...
...Kn...
...
...Knock...
...
...Knock, Knock...
"...Uuuuuuuuugh..." A deep groan escaped the Devil's lungs as the knocking at his bedroom door stirred him from slumber.
With little effort, the ruler of Hell turned his head to the left to look at the clock on his bedside table. From what his groggy eyes could tell, the time was in the 4 AM range. He didn't care enough to figure out the specifics.
Knock Knock
No longer was there a delay to the sound reaching the Lord's ears. Although dazed, he was surely awake. Yet even if the knocking hadn't awoken him, what came next would've.
"Lucifer..." The tired voice of his Wife, who lay beside him, spoke. "Please...get the door..." She requested.
A part of Lucifer wanted to retort and ask why Lilith didn't do it herself. But putting his love for his Wife aside, he knew if he did such a thing, he'd find himself slapped or kicked. Mainly due to her fairly making the request first. She would've been obligated to pull herself out from under the covers if he had been quicker.
Unfortunately, Lucifer was the loser this time around. Thus, with several groans and grunts, he willed himself to the bedroom door. All the while, his feet didn't leave the floor. Housed safely in a set of slippers, he scooted across the tiles.
Creak...
"Yes?..." Lucifer, with eyes still barely open, greeted this unexpected visitor. Secretly, if he didn't hear anything worthwhile or entertaining in the first few seconds, he was prepared to slam the door shut.
"Forgive me, sire." One of his butlers apologized with a bow. "I know you are sleeping. But your family has arrived. They wish to speak to you. They stressed it was of the utmost urgency." He informed him.
"...Huh?..." Lucifer questioned, nearly falling asleep while standing. "Azrael...she came by earlier today...we shouldn't have anything else to discuss..." He said.
"Lady Azrael is not the only one present, Lord." The butler replied. "The Princess is in her company, as are two of your Brothers, Michael and Gabriel." He revealed.
"...Sorry." Lucifer apologized as he rubbed his eyes. "I don't mean to make you repeat yourself; I just need to be sure I heard that last part. My Brothers, Michael and Gabriel, are here. In the castle. Not in Heaven." He stated.
"Yes, sire. That is correct." The butler confirmed with a nod. "Again, they wished me to emphasize the importance of this visit. It cannot wait. They even warned that should you and the Mistress remain in your quarters; they'd come here for the discussion." He told him.
"...Damn," Lucifer commented after his brain processed that. "Well, Lilith would hang me from the ceiling if I let anyone, especially my kin, see her when she isn't proper. I suppose we have no choice. Please, go tell them we'll be there shortly." He ordered.
"Of course, sire." The butler responded before leaving.
Closing the door once his back was to him, Lucifer, still in the process of becoming fully conscious, walked to his Wife's side of the bed.
"...Ngh..." Lilith groaned as a hand placed itself on her arm and began to shake her lightly. "Lucifer...what are you doing?..." She inquired, assuming it to be her Husband.
"Get up. We've got company." Lucifer said before heading to their closet.
"Company? It's...four in the fucking morning..." Lilith replied while peeking at her bedside table's clock.
"Mhm. But something happened. It is so significant that Charlie and Azrael didn't come alone. They brought with them, Michael and Gabriel." Lucifer informed.
"...Come again?" Lilith asked as she jolted into an upright position. Like her Husband, she needed that repeated to ensure she heard what she did.
"Michael and Gabriel, they're here," Lucifer stated, accompanied by the sound of shuffling clothes from within the closet. "And they told our staff that they'll come barging into our room if we dawdle for too long. So, we better get moving." He added.
"What in Hell could've happened?" Lilith asked while getting out of their bed. There was nothing but bewilderment in both her tone and her face.
"A development in the investigation. Must be," Lucifer answered. "What shirt and pants do you think I should wear? I'm not getting fully dressed. That'd take too much time." He inquired.
"Lucifer, your Brothers came from Heaven with important news. The least you can do is look proper." Lilith said as she entered their walk-in closet to join him.
"So? They're my Brothers. It's not like someone important has arrived." Lucifer stated with a straight face. He hoped she wouldn't mistake that for a jest.
"Lucifer, don't make me dress you myself," Lilith warned.
"...That's meant to be a threat, right?" Lucifer questioned. Again, he was serious. There was no attempt at being playful at this moment.
Without saying another word, Lilith made good on her statement. Over the next few minutes, various noises escaped the closet. Mostly, it was Lucifer exclaiming and shouting as his Wife forcefully dressed him.
"There," Lilith said, satisfied with her handiwork. "Now, you go speak with your Brothers AND Azrael. Be both a good host and sibling. If I hear ANY arguing by the time I'm ready and approaching, you'll WISH waking up so early was the worst thing to happen to you today." She told him.
For the briefest of seconds, as Lucifer walked out of his closet, fully dressed in his usual attire, he wondered what it'd be like if he wasn't married. But that thought disappeared as quickly as it formed in his mind. Although his beloved was strict regarding manners and other such etiquettes, he'd rather be crucified than have a life without her. Still, of everything Lilith requested, speaking to Azrael would undoubtedly be the hardest for him.
