Grail of Sin - Chapter 1
Revelation
A lonely cloaked figure walks the filthy streets so common in Hell's domain. Bars, stripclubs, gambling dens wherever the eye glanced. A model city of debauchery, through and through.
"Is this what passes for nightlife in Hell? This place is horrible." the figure thought to himself as he moved with purpose.
The figure stopped at an alley entrance between two bars, he could spy his destination on the other side. A shortcut had been found.
"As though this place could not reek worse." he said to himself as he passed through, only to be met by two alley vagabonds halfway to the exit.
"Hey, look! Someone's coming!" said one of them.
The two vagabonds began to approach the figure walking through the alleyway.
"You've got to pay a toll if you want to go through OUR alley, smart guy." said one of them.
"Or even back the way you came from for that matter!" said the second, chuckling.
The figure continued to approach as though they were not even there.
"Just fuck him up boys, we'll see what he's got in his pockets!" shouted a third thug, emerging from behind a dumpster.
The first thug swung at the figure only to hit air as the figure dodged in the opposite direction of the thug's right hook. Before the thug ever had a chance to have a second swing he found himself flying into the opposite wall, struck by a fist flying so fast he barely even saw it coming.
The thug's head struck the wall with a stomach churning crack, his skull smashed by the impact.
His body landed onto the ground. If the punch had not killed him, the wall certainly did.
The second thug, much skinnier than the first, hesitated at seeing how easily his 'comrade' was dispatched. He saw a metal pipe near his feet and picked it up as fast as he could. This seemed to ease his fear, but only just.
He mustered all the courage he had and swung the metal pipe as the figure approached but to no avail. The cloaked figure didn't even bother to dodge, simply deflecting the blunt weapon with his forearm. As soon as the danger was passed the figure grabbed the unfortunate assailant by his head, covering his face with the palm and smashed his head against a wall with a single strike.
It was over in a matter of seconds, barely breaking stride. The third thug that had encouraged the others to attack was cowering in fear back firmly pressed against the wall, hands raised in surrender. As soon as the figure was within reach he snatched the thug by the throat with a single hand and crushed his windpipe. The thug slid down the wall and onto the floor.
The figure showed neither hesitation nor remorse. Partially because they had attacked first and partially because they were not truly dead. Sinners, as he understood, were immortal. Regenerating their bodies from the most lethal of injuries within days. Before long, these same sinners would be back to their no good deeds.
The figure cleared the alleyway and proceeded to cross the street to what he could see to be an open ground situated behind a fence. In the center he could see a large well lit building.
"Hazbin Hotel...this is the place." The figure said.
The figure followed the fence until he reached the main gate which was wide open.
He paused at the entrance, examining the building for a few moments.
"They rebuild incredibly fast." He thought to himself then proceeded inside.
As the figure approached the entrance he noticed a majestic statue of a dragon creature that the figure did not recognize the species of. He approached it and inspected the Plaque at the foot of the statue.
"In loving memory of Dazzle, our beloved friend and protector. Felled by the Exorcist forces in defense of his family and home. He will forever be missed and forever be loved."
"How strange." the figure thought to himself. "I would never have expected such sentimentalism from creatures of Hell. But, perhaps this is precisely the problem and how we came to be in this situation to begin with."After a moment of contemplation, the figure continued to the main door.
The knock was in appearance gentle and yet some unseen force seemed to amplify the sound, reverberating through the entire building.
Vaggie was the first to awaken. She looked around the dark bedroom only seeing Charlie still sleeping. "What the hell was that? Did I imagine it?" She thought to herself.
Sure enough she did not as not a moment later she heard the banging again, even harder than before. So loud in fact that it woke Charlie from her deep slumber.
"Vaggie? What's wrong?" asked Charlie, rubbing an eye.
"I heard something. Stay here." Vaggie said as she grabbed her spear. She had begun to leave the spear at arm's length whenever she slept. She may have had a new life, but she was still a soldier and her new family was only recently devastated. She was taking no chances.
