(Forgot I uploaded here. Sorry. Enjoy plz!)

Octavia

I still can't even remotely comprehend what I experienced not even a few hours ago...

Pretty sure even Dad's got the same reaction as well...

I didn't even think any of this was possible.

Were those twins some form of new force that has manifested itself in our world?

If so, how, and why? If not, I can ask the same question!

I already know they attacked as a result of Dad's associates failing to kill the one named Kai...

But there are so many other families here that have more influence than we do...

Why us?

Moreover, his nature is...disturbingly familiar...

I wonder...

He might-

"'Via? Are...you troubled, my owlette?" I hear my father ask me.

"Existing, I guess..."

We're currently waiting on Kai to contact Dad's associates as per his request, given the 'strength in numbers' as he said.

He asked for some time to get a few things situated, and gave Kai a 2-way portal spell back to the 'hotel' he came from.

Apparently, he wanted to work on a few things before he met...what were they called...

I.M.P.? Was the acronym?

I think so.

He already came back and father sent him to the complex they worked at to assemble them, just waiting on his call.

We've been getting ourselves ready to move to that hotel, me getting my stuff and Dad his.

"In terms of troubled, yeah." I admit.

"I understand how you feel. You are not alone." He assures me.

I nod to at least show that I acknowledge that fact.

I feel at least better with him here...but I've never felt not safe until this day.

It all just happened...so spontaneously...with the prelude being the Hellquake and watching our personal army get slaughtered, and the deadly twins trying to go for our heads all within such a small amount of time...

Really puts things into perspective.

At least Kai was here to save us, and I guess by proxy that Krauss guy who showed up.

Of whom is just sitting at the top of the stairs, apparently going over notes of sorts.

I've glanced at Dad's business ledger enough times to know when I see an actual ledger, and this guy has one he seems to be able to tuck away.

He's even more mysterious than Kai...and as far as I've seen, the second human I've ever seen in my life!

Again, lot's happened so quickly...

It's almost madness already...

"Thanks, Dad...it means a lot, coming from you." I say, quickly pulling myself out of my rapid train of thought.

As I go for a hug for the one parent who actually cares about me, I notice a presence mixed with that of jealousy and heartwarming nature off to our side.

"Wish either of my parents were like that..."

Dad seems to hear princess Charlie muttering to herself.

"Hey, Charlie." Dad says.

"Yeah?" She looks at him.

"Even if your parents don't express their love for you, somewhere down there they still care." He says genuinely.

"Dad says I'm a failure and I hardly hear from Mom nowadays." She bluntly retorts.

"Why do you believe they think that?" He asks.

"Because I guess in this world of red, I've been looking for a little blue bird in vain." She replies somberly. "He sees me as a continuation of himself, and my failure to achieve a seemingly impossible goal is a stain on his legacy, and despite giving me his old hotel to work in, it just seems to get me away from him so he can pretend I don't exist. I'm starting to think his behavior is rubbing off on Mom, considering she's not been answering my calls or messages as of recently...I just feel like I'm alone despite some of the people around me..."

Dad looks at her with pity, the look he has whenever I'm feeling down or needing help...

Knowing him...he can't leave someone who needs help.

"Even if it turns out their love for you is gone, though I still insist they still have it, be assured that I still see you as someone who can do great things. You have a dream with your project, and you can make it come true. To be frank, we haven't really had much chemistry, but I'd like to at least start some with you." He says, looking to me but speaking to both me and Charlie. "I know what it's like having such an extraordinary daughter."

Charlie stares at Dad, before a smile forms on her face, visibly having been touched...

I don't know what it's like having a negligent Dad, nor do I want to...

But if I could, despite me barely knowing the princess...I certainly wouldn't mind sharing my father with her.

"Thanks...Stolas...it means a lot, coming from you." She says, but then gives me a raised eyebrow, clearly using what I said moments ago. I roll my eyes with a smile of my own.

RING! RING!

Charlie's Hellphone suddenly goes off, she pulls it out, looking at the caller and answers the call.

"Hello? Oh, hey Kai. You've got them? Perfect! If you've got the book, just have them create a portal here, and then we'll all jump to the Hotel. Got it? Alright. See you soon." She says, hanging up. "They'll all be here in a second."

I just about see an excited face on Dad, who I know is obviously anticipating to see a certain someone.

"Got your guys' stuff?" She asks, we nod. "Get ready."

Moments after she finishes talking, the circular flaming portal linking two points in space opens up in front of us.

The first thing we see is our red armored savior, Kai...

And behind him are the 4-member band of lower-ranked demons whom my Dad requested the aid of.

Strangely, two of them, the couple who helped protect us at Loo Loo Land, are wearing similar armor to that of the twins who attacked us...

I understand giving Imps an edge against stronger enemies, I've seen shorts of combat stuff when I scroll on social media, but why is the look similar to them?

Despite this, they seem to be immensely happy wearing those deadly weapons on their bodies.

Meanwhile, there's the leader Blitz, or Blitzy...as Dad calls him... who appears to have a new weapon by his side as compared to that flintlock pistol he had.

It's the same one, but it looks modded into oblivion to the point where it's transitioned into an entirely new weapon.

Finally, there's...

Wait...I remember Kai mentioning a Hellhound.

She must be the one he referred to.

It didn't occur to me until now...but why is a Hellhound working or just being alongside these Imps?

I know the hierarchal scale of demons, and Hellhounds are the only beings below the Imps...

Strange...

The thing that stands out to me the most about her right now is the fact that she has a weird expression on her.

I can't describe it beyond...something happened to her, not in a bad way, that's left her-

Flabbergasted!

That's the word.

Speechless, too-

"And for the last time, the 'O' is SILENT!" Blitz screams at Kai, who seems more keen on correcting the big-horned imp as I'm pulled out of my head.

"If you chose to remove the 'O' from your original name, why even mention that there was one in the first place if you're trying to leave it behind?" He exasperatingly points out. "The pronunciation is evident enough of your new name and they won't even know until you actually say it."

"I have to clarify it."

"But you're trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist anywhere else except your past, it just seems counterintuitive."

"Uh, 'B?" The female Imp tugs on her boss's sleeve, getting his attention that the portal was already formed mid-argument.

