Ouroboros

by Uros Osium

What would fit a tale of a new beginning? Why, a recent end. For a whole bloodline on Earth, it was the end of it all. For the remains of a botched murderous spell, it is the beginning of a life among the damned. From blood anointed by the holy servants of God, to one tainted by the Fell spell destined to consume their living essence. (M Rating just in case)

19. Anima Magica - Chapter VI

Year I - Act II - Anima Magica - Chapter VI

Hey everyone! You probably noticed, if you have been keeping up with my upload schedule, that I am a bit late.

Well, I was also sick for two fucking weeks and I ended up deciding 'Hey, what the fucking hell. Let's watch the first season too and wait till after'. Because while I had a 'mid', if not 'light' flu, I also had around 3 to 4 hours of sleep a day, constant muscular pain due to coughing and sneezes that made me lock up and ensured I had ZERO desire to do shit.

I also got a harkening to do another Hazbin story, a side story snippets 'Day by Day' for this one, and get my sister to draw at my demon belles at least (Because I am not going to make her draw nearly 40 fucking characters). Being sick and having too much time is a poison to your mind, ya see? Anyway, I have more shit to say, but that'll be at the end of the chapter. Enjoy it, hopefully, because I did my best but somehow I don't feel it is (Prolly the sick talking, I hope).

---

You know something? Carlos had never been fond of people watching. He had done it, sure, but he had never liked seeing other people interact. Perhaps it had to do with the psychological damage done to him. Whenever he was around, or any of his family was around others, gazes always turned their way. True, it was because the fucking curse, but still. It just meant that humans, as a whole, were prone to judging others.

Though, considering how fucked up some people were, it was entirely justified. That form of self defense was as basic as breathing after all.

Thing is, he never liked watching other people for more reasons. Being 'normal' was around the first three on his list. Rarely had Carlos and his family had that luxury outside of their own group. Even then Carlos had always felt restless, even angry, when his cousins, aunts and uncles were doing things around him without including him. Selfish? True, most likely. Though a simple psychoanalyzation would easily point towards a lot more fear than anything else. Fear of being left alone. A baseless one when it came to those close to him, but he couldn't help it.

With these two? He wouldn't be ashamed to say he could sit down and watch them talk shop all day.

Perhaps he'd see if he could get Lady Rosie on it too. The Overlord seemed fond of, eh, 'flowers' too.

"The Medulla Ossis is easy to take care of. Good for disposal, too. And they leave such a nice fragrance."

"But the Caro Festa has so many applications! And they are a darling to deal with. Beautifully well behaved as well."

Right now Leonor was petting a clearly aware little flower. A rose, mostly, with a bit of a lily mixed in? Carlos wasn't good with plantlife, okay? But that is what came to mind. If you ignore the bone-like structure and fleshy growths instead of the usual greenish or brownish body/skin of most plants. It also seemed to be 'sucking' on a few bones it had close to its roots. Most likely having to do with the meaning of its name. 'Medulla Ossis' was 'Bone Marrow' in Latin, from what Evelinde told him.

Speaking of, Evelinde was giving gentle pats to a clearly giddy crimson colored lotus like flower. If you ignore the many tendrils full of just as clearly deadly toxins. The thing was almost childlike, and very happy not only for the attention, but the chunk of flesh it had been fed; one of the tendrils hugging the meat as it decomposed at stupidly high speeds. It didn't even smell by the time it was turned into a goop and added to the plant's soil. Its name was supposedly something akin to 'Flesh Corruption' or whatever.

Carlos didn't mind these plants, and any of the other equally dangerous flora around him. They all seemed far too dangerous for him whenever he visited. Neither Evelinde nor Carlos had been allowed to be alone with them before, for a good reason. But now that Leonor and Evelinde were fawning over them? All animosity still lingering on the many plants seemed to recede.

Heck, even some of the imps meant to care for them had decided to come over and do their jobs. Last time he asked, Carlos had been told that 'This job is a bit of a life risk to most' by Stolas. He wasn't a dick, but he was still a demon.

And fuck, if you get into this kinda job, you know the dangers.

"Are we going to need a botanical garden at home?" Carlos found himself asking as he sat as comfortably and calmly as he could.

Being between what looked like a bamboo patch that required blood instead of water, and was colored black as pitch, and a small tree that had corpses as fruits, 'calm' was stretching it. The fact that both plants also had eyes, and were looking at him in what could be defined as 'discomfort' did not help.

But both demonic women were happy and very talkative, more so than usual. A hobby to always return to, something to relax. It brought them joy, so Carlos would ignore just how much he wanted to torch the place right now.

Fuck, he'd beg whoever he needed to if it got these two a garden.

…

There were no two ways about it. This was not normal.

Not two months and he'd easily kill for these two, huh? He had a hunch since day one, but something wasn't right, was it? Perhaps… Perhaps Lucifer lied after all? Maybe his grandmother was-.

"I would like that." The voice of Evelinde brought his thoughts to a close.

Leonor was not far behind either, making his mind ignore that tangent altogether. "Our very own garden?" The shark demon hummed, her one eye looking at the bone flower begging for attention. "It would be like a dream… to have something like that."

Carlos couldn't hide his smile. Fuck normal. He kept saying how little time it had been since his arrival.

That had to stop. Evelinde was right.

There was no reason for him not to enjoy this. Besides, Lucifer had promised, hadn't he? Even he would get fucked if he made things go his way after Carlos asked. Or perhaps he should've added it into that damn contract for his words to be of any effect? Eh. Carlos could let it go, this time.

Just this once.

"I am sure we could arrange that somehow." Carlos ended up shelving that concern for later. "I am a fucking noble now, aren't I?" Though the word 'noble', when referring to himself in any way, left a bitter taste in his mouth. "I bet we can get that going."

Both women remained quiet for a few seconds before Leonor scritched the little flower. Her voice was one part sweet, one part vicious as she spoke. "I want a section full of bones. There are so many beauties like this one I want to care for."

Morbid as it was, Evelinde was just as enamored with the idea. "A corpse field. So many beautiful flowers to feed. Land to dispose of unruly guests…"

Around that point Carlos began to feel regret at his choice.

Fuck it. Future Carlos problems. The two were happy. All he needed now was for the third to be just as excited and…

His pants were buzzing.

Oh! The phone. He barely used the thing. Who the fuck calls a phone from Hell a 'Hellphone' anyways?

Without looking who it was, and not really caring, Carlos picked up. "Yes?"

"Uh… Could you come over?"

Huh. Why was Zana calling?

No. Stop. That wasn't important.

Carlos position stopped being slouch and relaxed, instead sitting ramrod straight, ready to jump to his feet, the moment he heard the hesitation on Zana's voice.

His own became steel and low as he asked. "Something happened?"

The plant life around him seemed to back down the moment Carlos became slightly agitated. He doubted Stolas had done something. Fuck, he was sure the bird hadn't done shit. But you never know what else may happen in Hell.

It was so automatic he didn't notice either. Not the doubts about what could happen, the plants. Alive and sentient as they were, if likely not sapient, they recognized the change in the young man. The idea of Zana, or anyone he cared about, getting into trouble was abhorrent in his mind. The possibility of happening somewhere where they were invited and told they'd be safe? Carlos' lingering fears from the one kill he had under his belt disappeared as quickly as they were replaced with a desire to hurt, or do so much worse, whoever dared touch the imp.

"No? Well, yes. But, uh, not bad?" As Zana's voice came through, a bit more calm, almost collected, just surprised perhaps, Carlos too relaxed. "Just… your 'wife' came early."

"..." The relaxation got turned into a pit in his stomach. "Sssssshit."

"It is not… bad. She isn't a bitch." There was a pause. Another voice could be heard close by, another woman. "She is quite direct tho. I may not even hate her."

"Are you se-"

"No. I still don't want her near me." Zana cut in a deadpan.

Carlos didn't know whether she had gotten along with Stolas, but this woman was going to be living with them. It was not going to be an easy start. And she arrived out of nowhere, likely a 'surprise' orchestrated by someone, no doubt. To say that Zana was likely unhappy about it (even if her voice didn't show more than some annoyance), was likely putting it as lightly as it could go.

Said annoyance was clearly rising as the imp made her desires clear. "So come over as soon as you can and get her away from here. We haven't even started on the engine. Stolas couldn't stop talking my ear off."

Okay. Carlos could believe that one. Better make sure Zana didn't use those holy shells.

"We'll be there in a moment. I just need to unglue these two from all the lethal flora they want to hug." He heard a slight chuckle before he ended the call. Really, he should've expected this crap. With a sigh he got up and called for the two engrossed women. "Girls, our new 'companion' has arrived. So let's go and-."

"She can wait a bit more."

Carlos had to do a double take. Evelinde was as close as she was going to get to telling someone 'Fuck off'.

"Wha-?"

"We are going to have a garden, right?" The Cambion hummed, Leonor agreeing with a quick nod. "A bit of a status symbol is important after all. Our 'dear' Goetia will understand if we take a moment and… peruse the many specimens we may be able to pick from. It is in her best interest for us to aim for the best of the best."

Carlos knew what was going on. Evelinde was being herself.

Like a fucking cat. Carlos could even imagine her purring somehow.

He even saw the woman turn his way just enough to offer him that grin of hers and a sidelong glance. She wanted to see just how much she could prod the Goetia. And she knew Carlos would allow her to be this petty and even to get away with it as she pampered more of the deadly flowers around her.

Carlos just hoped this Destina wouldn't take the bait. He didn't want to see what a bite from a 'disgraced Goetic demon' could feel like.

*** Stolas' State - Magical Studio ***

"There, done." Zana pocketed her phone with a low grumble. Carlos was right: This surprise wasn't one she appreciated. "So we have around fifteen minutes, if you wanna surprise us some more."

The new woman in her life, for good or ill, didn't seem that amused. "Stolas' garden is not that far from us."

"No, but the other two's disdain is." The imp countered with a grin. There was some satisfaction in the act, considering this particular Goetia, out of all of them out there, couldn't (technically) do shit to her. "And I have grown to know Evelinde enough. She will test the waters first."

The Goetia nodded. That particular nonchalant attitude rubbed Zanna the wrong way. It didn't help that Destina, like most Goetic demons, was tall. Far too tall for her liking.

Destina was likely around the six foot range, six and half? Two meters or so seemed like a good round number, but there was a chance this woman was taller than that. The tallest of all those orbiting around Carlos, because of course the fucking Geotic woman was going to be on top of everyone else. It didn't help that her bright orange plumage made it hard to look away, although the brown 'mask' and arms, as well as her back, looked like she was already dressed and ready for a ball to boot.

With her head plumage looking like a braided crown (how much does it hurt to do that to your own feathers? Zana didn't want to know) and a long flow down her back, it was clear that, disgraced or not, the woman was at least trying to impress. Although other bits were far less 'appealing'. This, of course, meant Zana included the chest area; petty perhaps, but she knew Carlos liked a generous bust, and this particular birdy was very much lacking. Secondary, and unsurprising, were her orange, glowing eyes. Relatively short black beak that had some kind of jewelry in the image of teardrops as if to give some more color to the woman. All of it paired with a face Zana would admit was pretty, but remained in perpetual stillness, as if she did her best to show not much, if any, emotion at all.

The woman had at least dressed, either to be easy for the eyes or with one of her favorite dresses. The orange and gold embroidered court dress was likely more than Zana could ever hope to see when it came to money, at least way back when. Zana would bet everything and then some when it came to the gold was real and the sparkling orange was made with some kind of damn jewels added into the thread. Wasteful, incredibly so, but it did show that Featherfire was a house of means… or it had been, anyway.

A particular element on the woman's ensemble was, of all things, a floating disk. It seemed to carry Destina's purse, or bag, or whatever the fuck it was called. Zana didn't give half a shit. The golden (because of course it was fucking gold) magical trinket freeing the woman's hands for whatever she needed done, if the pampered bitch did anything at all.

Okay, so Zana didn't have a good opinion from the get go. Sue her. None of them, not even Carlos, had high hopes for this feathered bitch.

"You don't seem pleased to have me here." Destina opened after Zana's visual scrutiny.

Zana didn't miss a beat as she drawled. "Should Ah?"

It was then that Destina brought her hands up to her beak. Zana noticed it then. Other than her dress and hair, Destina had no makeup, nor had she painted her claws or anything else. It was a simple, outward effort to appear regal, perhaps beautiful, but not an extensive attempt on the Goetia's part. She had done the bare minimum and that was that, almost like she didn't care.