Vaggie ran into the hallway to check where the sound was coming from. On her way down she was met by Angel Dust, exiting his room, awoken by the sound as well.
"What the hell's goin' on?" He asked.
"I'm not sure, do you know where the sound came from?"
"Downstairs, I think."
"Get your guns and come with me." she told him.
Together they descended the stairs to the lobby to find Husk waiting for them.
"Someone's at the door, should I answer?" Husk asked.
"We don't get visitors, much less this late at night. Be on your guard." Vaggie said, her eyes locked on the silhouette she could see through the door.
"Maybe it's just Alastor and Nifty, back early." said Angel.
"He wouldn't bother knocking, he has a set of keys to the entrance." Vaggie responded.
Husk moved to the door, ready to open. Vaggie and Angel Dust moved in behind him, spear and guns tightly gripped, just in case.
Husk opened the door, but only slightly.
"We are closed, come back in the morning." Husk said.
He looked outside but couldn't tell for certain if he was seeing a sinner or demon. The figure was the color of blood from head to toe. Two black horns protruded from two holes conveniently torn in his ragged cloak. He carried what appeared to be a small lantern tied to his waist, a dim blue light shining through. It seemed to be moving as if it was a Firefly flying inside. His face was obscured by the shadow of his cloak, but he could see two glowing red eyes peering at him from the dark. The creature sent a shiver up Husk's spine.
"I wish to speak with the proprietor of this Hotel. I believe her name is Charlotte Morningstar." the figure stated.
"Yeah, not going to happen pal. Take a hike!" Husk said as he attempted to close the door.
However, to his surprise the door would not budge. He noticed that the demon had placed his left hand on the door. Try as he might, the door would not close.
"I'm afraid that I must insist." said the demon as he gently began to push the door open. Husk struggled but to no avail. The demon was able to open the door with Husk behind it and stepped inside.
"Don't move an inch!" yelled Vaggie pointing her spear at the interloper. Angel did the same with his guns, locked and loaded.
"What's going on?!" came a voice from the stairs. Charlie had put on her clothes and rushed down to see what the commotion was.
"Charlie! Stay back!" Vaggie yelled, "He is after you!".
"Incorrect." said the demon, "I simply need your time. I have urgent matters to speak to you about.", seeming unfazed by the threat posed by Vaggie, Angel and now Husk who had recovered and joined the arch of guards pointing their weapons at the demon.
"Umm….if you have anything to say….you can say it now." Charlie said apprehensive. She too was ready for trouble. This was not normal, but she did not know how to proceed.
"In private." the demon said.
"FUCK, NO!" yelled Vaggie.
"Yeah! You think we are stupid or somethin'?!" yelled Angel Dust in agreement.
Suddenly the light inside the lantern began to poke at the glass. The demon looked at it and calmly said "No".
Angel was not sure if he was answering his previous question…or if he was speaking to the lantern.
The demon looked Charlie in the eyes. As his red eyes met hers, she could feel a great sense of unease…even fear, but she stood strong. The demon then looked at her friends.
"There is nothing to fear. Your exhaustion is making you discomposed. You should return to your bedchambers to rest. Now." the demon stated.
Charlie could notice that for the briefest of moments the red eyes of the demon glowed a golden hue, before returning to the blood red glow.
"Yeah, we should get some shut eye." said Vaggie. "I'm exhausted.". She lowered her spear and began to walk towards the stairs leading back up.
"Wha…?" said Charlie confused as Vaggie walked past her, not even glancing at Charlie.
"Yeah, I'm beat. I have to be at the studio all day tomorrow so I need all the sleep I can get" said Angel Dust walking past Charlie seeming to ignore her existence.
"Husk?!" Charlie yelled as he walked past her too.
"I will see you in the morning princess" Husk responded.
Charlie looked back at the demon. Something was seriously wrong.
"He did something to them!" she thought to herself. "Now I'm alone with this thing! What should I do?! Think Charlie, think!"
