Take Care of Yourself
Angel slipped quietly into his hotel room, the dimly lit corridors of the establishment echoing his cautious footsteps. The weight of the impending extermination pressed heavily on his shoulders, a looming threat that in just a matter of days would force them to defend not only their sanctuary but also the makeshift family they had painstakingly built within its walls. The hotel, a beacon of hope amidst chaos, had become more than just a refuge—it was their home.
With Charlie's unwavering determination and Alastor's cunning assistance, they had successfully persuaded an army of demons from Cannibal Town to join their cause. The demons, notorious for their insatiable appetite for flesh, had been easily swayed by the promise of plentiful prey. Convincing the Cannibals, however, hadn't been much of a challenge; the mere prospect of available dead flesh was usually enough to rally them to any cause, no matter how dire.
Despite the significant support from the demon army now camped menacingly outside the hotel's grand entrance, Angel knew deep down that it wasn't sufficient. The battle ahead would be fierce, and the stakes were too high to rely solely on their current allies. More reinforcements were essential to tip the scales in their favor and ensure their chances of victory. Among the potential allies, Cherri had eagerly agreed to participate in the upcoming battle. Her motivation stemmed primarily from the thrill of an all-out brawl, rather than a genuine desire to protect the hotel. Her enthusiasm added a layer of unpredictability to their plans, but Charlie had welcomed the additional firepower.
As much as Angel resisted the urge to revisit his past, he understood the necessity of reaching out to someone he had long kept at arm's length. The decision weighed heavily on him, knowing it meant exposing a part of himself he preferred to keep buried deep within. The impending battle demanded every available ally, and there was no room for hesitation. Taking a deep, steadying breath, he retrieved his phone from the pocket of his striped coat and opened his contacts, his fingers trembling slightly as he scrolled through the familiar names. Finally, he selected a specific name—one that had been etched into his memory through years of shared history and unspoken bonds.
"Okay, Angel," he muttered to himself, the words barely audible. "Just ask him. If he says no, at least you tried. If he says okay… well… that is something to explain to everyone else later." His mind raced through the possible outcomes, each scenario more daunting than the last, but he knew there was no turning back now.
"Hey Niss," he typed into the chat box, the screen illuminating his face in the dimly lit room. For a brief moment, the text message displayed a 'delivered' notification, followed by a tense wait as Angel's heart pounded in his chest. After a few agonizing seconds, the notification shifted to 'Read.'
"He knows I'm reaching out," Angel said to himself, a flicker of hope igniting within him. "Per favore Fratello, don't leave me hangin' here." His fingers drummed nervously against his thigh as he awaited a response. As though sensing his frustration, the chat box displayed the signature ellipsis, indicating an incoming reply.
"What," came the single-word response. Angel felt a small smile of satisfaction tug at the corners of his mouth. Arackniss wasn't known for his verbosity; getting him to say anything more than a handful of words was a rare achievement. Still, this brief exchange was enough to confirm that his brother had seen the message and was paying attention.
"I'm sure the family is aware the extermination is happening in a month," Angel supplied, trying to provide context. There was an ellipsis that appeared briefly and then disappeared, likely signaling that Arackniss interpreted this as a rhetorical statement rather than a question.
"I'm at the hotel being run by Charlie Morningstar," Angel continued, getting straight to the point. "It will be the first place the Exterminators will be attacking." He hoped that this information would resonate with his brother, conveying the urgency of the situation.
"This concerns me, how?" Arackniss responded shortly, his terse reply adding to Angel's anxiety. It was clear that his brother was still skeptical, but at least the conversation was progressing.
"The hotel isn't the only place those Holy Freaks will attack," Angel elaborated. "Once they're done with us, they'll move on to the rest of this city. We do have a plan, but we need all the people who can fight." He laid out the broader implications, hoping to impress upon Arackniss the gravity of the threat they faced.
"Are you high?" Arackniss's response was immediate and blunt. It was the kind of reply that could easily derail the conversation, but Angel recognized that it meant he had his brother's full attention now—a crucial step forward.
"One of Adam's soldiers was killed by Carmilla Carmine in the Extermination earlier this year," Angel explained, digging deeper into the shared history that might compel Arackniss to reconsider. "Everyone at the hotel is ready for battle, and we've got an army of Cannibals armed and ready. If we succeed at this, the Exterminations could end." His message was detailed, outlining both the threats and their strategic advantages. Yet, after sending it, there was no immediate response, a sign that Arackniss might be losing interest.
"I know," Angel texted in response, sensing the need to bridge the growing distance. "I know that I'm no longer part of the family since I left. Still, ya know me well enough to know I wouldn't be contacting you if it wasn't needed. This battle the guys at the hotel and I are going into concerns more than just us. It affects the family too, and everyone else. What I'm trying to say here Fratello is, we could use you and the family in this fight." His plea was heartfelt, emphasizing the collective stakes and the importance of unity in the face of annihilation.
"Pass," Niss responded succinctly. "Don't got the manpower in the family to sacrifice for this whole redemption scheme the Princess has cooked up." The rejection stung, each word a dagger to Angel's hopes. The mention of "redemption" hinted at deeper conflicts and agendas at play, possibly involving higher powers or conflicting motivations within their world.
"Fratello," Angel responded, desperation seeping into his words. "This is the chance of our afterlives. For once, we have the opportunity to take on Heaven's army in combat. This isn't about redemption or anything like that; this is about actually standin' up to Heaven's oppression and succeeding." He tried to shift the focus from personal redemption to a larger cause, appealing to their shared heritage and the fight against a common enemy. "Don't you want to settle the score for all the family members that have been erased over the past decades?"
