The Exorcism. Every year, as the final days became dwindling hours, Sinners throughout Hell did whatever they could to prepare. The Hellspawns, the natives of Inferno, didn't need to worry in the slightest. In each Ring of Hell, the Sinner population was contained in one city. For the Exorcists who'd arrive to carry out the culling, it was the same as shooting fish in a barrel.
However, due to this corralling of Sinful souls, the cities were immensely overcrowded. Even with Sinners living and sleeping on the streets and in the alleyways, these cities were rarely expanded. It was a far more common occurrence before the Exorcisms were initiated, but now, even the oldest Sinners struggled to remember when the last expansion of their given territories happened.
Whenever the Sinners wanted something done to their cities, they needed to contact the higher-ups of Inferno. Typically, that was the Nobility, such as the Ars Goetia family. Yet, it WAS possible to get an audience with the Sin of each Ring. The requirement for something so impressive was to be a remarkable Sinner, otherwise known as an Overlord.
The Sinner population of each Ring had to go through multiple channels of official Hellspawns just to have a chance of getting an audience with a Noble. But if you were an Overlord, you proved yourself worthy enough to be recognized as different from the majority. Of course, that leads to an important question: How do you become an Overlord?
Truthfully, there are many methods. Manipulation, force, strategy, support from other Sinners, etc. The defining characteristic all Overlords possessed was the drive to become greater than every other Sinner in Hell. Competition was fierce, endless battles or wars were waged, and there was the risk of finding yourself in a dangerous position should you fall flat on your face.
For the majority, the reward wasn't worth the risk. Enslavement was the number one concern among Sinners. Regardless if they were willing to admit that they deserved their damnation or not, no one wanted to spend eternity shackled to someone else. For all Sinners, suicide via an Exorcist was a more appealing alternative. In fact, that's how many Sinners escaped their tortured lives as property.
That is unless your owner valued you. For most Overlords, any souls they possessed were a means to an end. Do this favor for me, and then you get your freedom. But throughout the centuries, there had been a number of Overlords who liked to keep "pets" to entertain themselves or satisfy certain urges. Thus, the one hope for escaping enslavement was taken away since the owner would never allow their pet to be vulnerable during an Exorcism.
Yet, if all of that is true, then HOW did a Sinner known as Angel Dust escape the ownership of Valentino? Although Valentino was the most recent Overlord to emerge, he was still powerful enough to keep someone like Angel Dust bound forever. There shouldn't be ANY way that Angel Dust could've escaped. But he did, and his owner was NOT pleased about it. However, he wasn't the only one.
The Vees. These individuals were a first in the history of Hell. No one had ever considered sharing their power with others, but that's how this trio was formed. Velvette was the oldest member of the group, having died long before the other two. Despite that, she wasn't an Overlord until the group's formation, which happened solely because of its second member.
You see, Velvette approached survival in a rather brilliant way. Lust was a Ring BRIMMING with free-flowing powers and energies. Having been a skilled chemist in life, Velvette used that same experience in Lust. On Earth, she produced illicit drugs for her hobby. Within Inferno, Velvette brewed potions and elixirs with the Ring's natural resources not just for her hobby but also to live comfortably.
After a few weeks, the Sinner population of Lust was nearly comatose. Velvette's concoctions were delicious, soothing, and addictive. Yet, she didn't chase after the status of an Overlord. All Velvette cared about was her passions and not being bothered by anyone. As demonstrated by the change in the population's behavior, she didn't need to be elevated to a greater standing to achieve those goals.
But then, a man by the name of Vox arrived. He immediately noticed the state of the Sinners when his soul manifested in their city. Although he was a genius, it didn't require a vast intellect to know someone was behind this. Locating Velvette was easy since she was the only person not doped out of their mind. After a lovely conversation with tea, the duo's unwavering friendship was forged.
