There were some quiet days when Pentagram City just fell silent. Few could hardly explain it but these moments were always personal and gave clarity to its denizens. Rare was it that one could find relative peace in this dark realm of the afterlife. The silence was unsettling in a place where street-level shootouts, stabbings, and drive-bys were the normal way of life amongst the sinners and Hellborn. Yet, it would not deter one from completing his mission to redemption.
Hunter sat quietly on a bench and pretended to read the newspaper in his lap. His apparel was merely slacks and a dress shirt, with a long Red Army trenchcoat to keep him from the wind. Several days were spent hunting down targets but today would be different as this would be the last time he would need to perform a kill before his benefactor would reach out to him and grant that precious status. Not even the luxurious Hazbin Hotel could make that offer when it came to assuring sinners that redemption did indeed exist.
The last target was across the street and inside a barber shop, relaxing comfortably in leather seating while his head was being inspected by the barber. He had developed a habit to visit every week with the hopes of making himself attractive to the beautiful prostitutes who roamed the streets. There was no need to rush in and kill him as the barber preferred to close the blinds when performing his work. One could not tell if he was genuinely shaving someone's head or mysteriously murdering them once they let their guard down. Fortunately, the bull was always seen leaving the main entrance. All he needed to do was wait for the circumstances to occur again and get his window of opportunity.
Seconds turned into minutes before the Russian grew bored of reading the news about how the local bar full of dead post-apocalypse survivors got into another fight. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone, searching for the picture app saved on the memory. His thumb swiped through every instance of memory with his Mexican girlfriend, who didn't ask questions about his day job. It was a strange coincidence back then but he recalled the fond memory of his initial impressions at a club where random dates take place. Life as a soldier rarely gave him any opportunity to meet a nice girl and find love. Well, it was hard to love people who abandoned you for someone else. Maria could have picked anyone else; yet, she chose him. He knew not why, only that she cared for his soul enough for them to live together.
The hired assassin noticed movement with the target as he saw the barber walk up to the blinds and keep the world from looking inside. The moment was perfect and now was the time for action. Hunter placed his newspaper to the side before he rose from the bench and looked at both ends of the road. A car approached from his left and drove past the lonely killer until it was safe to cross the street. He slipped his arms out of the sleeves of his trenchcoat, letting it rest atop his shoulders as his hands and intentions were hidden underneath. As he approached the glass door with a neon sign declaring the building was open, the sinner's right hand reached for the holstered sidearm and placed his palm on the grip. Feeling the weapon gave him confidence that his preparations were coming together. A free hand opened the door as a bell rang, signifying the arrival of a customer.
He would have to be quick about this.
Four leather chairs were planted in the white tile flooring in front of him. Three remained empty while the seat on the far side of the room was occupied. The barber inside was a sentient cockroach, who turned his head and opened the mandibles where his mouth would be. "Take a seat. I will be with you shortly."
He did as was told while approaching the unaware bull in a purple suit by seeking out the spot beside him. The coat covered the holstered pistol and the arm ready to use it. Hunter smiled at the barber while he appeared to be seeking out the seat closest to the current customer. "Nice place you got here."
"Thanks!" The barber replied, the small talk acting as a distraction, "With all of the shootings around these parts, most people wouldn't spend a day here."
"I can see why." Now was the time to complete the mission. His hand pulled out a Tokharev pistol and aimed it at the humanoid bull in the seat.
The target turned his head and expressed his shock at that moment before two rounds were fired into his chest. Helpless, he screamed in pain as his hands tried to cover up the gunshot wounds. It would not be enough as another round was fired into the sinner's chest, mortally wounding him. Blood began to cough out of his mouth but Hunter needed to be sure this man would never live. Soon the sights were lined up toward the victim's head before firing two more shots, throwing gore and brain matter on the floor. Then the barber registered the bloodshed that happened within his business as he stood back with blood spots on his clothes.
His mission would not be complete until the witness was terminated and unable to interfere with the kill confirms. He looked at the horrified owner and pointed the gun at him. "Shame I can't let you walk out of this as well."
Once realization came into the cockroach, he turned around and attempted to flee to the back. Yet, it was not enough as three more pistol rounds fired away and stole another life from existence. Then he stumbled forward and landed head-first to the floor as blood seeped out from underneath the second victim.
He approached the bull in the chair and sought out his wrists. The mission briefing had informed him that the body needed to be identified before a picture confirming the corpse would be sent back. A bracelet was found before removing it from the corpse and the body transformed into a human. The wounds from the previous form remained as the assassin pulled out his phone and took pictures before sending back the photos for identification. Then he slipped the bracelet back on and returned to the masquerade making his way out the door.
The phone rang as holstered his pistol and answered the call. "Did you receive the body identity?"
"Yes," The garbled voice said as if it was content with the latest kill. The Russian walked away from the barber shop via the sidewalk and the benefactor continued, "You have shown reliable skill at dispatching these targets. This was to test your capabilities but it has earned Heaven's blessing. The next thing you will receive is a location where we will properly dispense your redemption."
"Understood." That last sentence made his skin crawl. It sounded like a trap but the benefactor was someone who had not reneged on his benefits since he met with them.
The call came to an end; yet, uncertainty remained for the post-apocalypse sinner.
The visit ended on a better note than the princess of Hell had expected from her father. She had known him to be adamant in his beliefs about her desire to change the sinners for the better; yet, Charlie seemed to notice something strange about her dad. He seemed to carry an aura of melancholy with him when they spoke of the hotel and got to know about the people inside. The ruler of this kingdom was quite renowned for brightening the spirits of an entire room but his expressions that day revealed the truth about him - the fallen archangel seemed worried. She rarely saw that side of him ever since she was born. Although it was presumed that the throne would belong to her should events happen, the royal felt afraid of what he was going through.
She put those thoughts at the back of her mind while everyone in the hotel was assembled in the dining room. A purse had been slung over her shoulder before reaching in and passing out pink slips to everyone present. Each sinner looked at the prints on those cards, expressing their perplexed emotions before they turned their full attention to the princess and the girlfriend by her side. Out from her left, Mrs. Mayberry stole a look from the slip. "What exactly is this?"
"It's a pass," Charlie answered as the room continued to be full of confusion. Now was the time to reward every employee and guest at the Hazbin Hotel, "You guys did your best not to embarrass me in front of my dad so I'm rewarding you - the pink slip. Sinners are not allowed to leave the Pride level and see the other places of Hell… unless they have this."
Angel Dust was sitting at the dining table, a second chair away from her on the right side of the room. He chuckled at the pink paper and leaned back against his seat. "Well, I'll be damned. I heard people talk about this stuff but never expected to see one in my hands. How much did you pay for it - this shit is expensive?"
"I'm Lucifer's daughter. Despite what a lot of people think about me, I have my ways." The royal answered as she shoved her hair behind her shoulders with a smile on her face.
"You are full of surprises," He remarked as he tucked the pass in the fluff underneath his shirt, "So is that the reason you wanted us to come here? To give us our just rewards?"
"It's more than that. Vaggie and I were nearly stressed out trying to get things in order when the king of Hell arrived so I thought a vacation would do us nicely after what I put all of you through. I normally don't invite people but there's a place in Lust that my parents used to go to when I was little. We're going to visit it if none of you don't mind."
"A beach party? Well, it's time I get my things." He remarked before he rose from the chair and departed from the room.
