"Oh no…" Charlie stared at the crater in the middle of the city. Directly in the middle of the city.
The Heaven Embassy… gone …along with every other building for miles …
"Now now, Charlie. I'm certain none of the Redeemed were in there! Why would they be in there?" Alastor reasoned.
"It's okay." Vaggie had calmed down, reverting to her basic form. "Alastor's right. No one would have been in there."
"And what about the buildings around it?" Charlie asked. "Those would have had people, right?"
Neither of her loves had an answer.
Charlie fell to her knees. How could they fix this? How could they bring back those lives? They couldn't. All they could do was avenge them. Take down the monster that fomented this disaster. Take down the Sin of Pride. The Sin of Pride…and her mom.
Her nails dug into the street. The dirt collected under her fingernails, fingernails that were growing with her rage. Her horns popped out as she stood back up.
"Alastor was right. They won't take this failure lying down. We need to be prepared." She turned to them. "We need to solidify our bonds with our allies. Get them ready for the incoming war. They'll come for us all eventually."
Two of Alastor's eyes flicked their gaze to the edge of the crater far away. "Ah! The huddled masses are finally digging themselves out of the rubble."
Charlie looked to see people starting to filter out of the surrounding buildings. There were whispers starting already of 'Is it another Extermination?', 'Princess Charlie is there; where is Lucifer?', and 'Why is the Princess standing over there naked?'.
They would have to put it off for now. She trusted her loves to help her with this task. Next, she would go to her uncle for help. He was always available to help her.
"-and we need to stick together," Alastor finished as he and Charlie exited the portal into the Wrath Ring.
"I know. And Vaggie's with her Ars Goetia friends, so we don't have to worry about her." Charlie looked out across the plains. Her Uncle Satan had said he would be at some sort of event. She could see the set-up for something, with a large crowd of Imps and a stage. There was one place that she was certain was where her uncle was. She pointed and said, "Alastor, could you take us up there? Not with a gate. Uncle Satan doesn't like Ars Goetia."
"..." Charlie could feel the insult on Alastor's tongue. She appreciated that he didn't say anything. He did finally manage, "I assume a bastardization of an Ars Goetia would be welcome?"
"You look great. He'll love you," Charlie insisted.
"Very well then." He hooked an arm into Charlie's, saying, "I hope he's expecting us!" before they sank into shadow.
They appeared out of the shadows to be immediately met by several Jinn. They tried to get in and wrap them up only to be stopped by Alastor's barrier. They beat against it to no avail.
"What the fuck, guys? Didn't I literally JUST SAY that my niece was coming to visit? Fuck y'all!" All the Jinn were pulled away and chained to the sides of the canopy. The raised booth was small and simple, which was just how Satan liked it.
"Uncle Satan!" Charlie darted forward once Alastor dropped the shield to where the Sin was starting to stand and tackled him. He withstood it, hugging her and twirling her around.
He looked the same as he always did. Large twisted goat horns, red snake eyes, dark red skin, simple T-shirt that said 'Dost Thou Even Lift?' and a pair of shorts. The only real difference was that he wasn't wearing flip-flops like he normally did. His goat feet were out, which was really strange for him. He hated the feel of things against his hooves.
"How's my favourite lil' niece?" he asked as he set her down.
"Great!" She paused and said, "Well, I'll explain. First," she led him around his temporary throne, "I want to introduce you to someone." She acted like she was presenting a great surprise. "This is my groom, Alastor!"
"Charmed," Alastor said with all of his own charm. The Jinn and Satan's personal Demon assistant, Leonard, stared.
Satan ducked in, giving Alastor a strong sniff. It was close enough that Alastor took a step back to keep from touching him. Her uncle stood up straight and called for Leonard. "Yo, bro, you gotta smell this. I think this guy is one of ours!"
Leonard came over and smelled Alastor too, being careful not to hit Alastor with any of his three horns. "Yes, Sire, he is, indeed, a soul we had."
