Chapter 30

"...And that's pretty much the whole story.", Charlie finished with sigh. "I pissed off Adam, managed to survive the first time, so now he's determined to finish the job."

Viola fell back into her chair with an audible thunk.

"Everything you just told us...It's…"

Her eyes were dull and empty, as if she had just been kicked in the stomach with an iron boot.

Chay laid her head back on her chair's headrest, her eyes closed as she attempted to process the glut of new information that Charlie had just given her. She didn't want to admit it, but she was just as gobsmacked by everything as Viola was.

"So let me get this straight…", she began. "Your father got you an appointment with the head of the Extermination...but the place they gave you has been abandoned for over three decades. You then went up to Heaven to try and make your case, where Adam then accidentally blurted out the Extermination's existence…"

Lucius's head fell into his hands. "This-this is a lot to take in."

"There's a bit more to it.", said Vaggie. "We found out later that they were originally going to move the Extermination up by six months, but because Charlie never made that meeting they weren't able to use it as an excuse."

"Why would that matter?", Viola asked.

"Because according to the agreement my father signed….", Charlie answered. "...they can't make any drastic changes like that without informing a member of the royal family first."

"That seems rather petty."

"It was.", Charlie sighed.

"The reality is that they were trying to get revenge for one of their fallen comrades.", Vaggie said. "All of that other stuff was just false pretext."

"How did you figure out this information?", Chay asked.

Charlie nervously wiped her hair from her forehead. "We get...trickles of news every so often. Little bits and pieces. We don't know a whole lot but…"

Vaggie continued for her. "The political situation up there right now is really fragile. The Council tried to keep a lid on what happened, but it leaked out to the general public. That's about all we know as of right now.

Chay opened her eyes and looked at Charlie. "On that topic...the general population of Heaven. You said they had no idea this was happening?"

"Nope.", Vaggie answered. "Nobody outside of the High Seraphim and the Exorcists themselves had any idea about it. I can't say anything definitive about the Council, however.."

"You should have seen how they reacted.", Charlie said. "The looks on their faces...they were weeping. People don't cry in Heaven like that, Chay. It's just not something that happens."

"Especially when they found out what was happening to the Hellborn.", Vaggie said. "That was just the cherry on top of the whole shit sundae."

"And this Emily…", said Chay, "...she also didn't know?"

Charlie looked down at the floor and shook her head. "No. She didn't."

"And you believe her?"

"I was there with her, Chay.", Charlie answered. "Her entire world was shattered. So yes, I absolutely believe her."

"Hmmm…", said Chay. "This…changes some things."

"It changes a lot!", Lucius moaned as he hopped off of his chair. "It throws everything upside down! We've been operating this whole time under the assumption that Heaven's inhabitants have been actively oppressing us with full knowledge of the atrocities committed in their name…"

"...And this entire time", said Viola breathlessly. "None of them knew. Didn't even have a hint."

"Nobody except the High Seraphim…", Chay said, "the head of the Extermination and of course the Exorcists themselves…"

She looked over at Vaggie. "Which, of course, includes you."

"...Yeah, me.", Vaggie said suspicously. "You're being...awful non-chalant about that."

"About what?"

"About...well, about me being a former Exorcist and everything."

Chay looked at her two Imp companions, who both shrugged at her.

Vaggie looked between the three of them.

"...Wait.", her eyes narrowed. "You already knew, didn't you?"

"Of course I did.", Chay answered. "I'm a detective. You don't exactly hide it well or anything."

"...How?"

Chay reached up and pointed at her left eye. "Take a guess."

"There's also the spear.", Viola said. "You carry that thing around like it's your comfort blanket."

"There's also your grayish-purple skin.", Lucius said. "Kind of a dead giveaway."

"Honestly, I was kind of under the impression that Charlie didn't know.", Chay said. "Not that I think she's stupid or anything, but she had been referring to you as a Sinner this whole time."

Charlie once again a heavy sigh. "I know that now, of course. I didn't exactly take the news well the first time but...well, that was a year ago."

"Kind of underselling it, babe.", Vaggie grumbled.

"Either way...now you know the whole story. So what do you think?"

"-I think...", Chay began, "that we're going to have a lot to unload on Fyewackett when he gets back."

"No shit.", Viola said. "We're gonna have to do some serious line struggle over this."

"Probably have to completely revamp our mass line.", Lucius blurted out. "I am not looking forward to the revision process. Fuck me but this is gonna cause a schism I just know it."

