Husk looked at nifty and angel dust sitting at his bar speculating loudly about the mystery guest Vaggie went to retrieve from room 13. They had been gossiping for a good while which was annoying but at least the spider was not groping him.
"you've met him, Whiskers. What's he like? Husk!" the spider demon snapped his fingers in front of Husk's face trying to get his attention, "Is the mystery man good looking or what?"
"Yeah, is he single!?" nifty shouted shoving angel out of the way with that creepy look in her eye, "Is he a bad boy?"
"you'll find out in a minute you damn freaks!" husk tipped back a bottle of cheap whiskey and wiped his mouth.
He honestly cannot fathom how Damien managed to avoid these two for so long. Probably cause as soon as Alastor heard the word hellhound, he insisted Damien be put in the room farthest from his. Room Thirteen also happened to be on the third floor while Husk and the others were on floor ten. Lucky bastard.
"I'm Done waiting." Seeing his bottle was almost empty husk grabbed another from the shelf and downed the rest before stashing the empty container in place of the full one.
Angel and Nifty continued to talk not even noticing as husk slipped out into the red glow of pentagram city.
the two perked up at the ding of the elevator. first came Vaggie then then Damien. The way Nifty Deflated when she got a look at him made Angel dust chuckle.
"Ugh. He doesn't look like a bad boy at all."
"Better luck next time." angel checked his hair and readjusted his chest fluff ready to make a pass.
"Not now angel!" Vaggie assessed the group gathered around the bar and noticed that the bartender was not present, "where the fuck is he!"
"He was just here like two seconds ago." said the spider.
"Of course, the old fuck couldn't wait like five minutes! Damien you'll be filling in for husk at the concierge on the off chance we get a visitor while he does whatever Dumb things a grumpy old guy does in his free time." Vaggie put Damien behind the bar and set out the logbook, " the most important thing is to record whoever visits the hotel, don't worry about trying to play bartender just focus on this. Nifty, I need your help upstairs. and angel."
"Yeah?"
"Behave yourself."
Angel leaned a little closer to the hellhound as soon as Vaggies back was turned. "Heya short stuff! Names angel dust maybe you've heard of me. I'm Only the most famous pornstar in all of hell."
Even though he was not interested in the slightest Angel reached out to stroke Damiens fur but was stopped when he heard hissing from below. From out of the shadows Mendes Bared his fangs at Angel causing the demon to backpedal and fall on his ass.
"Jeez sorry buddy didn't see ya sitting there!" Angel regained his composure and took a seat at the bar. "Pour me an old fashioned would ya."
"I don't know how to make that."
"Then surprise me! I like surprises."
Damien turned his attention to the vast array of drinks and spirits behind his back. The problem was that most of the alcoholic drinks he knew how to make is what he and his friends would obtain less than legally and throw together out in a cornfield somewhere. He does know how to make a nonalcoholic drink his ex showed him and it's way too early in the morning for booze anyway. He got a pint glass and filled it with ginger ale before adding lime juice and grenadine.
"Uh aren't you forgetting something?" angel pointed at the bottles behind Damien.
"Oh right! how could I forget." reaching over he grabbed a drink umbrella and dropped it in as well, "One Shirley temple!"
"No not that! The alcohol!"
"Vaggie said I don't have to play bartender."
"Vaggie shmaggie." Angel Dust took the umbrella and ran it around the rim of the glass, "Think of it like a roleplay! An erotic one with a Happy ending!"
Damien mixed another one and sipped it, " it's not even ten in the morning. do you really not have anything better to do than get drunk and be horny?"
Angel laughed in response running a hand over his hair, "Baby, getting drunk and being horny is what pays my bills! Don't you recognize me?"
"I don't." He grabbed the nearest bottle of booze and read the label.
"Do they not have the internet on whatever ring you're from? I'm angel dust! The Pornstar!" angel chuckled anxiously as Damien poured a over a shot of ever clear into his glass.
"I see." Damien wondered how long it would be before Angel got bored and gave up.
Angel pushed his untouched drink aside, "you know what here ill spell it out for you. I'm looking for a fun time. with a good-looking bartender perhaps?"
"Not. Interested." Damien growled trying to look as intimidating as possible.
Angel got a mischievous grin. "we'll see how long you're singing that tune after I fill you in on my resume."
'Please God no! I didn't need to know these things!' Damien thought as the spider launched into what a normal day at work was like in the studio.