Blitz comically moves his eyes to the side, directing towards us as he audibly sweats in embarrassment. He quickly dons a professional attitude and adjusts his suit, immediately trying to act as if the informal argument didn't exist.

Kai takes the lead, despite Blitz's initial attempts to do so.

He steps through the portal, and the 4 of them follow suit as the portal closes.

"Ah, Blitzy! So good to see you again!" Dad greets him.

"Stolas..." He says. "Got your message...by the way..."

"Ah...yes...well...it was the only way to really bring you here..." Dad says, rubbing his arm.

"Ya sure?" Blitz raises his eyebrow.

"Sure!" Dad comically says, smiling that says 'Not really'. "Uh...Pringles!"

Our imp butler appears out of nowhere, much to my relief that Dad didn't go any further with that.

"Yes sure?"

"Is the car ready?"

"Uh...about that, sir..."

"What...?" Dad asks, staring at him.

"It...was destroyed in the attack. The damage to the mansion wasn't just at the throne room, it was to the entire structure." He explains.

Some hissing comes from Dad at the frustration of this before he takes a breath.

"(Sigh) Let's just use the grimoire...Pringles, oversee the reconstruction of the mansion in our absence." He orders the imp.

"Yes sire." He says as he departs to do so.

"Hey, Stolas, can you help Charlie open a portal there?" He asks.

"Yes. Blitzy?." He says, Blitz hands him the Grimoire, but backs off as if Dad was going to do something. "Charlie, I'll need your help with the visualizing. You know where your hotel is, right?"

"Yeah." She says, getting up from Mom's empty throne and walking over to where Dad is.

The two of them spend a moment conversing with each other about how he will do the drawing and Charlie must think of where she wants the portal to go.

Dad uses his magic to levitate the book, holding out his hand as Charlie does the same, mainly for her to focus.

It's almost badass with the way they look doing it...a prince of hell alongside the princess of hell.

A few whispers of an incantation-

"CAPE NOS QUO EAMUS"

In the unified command, and some red glowing from their eyes, space distorts in front of us, and a circular portal leading to the obvious front door of a structure makes itself known.

Taking the actions of an obvious leader, Kai walks closer to it first.

"Let's go. Fate waits for no one." He says, walking through.

I feel like that was a callback of sorts...

We all do as he says and trek through the spatial distortion which closes as soon as we're at our destination instantly.

Man...I heard about this hotel...but I never thought it was on this...gargantuan scale!

Thought it was some run-down place but nope...this was definitely provided by Lucifer himself.

Charlie takes the lead this time and gets to the front door.

"One sec." She says, pulling out and dialing something on her phone. "Hey guys...is she restrained? Still asleep? Good...give her some more of the oil just to be sure, she's going to basically explode if she finds out who's coming...send Keekee over here to unlock the door, please."

Who...is she referring to?

"Alright, we're clear. Now, our current guests are kind of...eccentric, so to say...and stay away from the guy who talks about deals, got it?" She asks us, we nod as we hear the sound of the door clicking.

She opens the door, and out comes a small black and white cyclopean cat that leaps up into Charlie's arms. She has white spots on the tip of her ears and tail, the spots on her ears forming a heart when they close together as she's being pet by the princess. She has scruffy fur, one eye with a red pupil, and a red collar on.

"Heya, Charlie! So good ta see ya again!" The little one says.

"Finally doing your job, huh, little monster?" She rubs her ears.

"Oh come on, I'm new to this stuff! Cut me some slack!" She rolls her eye.

"Okay...but only because you're so...darn cute!" She cuddles the ball of black fuzz like a teddy bear before she notices we're watching.

The one named Keekee does too.

"Who deez?" She asks.

"Our...guests...Keekee. That's who." She says as-a-matter-of-factly.

The cyclops cat shrugs her shoulders.

"Cool." She says before leaping off and scampering back into the hotel. "See ya, Charlie!"

"You too!" She calls before the cat disappears, she turns to us and sheepishly grins. "She's uh...the key to the hotel."

"Cool." I say out of everybody, not expecting to be the only one.

Despite my initial embarrassment we all make our way inside this new home of ours...at least hopefully for now...

Apples, serpents, diamonds, classical stuff...all the things Lucifer is known for...

Great...

"We'll need to get you guys situated. Stolas, for you and Octavia you will get a VIP suite. The rest of you, considering you were at least recommended by him, will get Premium, the same rooms as staff." Charlie explains.

"And why is that, rosy-cheeks?" Blitz comments, much to Charlie's ire.

"Because it will not look good in my Dad's eyes if I can't treat his business partner with some respect." She tries to explain.

"I mean, YOU can always run a hotel, if you think you can do it, Blitz." Kai quips.

"Alright...I get your point..." He concedes, already having known he crossed the line with Charlie.

She leads us to what looks to be a front-desk, manned by a feline demon with wings, he's facing the other way, smoking a cigar.

"Husk." Kai says, getting his attention.

"Heh, hey Kai, what's u-" He says, seemingly glad to see him, but his eyes dart to Dad, me, and the others. "Uh, Charlie? Why are the Goetias and Imp squad here?"

"Did you hear the report?" Charlie asks.

"Ah, Al told me about THAT...so that's why?" He asks.

"Better if we're off the grid. Even Dad doesn't pay attention to this place so we can lay low here." Charlie explains, but turns to us. "Uh...how do you guys want this to work?"

"Octavia, do you want a room to yourself?" Dad asks me, I shrug.

"I guess as long as it's connected to yours? I don't want to be left alone after today..." I say sheepishly.

"I understand." He gently says before looking to the one named Husk. "Do you by chance have living spaces with those accommodations?"

"Yeah...got 2 keys right here." He says, reaching under the desk and pulling out 2 identical keys, handing them over to us.

I take one, and Dad takes one.

"Now how about you, shorties?" Husk says to the others.

"HEY! WHO YOU CALLING SHORTY?!" Blitz spits back.

"One who's aboutta get a Premium room. Ya want one or not?" Husk says, clearly not caring about Blitz's response.

Before he answers, he ponders about it, meanwhile the short white-haired one edges over to Husk and whispers something to him.

