Year I - Act I - Laws of corruption - Chapter X Epilogue.
"... Is that really necessary?"
"Of course not! But our lord has asked."
Sofia could do very little but glare at the old radio as she sat alongside his husband and daughter. To her side was her father and mother, with Rosie in front of the family. The Overlord was grinning from ear to ear as she enjoyed the radio broadcast, a cup of tea in hand while waiting for everything to be done.
It was surprising how fast and efficient demons could be when properly 'motivated'.
Not even an hour and the place had filled to the brim. Even the outside was crammed full of tables, for strangers began to trickle in. Most weren't cannibals, or interested in the locale's 'special' cuisine or looks. No, Rosie had made it clear to the family that those were likely spies, informants and general curious Sinners and demons that had been attracted the moment Alastor and Lucifer had Carlos speak to everyone tuning in to the radio waves Alastor all but dominated when it was time for his show.
The Overlord had no fear of what any of those would do. Not now anyway. The skirmish from before had already been in many demons' mouths, Lucifer's words had made sure that Rosie would have at least some reprieve from other powers for a while (Although even Lucifer's word made no one ironclad). For now Rosie had no problem letting other powers snoop around. As far as she was concerned? This would only serve her well.
There were so few ways this could've gone any better that Rosie was indeed sparkling. If only her supposed 'colleague' had decided to deign everyone with her presence. Franklin could be such a damn pain in the ass.
"You are far too happy about this." Sofia grumbled, coffee in hand as she saw the staff going around with cutlets she was very much aware did not come from animals.
"How could I not?" Rosie hummed, a slow, methodical sip taken from her drink as she delighted herself in the taste and the feeling of accomplishment. "It is not every day one can gain as much as I did."
Juan, much like his wife, only with pure black coffee fueling his impatience, could only harrump. "You are still enjoying my son's humiliation a tad too much."
"Am I?" Rosie smirked as she sent Carlos' sister a look. "What say you, dear?"
"Eh. I think it is funny."
"Of course you would." Sofia sighed. "But what are these questions?"
"Don't be shy." The voice of Lucifer could be heard through the radio as many demons and Sinners waited for the human to be humiliated further. "It is a simple question."
"What kind of question is 'What type of woman would fit your fantasies'?!" Carlos was likely beyond flustered at this point. Even without seeing him his family knew the young man was at least as red as a tomato. "Isn't it enough that I already have three? Do you want to drag horny demons to my doorstep if I answer?"
"The kind you have to answer. No. Yes."
Lucifer was clearly unbothered and enjoying himself immensely as he answered the young man's question. Alastor? Apparently the Sinner had zero interest in sexual or romantic escapades, but using such topics to tease someone else was clearly fair game. Rosie did mention not to do it to him however, that could set him off.
There were other ways to mess with Alastor, and Rosie had promised to share, if only to have fun at her friend's expense.
"You know what? Fine." Carlos grumbled. "I like hyperideal bodies, okay? Big in the right places, thin hips. The archetype of fertile without being chunky like those old figurines." Laughter could be heard from the radio host and fallen angel. "Oh bite me you two!"
"At least he is relaxing." Manuel nodded to himself as he took a bite of some salad he had ordered not long ago. A meat lover he was, but the appetite wasn't there, for obvious reasons. "Better than dwelling on what he did."
"It is going to be you after your service all over again." Antonia sighed as she eyed the wine she had been using to calm her nerves. "I hope he talks it out when the time comes. You were a mule back in the day."
"None of you have to worry." Rosie waved their concern away while offering a quick thank you to the server that brought her meal. None of the humans were all that interested in checking what it was. "Carlos will be fine. Perhaps Ernesto and Ander will need to visit an acquaintance of mine to talk about today, but everyone else SHOULD be fine."
Sofia arched an eyebrow. "Should?"
"Only one of you was prepared, yet everyone came back. Perhaps there were a few upset stomachs, but all was well. The Order's conditioning is physical, spiritual and mental, and it is strong enough to endure through generations." Rosie hummed as she took a bite of a type of meat none of those present recognized, nor did they want to. "But I will have someone handy if you need."
"Yeah…" Sofia grumbled as she looked around. The family had dispersed quite a bit. "We may need that."
"Mom…?"
There was always some truth to a lie, and a bit of a lie to every truth. To say The Order had all but genetically engineered their people through the ages to do as they needed to do was, in and of itself, true. To say that they had many bloodlines in reserve and could rope them into The Order proper.
Yes. It was complicated.
Yes. It was time consuming.
But The Order didn't really care.
Because the 'lie' laid in just how effective their little eugenics program had been. After all, eugenics itself wasn't wrong, evil or even ineffective. It was just extremely hard to implement, required great control, sacrifices and largely willing people. As time went by, this control slipped, and even ancient bloodlines managed to lose some of their 'purity'.
Valentina was a prime example of a rather revered bloodline going off the deep end. Not because control and 'quality' slipped, but because humanity was itself ever changing. It probably didn't help that their family had been screwed over for nearly three hundred years. Whether their minds were borked by Heaven or Hell, it hardly mattered.
And today Valentina had found out just how fucked up she really was.
"Tina." It wasn't until her husband's hand landed on her shoulder that Valentina relaxed slightly. "You are about to bend the silverware. And our daughter is calling."
It always surprises people. It surprised everyone, and probably everything, just how much energy and muscle a small thing like Valentina could have. Heck, it surprised HER too.
Now that she knew the likely reason why, it made her frown.
"Sorry."
Valentina couldn't hold her sigh. She had wanted to sit alone, with her husband, with her children, but while Francisco and Rosa had been okay with it, Gonzalo had more or less been willingly kidnaped by Evelinde.
Couldn't fault the girl. As fucked up as it sounded, Valentina wanted her nephew to have SOMEONE. Fucking Hell. All those in the young generation deserved someone.
She just hoped none would fuck shit up this time.
"My mind is somewhere else." Valentina ended up admitting as their food, fish, NORMAL fish, came at last. She didn't even bat an eye at the look the demon servers gave her. Apparently some of them found her 'hunting ability' to be impressive. "It is hard to concentrate right now."
"Mom…" Rosa extended a hand to hold her mother's. "I… I know you don't like these talks. But I think it is time you seek help."
Valentina grimaced before Francisco interjected. "Professional help isn't anything to be ashamed of, dear."
"Tell that to my mother." Valentina grumbled with disdain. "If this shit hadn't happened I would probably shoot this down faster than I…" She was about to say something she didn't like. Something that had to do with probably one of the tentacles she saw was being served not far from her table. "I… will talk with Rosie later. She may know someone."
Rosa gave a nod and a smile, then she turned to her father. "Dad?"
"Hmmm?" Fernando had begun eating, content with how his wife had, for once, heard them out without turning the conversation into a minefield. "Yes?"
"What about you?" Rosa's worry was not only for her mother after all. "Are you alright, dad?"
"Oh, I am fine." Fernando shrugged, far more focused on his fish than what had transpired. "Will I have nightmares for a while? Sure. Did I revel in what I did? No. I think I am luckier there than your mother, and I'll be there for her if she wants me." He sent his wife a smile, though Valentina struggled to do the same. "I am far more worried about you."
Rosa blinked a few times. "Me?"
"I'd like you to go with your brother and cousins next month." Her father declared as h e took a big bite of fish.
"Fernando/Dad?" Of course both mother and daughter sent him a look.