Soon the mood shifted when the Radio Demon, standing from across the table, reached into his crimson jacket and brandished a cigar before snapping his fingers to light the other end. "A visit into Lust? What a wonderful idea but I highly doubt some of us can enjoy the experience, unlike others. Even Husk wouldn't be convinced to accompany you. I wonder how you will tackle that issue."
Alastor made a good point about that specific detail. Yet, she thought of a way to avoid complaints and encourage them. "Simple. I could just pay you guys to come."
"What?" It was the first time she had seen the overlord grow confused about her response, "I was expecting something elaborate to convince everyone in this room to join us."
"The only people we've attracted since the hotel's official opening is Mrs. Mayberry and Railtracer. That's it and I suppose all of you could use the extra cash for whatever you guys want to buy." The truth was that the Morningstar family was lavishly rich and those payments were merely a small percentage of her father's allowance on her behalf.
"You can't expect them to join you just like that."
Railtracer was standing beside Mayberry on the left side of the room. The teacher leaned against the wall while the Russian crossed his arms. His voice was slightly muffled but was loud enough to get his words across. "I don't know. It's bad enough that I messed with my boss' accounts at I.M.P. The extra cash could be useful in my work."
"You are not going to take her gift so easily, are you? I'd expect more resistance from you sinners." Alastor said, baffled by what he was hearing in the dining room.
"Just being practical," He replied before adjusting the straps on his gas mask, "Mayberry needs school supplies and I need some weapon parts."
"This just won't do."
Charlie could not help herself from smiling. As it turns out, money can be quite a convincing way to ease people's financial worries. "Unless you can come up with a better incentive, I'm all ears."
Husk finally participated in the conversation as he brandished a bottle and chugged it till it was empty of alcohol. Then the hybrid of a cat and bird tossed it to the floor and let it smash before Nifty swiftly ran out of the room and returned with a boom and pan. "Fuck it, I need the money anyways."
"You too? I didn't you'd accept." It was surprising given his apathetic demeanor towards the whole concept of the hotel. Only the vice of the bottle lured him into service.
"Al cut me off from taking the fucking pot, so I'll take this instead."
Alastor turned his gaze upon him. "You won't let that down, will you?"
"No, I won't," He approached the Radio Demon and pressed his finger into his chest. "You were an asshole then and still an asshole now."
"Now, now. Lower your voice. We don't want to cause a fight." The tone of his voice darkened, hinting at his demonic form while his eyes transformed into frequency dials. Meanwhile, the atmosphere and reality grew hazy.
The princess was about to speak but she saw Railtracer walk up to them and cut them off with his arms, pushing the sinner and overlord back with enough space to put himself in between their feud. "Enough, you two! If either of you wants to settle whatever problem you have with each other, I can bring you guys to the back and fetch some dueling pistols."
"Oh, I don't need a weapon to deal with the likes of him."
"Get out of the fucking way," Demanded the bartender as he took off his top hat and began buttoning his shirt, "Let me shove his damn stick up his ass."
A few seconds was all it took to change their attitudes as Railtracer stunned the room when he slapped both men. They stumbled back, heads turned away thanks to the loud clap of a sinner's hand leaving a red mark on their cheeks. Charlie was stunned at the sight while Vaggie could not help herself from letting out a giggle. Very few people dared to confront an overlord so openly but much less strike them down. Yet, it seemed that the Russian's patience had ended as the royal walked over to see if either was badly hurt. "Did you have to slap them?"
"Believe me, I've seen this dick-measuring contest before. That should wake them up." Just hearing his reply gave new context about the man who spent most of his time in the workshop.
"Alastor, Husk, are you done now?"
A chuckle was all that the Radio Demon could summon as he straightened himself and looked at the arbitrator who ended it all. "Yes. I must admit, this was not something I'd expect."
The doorbell rang.
"Ah, I wonder who that must be."
"I'll take it," She stated before looking over her shoulder and seeing her girlfriend amused. Probably enjoying Alastor's hurt pride, "Vaggie, can you help the others find their swimsuits before we all head out to Lust?"
The moth nodded her head as she shifted right and opened a door leading into a hallway elsewhere. "Let's go people. We got a few hours before we head out."
Charlie turned around and walked out the main entrance of the dining room and peered into the hallway where the doorbell rang from. To the right, was the front door to the hotel but there stood a feminine shadow lurking outside. The princess quickly jogged to the entrance while her stomach churned at the possibilities.
Was this another willing sinner? It was an interesting thought that someone would approach her on this day and it excited her. Then again, her expectations had turned the public's view of her idea as nothing more than a shame. Anticipation mixed with fear made the royal tremble but despite those feelings in her body, she would not give the denizens of Hell the satisfaction.
When she reached the door, her hand turned the knob and swung it open with a smile on her face. "Welcome to the Hap-Hazbin Hotel! What can I do for you?"
A cyclops sinner was standing before her, dressed in black leggings and an off-shoulder crop top. Her other apparel ware consisted of a strange collection than a thoughtful consideration for beauty with the girl's left arm covered in a fingerless satin glove as the right differed with a tattoo sleeve. Even her shoes shared the same philosophy with one foot in a boot and another in a red slipper. The stranger's shark-like teeth smiled as she spoke. "You're Charlie, right?"
"Um, yeah," She answered; yet, the princess wanted to know why she was sought out, "Are you looking to stay at this hotel?"
"Are you kidding? I'd rather fuck a snake than live here. Not a place for me. Too nice and orderly." That was a disappointing response but Charlie did not want to spoil the initial meet and greet. Perhaps she'll change her mind in the future but time was short before the whole hotel would set off into Lust.
"So… what are you doing here, exactly?"
The girl with the ponytail placed her hands on her hips. "I'm looking for my pal, Angel Dust. I don't know why he continues to live with you freaks but I came around to see if he's okay. You didn't do anything to him since he helped me out, did you?"
"Oh, you mean to punish him?" It was an absurd thought but despite the trouble that the homosexual pop star brought to her dream, his willingness to help a friend out in danger was far nobler than abandoning them. She shook her head at the notion as she laughed it off, "No, I don't do that here. Angel may have turned me into a laughing stock on television but I can't hold that against being a good friend."
"That's good to hear."
The atmosphere changed when the owner of the hotel heard the voice of a gay spider shouting from across the hallway. "Cherri, what the fuck are you doing here?! I thought you'd be defending your turf after Extermination Day."
"Things have calmed down. Sir Pentious limp dicked his way back to his place and none of the other dipshits wanted me to turn their block into Verdun.," She dismissed the issue with a wave of her hand, "So how have things been since you left?"
"Her highness got some strawberry pimp called the Radio Demon. He brought some company over and liven the place up. I don't think Valentino is going to dare his way over to me." He replied with a comfortable assurance as he stood by Charlie's side.
"You in the mood to hang out?"
The princess needed to inform her of the hotel's plans. "I don't think he'll be able to do anything right now. You see, we're heading off to Lust after I tortured your friend to act like a gentleman in front of my dad."
"You did? Shit, I would pay to see Angel squirm in a suit." Cherri remarked as both girls stole a glance from the man trying to fluff up his chest.
He seemed pleased with himself with a chuckle. "It wasn't that bad. The last time I ran around in a fancy suit was back in Chicago. Damn, what fun I had."
"Hey, Charlie, I'm in the mood to hang out. Can I come along?"
"Sure, the more the merrier," It was rare to find Angel Dust in a pleasant mood and it seemed that this girl brought the best out of him. Those passes were expensive but perhaps it was worth the cost to make this place feel like it's a little bit of Heaven, "Let me make a call. Also, we're going to the beach so find some swimsuits if you're in the mood."