"Hopefully, Gabriel will do most of the talking..." Lucifer thought as he left his bedroom.
Making his way through the corridors of his home, the Devil eventually reached the main living area. There, sitting and waiting for his and Lilith's arrival on two couches, were his Brothers, Sister, and Daughter. Additionally, it seemed as though the staff had considerately gone ahead and made them some beverages of their choice to enjoy while they waited.
"Luci! You're finally awake!" Michael was the first to greet his Brother once everyone noticed him.
"Michael, keep your voice down." Gabriel scolded with a stern glare. "Not all of the servants and staff are awake at this time. If you don't control your volume, you'll disturb them." He said.
"Like how you've disturbed me?" Lucifer asked while moving closer to them.
"Apologies, Brother. You know we wouldn't be here lest it was important." Gabriel responded.
"Of course. You, of all people, being here conveys that." Lucifer assured. "If it had been either Michael or Azrael alone, I'd assume they were trying to fuck with me." He said.
Of the two, Azrael remained silent and continued to sip her drink. She wasn't about to give her brother the satisfaction of getting a rise out of her.
"Aww, Luci, do you think I'd do such a thing? Truly?" Michael inquired with a hurt expression.
"Yes," Lucifer confirmed. The swiftness and bluntness of the reply stung the Angel harshly. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to know why my ass isn't in bed." He requested.
"Unfortunately, Lucifer, it'd be best to wait for Lilith's presence," Gabriel stated.
"Shit. It's that bad, huh?" Lucifer asked, receiving a nod in response. "Well, it'll take her a bit. She wants to look as perfect as always for all of you. So, I'll get myself and her some coffee." He decided before leaving.
"...Charlie," Michael spoke, waiting until his Brother was gone. "You didn't say anything at all just now. You okay?" He asked.
"Mhm. I'm fine." Charlie answered with a smile. Sadly, her Uncles and Aunt could see through it.
"Lying to an Archangel? My, how far my Niece has fallen." Gabriel joked, hoping to help settle her nerves.
"I'm...not lying." Charlie hesitantly denied that while trying to think of something else to say. "It's just...scary." She said.
"Afraid he'll react the same as when you told him about your hotel for the first time?" Azrael guessed.
"Not exactly. I doubt he'll laugh for nearly five minutes straight when he hears this." Charlie replied.
"If he so much as chuckles, I will-"
"Do nothing." Gabriel interrupted his Sister. "What you two have brought to our attention is serious. As I said in Heaven, we must be composed." He firmly stated.
"Gabriel. How could you remain calm if our Brother begins laughing at his Daughter's words? Do you not believe as I do that he'd be owed a slap across the face?" Azrael asked.
"That won't happen as I plan to do the talking," Gabriel answered before looking at his Niece. "Assuming that you'd want me to. To avoid the reaction of him immediately believing this is all nonsense." He added.
"If you wouldn't mind." Charlie requested. "I don't think I could take another insanely uncomfortable argument with him. The thought alone is making me tense up..." She said.
"It's alright. I'll be the one to take the brunt of his rejection and refusal to listen." Gabriel promised while placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"And if that's not enough, I'll strangle him, so he stops yammering." Azrael chimed in, making her Brother sigh.
"And I'll watch from the sidelines!" Michael exclaimed with a grin. Happy to be nothing more than a spectator to whatever would happen.
"Sometimes...I can't help but feel that apart from our Father, I'm the only mature one in this family..." Gabriel groaned as he hung his head.
Elsewhere, At The Happy Hotel...
This. Was. It. The scoop. The kind every journalist dreamed of. Katie Killjoy had several big-time stories when she was alive, and Hell never saw a shortage of scandals and ever-shifting political landscapes. Yet even if she combined them all, they wouldn't hold a candle to THIS.
Doomguy spared only one category of detail; his past. However, as Katie learned more about the Demons, Doom, and his fight against them, that was understandable. It was clear to anyone with a functioning brain that this man and these creatures had it out for each other. She wasn't about to screw herself out of a literal story of a lifetime by being too nosey.
Still, with that usually unseen tact from the Mantis Demon, there were MOUNTAINS of information to be received. Doomguy perfectly described landscapes, rituals, behaviors, fauna, hierarchies, history, and EVERYTHING else about Doom. So long as Katie didn't ask a single question about him, it was fair game. Nothing was being held back, and it was GLORIOUS.
So much so that Katie needed more paper. With the help of Nifty, who knew where every item in the hotel was and their quantity, this journalistic Demon had everything she needed. Of course, everyone else learned alongside her. Like children surrounding a fire to listen to stories, they paid attention to every word Doomguy wrote.
Eventually, he also needed more writing materials. He even required more pens as the ink kept running out. To no surprise, Nifty was eager and happy to lend her aid. Perhaps even more than with Katie. Although, that was to the surprise of none who knew her personally.
But soon, the questions dried up. For the first time in her career, Katie had been given all the answers. There were no secrets to uncover, no bribes to be paid, no blackmail schemes to be concocted; she was done. Truly, this had been the most painless and pleasant interview she'd ever done. However, she noticed something peculiar while reviewing what had been jotted down.