"I know you weren't up for helping Rosie. I am having doubts too, but I will not back down." Fernando admitted, but he did not stop. Toughing it up was more his speed than wallowing in whatever this was. "Magic however? That may be useful, and not only for nefarious purposes."
Rosa sent her father a look, but ultimately she nodded. Even her mother, worried more than she had ever seen her, and far more insecure than Valentina had ever been, seemed to nod at the idea.
"It is just a recommendation on my part. Your mother will find a way of coping, I have mine and your brother is focused on keeping the triumvirate going strong." Fernando hummed. He had to admit the meal was going very well, if he ignored some of the things served around him. "Who knows? You may discover you have the gift for something you would consider GOOD. I know that would at least ease your mind somewhat. And if it is 'bad'? Well, at least Stolas may accept you quitting his 'classes', if Lucifer was being serious when he said the owl is a bit more understanding than most."
It took a second for Rosa to accept that her father had turned her focus right back on her head. Rosa had been happy ignoring her own problems being here, considering there were bigger fish to fry, but now he had made a good point and Rosa couldn't ignore it.
Magic was generally frowned upon, but if legends were true, not all witches, warlocks and other 'dark arts users' were necessarily evil. Casters of curses and destructive spells? Sure, but many also concocted healing balms and strengthening potions and other such things.
Rosa knew her worry would grow and grow the longer she stayed here. There was fear that would not go away. But if she could do something she considered 'good'...
Well, that was all she could do for now. That and, much as she didn't want to do it here, eat.
…
Why was the fish so good?
"Can you STOP ogling the demons? Or at least trying to grope them!?"
"Why?"
"Because we already have enough troubles to go around!"
A group of four had congregated not too far from Valentina and hers. Rocio and her brother Hector, partly because Rocio had dragged the lecherous man to her table. Her husband Mario was there of course, but the large man had first coaxed poor Mireya to join them. The woman had been sitting alone, avoiding attention all she could, after Lucifer left.
The dysfunctional duo that were Rocio and Hector had given the other two at least enough for a rare chuckle or two from the otherwise downcast Mireya. This all was half whispered however, they did not want to attract too much attention.
Hector could act all lackadaisical as he wanted, and he did, but his behavior was not the usual carefree, horny little goblin that he usually was. Everyone in the family knew of his tendencies, and that part of them took root because of his childhood. The pressure and expectations coming from his mother, the self doubt and clear disappointment he saw in his mother's eyes, and the anger that began to boil underneath all of that. All of this was seasoned with the resentment he had when his most simple outlet, that of sexual release, was seen as disgusting by both his parents.
No need to imagine how that ended working out for him. And now that the cat was out of the bag?
Well. Him giving many of the ladies, and a few of the men, sultry looks was probably the lesser evil.
"Oh come on, sis." Hector took the hand he had almost used to slap a server's ass away from his sister. "We are in HELL. What is the harm?"
"The harm is that you aren't a playboy here." His sister hissed, very close to throttling her own brother under her heel if needed. "And we are here FOR NOW. I do not plan on staying if I can help it."
"Good for you." Hector drawled, much to his sister's surprise. "Do you think I care about returning? I am in Hell, yes. But you know what? I am also FREE."
Mireya could only grimace. "Free to fuck up you mean?"
"PRECISELY!" This surprised everyone around the table. Not so much the words, no, but the spirit behind them. "I am FREE from my mother's disappointment, control and everything that comes with it. I can finally tell that gargoyle to FUCK OFF, and this time I will be in the right."
"Hector!"
"No! Shut up!" By now what had been rather calm whispers barely above the hustle and bustle the place was offering, was now rising to average, if not loud, levels. "I will not have you, or anyone else, defend that harpy."
Rocio was taken aback, never had her brother raised his voice, at least not to HER of all people. It came as a surprise, yes, but only to her. As for Mireya and Mario? Neither saw his anger as unjustified, much less surprising.
"Hon." And Mario, while it felt wrong to chastise his wife on this, couldn't help but deliver his own hammer. "Your mother has been a piece of shit, and you know it."
Rocio looked at her husband as if he had grown a second head. "You too, Mario?"
"Rocio." Mireya sounded weak, more than aware of a fact so simple anyone here should understand her apprehension. But what had to be said was far too important for even her most self deprecating thoughts to stop. "Your mother has lied to all of you. I am not going to say that we are here because of her, but you know she hasn't helped any. And her attitude could have gotten all of us killed."
For a moment it looked like Rocio was going to get up and yell. Just for a moment. Then she relaxed, or at last deflated, as she let out a defeated sigh.
"I am not going to tell you what to do, sis." Hector sent his sister a sidelong glance. "But I am not going back up. I am not going back to a place where all I get are glares, sneers, or comments that range from degrading to downright despicable."
"Mother has never been-."
"If she hadn't been this much of a hypocritical bitch? Yeah, I'd agree with you." Hector grumbled past his sister's weak response. It was surprising how someone so strong of character and body could easily be cowed the second her resolve faltered. "But considering what we know? Everything she has told me should be seen in a new light, don't you think?"
There was little else to be added. This group had formed not so much out of a desire to do so, but to keep an eye on Hector and give Mireya some company. Soon they'd return to more friendly topics, but the unease would remain.
The only certainty here was that Mireya, much like Hector, had little desire to ever go back.
"You can't be this stupid. Really?"
"If you want to go back, go. I don't think I want to."
Ernesto shrugged as his brother balled his fists. Pablo was this close to striking his brother, but there was one thing that stopped him from acting on his violent impulses.
Ernesto still had his weapon close by. No one that had been armed allowed their weapon to go away.
Perhaps that was the only thing Pablo thought was worth complimenting.
The two weren't at any table, nor were they close to any demon or member of their family. This wasn't because Ernesto wanted to, but because Pablo had walked away from everyone else. As far as Ernesto was concerned this was his brother being an edgelord and an angsty asshole, and he made it clear to his brother that not only he was thinking those things, but that he wasn't going to go alongside his plan to get out of here.
"You can ask the fucking DEVIL anything you want at our cousin's expense. You want to burn one of Carlos' favors? Do it. But that is on you." Ernesto crossed his arms. "I already have enough baggage to also be worrying about owing him MORE than I already do."
"He is willing to stick his neck out for us, so I say we take his offer and run with it." Pablo countered with a clearly unamused expression. "You can't tell me you WANT to stay here, with all these freaks."
"Perhaps I see them as more sincere than humans." Ernesto countered. "If they wanted to stab someone in the back at least they'd tell you or they would do it without much of a care. Heck, maybe they'd have the courtesy to stab you in the FRONT."
"Oh? Like our mother?"
Pablo thought for a second, just for a second, that his brother was about to strike him down with the sword that had been loosely tied to his belt. Luckily nothing came of it, but their time together had been clearly shattered with that comment.
"Be angry, spiteful and whatever you want." Ernesto statted at last with a frown. "Mom fucked up. I won't lie. She may think we don't know and she may yet need to come clean, but dad wasn't innocent either."
Pablo nearly took a step forward, but seeing his brother's grip on the weapon tighten he thought better. Again his anger nearly took control, and a fight wouldn't do anyone any favors.
"Don't you go defend her as if what dad did was worse than her own mistakes." Pablo ended up hissing through gritted teeth.
"I won't and I can't, nor do I want to." Ernesto admitted, surprising his brother. "But leaving us without telling us? Discarding his phone and getting a new one so we can't reach him? Cutting all ties by telling everyone on his side of the family to throw us away like used tissues, and with even more disgust to boot?" The twins shared an angry glare, each one having their own reason. "Dad is no better. You just want to hate mom more because she is close enough to direct all your spite in person."