She probably didn't, at that.

"Depends." Destina spoke softly. "There should be some fondness. I do make those little pills, after all. You seem to like them."

One thing Zana had noticed was just how melodic the woman's voice was. Despite Zana's acidic tone and Stolas's own gentle greeting after Destina's surprise appearance, the new Goetia's tone of voice hasn't changed. It was a perpetual sing song, gentle, melodic and even honeyed with how sweet it was. Yet the fakeness of it all was so thick Zana could choke on it without trying.

Wait a second. "These?" Zana picked the vial. "Are yours?"

"Made with real human blood, yes." Destina spoke nonchalantly as she approached the duo, with Stolas present but making himself scarce conversation wise. "A calming solution for many problems in a demon's soul… so long as nothing more powerful disturbs you, that is."

Zana grimaced at the bottle. Not because of the ingredients, no. She knew of them. Fuck, if she asked she was sure almost everyone in Carlos' family, including Carlos himself, would give her a drop or two. It just bothered her how the supposed creator of these things mentioned 'anything more powerful'.

"Like what?"

"Someone with stronger blood, of course." This was the first time Destina's voice took on a lively tone. A real voice. It was chipper and clearly involved as she began to talk. "See, my dear. You and I work with machines. Yours? Mechanical, clearly. Me? I am not that good with magic… but alchemy? Biology? Oh, that is my thing. My alchemy focuses on the living machines that are our bodies. And those little pills? They were an interesting take on an old formula."

Employing the surprise that gripped at Zana as a catalyst, Destina used her magic to levitate that particular human shaped bottle. A simple rattling as she let it go made it clear that the contents were almost gone.

"House Featherfire has always been one more akin to pursuing 'mixed projects', far more than just magic. A necessity, considering their family produces far more male heirs than any other… something not that useful anymore, I fear." Stolas introduced himself in the conversation at last. He did remain on the side however. This was a conversation he wasn't necessarily a part of, even if he wanted to intervene.

"Correct you are, Prince Stolas." With a simple gesture, and a slight flash of magic, Destina uncorked the bottle and took a look within. "Ah, and I see you opted for a higher dosage, did you not? The smell marks these as fresh, very fresh. How many bottles have you gone through as of late?"

Zana sent the woman an inquisitive look. "Is that important? The instructions say…"

"I know what they say. I made them." Destina hummed as she returned the bottle to the imp. "But it is not going to have any effect even if you wanted to use a whole bottle every day. Any more than that and you'd start having… complications, anyway."

"And why th' fuck not?" A lapse in her speech, again. Just talking with the Goetia woman was making her have these moments of anger. "It should've calmed me down, shouldn't it? It was what was promised. It was what these things DID until I got close to him."

"If you don't mind." Stolas cut in again, this time taking the bottle from Zana to check something.

Clearly Stolas did not know all that there was to know about the pills, but he was sadly used to 'aids' in various ways. 'Happy Pills' and various other, far more legal and 'normal', medicines were common in the owl Prince's presence. The constant stress of his work, worries for his daughter and general bullshit of the court made a day without some kind of medicinal drug a rare miracle to have.

A simple and quick glance, both thanks to how avidly he digested the words and his (admittedly subpar, but still serviceable) knowledge of alchemy brought a humm to Stolas' beak. For good or ill his position required him to know at least enough alchemy to be aware of these effects.

"Calming effects with many of Hell's medicinal (and rather poisonous to boot) herbs. Traditional and well made… mixed with a single drop of virgin blood too." Stolas mulled it over out loud. A strong concoction for most 'basic' Hellborn. Would probably do little to Goetic demons. "A useful relaxing reagent that could even mellow someone used to human flesh when presented with one of the mortals for some reason. Very potent if used with most spirits." And in a much lower voice he added, mostly to himself. "Very lethal if prepared right too, could probably give a good scare to a Goetia even."

Zana grimaced. "Ya know, I thought about human eating 'n' all that back in the day. Now? Doesn't sit that well with me."

That was not a lie per se. The idea of cannibalism, or eating other sapient demons, hadn't been particularly strong in Zana, and the same could be said about humans. Not that she'd be picky if hunger strikes for real, but after living with Carlos' family for a while it had lost more of its luster.

She would still kill humans if needed though, that much hadn't changed. If she was up for bashing the skull of Leonor's old boss if ever given the chance, she knew she could kill anyone else if the need (or mood) arose.

"Don't think I don't want an explanation, though." Zana pointed at the vial. A drop of blood was far removed from eating someone, and she wanted her self control back. "Why the fuck am I losing it? I noticed it a few weeks ago when Evelinde and Carlos finally fucked for the first time. I got horny as hell and I DON'T want to get aroused unless it is the fucking idea."

Unsaid went the part about her spying, of course.

"See, that may be a problem." Destina didn't seem bothered by the barely veiled accusation. "I pride myself in concocting great potions and other medicaments. I go so far as to use the best blood possible: That of children."

Now that was a limit Zana at least got squeamish about. "Children?"

"Donations, honey, don't think I'd attract attention from the wrong people to my suppliers. There are many places out there with people all too willing to give blood after all. More so if it helps them in more ways than just 'feeling good with themselves' after giving blood for 'a good cause'. Money and other resources make people willing to keep their mouth shut." The bird woman all but rolled her eyes. She would gladly admit she could be a cold fish in many meanings, but not a cruel bitch. "Perhaps you may think that hogwash about 'virgin sacrifices' holds any merit, but it is far better to have humans alive than dead. After all, unless you have truly powerful spells prepared and a ritual ready, that soul is worth as much as the rest. Better have a constant supply of much more useful and plenty of reagents are better than just high quality ones."

"I don't care about that." Growled Zana. She was apparently in perfect control, but Stolas took a step back just in case as the woman's temper began to rise again. "Granted, if you had ever gotten a kid killed I am pretty sure we'd be done right here and now. Carlos would probably try to get you 'off the census', as it were."

Destina seemed curious more than anything else. "Does he care for children that much?"

"Barely." Zana snorted with a smirk. "That fucking curse his family had made all experiences with those little devils passable at best. It is just the principle of it all for him. You know, don't hurt the ino-." The imp stomped then, catching herself before going on another tangent. "Fuck! Explain why the damn pills don't work!"

"It is simple dear, really. Anyone could tell you this much." Stolas chose to be 'altruistic', or more like he wished to start earning the newcomer's favor right away, by directing Zana's glare his way. "Much like this piece of engineering here." And he patted the engine for effect. "Alchemy, medicine and magic all follow the simple rules of priority: If something has priority, it comes first. When it comes down to something like forces and resistances, the strongest has said priority. And pills you have been taking? They are strong enough to overcome the 'human' factor, even taming the 'demon' too. Even most mentally unstable demons could gain some semblance of self control if they took these little things on a regular interval. They are perhaps not the best in Hell, but they are indeed some of the best in Pride, if you can get them."

"Yet when it comes to the divine, that is something else and my quality means little." Destina cut to the chase. It did boost her ego a bit to have Prince Stolas praising her creation, but Pride was something she didn't need more of when she wanted something far more useful out of this conversation. "Astral magic is as close as it gets, and Destiny lies within its domain. Not to say anything of what little droplets of holiness are left within our dear human's blood." The way she said 'our' was clearly intent on getting a reaction from the imp, and she got it. Zana almost looked ready to jump at someone's throat. "I mean nothing with those words other than to state facts: I would need something like angel blood to create a remedy for someone with so much of Lust in them to calm down. As it stands you may use anything you want, after all, it is going to have a calming effect at best, none at worst. And I guarantee you that will be ALL you get."

"And if-?"

"If you are hoping for some of Carlos or his family to donate blood, forget it." Destina cut the imp as fast as Zana managed to get a word in. "Virgin blood is a useful reagent, close to anything that could be considered 'good', despite the person 'donating' it. But Carlos and those of his lineage? They have sacred elements in it. Powerful for destructive or curative spells, but these pills of mine are basically a medicinal curse." And, just to clarify, Destina made it clear as crystal. "Their blood would destroy the curse, 'weak' as it is. You'd get funny tasting pellets made of relatively rare herbs and very strong human blood."

"Shit." Zana wanted more than that. Be it her own reaction being angrier, or the possibilities being any other than 'you are fucked, deal with it'. It didn't seem like she was going to get either. "So all I have is the option to suck it up?"

"You have Lust blood, but are not a succubi. You won't die from being horny and not having sex." Destina seemed to care little about that particular problem, and Zana didn't appreciate it one bit. "Oh don't look at me like that. It would be worse if you had been paired with someone you don't fancy. Yet it seems that, destiny finagling things or not, you don't dislike this particular human."

The imp sneered at the much taller Goetia. "Would you like to trade? I bet you'd enjoy working through instinct and base needs for a while."

"Not if my life depended on it." Zana could swear she heard the woman drawl in disgust at the idea. It amazed the imp that Destina had taken this long to have any kind of condescending attitude towards her. "In fact, I will require you to share that little tidbit I overheard about my soon to be husband with his other women as I talk with him."

"And why in Hell would I do that?" It was the imp's turn to look revulsed. Not about the idea itself, but the act. Doing something because the woman told her to was… unpalatable. "Don't get me wrong. You are right about having to talk with the girls. I refuse to deal with this bullshit alone. But-."

"Do me this one favor and you have a blank check for whatever you may want to ask of me later on." Destina interjected with a look and tone that offered no lies. "Best deal any Goetia will ever offer, unless they are an unrepentant coward, I assure you."

"Or any demon, for that matter." Zana spoke after a few seconds of uncomfortable silence. "You do know I may very well abuse the shit out of this?"

"Same way I know you'd willingly tell Carlos of his soul's particular effect if I were to go back on my word. More so considering I could very well tell him myself now that I plan on dragging him away for a talk." Destina hummed with a thoughtful look. "Of course doing that would end up badly for everyone involved, which is why I want the others to know post haste. But I am sure spite would carry the day."

"I'd… recommend that it doesn't happen, please." Stolas pleaded, not at all interested in the possible aftermath of such a talk. "While not telling him is more for his own good than anything else, he'd consider it a lie on our part. I really feel like having a falling out thanks to that particular thing should be avoided."

Zana glared at the woman for a second, then clicked her tongue and accepted this was all she was going to get. "Just make sure I don't have to try and fuck you over. The day I ask for a favor, you do it."

"I assure you, my dear, that you need not fret. Professionalism requires me to honor deals, magical or not." Destina went so far as to do a curtsy, far more respect than anyone but Stolas would likely offer an Imp.

Of course, in a sense, it was inconsequential. For all intents and purposes, at last within their little arrangement, Destina and Zana were the same alongside Carlos. No one on the outside would even consider that notion as anything other than stupid, that was why the gesture had merit and weight, otherwise it would've been mostly meaningless.

Destina didn't seem to have a problem 'bowing' down to an Imp. That meant the talk she wanted to have either meant a lot, or she truly didn't give half a shit. Zana couldn't rightly tell which one was it, but she was willing to bet the former, and not the later, was more likely.

Perhaps she would've asked, perhaps not. That would remain unknown even to the Imp, for this was the moment the others decided to arrive.

There was a very quick exchange, blink it and you miss it basically, with Evelinde and Leonor.

On one side was a simple, quick curtsy on both ends, with Evelinde faking her best manners while carrying a beautiful, purple crystal of some kind in one hand. A very pricey rock for all she cared and wanted to know about the thing, the only other thing she gleamed of the large gemstone was that it was one of the absolute mountain of similar jewels Stolas had lying around. The thing made their exchange somewhat comical, but there was little reason on the Cambion's side to show real respect to Carlos' new mistress.

Leonor was even more subdued. There was no movement on her side, not beyond the swaging of a handbag she had been given to carry some sparkling items she hadn't cared about beyond being told their monetary value by an imp that was about to faint the moment she all but snagged the things. All Leonor offered Destina was a disdainful glare and the bare hint of her fangs. Much like Zana, there was no love lost from the get go, and sure as fuck there was going to be absolutely no gain.

All of this was delivered with an air of neutrality that bordered disinterest. Carlos got off no better. The moment her eyes landed on the man it was clear to him that the woman had no opinion, good or bad, of him. Worse; she clearly did not care.