"...Hold on," Katie spoke for the first time in several minutes. During that span, she and everyone else had been silent as they looked at all that was written. "You said you estimate your kill count to be hundreds of thousands. You're sure that's accurate?" She asked.
In reply, Doomguy nodded.
"That...doesn't seem to make sense?" Katie questioned. "I'm not saying you're lying. But, in your own words, you state that you have NO idea the amount of time that passed once you entered Doom and stayed there. So, shouldn't it be WAY more?" She inquired.
Scribble Scribble Scribble
Everyone watched as the space marine wrote. Admittedly, they were also greatly curious about that seeming oddity.
"For full clarity, let's start at the beginning. Before I stayed in Doom with the Demons, every battle would have less or more than a hundred enemies. The body count was in the thousands when I sealed myself away with them. Their tactics remained the same for a long time after that. They kept throwing hordes upon hordes at me in the hope they'd win solely from a numerical advantage. But even before I got this suit, my skills and the powers that were laid about for me to take advantage of were all I needed to keep fighting. Even when the guns I used at the time ran out of ammo, I was still keeping them at bay through strength and ability. Plus, by then, I learned how they behaved. I knew exactly how each Demon thought and what its approach would be. They had no more surprises.
That's when the leaders, who I've still not met, finally realized they needed to alter their plan. So, the fights got fewer and farther from each other. When they did happen, it was a different situation altogether. Supports like Archviles, Revenants, and Arachnotrons would always stay in the rear. Barons, Knights, and Mancubi were always at the frontline. Cacodemons and Pain Elementals would have the skies covered and be properly spaced to make it harder to deal with multiple at once. Imps would be the wild cards of the group, used in whatever way their leaders wanted in each skirmish. Pinkies and Lost Souls accompanied the Imps to distract me from them. As for any zombies or possessed soldiers wielding guns, they ran out of those LONG before this change.
To be honest, while their strategic improvements didn't scare me, they did renew my cautiousness of their kind. Before, they barely cared about how they fought or how they were deployed. No one had ever managed to match them in brutality and combat prowess. So, seeing them finally recognize me as something more than a mortal who refused to die was alarming. The bastards COULD learn. They weren't entirely mindless. In the end, that's how they managed to win for a time. I never suspected an ACTUAL trap from them. Spikes, pits, acidic pools, seas of fire, automatic crushers, and automated rocket turrets in walls and pillars. That's all they'd ever done. So, you can imagine my surprise when they dropped an entire temple on top of me and formed a sarcophagus around my body. I'll give them credit; they are clever. I suppose they've never had a reason to show that side of themselves before I came along." Doomguy wrote.
"Oh, okay." Angel Dust spoke once he finished reading. "So, the assholes wised up. That's why you don't have a country's population as your body count." He said, to which Doomguy nodded for confirmation.
"Question," Vagatha spoke, getting his attention. "Do you think that's why the Demons looked so different when you woke up? At least some of them." She asked.
"Yes. That's both my and Samuel's current theory. Certain Demons, like the Baron, haven't changed a lot. Maybe he's a bit bulkier, but that's all. In contrast, species like the Pinky or the Hell Knight are vastly different. Pinkies used to look like more traditional Demons if that makes sense. They had actual arms and would punch you in addition to biting. Then, you have Hell Knights. They were essentially lesser Barons. But now they look nothing alike and serve more of a bruiser role in the Demons' forces. We believe their leaders changed their biology and physiology through a method we don't know. It is extremely unlikely it was natural evolution or something similar. One final note, they also created a new species: The Summoner. It's like an Archvile but focuses entirely on support. Sure, it can attack, and its energy waves are not to be ignored. But given the opportunities, they'll always keep their distance and focus on summoning or revivals. In comparison, Archviles have no issue getting in your face and lighting you on fire. They might be among the smartest, but not at the cost of their savagery." Doomguy wrote.
"Fascinating. Truly fascinating." Alastor said with a grin. The level of interest he had was admittedly concerning. "Another inquiry, if I may. Are there any Demons you've yet to share with us? Ones that aren't as common as the riff-raff you deal with?" He asked.
"Yes. However, most of them are dead. Two, I've fought more than once. Of those, only one I am certain is the same Demon each time, brought back through resurrection or otherwise. As for the second, I can't be as certain. Lastly, in recent history, I encountered an entirely new creature. Although, to be more precise, it was simultaneously a new creature and a new technology I've never seen Doom utilize." Doomguy wrote.
Before anyone else could join the conversation, Alastor swiftly sat down next to Katie, catching her and the others by surprise.
"Please, do expand." Alastor requested while lifting his right leg and resting it on his left.
Scribble Scribble Scribble
"The Cyberdemon. That is the name of the Demon I've fought multiple times. Of any enemy I've faced, he's the only one I know, without a doubt, is the same each time. It's in the eyes. All of the Demons look at me with a desire to kill. But his eyes are different. It's more than a simple deathmatch between the two of us. He's considered the strongest of Doom's army. In our latest fight, he, too, was different. His body resembled obsidian. He could conjure blades of fire and summon spikes from the ground to trap me in a corridor. Alongside the rockets he usually shoots, he now had lasers. Although, the cybernetic enhancements weren't exactly given to him by Doom. But that's best saved for later.