In any other situation this would've ended up with the brothers throwing hands then and there. In this case? Pablo's features hardened and a much colder glare formed as he laid against the small section of wall he had claimed for himself.
"That is how you want it? Fine. Be an idiot. Stay with her. But do not think you will drag me down with you." Pablo growled before waving him away. "Get out of my sight." The brother said, his last words barely registering anything other than anger.
Ernesto did not show his disappointment, nor his sadness, but his own anger flared up. "If you want to be the same selfish and miserable piece of shit you always have been, go ahead." He turned around and walked away, not bothering to tone down his last parting words. "There are more important things out there than your fucking feelings, brother."
These words would stay with Pablo, and they would for a long time. Of the two brothers Pablo was the most pigheaded, and the festering anger their family suffered from was not lessened one bit by mixing it with their father's.
Whatever happened to bloom from this anger was not Ernesto's fault, but Pablo would think so. For all he cared, and he cared more than he was willing to admit, he had just been betrayed. And as proved earlier, betrayal was not something their family took lightly.
Even if he was no better, Pablo knew it. He just didn't care.
"Well, not everything they are talking about is nice."
"You know how the radio goes. Not all news are good news."
Two families sat together, minus two of their children.
On one side were Zaid, his wife Yolanda and their daughter. Nuru had grown more calm as time went on, it probably helped that Rosie had offered, and the barely adult girl had been beyond eager to accept new clothing. To say that Victorian wasn't exactly her preferred clothing style would be putting it mildly, but she was now clean and safe from a borderline panic event. Her parents were both very nervous, but at least Zaid made an attempt to look serene, or as much as he could.
Enomoto and his wife seemed far more calm, or Enomoto did anyway. Olga was doing her best to ignore everything right now with the best tool at her disposal: A book. Not one from Earth, of course, but one given to her by Evelinde of all people. Romance was far from Olga's particular taste in books, but the particularity of seeing how different a demon's idea of romance was when compared to that of a human? That particular mystery tickled her fancy enough. And it was all the better, because some of the things discussed through the radio were still making it past her self imposed activity to try and ignore today's events, and not all of them were particularly nice.
"Indeed." The voice of Lucifer made it clear through the hustle and bustle still going around the small group. "I offer any Sinner or demon daring enough the chance to become an Overlord if they take any of you out… and survive."
This particular message wasn't exactly what any of the humans around them had expected, but apparently there was a reason behind it.
"How does that work?" It was strange to hear Carlos sound more curious than angry at the prospect too.
"Simple: I have no reason, nor will I ever directly defend anyone within my kingdom, unless it is necessary for it to function. Or did you think that the Seven Deadly Sins existed this long for no reason?" Lucifer chuckled at what the family considered to be a distant memory. "They are all strong in their own ways, be it mental, physical, spiritual or just magical. But I am still on top, and a powerful enough group of Goetic demons, Overlords or even Sinners and/or Hellborn, could take a single Sin if they had enough power and number. Thing is, I don't appreciate that… and history is full of examples that clearly demonstrate what happens if I am displeased."
"You see, there are many things to be gained by overthrowing a Sin and becoming its embodiment. Same by defeating a Goetia and taking over their holdings, or even an Overlord, despite usually being of human descent." Lucifer explained further. "Souls have power, that much you know. Now, if you were dead and turned into a Sinner? That'd make you a less powerful catch. As a still living human? Your soul is yet to be damaged by death and readied for processing by Heaven. There is a lot of power there, more so thanks to WHAT you are. If a normal Sinner or demon were to take it…"
Carlos clicked his tongue hard enough to easily be heard through the radio. "They'd get a huge power boost, right?"
"Correct, boy, correct. But that wouldn't come in fast, not at all." Lucifer hummed. "In fact, per our contract, it is very likely that I, Rosie, or perhaps Alastor if he fancies some hunting, would find the perpetrator and give 'em what for while the power from that soul was not only still intact, but siphoning away from that particular opportunistic vulture. There are many reasons for this, other than obligation. Buuut if you want the honest truth, it would mostly be out of petty revenge and to get that power to ourselves." Everyone could feel Lucifer's smirk through his words. "Every little bit counts. Although Rosie would do this first to honor her deal with you, as well as the power itself, while Alastor… well, I am sure he'd welcome that particular hunt."
"Well… at least you are honest about it." Drawled Carlos, though his family knew he was being sincere. Better to know than not, even if Lucifer was being a dick.
Zaid and Enomoto shared a glance as Yolanda did her best to busy herself helping the server that had brought their food. Whether they wanted to or not, hunger born of worry hurt just as much as any other, and everyone around the table had their bellies aching for something other than water by now.
"Another good reason to get out of here as soon as we can." Zaid grumbled as he thanked his wife. Simple soup wasn't much, but at least they hoped THIS had zero risk of having some 'surprise' meat.
"Agreed." Yolanda handed a plate to her daughter before sitting in front of her own. "I hate imposing on Carlos, but he already has enough favors to get us out of here, right?"
Enomoto had thanked the server that had given him and his wife some food, even if Olga was clearly more busy with the book than her hunger. It took Zaid and Yolanda a moment, but they noticed that the Japan native wasn't in such a hurry to leave.
"I have family here." Enomoto admitted with a humm as he inspected his soup. Simple vegetables, that much he could stomach without doubts. "And Yolanda is likely to want to study what she can before leaving."
Zaid frowned at this. "But you WILL leave, right?"
"Perhaps." Enomoto hummed. "Pilar was not wrong when she said Japan was far more open than other sub sects of The Order. We know and understand not all demons are evil. They have grown minds and ethics similar to our own, but they are NOT human. We cannot make a 1 on 1 comparison, much like we cannot do the same towards celestial beings."
The adults hummed and nodded in appreciation, with Nuru speaking up. "So… is that why Heaven isn't helping?"
Zaid made to speak up, but, much like his wife as she tried to explain, neither found the words. It was hard to say what they were thinking, but Olga was clearly sure about where she stood and what she thought.
"Humans try to follow laws made by Heaven. These laws were never made to be fulfilled by most of us, even those that they clearly 'made' for that purpose." She had placed the book on a free chair next to her, safe from any spill and her wandering hands as she began to eat. "Since we 'broke the rules' even without trying, it is safe to say they could use any excuse to tell us it was our fault."
The poor girl deflated, but she kept eating. This wasn't the first time she had been displaced and, certainly, it wouldn't be the last. Hell, it was far nicer than most angels, and Lucifer, would've put it.
Her mother did give her some support as she placed a hand on her shoulder. "Relax, dear. If Lucifer truly didn't lie, then he'll help us get back."
"But will you want to, though?" Enomoto asked, his food halfway gone. The man was quick to do away with anything that wasn't work, or his family's needs. That, and veggies may be the main ingredient, but Enomoto did not want to dwell on this place's food for too long. "Do not get me wrong. I only fear what Zaid's family may think if you all go back home."
Dread was not something Zaid had ever felt before, not when thinking about his family. Now? Now there were traces of that running down his spine.
Zaid was many things, but being able to shield his wife and children from his father, mellowed as he may've turned out as the years went by, wasn't one of them. His family was strict, perhaps not as much as Pilar, despite the old matriarch's words, but knowing what he knew now… Perhaps there was a grain of truth to Enomoto's worry. Zaid knew the man wasn't telling him this out of malice, but out of worry, even if Enomoto's face remained as calm and neutral as it always was.