It was as if he had found himself in front of one of the many girls back on Earth. Carlos felt his body freeze up as the Goetic woman approached him. He barely let out a song when she took his hand and managed to do little more than look back at the girls and Stolas before Destina had dragged him away.

The group was only half flabbergasted at this. Stolas had expected the woman to be this 'direct', while Zana had assumed she'd be left behind with the barest resources to avoid either Evelinde or Leonor going for the birdbrain's ass. She wasn't wrong.

"Where the fuck does she think she is-!?"

"Leo, calm down."

The exchange was quicker than the purse falling to the floor, the rattling of a few golden trinkets being the only sound to hide the grinding of sharp fangs and the sharpening of talons as Evelinde's body fought against her brain. One wanted to rip the woman apart, the other wondered what had prompted this utterly rude act.

"Destina has a few things to talk about with young Carlos." Stolas hoped that a quick interjection would bring calm to the group. Two women looking at him like he was one step away from becoming stuffed turkey was not what he expected. "And there are things we have to share with you as well. Don't we, dear Zana?"

A barely heard 'fuck' escaped the Imp's lips. "Yes, true. And I suppose we should get that done just as much as what I actually came here to do, even if it is going to be a pain in the ass." She pointed at the still untouched engine. "I'll take fiddling with your cars as payment for all this bullcrap you put me through, and your wife's backstabbing by bringing that feather duster early. There is no fucking way the cun't came to us mid talk just because."

"That sounds fair enough to me, and far too accurate." Stolas didn't even want to think about the reason behind this. He was very much aware how quickly his wife could think of a way to use a situation to her advantage, if she was thinking clearly that is. Still… "But since we are already here and may have a few hours to ourselves, considering the original plan was to enjoy lunch together after all was said and done. How about some practice as you work? It will help relieve stress after all. Better not have that particular conversation with any aggression still inside."

This made the group of three stop for a second. With Zana about to touch up the engine and ensure all was up to snuff (not that she expected otherwise), Leonor almost doubling down to get the little treasures she had 'acquired' from Stolas' place, and Evelinde seeking a place to leave her own, all three women were caught slightly off guard by Stolas.

As all trinkets began to float in Stolas' magic grip, and as a table was formed from the floor itself to hold them while the owl prince summoned a training dummy as he had done in the past, Stolas felt the need to clarify. He wasn't meaning for Evelinde to be the only one.

"And I mean everyone, if there were any doubts here." The Goetia said as he motioned for the one woman with some knowledge and Leonor to come forward. "One has already started, but all should learn."

There was a moment of silence, and a groan from the imp. "Do we really have to?" Because Zana was clearly not a fan. "Not that many Imps even use magic. Far too complicated with our limited control, far too pricey to learn."

"Cabal members and few others, generally a few witches and the rare warlock, are the ones to learn, yes, I know." Stolas made a gesture towards Leonor. "Greed residents are even worse when it comes to their magic users. Mammon makes sure to force their dependent tendencies on technology."

Leonor offered a simple grimace. "Then you know how eager I am to try, Stolas."

"Indeed!" The Prince chuckled as he motioned for Evelinde to approach. "But seeing as it is clear none of you is ever going to leave Carlos' side, then magic is a must. Even the most incompetent noble knows how to do a parlor trick or two, and I refuse for anyone to endanger your situation simply because you do not know whether you have the aptitude for magic or not." He clapped his hands to summon more dummies. Some floated, some moved, and a few even had weapons. It was clear Stolas was serious. "Besides, once she is done with the preparations on the engine, perhaps this way dear Zana may help me channel the essence of Fire. I truly dislike handling other elements unless truly needed."

With a groan and a metallic thud the moment her horns collided with the piece of engineering, Zana accepted that she would need to try. Leonor was not much better, thinking if there was a chance for her to flee as she eyed some of the armed targets waving around swords of some kind.

And Evelinde? Her smile just returned to its usual size. That new woman would be a problem until she knew more. But having everyone else using magic? This opened so many venues!

Yes. Evelinde could see it. A new problem, a new solution. All she needed now was for things to work with that Goetia and Carlos.

*** Stolas' State ***

"Let's get straight to business. I don't believe you are capable of keeping anyone safe. You are -ALL- going to die."

Okay. Completely expected.

Not.

"I… see…"

Being dragged away, pushed outside once more, and going to Stolas's courtyard, or backyard, or however it was called, had not been a good start. Finding a seat under a large balcony, beautiful chairs, table and the glow of Pride's morning was nice, yes, but fetching a servant and ordering tea as she gazed at him with a critical eye, had screamed 'Business meeting' and 'You are fucked' in equal measure.

Destina hadn't disappointed with the delivery.

"I expected nothing of you from the start." The Goetia hummed as the tea was delivered. Her bluntness was that of a hammer delivered with efficiency and purpose. "You know barely anything. All you have done is get in shape and work for your Overlord in whatever odds and ends she has thrown at you. Two months are almost up and ten more are left before you get an Auxilia thrown at you."

Again, not wrong. But holy fuck it felt like stabbing him in the chest whenever… wait.

"Auxilia?"

Destina took a gentle sip of her drink before explaining. "Do you think all angels that come down here to kill demons are Exterminators?"

The question felt stupid, but it made Carlos think. "Aren't they? That is what the yearly Cleansing is about, right?"

"Yes, and no. I researched all I could about you, but I don't know if you are aware, so let me tell you." Destina put the cup down with a humm. "Exterminators are almost exclusively women, descendants of Adam, so yes, members of The Order, and also those not inducted into the ranks, if they are seen as capable enough. Human women have always had greater magical affinity than men, thus the prevalence of witches and other pagan or holy magic users through the ages. Exterminators use magic to ensure the proper disposal of a soul so the process that comes after their connection with the afterlife is severed."

Carlos was hit with a clear, distressing thought. "... Is that why most of my family is female?"

"Yes. People of your blood are generally female. Female births are usually the norm among The Order, and males tend to be the minority." Destina made a pause, as if remembering something specific. "Variations occur of course. Some bloodlines' fate may change this common trope, and belief does hold power after all. Followers of Islam, for example, will have more males, probably an extraordinary amount, among their number when compared to other faiths."

"I see." Carlos took a pensive stance for a second. This would explain why his grandmother had been far tougher on her daughters than her sons. "But then what use do men have?"

"Living weapons." Simple, accurate, cold. Destina didn't have a problem being analytical as she responded. "As in during their living days, men are far better warriors, maybe even magic users. The Order does all in their power to make most of them blindly obedient, loyal and dedicated, so they can suffer through anything and everything. I am sure you have at least extracted this much information from someone." Though Carlos didn't make the woman any happier by sucking air through his teeth. "Once death comes, women's uses decline. Birth is no longer an option, unless, much like Hell, Heaven also has ways of making exceptions. But this decline is softened by an increase in magical affinity from women and ONLY women, as men of the Order gain, at best, more physical powers. The Order's people have uses and castes that are clear in life and death, no matter what. That is what 'Auxilia' are; Auxiliary troops as well as Exterminators in training - The young and inexperienced or those best used for harassing or enchanting others. Old fashioned as it may seem, this inflates the numbers to keep Sinners… under control."

Destina went on as she refilled her cup to her liking. Carlos had to admit the servants Stolas had around were attentive if nothing else… and busibodies that were still far too close for his taste. He could clearly see them holding anything Destina could ever want for tea, standing there, almost out of sight.

But not far enough to not eavesdrop. Like in a damn telenovela, the service was there to pay attention and then gossip. Carlos wasn't going to say anything so long as nothing important was shared, not that his life was fucking private anymore anyway. He was sure anyone interested knew far too much about him and his family already anyway.

The Goetia that was to join it didn't seem to care. "Young descendants of Adam that have not yet mastered the magic they should use to empower themselves make the 'early' stages of an Exterminator. Even many of those that reach old age before dying end up in the Auxilia, with only a few with decades of actual experience with their 'duties', in the mortal realm, ever getting into the Exterminators proper. These ranks are also filled with men capable in combat, of course. Most Auxilia don't fight, even if able, but instead empower other angels during a fight, making sure they have the power they require. As such, proper Exterminators are generally devoid of the many men that made most of the warriors that fight for Heaven in the mortal plane."

"..." Carlos' throat felt dry all of sudden. He eyed his own tea, having been prepared exactly like Destina's, with bitterness. A quick drink later he was trying not to spit it out.

"Not a fan of tea?" The woman offered the slimmest smirk she could. It was obvious being emotional wasn't her thing.

"Much like coffee, no, I don't like it." Carlos admitted. "I prefer a good cup of cocoa."

This did make Destina let out a chuckle. So she COULD laugh. "Far too childish for my taste. And just like everything else about you… too soft."

"So what if I am?" Carlos could feel the cup still in his hand crack. He put it down before he returned Destina the same analytical glare she was throwing his way. "I know nothing compared to even the most uncultured demon, apparently. I am not a beast like most Hellborn. I care far too much for people like my family… Does that mean I won't do what needs to be done when the time comes?"

"No. It means you have few chances of survival as is." Destina emptied her second cup without much regard as Carlos glowered her way. "And besides, I am here to work on the visuals, 'dear'. This is no better than what our good Stolas has with his wife. The only difference is that I am likely to die by year's end."

SLAM

There went the cup. And the table. And everything else on it. Had Carlos remained of his previous mind he'd at least noticed how the servants caught almost everything perfectly while taking this as their cue to make themselves somewhat scarce.

Carlos' attention laid mostly on the woman in front of him, all but ignoring the ceramic shards shredding his skin and matting the remains of the table red.

"I'd like to ask…"

Carlos hated needles, and piercing in general was one kind of pain that made him afraid. But right now, as he took the shards off his hand without a care in the world, there was something that fueled a more powerful feeling: Anger.

"If you know the one thing I hate?"

"I do." Destina did not seem bothered by it. She even managed to leave the cup in that wrecked table with enough dignity to surprise the servants looking over this debacle. "But I fear I have missed the part where I lied to you." A simple command with her hand and the disk carrying her bag came closer. A look, a short rummage, and she produced a vial with some kind of green liquid. "I also seem to have missed the reason for such self mutilation. I don't think I have done anything to produce such results."

Destina handed Carlos the bottle. A minty green glass bottle with the form of some kind of leaf growing healthy on the right side, with a partially damaged one on the left, with the name 'Regrowth' on it. The meaning was rather evident.

Carlos didn't think twice before uncorking it and taking a gulp. There was no reason for this to be a trick and, really, he wasn't in the mood to mind either way. If she was trying to do some shit she'd have a nasty surprise either way after all was said and done.

"You didn't?" Grateful as he was as the feeling of pain eroded away and the smallest pieces of the broken cup exited on their own, Carlos wasn't feeling happy. "Then you mean to tell me you plan on entering this marriage, only to grow bitter and caustic like Stella?"

"..." Destina had enough sense to at least look remorseful. Somewhat. It had become clear that she wasn't emotionally open by now. "I may have misspoken." With politeness, but no regret, she gestured to Carlos. "You have something to share. Could you?"

"I'd say I have, yes." Carlos placed the bottle down, his eyes piercing Destina with a glare. "I'll be honest. I don't like Stella's attitude. More than that; I have taken Stolas' side when I talked with him. My mistake, in part. I should have done better than allow Stella to have a rise, small as it was, when she provoked me." This was true, and he felt rather ashamed of his failure there. Still, Stella made it easy for people to hate her. "For all I know Stella could have a good reason to be bitter, but this excuses none of her actions, including the abuse she seems to delight in dealing with Stolas. I have been fast connecting with the man for that reason alone, we do seem to share some… problems." He averted his eyes for a second, but Destina clearly knew what he meant, so she made no attempt to stop him. "I am probably far too nice with those I like, and it probably will get my ass bitten in the future. I don't mind, though. I can have people at my side outside of my family at last. I plan on dying by my choices if needed."

The lone human trailed a finger across the table. He had caved it in as if it was plastic, not fine metal. His anger had rushed to his bones and muscles like the first day he spent in Hell, during that fight. This time there had been no blessing from an angel, nor did he have a flow of adrenaline from danger and combat. All he had was a sudden burst of anger.

And he had, accidentally mind you, bent something akin to steel with a simple slam of his fist.