I just about make out that he wants him and his wife to be as far away and as discreet as possible from where Blitz is.

"Fine, I'll settle for it." Blitz huffs as the other imp sneaks away back into the group.

A little more time passes for Husk underneath the desk as I assume he's sorting out which Premium rooms are furthest from each other, and hands a pair of identical keys to the imp couple and a different key to Blitz.

"Now how about you, Hellhound?" Husk says.

"Huh?" She utters, seemingly finally snapped out of her trance of flabbergast-ness she's been in the last 5-10 minutes.

"You want your own room, or you want to be roomies with Overcompensator over here?" Husk says.

"WHAT'S THAT SUPPPOSED TO MEAN?!" Blitz's fire reignites again.

"Check your giant horns." Husk quips as he sips some booze.

"WHY YOU-" He tries to lunge at him but is stopped by the seemingly stronger armored couple who hold him back.

"Last chance, kid. You want some privacy from this guy or what?" Husk asks.

"I'll...take my own..." She says, soon receiving the requisite key, and earning herself a heartbroken expression from Blitz.

"Thanks..." She says, putting it in her pocket.

"And that should be everybody. Welcome to the Hap...uh...Hazbin... Hotel!" Charlie gleefully announces to us "Despite the fact that you're not sinner demons...!"

Literally said what I was thinking.

"Charlie, is there a way to access the garage from here? I'm gonna need to install some upgrades on there...today has really put things into perspective..." Kai says.

"Yeah, just head that way and take the last door on the right." Charlie points out.

"Appreciate it. I'll see you soon."

"You too. Good luck." She says.

"Thank you, Kai." Dad says.

"Thanks, man." I say.

"Anytime, guys." He says as he goes down the hall and disappears through the door.

Now, I guess it's just us Hell-born down here...

Of whom-

"Damn, Millie, I still can't believe how powerful I feel in this thing! All my life I've been trampled over for just being small...but now I feel like none of that even existed!" The male imp I believe I heard to be Moxxie gushes about his armor.

I've never seen him or his partner use that kind of armor before.

It seems to be, in case I haven't mentioned it, similar in design to that of the twins who attacked us earlier.

Since when and why do Imps get such advanced pieces of protection?

Call this kind of weird of me to say...

But I'm actually kind of jealous of Imps for once.

"Hey, Octavia, what would you by chance like to look around? It'd be nice to see more of where we'll be staying for a while." Dad suggests, taking my attention away from the Imps.

I shrug my shoulders.

"Sure."

Charlie, later

Okay...the Goetias and I.M.P. have been assigned their respective rooms, so that's taken care of...

Only side question is if Angel...or worse yet Alastor is going to figure out we got new guests.

Given Al's an Overlord and Stolas is a Goetia, I'm not sure if they've had any interactions in terms of feuds.

Neither of them have ever mentioned each other...

Though I wonder who is stronger?

Huh, why'd that question pop up?

Weird.

I happen to look down at my watch.

Oh! It's almost dinnertime, should probably ask around about food.

I do so by whipping out my phone and calling everyone respectively.

Stolas provides me the numbers of the Imps as well as his and Octavia's request.

Okay, calls were quick, the Goetias are okay with anything rodent or fish related...I think I can work with the latter.

The Imps are alright with anything meat related, so that's even better.

Now's a question regarding Kai...

I dial the number he provided to me that tunes into the communicator watch he has.

He said he got it from the overworld...

"Hey Charlie, what's up?"

"Hey, it's almost dinnertime and I don't know what you'd like or if you're hungry at all."

"Do you guys require food? I know you guys are spectral beings, but is it that you guys have physical forms that need such?"

"I...guess so? We still feel hunger, but I don't think we die from it."

"Okay...sure, that makes sense...hmm..."

"If you need some time-"

"Depending on whatever everybody else wants, whatever you believe is best. I'll let you decide. I'm not particular."

"Uh okay. I'll call when it's all situated."

"Thank you, Charlie."

"Welcome. Also...I couldn't help but notice the Imps had some new pieces of tech. Was the stuff you were working on what you were planning on giving to them?"

"Yeah."

"Not trying to sound jealous...but are you planning on making anything for the rest of us?"

"Haven't fought you. Don't know what you're capable of. I fought the Imps and know their strengths and weaknesses. Gave them some stuff to give them an edge."

"Oh, okay."

"Don't worry, if we ever have a bout, and I hope to do so to help teach you, I'll figure something out."

"Thanks...I guess?"

"Just do what you're needing to do right now, we'll cross that bridge when we get there."

"Okay, I'll see you in a bit."

"You too."

CLICK!

"You respect him, don't you?" I hear somebody behind me as I turn to face the unusual one, more so than how Kai is.

It's that green guy who saved Kai and the rest of us.

"He's unlike anybody I've ever known. Only about my age, yet for the most part he acts like he's so much older, more mature, having gone through life and learnt his lessons." I explain my stance on him. "I'd kill to have that knowledge at my age. By the way...Krauss...right? Coen Krauss?"

"Got that right." The green-eyed one winks at me.

"What's your story?" I interrogate him.

"Saw there was potential here I'd like to keep out of mine and Kai's mutual enemies, the Demons. Though they seemed to have outsourced their operations to other specialists, as you saw with Duo Mortae."

Okay, there are several questions I have...

"What...kind of potential are you talking about?"

"Just to preface this, I respect Kai enough to at least let him be the one to answer some of these questions, but I'll at least say that this place is like a goldmine for them."

"Why?"

"They seek to seize your power. Both politically and...well...literally."

"So what? These ulterior supernatural forces seek to usurp our power and supplant us?"

"Basically."

"Why?"

"That is the question reserved for Kai, lassie." He holds his finger up to cease that train.

"A lot of cryptic stuff is going on as of recently and I am very aware of the 'what', I just want to know more of the 'what' as well as the 'why' and 'how'."

"Oh don't worry, Madame Morningstar, all will be revealed...sooner than you think..."

"Yeah, sure."

"But you yourself are interesting..."

"Why?"

"You're the direct daughter of Lucifer..."

"And?"

"It makes me wonder...with the blood coursing through your veins that originated from him...it excites me to think about the things you are capable of..."

"What're you implying?"