Vox would handle all of the logistics and major responsibilities of being an Overlord. The only thing Velvette needed to do was what she already was, just with a few extra objectives here and there. Using the most minimal effort anyone had ever seen, these two Sinners were declared the official Overlords of Lust. Neither the Hellspawns nor the other Overlords objected to the notion of there being multiple since it didn't affect them in the slightest. The only worry Vox or Velvette would have is whether or not one of them stabbed the other in the back, but that was an impossibility between these two.
So, where does Valentino come into everything? Well, it's simple. In life, Valentino was a pimp who managed a massive sex trafficking operation. Upon dying, there was no debating what Ring of Inferno best suited his soul. When Valentino saw all of the dazed and catatonic Sinners, he also found a perfect opportunity.
Valentino approached Vox and Velvette with a proposal. What if they started offering these drugged sacks of meat to the Hellspawns? Credit where it's due; that wasn't a bad pitch. Hellspawns loved to use Sinners for every possible type of enjoyment. So, the thought of marketing these hopeless addicts as living sex dolls to the Demons of Lust made sense.
Thus, the Vees evolved from a duo into a trio. One of the many privileges of being Overlords was the permission from the Ring's ruler to go to other places within their domain. Additionally, the Overlords could bring as many people as they wanted with them, but they would need to handle all of the accommodations and other details themselves. Like before, Vox took care of everything, allowing Velvette to get started on her concoctions and Valentino to erect his porn-focused empire.
Inferno operated on a barter system rather than a currency-based economy. That was universal for Sinners and Hellspawns. Even in a Ring such as Greed, no one cared about coins or bills if they didn't carry unique properties. What was anyone going to do with a bunch of metal circles or strips of paper with pictures on them if they were nothing more than that?
In Valentino's meat market, anyone could obtain a sex doll for as little as ingredients for Velevette. Vox prioritized establishing a healthy relationship with the Hellspawns so more avenues would open as time passed. Admittedly, this struck a nerve with Valentino since he had grand aspirations for their group. The one at the top of the list was branching out into other Rings.
So far, only one Overlord had managed to accomplish what Valentino dreamed of doing. Carmilla Carmine and her Daughters were based in the Wrath Ring. Their skills in weapon design and production were unrivaled. Even Hellspawns wanted to own Carmine-branded weaponry, which spoke volumes about its quality.
Alas, it was far easier to sell weapons of all kinds, including custom orders, to every part of Hell. Outside of Lust, only Sinners would care so deeply about pornography and sex slaves to make it a semi-viable goal to work toward. The Hellspawns inhabiting other Rings wouldn't care about sex slaves, and they could easily prey upon their native Sinners if they wanted to. Yet, what they would be interested in is technology and potions, which were Vox and Velvette's specialties.
Even so, Hellspawns, from the Hellhounds to the Nobility, were not ignorant of how the Sinners' minds worked. Furthermore, they could see, sense, and sniff anything shady with no effort. The same tactics the Vees employed to gain their standing in the hierarchy so quickly wouldn't work on Hellspawns, which neither Vox nor Velvette minded. That's why Vox was a player in the game rather than attempting to be its master.
But that brings us back to Valentino. Additionally, it also returns the Sinner named Angel Dust into the focus. After having discovered the sensual spider, Valentino saw his equivalent of a golden goose. Angel Dust appealed to Sinners and Hellspawns alike. The way he talked, moved his body, and performed, whether on a stage or before a camera, was exquisite. In a short amount of time, Valentino viewed his prized pornstar no differently than Velvette's products or Vox's inventions. Anyone who got a taste of the arachnid was quickly snared by his allure, which created a steady increase in the Vees' influence and presence across Inferno.
Then, out of nowhere, Angel Dust vanishes. FUCKING. HOW?! That was Valentino's immediate reaction, and it still was a few days later, bringing us to the present. Angel Dust's soul was bound to Valentino's. That prime piece of ass was HIS! Yet, somehow, the contract was destroyed!