"I don't want to die, but I don't mind it if I do my best. That means, first and foremost, to put my family above it all, deal and contract notwithstanding of course." For a second Carlos felt it wrong to be wearing his usual. The desire to have a hat, just to take it off, alongside a jacket, in an impressive display crossed his mind. Then again it probably wouldn't convey his mood as well as the already bent table. "And were you to sign this contract, that would include you too, Destina. The mere idea of you doing so, just to grow bitter and throw hands does wonders to make me rethink my options here."

Destina tilted her head, a little chirp escaping her beak. "Do you have options? Other than me?"

"..." Carlos' mood, and face, soured at that question. "No…"

"Would you be able to sleep soundly knowing that rejecting me would mean my death?" And as Carlos' mood soured Destina's own beak turned into a very thin and rather cruel smile.

"... No, I wouldn't."

"Weak. Soft. Gullible." The woman lost her smile as rested her back against her seat, composure in equal measures to disdain as she looked at Carlos as the man finally broke eye contact. "See where my doubts lie? You'd feel bad if you discarded me. Responsible for my death, perhaps?"

Carlos fired back. "Would your scheduled execution resume if I decided to 'discard you', as you said?"

"Of course." Yet Destina didn't seem to care. "Noble life is like that. Many like to abuse it for all it is worth, so did I. The vast majority of Goetic demons love to indulge in anything that strokes their Pride, that is for sure, or any other Sin they fancy. Although my pursuits are more of the…" She flexed her fingers enough to make the almost forgotten potion bottle float back to her bag. "Intellectual kind."

"And are these intellectual pursuits the ones telling you that I will die?" Carlos pressed. "Does that brain of yours know the future perhaps? Will you tell me when and how I will die, so sure as you are that I am going to fall?"

"I can see no future. And there won't be any if you don't change." Destina got up, slowly and without malice, but her words were cold as ice as she did so. "I know two angels will come for you, Carlos. I don't know who, for I don't know your family. But I have read every bit of obscure knowledge I have had access to, and my extended family lacks very little in that regard."

Carlos didn't take it sitting down, both figuratively and literally. The man, much shorter than Destina, stood on his seat to look the bird woman in the eye once more.

"You say I am going to get killed. You seem keen on stating the obvious and saying I am a soft buttery ball of stupid." Self deprecation to the rescue again! The smallest hints of a smirk got to Destina's beak, but it died a fiery death like a snowflake in Hell not a moment after it twitched to life. "How to change that, then?"

Destina thought it was obvious. So was it really necessary to spell it out? "The blood of those you want to protect."

Apparently it was, because Carlos nearly fell from his perch.

The woman wasn't done. "You speak big, don't you? Yet you seem lacking when it comes to conviction, the real deal here." She had no problems getting close enough to almost topple Carlos at last. "I know for a fact you are aware that it is your kin the ones to hunt you. I got myself informed, 'dear', that is my job outside making little 'pick me ups'." A little laugh was the first bit of real humor Destina demonstrated. It didn't live long. "You were so determined when Lucifer himself got things set for you. But are you really going to go through with it? Will you protect your family from itself?"

"I-."

"Will you kill whoever comes down from Heaven?" Destina's voice had grown so cold Carlos could swear everything around them was growing blue and frozen. "Or will you try to get out of it? Talk things down perhaps?"

Whatever will there was to contradict the woman died then and there. "I…"

Carlos had been so incensed the day he landed here. He was sure he'd fight tooth and nail against anyone. ANYONE. But the more he thought about it, the less capable he saw himself. He didn't want to hurt his family, even those 'upstairs'.

"They will kill you, Carlos. Then they will everyone else." Destina did not hide her disgust now. "Blood cares not, not when it comes from their rules. The Order beats everything out of you when they sink their claws in. I am aware you were told this, but it seems it didn't catch on." She lifted a hand, the delicate thing turning clawed outside Carlos' field of view. "Your little angel friend may not have told you enough, but I will. In fact, I'll make it clearer than anyone else has. Let me demonstrate."

The scene changed in a flash. It morphed into something Carlos was far too familiar with. In part it had been his own fault, he had given Destina the perfect angle.

Feet hanging from the air as Destina forced him to hang as if he was a puppet whose strings had been cut. Eyes wide in surprise as the claws threatened to dig against his cheeks and throat. A glare, cold and devoid of care as any movement on Carlos' part made her grip harden until he stopped.

Carlos hadn't suffered this particular position while the woman in question was standing, no. But she had done so while they were in bed. It was similar and, just like that time, Carlos quickly realized that doing anything, unless he was ready to commit, would end badly.

He was far more intimate than most with just how deceiving women could be. Frail? Sure, comparatively speaking. Weak? Again, they were usually less muscular. But defenseless? Or incapable of hurting a man? That couldn't be further from the truth. Everything alive could be a monster, and only humans seemed to forget that because past history made someone feel bad, or because cuteness and likeability surely meant that cuddly little thing in front of you wouldn't gnaw on your bones.

Destina many things. A bird, a woman, a demon. Those were details Carlos knew. She looked like a beautiful songbird, yes… But this one wasn't about to take flight when confronted. And she had many things hidden. One he didn't expect, considering a lanky form very similar to Stolas, was her strength, likely not too dissimilar from Stolas' own, if he were ever to strike someone.

And her speed… Stolas had demonstrated he was by no means slow during some of their practice sessions. Carlos had relaxed enough for it to bite him in the ass.

But he did expect the determination burning in those eyes, now glowing with enough intensity for the servants hanging around to finally scatter. The scene was far too familiar for them and they knew full well it could devolve into something that, at best, could hit them as collateral and, at worst, would have them used as living ammunition.

"My life pends from a thread, and you have the sears that could cut that lifeline, dear. Send me back. Tell anyone I did this. Or maybe I can just kill you and I will not wake up tomorrow either way." Destina pulled Carlos lower, away from the possible salvation that had been his seat, just enough for her break to be inches away from his face. "I would love to live more than anything else. And yet it would be so simple to kill you and be done with it. But you see, you could get rid of me with ease. Had you the will, had your family at your side, instead of trusting me to do you no harm. Even with that hanging on your side you could easily escape my grip, but you won't. Because you are unwilling to use it."

The Goetia woman had noticed. It wasn't very hard. Zana and Leonor hadn't been the only ones to come armed this time, if only because Carlos had been using the switchblade and had decided to carry it around. Destina had seen it sticking out of Carlos' pockets, and with what she knew it had been easy to deduce what he was carrying.

Destina didn't see the necessity of letting Carlos go. The man was breathing well enough and he wasn't thrashing around. He was far too calm, and his eyes were just as cold as Destina's own voice. It felt as if they shared places, not only thanks to their contact, but something else. The woman knew she was playing with fire, much as it may look like she was in control. But if she wanted him to get it, she had to be as heartless and as much of a bitch as she could.

Even then she was sure this would not change his mind. She had learned far too much about the human to expect otherwise. Yet, if she didn't… it would not make a difference if she died now or later this year.

"Do you know, my dear, how many Exterminators die every year?" So she pushed forth, and she got the obvious negative she was expecting from Carlos. "None. Perhaps you heard of an event or two where an 'Exterminator' got killed with your short stay in Hell. They are wrong. At 'best' a few demons, some stupid Overlords, may kill an Auxilia that wishes to prove themselves, then get swarmed and destroyed for their troubles. But a full fledged Exterminator? Or the rare Exorcists that lead them? None has ever been killed in Hell by the hand of Hellspawn of Sinner, or I have found no record of it ever happening."

"But…?"

Carlos knew there was something else there, and had the cold, calm demeanor of someone knowing that allowing his emotions to run right now wouldn't end well. His mind had been racing the moment Destina's claw got his throat, and it quickly came to a simple conclusion.

Destina wasn't trying to hurt him. At worst, his own weight was doing most of the damage. It was far from a pleasant feeling, but Destina wasn't trying to harm him. That and that alone was the reason he was calm, or somewhat calm. Deep down he was deathly afraid of the Goetia right now, experiencing something that could easily be compared to past abuse. And fear could quickly turn into a fight or flight response.

Carlos didn't want to fight, because something told him that, Goetia or not, Destina was simply ill suited for it. And if he fought? With his mind trying to push a voice that was growing louder and louder, screaming for him to 'kill the bitch'? He knew he'd regret it.

But fleeing wasn't an option either. It would be simple enough to kick Destina away. As strong as she was, demonic nature and all, Carlos was sure that a quick kick to the sternum would at least push her back like any other mortal being. She was not an especially powerful Goetia, nor an Overlord. She was no human either, but she was bottom of the rung when it came to the nobles in Hell, and clearly worked this situation through thoughts and plans, not brutality and power. She knew far too much, and she was aware of how easy it would be to intimidate Carlos, at least for a time, by doing as she was now.

If nothing else, even if this ended badly later, he wanted to know why Destina was doing things this way. He didn't know the woman, but something told him that risking things this much, being this aggressive, was not in her. All of his partners had shown t themselves plenty aggressive in one way or another, with Evelinde being literally a danger to be around, Leonor being extremely possessive and Zana having a temper so dangerous Carlos was surprised to still have his balls attached after their few times 'alone', or as alone as Zana allowed herself to be with him.

"Exterminators, even Exorcists, HAVE died in Hell." Luckily for his quickly depleting patience, Destina gave in to his curiosity. "They have been killed by their own people. That is the only way a proper warrior angel has ever died away from Heaven. Angels aren't shy of proving they are the only ones that can dispense justice among their own."

"Why?" At this point Carlos croaked his words. Perhaps this was hurting less than if Destina was actively trying to maim his throat, but it was not pleasant. "Don't they… come down here to kill you guys?"

"Not the Hellborn, although they don't always follow that 'rule' if someone gets in their way… or if they find a target of opportunity." While looking like she wanted to go in detail with that, Destina opted to focus on what she was risking her well being for. "That is not important, Carlos. Understand this: Exterminators do not cease their hunt until the day is over or they are dead. One thing is possible, the other is not, unless they let a demon go and another of their numbers sees it. Clemency is frowned upon even in the Holy Land."

It took Carlos no time to connect the dots. "... You are saying I cannot talk them out of it." There was a gulp, one so hard and heavy, full of dread, that Destina felt it impossible to keep her hand tight against the man's throat. "I will have to kill my family then…"

For the first time Carlos could feel Destina's hand slacken and her eyes look at him with pity. "To know you have only *two* of your family members coming to do 'what needs to be done', is surprising. I spent every day until our meeting reading upon your bloodline, Carlos; None of them need a reason to do this. Yours is far from the most blind in their loyalty, but that only means MOST of them are Zealots, not all."

Carlos wanted to speak, but Destina pressed on. "Carlos, pay attention." She hissed the words. Anyone more 'normal' would show clear discomfort. She just conveyed annoyance. "I did not speak about the Auxilia for no reason. I did not mention Exterminators and Exorcists out of interest to see if it sparked curiosity. I don't have you by the throat because I relish on this stupid violence. I have done so because Auxilia are the likely candidates to come forward: One to support, one to fight. Probably mother and daughter, two inexperienced but desperate and gullible enough to be pulled into it. The most determined to clear the stain that is your fall, the youngest generation of idealist, the ones that will want this done NOW and perhaps discuss their situation and the curse you all suffered AFTER."

"... I see your point. I don't want to, but I do." Carlos stopped her from talking further. He did his best to take a deep breath as he closed his eyes. "Put me back on my chair."

There were times in life that you knew you had fucked up. This was one of them.

Carlos was aware, painfully aware, that he had fucked up. But the fuckup today wasn't his. No, his chance at screwing up came and went when he made the deal. Not because he DID accept it, and the contract, but because he thought he could do what was needed.

Truth is, he was sure he was going to fail. Somehow, in some way, he was going to make a mistake.

Because he knew he didn't have the guts to kill his family, alive or death. Heavenly or not.

Carlos wanted that not to be the truth. He hoped, with all his hearth, will and very being, that it would change. Carlos wished for his stay in Hell to push him towards a path that would see whoever came here as a problem to cull down.

But he didn't see it happening, not unless Destina was right and…

Oh, yes, the Goetic woman. It was her who knew that she had made a mistake. Simple deduction, really. The gritted teeth, the closed fist, the trembling posture as she placed Carlos on the chair once more.

The punch flying towards her face.

A normal human would've likely caused some pain, that was for sure. Only the strongest mortals would've even left a mark worth a second of consideration. A bother and nothing more when it comes to a Goetic demon, barely anything at all with a Sin, likely barely felt by an angel of any kind.