"Oh, rest assured. I'm throwing this freebie on Kai's tab because I've been wanting to see some action. If you haven't figured that out already."

"(Scoff) Guarantee you and Alastor would get along very well."

"The Radio Demon? Pretty easy to tune into his podcast. Hates TV and everything like that but loves anything radio."

"How did you-?"

"I have a portable radio. I get bored easily, so I search the frequencies." He says frankly.

"Oh."

"Speaking of...I think I'd like to go converse with him...if you so claim he and I would get along."

"Do you have a death wish?"

"Ma'am..." He says as he stares at me...his eyes slightly pulse emerald green. "You have no idea what I'm capable of."

I...don't doubt that statement...

His mere presence was enough to drive off those twins...

And if they're the tactical geniuses I'd presume them to be...

For them, the only logical thing to do in that situation would be to flee when Coen Krauss shows up.

"Anyways, would I be wrong in assuming the radio station portion is where he dwells?"

"Y-yeah...just take the elevator to the 11th floor and go all the way down to the right. His room will be at the very very end of the first staircase you see."

"Thank you, Charlie, I look forward to us speaking more in the future."

"Sure..." I say as he goes to the elevator, opening it and watching me as it closes.

Now it's just me on my own...

I think I better get the food situated...to get my mind off the potential force of nature I just witnessed.

I'm feeling less like the princess of Hell and more like a fish in an increasingly giant pond...

Because the sharks and the Apexes are starting to make themselves known...

Kai, a couple hours later

Standard tracking beacons...

Alright...link them up...

I press a couple buttons on a screen on my bike and sync some new software in addition to the new modifications.

And...done!

The new parts for my bike are finished.

This is only a prototype, but I hope to finish more copies should the test run be completed.

The only question is when exactly the next combat situation would take place to where this would need to be utilized.

I'll find out eventually.

I always do.

CREEEAK!

I just notice the sound of the door behind me opening, I turn my head to see.

"Loona. What're you doing here?" I ask.

"Looking for you." The Hellhound says, staring at me. "I wanted to talk to you."

"Sure." I say, nodding.

She walks in the garage, still locking her eyes on me.

Eventually she's on the other side of the bike, she glances at it, seemingly being impressed by the design and the like before returning staring at me.

The silence is almost killer until she breaks it.

"Why?" She asks. "Why did...you help me? The exact moment we met each other I tried to kill you and you kicked the asses of me and the others. Not even going to ask HOW you did that. You called me 'Brave One' or something like that before you kicked us back to Hell. Next thing I know you COME to Hell just to return the book you stole from us and give us gifts that have...strangely ironic and unironic meanings to them. Moreover, you somehow cured my Syphilis. Why?"

"The moment I excised the truth I knew what was really going on. You were being threatened and you had much to lose. I don't blame you entirely for being under the mercy of drastically greater powers and being forced to at least try to do their bidding. But when the fight happened, I saw something within you, Loona. You were willing to shoulder the burden of the fight on your own and that's admirable in it of itself. Also considering you were able to hold your own without any real training shows you have potential. I'm not wasteful, and it was all not in cold blood, so no foul there."

"First impressions are last impressions. Would've thought you were trying to finish the job when you showed up."

"Most times people at least deserve a second chance, Loona. People down here need to realize that. I know the importance of being able to forgive. It's not just for someone else, it's for your conscience."

She looks at me even more before looking to the ground, still thinking about my words.

"Also, in case I didn't mention, I provided the gifts as a peace offering. When I broke Blitz's pistol? Fixed and upgraded it. Saw that Millie and Moxxie were diminutive in stature and might've needed a boost in the might department? Gave them Exoskeleton Suits. You had Syphilis, I had the means to cure it and I did. Knew that you guys were still going to be angry, so I wanted to show you I had no bad blood against you. And it worked."

She sighs, though I'm not sure at what.

I'd imagine this treatment of her beyond Blitz doing so is foreign to her...and she's trying to comprehend it.

"I feel like that time I asked Blitz if his 'adoption anniversary' gift was a Syphilis cure has taken on a new meaning now..." She utters, putting her hand on her face.

"What was that gi-"

"Spiders." She answers my question.

"Random." I quip.

"You have no idea." She says.

The silence soon returns as she looks at me again before her gaze goes elsewhere.

Soon, without words, she goes back towards the door, seemingly at least satisfied with the answer she's been given.

Before she goes through, she looks at me one more time.

"Hey...I don't say this very often...but thanks. It...meant a lot to me, for what you did." She says.

"I'd do it again if I could." I say, she scoffs.

"Damn...you're too good to be real..." A grin arches on the side of her face. "See ya...Kai."

"You too, Loona." I say, nodding.

She disappears through the door and closes it, leaving me alone with my work.

Her potential is there...she must be allowed to develop herself...and let it grow.

And I do believe that this...is the start of that.

RING! RING!

I look at the caller's ID, it's Charlie.

"Hey Charlie, what's up?"

"Hi, Kai, just wanted let you know I got the food all situated, just come to the dining hall."

"Alright, thanks. See you there." I say.

"You too."

CLICK!

If there's anything I respect in life, it's a good meal.

Every meal I have I enjoy as much as I can...mainly because...

You never know when your next meal...may be your last.

Angel Dust

Yunno, as little dialogue I've had with that Kai fella, I gotta give him credit.

His arrival on that day was impeccable timing!

Managed to use that whole Hellquake his apparent entrance caused as cover to get one on...him...

With a little help from my friend, we snuck some explosives into one of his primary clubs and detonated it, causing the whole structure to cave in.

We slipped and split once we were clear.

Had a whole musical number while we were at it.

I think I might copyright that song so I can make an honest living for once instead of the 'work' that I've been doing...

Keep doing that and I'll get another addiction.

I'm currently in my room with Fat Nuggets, my pet pig, petting him while I'm trying to relax.

I heard Alastor's broadcasts and saw 666 News...and seeing/hearing the Attack on the Goetia Mansion was...troubling to say the least.

We haven't had an assault on any major faction since...even before I've been here, probably since the Civil War between Heaven and Hell...though I'm probably exaggerating that.

Stolas and his family haven't been heard from...so that's...concerning.