Now, as for the other Demons, we'll start with the second one I've encountered the most. The Spider Mastermind. It is unrivaled in its intelligence among the common species. To my knowledge, one of them orchestrated the invasion of my reality. However, it could've been acting on orders from one of the leaders, possibly the one in charge of them all. Unlike the Cyberdemon, the Spider Mastermind is more so an evolution of the Arachnotron, which is also highly intelligent.
Furthermore, I've never encountered one that reacted uniquely to me. No recognition or change in its behavior when confronted. That contributes to my belief that only the Cyberdemon is continuously sent against me and that it's the same. However, that makes sense when looking at the greater scope of Doom. Demons like Masterminds, Archviles, and Arachnotrons could be viewed as commanders and generals. They direct the others into fights and issue instructions. That became more common as the fighting progressed.
Moving on, we arrive at the new special type of Demon and technology I mentioned. The creature is a parasitic worm. Physically, it's the weakest I've ever seen. Mentally, it could be on par with the Mastermind. Yet instead of strategic and tactical intelligence, its prowess is in combat. But with its small and vulnerable form, how does it fight? A suit. I don't know how it works; neither Samuel nor I have had a chance to examine one. I saw it up close, but I had to destroy it for obvious reasons. The closest thing I could compare it to would be a golem or even a mech suit. The worm crawls into an opening that could be referred to as a cockpit. Then after it's inside, the compartment closes, and the worm has full control over the suit. At this point, the entity is known as a Hell Guard. I fought three in total. Each one wielded a mace and could conjure Arcane power like a Summoner or Archvile. Honestly, they were the second toughest opponent I've ever faced. Only surpassed by the Cyberdemon.
Finally, we arrive at two Demons that I'm unsure of regarding the nature of their existence. The first was a giant. It possessed conjuration abilities, unlike anything I'd seen up to that point. Despite this, a good handful of rockets and a single trigger pull of the BFG 9000 delivered it to death. Its name, from the few texts I've seen that mention it, was the "Icon of Sin". I still don't know why they never resurrected it.
The other one was known as "The Mother". The first and only female Cemon I had ever encountered. She was tasked with the resurrection of Doom's forces that had either been killed by me or the countless nuclear strikes on Phobos that were conducted to wipe them out. She was also responsible for their attempted trap. She wanted to lure me back into Doom, now that they knew what they were dealing with, to finish me off. If I was dead, then my reality was fair game. But with the aid of a weapon of their design called the Unmaker, I took her down with no issues. When she was dead, I severed their connection to my universe. Simultaneously preventing any more invasions and ensuring that I'd be able to fight them forever." Doomguy wrote.
As the space marine watched the others read what he had written, he noticed them have a shared reaction when reaching a specific section.
"HOLD THE FUCK UP." Cherri was the first to say something about it as she snapped her neck in his direction with a wide-eyed gaze. "You...You're not fucking with us, right? A giant Demon? Like...Godzilla-sized? Doomguy, don't you fucking lie to us. Did you fight a Kaiju-sized Demon?" She asked.
In response, Doomguy nodded his head, worsening their shock.
"When...did you fight it?..." Vagatha inquired.
"During their invasion of Earth." Doomguy wrote.
"So...that means it happened before you got your suit, then. Right?" Angel Dust asked.
"That is correct. I was still, at the time, no different than any other marine serving in my organization. And, before you ask, they were equally physically fit. I was by no means a special case or abnormality among my peers. Luck played as much of a part in my survival as skill. Plain and simple." Doomguy wrote.
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around this..." Cherri muttered in disbelief, needing to take a seat. "This fucking dude sitting on the couch in front of us took out a fucking Demon the size of a movie monster. And he's acting like it's not the biggest fucking deal." She said.
"Comparatively speaking, I'd consider my countless victories far more impressive than killing a single enemy." Doomguy wrote.
"WERE ANY OF THEM THE SIZE OF A MOUNTAIN?!" Cherri questioned.
"No." Doomguy wrote.
"EXACTLY MY POINT!" Cherri shouted.
"Hey, Mister Mute," Husk spoke up, getting Doomguy's attention. "There's something weirder than the giant monster shit Cherri's losing her mind over." He stated.
"There is?!" Cherri asked, making him roll his eyes.
"Yes, Miss Shouts-A-Lot. Now pipe down." Husk answered before pointing to the papers Doomguy had written on. "Two things here pique my interest. You mentioned some weapons that sound peculiar. The BFG 9000 and the Unmaker. If I'm reading this right, the second one was made by the Demons. Which doesn't make sense to me." He told him.
"How so?" Doomguy wrote.