Someone like Carlos? The cracking sound was her beak being chipped. True that it was little more than a small scale in size, but Destina knew that the minutes or, at worst, hours that it would take to regenerate was only a clear indication.

She had crossed far too many lines. Carlos was, by Hell's standards, a pushover, but there were limits.

"I may understand you. But. Don't. Ever. Fucking. Do. THAT. AGAIN."

Carlos' voice, demeanor and clear anger were far more fitting of what you'd find in Hell at that point. He was close to snarling, a scowl openly displayed alongside anger bordering hate in his eyes. The only thing separating him from a more sadistic Hellborn or Sinner, was the clear regret he just as obviously didn't want to display, or feel.

"For all your fucking knowledge and research, you are retarded enough to pull this shit." Carlos hissed as Destina, dignified and neutral once more, faced him again. The man was clearly more pained about the damage done to the woman than the Goetia herself. "Tell me. What the fuck would've happened if I had snapped? What would you have done if I slit your fucking throat?"

"It was a calculated-."

The sound of a blade snapping to attention was nothing compared to the searing feeling of pain felt by its mere touch. Carlos couldn't understand just how brutal it could be, nor did he care.

Apprehension and regret were dwindling resources in his mind as the navaja's blade caressed Destina's throat. The avian demon knew that, Goetia or not, this was the point of no return. A gun firing at them? Most Goetia, unless incompetent, could use magic, or evade. Angels had enchantments and other means to make such weapons equally useless. An arrow or a bolt? Ironically effective, but still, range dependant.

A knife about to cut through feathers, skin, muscle and bone was far more effective.

"Assuming makes a fool out of both you and me, dear."

Carlos had difficulty not spitting venom as he spoke that word. It was clear that three out of four wasn't bad, but this meeting had obviously gone belly up. The quickly darkening areas of his neck where she had grabbed showed that Destina had miscalculated in more areas than one.

Of course she had. The curses on the man were wrecking his body already. Any damage on him was amplified through decay, even if it was meant to heal faster too. Only Carlos' previous relationship with pain made him mostly ignore what most people would find, at the very least, uncomfortable, more so while breathing. Although his breath was indeed labored, but the pair both knew it was not pain, but barely restrained anger, that was making it as erratic as it was.

"You spent days learning all you could, didn't you? You knew I wasn't going to answer well to the mere suggestion of hurting my family." Destina didn't move, but Carlos could guess her answer was affirmative by her unwavering glare. "Why the FUCK would you do such a thing? Aren't Goetias these supposedly fucking smart manipulators? Couldn't you have done it in any other way?!" Being lied to would've ended much worse, but right now Carlos was having a very hard time controlling his emotions.

Destina took a moment to answer, hardly moving a muscle as she did so. "Because I want to live." Sincere, fearful. There wasn't much emotion there, but those two were clear. "Goetia are meant to serve a role or waste away, those of us that do otherwise tend to learn quickly just how fleeting power is in Hell. Women in my house are rare, something that should make us more valuable, protected from that end… but that was not the case. Men are to be wed like most other noble houses use women like me, and they still have better treatment than I do. My intellectual pursuits and alchemic interests were a burden more than a boon considering I was meant for other tasks and I ignored my family's demands.."

Carlos could swear the woman had a few tears trying to get free, but that wouldn't happen. Be it pride, bullheadedness, the need to not appear weak, or something else, Destina's eyes cleared as they ignited again, much like they had during her previous outburst.

"I am no ancient Goetia, Carlos. I was never going to be one either. Twenty years for a Hellborn is nothing, and I was never meant to reach twenty one. 'Accidents' get rid of unwanted family members all the time." Carlos felt his ire falter enough to pull the switchblade's edge away. It was just a smidge, yes, but his anger abated to the point he finally alleviated the woman's pain.

"You are younger than me?" He found himself asking.

"Barely. But does it matter?" Destina huffed. Safe from the blade or not, she had already done all she needed to do. She wasn't going to move and agitate Carlos again. "There is only one thing we share, considering how young we are: We both had to push ourselves. You with your bloodline's duty, even if you weren't aware of what your grandmother was doing. Me by learning as much as I could to be useful enough not to be discarded as someone's plaything… or as an unfortunate 'accident' took away my life so my family would have one less burden."

Carlos finally pulled his weapon away. He shouldn't, but he did. Stupid, yes, but Destina had only hurt him. That could piss him off, but it was also inconsequential as far as he was concerned. There were far more important matters.

"Then answer: Why approach this in this way? Wanting to live doesn't mesh well with pushing someone like this."

"Being gentle may work with you and the others. It won't work with me, and this is not a topic that can be breached 'gently', Carlos."

Destina's coldness became harsher, but also more genuine in a way. There was apprehension still there after having a holy blade to her neck, but, much like everything else, it barely registered. Carlos finally realized that the Goetic woman was much like her sister, only worse; expressing herself was difficult, and probably ended up with her being mistaken more often than not. It also was clear she went for logic above all else, making Destina a far more difficult person than Carlos' sister.

Who needed someone normal in his life? Carlos could guess he wasn't one of those.

As if reading his mind, or at least knowing where he was going with his thoughts, Destina came clean. "I am not the most emotional person, nor am I as capable of reading or understanding the emotions of others. That has never been my forte nor will it ever be the case."

"I can see that." Carlos took a breath and let out a groan. His neck would be hurting for a while. "Sit down. Let's talk in a far more civilized way. Just… don't do this shit again. If you want violence, we'll have violence. If you want words, then we'll have words. Please, if we are going to have a partnership, I'd prefer it to have no cloak and dagger attached."

As Carlos sat down Destina too rubbed her own neck. Tit for that, considering the burning feeling still present. "Yes, that'd be a much better deal than most get." And as she sat down, Destina finally offered Carlos the answer he asked for. "I do not know you personally, but even I knew that your determination would flake. There were two ways to find out if I was correct in my assumptions. One was doing this here… or the alternative: Make nice here and bring this up in front of the other the moment we got back so we all could discuss this problem."

Carlos tapped a finger on the broken table. "No, I would've preferred a private setting on that one." The young man grumbled before rubbing his face. He did not mind sharing things with the girls now. But not this. "I have doubts, I will STILL try to talk with whoever chose to come. I don't want to spill my family's blood. But if things must end in death… Then there won't be any doubts of their betrayal."

"And are you sure you'll do what is needed if that is the case?" Destina pressed.

"I will do what is NEEDED. I will pay back what is OWED." Carlos spoke with a low growl. The idea was still making him sick. "I… may have gotten cold feet. I may have needed a wakeup call. I will likely need another one when the time comes, but…" He took a deep breath. "Keep this between us. I abhor lies, but we can have secrets. I don't want to worry everyone. I… I know that day is already going to be bad, even if we get the best outcome."

"Don't worry about that." A flash of something crossed Destina's eyes. Carlos wondered what the woman was thinking at his request. "White lies are there to ease others' minds after all."

Carlos felt himself deflating. The tension in his body had been such after being lifted by the neck that it felt as if everything had locked up, painfully so. Now that he relaxed a little, many thoughts still trying to put him in a state of alertness that hurt more than it helped, he could at least face the woman without murderous thoughts crossing his mind.

Was it her actions or his base instincts? He didn't know the answer, but the ill feeling in the pit of his stomach told him that hurting her beyond the scare from before was a bad idea, and not just because of his contract with Lucifer. Was it the little insight she offered him? Or just his desire to not hurt someone once any bad blood had (mostly) run its course? Either way, Carlos had been aware of how much a tall tale he had spun the first day of his stay in Hell.

And he knew every fucking single person was aware of how out of his ass he had been talking.

But he hadn't lied.

Because, in the end, he was willing to do whatever it took. He only hoped his mind and heart would act in tandem, instead of, as Destina had said, getting cold feet and ending in dissonance. He didn't know how it would affect the family if someone OTHER than those trying to kill them were to perish.

… He was going to talk with Alastor at some point, once he had permission from Rosie.

"But let us forget about my doubts here. Let bygones be bygones for a moment. Tell me." Carlos made a metaphorical line on the broken table moments before Destina brought a small vial of something. A single drop, and the table was back to form. Wethera show of 'force' or a need for tidiness and have everything right, Carlos didn't know, and he didn't care. "What do you aim to get out of our… mutual understanding?"

"Not going to refer to this as a romantic partnership?" Destina didn't seem bothered as she lifted a hand to snap her fingers. The servants apparently hadn't run as far as Carlos thought, and they still had the warm drink that the woman wanted.

"Do you?" Carlos wasn't in the mood for games. "Romance doesn't seem to be on your list of 'likes'."

"It isn't, no. Neither is sex." Destina didn't beat around the bush before getting herself some more of that tea. "I don't dislike either, but have no interest in them all the same. At least not without gain on my end."

"Gain?" Carlos tapped at the repaired table with an impatient finger. "Meaning?"

"I told you, didn't I? I want to live." Destina seemed satisfied with her drink at last, shooing the servant who looked a lot less pleased about his lot in life right now. "Partnering with you allows my family to live for a while longer, whether I die or not. However their actions as of late speak volumes of how unlikely it is for them to keep going for too much longer if they don't clean their act."

"Uh huh." Family clearly wasn't the woman's primary interest or care. Carlos couldn't exactly fault her on her end however. "And survival is all that you are interested in?"

"Knowledge comes second, of course." Destina didn't surprise him with the admission. "Survival was not my only motivation. There is not that much first hand knowledge on The Order down here, nor will it be, considering none of you know much… But the possibilities of holy blood in alchemy? Or the changes brought down to mortals like you."

Carlos frowned. "Lucifer said Hell shouldn't change us?"

"Not Hell itself, no. But the actions you take? The choices you make?" Destina had a thin, expectant smile on her beak. "Lady Lilith grew horns, she can alter them at will. She also has claws, sharp fangs and more. All of that came from her fall and her choice to remain with Lucifer… Actions and magic have heavy weight here. Belief powers much of Hell as it stands." She threw an inquisitive glance at who was to be her husband. "And humans are as susceptible as us demons. You all believe, deep down, that actions have consequences, meanings. Little by little, stride by stride, you will all change. You have already started, after all."

"I haven't-."

"Were your nails that gray before?"

Carlos looked at his fingers. His skin hadn't changed, but… had his nails been that dark before coming here? No, surely not. And weren't they growing too fast as of late? I mean, it wasn't that bad, but he had noticed the need to clip the damn things more regularly.

"Or your magic? Do you know how rare it is for two different affinities in humans? Even some of The Order's numbers? It is thanks to your Deal and the Contract that you have more than you should."

The young man frowned for a second. So making deals DID lead to power. But he hadn't asked for THAT in particular. Was it a side effect of his blood? Or was it perhaps dumb luck? The Contract with Lucifer likely would give him something regardless. He was the motherfucking DEVIL for God's sake (literally). Some spill was bound to happen.

"What about something unseen? Your muscles? Your bones? You have curses on you that help you grow stronger, don't you? If we were to look and see what lies underneat… just how human would you still be after two months? Have you changed inside already?"

Carlos took a hand to his chest for a second. Had he? His muscles had torn and repaired themselves so many times now. He was sure one of his attempts at getting back in shape had broken one of his legs, only for it to be painful as sin for a second, then perfectly fine in a few minutes of emulating Peter Griffin. Luckily no one saw that.

He had hurt himself many times in the mine. He had pierced his skin in many ways, including the bites from Evelinde. She said her saliva had helped heal him. But had it done the job by itself? Had the curse aided in there? A simple glance at the marks showed them to be more akin to gray in color than usual scar tissue.

The young man paused at the thought. It had been an idle thought, but… No, he had to be sure. So he ran his tongue against his fangs and confirmed it wasn't just his mind playing tricks. They were sharper. It wasn't his mind playing tricks on him. He had also felt how easy he tore into food as of late. How hungry he was. He knew he was burning through fat and everything at an astounding rate, but…

How different would he be the day this ordeal was finally over?

"You must admit it is interesting, right?" Destina's smile was much more genuine, wider and warm, as was her voice. To know, to learn, did seem to open her up. "So much to discover, so much to do. I couldn't let this chance go."

"... I won't deny it intrigues me." Although Carlos would admit in a flash that he was curious insofar as to how much this'll help him survive. "But that brings a problem."