Charlie closed her eyes for a fraction of a second, but as soon as she opened them she was shocked to find that she was no longer in the lobby. She was sitting at a table in the adjacent room.
Sitting opposite of her was the demon, a coffee table in between them. Two warm cups of tea on the table, steaming in the cold night. Some time seemed to have passed since the events in the lobby, but Charlie couldn't tell how long.
Charlie tried to get up but could not. She was held in place by some unseen force.
She was breathing fast, at the edge of terror, eyes wide open looking at the demon.
"Who are you? What do you want?!" she asked, fear in her voice.
The demon took a sip of tea, never breaking eye contact with Charlie as he did.
"I would like to ask you a question." he stated. "Are you dead set in your belief that sinners can be redeemed of their ills and crimes?"
"Y…yes?!" She replied.
"Even if that would make you a target of many terrible enemies? Some angelic, some demonic and anything in between?" he continued.
Charlie hesitated to reply. She was actively trying to calm herself down, but to little success.
"Are you an assassin?" She asked.
The demon did not reply. He never broke eye contact with Charlie and that is what unnerved her the most. His piercing red eyes just staring at her.
"Would you continue in your quest to help souls despite the dangers that you would face?" He repeated.
"YES!. I won't give up, and I will not be intimidated into stopping!" Charlie said, far more firmly than she thought she could. The demon looked at her in silence as if thinking of what to say next.
The demon's lantern began to ring again. He looked at it and simply said "Not yet".
He stood up and walked to Charlie's chair, tilting it backwards and leaned in close to her. Their eyes were no more than 30cm apart.
The demon's lantern was ringing much faster now… as if something was trying to escape from inside with all its might…
"Why? Why would you continue such a dangerous mission?" the demon asked Charlie, still, looking her directly in the eyes.
Charlie was silent for some time.
"I believe that people can change for the better, even in the lowest pits of Hell.
I know that many sinners have committed terrible acts to be here, but many of them might have chosen a different path if their lives started are many that were abused, neglected, tormented. Some are clinically insane. These things led many on the path of sin that saw them sent to Hell! I…I just want to help these people heal…to be better, to no longer have to suffer eternally!"
She paused for a moment, thinking to herself.
"I…I also hope that one day…my mother, father and I will be able to leave this horrible place…as well…"
Charlie paused for a moment more.
"When I was young, my dream was to have wings…like my father. To fly free in the clouds…to look up and see nothing but stars. That is the same that I wish for my people, to be free and to suffer never more…"
Tears were beginning to form in Charlie's eyes, surprised at her own candor.
The lantern was silent.
The demon, still looking deeply into Charlie's eyes, finally spoke.
"You have…sincere eyes. Very brave too. They are quite lovely."
It was the demon that broke eye contact, returning Charlie's chair to its upright position.
The demon stood there, seemingly in deep thought. The silence was only broken by the lantern, again pounding on the glass.
The demon no longer ignored it. He took the lantern and placed it onto the table. Charlie looked at it, not knowing what to expect. She wanted to fight, she wanted to scream, but all she could do was sit. Something was compelling her to remain still.
"You may come out now." the demon said, making a gesture with his right hand.
All of a sudden the room was filled by a bright light, blinding Charlie for a moment.
"YOU JERK! You didn't have to scare her like that!" Charlie heard a familiar voice, followed by the distinct sound of a slap…
She opened her eyes slowly, re adjusting to the dim light. Before her, stood Emily, looking at Charlie with tears in her eyes.
"Charlie! I'm sooooo sorry he did this to you!" she said.
Charlie was finally able to move, free from whatever was affecting her and very relieved to see a friendly face.
"Charlie! We have come with the most amazing news! Sir Pentious is in Heaven! You did it!" said Emily, not giving Charlie a chance to say a word, barely able to contain her excitement.
"What?" said Charlie softly, the shock on her face was plain to see "Sir Pentious is alive...and in Heaven?"
