The sound of a wick burning. This was the company that Gabriel kept the most alongside the scribbling of his quill upon parchment. These noises were soothing to the Archangel; they helped him to focus on his work. Although, it was also his preferred environment, undisturbed by any distractions or annoyances.
Unfortunately, as of recently, such things were constantly at Gabriel's door. It'd been two weeks since the Extermination. Nearly every day, another Angel or denizen of Heaven would come to his abode with an endless array of inquiries. To which he would give the same response, word for word, without fail every time: "The investigation is still ongoing."
But did anyone ever listen to Gabriel? Did they pay attention to his words at all? No, of course not. The only thing the people of the Divine realm would hear was the answers they desperately sought. Yet not once did any of them consider that he was going through the same mental anguish.
However, Gabriel couldn't show that. His position and perception demanded that he maintain his composure at all times. That was something his father had told him when he became the Archangel of Justice. No matter what, he could not be shaken; if he ever were, he needed to hide it.
For all of his life, Gabriel did just that. He closed himself off from everyone else, focused on his tasks and responsibilities, and pushed aside his emotions and thoughts that didn't relate to his work. So far, it'd worked flawlessly. There was never a moment where he felt he was close to faltering.
But now, amidst the current crisis, Gabriel couldn't deny that he felt uneasy. As time continued to pass, and there was still no progress with the investigation, the situation and the demand for clarity by the masses worsened. Even for someone such as himself, it was a great burden. Luckily, Gabriel wasn't alone, a fact that he was constantly reminded of when one of his kin came for a visit.
"...Hm?" Gabriel stopped writing, for he detected a familiar soul channeling itself into his dwelling.
Without needing to perform any action, Gabriel opened the entrance of his home. He heard no footsteps from the top of the stairs as his visitor entered, which was not surprising, given the guest. Soon, the slithering form of his sister would appear. A smile was present on her face, telling him that this visitation likely was of choice.
"Azrael." Gabriel greeted as he resumed his writing, his eyes never leaving the paper in front of him. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" He inquired, assuming she brought with her no business.
"Aw, you consider my presence a pleasure, Gabriel?" Azrael responded. Her smile grew slightly upon hearing that.
"Better than the numerous persons who loiter outside waiting to ambush me when I need to leave," Gabriel said. To his surprise, that made his sister frown.
"It has been rough for you, hasn't it?" Azrael asked with genuine worry.
"Unlike Hell, which is blissfully fooled by the ruse you and Charlie concocted, Heaven is a much different story. After all, many of the Exterminators witnessed their comrades being slain. No matter how swiftly we reacted, the news would outpace us. I've been busy trying to maintain order with the assistance of our siblings." Gabriel answered. "However, some are less than helpful." He added.
"How so?" Azrael inquired as she came closer.
"With the sole exception of Michael and a few others, our family has been treating me as if I am somehow betraying them. Not telling them all of the details of what transpired. Even when I insist that what they know is the same as myself." Gabriel explained. "But that is to be expected. I don't blame them, nor do I hold any hate towards them. None of us could've ever been prepared for such a thing." He said.
"You shouldn't be so lenient with them, Gabriel. They have no right to treat you that way." Azrael sternly replied.
"So long as they carry out their duties and do not cause more problems, they can say what they want about me and feel as they wish," Gabriel told her, seemingly not too bothered by it. "But enough about that. What brings you here? A simple casual visit to see how I'm faring?" He asked.
"Yes, but that's not all," Azrael answered, her smile returning. "I thought you might like to hear how things are going on our end, and some other bits and pieces." She said.
"I see. Thank you. That consideration is nice." Gabriel responded, still focused on his writing.
"You're quite welcome." Azrael politely told him before proceeding. "First, regarding my part in the investigation. During these last two weeks, I've made great strides in identifying the population of Pentagram City. I estimate midway next week that I'll be mostly done and can begin full observation." She informed him.
"That's good to hear. The sooner we start sorting out behaviors and patterns, the better." Gabriel replied.
"Agreed. However, as you're aware, I'm also keeping busy by assisting our niece with her hotel. Since our interview, we've seen an increase in foot traffic that continues to grow daily. Although, admittedly, a fair bit of that is made of reporters or citizens who only want to see and speak with me. Which, I won't lie, is extremely flattering." Azrael continued.