"I have a duty if I am to stay with you." Gone was the warmth in Destina. Again, all business and facts. "I won't procreate until I deem you a safe bet."

"So you want security." Carlos hummed out. It was not the worst motivation. "A safe place to live. A safe place to raise a child. A safe place for research."

"Yes, yes, and yes." Destina nodded each time. "What use is there in love if it is going to die under an angel's blade? What pleasure is there in carnal relations if they are going to end far too soon? Why bring another life to Hell if it won't live to open its eyes? And what use is there in knowledge if Heaven is to burn your home down?" The Goetia shook her head. "I refuse to invest on this too much unless I know you can provide."

"That is fair. And I can see your point about 'tough love, considering how you brought your doubts to me." Carlos rubbed his neck. Understanding did not meant appreciation for her ways. Perhaps that was why he was going to drop an ultimatum of his own. "That being said, I think you have proven this is not going to work."

Destina tensed at his words. She hadn't expected this? That surprised the man. "What do you mean? Are you… Rejecting me?" Yes. She had expected this to work her way. "I-That was not something I thought would happen."

"Why that tone? Why the doubt? Do you think my apprehension at what may happen to you trumps all?" Carlos asked in a matter of fact tone. "You said you researched me as much as you could, didn't you? Then why would it surprise you that I don't see this working? I respect your desire to be safe before doing anything. Heck, I think that is a very rational thought point. For fuck's sake, I am even willing to ignore you nearly choking me here. After all I am deathly afraid of losing anyone I care about when the day comes that we will have to fight in my new fucking home. So yeah, you are more than right there."

"But I refuse to have a sterile relationship with any of those I am meant to share my life." The young man went on with what sounded like sadness as he looked at Destina. There was something there, a longing, and a desire to not let go of the Goetia woman despite their momentary conflict. "You have made sure to make it sound as if you will stay apart from all of us until you deem it safe to do otherwise. In a way I could understand… But while you have mentioned you don't hate romance, you also seem to have no interest in it." Carlos gave the woman a critical look. "So let me be blunt here. You have no desire for a relationship nor any interest in integrating in the one I share with the girls, do you?"

It took Destina a minute to respond. Carlos waited, patiently, but with his foot tapping rhythmically every second after a short wait. He was anxious, very much so. He wanted her to give him a reason for her to stay for reasons he himself didn't know. It just felt wrong to diminish her.

But he couldn't stand the idea of having someone that was to be close, only for them to shut themselves away.

Those in his family that left thanks to Pilar acted that way at first. They hid away from him. No phone calls. No mail. No visits allowed for this or that reason… The idea of any of those he cared for going on and sequestering themselves away from the rest of the family? The pit in his stomach now did not make him nauseous, it hurt. It hurt more than his neck, and it still made him want to puke out of dread, no simple fear.

"Love is… an abstract concept." Destina began as, for once, she seemed really lost. "Chemical reactions in the brain and body. Desires of some kind. It is not something you can truly quantify."

Carlos made sure to not this was the first hit to his patience. "That was not what I asked."

"And I don't have a good answer for your question." Destina rebutted with a slight grimace on her beak. "If you have bonded with Stolas then you know the average life of a young Goetia. Love, familiarity, friendship. Those are twisted and perverted, if you ever find them."

"And yet you keep dodging the damn question." Two strikes. Carlos had been willing to be nice. "Let me ask again: Do you want a relationship with us?" The question itself was simple, but he was going to make it so clear that anything other than a yes or a no was impossible. "And I mean 'us'. I may be 'the one in charge' per the contract, or whatever the hell you want to name my 'position' in this. But that doesn't mean anything to me. I know of us four, five if you join, Zana and Leonor share a friendship already, but I am sure that will go further in time, they do click after all. Evelinde? She and Leonor do have their moments, and their fights, and Zana barely tolerates her, but they may at some point be more than friends too. This group is not just for *me* to enjoy. It is for all of us to have our place, even if most outsiders may think I am just at the top."

Again it took a moment for Destina to answer, and when she did, the Goetia didn't offer the yes or no Carlos wanted. "It is not that simple, Carlos."

"Then simplify it for me." The man narrowed his eyes at the avian demon in front of him. "Tell me why it isn't and then decide."

But perhaps he was being too rash. He wasn't going to push her. A stupid decision, most of Hell would agree, but he was wasn't a bad person. He wasn't a GOOD person either. He was just 'nice', and generally not a complete asshole. So, he offered her an out.

"But before you do, let me offer you a solution here." He decided it would be better, for his conscience if nothing else, to be who he was, not who he may need to be far sooner than he wanted. "If you don't lie to me when you give me your answer I will go tell Lucifer that I'll allow him another clause in my fucking Contract in exchange of still sparing your family. Or, at least, you."

"What?" Destina's eyes widened for once. This had been far more unexpected than his bout of violence. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I am a retarded little thing that likes to be nice to people." Carlos snarked, fed up with this day. But he wasn't truly lying. "Real talk? Because I want to be nice to you, at least. Hurting me aside? You have done me a favor. If I slip up and try to ignore the real problem without anyone pushing my shit in, metaphorically speaking. Then what will happen when the day comes and talking won't lead to a good end?"

The young man could feel his anger deflate once again. Sadness and despondency at the idea of having to face the music as the year ended, an ever present gift of this situation, now returning with a vengeance. Carlos knew they would never go away now, not until this was said and done. And while the girls had offered to be there for him, he wasn't going to force them to partake in the cesspool of fear that was his doubt every time it creeped on him.

But he owed Destina his full sincerity here. He wasn't being charitable for nothing. He couldn't afford to be. "I won't be stupid and do it for free. If nothing else I hope your alchemy has something that can help me and my family if I let you go."

For some reason Destina's confusion evaporated and was in return replaced with a more self assured smirk. Tit for tat, it seemed like that was more her speed.

"You are direct. And you CAN be shrewd." She grinned, more a show of pride at being proven somewhat right more than anything else. "Then I'll be honest. I want a relationship." And the answer she offered was not what he had expected. Carlos was all in for her leaving the moment he offered her an out. "But I know it cannot work, not now. I am not… well, you could say." It clearly didn't help the man when she made it confusing. "I know not how to love. I am… impersonal, or so I have been told. A very cold, calculating, distant bitch. I care not for friendliness, compliments, gifts or the like. I was never given anything, just taken from me. What I earned at my old household I did through brutality, cleverness and the knowledge that I would have my use seen soon, or I would be disposed of."

"So you just don't know how to love." Carlos surmised. Not surprising. Stolas was likely far from the worst case in Hell's nobility when it came to bad child rearing.

"I know not how to feel." Destina clarified. "Some things come to me. Some situations seem funny. Some feel dire, dangerous. Some irk me." She shook her head. "But I don't know why they do. It is instinct, pre programmed behavior. I fear it is less my family's disinterest and abuse and more my own mind being broken."

Carlos frowned. Perhaps the woman wasn't wrong. Perhaps Destina's damage was her own. But her family's actions sure made things worse.

"I do know what I enjoy however." Destina's voice cut Carlos' line of thought before it could spiral out of control. "I know I enjoy opera and the old plays. They always were the only moments there would be no fights or yells. Even the most vociferous Goetia would not dare bring shame on those occasions, and the distractions were always welcome." Destina's gaze looked 'off', as if she was thinking about one memory in particular. "I remember the one time I escaped my family and hid in the living world after one such play." She closed her eyes, a sincere, gentle smirk on her beak. "A starry night it was. High on a hill, with cold wind and the smell of flowers…" That smile remained as she looked back at Carlos. "Simple things. Clear things. I like thighs that are what they seem to be: To be forward and direct. A play is entertainment, a way to let my mind work on something not real, a fanciful thought. Quietude, solitude, they are for me to reflect, to calm my thoughts. And my research? My alchemy? That is me understanding, learning, and doing what I love."

It took a second for Carlos to decide on what to say, but he could tell Destina hadn't lied. While she could be roundabout about things, a point in her favor was that she was sincere. That alone would be enough, Carlos priced that above all else. But it didn't hurt that she, like everyone else attached to him at this point, was a mess.

He and his family kept collecting broken dolls because they themselves weren't whole. And apparently he wasn't going to stop.

Carlos extended a hand. "Give me your hand."

The woman paused, then she offered-.

"The other hand."

"... I choked-."

"That is why. Give it here."

For a moment it looked like Destina wasn't going to, but she relented after a second. Carlos took her hand in his, but not in a gentle manner or anything like that; he was touching. Palm, digits, everything he could. It was more an examination than anything else.

"You know, pain and surprise aside, I didn't expect this." He didn't notice as he explored the woman's hand, but Destina seemed lost in the action itself. No words or emotions as she just forced herself to look and see what the man would do or say. "Like Stolas, like Stella, even Octavia. Feathers so fine they look like skin, yet sturdy enough to act as a soft cushion. They give warmth and are, to be honest, rather beautiful in what few Goetia I have seen." However, Destina soon found out why he was doing this as he pressed near the tip of her fingers, close to her claws. "But, considering what your kind tends to do, these are a rarity, are they not?"

Calluses.

She was not as lanky as many other Goetia, but she wasn't muscular. Still, her hands were full of calluses. Explosions and burns didn't leave a mark on her, not a lasting one anyway, but constant work with no servants to aid her did mark the woman.

"You aren't broken."

Destina tore her gaze away from her hand and what was going on with it. "What do you mean?"

"You aren't broken, just hardened, and you have a different way to view things." Exploration stopped, Carlos just let the hands touch as the pair looked at each other. "You lack people's skills. You know your way around the court but you likely don't know how to have a normal conversation. Even Stolas seems to have that down when compared to you. Or am I wrong?"

For once Destina looked embarrassed, for about a second at least. "Not particularly… I had many middlemen handle most things for me. They want the money, I want the work to keep my family out of my way, funding coming and learning material in hand. I did my best to have little contact outside of bare necessities. There was no desire for talks, nor need to. Just checklists and money transfers."For most Goetia that would've been fine. For Destina even that was a hassle. "Court talk was just drool, a constant act with practiced lines. Lies, backstabbing and trysts."

"And speaking of work…" Again his focus went to the hand, Destina could feel the fingers there. "You worked by yourself."

"Why spend resources on me? I had to cultivate any reagent from Hell that I needed. I had to sell my first creations to get any access to anything from Hell that was not an herb of some kind, then the living world and its materials." Destina would have laughed if she found it funny. "Servants weren't mine to command."

"Well, that won't change with me." Carlos let out a weak chuckle, but he did take a firm hold of Destina's hand. That caught the woman's attention. "We likely won't have servants. I don't find the idea appealing… though we may need them, who knows."

Destina sent him a curious look. "We? You cannot tell me a little heart to heart has changed your opinion on the matter."

"And if it did?" Carlos was plenty sincere in his question, enough to make Destina second guess and not answer. "I'll be honest and say I have second thoughts, but as misguided and…" The young man took his free hand to his neck again. The color wasn't going away as fast as the curse was meant for it to. It was as if someone wanted this to cause a mess. "Painful… as it was, you wanted to help. You have your own way to do things. You clearly have trouble connecting and want actions, not just words, to prove facts. Little things won't win you over, and you have admitted emotions aren't all that familiar to you."

"I offered the others to take things slow, but I think it somehow went far faster than any of us expected." Carlos offered with a hint of shyness to his voice. He still didn't know how THAT came to be. He was a fucking mess, for fuck's sake. "So I offer the same to you. In fact I could make it more… pragmatic, and retain that 'request' for your help with alchemy. Think of it as a partial way to 'pay for your stay'. After all, you could leave at any point if you want to exchange places with another Goetia in the future." Though he did mutter under his breath. "If that ever happens."

Destina took a moment to think. "You said 'partly'." She looked at him with critical eyes. "What would be the other part?"

"Talk with us?" Carlos offered a gentle smile. "Go out with us. Become friends. Accompany me to the living world when I finally get to go back. Come with me and Evelinde when we go to the theater… I hope you don't mind bloodstains though." He chuckled, a bit queasy at the memory still. "Have a 'normal' life. Or more normal than most Goetia. We'll have enough crap whenever we have to make official appearances or whatever."

Gears began turning in the woman's head. The thoughts within were murky, if not just dark. She could maneuver her way out of this in many ways, but she knew her bluntness was likely the best way to go.