"Well, when talking about traps, you mentioned that they could make automated rocket turrets. That's not too far-fetched because of those skeleton guys with missile launchers on their shoulders. Other Demons we've seen also have technology grafted onto them in one way or another. So, it's clear these freaks know a little about building stuff. But this is the first time when talking to you, Samuel, or reading some of the texts back on Mars that we've seen a mention of something specific. Of course, we might still need to learn some more. But regardless, if it's alright, could you tell us more about that? And the BFG too?" Husk replied, ending with a request.
"Sorry. I can only tell you more about the BFG. The Unmaker is as much a mystery to me as it is to you. I happened upon it during my third encounter with the Demons. By itself, it wasn't all too special. However, hidden by the Demons were three relics. When I obtained each, they fused with the weapon by themselves without any assistance from me. Once all three were reunited with the Unmaker, it was by far the most terrifyingly powerful weapon I've ever seen. Within seconds, everything that is alive and on the receiving end dies. Understandably, it ate through ammo at an unprecedented rate. A small price to pay for the power it commanded." Doomguy wrote.
"Huh. Another of the few things about Doom you don't know about." Husk said. He and the others' minds began pondering the Unmaker. "Well, that's alright. We can't expect you to have ALL of the answers." He reasoned with a shrug.
"...But about that BFG..." Angel Dust chimed in, wanting to hear more regarding the other mystery gun.
"Full disclosure, I have it with me. But before Angel Dust, Cherri, or both leap towards me wanting to see it, please read the following: The BFG is only surpassed in power by the Unmaker. It is the deadliest weapon humanity has ever conceived. How it functions and what happens upon use will be detailed below.
-The previous versions of the weapon, all from my reality, were powered with plasma. The BFG that Samuel and his people created runs on a new type of energy called Argent. They made that as well.
-Upon pulling the trigger, the BFG charges its stored energy and releases it after a few seconds. Every version of the gun has a different means of dispersing its ammunition. The current model I possess forms a sphere that moves through the air. If ANY Demons from Doom are present, they're dead. How they die will be explained in the next section.
-The sphere (possibly due to its Argent energy, which will need to be confirmed with Samuel) actively seeks out its targets. If any Demons are in the area, strands of Argent, similar to lightning bolts, emerge from the projectile and instantly find their mark. At that same moment, the recipient's life is over. The target's bodily fat and blood are boiled, resulting in violent detonation. However, damage may also be dealt to the subject's soul (again, this requires confirmation from Samuel). As for how the sphere interacts with non-organic components and Demons who are heavily augmented, such as the Revenant, I do not know. To keep from writing too much, I will say that only the strongest of Doom's legions have ever survived any incarnation of the BFG. The Cyberdemon, Hell Guards, and most recent Spider Mastermind are in this category. Although, the BFG did still hurt them. It even managed to stun them temporarily. When momentarily incapacitated, they were overtaken with convulsions and were completely immobile.
I could share more details, but it'd take too long. Given the information I have shared, you can understand why I haven't shown the BFG to any of you. Even if we looked beyond its innate capacity for death and destruction, there's no telling how it might react in this Hell and to all of you. It needs to remain stored for everyone's safety." Doomguy wrote.
A few minutes of silence followed. Everyone was surprised, but it wasn't to the same degree as learning Doomguy had fought a Kaiju-sized Demon and won. Instead, this silence was mainly born from fascination. Particularly, the group was curious about Argent and how it reacted to the denizens of Doom.
Based on everything they currently knew and assumed, as well as the undeniable similarities between the two Hells, this could be another compelling piece of evidence that proved everything was connected. Of course, it didn't solve any puzzles or clarify any confusion. But still, it was another valuable clue. One that, as Doomguy said, would need to be discussed more with Samuel to see where it could lead.
Yet, before that, Angel Dust and Cherri had something FAR more important on their minds. Slowly, the pair of Demons approached the armored man. Despite their calm demeanor, which they hoped would hide their intentions, the space marine saw through their act.
"No." Doomguy immediately wrote before they reached him.
"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease." Both begged with hands clasped together. They even went so far as to do their best "puppy dog" eyes.
"Did you read anything that was written? Or do you not care?" Doomguy wrote.
"We did! That's WHY we want to see it! It sounds so FUCKING cool!" Cherri exclaimed.
"Yeah, big guy! You can't tell us about a badass laser gun and NOT expect us to want to see it!" Angel Dust exclaimed.
"The answer's still no." Doomguy wrote again.
After that, Angel Dust and Cherri would monopolize Doomguy's attention with a series of pleas, begs, bargains, deals, and more to try and entice him to show the BFG. Leaving the others to review and further contemplate all that he had shared.
Elsewhere, At The Magne Estate...
The flicker of a fireplace. The ticking of a grandfather clock. The light tapping of fingers atop a walking cane. These sounds were the only ones to break through the quiet that enveloped the living space of the Magne Estate.
Nearly twenty minutes had passed since Gabriel stopped talking. Lucifer and Lilith stood still with their eyes closed and cups of coffee in one of their hands. Each was considering what the Archangel had said. As they pondered, their family members patiently waited.
"...This...is a lot to take in so early in the morning." Lilith was the first to speak, opening her eyes as she did. "However, I now understand why you couldn't wait to talk to us. If anything, it's beyond impressive how calm all of you are." She said, complimenting the others.