Emily nodded with a smile.
"H...He was redeemed?" Charlie said as a tear ran down her cheek.
Emily noded again.
Emily moved in for a hug holding Charlie as tightly as she could. Charlie began to visibly cry. Tears of Joy flowed freely down her rosy cheeks.
After a whole minute Charlie regained her composure, letting Emily go. Emily too had shed her fair share of tears during their embrace, sharing Charlie's joy.
"Thank you!" Said Charlie, still holding Emily's hands.
"NO!" replied Emily, "No, Charlie, thank YOU! You are the one that made this possible!"
"It is true." uttered a voice from across the table, one she did not recognise.
Charlie, in the shock of the revelation, had completely forgotten that there was a third person sitting with them.
She looked at the demon but realized that their form had completely changed.
Where once sat a being, not unlike a caricature of a demon one might imagine, now sat a man. Brown curly hair slightly past shoulder length, brown eyes, fair skin, seemingly no older than 30 years of age. There was nothing remarkable about the man Charlie could identify except for a spot of redness on his left cheek in the form of a palm print.
"From all that we know, it was thanks to you that Sir Pentious has found his new home in Heaven. He truly speaks nothing but good about you…and your mission." he said.
"Who are you really?" inquired Charlie much calmer with the realization that she was not in danger.
The man stood.
"I am Zefriel, a humble messenger of my Lord." he said as he bowed courtly.
"But…why did you do all this? Charlie asked.
"Yeah! Why did you have to frighten her like that?!" joined Emily, clenching her firsts.
"I had to see your eyes under duress. People reveal their true selves when faced with fear, be it real or imagined. I apologize for my behavior…but it was necessary." he concluded.
"The others! I have to tell them!" Charlie yelled as she stood up.
"No." said Zefriel. "Not yet. We must discuss important business. The lovely lady Emily here wanted to deliver the news of Sir Pentious personally, so she insisted on joining me. But that is not the only reason I am here."
"But…" Charlie protested.
"I will only need a few minutes, lady Morningstar. You will have plenty of time for celebration in the morning." he said.
"Ah...ok." Charlie said apprehensive as she sat back down.
"Your actions, for better or for worse, have had a deep impact on Heaven. Not only did Adam perish at this very Hotel less than a month ago, but you also managed to redeem a sinner on the same day. Quite a busy day that must have been. This has caused what I can only describe as a schism in Heaven. Some believe that we need to avenge Adam, who is seen as nothing short of a martyr to some" Zefriel continued.
"That bastard is no martyr!" Charlie shot as she stood up again, clenching her right first. Her horns extruded and her eyes turned a blood red color.
Emily seemed quite stunned by the display, but Zefriel seemed unaffected.
"He is the one who attacked us! He tried to kill ALL of us! And he managed to kill so many of us…"
Zefriel raised his left hand, gesturing for calm, "We know what transpired that day. I was not trying to imply that it is a widely shared belief, but it is still there amongst some. Present company and myself excluded."
Charlie sat back down, visibly still furious as her horns retracted, her eyes still red. She seemed to be looking at something in the distance, breathing more heavily.
"She is reliving the day. Her pain, her anger. It's clear to see." Zefrield thought to himself as he studied her intently.
"We were only trying to help people…" Charlie said, tears landing on her lap as she looked down, seemingly still in a world of her own.
This is exactly what Zefriel wanted. A display of emotion. He had no doubt anymore, she was genuine.
Emily sat in a chair next to Charlie, placing her hand on Charlie's shoulder as a means of comforting her.
"I'm afraid that it gets worse." continued Zefriel. "The Exorcists have, in their defeat, found new purpose. They have regrouped under a newly appointed captain general, Adam's former Lieutenant Lute. With the aid of their supporters who view Adam as a martyr, they have successfully petitioned the regent council for aid. Saint Michael has been appointed to retrain the Exorcists in new tactics and strategies of war. They are also upgrading their weapons and armors thanks to considerable donations from their supporters. They are pursuing all this with fanatical devotion, eager to avenge their former Master, as well as the injury to their honor. Should they ever return...they are unlikely to be stopped." Zefriel concluded.