Angel eventually got bored of saying things nobody asked to hear after about the Hour and forty-five-minute mark as Damien had resorted to using one-word responses and nothing else. Once he was gone Damien reached for the drink angel refused to touch. The spider had taken it upon himself to teach him how to make a different drink Whenever he ordered one. Bringing it to his lips he took a sip and began coughing violently as the substance burned like hellfire its way down. Handing the glass to Mendes he bent down to the sink desperate to be rid of the taste of pure ethanol. Out the corner of his eye he saw Mendes go behind the bar next to him and place another ginger ale on the counter.
"Starting to think he'd never leave."
Damien jumped not expecting the voice to be from outside of his mind at this time. A familiar man in a white suit was inspecting the drink Damien just tried. He sniffed it then drank the entire thing in one go before turning the glass upside down and placing it on the counter.
"So, have you been enjoying your new profession?" Mephistopheles asked leafing through the logbook on the counter.
"no."
"Blitzo tells me you're already making a killing. is this True?"
"Yes."
"Excellent! in that case". He took a pen from out of his coat and started writing in the logbook. multiple names and addresses and how much the hit was worth. tearing the entire page out of the book he placed it to the side and flipped the log back to the present day. "I need you to expedite the transport of these souls to their final resting place."
"Are they innocent?"
"Sorting sinners from saints is saint peters job. You are but a humble delivery man. But I must admit something tells me they won't be making it past the gate." Mephistopheles hummed to himself as he signed his name in the book, "I left a surprise for you in the garage. Towzer just put the finishing touches on last night. Including a hidden and warded storage compartment for whatever tools you come to obtain over the course of your contract."
Damien watched in disbelief as Mephistopheles pulled a small black box and the keys to his car out of a drawer labeled Valet.
"Do tell your farther id like my ten thousand back."
Damien glared at the keys that were telling him that the events leading up to that night weren't coincidental after all and that the entire thing was planned. But how far back does it go?
"I'm only joking Damien lighten up. Could be worse, If I hadn't intervened when I did you might not even be existing."
"What do you mean?"
"The Remnants of the last angelic rebellion could have seized You. They erase those who refuse to join. You might have had a gut feeling that I would kill you if you refused, and your right there but Dead is better than erased."
"Are you ever going to tell me why you kidnapped me in the first place?"
"To kill key members of this rebellion. And retrieve something they took from me" he opened the black box revealing a phone and wallet.
"And then I can get my fresh start?"
"Oh, but my dear boy, your new life in hell is the fresh start."
On the front of the wallet was An Imp city license. his name and the photo blitz took of him for his company id. Damien Kurier, Born on the wrath ring, current address: Hazbin Hotel North point drive Imp city, Species: Hellhound Type B.
"For future reference be very particular with your words." Mephistopholes Tapped the list of names, "but if you manage to survive the entire year and do everything I ask of you Ill pull all the necessary strings and make it so that you can return to your old life."
Damien could hear Mendes growling from inside his head, 'Hes Offering you another deal do not trust him!'
It was almost as if Mephistopheles could sense that Mendes was speaking.
"No doubt the familiar I gifted you is whispering in your ear this very second."
Damien looked at the ground where the red eyes were staring back up at him, "He told me that you would find a way to screw me over. So far, he hasn't lied."
"Yes, and there's no doubt in my mind that he already pressured you to take my life. You're most welcome to try. But should you fail, I won't stop until anyone who showed you an ounce of kindness in your pathetic life has been erased including that fellow who was teaching you bar tricks. Afterwards I'll put you in my workshop for all of eternity."
Mephistopheles took the white velvet glove off his right hand and extended his arm, "But if you accept our new terms, I Guarantee they'll be safe from my hand."
'Do not be Hasty your grace! The first deal is always for your time, the second for your soul! I have seen it happen many times!'
The Nephilim hadn't yet considered the fact that even in death no one was truly safe. Dying probably wasn't even the worst thing that could happen to a person. Hell, that's why I.M.P seems so callous towards death in the living world. They just pass on. If Damien were to fail in killing the demon it would just make things worse. But he was also tired of feeling as thou he was totally at this snake's mercy.
"Here's your fucking deal. I'll kill whoever needs to be killed but the moment you lay a finger on anyone I know I will find a way to make you disappear."
Damien grabbed the outstretched hand and instantly the look of smug superiority was replaced with one of shock and fear when the telltale signs of one of his deals being struck didn't manifest. Instead, there was a brief flash that burned intensely leaving a nasty red welt in the palm of his hand.
After that the Devil's advocate couldn't seem to leave fast enough.
the Door to room 6 had a giant web painted on it making it hard to miss. Damien reached out to knock and before he could touch the door it opened revealing Angel wearing nothing but a bath robe which to his credit was tied.
"So, you reconsidered after all?" the spider said in a sultry tone inviting him into his room.