"I cannot offer you a 'normal' life, as you put it. I cannot offer you a 'connection' either." And, despite that, Destina had yet to take the hand away from him. "But I would like a new home… If you allow me to remain guarded until you prove yourself."

"..." Carlos made a face. "That is a requirement, isn't it?"

"I refuse to have my hopes dashed. I experiment, I test, I learn. When I prepare something, I expect results. When I DO something, I expect perfection." Carlos wanted sincerity? Destina had no problem delivering. "I will accept to grow… closer, perhaps. But I will not lower my guard until I see you can do your part, Carlos. If needed, if you FAIL, I have ways of leaving."

For a second Carlos nearly let go of her hand. "If I perish, you'll leave everyone?"

"I want to live, Carlos." Destina knew this was likely not a good answer, but she wasn't going to back down. "Imps may find twenty years to be plenty. Most demons would. To me this is nothing. To all Goetia in such a precarious position like I, this is a miracle… And I want to grow much older than this." She took a deep breath. "When the extermination day comes, I won't be at the tower. I'll be ready to leave if you fall… and ready to submit if you succeed." Her words failed for a second. It was one of those rare times that her throat felt tight. "I… cannot buckle on this."

Carlos remained still for a moment before Destina saw him looking at her, deathly calm. "Destina. Do you think any other Goetia would take your place?"

The woman grimaced. This did hit her in a particular way. Mostly because the answer was simple. "No." And the reason was just as forward. "You have a Cannibal as your first lady, Carlos. As dignified as they portray themselves, many consider them to be animals in fancy suits. And Zana?" Destina thought what she was going to be was stupid, but she had to remind herself: Hell had willingly forgotten much. "Do you know many of the first angels were hermaphrodites? Androgynous beings, much like the first demons. 'Breeders' is a slur, because modern demons and angels alike diverged, we became as humans. But for a noble to willingly MARRY one of them of all things? No sex toy, no slave, but a partner?" Destina couldn't make it clear enough. "No other Goetia will."

She didn't expect him to clench his hand with such strength.

"Do you think I will die, then?"

His question wasn't harsh, or mean, but clear cut and strong.

"If you intend to talk with them? If you want to de-escalate?" Destina couldn't match his grip. "Yes."

But Carlos wasn't deterred. "I HAVE to. They are my family, Destina. They are blindly loyal. They have to see!"

The Goetia couldn't understand. Family had never meant much to her. They never tried. "If you do that, someone will die. That is the best case scenario."

"... I have to try. I must." Carlos took his other hand to meet Destina's own. "But I swear this to you." He promised, and the Goetic woman felt he was putting all he had into it. "If things cannot be resolved with words… I will do what I have to do. I will protect what family those in Heaven leave me with. THEY will sever the link, not me." He squeezed. "And if you do come with me, then you'll be part of that family. And for my family, I will end Creation if I need to."

Bold words. That is all he knew to give.

But if he had the chance, he would deliver. Destina could feel his determination to do so.

The woman finally squeezed back.

"I'll give you a chance, Carlos." She spoke, far softer than she thought she could. "If you give me one, then this is the least I can do… I just feel like you are giving me far more than I you. This is not how the Contract was meant to work."

"That doesn't matter." Carlos reassured, a faint smile returning to his face. "I offer you a spot and a chance at a more normal life. You feel broken. I don't think you are. But if you want to change… why not do it with someone that at least cares?"

Destina looked at the man, then at his hand.

Blunt force it was, again.

"I think you are a gullible, soft hearted fool that is going to make a horrible mistake the day of the Extermination." Destina told him without a second of doubt. Then she did as he had and held both hands to his. "But if you don't lie, and we survive? Then anything you say may be possible."

He wasn't overly happy, but Carlos was at least hopeful. "So. What do you say?"

There was nothing else to say but the obvious. "I accept your proposal, Carlos."

As Lucifer's Contract materialized, pen included, someone standing above them, watching since the mess of a meeting started, smirked. It had been a damn clown show, but it had worked well enough.

And as Destina's name burst into flames, the woman in the balcony felt her money had been well spent despite everything.

*** Later ***

A car speed away from Stollas' property. His wife, looking with an expression hard to place, flicked out her phone. It was done, they were away, her husband was doing his own things and Octavia was studying. No servants, no interruptions.

So, she waited for the call.

"Hello, my lady."

She didn't even need to do anything. That unnerved her more than it should.

"All went as expected." She said simply. There wasn't much more to say anyway.

"That is untrue." The Shadow Man's many voices made the unnerving feeling come back. "I will required to go dark for a while."

Stella's breath caught in her throat. "What happened?"

A bright flash and a loud 'quack!' was heard, making the peahen jump in place. It was imperceptible, her composure, self control and the stiffness she felt as this situation took place being more than enough to make even her surprise take second place.

Because that rubber duckie was a callsign that only an apple could surpass. At least the duck meant she wasn't going to die.

"Lucifer was watching."

*** Magne State - Lucifer's Secret (rubber ducky) Vault ***

"We are lucky that only a warning has been delivered to us, my lady. But I fear that, if you hoped for my warning of a singular contract to be voided, this has dashed all hopes. Still, credit where credit is due, Lady Stella. Danger aside, this has been a profitable endeavor. Do watch your back."

A simple click and it was done.

Boy! Using that voice was always fun, but by every unholy fuck in Hell, did it give him the biggest thirst for apple juice. Well, everything he liked most had apples, so no surprise there.

Though perhaps the thirst this time had more to do with the fine line he was making sure not to cross. Hatless and in his skivvies, Lucifer was doing fuck all today because he knew there was a chance everything went to shit. You'd think he'd be more relaxed, or not care, but that wasn't the case. He was invested, but he wasn't going to meddle, of course. The Shadow Man? Oh, he could. And yeah, Lucifer WAS the Shadow Man. Who the fuck would ever think LUCIFER had made that persona?

… Probably Lilith. Perhaps Charlotte.

BUT! As promised to Carlos, LUCIFER hadn't done shit. The Devil, in the most literal sense, is in the details.

Besides, it wasn't that big a deal. At best he had gone out of his way to give a +1 to that dice throw Carlos had to play with. Considering his situation at the moment, and the people he surrounded himself with? He was lucky that one soul among the Goetia had any connection to him. Even then, this particular soul was not exactly receptive of his ways. Perhaps the only one that had a chance of going away if ever encountered. So yeah, Lucifer cheated 'a lil bit', but it was all for the kid's sake.

Or so he'd say if Carlos ever found out. He was sure that, King of Hell or not, the young man would kick his balls in (well, he'd try anyway) if that ever were the case. It would make for a fun encounter.

Lucifer groaned. Fun and distracting as this all was, he knew it was going to be such a fucking pain until a solution to Carlos' personal extinction squad was done with in some way.

Heck, it didn't help that his job was eating away at his patience nowadays. The short king didn't exactly enjoy all the seriousness that came with ruling his kingdom. Sure, he liked being the big boss and scaring the shit out of everyone he could when the mood struck, and he sure as fuck loved his wife's anticts as well as his daughter, but shit like this? Yeah, no.

Having to balance previous crap and this new gift was a delicate thing. On the other hand, he had to admit The Order and all the bullshit going with Heaven had kept his fire going after he was banished. If things had been any different? Perhaps he would've ended a shriveled husk of a depressive man.

It was one of those scenarios he couldn't keep out of his mind, even when he was ignoring it. A nagging feeling, you know? It partly never went away because Lucifer knew that it was his silly acts that attracted Lilith at first. He could be a controlling ass, but he was a funny ass at least, and a much lesser dick than Adam… most of the time.

He also made rubber duckies. In fact this vault was full of the things. One of them was even spitting golden needles into the air for some reason. What drugs was he on when he made that one? Oh, probably on the same shit that had him spawn the dragon duck sitting on a golden egg. He was lucky that he had the foresight to keep this place away from nearly everyone in his kingdom. It was also hidden next to his studio and connected to his chambers in case he had to make a break for it.

Look, cut the man a break, everyone has hobbies, and he couldn't go around swinging his apple cane left and right every fucking day.

… Okay, so he could. Shut the fuck up.

Look, Lucifer's point was simple here: He was itching for this plan of his to work. Being tossed from Heaven hurt sure, but it was much worse when he was deemed to be the reason why evil took root. All he wanted to do was help. All he wanted to do was give real freedom. If humanity was full of assholes now, then every angel in Heaven and, more importantly, his own Father, should think hard on what it meant.

Because good ol' Dad made sure humanity was made in His image. Sure the Bible adorned things and said He did it alone, but probably not even The Order knew that angels had a lot to do with the creation of Eden and Earth, as well as the human species. Ergo, if humanity was flawed, yet it was made to resemble 'the higher beings', then said beings were motherfucking cunts too.

BAM! Suck a dick. At least Lucifer didn't hide (all) of his flaws. Automatically better in every way.

The fact that he had tried to help souls become better a loooooooooooo(and he could keep going with this)oooong time ago, only to be showered with crap, did not help either. Everything he had tried? Heaven was there to shit on it. If The Order wasn't a thing that fueled him with the sheer motherfucking hubris that Heaven projected, Lucifer would've lost it. And he knew Lilith would've slowly drifted away.

But that wasn't the case. He was still in tip top fucking form. And now? He had his own fucking piece of The Order. He'd make sure everything would come up milhouse OR ELSE.

Besides, the family wasn't full of dicks. These were some of the nicest mortals he had seen in a while. He wanted to see how they ended up.

He just needed some fucking time away of every cunt noble and every shitstain that wanted to kiss his (or his wife's) ass for some reason or another. He knew his ass tasted of applesauce and his wife of ambrosia, but come on man!

A knock made Lucifer sit up, a milliard of quacks and squeaks making it all as dignified as it could be.

"Yes!?" His own squeak probably didn't help.

"Are you still playing with your toys, honey?" It was his wife. Wasn't she busy with something today?

"Oh, yeah Applepie! I was just having fun with a prank call!" Yes! Nailed it. Lucifer was sure his wife would buy that shit.

Besides, he wasn't exactly lying. He had trolled Stella properly.

"Of course you were." Lilith chuckled. "But how about you pick one of your little duckies and come with me for a bath? I am still waiting on you to share details about that new project of yours."

Well, it wasn't an invitation to try and give Charlie a little brother or sister, but Lucifer wasn't going to deny his wife. Besides, he HAD been teasing her about the mortals for a while. He needed to bring them over at some point. Lilith would love that shit.

Just… hopefully Charlie wouldn't go apeshit. That girl was three fourths cotton candy. And he knew she had been cooking some shit that was bound to create problems soon enough. Humans in Hell could be another excuse to speed up whatever insanity had spawned in that mind of hers.

"Dear?"

"Sorry!" Lucifer got off his ass, grabbed MagiDuckie (A lil duck with a magical hat and the ability to do random magic shit. Please, not another nuke) and went for the door. "I was just wondering, my dear apple. Would you want guests for lunch one of these days?"

*** Chapter End ***

Welp, that is a wrap for this one. Now, onto other matters. Because holy fuck, do I have things to say.

[Btw, I found out the limit of characters in a Googledoc document is slightly above 1.5 million thanks to this story. Just a fun fact. It also added a whole fucking day of work to organize everything in different documents, hah. Should probably get some other shit done too.]

You probably won't have the patience to read all this shit. But hey, if you do? Kudos mang. Anyway, I have a few points to make.

Point 1 - Where I will harp about the series as is now. Don't want to, but I have gripes.

Point 2 - Commenting on the characters in the cartoon.

Point 3 - A short bit about Canon and its uses in this story.

Point 4 - Fuck it, I'll give you a rundown about the ideas for Ouroboros' sidestory and the other one I am mulling about.

1*

Hazbin Hotel finally came out and heck, what can I say? I enjoyed the show. A lot. But there were a fuckton of hiccups. Why? Well, do you know the mentally impaired people that say nostalgia is bad? They can suck the biggest dick, because one thing that should change today is the format of series: 8 episodes for a first season is CRAP.

Hazbin Hotel, Season 1, is RUSHED. It is FAR too quick in every sense of the word. Was it good as far as I could see? Indubitably. I enjoyed it greatly. Was it as coherent and deep as it could be? Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh, no.

Oh, the world is set and more than well made. But it is far too quick and loose in some areas. Part of our understanding comes from a SPINNOFF story (Helluva Boss) and LIVESTREAMS. That is not how it works. I mean, I can be called at fault too considering I plan on doing shorter chapters in a different story to showcase scenes and days in Ouroboros, but that is because the fucking story is massive as it is, thank you very much.