The weapon shipment had been isolated from the rest of Hell's society and was being tracked into the badlands of Pride. Once it had left the city limits and into the open wasteland beyond the patrols of Lucifer's soldiers and the highway roads between the major settlements, Uhlman ordered the crew to set off and track it down. It seemed to be that the shipment was using the side paths unknown to sinners and Hellborn alike. Fortunately, the Purgatory Investigators were able to formulate a plan to ambush the people responsible for seizing these weapons.
Pavel laid his body against the ground and rested his sniper rifle on the dune overlooking the abandoned town with Alexander Morris beside him. Both men had been prone since Uhlman and Strelok dropped them off to provide overwatch for two of their own within the ghost town. If they were to encounter an armed convoy, a series of explosives would be set off to disable or destroy the lead vehicle. Should they attempt to reverse and back out, Niko would drive in from the rear and block the convoy inside, causing them to navigate through the obstructed streets or stand their ground. The former communist officer hoped it would be the latter but desperation made for interesting results.
Patience took over as the time-traveling cowboy - in his white KronoteK uniform and armor - brought up a shoulder-fired launcher beside him. They certainly lacked the numbers to carry this mission out but the firepower would be an equalizer in this fight. The Russian looked below to see a long stretch of road going in both directions of the town. Once the shooting would begin, they would have ample time to eliminate the hostiles before proper reinforcements arrived. Well, it presumed those reinforcements would survive if Uhlman and Stelok weren't piloting a Mi-24 in the nearby vicinity with a blessed autocannon and explosive ordnance.
Alexander reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a small styrofoam plate containing a strange dish that Pavel had never seen before. Even after death, mere food could be alienating for him as the old American pulled out a knife and cut a slice for himself. Pistachios were carefully placed on the dry cheese before stealing a glance at his partner. "Want some?"
"I don't know," His eyes stared at the plate with both interest and slight curiosity. Yet, he failed to account for his mouth being watery, "What the fuck is this?"
"Kunafa - it's an Arab dessert, or so I'm told. Got this when Uhlman let me visit Heaven for a bit after the gun market operation. There's a religious holiday going on and I just so happened to stumble into it. Christ, I wish my family could cook as they did. Some old grandma was telling me it's good and I really couldn't reject the nice lady." He didn't expect him to be this detailed about some strange pastry but it must have been good if he was telling a story about it. The saved officer didn't think he would use an ambush operation to find interesting food but here he was.
"Will you keep it down if I have some?"
"You could be nicer about it," Alexander placed the styrofoam in between himself and his partner before taking his bite. His mouth was partially full but chewing the cheese within, "The other half is yours."
He rested his rifle in the sands as his hand reached for the kunafa and started to eat. Its sweet flavor reassured Pavel's tastebuds despite the initial appearance. Their radios crackled with Uhlman's voice in the air. "Team Two, what is your status?"
"Alexander here, maintaining overwatch. Any update on the situation?" Questioned the time traveler.
"The weapons shipment just drove past us. It's got four APCs and two trucks. They're kicking sand but get ready once you see them. Strelok and I will be airborne in five once the ambush starts."
The timing was unfortunate as the communist was eager to take his time with the dessert. Yet, it only gave him an idea for the future. He could search for an Arab restaurant or a treat shop that specialized in this pastry somewhere in Hell; however, it could also give him another spot when for a date with Kiki. Now he was not sure whether she would like it but it was worth a try.
His thoughts began to lock themselves away in the back of his mind before scarfing what was left. Only crumbs remained before they would themselves flying to the four winds as Pavel brought his hand around the grip of his Dragunov. Its scope was covered to prevent grains of sand from tainting the accuracy but to also ensure that it would not make any glint from afar. Then he pulled the charging handle back before turning the weapon on its side to take a glimpse of the chamber containing a bullet etched in Latin.
The round had been blessed to vaporize targets upon impact. It was funny when he learned about the details of the bullet. Some of the Heavenborn liked to think it was a way to ease a soul's passing; however, they hated it when Saved souls in service of the Department of Purgatory and the Holy Army referred to them as high-explosive rounds. Who could blame them? After all, it's not the fault of the users who just watched their targets disintegrate.
His eyes looked ahead and saw a fleet of vehicles approaching the ghost town from his right. It was hard to ignore the blue container being driven by a heavy-lift semi-trailer truck while surrounded by an array of armored vehicles. They followed the black road into the town but as they grew closer, the convoy began to form into a single column before entering the settlement's perimeter.
A trap had been waiting for them and now it was about to be sprung in a few moments. Yet, Morris informed the others on the radio. "Convoy's coming, get ready."
It was the longest minute that Pavel had to endure. He released his grip on the charging handle, his free hand reached over to the cover of his scope, and slowly pulled it off. A small 'pop' let out as he kept his palm over the lenses, waiting for the moment to strike. The vehicles below the dune were beginning to slow their speed so they could make their turns on the major roads. So much anticipation was pent up for this moment; yet, patience demanded that he hold his fire.
"Come on V, set them off." The time-traveler whispered to himself as he lifted the missile launcher onto his shoulder and crouched himself upward with a free hand laying in the red sand.
Three vehicles ahead of the semi-trailer began to make their turn right, around a corner diner. The lead vehicle cut across the sidewalk and it seemed that it would follow the path away from the overwatch crew. Curious, the Russian removed his hand from the front of his scope and looked through the sights for a closer look at the corner building. Inside the building, he saw a glimpse of the abandoned food area catch alight.
It exploded before his very eyes as an explosion shook the surroundings. The sheer shockwave caught the duo off-guard as a plum of fiery smoke erupted from the turn. Once he regained recovered, Pavel returned his eyes down the scope to see the three vehicles at the front on their side and on fire. The truck they guarded slowed down as the driver and navigator stepped outside to check for survivors within the blast radius. Soon the rear vehicles halted and the troops dismounted. What was truly surprising was the white armor and blue uniforms among their apparel alongside the human forms.
These were no mere sinners but members of the Holy Army.
His shock was enough to make a call on his radio. "Uhlman, I think these guys are from the army."
"What?!" The superior asked as the background noise of spinning helicopter blades started to grow in volume, "Are you sure it's them?"
"Yes." It was an answer out of conviction. Pavel did not hesitate what he saw from his scope and the armed convoy was too open to hide their identity. Yet, it was a terrifying possibility that his crew just ambushed a Holy Army convoy. Nonetheless, they would carry out their objectives of retrieving the blue container.
An assertive female voice shouted on the radio. "Alex, dump your munitions! I need covering fire!"
The KronoteK agent stood up and loaded a collection of missiles into the top slot of his launcher. "Laser-guided hellfire coming right up. Pavel, cover your ears."
He did not hesitate to let go of his rifle before both hands were kept around his head. The man beside him fired his weapon and sounds of explosive ordnance was ejected out of the tube, launching itself high into the air in bursts of five heat-seeking bodies at a time. A red laser emanated from underneath the barrel and directed itself upon the three remaining rear vehicles. Several minutes passed until the loitering screamed toward the designated targets in hateful flames. Fifteen missiles descended to the ground igniting the vehicles with explosions while the convoy's protectors were caught in the open.