"My family would be more lenient, although I fear they'd need to hand me over to the Vatican if requested. And I would comply too." His wife sent Enomoto a glare, but the man didn't relent. "Family comes first, and there are ways to overlook a transgression such as ours. Even if 'transgression' isn't exactly the word I'd use for our situation."
"Forget that." Olga could be a mousy and shy woman, but the hand threatening her husband's back was enough to straighten up Enomoto. "If we have to stay here, so be it. I am not going to risk your life over this. I would've preferred to remain home, but we will adapt."
Yolanda sighed. "I can't see myself living here, sis. It… I think it is too much for me."
Zaid gave his wife a gentle hug. "We'll see what we can do, hon. Let's eat for now. We have time, and Carlos has done everything he can to help us."
"I wish he hadn't needed to do anything." This time Yolanda's tone had a lot of vitriol. "But I suppose it is what it is. I still dislike that we may need to wait months before doing anything, though."
"If nothing else." Enomoto hummed as he finished his soup, more than content to have his stomach stop complaining. "Time is something we may not have much of. A year before we see just how much Heaven may want us to depart is not long enough for me."
Mentioning the beyond certain visit of Heaven, of part of their family, was beyond unwelcome. It was also a necessary thing to do.
There were many things to talk about, and their time limit was one of them. Many among their numbers were wondering if they'd be ready to depart before the day came, and not without reason.
Fear was clear in their minds, with Nuru being the only one to openly shiver at the thought of what was to come.
"We have lost him."
Carmen couldn't help but lament the fact every time she could. Revelations had an effect on those that received them, and her portion of the family had been the same.
Question after question, doubt after doubt. Those things were going through Carmen's mind a mile a minute. Her husband wasn't any better, with Ramon heavily pondering on his actions and approach towards his father. And as for Alfonso? He had tried not to think a single bit. Not hard, considering this mess and their situation took far more attention than he had ever given anything in his life.
Still, doubts abounded, and answers were paltry in quantity and answers. What few they had pointed clearly at them having acted in bad faith through their most base and negative feelings. Doubts, resentment, fear… They likely needed very little effort from something that could compel even those around them to hate the family as a whole, including those from outside that strayed far too long around them all. It was easy to imagine how the curse had just pulled at their strings every which way without having to put any effort into it.
Far too easy.
The worst part? In a way they did not mind.
But was this the curse itself still affecting them, or their own thoughts without any interference from other sources?
Only one ignored it all, and this was due in part to her age. Sandra did not really care about any of this and, admittedly, she probably didn't need to. She was far too young and, considering what Sofia had gone through, Carmen had to count herself beyond lucky. She had a child when everyone else in the family would've probably suffered the same fate as Sofia, probably even worse if the curse was indeed that strong. It was plausible that Sofia, of all those in the family, was the least touched by the curse.
Though her bratty and selfish personality was not the fault of the curse, but the fault of her parents. True that her parents began molding her that way thanks to the Mark of Sin, thus making it the thing's fault in a way, but not directly. Nowhere was safe from the damn thing, and in a way Carmen couldn't help but look at her daughter, uncaring of the situations and demons around her as she played with her phone, worrying about what may come out of it.
"He won't come back, this is true." Ramon's tone was stony, much like his expression. "But this is his choice."
"But… shouldn't we?" Alfonso offered before he bit his lip. "Talk to him?"
"Your brother won't change his mind." And this, without a shadow of a doubt, Ramon knew. "He won't come back with us, and I don't fault him. But there is one thing even the Lord of Hell is wrong about."
Alfonso just looked at his father. "What do you mean?"
"I am still convinced that what we have been doing is right." Ramon had gained an air of finality as he said those words. "Whether born from the wrong things and done the wrong way, I say we have more to do."
Carmen eyed her husband with slight doubt. Slight doubt that, whether she knew it or not, something inside of her was melting away. "Are you sure, love?"
"Sure I am sure." Ramon almost banged on the table, but opted not to attract more attention to their little corner. "We may have lost a lot, but we will get back out there and keep doing what is right. Ander may resent us, and with good reason, I will not disagree, but there is still much to do in the world to make it alright once more. The reason behind doing it is less important than just doing it to help everyone else."
Carmen nodded eagerly. Besides, this was never going to be a farewell. This had been a mistake. On whose part? That… was not important. Yes! It wasn't important. Time heals all wounds, doesn't it? And with time things could get better, this much she knew.
This was the table of the empty platitudes.
The simplest mood of them all.
Because this wasn't the first time they had this circular conversation.
No one around them had noticed, if only because they were the largest group of normal humans, and one of the few Rosie herself had cared little for. She had made it clear that Carmen and her family wanted nothing to do with Hell, but had been still hospitable enough to tell the servers to offer their services if the family wanted anything. It was part of the deal, and simply good manners, but she wouldn't do more than that.
And for the family it worked. So did the fracture within their soul.
Compulsions are funny like that. You cannot make a person act in a way they don't want to. The most visceral part of them would sooner or later fight back, in some cases with extremely destructive results too. But if there is a smidge of you, a small part of you, that wants to do something? Then, with the right pressure, the right suggestion, it will be done.
As such Carmen's side of the family had been discussing the same topic time and time again. None of them, save perhaps Sandra, knew it. The young girl was spoiled, yes, but barely affected in the way the others were. Still, her young age and self centered nature made it easy for her to ignore her rambling family now much like she had done many times before. But had she pointed it out? Perhaps this constant downward spiral would've ceased.
No demon cared enough to check on their conversation. They had made it abundantly clear that they wanted no one else from within the family to butt in, and the catalyst of it all, their one estranged member, would've been the only one that could have had a chance at helping.
But he wasn't here, and he wasn't going to come back.
So it went. They would discuss, they would feel as if time went by, their minds trying to rationalize things in a way they could accept. This was not so much their own fault, but the fault of what had broken them before, something calculated and groomed into their very beings by the one that had hurt their family for so long now.
No one would know this however.
No one could know just how deep the roots went, or how many backup plans had been left in place.
Only the future would tell what these poor souls would have to go through. And by then? Pain, shame and regret would likely be enough to undo everything.
For now? For now they'd talk, until they came to an accord: Nothing would change, and things would keep going as they always had in their household.
All three grown souls already owned, and marked, long before they came to Hell.
Misery, a delightful treat for the one that broke them, and a further show of the malice that can fester through ages of hate.
Finally there was the composite mess that was the long table. There had been no other place to set them all up, and the cooks had DEMANDED Rosie (Something that took a lot of guts) to get Gonzalo out of the kitchen.
It was fair to say every single demon there was afraid of what the young man could do with that hook of his after someone tried to slip some 'meat' that shouldn't be there. At least that had gotten the more 'playful' of the Cannibal Colony to stop trying to 'corrupt' the family without their own input. Either that, or Rosie's transformation once Gonzalo left the kitchen had reminded everyone that fuckery was all well and good, but only if Rosie ASKED for it.
All's well that ends well, and this was a perfect example. Not without a hiccup or two however.
At first only Evelinde had wanted to move this forward, and the other two demons had been beyond unhelpful. It wouldn't be a lie to say that both Zana and Leonor felt played, and threatened.
Played by Lucifer's little contract, not that they were going to feel too bad about it. Fuck, they had been under the motherfucking DEVIL's gaze, and they had lost when he offered a game. That in itself was a massive kudos. Why? Because most people didn't survive.