His staff...or what's left of it said he's alive and well alongside his daughter...so that's good to know.

Hmm...I'm getting hungry, I think Charlie said food's gonna be ready in a sec so I'll head down there.

I kiss Nuggs goodbye and leave my room, heading to the elevator and going downstairs.

Sure enough, when the door opens, I'm met with the smell of grub.

At the same time I just about notice...

Lord Stolas and his daughter?

They're at the slightly elongated table currently with their meal.

I...guess this is where they went.

On the other side is a band of Imps and a Hellhound, the latter of whom glances occasionally at the recently-entered Kai, who moves to sit on the end closer to Charlie but is still relatively close to him.

He's in between them, relatively speaking.

The rest of the staff, excluding Alastor, are here.

I discreetly sit down on the table and help myself to the food served on the center.

Guess she finally got around to getting it for the 'wayward souls'.

Though the Goetias aren't exactly the souls I was thinking of when I made that statement...

As I'm uncharacteristically preparing to start munching quietly, I glance at Kai who, before he starts eating...

He closes his eyes, clasps his hands together, hangs his head down...and whispers.

He's...

Praying?

As he does...

I feel a weird itching sensation, both physically and mentally.

As this happens, I notice everyone else here having a similar reaction with some scratching themselves and visibly being irritated.

Eventually, the sensation spreads down my spine, crawling to my shoulders, legs, arms, and my core...finally the face.

Charlie, the Imps, the Goetias, and the Hellhound seem the most affected as the itching turns to burning for them and Charlie's teeth begin to sharpen. Eventually for all 7 of them it transforms into thrashing, causing a ruckus enough for Kai to finish what he's doing quickly and release his stance.

But not before saying...

"Amen."

After the final word has been said, all the Hell-Born demons return to a less-agonizing state, all of them snap their heads towards Kai in frustration as he looks back to them.

"Oh...forgot. Hell and everything like that."

"Yeah bud, we don't exactly do that here." I hear Vaggie comment on Charlie's side. "Doesn't even exist on this plane for anybody born here."

"Then I find it kind of weird that the plane where it happens all the time is the whole purpose of this Hotel."

"Yeah...didn't exactly factor that in." Charlie says.

"Also let's not let this weakness leave this room, as you-know-who is definitely going to capitalize off that."

"Agreed." Everyone who was out when the attack happened says.

Overall the meal seems to be more casual, nothing crazy. Things like soup, steak, other kinds of meats, good amount of bread here and there. Basically everything that'd consist of a complete meal.

I happen to look at Kai's direction...and his choice of food seems to be different than the others...of which he is generously helping himself to.

It's a type of noodle soup. Wholesome, filling, almost smells a bit like seafood, but primarily like other land-animal foods. Kind of like one you'd get from an oriental restaurant.

It's got soft-boiled eggs, seared meat I'd assume to be pork, some kind of white and pink roll, green leaves that smell sea-like.

What's the term...guh...I've had the instant kind when I was alive-

Ramen!

That's the term.

Must be the fresh kind, as I've never had that personally.

Though I'd admit this stuff smells, and I'd daresay as a sinner demon, Heavenly.

"Thank you, Charlie. No offense, but I'm surprised you managed to acquire this so easily." He compliments her, that pink blush on her cheek intensifies.

"Oh, it was easy. Razzle and Dazzle have little ability to make anything I request them to. They conjure up the ingredients as they are in the human world and use the recipes as such." She explains.

"Convenient." He says.

"Incredibly so."

Later on, after everyone has been fed, I get bored and take my phone and look through my messages as I haven't done so in a while.

Oh shoot...unread from...

Val...!

"Uh...excuse me." I say to nobody in particular.

I get up from the table and go into the other room, not realizing Kai noticed.

I hastily respond to the messages.

-Angel Cakes...I know what the hell you did...you insect...

-Why, Val? What do you mean?

-I saw you and Bomberb*tch in my club earlier today...

-Club? What club could you be talking about? We was home!

-Don't bullsh*t me, I know your soul. I know your deceit. For your betrayal...She. Will. Bleed. I will BREAK HER...AND YOU WILL WATCH.

No...

NO!

"NO! CHERRI!" I exclaim, not even bothering to respond but instinctively sprinting like a madman out the door and stopping to realize what I'm doing once I'm at the courtyard.

I'm actually considering going up against the forces of...

Valentino...my boss

He's one of the Overlords down here, a member of the 3 V's...the other 2 being Velvette and Vox...

I don't have the resources or the manpower to take on someone like him! Much less save my best friend from him!

GAH! DAMMIT! I TOLD HER WE SHOULD'VE COVERED OUR TRACKS BETTER!

I'm at my wits end, almost pulling out my hair in contemplation at what I know Val will do to Cherri if he finds her...

KABOOM! KABOOM! KABOOM!

I look off in the distance, witnessing explosions of pink and orange, the result of Cherri Bomb's signature weapons.

She's a spunky powerhouse...but I know for a fact even she can't withstand Val's might or his men.

"What's that?" I hear someone behind me. "It's not the Twins nor any forces I know of."

"Kai..." I utter, an idea popping into my head.

Damn...I know I made a mediocre impression on him but...

Gah! It's worth a shot!

"Dude, look...I...I need your help!" I ask desperately.

"What do you need?" He responds attentively.

"Look, I can't explain much, but a chick friend of mine is in the ditch of sh*t, and I don't think she'll EVER be able to get out without help!" I exclaim, whipping out my phone and finding a selfie we took during one of our outings together. "Her name is Cherri Bomb, I asked a favor from her and now someone big, bad, ugly, and sadistic is hunting her!"

When I find the photo, I show it to him.

He analyzes it, seemingly committing it to memory.

Cherri is a cyclops demon. She has long pink hair with blonde and white accents contained in a large ponytail and wears a large amount of mascara. Her eye has a bloodshot pink sclera and a pale-yellow x-shaped pupil. Her skin is mostly white, with pink freckles on her face and right shoulder. She also has a tattoo along her right arm. Cherri wears a gray, fingerless satin glove on her left arm and appears to have a tattoo sleeve on her right arm. She also wears a red off-shoulder crop top, a black bra, a reddish, torn-up miniskirt with two buttons on the front with one loose suspender, and ripped black leggings underneath. She appears to wear a red and white boot on her left foot, while on the right, a pointed red shoe.