"I hear ya," Arackniss replied, his tone still firm. "As I said, The Family don't have the guys to spare for what amounts to a suicide mission. You and your buddies are on your own." It was a clear-cut refusal, leaving no room for negotiation or reconsideration.
"I figured you'd say that," Angel responded, though he wasn't entirely surprised by the outcome. Despite the rejection, a pang of disappointment lingered. "Whatever happens… you and Pops... Take care of yourself." His farewell was tinged with disappointment, recognizing the already wide chasm between him and his family had only grown wider over the past seventy-odd years. Closing his phone and slipping it back into the pocket of his coat, Angel took a moment to steady himself. The weight of responsibility settled firmly on his shoulders as he made his way downstairs, joining his surrogate family in their final preparations for the battle that loomed on the horizon.
The atmosphere in the hotel was thick with tension and anticipation. Members of their motley community moved with purpose, each contributing to the strategic planning and fortifications necessary for the impending conflict. Pentious was commanding the Eggbois in labor tasks, preparing weapons and protections for the hotel. Charlie Morningstar, a reluctant but determined leader, coordinated efforts with a blend of authority and empathy, ensuring that morale remained high despite the uncertainty ahead. Vaggie was leading strategy meetings on how the Exterminators could be taken out. Unlike the blood family he had known when he was alive, everyone here was allowed to give opinions and suggestions on the battle. Even if a suggestion or an inquiry had to be rejected, the participation was still heard and taken into account, not dismissed.
Angel paused at the base of the grand staircase, gazing upward at the opulent lobby that had become the heart of their resistance. The ornate chandeliers cast a warm glow, illuminating the faces of his companions—each one a testament to the bonds they had forged over the short span of months, particularly in the fires of adversity. Alastor, with his sly grin and enigmatic presence, oversaw the use of his freakish powers and helped Charlie adapt to her burgeoning authority. Husk was serving drinks at the bar, but he also had a clear determination to see this through to the end. Cherri bounced energetically, demonstrating her skills in explosives, her enthusiasm infectious.
As he descended the stairs, Angel's mind replayed the conversation with Arackniss. The rejection was a harsh reminder of the choices he had made in the past and the estrangement that followed the decades since he had divorced himself from his crime family and the BS that came with them. Yet, he couldn't afford to dwell on these personal losses; the battle required their unwavering focus and unity. He steeled himself, reminding himself of the stakes at hand: their home, their lives, and the fragile hope that their collective efforts could put an end to Adam's extermination plan or risk potentially causing further conflict with Heaven itself. Adam and his Exterminators were dangerous, but he wasn't the worst threat
Heaven had to offer—Vaggie had admitted as much. It wasn't lost on Angel that other Heavenly Forces such as the Powers, The Dominions, even the Four Winds of Heaven themselves might feel the need to involve themselves in the perpetual conflict between Heaven and Hell.
Reaching the lobby, Angel was greeted by the sight of his newfound family and allies preparing for the inevitable clash. The air buzzed with a mix of determination and apprehension, each individual acutely aware of the challenges that lay ahead. He exchanged nods and brief words of encouragement, reinforcing the sense of camaraderie that bound them together.
"Alright, everyone," Charlie's voice rang out, commanding attention. "We've got a week to finalize our plans and strengthen our defenses. Remember, the Exterminators are relentless, but so are we. Let's make sure we're ready to give them a fight they won't forget."
Angel felt a surge of resolve. They had come this far through sheer willpower and mutual support. The alliance with the demons from Cannibal Town was a testament to their ability to unite disparate forces against a common enemy. With the combined might of their unconventional army, they stood a fighting chance against the impending onslaught. While Heaven may not be on board with the idea of sinners being redeemed, that didn't mean Charlie's dream wasn't worth fighting for. Just being here, being a part of this... redemption didn't mean being allowed to cross Heaven's gates. It was finding another reason to exist and showing that your afterlife could change for the better. He had seen so many souls arrive here in Hell—some were bastards in life, and death didn't change this fact. Yet, he had seen so many others who may have been good-hearted or at least less-than-evil in life, only to find themselves in the last place they expected. Despite the protests, the complaints of unfairness, scouring their lives to see where they had messed up enough for Heaven to reject them, all sooner or later fell into states of despair or gave up, finding there was no point in putting in the effort to be good if Heaven was going to reject them regardless. Maybe Charlie had the right idea, but the true goal wasn't to improve enough to meet Heaven's standards. The test was to redeem yourself within Hell and make it a paradise. Blood ties and familial lineage had no place here.
All the same, he meant his final words to his brother. Should the hotel and this makeshift family fall to Adam's forces, he hoped that Arackniss at least was able to take care of himself. Despite the rift that existed, his older brother at least had some hope of realizing their father had been using them as pawns in his selfish ambitions. The olive branch had been offered, and Niss had the choice to be dragged down to Double-Hell with Pops in the end, or make the choice to lead the family in a better direction toward a brighter future in Hell.
"Take care of yourself, Fratello," Angel said to himself as he settled at the bar.
"They're gettin' to ya now, Angie?" Cherri asked with a sisterly tease as she settled at the bar with him.
"Nah," Angel said. "It's more like some attempts at making peace with one of my personal demons." Husk eyed the spider with a somewhat knowing expression, but said nothing. It wasn't his place to ask questions that weren't ready to be answered. He had known for some time that Angel Dust did have secrets that existed beyond everything with the studio. While the spider, like many of the people at the hotel, had pasts they weren't ready to confront or reveal, Husk wasn't blind to the subtle hints that Angel would throw now and again. Hints that said he wasn't just a porn star, but used that life as a means of concealing a darker reality. A reality that would reveal itself all too soon.