Disclaimer I do not own Hazbin hotel/helluva boss series, and I am not making any money by writing this story. Hope everyone that reads this enjoys it.
thoughts will be in italics
/ scene transition
Emily didn't like snooping around, but she was so frustrated that Sera refused to talk to her about the new special arrival souls. She had tried to talk to them a few times, but Adam usually was around talking with them, and she didn't always like dealing with Adam and it didn't help that Adam was basically Sera's right hand meaning he would spin up some story for her to keep him off of his back and make sure he didn't reveal any of Sera's secrets. His attitude was also extremely abrasive though she was unsure if that was him acting like that on purpose or she just didn't jell well with Adam considering how almost everyone else in Heaven loved the guy. Emily cringed a bit recalling how Sera and Lute had dragged her away from one of Adam's special parties when she had first tried to learn from Adam about human souls not realising that doorknobs had socks on them for a reason.
Luckily for her she did have someone else she could pester who wouldn't be able to deny her need for information. "Oh Peter!" Emily called out as she landed in front of the gates.
Peter looked up and sighed as he saw the look of excitement and mischief in Emily's eyes. He liked the girl he really did but she tended to be rather nosey when she wasn't busy around heaven or in a lesson with Sera and that meant he and the other angels had to deal with her curiosity and while he often worked with Emily the most that didn't mean he didn't want a break every so often. Emily just had way too much energy even for an angel. "What can I do for you Emily?"
"I was wondering if you could tell me about the new arrivals?"
Peter looked at Emily a bit confused by what she was asking. "New arrivals? Emily, you meet them every day why would you need me to tell you about them? I mean you get the chance to go through my record book whenever you like, technically there are no arrivals you don't know about. I'm pretty sure you know more about the souls that show up than I do, and I greet most of them."
Emily frowned as she realised that she hadn't been as straightforward about her question while also wondering if Peter had any information about what she wanted to know. "No not the regular souls in your book. I double checked ahead of time. No, I mean the souls that live in the Meadow, the ones that Sera and Adam greet personally. I've tried asking Sera, but she won't tell me anything and I don't think I'll get much out of Adam if Sera won't tell me anything."
Peter listened intently himself having also noticed the rather odd occurrence of how often Sera had come to greet specific new souls and when Sera didn't show up for those souls it was Adam and as much as Peter would never say anything to the man's face he just didn't know why Adam was helping or working on whatever secret project Sera had started up as there was no other reason he could think of that Sera was keeping this all secret. The fact that Adam seems so invested in this is odd as well. The man has gotten so lazy in his years that I don't understand what could have him putting in so much effort. "I'm not sure how much I can help you, Emily. I've never even gotten a chance to talk to those who live in the meadow. Have you tried talking to the newcomers, I'm sure they leave the Meadow eventually right, they can't live their entire eternity inside of the meadow?"
"That's the worst part." Emily pouted in frustration. "When they do leave the Meadow its only for a short period of time and they are always being escorted by an exorcist. I can't get any real answers to my questions." Peter could see the frustration painted all over Emily's face and just let the young Seraphim vent.
"I'm the joy bringer, my job is to help human souls and give them happiness and comfort! How am I supposed to do my job if my angels keep blocking me or lying to me or keeping me in the dark!" Emily's frustration and anger seemed to take physical form as what seemed like a small lighting storm appeared above her even if the rain and lighting that fell from the clouds had no effect at all on the fuming angel. After a while Emily took a few calming breaths and the clouds vanished as Peter just gave her a warm gentle hug.
"I'm sure you'll find a soul to talk to eventually and then you can help fix whatever problem they are having." Peter felt happy that he seemed to have helped assure Emily as she gave him a smile. "If you ever have any issue, you feel frustrated about, I'm always here by the gates if you need someone to talk to." Emily thanked the saint as she flew off thinking of a plan on how to get around her sister.
Once Emily was out of sight Peter felt his own doubts about the situation growing as having had a chance to really think about everything, he found it rather peculiar and troublesome that none of the souls guided to the Meadow were in his book of mortal souls. Every name of the departed that was worthy of heaven should have their name in it. Sera has hidden something from the heavenly council. But how did she do this and why? Peter was unsure of what he should do and even what he could do. Besides Emily, Sera was the only other Seraphim still around and he didn't want to risk earning her wrath to satisfy his curiosity and worry, especially if this was nothing to actually worry about and he ended up causing unnecessary problems. But the thought that something dangerous was going on in the background wouldn't leave the back of his mind.
There was something he could do; it was bending the rules a bit, but it was the safest thing he could do to check up on things to give himself some peace of mind and maybe even help Emily on her little quest. Taking out the book of names Peter began speaking in the original tongue before babel was destroyed. The smell of burning paper seemed to grow in the air as the book of names shook almost seeming to be tearing itself apart trying to complete the request being asked of it.
PURGATORY!PURGATORY!PURGATORY!