Chay rocked back in her chair. "Either way, I have more pressing concerns to deal with, like getting Ella and the moonrock back in the next five hours."

"Did you make any progress?", Viola asked.

"Better.", Chay answered. "I know where they are and who has them."

"You do?", Charlie asked. "That's fantastic!...but what exactly are you planning?"

Chay took a deep breath.

"Here's what I know: Ella is at the Vee Tower. I don't know how exactly, or in what state she is, but she is there. I'm 100% sure of that. As for the moon rock…"

She rubbed her eyes, tired.

"Flynn has it, and somehow he's tied himself up with Bodfish and his outfit."

"Bodfish?", Vaggie asked. "As in Nimrod Bodfish, the founder and CEO of WUL Inc?"

"Yeah, I figured you two would have heard of him.", Chay said. "He does security work for many of the major Overlords."

"Not to mention the Goetia.", Viola said.

"And on top of that…", Lucius said. "Flynn really is still alive. That slippery motherfucker."

"I'm lost…", Charlie said. "Who exactly is Flynn? I've heard Chay say that name before."

"It's...a long story.", Viola said.

"And one I don't have the time to tell.", Chay said as she stood up from her chair. "I need to find Lester. He's going to want to know where his sister is...and I'm going to need his help."

"Baxter, think about what you are sssaying.", Pentious said.

"I know what I'm saying, Pentious.", Baxter replied. "I've looked at this in every single way I can possible conceive of, and that's the only conclusion I can possibly reach. We are looking at a form of technology that can harness and possess a soul."

Pentious could only shake his head, dumbfounded. Even in a place like Hell, where the very nature of reality seemed malleable and manipulable, there were certain iron laws that remained consistent.

Namely: a soul could only be bought, sold, or erased. Nothing else. If a soul is erased, at best its essence would bleed out and meld into the surrounding landscape. It could not possess another body.

Nor a machine.

And yet…

"The clossssest thing that Hell has managed to create that is equivalent to thisss is my minions. That processss is already complicated enough as it is."

"I'm well aware, Pentious.", Baxter replied.

Pentious rubbed his temples. "I think I feel a migraine coming…"

"Story of my life."

Bzzt bzzt

Baxter's hellphone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and hit the answer button.

"Yeah?...alright, I'll them him."

He hit the disconnect button and repocketed his hellphone.

"You're needed downstairs, Pentious.", he said as he turned back to his computer. "Make sure your eggs don't break anything."

The snake-Sinner's cobra-like hood flared out. "I'll have you know that my minionsss are incredibly sssanitary and gentleman-like in their conduct!"

A loud shattering sound could be heard outside of the door.

"...I ssshall take my leave.", Pentious said as he hurriedly slithered out the door.

Baxter looked behind him, making sure the door was safely closed and locked.

He then brought up the command prompt on his computer.

'Ella, are you there?' he typed out.

He quickly got a response.

Baxter, something is happening.

'Talk to me', he typed in response.

I've been watching the windows. I'm seeing strange people wearing black. They are swarming everywhere. They have guns. Lots of guns.

When Chay opened the door to Lester's room, she found him standing in the middle of the floor, rigid and with his eyes locked on the opened door.

"You have found my sister.", he said.

Chay quietly closed the door behind her. "In a matter of speaking, yes."

"You need my assistance.", he said matter-of-factly. "Say no more. Tell me where we need to go, and I shall follow."

"Well, before that…"

Chay sat down on Lester's bed. His eyes followed her like a hawk.

"I know where she is, Lester. But I don't know what state she's in. All my investigation has managed to turn up says that she's somewhere in the Vee Tower. She may still be in one piece...or she might not be. She might not even be capable of thinking anymore."

Lester didn't react. He simply continued to stare at her.

"What I do know is that she's somehow connected to those shards that were controlling those things weeks ago. Sawney said something about how, and I quote, 'she went in, and the shards came out'."

His eyes narrowed. "You spoke to my grandfather."

"Yes, I did. He spilled a bunch of information that I needed, but it didn't come easily. I had to essentially threaten him with erasure to get anything out of him."

Lester sighed.

"What do you wish of me?", he asked.

Chay got up from the bed.

"Do you remember what we did last time?"

Lester nodded tentatively.

"Well, we're going to have to do it again. And with a lot more opposition this time."

Lester's sickle emerged from his cloak.

"That does not concern me.", he said.

CHAPTER 30 END