Chapter 19:
End of a nightmare…
"royal….fucking…..flush…..motherfucker….."
Husk's words echoed through the studio as Vallentino just stared with wide eyed disbelieve at the cat demon's cards on the table.
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER" Vallentino screamed as he threw the table to the other side of the studio, a few of his actors barely able to dodge it as it broke apart against a nearby wall, after which the moth demon wanted to grab the bartender by the throat, tho he was quickly stopped by Alastor's tentacles as he screamed "YOU FUCKING CHEATED"
Husk just raised his arms "No sleeves, where the fuck am I supposed to hide cards?" as he approached the pimp overlord, who was still being restrained by the radio demon "Admit it, Val…I won fair and square and….you….lost…."
Just as the moth man wanted to speak up again, he was met with a sound, a sound that almost sounded like crystals growing as Lute's soul chain materialized, before Charlie spoke up "As per our deal…Husk won….which means you have to hold up your end of the bargain…"
And as Val's eyes widened in horror, the chain began to crack as it slowly crumbled, before vanishing all together.
With wide eyes, Lute reached 2 shaky hands towards her neck line "is it….truly…..over?" to which Angel Dust grabbed her into a hug from behind "Congrats, Horns…you're free…."
As the group slowly wanted to leave the studio, their exit would be barred by Vallentino standing in the door opening "Oh I don't FUCKING THINK SO! First you took Angel's contract from me, and NOW HERS?!" as he pulled out one of his pistols "When I'm done with you, you'll have SO MANY new holes that I can FUCK" tho he'd suddenly be grabbed from behind as slowly, Vox's clawed hands grabbed him by the shoulders "Val, Val, Val…." His voice sounding charming, but the sheer fury behind it could be felt by EVERYONE as his screen face flickered a few times, static electricity sparking from his hands.
"Can you and have a little talk" the TV demon spoke as he suddenly pulled Vallentino towards his now much brighter screen face, which was sparking with rage "…..ALONE?!" to which Vallentino swallowed a lump in his throat as nervous sweat began to drip from his forehead "uh….V-voxy?"
Just before the hazbin group left through the door of the studio, they could hear the increasingly desperate voice of vallentino as he began pleading with the TV overlord "Come on Voxy, can't we talk about this? Please no…no please…not the face, NOT THE FACE, NOT THE FACE!"
As when they had left the district, the Vee tower behind them, all the lights of the tall, imposing building would suddenly short circuit as a wave of electricity shoot up from the tower, originating from the bottom floor, followed by the panicked, pained yelps of Vallentino, screaming on the top of his lungs like a little girl "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Once back into the hotel, Husk didn't waste a moment before he hopped behind the bar as he pulled out several bottles from the top shelf "Come on folks, we got something to celebrate!" the cat demon spoke as he poured everyone a generous glass before picking up his own, making eye contact with Lute and raised his "To your newfound freedom, Lute"
Everyone took their own glass and they too would raise it, causing Lute to look around at this little band of misfits she had found herself, and with s subtle smile, she too would raise her glass as she downed it….
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Hazbin hotel, 2 weeks later, pride ring, hell:
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"Are you sure she's ok?" Charlie asked Angel Dust, who just shrugged "She keeps saying she's fine but…." The tall spider demon would look over his shoulder at his adopted sister "I don't know, Charlie…I think you might be right…I don't think the reality of her new situation has set in yet…."
Ever since that fateful poker game with Vallentino, where Husk had won Lute's freedom, the fallen angel hadn't shown any change in behavior…..almost as if she half expected to be rang up by the porn demon for another shoot any moment….
By now, tho, Vaggie had joined them in the lobby as she tapped the princess on the shoulder "Alright babe, Sera is expecting us at the embassy for a monthly report, you ready to go?" as she looked at her, tho upon seeing her worried expression, Vaggie followed her gaze and once realizing she was looking at Lute, gave a understanding "ohhh"
Angel Dust put a hand on both the 2 women's shoulders "Don't worry, Charlie, Vaggie, I'll keep an eye on her, ok?"