The words kept repeating the book seeming to be almost attempting to scream the words out to Peter and yet there was no context that he could understand. The only thing he could reference the word to was the idea of redemption spoken about in newer texts of written by humanity about a realm based on the idea of repentance, a world in-between Heaven and Hell a realm meant to challenge mortal souls that had not reach Heaven yet had not earned Hell. "But no such realm exists?" Peter was confused as he tried to make sense of what the book was trying to tell him. "Please explain what you mean. I don't understand."
ROOT
All the pages of the book went blank except for the single word or name the book showed as it tried to answer his question. Peter was shocked and frightened when the page seemed to tear itself out of the book setting itself ablaze in golden fire and tearing itself apart as if the very word or name wasn't allowed to exist in Heaven.
Peter slammed the book shut a deep fear taking hold of him at what had just occurred. By the almighty what just happened!? Is this why Sera has been hiding things from Emily? Peter decided that it was important to make sure no one knew what he had done as he needed to investigate. He could leave a few cherubs in charge of the gates right now he needed to enter the library of Gabriel and Metatron, hopefully it could provide him the answers he was seeking or at the very least give him some closure and a knowledge of just how badly things were going or if Sera had things under control. Could this be why Sera had Adam leave Heaven with so many warriors every year? They stopped leaving yearly so could she be getting a handle on things?
Had Peter stayed a bit longer instead of hurriedly leaving his post in his haste he would've seen the torn page attempting to warn its master one last time as a rather old name was formed from the smoking remains of the page before it was blown away.
CAIN
The words so clear and legible as the nature of divinity itself tried to warn the guardian of the gate that something was wrong and yet that very same divine nature could not abide such things in the realm of Heaven removing the stain of even the name with a simple gust of wind seemingly from nowhere.
/
Emily found herself at the edge of the meadow smirking at the simple genius of her plan. While the warriors had not left Heaven as often as they used to, she knew they still did even if she didn't know where they left to. All she needed to do was wait until they left for wherever then she would have her chance to enter the meadow unimpeded and no chance of Sera dragging her away.
I wonder what the human souls in the meadow will be like? Usually, they seem to keep their human form which is odd considering how most mortal souls I see enjoy shapeshifting and taking on different forms than their regular human one. There were so many questions Emily had for the souls in the meadow, and she was so giddy at the chance to talk with them.
Emily knew her chance had come when Adam landed at the entrance though she found it odd how tired he seemed considering how laidback he usually added. His mask hid it well, but she could tell from his posture and how unsteady his landing was. She decided to bug Adam about why he was overworking himself so badly later, as the meadow was much more important to her at the moment. She couldn't help but giggle a bit about the future of bugging Adam as she always found it funny how he tried to clean up his foul tongue as Sera called it whenever she was around. She recalled the last time he had cussed in front of her and how Sera had literally filled his mouth with soap. He had been burping bubbles for weeks.
Emily quickly covered her mouth to muffle herself as she saw a large number of warriors arriving to meet with Adam. She couldn't hear them, but she was grateful to see the angels leaving with Adam through a large golden portal. She waited until after it was closed before she put her plan in motion as she pulled a spare warrior outfit she had 'borrowed' from the barracks when no one had been around and putting it on so she could blend in and not be found out. As she was about to enter the gates to the meadow she frowned as she looked where the portal Adam had left through was and wondered where he had led the warriors to. I could follow them. The portal was only recently closed so I should be able to open it up again and follow… No, no, no questions to get answers for on another day, right now it's time to see what's happening in the meadow.
If Emily was honest the Meadow was a bit of a letdown and underwhelming for all the secrecy and security that surrounded it. Unlike the grand futuristic city that the mortal souls lived in this looked more like a large town that was a mix between rural towns down on earth and log cabin communities. The entire place seemed very low key and based on calm and gentle comfort almost a physical crafting of the idea of nostalgia, not that she really understood the concept though Sera and some of the other older angels had told her she would someday.
Walking around Emily noted how it wasn't just the few souls she had seen but the majority of the souls here were in a human form. Most mortals she knew loved being shapeshifters or shedding their old mortal forms, something about how doing so invalidated a lot of the things that caused problems back on Earth but apparently from the small bits of gossip she had managed to overhear and from what she had seen and was seeing now the souls of the Meadow seemed to almost become terrified if they lost their human form, even partial transformations causing issues with a few exorcists arriving to help calm the soul down.
Emily found it a bit comical how angels that had been crafted to be warriors were playing therapist. Her sense of humour left her in a rush when another exorcist paused in what they were doing seeming to have taken note of Emily and moved to intercept her.
"Soldier what are you doing just wondering around?"
Emily felt like her heart had stopped beating as she froze up for a moment worried, she had been caught in her disguise before managing to calm down and answer her carefully rehearsed lines if she was forced into a conversation to avoid being found out. "I'm actually a bit lost. The high seraph sent me here as I was supposed to meet Adam for my introduction to the exorcists. I'm newly crafted and this was my assigned job. Where is Adam?"
The angel looked annoyed as she took in Emily's excuse before signed in irritation and just being tired. "Just my luck having to deal with the newbies with Lute and Adam being busier than ever and spending less time in heaven to train the newbies." The angel looked at Emily again as she contemplated what to say. "Look we are pretty busy right now and Adam is currently taking most of our forces out on patrol so right now I'll just have you shadow and keep an eye on one of our newer residents. He should be a good first soul for you to guide and support. When Adam gets back, I'll introduce you so he can explain things properly."