"No, no, it's just… I heard you socialize with those of an irreputable nature. Like mobsters?" Damien crossed in and looked about the room fully decked out in plush lavish furniture and a giant vanity table along the wall opposite the bed.
"who told you im in with the mob?"
"Husk did when he came back. He also says if that makes you mad then you should have spoken to a therapist instead."
Angel crossed his arms and frowned but at least it seems husk didn't completely air his dirty laundry.
"I Need a good Contact to buy Weapons from. Preferably someone capable of getting their hands on angelic steel."
"What's in it for me?" Angel laid down on his bed and swirled his index finger on the sheets.
Damien Looked at Mendes before turning back to Angel.
"Is there anyone on earth you want dead? I work for I.M.P. as a for hire assassin."
"I don't need a button man" Angel Looked Damien up and down, "Buuuut, I am just dying to know how soft you are fluffball."
"How soft I am?" Damien was truly perplexed.
"Well yes, you really expect me to see something as cute and fluffy as myself and not want to at least pet it to see how it compares? How bad are ya wanting that contact? Bad enough to swallow your pride and let me pet the cute little doggy?"
Angel gave him a smug smile and patted the bed.
Damien did not want to be touched by a creepy looking spider that not mere moments ago was looking to score with him. But he needed that contact, and he would not get another chance for free. doubly If the spider were to cross him, he knows where hell be at the end of the day.
The nephilum said nothing and sat on the bed.
"Is that a yes?" Angel asked scooting closer.
"Depends. Do You promise not to tell anyone about this?" Damien asked lowly.
"Sure thing toots, I wouldn't' be as well loved by my fans if I just blabbed on about every secret rendezvous. And I expect you to do the same."
Angel closed the distance and gently ran his fingers through Damiens fur on the top of his head. Strangely enough his apprehensions melted away as he felt Angels scratch the behind his ears. This went on for a while until Angel seemed satisfied and stood up pulling Damien off the bed with him.
"Alright fluffball, ready to meet your contact?" He said in a sing song voice.
"I guess"
Angel Dust grabbed a handle that was hidden under the sheets of the bed and pulled up the mattress revealing a multitude of Firearms, bombs, and drugs hidden in the hollowed-out compartment underneath.
"Ta-da! It's me! Although I will need some time to get the angelic stuff. My brother knows a guy. So now you know a guy that knows a guy. But what will it be for today?"
Damien spotted a gun that was the exact same model that he lost in the trailer park. He felt it was his responsibility to replace it before buying anything for himself.
"How much is that one" Damien Picked it up and checked its condition.
"Oh, that's a high-quality Heater for sure. They go for around 5 g's."
"In other words, my entire paycheck." Damien sighed fishing the money out of his pocket.
"Good thing Room and board here is free." Angel took the money and placed it in a box somewhere in the compartment, "tell ya what though, as a button man you can have this one on the house. A Good ol lupara!"
Angel reached in and grabbed an antique Sawed off Double barrel. Damien took it gingerly marveling at the intricate engravings. Opening the action, he noticed the barrels appeared to be removable and the name Towzer was etched in bold at the bottom.
'There's that name again.' Damien Looked up to Angel, "who exactly is Towzer?"
Angel snapped his fingers, "Old Towzer was one of them hellborn that founded Imp city in 1981. He and his mentor made a shit ton of Weapons that aided in that Turf war. Last I heard He moved back to wrath for a peaceful retirement. Probably dead by now though."
'But he isn't, and I don't imagine a 70 year old would be turning wrenches either.' Damien closed the action and gathered Moxxie's new gun to put in the trunk of his car where he hoped his uncles rifle was still stashed, "thanks Angel, ill see you around then."
'It looked nicer in your dream.'
"yeah well at least its got paint on it at all. last time i laid eyes on it there wasn't a matching body panel on it. What the hell did they do to my car!?"
Damien and Mendes admired the car walking to it from the other side of the garage. it sat next to the hotel owners limo and was the only other vehicle here. The car Damien was used to seeing was a bone stock Monte carlo that in all honesty wasn't really too good looking. In its place now was a Flat black one with a 2 inch lift , Reinforced push bar and off-roading tires. he opened the door to find them heavier than usual. Must be some kind of bulletproof material in them now.
"where the fuck do they think I'm driving, an active warzone!?"
'It is hell your grace.' mendes chipped in.
"She's probably going to move like a slug now!" Damien grumbled popping the trunk.
Damien went around and breathed a sigh of relief. In the homemade gunrack on the lid of the trunk sat his uncles model 70.
"I don't know how yet but that's the gun I'm going to put down Mephistopheles with."
A/N: End Chapter 9