"That's unsurprising. So few have ever had a personal audience with you outside our family. Constant crowds are unavoidable once Death has made herself available to the public." Gabriel said.
"Hehe, I suppose so." Azrael agreed with a laugh before resuming. "Anyway, as for Lucifer, I need not tell you how he's been since you've no doubt been in constant contact with him. But regarding Lilith, she's come down to the hotel also to give a helping hand, which has allowed us and Charlie to grow even closer. Something that I'm most grateful for." She shared.
"Well, I'm glad your accommodations in Hell have been pleasant, Azrael. I do mean that. I wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable as you help us with this mystery." Gabriel replied.
Once more, an unforeseen reaction occurred when this was said. An expression of concern replaced Azrael's smile.
"...Is there something you'd like to say?" Gabriel asked after a few moments of waiting for her to speak again.
"There is. But I'd first like to request that you keep an open mind about-"
"No." Gabriel interrupted, catching her off guard. "Based on our last statements, I'm assuming you're about to mention something about the current condition of my office. Specifically, you want to address how my already imposing workload has grown to such a degree it now threatens to bury me alive. So, within logical reason, you were going to suggest something outlandish. Perhaps along the lines of me coming to stay at the hotel. Or maybe at Lucifer's home." He guessed.
"A very good guess, but it's slightly wrong. The idea was Charlie's, not mine. She wanted me to mention it to you to see how you felt." Azrael corrected.
"Hmph, that makes sense," Gabriel commented. "Still, it doesn't change my decision, which is no. The only one who needs to be there is you. My presence would only cause a greater circus in Hell, which Lucifer does not need." He repeated with an explanation.
"And there's no potential to sway you? None at all?" Azrael asked, causing him to sigh.
"Take a look around us, Azrael," Gabriel instructed, finally looking up from his work to meet her gaze with his. "Towers of documents. Pillars of concerned voices transcribed to paper from the people of Heaven who are frightened. A never-ending pile of demands for an audience from Angels, some Exterminators, some not, that want answers I cannot provide. Topped off with a handful of similar requests made by our siblings. Even if I wanted to accept our niece's kind invitation, I could not. My duties are here. Until I can start to see the floor again, I shall remain. Only leaving when something urgent is brought to my attention." He answered.
Immediately, Gabriel could see that his sister wanted to say something. An attempt to convince him? Saddened acceptance? Neutral understanding? He wouldn't know which of those it was. Azrael refrained from speaking on the matter, despite her impulse to do the opposite.
"Regarding the investigation, have you made any progress?" Azrael inquired, choosing to change the subject.
"The only thing I've been able to accomplish while dealing with the unrest is acquiring a consistent description from the witnesses of what the perpetrator looks like," Gabriel responded.
"Truly? We know of their appearance?" Azrael questioned with widened eyes, not expecting something so vital.
"Don't get excited; it's very little," Gabriel warned her. "The unknown individual is covered head-to-toe in green-colored armor. The best any Exterminator could offer in the way of extra details is that it seemed especially high-quality. Both in regards to its make and the technology built into it. But that's all we have. Nothing more." He informed.
"Still, that gives us something. I may be tracking souls, but I can certainly look for such a suit as I do." Azrael replied.
"That would be greatly appreciated," Gabriel said. "Is there anything else you'd like to discuss?" He asked.
"Eager to see me leave?" Azrael questioned with a smirk, managing to make her brother chuckle.
"Only curious; I give you my word," Gabriel promised.
"In that case, no. I only wanted to tell you how things were going with us at the hotel and ensure you were doing well." Azrael said, answering his inquiry.
"For the latter, you could've talked to Michael. He's been acting like my caretaker ever since this all started." Gabriel told her.
"True. But I wanted to see you myself." Azrael replied before turning around. "However, should he reach out to me and say you're not taking care of yourself, I will come back here and drag you to the hotel." She warned as she headed for the stairs.
"Duly noted," Gabriel said, watching her leave until she was out of sight, allowing him to return to work.
Meanwhile, In Hell...