Pavel looked back into his scope and saw shrapnel and sheer concussive power tear apart men and machines alike. Only the container with the blue weapons remained unharmed thanks to the surgical precision of Alexander's aim. As he regained eyes over the town's newest guests, the corner of his gaze shifted left to see a slender pop out from a set of stairs and stand atop a concrete rooftop. Her colorful dyed hair was the only identification that the Russian had of V as she took off her black leather jacket and her apparel was nothing more than a purple blouse and a pair of sweatpants. She extended her arms out before their mechanical insides opened and brandished blades underneath the woman's human-like hands. Mantis blades were drawn as the sunlight gleamed off her weapon. It was a fearsome sight to behold and the communist admired the lethal appearance until she jumped from her position and landed in the proximity of the convoy.
The urban layout masked her location as gunfire erupted from the convoy and men screamed out to kill her. They would endure a bloodbath on their hands; yet, it was better that they suffered instead of the former communist officer. Alleys and backstreets flickered with light while the rear vehicle began to reverse out of formation. His finger slipped over the trigger and sought out the driver's position. The APC was well-armored but enough shots would crack the bulletproof glass. Soon the air cracked with one shot at a time, the Dragunov's bullet tapping the front seat without relenting. His efforts would come to an end when the gun turret moved and began searching for him. It would only be a matter of time before he grabbed the standing American and attempted to pull him away from the edge. "Morris, get down!"
They became unfortunate victims of gravity as they lost their balance and both men stumbled forward and rolled down the dune. Tracers peppered from the vehicle as shells and tracers rippled above them and chased after them. There were attempts to find solid grand to stand upon but the threat of an autocannon and high-caliber machine guns discouraged Pavel's attempts as the duo found themselves on the outskirts of the ghost town. His lips tasted the saltiness of the sand until the Russian started spitting to be rid of it.
"Either we were lucky or those bastards were bad at shooting. I hope those guys are pretending to be in the Holy Army because if they are, we just witnessed a tragedy." He remarked while spitting the grains from his dried tongue.
The time-traveling cowboy pushed himself off the ground and reached out to swipe his hands on Pavel's clothes. "Watch where you're spitting, buddy."
"I suppose we join V and Niko?" He said as they swiped what they could remove from their clothes. It was going to be a pain on the washing machine when they get back to the safe house, "Fucking sand!"
A pair of running feet could be heard from their right as they turned to face the oncoming stranger. Out from an alleyway, a soldier in a Holy Army uniform turned around the corner and bumped into them before tumbling onto the ground. He turned his head to take a good look while trying to bring his weapon up. Pavel's instincts took over as he reached for the holster behind his back and pulled out a blessed C96 pistol and fired a burst of rounds into the man's face.
"Well, we caught ourselves a runner."
"Really?" Alexander expressed his disbelief with the former communist, "A Mauser Broomhandle?"
He turned around and saw the KronoteK agent toss his missile launcher to the ground before unslinging two weapons over his shoulders. "What?"
"You'll be out of ammo before you know it. That's if the clip doesn't jam on you. Take my submachine gun. You'll need it more than I do." He tossed the automatic weapon up high as Pavel extended his arms out to catch it. Once it landed, he started to run off into the alleyway where the soldier came from.
"Why the fuck are you giving this to me?!" He demanded.
The cowboy laughed at his expense. "It has an auto-lock feature!"
"I don't know how to reload it!"
He holstered the pistol and slipped the butt of the weapon under his right arm until he felt ready to charge after his partner. The only signs of the man's presence were the footprints left on the ground. Yet, the closer he came to the main street where the main fighting was, tracking Alexander Morris and joining him became a fruitless endeavor. So all that the former officer could do was find the weapons shipment and secure it.
Minutes passed as the sounds of fighting amongst the convoy continued to lessen; however, the APC with the autocannon continued to fire away. When was the outfit going to kill the damn thing? Pavel ran as his life depended on him with the rising smoke stacks rising to the burning skies and the smell of burning oil ruling the atmosphere. On occasion, he would be in the crossfire of stray bullets penetrating through multiple wooden walls but the ex-soldier continued to press forward toward the danger.
When he finished navigating through the buildings, the main street lay in front of him and the blue shipment container was a mere sprint away. Despite the relieving sight, he hugged the wall on his right and readied his strangely-shaped submachine gun towards the opposite end of the ally. As he slowly approached the objective, a squad of five soldiers appeared into view, firing their assault rifles elsewhere while unaware of his position on their left flank.
A greedy smile enjoyed the sight of the buffet of targets before the trigger finger squeezed and let out a hail of gunfire from his barrel. It was a surprise at first as he quickly fired through his rounds while the recoil was low enough to stabilize his aim. Then the Russian noticed the bullets moving mid-flight and seeking out the surprised soldiers of the Holy Army. Short bursts cut each one with a simple squeeze while he thought about the moment earlier. "I should probably thank Morris for this toy."
The moment of satisfaction did not last as the APC rolled forward and appeared in front of him with its turret aimed directly at him.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" He turned around and ran for his life while heavy machine gun and autocannon fire flew past him. Overpressure rippled through the air and his ears rang out at the deafening noise.
Danger had become second nature to Pavel. Despite the threat of an armored vehicle turning him into an invalid, he heard a roar of angry Serbian noises on the rooftop beside him. "Jebi se!"
What followed was an overhead shriek screaming behind the saved's back until the vehicle's main weapons were muted by a loud explosion. He looked over his shoulder to see the APC a burning wreck beside the weapons shipment. As the ringing slowly subsided, the former soldier walked into the center of the alleyway and approached the main road while looking up at the rooftops to see a familiar figure in a tracksuit on the right rooftop. "Niko, is that you?"
"Who the fuck did you think it was?" The foreigner replied, annoyed at such a question while tossing a used missile launcher away from him. Then he adjusted his gloves and spat at the ground, "It's not like I'm speaking French, am I."
"Sorry, it's just that my ears are turned to mulch after what just happened. Is that the last of them?"
Their radios crackled to life as a Mi-24 flew overhead and a scream of a gunship unleash its full potential elsewhere. Uhlman's voice called both men as the sounds of electronics beeped in the background. "I'm seeing a few stragglers trying to escape but they won't be running far. Everyone else, secure the shipment and get an Isra beacon up. The Gendarmes are waiting on us."
His hand reached for the button to speak. "Ladna, heading over."
Not a word was said as the former communist officer walked over to the shipment and made his way toward the back of the container. He heard a gunshot in the distance only to hear the clean slicing of flesh at the hands of mantis blades. V was still out there, cutting up some poor soul in a brutal kill but Pavel did his best to keep the vivid thoughts of 'dissection' out of his mind. The last detail he needed was an excuse to start throwing up.
Once he reached the two doors, the saved soul unlocked the container with both hands and pulled the metal doors towards him. Then the light seeped inside and revealed the whole collection of weaponry that had been stolen on that fateful day. The Archangel of Death was going to be happy at this recent development and he hoped the effort was worth the violence against the saved souls in Michael's service.
Alexander Morris appeared on his left, carrying a small cylinder device, and dropped it on the ground. The bottom quickly extended out and formed a tripod as the top slid open and a blinking white light flickered. In the blink of an eye, a white flash appeared before a squad of seven soldiers in blessed weaponry and armor crafted by Powers stood before him. They were a relieving sight for the Purgatory Investigator as the squad leader approached him and tapped him on the shoulder. "Good haul, people. Why don't you guys sit back and relax? We'll take it from here."
The time-traveling cowboy pulled out a cigar and started to smoke as he walked over and joined him. "There's a saloon nearby. Let's see if we can make some field requisitions while we're at it. How's your shooting iron?"
Pavel looked at the weapon hanging from his side. "It's a fine weapon. Just glad that this is all over."