The ONLY way that was possible is if SOMEONE set that bitch free. Who was it? Which Overlord had snuck into Lust and stolen Valentino's property?! WHO WAS STUPID ENOUGH TO-
"Val." The voice of Vox spoke, breaking through the intense emotions raging inside Valentino's soul.
As Valentino returned to reality, he assessed his surroundings. The Vees were still traveling to their destination from their headquarters within Lust's capital city. The Exorcism was a few days away now, so the Overlords were having their usual meeting. In light of the recent theft, which the other Overlords were seemingly unaware of, the Vees insisted that the conference be held on their turf.
...Hold on. If the Overlords were coming to Lust so that the Vees would have a home-field advantage, then why were they leaving their base of operations? Well, although the Overlords were held in higher regard than the rest of their Sinful kind, they were still viewed as lesser beings. For instance, even a Hellhound or Imp, who were innately the weakest Hellspawns, could easily bring an Overlord to their knees if they felt like it.
Because of that, when Overlords gathered, they were required to do so with a Sin present. There wasn't a fear of the Overlords banding together to organize an uprising. As stated, any Hellspawn, even the children, could put an Overlord in their place. It was more like making sure that the swarm of cockroaches beneath the floorboards didn't get too brazen and try to scurry about in the rest of the house. Even though Sinners had very little influence on Inferno and the Hellspawns, they could still be proper pests if left unchecked.
Thus, the Vees were going to the abode of Asmodeus, Lust Incarnate. The other Overlords were already there as they'd been sent directly by the Sins of the Rings they inhabited. Of the many benefits granted to Overlords, free-roaming Hell was not one of them. Again, although incapable of doing anything significant, no one wanted a vermin running around and making a nuisance of themselves.
With all that established, let us use this moment in which Valentino gathers his composure to study the Vees. The irate pimp resembled a moth. To him, it made no sense. The explanation: Valentino's moth-like visage was meant to be ironic. Moths were attracted to sources of illumination, which, if not careful, could lead to their demise. Valentino, due to his skills and specialized knowledge, was a beacon for the vulnerable and weary. He promised them luxury, fortune, and sometimes fame, only to then burn the poor souls when they realized the flame they had flown into.
In contrast, Vox and Velvette's forms were meant to represent who they were as people. Starting with Vox, the only way to describe him was as an entity of pure electricity. His "body" was an endless stream of surging bolts and strands. However, Vox had complete control over himself. Admittedly, it was impressive, even to Hellspawns. The only time Vox's form started spiking or became erratic is if he lost composure. So far, that hasn't happened once since he's been in Hell.
Velvette was unsettling; there just wasn't any other way to put it. No one except Vox knew what the real Velvette looked like since she constantly changed bodies. Was she a shapeshifter? No. Velvette created vessels to inhabit. All of these vessels resembled high-quality dolls. None of them were made with plastic, yet the material wasn't porcelain, either. It was an original creation from Velvette herself. She made everything from the bodies to the clothes to the finer details. In life, chemistry was her professional passion, while doll-making was her obsession. The vessel Velvette currently inhabited had a neutral expression, black skin, and a red-colored outfit that was complimented by two massive pigtails of the same shade.
"Ugh, what is it, Vox?" Valentino asked while sighing, expecting to be scolded.
"I just wanted to tell you that you need another smoke. You let your cigarette burn out." Vox answered.
"Oh," Valentino reacted, now looking at his cigarette holder. True to Vox's words, the only thing on the end of it was a simmering ember. "Sorry, Vox. I didn't mean to get ash all over the seat." He apologized, looking at the cigarette's remains beside him.
"No, it's fine. You have every right to be distracted." Vox assured as the mess was taken care of. "I never would've accounted for such a bold play from the others. It's almost like an invitation for conflict. The only ones who make sense as the culprits are the Carmines and Zestial. The former has enough firepower to be intimidating, while the latter's quite possibly the first Sinner ever to arrive. If not that, he's certainly among the originals." He said.
