for weeks?!"
"Yes, Vaggie, look! We can tick all three requirements in one go!" Charlie said. "This act would be Selfless! Check Box 1. You would be stopping others from stealing! Check Box 2. You would be sticking it to the man! The gangs that run the neighborhoods, making it a terrible place for all of us! Check box 3!"
"Umm Charlie, I like a gunfight like any other guy but this sounds incredibly dangerous." Angel Dust said.
"Oh don't worry Angel, Vaggie and I will be with you! With our combined battle prowess, no one will be able to stand against us! Look, I made costumes for all of us!" Charlie said as she pulled out another 2 pairs of costumes.
"Oh my god Charlie, no." Vaggie said as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"But, Vaggie! It's so perfect! With my shield, your spear and Angel's guns, we would be unstoppable. Angel would be in Heaven in no time!" Charlie said.
"No, Charlie. Look. The fight with Adam has made you overconfident! You are completely ignoring how absolutely dangerous this would be to even try!" Vaggie yelled.
"But…fighting bad guys worked for Sir Pentious…and…we have to try…something." Charlie said with a sad expression, seeming disheartened at the opposition to her plan.
Charlie's sadness cut deep into Vaggie's heart. She took the costume Charlie was holding and inspected it. "She must have worked really hard on these things." Vaggie thought to herself.
"But god, this would be so embarrassing…"
"Alright…look…" Vaggie said after she took a moment to contemplate the matter.
"Vaggie, you nuts? There ain't no way we are going to do this." Angel Dust said.
"We are. But on one condition." Vaggie said. "Charlie, you are staying here. I will go out with Angel…and…find some bad guys…or something."
"No! I want to come with you! How else am I supposed to protect you with my shield?!" Charlie yelled.
"NO, Charlie. I am not letting you put yourself in this danger. Neither Angel nor I can be killed by sinners. You are the only one that could be harmed. You are mortal. You could get killed out there!" Vaggie said with a stern expression.
"But…" Charlie tried to get a word in.
"No but's. That is the one condition." Vaggie said.
Before Charlie could respond Angel's phone began to ring.
"Oh, shit. I've gotta get going." Angel Dust said. "I'll see you tomorrow, don't wait up for me."
"But, Angel! You still haven't even tried on your costume!" Charlie yelled.
"I will…when I get back. Tomorrow." Angel Dust said as handed the costume back to Charlie.
Angel Dust had not taken more than 3 steps towards the door before he stopped in his tracks. He turned around and walked back to Charlie, embracing her in a tight hug.
"Thank you for trying so hard…Charlie." Angel Dust said. Charlie returned the hug as hard as she could before he let go. Without saying another word he walked towards the room's exit.
Zefriel was leaning against the wall next to the door, silently observing the whole situation.
Angel Dust didn't even glance at him as he walked past with a face that showed a depressed state of mind. Charlie gave him a sad wave goodbye before she sat down on the couch, still holding the costume she made. She then reached for the clipboard and began turning the pages reading her notes. As Vaggie sat down beside her, Charlie leaned into her for comfort.
Zefriel believed he saw everything there was to see and exited the room, taking the stairs back to his office.
Angel Dust walked up to the bar. "Well? One for the road."
Husk placed the second drink on the table and Angel Dust proceeded to drink it in one go.
Angel placed the empty cup back on the bar and turned to walk towards the hotel entrance. "Laters…"
"Yeah…laters." Husk replied, avoiding looking at Angel Dust as he left.
As Angel Dust opened the front door he saw Alastor returning.
"Ahh, off to a romantic date this fine evening?" Alastor said with a smirk.
"Fuck off man, you know where i'm goin'…" Angel Dust shot back.
As Alastor entered the lobby he saw Charlie heading up the stairs with her box and notes.
"Hey Alastor, the archangel wants to see you. Introduction meeting." Vaggie said as she was following Charlie up the stairs.
"Oh, splendid! I was wondering when I would get a friendly chat with him." Alastor said.
"Follow me to his new office." Vaggie said as she led the way.
Vaggie walked into the office and leaned against the wall to the side of the desk..
"Greetings to you my good sir!" Alastor said as he entered the office.
"Ah, sir Alastor. Welcome. Please, make yourself comfortable. It's a pleasure to meet you." Zefriel said in a polite tone, sitting behind his desk.