"Fer the last fucking time, she's NOT here," Husk repeated. His arms were folded over his chest, his brow was furrowed, and he was one nudge away from gouging out someone's eyes.
Katie Killjoy's broadcast brought with it a transformation of the Happy Hotel. No longer was it a nice, quiet, comfortable building filled with amenities with only six occupants. Now, there were MANY residents alongside a daily gathering of jackasses that came here to see the one and only Angel of Death. Unfortunately for Husk, as he was the front desk man, it was his responsibility to deal with them when she wasn't.
Although, at the request of Charlie after he recovered, he was also a sort of bouncer for her. Stepping in to disperse the crowd whenever they got too rowdy and maintain peace in the lobby. while Azrael didn't need this, she still greatly appreciated his assistance.
"You've said that before when she IS here!" One of the reporters exclaimed, receiving a few "Yeahs!" from his peers.
"Gee, don't you think that should tell you something?" Husk countered, having been done with this bullshit since day one.
"We JUST want to talk to her!" Another reporter responded.
"About WHAT?!" Husk questioned while throwing his hands out in their direction. "You fuckers have asked her about EVERYTHING! What else could you POSSIBLY want or need to know?" He asked.
Admittedly, they didn't have a response. The reporters even took several minutes silently staring at each other to think about that. Eventually, when they were done, they all looked back at Husk, who maintained his "I hate all of you, get the fuck out." expression. This is the conversation that followed:
"What's her favorite color?"
"Done that."
"Her favorite food?"
"Yup."
"Hobbies?"
"Mhm."
"Her past?"
"What she's comfortable sharing, yeah."
"Her relationship with Lucifer?"
"Like a boxing match. Except the gloves are replaced with brass knuckles."
"Her views and opinions on the current state of Earth and humanity as a whole?"
"So stupid it's tragically hilarious and depressing."
"Why did she and Lucifer both go with snakes?"
"Lucifer's was a spur-of-the-moment thing; she's always looked like that."
"Why so many eyes?"
"So she can see all the different ways we get ourselves killed when we're alive, and keep track of our souls."
Damn. Husk didn't miss a beat. Which didn't bode well for the journalists as they had run out of ammunition.
"You done?" Husk asked, noticing their return to silence. "If so, have your legs carry you out the front door. Thanks for coming to the Happy Hotel. Now fuck off." He told them while motioning them to go away with his hands.
Discovering that they had nothing to ask Azrael, the reporters did as they were told and vacated the premises. But that was the only reason. Without anything to gain, what point was there in hanging around?
"Ugh, finally..." Husk breathed out with a sigh as he plopped down onto his chair. "I swear this shit's getting old..." He said while closing his eyes, hoping to relax.
Fortunately for the feline, he was allowed this break from the chaos. No new arrivals or residents were in the lobby, which made it resemble its former self. A peaceful sanctuary for its attendant. But then, a sudden gust of wind struck the Hellcat's fur, caused by the abrupt stop of an incredibly speedy entity near his person.
"Wow. You're taking a break?" Husk asked with his eyes still shut. His mood was unchanged since this was one of the few people who didn't get his blood boiling.
"Nope!" The cheery voice of Nifty answered. Even without looking, Husk knew she was smiling. "If you can believe it, I'm done for the day! I got ALL the rooms restocked and cleaned. Not one of our tenants will need anything for a while." She informed him.
"Hey, not too shabby. Glad to see you've finally gotten used to the increased workload." Husk praised, making the smile he couldn't see grow much larger.
"Thanks!" Nifty exclaimed in appreciation. "How about you? Handling the crazies, okay?" She inquired.
"Eh, I manage. Would be a lot better if Charlie let me have my beating stick." Husk replied.
"Wasn't it a baseball bat?" Nifty questioned.
"Only if you're hitting baseballs with it." Husk said before slightly opening one of his eyes to look at her. He discovered that she was sitting atop his desk. "I notice you're lacking a certain pair of antlers attached to an ass." He commented.
"Hm? Oh! Yeah. Al's not here right now. He went with Vaggie to the news Station to speak with Katie." Nifty revealed.
"And did Vaggie willingly want him to go?" Husk asked.