A limo and a sedan arrived in a parking lot not far from the beach. Both were packed with toys for the active members of the hotel while extra swimsuits were piled in the trunks in case someone's bikini stretched too far or snagged by the ocean current. Artyom stepped out of the passenger seat of Mayberry's car as his boots tapped against the pavement. It was a hot day and even his feet could feel the intense humidity on him.
Car doors opened as he turned to his left to see the others step out of the limousine in swim trunks or bikinis. Merely stealing a glance was enough to make the disguised sinner an outsider among the clique. Even the woman he rode shotgun with had embraced the mood of the setting with a blue top and yellow capri pants. Perhaps he should have fitted himself a pair of swim trunks? Yet, he would rather encase himself in a Soviet diving suit than showcase a bit of his 'flesh' to outsiders, presuming the rest of his body was flesh in this sinful disguise.
A small strip of grass was all between the vehicles and the sandy beaches. Three empty picnic tables lay in front of him, enough for the group to rally around and rest if they grew tired. Past them was the sand itself before he looked further to see the wave currents gradually diminish in magnitude upon reaching the shores. The last time he properly got acquainted with the beach, it was when he rescued a group of imprisoned slaves locked inside a shipping container full of bandits and raiders. That was after he had to deal with a pack of savage humans who lost their souls and ability to think.
Nifty ran past him and started to set up the tables for food. It began with her bringing several columns of paper plates and red solo cups then boxes of plastic utensils. He was just amazed at how quickly she was at providing service to everyone else. What exactly did she do to find a place in Hell? Maybe he should ask Uhlman to grant him file access to everyone who was here.
The Russian never got a chance to gather his thoughts when Angel Dust and Husk brought out two metal poles wrapped in netting. It was a rare moment when he noticed the cat with wings smile, letting out a small chuckle before he grew curious about the intentions they had with their items. "What's that for?"
"Volleyball net. We're going to enjoy a nice game before getting ourselves wet." Answered the pink spider as all six of his arms seemed to be doing most of the lifting compared to the grumpy man at the front, "You should join us. The more the merrier!"
"Unfortunately, I won't. It wouldn't be unfair to everyone involved but I appreciate the offer." It was really an excuse to avoid interaction but more importantly, he merely desired to appreciate the atmosphere than partake in it.
"Oh well, your loss."
Mrs. Mayberry's voice grabbed his attention as she walked over to him and dragged two coolers over to him. "Hey, can you make sure these don't get in the sun? I forgot about the ice and I know the others are going to be thirsty. Plus, I need to fetch some snacks."
"Ladna." He acknowledged before she walked back to the car and he dragged the two coolers towards the picnic tables and slipped them underneath. The shade would provide enough as he sat down and watched the others enjoy their time. Yet, his eyes trailed over his shoulder to see the teacher pull out of the parking spot and drive off into a nearby suburb. Then he returned his gaze to the beach as sweat and heat began to build up underneath his gas mask.
Charlie and Vaggie jogged to the beach with surfboards in hand while wearing red and black lace bikinis. It was cute seeing the princess of Hell happy with her girlfriend; yet, Artyom had to keep his head on the swivel due to his new objective of keeping her safe. The soldier wanted to discourage her exposure but it would only spoil the would-be fun they were about to have. Even if he tried, it would only garner suspicion from the others about his intentions. Then he saw Vaggie turn her head and steal a glance at him, the sinner's smile fading as if she had seen a ghost. What exactly did she see that made her reaction?
A humming Alastor approached him with his microphone stand in hand. The overlord was in a good mood today based on his whistling alone. "You won't partake with us?"
"Not my thing," He replied as Nifty opened an umbrella and the sunlight was removed from his face. There was a temptation to join but his habits as a stalker were difficult to forget, "Just like to sit back as a casual observer."
"Then why did you come along? Everyone at this hotel is interacting with each other in some shape or form but you show reluctance to be with them all. Just… why?" It was a thought-provoking question but Artyom had no intention of entertaining a conversation in philosophy. His eyes shifted and looked up to find a puzzled Alastor looking down at him.
"Maybe next time when the time is right but let me enjoy a bit of my loneliness."
Alastor's eyes gave him a hard stare before turning away from the Russian and approaching the duo splitting up an area to fully make a volleyball court in the sands. Not a word was spoken but the disguised saved could feel something wrong about him. Nonetheless, he has left alone as the others began to run into the water, drenching their skin and clothes together before swimming out to the open.
A normal soul would be enticed to join them but the Purgatory investigator couldn't find the time to see it acceptable. His gut felt strange as if an ill fate was about to befall him in the future. He knew not why but only that it will happen. Perhaps that sensation was his body reacting to being alone but it could also be a hint at what the future had in store for him. After all, it was the same sentiment that fell upon his shoulders when the Aurora traveled to Novosibirsk, the train to D6, and the Dark Ones in his mind at Ostankino Tower.
The feeling of dread would do him no good; yet, Artyom would have to accept it. Waiting for destiny to bring terrible tidings was a painful experience, more so than the actual event itself. Such was life as a post-apocalypse survivor. It was a shame that Pavel was not here to keep him company, at the very least, his humor would be enough to raise his spirits.
His ears caught the sounds of an incoming car entering the parking lot behind him. A commotion of voices talked over each other and it was difficult to discern what they said. What was certain is their petty conversations about the most unimportant of details in their lives. That soon changed when a familiar voice spoke. "Will all of you quiet down?! I'm trying to sober up!"
"Verosika?" He wondered if it was her before shifting around on the bench and turning to face the parking lot. The spot that was once taken by Mayberry's car had now become occupied by a pink vehicle without a roof. A dark and muscular Hellhound was behind the wheel with the recognizable succubus sitting in the passenger seat wearing a pair of shades that were shaped like hearts. The back of her car was occupied by seven other succubi and incubi. How she managed to get them to sit comfortably together was an amazing wonder in itself.
"Hold the fuck up, no way? Is that who I think it is?" She stepped out of the vehicle and approached him. Despite her beautiful appearance, Artyom noticed the Hellborn stumbling with each step while carrying an unscrewed flask in her hand, "Hello handsome, I don't know how you managed to get to Lust but you are a sight for sore eyes."
Then her latest step made her trip forward before her body leaned toward the ground. The company she brought with her cried out in terror, helpless that their friend's drunken state brought the succubus to this. Without a thought, he rushed over to her aid and slid underneath the woman's shadow as he extended his arms out. His old noble habits of his never died out when she crashed into him. She chuckled while looking at his act of good gesture.
"My hero! Thanks, I've been having an off morning. I think you deserve a bit of something." Verosika wrapped her arm around his neck and pulled herself upward until her lips touched the gas mask covering his face. Although embarrassed, the Russian desired to reciprocate the very same feelings he had for her by slipping the gas mask up and leaning close to stealing a kiss. It was strange to find the Hellborn giggle before she laid her head into his chest.
"So uh, what exactly are you doing here?" He wondered as the timing of the succubus and her crew was surprising, "Are all of you on vacation?"
"Kinda. I got an upcoming concert but my friends and I are going to party hard before we get to practicing. But seriously, how did you get here? Sinners aren't allowed to leave Pride."
He had to be honest with her while his head looked up and saw the beach with Angel Dust leaving the water before making his way over to him. "I'm accompanying Princess Charlie. She wanted to spend her vacation with the rest of the people at the Hazbin Hotel."