"Charlie and I have had plenty of time and then some to digest this information," Azrael replied.
"And you know how I am." Gabriel joined in. "I remain entirely neutral as of now. There are still far too many unknowns that need explanation. It'd be ill-advised to make any judgments presently." He stated.
"All of it floored me," Michael confessed. "Even now, I'm still confused and unsure what to think." He added.
"Well, I believe I am of the same mindset as you, Gabriel," Lilith stated as she looked at Charlie. "I know my Daughter. She would never lie to us. Or, if she did, it wouldn't be to this degree and with this many elaborate details. But even if I were to assume this was some elaborate hoax, I'd have to ask why? What is there to gain? There's no benefit or reward to conceiving something so grand. The only outcome of such an endeavor would be her reveal as a liar and a fool. So, I trust and believe her as well as you, Azrael." She told them.
Hearing her Mother say that allowed Charlie to, at last, breathe easily. Knowing that one of her parents didn't think she and her Aunt were crazy was all she needed. Although, it would be nice if both of them did.
"Dad?" Charlie called out, making everyone's focus move to her Father. "What about you? What're your thoughts?" She asked.
Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap
Lucifer's fingers tapped his cane in sequence, from pinky to thumb. His eyes remained shut, and his mouth stayed closed.
"Lucifer." Lilith addressed him. "Your Daughter asked you a question. Answer her." She ordered.
Azrael and Lilith had something in common, though not to the same extent: their annoyance with the Devil and how he behaved lately regarding Charlie. For a few moments, it seemed like he would repeat his reaction to the Happy Hotel. Everyone, especially his Daughter, braced for whatever was about to come.
"...I'm going back to bed," Lucifer said before turning around to walk away.
GRIP
With the strength of a pneumatic press, Lilith's hand grabbed onto her Husband's arm and refused to let go.
"This. Is not. The time." Lilith sternly told him. On her face, there was a look that said: "If you leave, I will kill you".
"Lilith, dear, you're going to break my arm." Lucifer calmly replied, unaffected by this action.
"Brother," Gabriel spoke, getting his sibling's attention. "I'm confident I know why you're doing this. But to prevent your Wife or our Wister from burying you in your castle's garden, you should explain yourself." He advised.
"Wait, you know?" Michael questioned with amazement.
"Of course he does. Gabriel's the only one here using his mind." Lucifer responded, fully aware that he had insulted his Wife and Daughter in addition to Azrael and Michael.
"Careful, DEAR," Lilith warned, tightening her grip.
"Oh, please. If you're going to snap the bone, do it already." Lucifer replied with an eye roll. "Or, you can let me go, and I can tell you why this is stupid." He suggested.
Although GREATLY dissatisfied with her spouse's attitude, Lilith released him. However, if his reasoning weren't compelling, she'd put him back to sleep with a well-placed punch to the jaw.
"Thank you," Lucifer said as he straightened his sleeve. "Now, I'll explain it as simply as possible so everyone can follow along. Despite what you might assume, I believe what Azrael and Charlie have said. However, that belief is only to the degree that I am certain these two have encountered something unusual. I'm convinced the creatures they've mentioned, this "Doom" place, and the man fighting them are all real. But, please humor me here; if any of what you've told us was true, do you not think God would've stepped in by now? Yes, our Father could be keeping secrets. But this isn't something small. We're talking about the very nature of existence itself. If we have suddenly stumbled upon a conspiracy constructed by God, why would he remain quiet? Similar to what Lilith said a moment ago about Charlie and Azrael's reason for lying to us, what does our Father have to gain here? The cat's out of the bag, so he might as well come clean. But he hasn't.
Yet beyond that, there's one area of thought that no one here has explored. Well, apart from Gabriel. Realms. Dimensions. Universes. All of these things exist. Sure, there's only one universe in the mortal realm, but you get my point. Countless other spaces and parts occupy Creation.
Furthermore, people can create these new facets of reality. Azrael did as much when creating her realm. Our Father did the same when he made Hell and cast me into it. Yes, it takes a lot of power to do so. You'd have to be on par with a member of our family or relatively close to that level to achieve this. But nothing is impossible. Anything can happen, whether we're talking about mortals, Angels, or Demons. For all we know, one of these three snuck off somewhere, accumulated power, started fucking with it, and ended up creating a space isolated from the rest of us that has become this supposed second Hell.
But what about the other universe? The other Earth? And all the other questions I know you want to ask? Simple. When someone creates a space, they are in full control over it. No different than Azrael and her domain, which I mentioned earlier. Give them enough time to grow their power, and they can start crafting stars and planets. It's not like bringing such things into being is complicated. If I wanted, I could make a solar system myself. So could Gabriel, Michael, or Azrael. It's nothing more than an assortment of elements combined properly. If anything, the smartest people in Hell could pull it off if they gave enough of a shit. It's a matter of science, not sorcery. Although, the latter does make it easier.