Threatened? By Evelinde. It took them very little time to notice just how true Lucifer's words had been and how hard it would be for them to get out of this mess. Considering they were in this for the long haul, for a while anyway, they were meant to make nice, to find a niche within Carlos' family and to ensure there was at least enough respect, camaraderie, and perhaps the correct feelings, to not be considered a mistake.
Because Carlos didn't know, but he himself could erase them from that contract if he wanted to. Leonor knew this, and he had told as much to Zana. HE was the one in control, HE had the final say, and Lucifer hadn't told the human this much because, and with reason after what the pair had heard, that Carlos wouldn't employ that little rule unless he felt threatened.
But if he so wanted? Carlos himself could simply off any of his supposed 'concubines' and search for another one. Had this contract been made with another demon? Then Leonor wouldn't have accepted. Zana? She would, out of ignorance.
Evelinde would've accepted anyway, and Leonor didn't know if the Cambion was aware. Either way, of the three it was clear that Evelinde had done her best and, while not everyone had opened to her, she was the demon with the greatest chances at having the family's backing alongside Rosie's.
As it stood they all had formed three distinct groups, even if they had ended up all talking together. Zana clearly favored Carlos' closest confidants, that being Gonzalo and Enrique, though her sphere of influence had also included Ernesto and Ander. Why? Her crude humor and brutally scating tongue as well as her musical taste and predilection for BRUTAL GAMES. Or at least they had been talking about Brütal Legend, something Leonor knew nothing about, for the past fifteen minutes. The only stop had to do with Enrique's departure, but now the man was back and so was the conversation.
"So you told us you could make a Deuce?" Gonzalo restarted their previous topic as soon as Enrique sat down.
"I could make a fucking Killdozer." Zana laughed as she downed another glass of who knows what. Leonor hadn't been following the imp's attempt at getting drunk. "Bet that'd tickle your fancy."
Enrique turned to Gonzalo. "Dozer?"
"Dozer." Gonzalo nodded eagerly.
"Isn't that the motherfucking homemade tank I heard you guys talking about last year?" Ernesto wondered out loud. "The one made with a bulldozer?"
"Hence the name." Ander nodded. "That is what happens when you piss someone off too much."
Between that, metal music, blood and gore, the group was rather happy and animated. Evelinde's own was no different, if far more subdued.
Akiko and Javier both took a liking to Evelinde. The posh demon and her refined way of talking was clearly more in tune with the Japanese branch of the family as well as with the more respectful members of the family. Not to say that she hadn't made a good impression with everyone, but clearly some animosity was there between her and both Gonzalo and Enrique, while in general most of the young adults were far too crash for Evelinde's constant enjoyment of a conversation with them. Javier could easily throw around F bombs, but he was more courteous than most other Spanish natives.
"I tell you, Javier has a great voice."
And, strange as it sounded, Javier liked opera, much as Evelinde and Akiko did, apparently.
"You won't see me singing in front of anyone, cus." Javier groaned as he tried to wave their interest away while drinking some soda. The huge man had an equally huge sweet tooth. "I still don't know why you try to catch me showering just so you can hear me."
"That sounds beyond perverted." Evelinde snickered in her more childish bout of curiosity and malicious fun. "But does he sing well enough to garner such attention?"
"Believe me, he signs like the angels for such a huge oaf." Akiko all but swore.
"Bite me, you drop eyed witch."
That left Leonor as the least liked of all. This made her click her tongue as the young man at her side nodded in appreciation. Jamba, generally more indecisive and far more content watching, learning, and offering a word when he thought it would hit the mark, was more along Leonor's wavelength.
Not that she was hated, but everyone clearly had their niche, and hers was around the outskirts of the group.
For now.
"You are pissed." Jamba hummed as he took a gulp of water. He was not a drinker like most of his Spanish cousins, even Akiko had asked for some Sake. "You have an horridly easy tell."
"Just surprised." Absinthe for Leonor. Something strong, and green. And something that dulled the pain of coming last. "I thought Zana would be far more tightlipped."
"Don't know how." The young man at her side arched an eyebrow at her comment. "She looks like a people's person in this family. Blunt as a hammer, brutal as a punch to the kidneys. Evelinde may be nice, prim and proper, but her charms are more fitting of Carlos than anyone else."
Leonor hummed as she swirled her drink in her mouth for a second. Ambition aside, there was something that was bothering her. Why was this irking her so much?
Something wasn't right.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Jamba asked as he looked at the other two groups talking. "We haven't exactly shared much, and you look troubled as well as angry at this."
"Just feels stupid." Leonor felt this close to applying enough strength that it would shatter the beautiful glass her drink was in. She held herself back however, but the frustration was there. "I don't know why but it hurts. Imps? They can as easily close off everything and do their own thing as they can let in a huge family or gathering. Demons like Evelinde? They are predators that work in tight knit groups. You either die, kill, or get along one way or another. They are simple."
Jamba nodded a couple times, then motioned her to follow with a simple. "And your kind?"
"Women rule, most of the time."Leonor said as she refilled her drink. "Like in many shark species on Earth, from what I hear." Then she took a deep gulp, needing another refill afterwards. "But it is the weaker ones, like me, that get shafted." And admitting it took a lot from her, but be it the alcohol or her situation, her tongue was loose. "It fucking sucks, you know? Having only a surviving sister, both of us being considered less than shit, with our own mother telling us to fuck off, only to find employment under someone important enough to make ourselves noticed… Shame he is a massive sexist prick that tries to get most of the women he hires DEAD first chance he gets."
As Leonor downed another glass she couldn't help but notice how Jamba was looking at her. The young man could've been a lecherous prick, or laughing at her, or doing many things. All of those she could've ignored.
But worry wasn't exactly one of the emotions she was prepared for.
"What?" She ended up asking.
"Evelinde may not be the only one wanting something serious out of this." Jamba hummed out, glad that the others were far too engrossed in their own conversations. "You want to be someone important."
"Duh, of course." Leonor almost felt stupid saying that much, and the temptation for another glass was growing. "But what do-."
"I mean, you want to be someone important to someone else." Jamba explained as he looked her dead in the eye. "I know you are a demon and all, and I am pretty sure this is mostly the frustration making you spill your guts. And relax, I won't share it with anyone here." That alone, even if she knew she shouldn't trust someone she just met, made her feel more relaxed. "But it is clear you felt the need for some control, and considering how two important people in your life, for one reason or another, didn't seem to want anything to do with you…"
Leonor snorted. "What are you? A psychologist?"
"Nah, not interested either." Jamba shrugged. "But other than Javier I am one of the few most of my cousins confide in. I know how to keep secrets, and despite having this face people seem to find it comforting if they talk to me." Leonor almost chuckled when she saw the mobster impression Jamba tried to pull off. Almost being the keyword. "It is just a guess. Don't worry too much about it."
The shark didn't know what to think about that. It sounded beyond stupid, but, at the same time…
Right?
It was hard to explain.
Leonor and her sister had been the only ones in their family to stick together. Everyone else had been a proper monster in their own right. Them two? The runts, the weak, the ones that survived when their older siblings all died a proper death in a gang war, a heist, a con or some other fucked up event.
Such was life in Greed, and she was proud of it. Death was cheap, just as cheap as life in fact. A motto you had to live when the skies were green above you and the water was contaminated with corpses and chemicals.
Good ol' home.
But as a portal opened near the middle of the venue, with Alastor coming out of the blackness within, carrying a clearly dizzy Carlos on one hand, Leonor had to think about Jamba's words. Did she want someone to look up to her?