It's just a few oddities of her that I appreciate.

"Please! I know we're on...well...no terms right now and I don't think you see me in the best light...but if there's anything you can do...it's make sure she doesn't get hurt! She's one of the only true friends I have down here and...if anything were to happen to her...I...I could never forgive myself!" I implore him.

Seemingly without hesitation he sprints back inside the Hotel, almost making me think he bailed for a second before I hear the garage door opening.

VROOOM!

I witness him whizzing towards me in an absolute beast of a motorcycle.

"I'll bring her back. I can assure you that." He says, pressing on his neck.

WHEE-WA-CLANG!

That same helmet he wore when we met flies over his head as his revs his bike.

"Kai?" I ask, he looks at me. "Thank you."

"Stay inside until I return with her." Through the helmet he orders me, revving again and taking off in a cloud of dust, into the fray.

I scan the area, making sure there are no more scouts and I sprint back inside, hoping that our new human friend can save mine...

?

OH-HO-HO!

BRING IT ON YOU SH*TS!

I don't even know whether or not to be horrified or ecstatic! So far there's at least a dozen or so other demons hunting me down right now through the maze of Pentagram City. When I look back again, I count 4 sinner demons, 3 hellhounds, and 5 Imps, and another armored of which I can't make out properly.

Regardless, I don't care!

THIS ADRENALINE IS GETTING ME ADDICTED!

I pull off deadly parkour moves, leaping over a wall as they pursue me through the dark alleyways. Barely managing to dodge incoming fire I slap a little present on a corner and leave another under a dumpster as well.

The resulting first explosion takes out the first Imp that comes by it, and 2 other sinner demons get crushed by the dumpster being forced into them almost comically.

"YOU'RE NOT F*CKING GETTING AWAY YOU B*TCH!" One of the Imps calls out.

"SAYS THE SLOWPOKE!" I retort.

I continue the chase through the concrete jungle and keep tossing my signature bombs at the assailants.

Still can't even figure out how they knew Angie and I blew up one of Valentino's clubs...

Regardless, it was about time he took a stand against that...monster...

The demons keep up the chase and I inevitably lead them out of the alleyway and into the street, where I hope to lose them by duping them through a nearby structure.

Unfortunately...

BANG!

"GAH!" I exclaim as I feel an impact, and then suddenly a searing pain in my back.

BANG!

Another, and it's on my leg, causing me to trip.

I scramble to get back up-

BANG!

Yet another, right in my hand...dammit...

Turning behind me, the smug looks of Valentino's cronies are already evident.

I lay there, still attempting to get away and already prepping for the worst, getting ready to set off a few more bombs I have to kamikaze myself in case they're going to try and make an example out of me to hurt Angie.

He's my best friend...and I wouldn't want him to see me flayed alive...at least if I go out quickly I can regenerate later...

It's the one part about our curse of being down here that I'd consider to be relatively a blessing...

Unless it's an Exterminator, you ain't dying permanently by anything else.

"You were saying, Cherri Bomb?" The smug masked demon who shot me 3 times smiles at me with a toothy grin. "Here I thought you had such an explosive personality."

She's...odd...

There's something under that armor that just screams differentness...

But I can't put my finger on it.

"Oh it's only so when you hurt Angie...y'all have been runnin' this place too long..." I glare at her with my one eye.

"Val's everywhere, and it'll be under his control so long as he's here...at least for now..." She returns the glare. "But we ain't gonna kill ya."

Okay...cryptic on that last part before the obvious statement...

"Already figured that out, gal." I rest my hand on the detonator, 10 pounds of claymores attached to the front of my torso ready to blast at them and take them out with me.

"It's like 2 for the price of one, we hurt you...and that little insect gets hurt too..." She continues staring at me as if Val is speaking through her.

"He's a spider." I correct her.

"Will still return to the sludge all the same..." She taunts me.

Even if I'm going to get hurt myself, at least it'll be getting rid of them while I'm at it...

As I prepare to press the switch to go out in a blaze of glory as I always knew I would...I start to hear the sound of a motorcycle, but I just dismiss it as me hearing things.

I like motorcycles, must've been thinking about them and hallucinating them...

"Not. On my. WA-!"

VROOOM!

Okay, not hearing things!

Not hearing things!

As if something is happening...something akin to...

A miracle...

I hear the sound of a genuine motorcycle down here.

Sounds more electric, no humming of combustion engines...

I turn to see something rounding the corner, a white headlight emitted from the obvious form of a motorcycle being utilized by a cloaked armored figure.

The figure is-

COMING RIGHT AT US?!

The rider hauls ass to either me or the assailants...but something happens that...

Perplexes me to the Nth degree.

It seems to do something to the bike, like pressing a switch of sorts.

The motorcycle breaks up into individual segments like a jigsaw puzzle coming undone. Propelled by thrusters of sorts, several of the pieces fly around him, interlocking on his body and unfolding more segments on his form. The result being a partially armored version of the being flying towards us while several segments are still propelled by those rockets.

I'm left deadpanned and absolutely blown away, getting even excited at seeing such a mechanical marvel.

Last time I'd even remotely seen any technology like that was when I fought Sir Pentious, but even he didn't have any complex weaponry like that. It was more like steampunk stuff while he was trying to be 'rad'.

As I pull myself out of my thoughts, I just about manage to witness a Hellhound, and imp and a Sinner demon get absolutely annihilated by an acrobatic clotheslining maneuver. The being is upside down with almost a T-pose stance but the hands are gripped and outstretched to take out the 3, the middle victim takes the full brunt force of the mechanical beast in front of us.

All the while the other rocket-propelled parts knock into and send the other demons flying while somehow...the masked demon dodges one...

The upside-down maneuver seems to also play out in the armored one's stance recovery as it flies feet first into the concrete, sliding to a stop as it takes a brief superhero-like pose and returns into the fray, walking menacingly as all the rest of the parts fly towards him and interlock on him, completing a full set of heavy mechanized armor.

"KILL THAT SON OF A B*TCH!" The same lady who mocked me earlier points at the red-armored being as her associates recover, barely by the looks of it.