This all without adding how much dread I have thinking that a somewhat episodic format and some of the things shown may or may not fuck up lore, contradict things or add others. I want to have trust here, but I also have seen far too many screw ups in modern media. The speed at which things have been done and some of the changes over the years made me uneasy.

Point being: I do not think Hazbin Hotel in itself is bad in any way when it comes to the story. It is just far too rushed and basic worldbuilding parts could feel missing for those that do not know of Helluva. The sister series has very little relevance (if any), but it laid the foundation for a LOT of shit that many of us draw knowledge from, completing things in our minds. Hazbin is a good story and world all on itself, but it was not given the TIME needed.

There was no time to mourn one of our dear goatboys (Now apparently durgons). Lute and Adam's relationship didn't develop much (though that smile he gives her at the end implies shit, but implying doesn't good will buy here). Carmilla's mention of Angelic Steel and its rarity would've done well with more information being delivered (Because carting a fuckotron of angelic weapons is pretty sus no matter what).

But far more harmful in my view? Problems resolve themselves too quickly. We SHOULD have had at least two, perhaps THREE episodes with Charlie and Lucifer. Mending bridges, explaining things, showing their story, Lilith leaving, etc. We needed at least ONE whole episode learning about Vaggie in Heaven, what led her to grow a conscience and all. Heck, angels being killed JUST with Angelic Steel was a bit off putting. I mean, I basically made three different fucking tiers of human born angelic souls in this story; the basic bitches that aren't that different from the Hellborn (but you won't be able to kill them with regular old weapons), something akin to Sinners and you can bet you ass a proper Exorcist will need angel steel and more to fucking kill.

There are many moments that could've done with a two parter or a much longer episode to explain and expand. I know I am masochistic with detail, but that is because while sometimes less is more, in other occasions less is just that, less.

Fuck, something as simple as Carmilla's daughters should've explained. Am I right in my fanfiction and there are ways for Sinners to spawn? Were they her daughters in life and Hell made them look different because, hey, we know it can happen? Or were they adopted in Hell and she defends her newfound family she doesn't want to lose?

And the less we speak about Heaven, the rules being unknown and shit, the better. Because holy uberfuckalisk, that is an interesting thing to bring up, but without confirmation of GOD or something else, this is just MORE fucking guesswork. At some point a mystery is no longer a mystery and it is just a clusterfuck that you hope will be cleared in the future. Worst case scenario type A: We never get to know. Worser case scenario type B: The explanation is unsatisfying, which would piss even more people off than the previous example.

So, my evaluation there? It needed probably 4 to 8 more episodes, at least. More worldbuilding, slower pacing. You need to make people LIVE the world. It all felt TOO fast, no matter what.

Diamond in the rough, poor pacing fucking it up.

Thing is, if the next season repeats these mistakes with the pacing and by spreading lore OUTSIDE of the medium, whether I like it or not, I will be far more critical of the finished product. Me liking something doesn't mean I won't bash it when it deserves a good pounding.

2*

Now, what about the characters? Generally good there; the main cast is more or less as expected (Except Nifty is FUCKING INSANE). Them guys all guchi here.

But holy fuck did we miss the ball with some people. We'll take a look at most of them here.

First off: The Main Cast, electric boogaloo.

Nothing to say here. Everything went as expected with them (Still saying Vaggie would've needed a fucking episode to herself in Heaven tho). Perhaps giving Alastor far more of an asshole feeling in the end than I thought, but we'll have to see how it develops. Also Sir Pentious going to Heaven was a hoot. Rip goatboy 1# tho, I wish he'd be back, but if they do bring him back again I think it would be a huge miss. Death must mean something, most modern series make it be a slap on the wrist and this is not a fucking child's cartoon. Fuck! (Engage old man mode) In my time even children's cartoons killed fucked for reals! Made even the women grow chest hair!

Kattie Killjoy and Tom Trench:

These guys were, in my eyes, better with the original VAs. Sorry Blitzo, I mean, Brandon, I like you to Hell and back (Literally, part 2), but I don't see your voice coming out of Katie in this case. Nothing to say about their characters because we still go off the Pilot there.

The three Vs:

Generally good, would smash Velvette if she wasn't a Twitter enthusiast, but she has character and I'd like to punch her too, so good villain for the moment. Vox is a cunt that needs a radio up his ass, also a good mind controller as TV does, so again, good. Valentino? Fuck, the voice doesn't fit as far as I am concerned, but he is written as the piece of shit that he should be, though I think he has far less power in the trio than he should.

Good three people to hate. Fission Mailed successfully. Let's hope they get fucked over with some bar wire and monkey glue. That'd be a hoot.

Overlords:

Love Rosie, fucking best girl. Cannibals rule and the ladies are all pretty. I am biased and I don't fucking care. Hope my characterization of her is nice enough. Will still refer to Cannibal Town as 'Colony' btw, not gonna change that.

Zestial is cool as fuck. Want to see more of the guy.

Carmilla Carmine is best bear mom. Am not into dommy mommies but holy fuck she rules o3o.

We'll need to see more about the others before I judge much, though hey, as a degen*cough*, as a man of culture, raptor ass with Miss Zilla is a good start.

Lucifer:

The short king of Hell and a goofball to boot. Fuck, did MOST PEOPLE (If not everyone) think he'd be different, me included. I think I can still fit his silly persona here and there, but I probably will stick with the idea of a more serious, I fuck around whenever I want and nobody fucks with me, short king on this story. On that point…

I do like that he is a good dad in Hell, because there aren't enough of those around as we have seen. Probably a bit harsh here and there considering his previous depression and not wanting Charlie to get shot down by Heaven, which is likely why he did his best to discourage Charlie about her idea of redeeming Sinners. Can't really fault the man; try to do the same for probably millenia, only to get dicked over between Heaven telling him to fuck off and humans using his gift to fuck everything up and you end up with depression AT LEAST.

Lilith:

No separation. Fuck that. Nuhuh. They's togueta foreva like Red Go Fasta. Don't know what she'll be like and all, so we'll have to wait until Season 2 in… a year or 2 perhaps? In the meantime I'll go with how I think she'd be.

Personally I think she is going to fuck something up in the series, and not in a good way. BUT! Since everyone was already wrong in a lot of crap, anything could happen.

Adam and Lute:

Pair o' cunts innit? Yet I'd like to think that Adam 'I AM FIRING MA LAZORS' Dickmaster had a hand on sending Pentius to Heaven, that, I genuinely like the dick. It is hard not to sympathize with a man that got FUCKED OVER just by being created. You were made to be the FIRST FUCKING MAN and all but told that you were to be in charge of your partner. Adam wasn't a natural born occurrence in this version of existence: He was made as he was, he likely didn't share in the apple with Eve and he got shit for being who he was MADE to be. A tragic villain in my view (unless confirmed otherwise later on), and I would've loved to see more of him. Go back to point 1 to see why.

Getting killed by the fucking janitor was a lark tho.

Lute is similar, though she is a bit more of a kunt (with K for emphasis). Why? I dunno. Far too many girl bosses here, though THIS series is more focused on the women. In all truth and no more womanbashing jokes (Well, for now at least ;3, we need to fuck with everyone here) tho; she just seems to be generally bitter, prolly because, far as I can see, she and Adam had a thing, but in Heaven it likely couldn't fucking work, much less with their 'job'. Heaven may be a nice place, but even if Hell has rules, it is a lot more open than that golden gated community. That and she loves her job a little too much. We'll see how it all goes down

Sera:

Kunt. Until we know more. Kunt after too, prolly. But I want to know more about her and all the bullshit in heaven. Plus she DOES seem nice, if horribly misguided.

Emily:

PROTECT THE BEAN. Though my other story idea may fuck her over a bit… But still, I like this cute heavenly version of Charlie and bunny hooked on pure 100 carat cut sugar.

3*

Next chapter is Act II's conclusion, and we'll be seeing someone again for the last time until we get closer to Year I's resolution. Originally this character was going to be another original creation, but considering what has transpired in Hazbin Hotel, I think someone there is far more fitting for the scene in mind.

A few other points I was going to make at later dates are also impacted, but I won't come clean with when or how they are going to appear. This is after all fanfiction that isn't meant to adhere 1 to 1 to canon, but I won't be making more possible spoilers. Just saying some things will hint at the canon of Hazbin Hotel, but hopefully I won't make it so obvious you guys will catch it right away. It is far more fun if there is a little bit of mystery after all.

4*

And now we are done with my rant. Sorry if it was too long and hard (giggity). Two weeks sick and a short series later I was dying to bitch and moan XD.

So, my other ideas.

-Ouroboros - Day by Day

It is meant to be a SHORT CHAPTER (Please, oh fucking good, please let it be short chapters. I like being detailed but I need practice making simple shit) style story. Scenes where the characters interact, show the, drop tittle name here, Day by Day lives of Carlos, the girls and the family. A way to develop everyone outside the grand story that is Ouroboros' main plot.

Considering the 'Main story' deals with the biggest, most serious crap, these scenes are perfect for ironing out relationships and other events. Considering the length of my usual chapters and the focus on the story, I just cannot add these little snippets to Ouroboros and make them just 'short' as I want them to be.

Plus, if I get artwork (other than my sister's), it will be a good place to place anything to do with certain characters and the like.

-Rapture

You know what I thought before Emily appeared? That Heaven was likely full of assholes, either willingly or out of ignorance and little care. Why would they care anyway? They got to Heaven and every day is a bloody good day. After a life full of shit, it is understandable.

But you know what I thought after Emily appeared? That there was one person that was far too nice for Heaven. And that was going to cost her.

So in a fucking single day I had this idea: Emily, while the iron is hot, contacts Hell and promises to help Charlie. But how? The solution is absurdly simple. Charlie wants to show that souls can be redeemed, but the people she is helping have been dead for a long time. They may have a desire to improve, but they have, ironically enough, an easy time doing that when compared to those that died recently. Why? Because it is old baggage, old baggage that, after so long, does not really tie to the people they want to be anymore. For the living it is much harder to let go of things. But once dead and with very few things tying you down? The same weight and mindset is likely not there.

But what about a more recently deceased person? One whose regrets are still fresh and hurting? Enter Miss (Sarah in this story) Mayberry.

In this version of this universe, Miss Mayberry had an older sister. A piece of shit of a sister, sure, but a sister. That woman is not her regret. Her sister's son? That is different. Basically abandoned at her doorstep one day, Samantha raises the kid as her own for a long time, spending a lot of her youth taking care of her sister's mistakes. By her mid 30s the child was already grown up and she was ready to have her own attempt at having her own kid, but we know how that ended the moment a very stressed and mentally fragile Mayberry finds out her husband was cheating on her with Marta.

Her nephew, Jack Mayberry, grew up decently thanks to Samanta, but had a certain level of codependency on the woman. Having been raised by a teenager barely about to hit 17 with a piece of shit sister and two parents far too busy to help even if they wanted, it is no surprise if there were mistakes and you get a 'rocky' start in life. Barely hitting 20 at the start of the story, Jack is about to commit one of those sins that send you to Hell before Emily arrives and quite literally cuts him a lifeline before offering him and out of his misery while also giving him a chance to help not only himself, but his aunt and mother figure.

See, Emily has found a way to make sure she, and everyone, knows if redemption is possible: to make IT known. Because, for all of Heaven's rules, there is NO rule whatsoever that prohibits the Afterlife being known, only very strict guidelines to not solve humanity's problems. Showing them that they DO have problems, and that there is an endgame, is, thus, not 'solving' anything, in fact it is giving them more shit to short through. So, in every sense of the word, Emily does nothing wrong.

And it turns out that her plan may have a decent foundation. Jack may not have the gift of talking to people (much less children) in person as his aunt does, but he IS capable with a podcast. Emily thus works a simple plan of attack: Reunite the two in the living world (Sarah still very much a Sinner) and make Mayberry explain her plight, her actions… and show her path to redemption as she works towards forgiveness for the one evil act she outright committed.

Of course, shit will not work as intended. Emily's good intentions will not be repaid willingly and conflict will land the three realms in a world of shit. And if you know what the 'Rapture' is… you probably can guess just how 'well' Emily's intentions will land.

***DAT'S ALL. Now scram :3