So, to wrap things up. Until God comes down from the Ivory Tower and confirms what you're telling us is true, or you find something so irrefutable that I cannot deny it, my stance on this is as follows: It's bullshit. Malarkey. A hilarious misunderstanding and confusion of reality. I am the Devil. This is Hell. What you've discovered is either aliens from another dimension or someone's weird ass science experiment that's gotten out of hand. And, regarding the missing souls, they were murdered and kidnapped by a lunatic with a gun. This so-called "Doomguy" you've mentioned. He and whoever else is involved in this mess are psychopaths. Investigate them all you want, but leave me out of it. I'm busy enough as it is dealing with everyone else's nonsense. I don't need more from my family." He told them.
With that settled, Lucifer returned to his bedroom. He didn't care if he upset any of them, including his Wife and Daughter. They came into his home at four in the fucking morning to inform him that they had discovered a new dimension or universe filled with disgusting creatures. Wow. Incredible. It's almost as if Azrael didn't remember when their Father created EVERYTHING that exists. As for Charlie, he was growing expectant of his child's uncontrollable imagination by this point, much to his displeasure.
After Lucifer was gone, everyone remained quiet and motionless for a good while. Each of them was thinking about what he had said. Eventually, the first to do something would be Lilith. She turned around and began to leave, although it wasn't in the same direction that her Husband had gone.
"Lilith?" Michael reacted first. "Where are you going?" He asked.
"To the kitchen," Lilith answered, still walking.
"Why?" Michael followed up.
"If I want to stab Lucifer, I'll need a knife," Lilith responded.
Whether due to instinct or otherwise, Michael immediately bolted from the couch and caught up with her.
"Okay! Okay! I think we need to talk some more!" Michael frantically exclaimed as he pushed her back to the group.
"No, no, Michael. I like where this is going." Azrael said, coming to her Sister-In-Law's defense.
"Girls, please! This isn't the time for a spontaneous stabbing!" Michael pleaded.
"Lucifer's lucky that's ALL I planned to do," Lilith told him as they stopped moving. "If I didn't love and weren't married to that man, I'd string him up and torture him for centuries. The NERVE he has to speak that way to ANY of us! Especially his Daughter! He needs to have some sense beaten back into him!" She asserted.
"Preach it, Sister!" Azrael encouraged her, overjoyed to have someone else who wanted to give her Brother the thrashing he deserved.
"Gabriel! Help!" Michael begged while turning toward the Archangel, desperate for some assistance.
"I'm sorry, Michael. Lilith and Azrael are correct. Lucifer behaved like an ass just now. Such behavior, in this type of situation, is unacceptable." Gabriel stated.
"Ha! See? Even our most righteous sibling agrees that Lucifer needs a good smacking!" Azrael exclaimed in celebration.
"Azrael, kindly do not put words and intent in my voice that were not there." Gabriel requested as he folded his arms. "I agree with you that Lucifer must be reminded of manners. However, the points he used as a counterargument are some of the ones I formed myself." He said.
"The difference, Gabriel, is that you didn't behave like a bastard." Azrael noted.
"Regardless..." Gabriel began, following a sigh. "I do not blame Lucifer for taking the stance of denial. As he told us, he's the Devil. This is Hell. Although what you and Charlie have brought to our attention raises many questions, there is an equal number of facts that remain unaltered. This is all up for speculation until we have everything sorted and the full record set straight, which should hopefully start when you and Charlie take us back to the hotel." He told them.
"Speaking of..." Michael spoke as he looked at his Niece. "Charlie? Are you okay?" He asked.
Oh no. Michael made a very concerning observation. Only then did Gabriel, Azrael, and Lilith realize Charlie hadn't said a word once her Father started talking. As the trio followed Michael's gaze to her, they were instantly stricken with worry. But to their surprise, she met their eyes with a smile, albeit a small one.
"Truthfully, that went better than I expected," Charlie confessed. To her family, she didn't seem to be putting on an act to hide how she was feeling. This was genuine. "I thought Dad would've singled me out. I was ready for him to say something like, "It's the hotel all over again," or "Now she's filled Azrael's head with ridiculous ideas!". But instead, he did believe us. Sure, he thinks we're being foolish and tricked. However, I still believe this is the best outcome we could've hoped for. Of everyone I had to tell this to, starting with Auntie Az, I always knew Dad would be the least likely to listen. Yet, he did. And in the end, that's all I wanted." She said.
The first thing that happened in reaction to Charlie's words was Michael throwing himself at her. He wrapped his arms around his Niece and was crying uncontrollably.
"CHARLIE!" Michael sobbed. As for his poor, unsuspecting Niece, she was stunned for a few seconds by the suddenness of the embrace. "YOU'RE FAR TOO GOOD FOR HELL!" He shouted.
BAM
"OW!" Michael exclaimed. He was forced to release Charlie as he needed to put his hands on his head after receiving a blow.
"I told you to keep your voice down, Michael." Gabriel reminded his sibling. "People are still sleeping. We need to be considerate." He added.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it," Michael apologized while rubbing his bruise. "Our Niece is just so sweet! To think she isn't angry with her Dad, even after all that he said, is so touching!" He explained.
"Indeed. But Lucifer, at least right now, isn't deserving of such kindness. What he needs is a hearty dose of humility." Azrael commented.