"Zestial's the only one who could've done the nabbing. Even though we're not allowed to traverse the Rings without supervision, that shadowy bastard definitely sneaks around. The Carmines could only steal Angel away if they hired some help in Lust," Velvette commented, speaking with a British accent. As for the specific kind, so far, she's only told Vox.
"Agreed. We employ every Sinner in Lust's capital, and none of them could've been the minions. It had to be Zestial." Vox replied, now folding his arms. "Yet, no matter how I approach it, stealing Angel Dust doesn't make sense. Zestial's Ring is Envy, and there'd be no advantageous gain to having Angel there. It's also illogical to try and use Angel as a hostage since we could easily tell Asmodeus or Leviathan about it and then Zestial would face punishment. What's the motive? What's the benefit?" He recited, ending with questions.
"Should we go ahead and tell Asmodeus?" Valentino suggested, lighting another cigarette to put in his holder. "As you've laid out, Zestial can't do anything. The way I see it, this stunt was a power play. A way to keep us in check. It'd make sense that some of the other Overlords would start getting nervous about us." He told him.
"On top of that, we shouldn't let the charade go on for too long. We do have actual business to get to with the others. Playing Zestial's game would be wasteful of our fleeting time." Velvette chimed in.
"Yeah, that sounds right," Vox responded, still focusing on his thoughts. The man was confident in his intellect, so not figuring out the scheme was gnawing at him.
After a few more minutes, the limousine the trio used for travel came to a stop. Velvette was always the first to make an entrance and exit, so she stepped out befo-
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"Velvette?" Vox called from within the limo. He and Valentino noticed how she had suddenly frozen. "What's wrong? Is Zestial waiting for us?" He assumed.
"...Vox..." Velvette whispered, pulling herself back into the vehicle. "You need to go out alone. Val and I will stay here," She instructed.
After that statement, the men felt no confusion. Given the context, only two people could have made Velvette retreat like this. Whoever was outside was either Asmodeus or a specific Overlord. When Vox exited through the still-open door, he discovered that it wasn't the Sin.
Standing a small distance from the limousine was an entity as tall as Vox, who was seven feet. The creature wore a faded but finely kept brown suit with a black undershirt, shoes, and gloves. Accessory-wise, there was a dark green tie that fastened the shirt's collar and a cane carved from bone that both hands rested on. The topper of the cane resembled an early 1900s microphone. As for the face, well, there wasn't one.
Sitting atop this entity's shoulders was a beautifully polished deer skull. However, there was a notable difference between it and a normal deer. The antlers were metal and resembled the designs of radio antennae. Regarding eyes, there appeared only to be empty black voids within the skull's sockets. But Vox knew better.
Cautiously, Vox approached this ominous creature. When they were a foot apart, he stopped. A few seconds later, the bottom jaw slowly lowered. When it couldn't go any further, every sound in the area disappeared. The only thing that the Vees could hear was static.
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"We interrupt today's scheduled event to bring you a shocking news bulletin! This report comes straight from the top, an announcement written and approved by the Devil and his Dame! The Princess of Inferno, Charlotte Magne, has begun an experiment to prove that Sinners can be Redeemed! The Sinful soul she's partnered with to tackle this endeavor is none other than the famous erotic celebrity Angel Dust! These two hopeful souls found one another in the confines of Lust's capital city! A chance meeting that could reshape the lives of Sinners everywhere! We promise to keep you informed when more updates are available, so stay tuned!"
Slowly, the bottom jaw returned to its original position. Vox was the only member of the Vees that could be seen, but that didn't matter. The indescribable shock in his fluctuating expression was the same as his companions. None of them knew how to react to a development like this!
However, that didn't matter to the messenger. They fulfilled the duty assigned to them by the Royalty of Inferno. With a light tap against the ground with the bottom of the cane, the messenger disappeared in a spontaneous burst of fire. Yet, the flames weren't normal. They didn't give off any heat nor leave a scorch mark on the ground. It could be that the flames were a type of magic or that their caster didn't intend for them to be more than a flashy departure. Understandably, the Vees didn't care.