"Uncle Satan?" Charlie was instantly concerned.
"'Had'?" Alastor asked.
Leonard took another sniff. "I believe this is Mullin's."
"Ahhhhh. That explains it. He always loved taking care of deals like that." Satan held his meaty hand out. "What was it you said? 'Charmed'."
Alastor didn't hesitate. He shook Satan's hand like he hadn't just been really creepy. Again, Alastor asked, "What do you mean a soul you 'had'?"
"Yeah, I 'spose you'd be interested in that." Satan pointed at Alastor's feet. "You've got my traces in you. I imagine since it was Mullin someone sold your soul."
"Yes, my soul may have been sold. But how did I get it back?" Alastor pressed.
"Shit, boy, you reek of death. I like wrath, it's delicious and carnally delightful, but I don't gorge like that. That leads to addiction, which does all kinds of shit to you, let me tell you. Bee rides that line like it's a bull run." Satan shrugged. "If you got too full of wrath, I would've cut off the direct line. Passive Sin is okay. Direct Sin right into my veins like that? Nope!"
As Alastor pondered that, Charlie began, "We came here so we could learn more about the Sin of Pri-"
"ATTENTION COWIMPS AND HELLBORN!! IT'S TIME FOR THE AUCTION TO START!"
"I gotta pay attention to this, Char-Char. I'm waiting for a certain fucker to show up. Give me a sec to settle in before I start any talk." Satan snapped his fingers, to which Leonard summoned two chairs. Charlie was surprised that they were both the same level of posh. She'd expected a worse reaction. Then again…
They watched as several bidders pulled up to the front. Satan was keeping a close eye on them, his gaze scanning each one. He murmured, "That fucker'd better not come. I banned his ass three times already."
Once the auction got under way, Charlie decided it was a good time to start talking. "Uncle Satan, do you know the Sin of Pride?"
"Hell nah. HELL nah." Satan made an X with his arms. "That bitch is CRAZY. She chugs pride like she was dying of thirst. I don't hang around with addicts."
"But you know her," Charlie repeated.
"Barely. I've purposely stayed away from her. Her and your mom are on my 'do not enter' list."
"My mom?" Did Uncle Satan already know something?
"Yeah! That asshole never talked with any of us Sins. She was the 'People's Queen', sure, but she was too stuck up to see us!" Satan scanned the crowd, his eyes squinting at a particular bidder who had just joined and was winning the bid. He was a small, wimpy Imp, barely big enough to hold the bidding sign. "THERE'S that fucker!"
Satan vanished from the booth. Suddenly, he was in the crowd. He screamed, his eyes, horns, and feet lighting up with fire, "MAMMON, YOU FUCK, GET THE HELL OUT OF MY RING!"
The Imp growled before poofing into Mammon's regular form. He complained, "Bitch, this is a PUBLIC auction!"
"DO I FUCKING GO TO YOUR RING TO GATHER SOME ASSHOLES FOR MY FARMS?!" Satan barked. "HELL TO THE FUCK NO !" He opened up a portal to the Greed Ring. " GET THE FUCK OUT! "
"FINE YOU BASTARD! I'LL GET OUT!" Mammon glared into the crowd. He snatched a child's cotton candy before he stomped through the portal.
The portal closed. Everyone around Satan watched him for a minute. Satan said, "It's cool! Go on and sell on, my guys and gals!" He disappeared from the crowd, reappearing in the booth. He muttered to the two of them, "I knew that bastard would show up. Fucker tried to buy out all the farms in one section and turn it into a fuckin' greed Hellscape. Banned that bitch after that and took the land back."
"How could you tell it was him?" Alastor asked, clearly curious.
"Hm? Oh, right, the disguise." Satan sat back in his chair. "Us Sins can pick each other out. Kinda like instantly recognising that one relative across the room. That's how we all know Pride even though she never keeps the same shape."
Disappointed, Charlie asked, "You don't know what she looks like?"
"Nope, and I want to keep it that way!" He side-eyed them. "Is there something I should know, lil' girl?"