"Why, the pleasure is all mine!" Alastor said with a grin as he sat down. "To think I would meet an archangel. How wondrous! I do say, I'm surprised an angel dared come down after all the others…got eaten. You must be quite the brave angel."
"Oh, you have no idea." Zefriel replied with a faint chuckle. "Centuries of battle have made me quite resilient to fear, you will find."
"Most Interesting, but I don't believe I ever read your name in the good ol' books…or your prince. Avis was it?" Alastor asked.
"Indeed, we are both younger than…the good ol' books. You could think of us as late additions to the canon." Zefriel said with a friendly smile.
"Just out of curiosity, when shall we have the pleasure of meeting your prince?" asked Alastor
"If all goes well, never." Zefriel said.
"I see…" Alastor said, he became quiet for a moment, thinking to himself.
"Alastor, I asked for you because I needed a little bit of a clarification of what you actually do here." Zefriel said.
"But of course! You will find my contributions to Charlie's little…cause to be substantial. I provided her with the funds required to renovate her first Hotel, I provided the staff, I protected her Hotel from hellish interlopers as well as gave her sound advice." Alastor said with a self satisfied smile.
"Ah, I see. Why?" Zefriel asked.
"Beg your pardon?" Alastor asked.
"Why did you act so altruistic?" asked Zefriel.
Alastors eyes narrow. "Altruistic? You have me wrong, my good man! Decades here have left me in dire need of stimulating entertainment!"
"I see. Yes I imagine an astute mind such as yourself would be starving for entertainment in Hell. You do give me the air of someone who is fiendishly intelligent and sophisticated." Zefriel said with a smile.
Alastor's grin widens. "It's nice to see someone appreciate a fine mind. I knew I was right to cast my vote in favor of your presence here."
"Vote?" Zefriel asked.
"Why yes! Charlie, poor thing, was torn between accepting your little arrangement or not. I like to think that I was the little finger on the scale. On the side of reason of course." Alastor said.
"Ahh, so I have you to thank for being in Hell for the foreseeable future." Zefriel said, with a little humor in his voice. "However I am a little confused by your calculations."
"How so?" Alastor said, a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"Well, It has come to my attention that Charlie owes you a favor. A favor that you would be able to cash at your leisure." Zefriel said.
"Oh, that! Hahahah. That is just a little something for my invaluable assistance during the attack on the Hotel. A little favor between friends is nothing of concern really." Alastor said.
"Oh but of course! I understand. What are friends for if not to scratch each other's backs?" Zefriel said in an understanding tone.
"Exactly!" Alastor agreed.
"But that still leaves me perplexed. How do you intend to survive the coming week?" Zefriel said, the humor in his voice all but vanished.
"Excuse me?" Alastor said, annoyance clearly audible in his radio voice.
"Well Alastor, you see, a favor owed by a friend is all well and good. But a favor owed by the princess of Hell is a completely different animal. Especially one that is completely vague and nebulous. I'm not sure why Lucifer would allow such a thing to happen. I certainly would not. I would consider it a considerable risk to my…charge." Zefriel said calmly.
"Ahh I see. You believe that ol' Alastor is flying a little too close to the sun. Well let me te…" Alastor tried to say.
"Alastor, please. Let us make this as brief as possible. You and I both realize that the Princess owing favors to anyone puts her at a severe disadvantage. That will not be tolerated. Frankly I think you should be grateful that I pointed out your little miss step before Lucifer found out. I am certain he would erase you if he found out you were trying to get a hook into his daughter." Zefriel said.
"Charlie woul…" Alastor tried to say.
"Charlie wouldn't allow harm to come to you? Please. She would never even find out what happened to you. I'm sure Lucifer would just…make you disappear. That is what I would do if I were in his position." Zefriel said.
Alastor slammed his hands on the desk and leaned into Zefriels face.
"Do you honestly believe that you can just waltz in here and threaten me?!" Alastor said with great anger in his voice.
"Oh, that was not a threat. I was simply explaining to you what is very likely to happen when Lucifer arrives in the coming days. The walls of this hotel seem to be rather thin. I'm sure he will catch wind of your little favor." Zefriel said calmly.
"Then, I had best do something about that." Alastor said as his form began to change. He grew two heads taller. "Do you honestly think that she could protect you?" Alastor said in his demonic voice, eyes glowing red, pointing at Vaggie who seemed surprised and concerned by his outburst.