The other 8 demons, minus the 3 and the lady, all reconvene from their shock and awe as they charge at the warrior.

They start unloading their ranged weapons on him, all directed at his torso, head, everywhere you can image they try to pierce through his shell.

When the guns start clicking...and they look at them in horror at the prospect of no more ammo...

I just about hear a deep breath under that mask...as if done for composure.

"No hesitation."

What?

Within 7 seconds...as if it all were happening in slow motion in between strikes...

The being closes the gap in between him and the demons, doing a leg sweep of an Imp and slamming his face into the ground. Following up by grabbing the heads of a Hellhound and a sinner demon, it uses one to smash into the other as both get nailed into the concrete. Breaking the jaw of another Hellhound by punching him in the face exceptionally hard, it kicks him in the back and throws him into the wall, splintering it. It then goes for a direct leg kick of an Imp, breaking it while grabbing the leg and flailing him around before using him as a weapon to send another Imp flying right into the wall where the Hellhound was sent, this time breaking right through it. The final move is him leaping towards us and driving a drop kick on the lady, who flies away from us and slides to a stop relatively quickly.

It was all so fluid...

I've...never seen any kind of brutal fighting such as that...

AND I F*CKING LOVED IT!

I have to stop myself from hyperventilating because that was, I kid you not, the absolute COOLEST THING I have ever seen since I've been down here.

I heard of something about a red armored being, but I don't watch the news or listen to the radio...this...

This must be him...it...I don't know, it sounded male, just called it an it because I wasn't sure.

After all the other demons have been taken care of, he turns his head to the lady staring at him as he does the same.

Suddenly, even faster than he did defeating the other demons, she spontaneously speeds towards him. Making there, here, she slams her fist right into his armored face...

So hard, it created a SHOCKWAVE of force...

"GUH!"

Fortunately, due to his armor, it only forces his head down, and he recovers just enough to start parrying. She goes for an upper left hook, he blocks it, a gut punch, he does the same. He parries by using his armor to do another punch to her own gut, and follows up using the same arm to slam into her face, sending her flying back to where she was.

Seems that was more of a skirmish between the two than a battle, as compared to the slaughter that was him against her subordinates.

"Fast." She says, sounding like she didn't witness somebody take out her cronies. "Seems your reputation is earned."

"Ugh...odd." He says through the mask, starting to rub his head from that empowered punch. "You're different...can't put my finger on it...oh yeah, for one...you're not supposed to be that strong..."

"Happens. So much goes on ya lose track of stuff...and the enemies you make..." She retorts.

"You're already one for trying to hurt her." The warrior says, gesturing to me.

"As if you know anything about hurting..."

"Don't try me."

"But in terms of being an enemy...I think you of all people would know..."

"How so?"

"Was doin' some work over here, wanted to expand my horizons, so to say as to why I'm here...after all..." She says before reaching to her helmet. "I have been training...hard..."

"Wait...what...?!" I hear the confused voice of the armored one, who seems taken aback at those two words.

"I'm not ready to fight you just yet...I merely want to show you I still exist..."

Pulling off that helm...it's the face of...

A FIRST'S DEMON?!

WHA-WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?!

SHE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE!

THIS IS THE SECOND'S JURISDICITON, NOT THE FIRST!

The presence is finally unmasked, and the feeling emitting from her is nothing like I've ever felt before. It's similar to ours on it's own...

But there's...something else with it...

Something...

Worse...

"Venganza"

"Oh I took your lesson, alright..." She utters, her face pointed towards the ground.

But when she looks up...

She opens her eyes.

The almost alien-feeling from her intensifies, and her eyes glow a sinister white with traces of black, the heat from everywhere draining and causing it all to become cold.

"I became stronger..." She declares, her voice starting to get distorted almost electronically.

"Was it worth it?" He angrily retorts. "When the reins are bestowed upon the horse, it is very. VERY difficult to release yourself from them. When I told you to get stronger, this is NOT what I meant."

"To beat you...yes..." She holds out her hand towards him and grips it. "And to avenge Simon...more than anything. I merely wanted to gauge your power today...and test that of my own newfound kind...it's incredible..."

"That power given comes at with a cost, and a cause of which I'm starting to think you truly align with. You're lucky I didn't put Simon in the ground. Next time I'm not hesitating. Neither will I you."

"Better not..." She grins menacingly. "Be ready, Kai."

VROOOM-WHOOOOSH!

In a flash of black and white light, the demon named Venganza becomes energized somehow, and disappears from the fray, the warmth returning to the area.

As it does, I just about hear a chopper nearby, seemingly looking down on the situation and picking up everything.

How did-

I don't even know. Must've been in the vicinity somehow.

I look at the armored being, who seems slightly taken aback at this whole reveal.

"Uh, yo." I call to him, he turns to me.

"Are...you okay?" He asks.

"As...good as I'll ever be..." I say, my wounds still hurting. "Thanks for the save. What are ya? Some kinda new neighborhood watch?"

"Your friend, Angel Dust, sent me." He says, surprising me.

"Angie sent ya? Didn't even know he had such badass friends, so to say." I quip, he looks at my wounds.

"Let me look at you." He offers.

"Hey, buddy, I'm good." I try to shake it off, but he speaks bluntly.

"Ma'am, you have 3 bullet holes in your abdomen, shin, and hand. I don't think you'll get anywhere without help."

I roll my eyes and relent, allowing him to look at me.

"One sec." I say, before he gets to work.

I reach to my torso, pulling off all the C4 I had and putting it behind me, storing it as me and other demons down here can do.

"Huh...interesting..." He says, observing my ability.

"Alrighty, now you can look at me." I say, allowing him to get to work.

"Do you guys regenerate wounds or do you only do so after you 'respawn' after you get killed?" He asks, scanning my form.

"This ain't a videogame...but we do regenerate wounds, so long as it's not a holy weapon. Higher-ups like...I dunno, Goetias, the Sins, maybe Overlords, and Morningstars have higher ones like being able to heal entire organs like hearts, livers, kidneys, ya name it. Again, no holy weapon damage, they can heal. It blocks off our healing and we can't heal past it, so that's why it kills us." I explain.

"That...is actually very good to know. Thank you."