Charlie sat in silence, her head resting in her palm, covering her eyes. She seemed exhausted by this deluge of terrible news.
"How much time do we have?" asked Charlie, faintly.
"It is hard to say." Zefriel continued "They are likely to attack as soon as they believe they are ready. It could be a year, but likely less. Maybe even weeks for all we know. They are no longer constrained by the yearly extermination cycles."
Zefriel paused for a moment for Charlie to absorb all the information and then continued.
"When they do return, they will strike without warning, without remorse…and they will be thorough." he concluded.
"So we are all just…fucked." replied Charlie.
"Maybe,…maybe not. The prince is on your side" Zefriel continued.
"Who? Jesus?" asked Charlie, looking at Zefriel.
"No, prince Avis." repeated Zefriel.
"I'm not following..who are we talking about?" inquired Charlie.
Emily and Zefriel exchanged confused glances.
"Am I to understand that you do not know about the current hierarchy in Heaven? You people down here have no idea who you are dealing with at all up there?" said Zefriel.
"How can we? They send exterminations, not delegations!" Charlie shot back.
That comment cut deeper than Zefriel's expression wanted to show.
"Charlie, lord Yeshua, whom you refer to as Jesus, has not been considered the prince in a long time." Emily told Charlie as she placed her hand on Charlies, as a means of comforting her. He has ascended to the throne and has been considered the Lord for well over a thousand years. In that time, he has had a single son. Who the mother was is a closely guarded secret at the holy palace. The only thing that is certain is that it was an angel."
"Yes, correct" Zefriel interjected. " His actual name is Avis filius Yeshua, and he is my direct liege. He is the one who sent me to you."
"I…see…" said Charlie, rubbing her forehead pensively. "And you say that he can stop any further attacks on us?"
"Possibly…but there are issues on that matter" explained Zefriel.
"Like what?" inquired Charlie.
"Well, as I stated, he is the prince so his authority is limited. The true political power currently rests in the regent council of which he is part of, but he is only one voice out of seven equals. So far, you have managed to aid in the redemption of a single sinner. This is a great start. However, a lot of Heavenly beings are still skeptical. Many explain it away as someone who was meant for Heaven being mistakenly sent to Hell."
"Yes, they refuse to believe." Emily said, "Sir Pentious did not land in Hell by mistake, he became worthy of Heaven while in Hell."
"Indeed. This means that the majority of the regent council and their supporters still condone additional attacks on Hell. Some even call for escalations." Zefriel said.
"I don't understand. What about the Lord and Jes…I mean Lord Yeshua? Where are they?" asked Charlie.
Both Zefriel and Emily sat in silence for a few moments, as if contemplating what to say. The silence was broken by Emily.
"The Lord, Elohim, has not spoken to anyone for over a millennium…neither word nor action. The flame burns bright…but…nothing else. In its stead, lord Yeshua has ruled. But for the past several years, lord Yeshua has retreated into the holy palace, in deep meditative prayer. Before leaving, he appointed a regent council to rule in his stead." Emily explained..
"Woooooow, that is alot to take in..." said Charlie, still rubbing her forehead gently.
"Well it's about to get a lot more difficult to digest." said Zefriel, pausing for a moment waiting for Charlie.
Charlie looked at him with tired eyes. "Yes?".
"The prince, while wanting to help you and your cause, is out of options. The council refuses to listen. All that remains is one desperate gamble…"
Zefriel paused as if thinking how to best approach what he wishes to say.
"You are the princess of Hell, correct? He said.
"Yes." Charlie replied.
"And as of yet, we are to understand that you are unmarried. Correct?" Zefriel continues.
"Yes, but…" Charlie stopped mid sentence, realizing the implications of Zefriels questions…
End of Chapter 1