The 2 women would nod as shortly after, they had left towards the heaven embassy, leaving Lute in the capable hands of her adopted brother.
Having decided to help Niffty around the hotel, Lute had gone from laundry duty to helping the short maid to clear out some of the higher up cobwebs, ending with a round of pest control and chasing bugs as eventually, after almost a full days' worth of work, the now exhausted fallen angel entered the lobby, not even bothering to hold up her tail anymore, letting it drag behind her across the carpet as she unceremoniously let herself flop down onto one of the sofas.
Anger Dust, who had snuck off to flirt with his boyfriend, Husk, had returned to see the state that Lute was in as he chuckled "Holy shit, you actually kept up with good ol' Niff? I'm impressed, Horns" earning himself a tired chuckle from the former exorcist as she sat up
"Please remind Husk to NEVER give Niffty coffee. If this is how she is without, I don't even wana IMAGINE what she's like on a caffeine rush" to which the tall spider demon chuckled "Thoroughly noted" as the 2 of them exchanged a few laughs.
Lute would suddenly tense up as her phone went off, as for a second, 3 years of conditioning kicked in as she pulled out her phone with baited breath, however, upon seeing Charlie's name pop up on the screen, she just stared at it blankly for a few minutes before the phone went silent again…..the message "one missed call" now on her screen.
About a minute later, her phone buzzed to life again, once again showing Charlie's name on the screen, at which, with a shaky hand, lute tapped the "pick up" button on the screen as she brought the phone to her ear "H-hello?"
"Hi Lute, sorry to call so suddenly, I tried calling Alastor but….well…I don't think he ever uses his phone and neither Husk nor Angel picked up, so I called you" Lute heard the telltale, singsong voice of the princess on the other end of the line.
"S-sure Charlie, no problem at all" Lute mumbled out, to which Charlie responded "Could you maybe tell the others we're running a bit late? BUUUUUUT we're thinking of bringing pizzas on the way back, what'd ya like on yours? I know Angel's and Husk's faves already"
"Uhm….j-just…margarita is fine….and…i-I'll let them know" Lute answered to the princess, who cheerfully responded "Oki-doki, see ya guys later tonight" as she hung up.
Lute stood there for a few minutes in silence, staring at her phone as Angel looked on, before she spoke up "He's…he really is…not gonna call anymore…..isn't he…"
Angel Dust walked up beside his adopted sister "Nope….he no longer holds any power over you…." Lute began to softly shake "So…it's…..it's really over then….." to which Angel gently rubbed her back "Yea sis….it really is….you're free….."
With a shaky hand, Lute opened the contacts of her phone, scrolled down to the letter V and tapped the pimp overlord's name….but as she was about to press "delete contact" she hesitated
"what if….i suddenly wake up back in the studio….and it's all just a big dream?" She asked in a shaky voice.
"Well" Angel spoke up "Then this must probably be the realest fucking dream ever….right?" to which, the fallen angel would drop to her knees on the floor, covering her mouth with one hand as she other still held up the phone, tears beginning to roll over her cheeks.
Seeing this, Angel Dust slowly got on the floor next to her as he wrapped his arms around her "It's finally sinking in, isn't it, sis?"
Lute would wordlessly nod, the only sound she was able to make being soft sobs as she stared at the phone.
The 2 of them sat there in silence for a few minutes before Lute spoke "no more shoots…..no more love potion….no more…."him"….I'm truly free…"
Angel gently rubbed the back of her head as he still held her in a tight hug "Yes Horns, you're free…..he has no power over you anymore…." As she'd finally look at him, her eyes still full of tears, but her face having broken open into a wide smile.
And as she looked back to her phone screen….she tapped vallentino's name….and presses "delete" as a small window popped up.
"Are you sure you want to delete this contact info?"
With a deep sigh and a tearful smile, Lute….
…tapped "yes"…
"by the way…..Charlie said they're bringing pizza….."