"Ya can thank me by making this pain stop. I can heal this probably within the hour, so long as I don't have to do anything labor intensive." I say, looking at the wounds as they continue to burn.

He reaches behind himself and pulls out a high-tech syringe of sorts.

"I have some general anesthetic here. This will dull the pain at least enough until we get somewhere safer." He says.

"Oh sh*t, man. Thanks." I say, smiling as I hold out my arm.

He jabs it into me and the liquid flows in.

I close my eye as in moments the feeling of suffering is lifted from the wounds in my back, leg, and hand.

I've done stronger stuff, so to say, but this practical non-recreational feeling is better in the sentimental sense.

It's the good sh*t...

"Better?" He asks.

"Yeah...thanks." I say, opening my eyes and nodding as he puts the syringe away.

"I'll need to bandage those."

"Just work your magic." I allow him to pull out a set of bandages and wrap them around my body.

Starting with my hand, he makes sure it's securely on there before moving onto my leg. After it's fully covered he goes to finish with my back, putting a patch on it and securing it with a long bandage across my torso. He gets a little close in some areas, but he's considerate and delicate, and only focusing on trying to tend to my wounds.

After getting everything situated, he sizes my wounds up again and nods.

"Should be it. Feeling better again?" He asks.

"Yeah, thanks again." I smile at him.

"We should get out of here." He says as he takes a kneeling position.

Before I can ask, his armor disengages from his body and all of it reassembles back into that motorcycle form.

"Should probably break the ice." He says as he presses his neck.

WHEE-CLICK!

As I see his face...

"As you heard, my name is Kai."

"HO-HO-HOLY SH*T DUDE! YOU'RE A HUMAN?!" I laugh and shout, flabbergasted to see someone like him down here.

"Yes, I am." He says as-a-matter-of-factly.

"Yeah! Uh okay...as Angie mighta told ya, I'm Cherri Bomb!" I properly introduce myself.

"Pleasure to meet you." He smiles as we shake hands.

"How did you get down here?! You're not dead!"

"Long story. You'll be filled in back at the Hotel." He explains, getting on the bike and revving it. "Let's go."

"Wait, the Hotel? Isn't that the Princess's little project? Didn't really hear the best about that place."

"It's our best option for now. 'Angie' is there, if you remember." He says, before smiling. "Now, let's ride."

"Oh hell yeah, man!" I exclaim, hopping on and holding on tightly as we take off in a puff of smoke.

The wind brushes against my hair as we speed through the city, me never having this opportunity because I don't own a vehicle. I normally just parkour across the rooftops, as I'm less likely to get detected.

I'm surprised no other demons were watching the fight, normally it's always so bustling in the worst ways possible.

Eventually in no time at all, we end up at Princess Morningstar's little passion project. Looks recently renovated.

He parks in the garage and closes the door, leading me inside the structure.

Huh...classy.

Definitely Lord Morningstar's designs...

As my attention is directed away from the architecture, I just about hear the sound of somebody shuffling around near the couch in front of us.

"Angel." Kai says, the spider-demon snaps his head towards us...his eyes go wide. "She is safe now."

He doesn't even say anything before frustratingly, yet caringly, marches up to me and embraces me in a massive hug.

"Leave it up to you to make me worry about you and sh*t." He snarks, looking at her wounds

"Hey, you stress me the f*ck out too yunno!" I quip, hugging him back.

"Did...he bandage you?" He asks.

"Pretty well, in fact." I say, looking at my savior.

"Kai...thank you." Angie says while going to look at the human.

"It only seemed right." He says, smiling.

It goes quiet with us smiling at each other as Kai looks at me.

"Hey, you need a room, by any chance?" He asks.

"Yeah."

"Hey Husk!" He calls to a cat-demon at a front-desk of sorts, he's met instantly with a room key being tossed towards him, already knowing what needed to be done. "Thanks!"

He hands me the brass key, the room number engraved on it, as I put it in my pocket.

"Thanks bro." I say to Kai.

"You go rest and respite. You need to heal." He suggests.

"Eh, I'll be fine. Just gimme some booze and I'll sleep it off." She dismisses it.

"(Chuckle) Well, you're gonna have a hard time getting some from Husker." Angie raises his eyebrow at the cat-demon named Husk, who glares at him.

"Regardless, rest when you have time. If you heal as fast as you do you'll need it." Kai reiterates his advice.

"Oh okay. It's evening anyways so I think I'll chillax the rest of the day." I relent.

"I'll help ya to your room." Angie offers.

"First my friend now my chaperone, what is happening with the world?" I jokingly ask, but I hear Kai whispering as Angie and I depart.

"Everything..."

Seems that one enhanced-looking demon spelled something out for him...

Especially with him rubbing his head from that disturbingly powerful punch...

Talk about a headache!

Stolas, in the middle of the night

It's...been difficult to try and rest.

I haven't been getting good sleep as of recently due to stress, in more ways than one.

And you know what wife is responsible for that...

We are long due for a divorce...

I'm just in my bed, doing what I can to try and doze off, but my mind is racing.

So much happened in such little time...and I'm not blaming her, but it all started after that phone call with Charlie...

Puts it all into perspective...huh?

As I just about feeling myself about to slip into corporeal sleep, I hear the sound of Octavia gasping.

I shoot my head over to her, and she's in an upright sitting position, her eyes giving off that same look of-

"Another dream, my owlette?" I ask.

"Yes..." She utters somberly. "Dad?"

"Yes?"

"I have to tell you something...I wasn't entirely sure when it first happened...but this is fresh in my mind and I can't go any longer without saying it." She says, turning her entire body and entering a sitting position, looking to the ground and then to me, looking into my eyes. "Do you remember that one being I saw in my dreams? The one who would speak to me and apparently fight off those black and white beings?"

That...seems too close to reality...a new meaning given what's happened...

"Yes. Every time." I say, nodding.

"That human...Kai...in his armor...I saw him earlier today on the news, in a heavy suit of armor..."

Didn't even know Kai had one...

"Dad..."

"What?" I ask, starting to suspect where this is going.

She stares at me, catatonic while she speaks.

"It was him. He...and these Demons...were the ones in my dreams. He...was fighting them."

Chapter End