"Fuck me sideways and call me a nymph," It was the strangest phrase that the woman had ever produced but Artyom went with whatever analogy she was going with, "How did a guy like you end up in a joke of a hotel? What does she have that other hotels don't?"
The homosexual spider walked over to the duo as the Hellborn in the car began to jump out of their seats. He left a wet trail of footprints from the ocean up until his feet sunk into the grass. Yet, the sinner was in close proximity to make a statement. "The princess? She gives us free housing and, get this, Charlie pays us to stay there."
"Angel Dust? The pornstar? I thought it was a rumor?" Soon she jumped out and landed on her feet encased in a pair of high heels and turned to face him.
"It's real sugar tits. Nice to see the cock siren pay us a visit. I should be honored but I'm worried your mouth would be full."
"Ha, ha, ha!" The succubus mocked before Artyom rose from the ground and stood by her side while the posse began running over to the beach and taking their clothes off, save for their undergarments Then she took a quick swig of her flask and smiled at him, "You managed to get away from Valentino. How?"
His expression changed into one of sadness as if carrying a deep shame with him. That was a feeling that the saved understood quite well before the homosexual's face scowled at his internal thoughts until he looked over his shoulder at the princess of Hell surfboarding in the distance. "Princess Charlie. She wanted me to help with her little experiment and gave me a place to stay. It's a lot better than goons waking me up in the middle of the night and dragging my ass to the studio."
"That's good to hear. I hope Val knows better than to test her highness' patience."
"A bit optimistic but hopefully he wouldn't dare." The sorrow in his voice had expressed nothing but the pain from the heart.
Artyom stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder as a way to reassure him. "My time in Hell has been very brief but whoever this otmorozok is, I'll give him a piece of my mind and a bullet with his name on it."
"You got balls, I'll give you that but he's an overlord. The guy has a small army behind him and if he wants my asshole, he'll do everything he can to get it."
"Then he has never met me," It was quite the statement but he could at least back his words with the actions of the past. His confidence brought a smile to the gangster's face as he continued to reference the sin against the Dark Ones, "There is a reason why I'm in Hell."
Someone shouted from beyond the shores. A cyclops girl in a blue two-piece swimsuit grabbed Angel's attention as she rose from the water. "Hey, fluffy boy, we're going to start a match. Want to join?"
He turned around and matched her tone with his. "I'll be right there, just give me a sec. I'm catching up with a coworker."
"Alright, it's me and you against the Radio Demon and his cat."
Husk displayed his annoyance with his designation as his wings fluttered to dry themselves. "I am not his cat!"
Angel Dust returned to the conversation with a genuine smile on his face. "Hey, I appreciate the support from both of you. I'll find a way to make it up somehow."
Artyom shook his head and rejected the suggestion. "No need from me. Consider this a gift of mine."
"Maybe Charlie's hotel wasn't a bad idea after all? I'll get going before Cherri blows a gasket." He departed from the conversation as he ran over to the makeshift volleyball court and initiated a game with Alastor, Husk, and Cherri.
"I wonder, how do you and Angel know each other?" He now directed this question at the succubus by his side before looking at her.
Verosika screwed a cover over her flask but once she finished screwing her drink to a tightening grip, her mood changed. "We used to go to the same porn studio. There's a lot of money to be had with showing some skin but the place is owned by three overlords. One of them treated our friend here as a mere plaything - a sex toy if you will. Poor guy's been abused and trying to find a way to escape him since then."
"That explains much when I first met him," The Russian let out a sigh and watched the others smile and laugh. Maybe this whole hotel and the people living there were merely putting up a mask for others, a way to endure their experiences and cope with the past. It made much more sense as he thought about it, "Here's hoping his fears don't come true. There will be hell to pay if it does."
"Do you ever hear yourself? There's no such thing as justice around these parts. Angel should count himself lucky that he has the protection of Lucifer's daughter to keep Val away." It was tempting to try and be open with the succubus but it would merely expose his identity and the truth. Every fiber of his soul wanted to showcase that there was such a concept of nobility; however, the restrictions placed by the Department of Purgatory for his mission were difficult to accept.
"Nonetheless, I'll be there when that day comes."
She then wrapped her arm around his. "It is stuff like that that makes your company even more enjoyable but let's not ruin our moment with this sad shit."
"So what do you have in mind?" He was here to spend his time on the beach and now, Verosika may have given him a reason to finally enjoy it in his way, "I don't want to exactly steal you away from your friends."
"They won't mind. I figure they would need a break from me anyhow. You? To see if this random sinner is actually worth my time, unlike my ex-boyfriend." The tone of the succubus became dangerous upon referencing his imp boss. He did not know what to make of this; yet, the Russian sought out to clear out the mess of emotions in the atmosphere of the conversation.
"Be honest with me. What am I to you? A spiteful excuse to mend a broken heart, ready to be discarded like a dirty bullet, or is this a chance for you to start something special?"
She grabbed his other arm and made him turn towards her. Their hands were locked together, held by the grip of a Hellborn who seemed shaken by such a statement. Then her head was raised with a warm smile revealing all that Verosika had kept underneath the mask of a seductress. "Look, I like you. How often do I find someone who says they're sorry that they hurt me, upfront? It's not something you find in a place like this where caring is a weakness to be exploited."
"I know the feeling. That makes two of us." Artyom added as he brought her close and hugged her.
Life in the aftermath of the apocalypse molded him; however, it also taught him that having a soft side that appreciated life was not one to be shirked and locked away. No matter what those damned fools who led armies by fear and hatred believed, it would pale in comparison to the men and women fighting for those they loved. After all, the Polis Rangers of the Spartan Order were founded by people who embraced those ideals.
Three imps and a Hellhound were sitting inside their van, parked outside the gates of Stolas' mansion. The concerted rescue of the boss should have led to a celebration; yet, Railtracer's arrest changed everything. He would be locked away in the dungeon of Stolas' mansion with the other unfortunates on the lower levels of the social ladder. Such a fate would almost feel like an eternity and that punishment would spur Blitzo to make a mad gamble of a rescue plan. After all, the sinner was willing to risk the wrath of the law to save his life. So he would return the favor in kind, even if it would break an old friendship and flame.
Two hands rested on top of the wheel, claws gripping around as this would now be the moment of truth. A friendship in Hell was as rare as gold and he would seek it out to keep such a precious commodity nearby. This mere sinner was one of the few relations who deserved his attention, one bound by comradery and care. He contemplated the rescue plan in his head, it was not perfect but maybe it will be enough to get a single soul out of permanent torment in the darkest cell.
Final preparations had been made with a black powder flintlock pistol residing in the holster underneath his jacket and two MP5 submachine guns slung over his shoulders. The firepower would be enough to kill scores of his fellow imps in a short amount of time; however, it would only scratch the paint for a soldier of the Dark Realm. Such a monopoly of protection could be afforded by legions under Lucifer's greatest, a premium that even Blitzo could not afford. Once the shooting started, it would only be a matter of time until he became another statistic in an average confrontation with the authorities and supposed officials of Hell.
The boss looked to his right to see a worried Loona sitting in the passenger seat. Past her was the gated courtyard that would ultimately lead into the building beyond. Yet, his daughter spoke in a way she never addressed him before. "Dad?"
"Yeah, Loony," His voice, tired from orchestrating a plan without a hint of sleep since the sinner was put away, "What's wrong?"
"I don't think you should do this." It was a painful sound to hear from his daughter but he had no intention to relent even now.
"He helped try to save me. I can't just let him hang."