"Well…" Charlie felt like she needed to explain. Especially if they were going to get his help. "Did you hear about what happened in the Pride Ring a few days ago?"
"Someone blasting a hole big enough to fit Mammon's inflated ass in the middle? Yeah, I heard."
"The person behind it…was…" she swallowed, trying to remember the truth "...Mom. My mom, she did it."
"Hm?" Now Satan was facing them, his entire attention focused on her. "How the Hell did your momma do that ?"
"She…" Charlie had trouble explaining. Saying it out loud, to someone who wasn't her groom and bride…
"Allow me, my dear." Alastor took over. "There is a bit of a conspiracy going on to take over Hell and Heaven. The Sin of Pride and Li-ERK!" The collar and strings appeared, holding him tight. It lasted several seconds before freeing him again.
As he gasped and bled, Charlie trying to comfort him, Satan whistled. "Damn kid, someone's got you bad, huh?"
"It's my mom ," Charlie was able to growl now. She looked over Alastor's clothes and hummed; the materials held, the only damage being on his open flesh.
"Your mom enslaved your groom? Fuck, that's cold."
"Yes, and she's not stopping there. We're all in danger." Charlie turned back to her uncle. " Our people are in danger."
She knew Satan cared dearly for his people. Wrath was reserved for those who crossed your path. His subjects would never be targets. Appealing to his sense of rulership would help.
"Why are they in danger? Lilith only bothered with the Pride Ring before." Satan was obviously sceptical.
"She wants ALL of Hell. Just like she wants ALL of Heaven."
"How do you know that?" he asked. "Perhaps if we're willing to bow down to her-"
"She attacked my father," Charlie said quietly.
That made Satan pause. "What? WHAT?! "
"He followed her into their bedroom. She had someone beat him, bloody him, burn him , then…then she tore his wings off." It was a lot harder to say it than she thought. As Satan sat, stunned, she asked, "If she did that to Dad, what do you think she would do to you and your people?"
"...well, shit." Satan rubbed his head. "She did that to the Head Honcho Bro himself? Damn, man, just damn . My bro…"
"Are you willing to aid us when the fight comes?" Alastor asked. "We can't promise any of us will make it. Only that we will do our best to protect you and yours."
Satan thought for a long time. Finally, he said, "I'll fight with you. But ONLY me. My peeps will survive. I don't want them to get squashed like a bug in a fight that isn't theirs. I'll protect them the best I can."
Charlie breathed a sigh of relief. That was one of her uncles and aunts down. She frowned; maybe she would skip Mammon. Hopefully things were going as well for Vaggie.
"EAT! EAT! EAT! EAT!" The crowd chanted. Vaggie was currently shovelling pine nuts into her mouth like it was no tomorrow. The discussion had devolved into a bet that the entire Lesser Key of Knights had agreed to. If she won, they would help. If she lost, she had to dress up like a chicken and walk up and down the main Hell drag in the Pride Ring while clucking occasionally.
She was up for the challenge.
Her opponents were as determined as her, choking down pine nuts by the fistful. Vaggie decided it was time for the big guns. She took the giant bowl, picked it up, and funnelled it into her mouth. Nausea was starting to take her. Vaggie shook it off; this was too important to get sick from eating too much.
She swallowed more, and more, and more . Her opponents stopped eating, staring at her like she was some sort of magician that had just pulled something over on them. Finally, she finished the bowl, flourishing it in victory.
"Holy FUCK!" an Ars Goetia screamed. "HELL YEAH VAGGIE!"
"VAGGIE! VAGGIE! VAGGIE! VAGGIE!" The crowd grabbed her, carrying her around the room in celebration.
Pratel fought to get close enough to talk. "Vaggie! VAGGIE! YOU'VE WON! YOU'RE NOW OUR QUEEN FOR THE YEAR!"
"QUEEN FOR THE YEAR!" they all shouted.
"Hell yeah," Vaggie muttered.