"As far as I know," Nifty answered. "With Katie handling our PR, she's been talking a lot with Vaggie. Since Al controls the radio, she felt he needs to start being there too." She explained.
"Huh. Well, my condolences and sympathies." Husk said as he closed his eye again. "What about the boss? What's she doing?" He inquired.
"I have no idea." Nifty confessed. "After breakfast, before we all went our separate ways for the day, I saw her and Angel talking about something. I haven't seen either of them since then." She told him.
"That's...odd..." Husk responded.
"Right? I wonder where they went?" Nifty agreed with a nod, even though he couldn't see it.
THUD
The suddenness of that noise startled Nifty, causing her to jump. On the other hand, Husk was unaffected and kept his eyes closed. He was used to these kinds of things happening now since their lives had become more hectic. Looking to the source of the noise, which was the entrance, Nifty found the twin doors had been kicked open by an individual who fit the descriptor of "Punk".
"YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! ANGEL!" A mono-eyed woman, similar to Nifty in that way, shouted as she walked into the lobby. "WHERE YOU AT?" She asked.
"Hey!" Husk called out, getting her attention. "Keep it down!" He told her. All the while, his eyes remained shut.
"Or what? You gonna throw me out?" The woman challenged as she walked over.
"Nah, too much work." Husk replied, making her chuckle.
"Excuse me," Nifty interjected, moving the woman's focus to her. "Your name's Cherri, right?" She asked.
"Last time I checked, yeah." The woman confirmed while extending her hand. "Cherri Bomb. Professional amateur demolitionist and Pentagram City's flashiest residential terrorist. It's a pleasure to meet ya." She greeted.
"Likewise!" Nifty replied with a smile as she took her hand and shook it. "My name's Nifty." She introduced.
"Who's the lump of fur and feathers in the chair?" Cherri inquired.
"That's Husk. Don't let his grumpy look fool you; he's very sweet." Nifty said as their handshake ended.
"Pfft, really?" Cherri questioned with a scoff.
"Yeah. I'm a real charmer." Husk responded before pointing to the ground floor hallway with his thumb. "If yer looking fer Angel, you'll want to try his room first. We don't know where he is, only that he's somewhere in the hotel with our boss." He informed her.
"Do you need to know his room number?" Nifty asked.
"Nah, I'm good. He texted it to me when he invited me to come over." Cherri answered. "Still, thanks for the directions." She added, followed by her departure.
"She seems nice," Nifty said to Husk once she was gone.
"Nifty, she described herself as a terrorist." Husk replied.
"Husk, nearly all of our guests are worst than a terrorist," Nifty argued.
As those two continued to converse, discussing further the nature of the hotel's occupants, Cherri made her way to her bestie's quarters.
"Angel!" Cherri called out, accompanied by a few knocks on the room's door.
Almost instantly, the door was pulled open by its inhabitant. This surprised Cherri as she didn't think he'd be RIGHT there when she arrived.
"Finally! Took ya long enough." Angel Dust said as he grabbed her by the arm. "Hurry up and get in here!" He ordered while pulling her through.
"Whoa!" Cherri exclaimed. Angel Dust closed the door after she was across the threshold. "Dude? The fuck? What's going on?" She asked.
"You'll know in a second, trust me." Angel Dust told her, avoiding an answer.
Taking her further into his room, Cherri discovered she wasn't alone. As Husk had mentioned, Charlie was with Angel Dust. She just didn't expect to find her on his bed, fully dressed, of course.
"Uh, hi." Cherri awkwardly greeted, completely lost on what was happening.
"Hello," Charlie responded with a warm and welcoming smile. "I'm guessing Angel hasn't told you anything either?" She inquired.
"Yeah, and it's pretty shitty," Cherri said before looking back to the arachnid. "Seriously, dude. What's going on? This is weird, even for you." She asked again.
"I know. But like I said, you need to trust me. Because what's about to happen is going to blow your minds." Angel Dust told them.
"He's said that every time I've tried asking. I'll be honest; this is the first time I've ever seen him so secretive." Charlie informed Cherri.
"That makes two of us," Cherri replied, now folding her arms out of irritation. "It better be worth it." She said.