"You think she is here for my protection? Hahahaha." Zefriel laughed, "Are you serious? No, she is not here for my protection. She is here to witness. In case I have to dispatch you, here and now. I cannot be bothered having to explain that to Charlie." Zefriel said.
The tone and amusement infuriated Alastor. His tentacles began to slither around the room, seeming to be outside of his control.
"Alastor, you facing me in battle would be flying so close to the sun that one might say you fell into it." Zefriel said, looking Alastor straight into his eyes.
The tendrils slowly began to slither towards Zefriel, only to begin burning at the tips as though they reached an invisible flame, turning to ambers. Alastor did not seem to feel any pain from it, or simply didn't care. His mind was too focused on Zefriel.
"I see, bringing you here was a mistake on my part." Alastor said in a demonic voice.
"It was a grave mistake. But not a fatal one…yet." Zefriel said calmly. "I truly hope that you will see reason and abandon your folly. But if you don't, you must understand one thing, Alastor. No matter how powerful you think you are as an…overlord, to me, beings like you are naught but natural prey."
Alastor dug his nails into the office table leaving long, terrible scratch marks.
"Alastor! Calm down!" Vaggie shouted.
"Be SILENT, little girl." Alastor said as he looked at Vaggie with his demonic eyes. It sent a shiver down her spine, her Exorcist training was the only thing allowing her to keep her composure.
"Your move sir Alastor. Either annul the favor. Or…" Zefriel said.
Alastor was thinking to himself, staring at Zefriel, sizing him up.
"Is he mad?" Alastor thought to himself. "To threaten me so brazenly. To insult me so openly. Perhaps he knows I'm still recovering from the injury inflicted by Adam. Maybe he thinks that would give him the edge over me in battle."
Alastor, sensed a smell. He looked to the side and with great surprise finally realized that his tendrils were becoming cinders as they encroached on Zefriel.
"Perhaps…he does have the power to carry out his threats. No, I have to calm down. He is baiting me. And even if he isn't as powerful as he wants me to believe, he is not wrong. Attracting the ire of Lucifer could spell disaster. Perhaps, I have overplayed my hand this time. No, attacking would not be prudent. I must not take the bait."
Alastor began to calm down, returning to his normal form.
"Very well. The favor owed by Charlie is null and void." Alastor said as he materialized a piece of paper that had an eerie green glow. He proceeded to rip it in half and let the pieces float onto Zefriels table unceremoniously. As the scraps of paper landed on the table, the green glow faded away.
" I will not soon forget this insult…or you forcing my hand. Good day to you sir…"
Alastor turned around and left the room, slamming the door behind him so hard it knocked over a small decorative frame from the wall.
"Charming." Zefriel said quietly as he picked up the torn pieces of paper on his table. He examined it thoroughly.
Con tract
This document represents the written agreement between
Lady Charlott e Morning Star
Princess of Hell, first born daughter of L ucifer Morningstar and Lilith Morningstar.
An d
Ala stor
Ove rlord
The term s of duty.
Lady Charlotte is bound to execute one favor fo r Alastor, to be determined by Alastor, at a time of his choosing.
Exemptio n clause.
Lady Charlotte is exempt from having to hurt a nyone in the execution of her terms of duty.
Vaggie breaks the silence after a moment, "Holy shit, he actually voided her favor. And I've never seen him so angry!"
"Of course." Zefriel said as he was writing something down in his notebook. "He strikes me as the type of man who wants to be in control. The idea of having his hand forced wounds his very soul. He will be a problem in the future, mark my words. Never let your guard down around him, Vaggie."
"You seem to be a good judge of character." Vaggie said.
"I like to think that that is a skill I have picked up over the centuries. His smile, while strange and unnatural, should not distract one from his eyes. They tell a tale of their own." Zefriel said calmly as he gave the ripped up paper to Vaggie." Please give this to Charlie. Inform her the favor she owes is null and void. Try to keep an eye on her. She has to be mindful of the power she wields as the princess of hell. Others might try the same stun Alastor had."
Vaggie took the papers and nodded. "What would you have done if he attacked you?"
"I would have only resorted to defending myself." Zefriel said.
"But do you think you would have been able to kill him here and now?" Vaggie asked.
"Absolutely." Zefriel said with a playful smile. "Do you think the prince would just send a random angel into Hell itself?"
End of chapter 6