The man was chubby, clearly out of his element and had survived out of luck, instinct and apparently the universe wanting a cheap laugh. She could not consider the mortal anything interesting, much less anyone she'd like to be saddled with for the rest of however long she had to live.
Carlos recovered though, and shook his head. He shared a few words with the Radio Demon, shook his hand, much to the man's apparent delight, and began walking towards the table the largest group was sitting at.
There was a decisive glint in his eye. He was afraid, lost and clearly full of doubt, but there was one thing he had clear and that he was going to do: Survive, and keep everyone safe. He would do what needed to be done and, as he looked at Evelinde as the demoness waved his way, the human managed a smile.
… had she ever been given that much?
No, of course not. Leonor wasn't that old, but she had a lot of flings, a lot of fucks, but nothing else. The fact that someone, even from the first day, could give you at least a smile of appreciation, of hope, of anything other than a desire to use you and stab you in the back? Leonor had never thought how it'd felt. The only other person she had ever cared for was her sister, and they had drifted apart as of late.
It came as a surprise to Leonor when Carlos shared a few words with Evelinde, gave her a nod and then the man she was supposed to be paired with sat next to her. He sighed, took a glass, asked for Jambs to share his water and then, after a couple glasses, gave Leonor a smile that, while not as sincere as the one he had offered to Evelinde, made the woman feel… better.
"Hey Leonor. Sorry for the wait, I guess."
And it felt shameful to her that this half assed greeting was the best she had ever received from a man.
But… perhaps she could get something better out of him. Perhaps it would even be nice.
Not that she'd tell Jamba that he got her right the first fucking day of all things.
Next to her, Jamba could only smirk internally. Beware the quiet ones indeed.
Leonor didn't notice of course, but most of Carlos' cousins did. All of them had been having chats that went towards the same topic in a more or less underhanded manner. A way to make sure none of them would hurt Carlos? No. There was no way to make sure in only one day.
But, as Leonor began talking with Carlos, the idea ruminating in her mind, it was clear that a little push could go a long way.
Who knew? Maybe Leonor would end up finding this to be a better deal than initially thought.
Some weren't having such good thoughts, not by a long shot. And they were far closer than the family thought.
No, it wasn't Pilar, or her husband, but two Sinners that had, by chance, found an empty lot not too far from the Smiling Rapax, but far enough to oversee it without too much danger, for now. How? Well, not every empty house had yet been filled after the last extermination. A short reprieve to be sure, but long enough for the wounded Sinners to recover.
"Am gonna kill 'em assholes." Dwayne growled from the bloodstained bed he had been occupying for a while now. "I'll make 'em fuckers pay."
Hermes had recovered by now. A bit of fire was painful, sure, but his carapace was a much more superficial wound than losing three limbs. The disgusting stumps his friend was slowly reforming would take days to grow back, and they only had until night to get ready and get out.
Neither Sinner wanted to wait that long. Luckily for them, more and more demons and Sinners from the Cannibal Colony were moving towards the Smiling Rapax and, if this continued the same way, soon they would have an easy way out.
Unless Dwayne kept screaming his lungs out.
"I'll tie 'em up, dismember 'em, use 'em like a fuckin' toy!"
"Dwayne." Hermes let out a tired groan as he stood next to the window. Someone had to keep watch, and not only because Dwayne was unable to. "Shut up, please. We already have a lot of shit to work out after getting out of here."
"Don't tell me ya don't want to murder 'em fuckers!?" Dwayne spat, barely able to move his body in a semi upright position to glare at his partner.
"Of course I want to." Hermes was perfectly nonchalant about it. "But you heard the radio as well as I did. Lucifer may not go all gun ho at us if we try, he may even reward us as he promised. The Devil is a messed up individual after all."
Dwayne grinned. "So?"
"So." Hermes felt tired, so, so tired. Talking to Dwayne sometimes was like talking to a concrete wall and asking it, very nicely, to let you through. Same chance of the man thinking with anything other than his dick or his lust for blood. "While Lucifer may do that, or just outright murder us because it tickles his fancy, you are forgetting something else."
The beetle Sinner snorted. "The rest of the fuckin' family?"
"The Radio Demon." Hermes turned to face the crippled man. "It may be thanks to their friendship, it may be him wanting to take whatever we get from the humans if we kill them, or it may be just sadistic pleasure, but he is far more dangerous than Rosie. That is not to say a horde of fucking cannibals would make our lives easy. Those assholes can take a few bullets, TO THE SKULL, unless they are blessed."
Dwayne was about to retort with more expletives before his face contorted into anger and thought perfectly mixed together. His pain and desire for revenge finally let some light shine through.
"We'd need sumthin' better than we got last time." Dwayne finally proclaimed. "Small army, mebe. Less braindead than them guys and gals we went out with."
"That is because you got junkies and rapists in equal measure." Hermes sighed in disgust. Not a single refined sadist and torture specialist in sight in their old crew. The lobster Sinner wouldn't miss any of them. "And we would need proper weapons. Only the idiots that got themselves destroyed on the highway had any decent ordinance, and practically all of them were with us just for this 'job'."
"Yeah, Ah hear ya." Dwayne grumbled. He was a man that preferred quick fun than long plans. But when he did take his time and plan for something? It generally went well for him… and badly for someone else. "Think we can hit 'em soon?"
Hermes shook his head, dashing away Dwayne's hopes. "A year from now? Perhaps. Shouldn't take too much longer. Perhaps after the next Extermination. It'd be chaos for a few days, perhaps weeks, as the Overlords fuck each other over."
Dwayne gave a quick nod. "Yeah, yeah… I can see it…" He then hummed. "Ya know? Them fuckin' bats DID do sumthin' right."
Hermes hummed as he looked at his buddy. "What is that?"
"The bitch had one of her contacts visit. An arms dealer, me thinks." Dwayne thought back. "Don't remember da name, but Ah still got the number back at the lair. Just need some dosh and a few bodies to use them guns…"
The lobster couldn't help but smirk. "Well, isn't that a nice parting gift?" Hermes chuckled. "Let's wait a few hours and leave once the few stragglers I see around walk off somewhere." He cracked his back, pieces of his old, useless carapace falling to the floor. "We have a lot to plan and prepare for. And this time we will do things MY way, okay?"
Dwayne groaned. Of course his prissy buddy would say that. Eh, whatever. Business and pleasure were the same thing this time.
Killing as many of that fucking family as they could.
Unsurprisingly, two unhappy souls would lead to two more. Albeit these ones were unhappy for different reasons.
Pilar was sitting beneath the trees, her mind a raging inferno, as she tried to have her prayers answered. Of course that wouldn't happen. Whether it was Hell's fault, this Tower and its unholy birth, or the fact that she was, as much as she wished it otherwise, corrupted by the magic that landed her here, Heaven would not answer her.
But this did not remove her loyalty, it didn't even falter.
Which was why her husband was, for once in his life, clearly against her plans.
"I am disappointed, my love."
And while the words were cold, the feelings towards her 'partner' were icy. There had been no hate or disdain between them before, and Pilar had indeed cared, even loved, Pedro. But they both knew that duty came first, feelings a distant second.
Both of them had forgotten that and tried to care for their family first instead of Heaven's mandates. This was their punishment, the family's punishment. It has been a long time coming, if what she learned today was indeed true. That Pedro couldn't see it was disappointing, to say the least.