"And he'll get it," Charlie said as she rose from her seat. "Make no mistake. While I understand my Father's position on this, I still don't forgive him for not trusting my judgment and believing that I have no sense. We'll give him the proof he wants, and when we do, I. WILL. RUB. IT. IN." She vowed with a wicked grin rarely ever seen on her face.
"That's my girl!" Lilith proudly responded.
"Yeah! Let's do it!" Michael joined in, now finished crying.
"Excuse me, what is this?" Gabriel questioned. "Where did Michael go? My Brother, who was so skeptical and doubtful, much like Lucifer." He asked.
"Just because I'm unsure of this whole thing doesn't mean I won't support my Niece. Plus, while I love Luci, I won't deny seeing him eat crow would be IMMENSELY entertaining." Michael answered.
"Then we best get to it," Azrael stated while rising from her seat. "We should get back to the others. Lilith, will you be joining us?" She inquired, looking at her sister-in-law.
"Of course. Looking beyond my curiosity and desire for proof, my Daughter is involved in this. As her Mother, I cannot allow my child to venture into the unknown without me there to protect her." Lilith replied.
"Aww, thanks, Mom," Charlie said with an appreciative smile before she gave her Mother a quick hug.
"It would also be unwise to leave you behind," Gabriel spoke while standing. "I'm not confident that if left alone, you would refrain from harming Lucifer in some way." He admitted.
"Perceptive as always, Gabriel." Lilith complimented him, confirming his suspicion. "But before we go, is there anything else you need from me? I might not be the Devil, but my influence and resources are the same. Anything at all I can do to help before we depart?" She asked, speaking mainly to her Daughter.
"Um...let me think..." Charlie muttered, taking a moment to consider that. "...OH! There is something!" She realized with a snap of her fingers.
"There is?" Azrael asked, unaware of what else they needed to do apart from speaking to their family.
"Okay, so, a bit of a story here. I promise I'll keep it brief." Charlie started. "For reasons, we'll explain later, the people we've told you about needed to study our Hell and how things work here. One of the ways they went about this was by acquiring a Grimoire. However, we all agreed it'd be better to wait to return the book to its owner after we got all of you on board. We have, so it might be best to give it back now." She explained.
"Ah, right. The Grimoire. It left my mind entirely." Azrael recalled.
"Hmm...I understand why you'd want to do that, Charlie. But I don't know if it'd be wise." Gabriel said. "For now, we need to keep those aware of the information small in number." He added.
"I disagree, Gabriel," Lilith responded. "Although Lucifer and I are the rulers of Hell and our power is recognized as absolute, the Nobles and the Overlords love to think themselves higher than their stations. If any of you are unaware, Grimoires are only given to those of high social standing. So, we could use this as an opportunity to begin swaying the Nobility of Hell to our side. Eventually, all that's been discussed will be made public. There's no way to avoid that. So, any work we can do to lessen the frenzy of the people should be done." She stated.
"That is a good point." Gabriel agreed, having not considered that. "But we would have to be strict with them. There could be no room for error or mistake." He stressed.
"Of course. If somehow the Noble who owns the Grimoire does something displeasing, I shall take full responsibility." Lilith promised.
"There's no need for that. But it is appreciated, Lilith." Gabriel replied before turning toward his Niece. "Alright, Charlie. We have one more stop to make before returning to the hotel. Would you kindly tell us where?" He requested.
"I would. Except I don't know. I need to talk with the woman who knows who owns the Grimoire. All she said is that they were mercenaries." Charlie said.
"Mercenaries? Are you sure?" Lilith questioned.
"Is there something odd about that?" Michael asked.
Everyone stared at the Angel for a few seconds, wondering if he'd been paying attention.
"...Let me clarify." Michael began, realizing how that sounded afterward. "I assumed, since Hell is full of murderers, that there'd be some professional killers who have a high standing in Noble society. That is why Lilith's question seemed weird to me." He explained.
"Well, you're not wrong. Plenty of Sinners and natural-born Demons who are Nobles or Overlords have excel at killing. However, Grimoires are very important items. They contain knowledge, spells, and rituals that affect certain aspects of Creation. A perfect example would be the natural elements. So, they aren't given to just anyone. That would lead to uncontrolled chaos, and Heaven would inevitably intervene." Lilith told him.
"So...how did these mercenaries come into possession of a Grimoire, then?" Gabriel asked.
"A good question. One that I'd like an answer to." Lilith said before turning around and walking away. "I'll go speak with the staff and make some calls. Someone must know about this, and we'll have the information we need in half an hour or less." She promised.
"What do we do until then?" Michael inquired while looking between his siblings.
"Auntie Az and I should call the others back at the hotel. We'll tell them what we're doing and how things went with Dad." Charlie responded as she pulled out her cell phone.
"And we'll go assist Lilith in whatever way we can. I doubt anyone will waste time giving her answers with two Angels of Heaven in her company." Gabriel decided before he followed Lilith.
"Oh! Fun! We get to do something!" Michael exclaimed with an excited smile as he caught up to his Brother.