Out from behind his back was the annoying voice of Moxxie. Normally, he would be mad at him but maybe he had the right to criticize him on this one thing that seemed to matter. "Sir, with all due respect this is crazy. Just think for a moment before we do something you'd regret."
"Of all the times your advice might be the best thing ever, this is the one time I will actually ignore." It was an honest reply from someone whose relationship with his employees was rocky from the start. Nonetheless, Blitzo looked over his shoulder to see the gentlemen on his left and his wife on the right. Between them was a green duffle bag that contained all the weapons that were repaired and improved by the sinner he was about to rescue.
"No, I have to voice my concern because there may be other options for us," He explained to the owner of the Immediate Murder Professionals. The imp's sound advice manages to sink into his head and somehow discourages a chance for a breakout, "How about we talk to Prince Stolas and seek an appeal? Our business is already illegal and he's already aware of what we do for a living. So why don't we step out of the van and talk to him?"
Millie looked at her husband, unsure of what to make of his solution to the problem. "Do you really believe it is that simple, dear? We're imps and the Ars Goetia would laugh at us if we came up to them and released a criminal for breaking one of their 'oh so sacred' rules."
"It's a long shot but it may work. If it doesn't, we at least have a layout of the mansion before we start shooting up the place and be on wanted posters for the rest of Hell. We should all be smart about this." Blitzo turned away and looked to the front of the car with a brief smile on his face. Moxxie continued to prove his usefulness to the company with his wits. Maybe he was right.
"Boss, what's your decision?" She asked of him with her Wrath accent kicking in, "Are you sure you want to do this?"
It was hard to counter their arguments as he removed the two sub-machine guns slung over his shoulder. Defeated by wisdom, he passed the weapons over to the husband and wife as he stepped out of the car. "Let's go talk to Stolas."
"Leave the weapons here. Loona, can you stay in the van and keep an eye on things?"
The Hellhound lifted her arm in the center of the car and showcased a thumbs-up. Her tone was more cheerful, probably after hearing the married imps make progress at providing common sense. "Don't worry. My nose will catch them."
Moxxie and Millie opened their doors and followed their employer to the front gate. A mad gamble indeed but this was the life that Blitzo intended to live out or die trying. He was rarely conscious about his decisions until now. As he arrived, a terminal was attached to the bricks on the right side of the entrance. The screen was a dark void that contained nothing until it was flickered to life by a white light, which then revealed a bored Stolas sitting behind his desk writing on paper as an official of Hell.
His eyes were elsewhere, focused and bored while his head rested upon his right arm. An adorable sight for the owner of I.M.P until the nobleman spoke. "Yes, this is a member of the Ars Goetia. If you are here for charity, I am not here for that. Now go away."
"Hey, Stolas!" It would be his way to earn the owl's attention as he adjusted his tie. His body felt like Hell was running a train over him, both literally and figuratively, "I want to talk with you."
"Blitzy? You've come to visit me. Why didn't you give me a call? I would have prepared something along the way and gotten the servants to clean up the place. Say, why do you have your employees with you?" The nervous Ars Goetia was taken aback by the imp's presence as he put down the pen with a flustered expression. For all of the Hellborn's position, the boss enjoyed the pleasure of seeing him react in such a way.
"I know you were looking forward for me to have a sweet lunch with you before we hit the sack but this is more business-related. We got to talk about that sinner you arrested."
He looked at him through the screen, confused for a brief moment until his eyes widened. "Ah, the sinner who broke the cardinal rule about leaving Hell. Yes, I do believe we should talk about that. In fact, I intended to update you about his fate, much to my surprise. Allow me to let you in."
His feathered finger reached out to the computer's keyboard and clicked on a button before the metal gates slowly opened inwards. They now had a way inside as the noble leaned back in his chair.
"Give me a moment to finish up, I'll send someone to greet you." The terminal turned off as the automated grate gate was fully wide enough for the trio.
They entered the front of the courtyard which contained lavish garden designs and carefully clipped hedges. Blitzo's head looked back to see the wonder and curiosity of his employees while they walked over to the entrance of the mansion. He made sure to warn them thanks to his previous visits to spend his time with the horny owl and maintain the relationship he had to have access to the Grimoire. "Don't go near the plants if you want to keep your head."
Automatic gunfire rang out as he turned around to find Moxxie's leg being snatched up by the green tendrils of a plant. Its petals retracted, revealing snarled teeth as the imp screamed for his life while firing away his UMP45 while being hung upside down. It was about to end poorly for him as the sentient vegetable mass opened its mouth until Millie lunged at the base of its neck and began stabbing it. A comical moment as the employer tried to hide his laugh while the creature uprooted itself from the ground and immediately crawled away from the pavement before she reclaimed her husband from the freak of nature.
"Not going to lie that was funny," Moxxie raised his head and glared at him before his hurt pride was soothed by a kiss from his beloved. After she helped him up, they made their way up the front steps of the manor as Blitzo reached into his pocket to provide for the poor man, "Hazard pay for what just happened."
He stood in front of the duo and knocked on the door for a few minutes. Not long after, it swung open to reveal a young teenage Ars Goetia with unkempt feathers. Wearing a black shawl atop her pink dress with yellow stars, the heiress of Stolas' house expressed complete disinterest with the newfound guests standing before her while her ears were plugged with headphones and rocking out to the playlist on the handheld device in her hand. Loona would certainly get along with her. "Oh, it's you. My dad is waiting for you in the kitchen."
"Thanks. Sorry about shooting up your plants, Octavia." It was an honest apology by the imp as she peered her head out of the doorway to see where the fight and upturned soil were placed.
"No worries," The daughter answered with a shrug of her shoulder, "We've got hundreds of plants around here. That one just likes to harass our guests when we're not looking."
She retreated further inside the building as the trio of Hellborn closed the door upon entering. Great splendor littered the entrance hall before the head of the group brought his companions with him. The last thing he needed was for his employees and friends to be interested enough to steal what valuables were shiny enough for the market.
It was an expansive place, even Blitzo's previous visits were not enough for him to map out the building's entire layout once he was inside. Every room and hallway was a maze in of itself save for the few locations the imp traveled for business or pleasure, both on some occasions.
When they reached the kitchen, they found Stolas sitting at the end of a long table. His fingers are tied together and his elbows are on the table. His expression was one of delight; especially, when it came to his company. "Blitzo! How has it been? I know that ever since my troops and I rescued you from that dreadful place, you weren't pleased with the arrest of your employee."
"Wasn't pleased?" He may have loved the man in bed but there was some degree of freedom that the imp wouldn't allow, "That's putting it politely. He rescued my asshole from those humans."
"Yes. I know that. It's an admirable trait but despite his actions, I have my obligations to fulfill and that was one of them." Defended the owl while the boss approached the other end of the table and pointed his finger at him.
"You made an exception to me fucking around on Earth, why not him?"
"He's a sinner," Stolas explained while trying to maintain his decorum of being a nobleman full of manners. He took a deep breath before adjusting the crown atop his head, "If it was a Hellborn, we wouldn't have a problem. A succubus, a Hellhound, and even imps can be on Earth and do whatever they want so long as they clean up. A sinner is expected to be in Hell and stay in it. Otherwise, both of us would receive the wrong kind of attention and I am not talking about my superiors or those idiots in suits and ties."
Just what exactly was he implying? Who exactly would focus on a group of assassins from Hell trying to make ends meet? "Who then?"