"Pilar, I love you dearly. But let's not kid ourselves. As much as we may care for each other, we didn't marry for love, only for duty." Pedro spoke from his own sitting position, near his wife, overseeing the distant sea. The two could barely look at each other. "I love you, you love me, your anger won't make it go away. But this wasn't always the case, much as we may want to lie about it to make things better."
Pilar clicked her tongue. "Love has little to do with what has to be done, Pedro."
"I agree." The man nodded. It was unsurprising, after all he had always supported Pilar. That had been HIS duty. "But our duty is done, hon. We have effectively died and cast out. That we are still breathing doesn't diminish the fact. We have served our purpose, and, in one way or another, this is the afterlife for us."
Pilar growled under her breath, teeth grinding against each other. She could not, she would NOT, accept it. Why couldn't he see that her plans were in the right? They still had a duty to Heaven and they would make things right.
"You can think whatever you please. If you want to fall, that is on you." Pilar sent her husband, now looking her way, an icy glare. "I will do what needs to be done."
"And I will support you." Now that was surprising, or at least it did surprise Pilar. "But it won't work." And the frown was back. "I will help you with your plan. A year is long enough to make sure it works as you intend, but you have to admit that Carlos and the others have a good chance to thwart it, right?"
Pilar wanted to say that, no, they didn't, but it would be a lie. Whether she wanted to admit it or not the young generation was both numerous in this case and, if they trained and dedicated themselves to it, they would also be skilled. Even those unrelated to The Order seemed determined to survive and keep on going in this corrupted land.
A sickening thought that made Pilar even more determined in her own goals.
"Worse yet, for us at least." But Pedro wasn't done. "If they learn of our involvement you know that there won't be a second chance." That did make Pilar pause. Would her own family… end her? In a way the thought was horrifying beyond measure, more than being cast out of Heaven. "I want you to understand that, if this fails, and we aren't caught, there will be doubts cast our way anyway. More so if those that come to judge us act together. A year is not enough for two neophyte angels to do what you intend."
The old woman hummed in thought. Pedro was right. Even a magically gifted member of their family would take a long time to do what she wanted to, and they would still need to be present, and close. There was also a new danger: someone capable in the ways of magic that was going to corrupt her children, that was to 'teach' them.
A single slip and Pilar would be found. Depending on how things went, there would be a witch hunt, ironically enough, with her being the one to be burned at the stake if the others caught on.
Failure, no matter what, was going to cost her dearly. But she would not sit idly by.
"That may be." Pilar began, her voice full of resolve and blind faith. "But the will of God shall be done. They all may hate us, but this must happen, Pedro. You know it has to."
Pedro sighed. "I know what my duty is. But like it or not, we are of no use to Heaven anymore. It wouldn't be the first time a martyr is born of such circumstances, and in our case we won't ever be remembered with anything resembling fondness, Pilar."
"I made the mistake of letting my feelings control me once. I wanted our family to be happy instead of fulfilling its duty." Pilar's visage hardened beyond what Pedro had ever seen. "It is time to correct that mistake. If this doesn't work? Then I have a different plan in mind, one that will ensure we are able to go to Heaven, even if the cost will be our souls." As her husband looked at her, worry clear in his expression, she offered what she thought would appease her. "Duty comes first, Pedro. And we shall fulfill ours, one way, or another."
It didn't.
Pedro could only wonder what would've happened if he, at any point in time, put his foot down.
Too late to do that. Too late to ever lead the normal life he had always wanted to live with his wife.
All he had left was to support her, even if he thought this would end in misery.
Of all souls involved in this mess only two were left to touch on, and they were already leaving.
Lucifer had been kind enough to invite Stolas for a ride. Both of them could get away from the Colony with a portal or something else, but looks appeal more than power sometimes, and while a portal would indeed be a simple, yet poignant show of force, traveling together after this held a far more important message to the masses.
That, and Lucifer had to admit to his trickery. At least enough for the owl prince to understand his part in all of this.
"Stolas, I have to say I am sorry for this ploy of mine." He began with a hum, the pair already on route for Stolas' palace.
"Ploy, my Lord?" Stolas cocked his head in confusion.
"Come on Stolas. I am sure you noticed I was far more prepared than I should. Even I can't bullshit my way out of something like this if it fell on my lap right this very moment, much like it 'supposedly' happened." Lucifer chuckled with a toothy grin. "I began investigating the moment you sent me your little message. I made arrangements back then."
Stolas looked at Lucifer with wide eyes, the gears in his mind working overtime. "You already had a plan for Carlos? This contract? Everything?"
"Not everything, no. And not for Carlos. In fact I was not completely sure how it would end." Lucifer admitted with a simple humm. "I knew this had to do with The Order, I knew someone would come, and I knew who was involved. Other than that? Everything that has happened has been mostly a surprise… mostly."
The owl prince let out a short and poignant hoot. "Then you have lied to the humans?"
"Not quite, although I sure as Hell haven't told them everything. Doing so would make this all moot." Lucifer grunted as a particular bad thought crossed his mind. "Had I done everything in my power to tell them of what I 'saw', what MAY come to pass, then I would've had to kill almost a dozen of them to keep them safe AND docile. No, I told them what they needed to know. What happens after that is up to them… although I do hope my investment bears fruit."
Stolas nods, giving a few small, short claps at Lucifer. "Well my liege, bravo I say." The prince chuckles as he looks back into his mind. "I wondered how you could have so many things all but ready. I can hardly guess just how many plans you had to toy with and prepare before this came to pass."
"Not as many as you think. I know, I know, surprising, isn't it?" Lucifer chuckled at Stolas' apparent confusion. "When you first look at these things I am sure you see an infinite number of possibilities. I am far less adept at prophecies and the like, but I have experience, and I know you know that the more you look into it, the more things narrow down to specific possibilities. I did just that, then I looked through the web of fate."
Stolas could only hum. Fate was not something that humans understood. It was not a 'this is set in stone' kind of thing. It was more like a sea, and a web; a constantly moving thing that held everything together, immense and deep, but also quite frail. Every action held a reaction that changed how things COULD play out, but every connection had many possible outcomes, almost infinite.
At first.
Because every action made more possibilities disappear.
Thos near the surface in this sea of possibilities? Those were the many paths that had done away with most of their chances, most of their possibilities. It was the many souls and lives whose path was, in their case, indeed set in stone.
However, even those deep within this sea, those with the most chances available to them, had a limited number of possibilities that were viable to reach an end that was 'optimal'. It all depended on nothing else but their choices and, in some cases, the choices of those around them.
If someone with Stolas' powers, or someone far better at divination, wanted to? They could guide people through this massive web until they arrived at the point desired for either side, or sometimes both. A tricky game that could get everyone killed, unhappy, or even set up a chain of events so dreary that not even God Himself could get out of the blast radius.
There was a reason why those that could see fate usually didn't tamper with it. Flexible it may be, but everything can break.
"The hardest part was identifying the reasons behind this most recent mess." Lucifer hummed as he thought back on it. "Their actions played the biggest part, yes, but these rituals, especially ones so long, are finicky in more ways than that particular one. It was to be fueled by life lost as time went by, and a few of those lives did not get snuffed. Had it been otherwise, then even their particular deviances from the plan would have landed them in Heaven alongside everyone else, but as it turns out three of the many possible choices for our dear Carlos did not die when they should."
"Ah, so that is how you thought those three would agree so easily." Stolas oohed for a second, an owlish sound coming from his beak as he chuckled. "Tying their strings even further, my liege?"