"Just give'em a few minutes." Angel Dust requested.
"WHO?" Cherri questioned.
"YOU'LL SEE." Angel Dust responded, only worsening her annoyance.
Thus the waiting began. Seconds turned to minutes, and Cherri's patience was the only thing that changed. Continuously whittling away until she was nearly ready to explode. But right as she prepared herself to deliver a verbal onslaught to the sultry spider, IT happened.
FWOOM
A perfectly circular blue portal appeared in the middle of the room. Charlie and Cherri were astounded, while Angel Dust remained unaffected.
"There they are." Angel Dust said before beckoning them to follow. "Come on. You wanna know why you're both here? Then hurry up." He instructed as he casually strolled through the rift.
"Angel! Wait!" Charlie exclaimed, she and Cherri hastily following him.
However, as the pair of women left the room and entered an unknown destination, their pursuit of Angel Dust immediately halted upon arrival. Because what they saw when they were through to the other side wasn't a different location in Hell. It was something completely foreign to them. As too were the individuals who were there to welcome them.
It was a trio. Comprised of one woman who appeared to be a Sinner like Cherri and Angel Dust, one intimidatingly large man fully hidden by the suit of armor he wore, and a...robot...
"Uh...Angel..." Charlie muttered as both she and Cherri looked ahead with widened eyes. "What...is going on?..." She asked.
"I believe it would be better if I answered that." The robot responded before stepping closer to them. "I am Doctor Samuel Hayden. You may call me Samuel if you wish. The two of you are here at the request of Angel. He asked if we would be alright to reveal ourselves to you first so you wouldn't be surprised like the rest of Hell. To which we agreed." He told them.
"...Okay..." Both women said together, experiencing the same level of shock.
"Sorry, girls." Angel Dust apologized, feeling bad about blindsiding them. "But I figured the best way to handle this would be to get it over with quickly. You know, throw you into the deep end first rather than take it slow and try to explain this shit myself." He told them.
"The deep end of what?..." Cherri hesitantly inquired while taking a look at their surroundings. "This place...looks like a lab." She noted.
"If we were to simplify it, that would be accurate," Samuel replied.
"And if you didn't?" Charlie asked.
"It would take us far longer to explain. However, that is what we intend to do. Assuming, of course, that you don't want to leave." Samuel answered.
"Even if we did, how would that help? Like, at all?" Cherri questioned before pointing her finger at Angel Dust. "This dickhead, without ANY warning, has dragged us into some crazy shit. Going back without getting any answers would drive us crazy!" She exclaimed.
"Ouch. Dickhead?" Angel Dust responded. Even though he and she playfully insulted each other, as all good besties do, that "Dickhead" had a bit more bite to it.
"Now, now." Charlie stepped in, not wanting there to be any bickering or feuding. "I agree that Angel could've prepared us a little better-"
"A LITTLE?!" Cherri cut her off, flabbergasted by that estimation.
"Okay, a LOT." Charlie corrected before continuing. "But it's clear that whatever's happening, whatever he's gotten involved with here, it's pretty significant. We should give him the benefit of the doubt that this was an easier way to reveal it to us." She said.
"I'm impressed, Miss Magne." Samuel complimented her, getting their attention back on him. "Despite the unusual circumstances, you're maintaining your composure extremely well. Does your experience as a Royal have anything to do with that?" He asked.
"It does. But I'd like to think it's also due to my efforts, not just the status I was born into." Charlie answered. "And please, call me Charlie. Miss Magne sounds so stuffy." She requested.
"Very well, Charlie." Samuel agreed, making her smile. "Now, with the initial shock and awe over, we can proceed to my office. There you will receive full clarity on the situation and be informed of everything that's happened prior that led to this moment." He told them.
With that, the conversation ended. Charlie and Cherri had nothing more to say as they only had questions. Yet even as they followed Samuel and the others, including Angel Dust, to his office, briefly getting a greater glimpse at the building they were in. They had an undeniable feeling that the answers they would soon receive would only create more.
But, as they'd soon learn, they could've never anticipated how great the number was. Nor the weight of the knowledge that the answers would carry.