"Heaven. You and the rest of society may think that they're merely a bunch of goody-two-shoes with a stick up their ass whenever extermination day comes up but they are very aware of what goes on the mortal planes. They can tolerate enough tomfuckery from us until they act and when they do, it's a bad time for everyone involved. The last thing for all of us is Lucifer expressing his absolute anger."
The way he spoke about those people made his skin crawl. His encounter with the C.H.E.R. was still in recent memory and he did throw a mess in their mission before he and his crew left the scene of the crime. Maybe Heaven wouldn't notice his actions; yet, he remained unsure about that incident. "Okay, I get it. Now what about Railtracer? Is he still in your dungeon?"
"Not anymore," Answered the Ars Goetia as he rose from his chair and locked his hands behind his back, head tall with pride. Did it mean that the Russian was killed while he contemplated his rescue? "You should count yourself fortunate. This employee of yours was paid a visit by none other than Lucifer himself and he was in a pleasant mood since he lives at the Hazbin Hotel."
Moxxie could not help himself from speaking up and remarking about Stolas' response. "Satan's balls, I never thought he'd give any attention to anyone outside his court."
"You would be surprised. This fallen angel tries to keep himself informed thanks to an army of spies and their intelligence networks, even if he must speak to a mere sinner." The noble replied as a hint of his royal background shined through his words.
The news was a relief for Blitzo as he relaxed his shoulders and his existence stopped worrying about Railtracer's fate. It was a good thing that his long-time companions talked sense into him; otherwise, they would have broken into a manor and not found their latest addition to I.M.P. "Thanks Stolas, I appreciate everything you've told about my arms repairman. Ever since his arrest, you've had us worried there."
"It's fine. I completely understand your perspective. This time, you owe me a date."
"Don't sweat it!" He dismissed the whole conversation with a wave of his hand. Without his mind on the verge of a mental breakdown, the boss knew that this meeting would come at a cost. At the very least, he could repay his lover's information with a decent spot to take him to, "How about Ozzie's?"
Behind his back, he could hear Millie squealing with joy before whispering to her husband. "Didn't you say you were going to take me to Ozzie's?"
"Don't worry dear," Moxxie reassured her, "I got it planned."
Verosika wrapped herself in a white towel while her wings fluttered, the last drops of water from her recent shower splattering the white tile walls. She was pleased with herself after bringing the sinner on board her yacht and spent the time seeking pleasure from his company. Safe to say, Railtracer was quite the man under the sheets as if he was an expert in the art of making love. Maybe the sinner was worth it after she opened the bathroom door and cold air blew past her, chilling the skin of the succubus.
The moment she stepped into the bedroom where the magic happened, the Russian was laying down on the queen-size bed. He was almost bare naked except for a pair of boxers and a bracelet being his only underwear after an hour of sex. She wondered why he needed to cover up the important parts of his body given that it consisted of a skeleton on fire but perhaps it was a byproduct of when he was once alive. Beside him was a metal tray of chocolate-covered strawberries and the popstar could see that he had eaten based on the chewed remains of fruit.
She approached the mattress and gently laid her body on the opposite side before picking one out of many and biting the crusty chocolate layered atop the juicy delicacy. Only the wealthy could afford such a luxury and the man in front of her was one of the rare sinners to have a taste of the life they once had. "How is it? I figured both of us would be hungry afterward."
His blue-flaming face smiled before the skeleton within opened to speak. "It's sweet, just like you."
"Oh," Blood flustered through her face since she didn't anticipate his remark. Yet, the man's way of charm was admirable, "I suppose you have any experience when it comes to taste."
"It's not something I would brag about." He admitted as he took another strawberry and made a massive bite.
"Glad that I'm not dealing with a shithead who talks about how many women he's fucked."
The statement sparked a laugh from Railtracer as he rolled over to his back and looked at the ceiling. What did she say that amused him? "If that was the case, I would be a disappointment. No, the only other woman I have loved was my wife… back on earth. Back then, she was my one and only."
"It would have sounded sweet if you weren't in Hell." She said as his facial expression changed.
"I'm here for a different reason, one I'm not too keen to tell."
Verosika could sense the pain in his voice and knew better than to press someone's past. The succubus would find out in due time as everyone had a secret they would spill so long as they were willing. As she thought about him, his words from earlier affected her. "So does this mean that we're officially a couple?"
"Yes." He leaned in close and stole a kiss from her lips. It was a mere few minutes but the confirmation validated and reinforced the relationship that Blitzo was unable to maintain.
There was a loud shuffle of feet tapping against the floor outside of the bedroom. What followed was inaudible shouting on board the boat as they continued to get closer and arrive at the front of the door. Soon the duo looked to the right side of the room and saw the door swing open, revealing several lithe figures in swimsuits. It was then that the pop star realized that she was looking at the princess of Hell and her entourage from the hotel.
She would have been embarrassed to be in her presence but then the singer saw the shock upon their faces as her highness widened her eyes at the scenery. The moth girl beside her placed her hand over her mouth while Angel Dust was tall enough to look over their shoulders snickering like a schoolgirl. Then Charlie stepped into the bedroom with cheeks redder than the paint of her clown face. "Railtracer! Why did you leave us in the dust and run off with this woman?"
"Hey, I invited him," Verosika stated upfront as she rose her upper body from the bed while her legs remained rested, "Not my fault that he wanted my company."
"He was supposed to spend time with the rest of the hotel." The princess replied with her arms crossed while the Russian scratched the back of his head.
"Maybe it wasn't worth his time?"
The mood changed when he spoke. "I mean no offense Charlie but a beach party isn't my thing. I'm sorry to disappoint but Verosika and I were… How do I put it? Trying to kickstart a relationship and it just so happened she showed up around the same time."
"It's still not cool," Stated the disappointed royal as she rubbed her temples at this situation, "I suppose I can forgive you for something so minuscule."
Angel Dust shoved past the group and stood behind her. "Hey, give him a break. My friend here is trying to catch some tail. You can't blame him now."
"You do realize that the hotel's credibility is still on the line, right?" She said.
Then the succubus ate another strawberry before continuing her place in the conversation. As much as the idea of a redemption hotel was ridiculous, it was better not to antagonize the daughter of Lucifer. "Technically, it would still have some credibility. How often do you hear stories about a sinner going to a hotel to seek redemption while also getting some pussy like mine? That's the sort of shit that attracts media coverage and the more people who are aware of it, the more people are inclined to come over, regardless if it's 666 News or my agent. So give my boyfriend some slack that he's willing to give you the time of day."
"Yep, that's the succubus I know," Commented the homosexual spider as he burst out laughing before stepping in front of the entourage and stole a look at Charlie's face, "If there's one thing I know about Vers, it's that she knows how to handle it like I am with cocks."
"As much as I would love your company, I would like all of you to scram." She added with a vicious tone to her voice.
Charlie's face was different as if a lightbulb hit her before she snapped her fingers and stormed out of the room. "Guys! Give them a bit of privacy!"
"Uh? Can anyone explain what just happened?"
The moth girl with one eye answered, finally joining. "Dear god, Charlie came up with an idea."
Author's Note: Never thought I would be spending several weeks replaying Darkest of Days and watching Puss in Boot - The Last Wish in hopes of making sure this chapter could get finished. I might play a bit of Mordhau later to get some inspiration for Artyom running around with a Zweihander.
Guest: It's even better when I have people commenting.
Nancho The Supreme: I hope so as well but with the latest changes in how I format my chapters, I hope they're not discouraged by my efforts to throw 10k words with each update.
RomanWolfEater: This fic is full of character references. Unlike my other crossover fanfics, I'm not holding back.