"It wasn't hard." Lucifer waves his hand. "Their survival went along the family's. All of those that trail behind the family's lifeline, those linked to their fate, are either women or adjacent, and in Hell the difference is largely meaningless. As such, and considering the prerogative of the families in the Order, I knew a male was the most likely outcome of whoever would keep their souls bright and alive."
"And from there it was easy to forge a contract that would get you what you desired while offering what they themselves all wanted, at least in a sense." Stolas nodded as Lucifer offered a quick yes. "Then do you know how big this little family will grow?"
"Not particularly." Lucifer admitted in the end. He wasn't disturbed, more like disappointed. "Again, divination is not my strongest suit. However, I did see a few strings closely intertwined; A prideful huntress, a greedy killer and a wrathful machinist are all in place."
Stolas said nothing of that one. It was clear that Evelinde had the sin of pride. The woman clearly exuded the thirst for a kill that those in the Colony seemed to wear in their sleeve with those big smiles ever present. Greed and Leonor went hand in hand without a doubt, and she seemed capable to do her part. As for the imp? Stolas knew for a fact they were the backbone of Hell, and he was equally aware of just how dangerous they could be if given the chance, something most of Hell wanted to ignore.
Much to their detriment, sooner or later.
"The souls of a fiery royal, lustful matron, a starved guard dog, an envious schemer and a slothful caretaker were also there." Lucifer drummed his fingers on his cane at the thought. "The seven deadly sins, all packed neatly together… But there were more threads that could connect. Chances, possibilities. Like another soul from Gluttony, an insectoid demon, the 'gluttonous chef', as translated in the web of fate." The fallen angel let out a tired humm. "No matter how much I look there were far too many abnormalities, and only eight were certain. Some may die, some may move on and disconnect… There are many possibilities here."
Stolas could hardly contain his chuckle. "Eight women may already be too much for that poor man. And he said he isn't interested in giving you an army."
"Oh, believe me, I know." Lucifer's fangs became ever sharper as he laughed alongside Stolas. "But I can see it in that young man. No matter what happens, he'll fight for his family. Had I sensed any difference I would've let this all play out by itself with the bare minimum interference."
"Of course." Stolas could see the sense in that. There was no reason to get involved with these strangers if what Lucifer wanted would not come to pass. "Although… I have a question, if you allow it."
Lucifer gave Stolas a look. "If you are asking then it means it may piss me off, right?"
Stolas winces. "Possibly, and I wish not to intrude, but I would like to know." Lucifer relents and waves him on. Clearly he wasn't happy, but he did owe Stolas for going along with his own schemes. "It has to do with dear Charlie…"
"Not with Charlotte, I know it doesn't." Lucifer corrected. "You want to know about the same thing the child asked me."
For a moment the owl prince thought he'd be murdered, but when that never came Stolas came clean. "I… I just can't fathom…"
"How did I manage to plow through that hurdle? How did my wife manage to live with herself?" Lucifer recited as if he had done this more times than he cared to count. For all Stolas knew, he had. "By directing our hate the proper way." He grimaced, his fangs ever sharper than they had been a moment ago. "My Father's 'gift' to us, to her. Thus, His fault, not ours."
Had Stolas been able to, he would be biting his lip now. Worry, revulsion, hate… Those things are supposedly common for demons when they think of Heaven, but this time it had a valid reason in the owl's mind.
"My owlet is the most important thing in my life." Stolas admitted, not that Lucifer wasn't aware. "If anything happened to her…" And that much Lucifer didn't need to hear, because it was obvious. Even he would be under attack, and maybe even hurt, if he tried to hurt Stolas' child. The few demons that truly treasured their families were monsters if said connections were threatened. "But… this brings me to my question. Did you offer all you did just for gain? Or was there something else?"
Lucifer twirled his cane for a few seconds, then elected to answer. "It was selfish gain, of course."
Stolas nodded, but knew there was more to it.
And Lucifer was willing to share.
"Revenge played a part too." The Lord of Hell admitted. "My Father may be many things, but caring? No, not really. He can't. He isn't built for that. It hardly matters what humans want to believe. Gods aren't meant for some things, much like angels and demons cannot be compared to humans, not fully, and why humans have many virtues and faults yet only the most broken would ever go for all out wars and destruction."
"And that means…?"
"I'd like to prime myself as the angel that offered one of Father's vat grown soldiers a better life, and family, where all others just perpetuated this mock freedom in slavery that The Order perpetuates." Lucifer hummed with a far more content smile on his lips. "Petty without a doubt, but you are right about something, Stolas, even if you haven't said the words yourself."
Lucifer looked as they arrived at Stolas' home, a little goetic chick apparently free from her mother and playing around, waiting for her father.
"Family is important, but it can also hurt you. You know this, I know this, my little pet project knows this." As Lucifer sees the doors to Stolas' palace open, he also spies the woman Stolas was paired with. Even without looking Lucifer can feel Stolas' disdain, if not hatred, swell within. "But Carlos is still new to just how much pain there can be. Be as it may, he will gain a new family, he will be indebted to me despite all that has transpired, and I will be in his favor, not Heave. I and whoever else helps him."
"Like Lady Rosie?"
"And you." Lucifer points out as he turns to face the prince once more. "Fates have changed, and converged. Gifts, power and a new future awaits, one where sadness and happiness once more await for those that will fight for success, or wallow in defeat." The fallen angel opened the door for Stolas, giving him a pointed look. "Play your cards right and you may have one, or many, new allies in the future. Friends even. A rarity in Hell, and a commodity you could use. Do things exceptionally well and who knows? Perhaps in the future you'd find someone that supports you even after you decide it has been far past the point where you'd tell your tormentor it is time to end things. Someone that may aid you when you seek a path forward, a happy end. Who knows? You may even achieve it."
Stolas could barely nod before he made to get out, stopping but for a moment. "Are… Have you seen things I have missed, Lord Lucifer? Are there plans for me and mine beyond your new wards?"
"I know things." Lucifer admitted. "But as always, the spectacle lies in how they'll come to be. Again, I can't see, nor know, everything."
Luckily for Lucifer, Stolas got the hint and got off. A quick goodbye later had Lucifer's ride speeding through Pentagram towards his castle.
For it was true: Lucifer did not know everything, but he knew, and had seen, enough. All he said had a hint of truth as much as it had lies to it, except when truth, or lie, were absolute (or as close as he could muster) to his speech. Everything he did was mostly for entertainment after all, the seeds of future conflict.
But sometimes, and this he knew well, said conflict would come at his own expense. It was an inevitable certainty that was as guaranteed as his luck at expanding his family.
Similarly, Lucifer knew for a fact that his own child would soon bring him his dues.
Good or bad, he was the Devil, and there was always another piece of retribution his Father would throw his way. With, or without His own input.
All Lucifer could do was be thankful for a few more years. And then? Then Charlie would finally do what she thought was right.
Luck was on Lucifer's side, even if time fought against him.
It was not time for Charlie's tale. It wasn't his own act, nor even Stolas, albeit his would come sooner than Charlie's own.
No, for now the spotlight lay within a few human souls, some of which would cease to be before everything was said and done. A few of them would stop being human altogether, some sooner than others.
And one would, if all went as Lucifer hoped, spawn a new generation. Barely a drop in the sea, no matter what would end up happening with them.
But to Lucifer that was enough. A new show, another leer at Heaven, and a new day.
For what is a circus without a new act now and then? A failure, and a bore. And Lucifer expected not to be bored for a while.