The two flew for a bit as the warrior angel led Emily to the soul, she would be spending time with. Emily herself felt rather nervous as she wondered how long she could keep up her masquerade especially if she was still around when Adam returned.
"Mr Abreham, its Boxer. I'm here to introduce you to your new companion angel." Boxer knocked on the door of the house as she called out. Emily herself who had heard the sound of wood being chopped found silence for a moment and then footsteps as a rather large man covered in a light sheen of sweat opened the door. He spoke with Boxer for a bit before the angel nodded and then turned to Emily. "Well good luck newbie, Adam should be back in a few hours but for now unofficially you are Mr Abraham's companion."
"Don't you need my name?" Emily asked Boxer but the exorcist just shook her head a bit of a smirk on her mouth as she seemed to find the question humorous. Not really newbie. Adam gives everyone nicknames and that's the only name that tends to stick among the exorcists. When you see him be sure not to do anything to annoy him or you could end up with a rather annoying nickname for the rest of your existence. Well, if that's all ill be going. Good luck and hope your ready for this job kid because once you're in there is no getting out."
As the angel flew off Emily felt very nervous as she looked at the retreating form of the angel and the man she would be stuck with now instead of being able to explore. The sweat that had been on him had vanished though this seemed to annoy the man a bit as he motioned for Emily to follow him inside. "You want anything to eat or drink? I have some food on the oven, and I don't mind sharing."
Peaking inside Emily saw a small wood oven with some pots on with a very pleasing aroma coming from them. As an angel she didn't really need to eat but she always enjoyed snacking on the sweets the cherubs brought her or that was being shared by the various venders when she travels among the souls in heaven to bring joy and wonder. "I don't want to impose. Its your food after all."
The Abraham laughed as he let Emily inside his home pointing her to a large chair to sit on as he quickly went outside again before returning with a stack of chopped wood in hand. "I'll never get used to you angels but then again, you're all a breath of fresh air to talk to. Your all so innocent it's kind of funny."
Abraham set a small table with some plates and cutlery as he took the pots and pans off the stove. "You know you don't need to keep your helmet on the whole time. I know its kind of a policy for you gals to always keep them on but I'm pretty sure it'll get in the way of eating. I won't tell anyone if that's what your worried about."
Emily looked around a bit nervous but not wanting to offend Abraham by being a bad guest. Once she was sure no one else was around she slowly took off the helmet but kept it close by in case she needed to put it back on quickly.
"Well, aren't you a sweet thing. Shame you girls seem to have such an odd need to hide your faces but then again, I guess it helps with the warrior lifestyle you girls follow. So how is your first time in the Meadow?"
"How did you know?"
Abraham laughed at the confused look on Emily's face as she tried to figure out how he knew this was her first day here. "Its clearly written all over your body language. It was the same for all the other girls when they first arrived and met us. So, you have any questions? Most of the older folk here told me a lot of you girls tend to be pretty curious so ask away."
Emily couldn't believe how lucky she was at the moment though her thoughts were temporarily halted as she took her first bite of the meal as she thought about what to ask. This is so good! She internally squeed though she would never admit to that recalling how Sera had teased her the first time she had tried human sweets.
"I see you like the food." Emily in turn pouted as she forced herself not to simply devour the meal in front of her not wanting to seem like a bad guest but not wanting to embarrass herself either in front of her host.
"The meal is quite impressive Mr Abraham, but why make it yourself? I'm sure you could ask some cherubs to help you around your home not to mention all the labour you're doing for yourself." It confused Emily how so many of the souls she had taken note of in the Meadow seemed to be working to avoid the easy life heaven could provide them even more so than the usual earthly souls who seemed to need a bit of time adapting to the concept that they no longer really needed to work to survive.
"Yes, that question does seem to float around a lot. I think it's mostly because a lot of us are scared that this is all just some sort of joke with many waiting for the rug to be pulled out from under us. For others I think its just to create a feeling of normalcy, life wasn't good or easy before our deaths and I think just having a chance to live life without the metaphorical axe hanging over our heads is just something everyone here needs."
Emily looked at him in confusion wondering what he was talking about as it felt like she was missing something. Earth can't be this bad, can it? Emily felt confused as she tried to think of the last time, she had taken a look at the planet to see how things where going. The cherubs have been having a lot more requests and missions on Earth lately but surely Sera or the elders would've acted if things got really bad right? "Surely things can't be too bad on Earth sir. I'm sure heaven would've acted to help.
"I forget you angels look at things rather long term don't you. Things have really only gotten bad in the last century or two which is long by human standards but I'm sure it's rather short to eternal beings like yourself. Considering how Boxer called you a newbie though I guess you're a pretty young angel right?"
Emily cringed a bit inside as she recalled how she had to lie to get this chance to listen and learn and simply nodded not trusting herself to speak at the moment.
Abaham chuckled a bit as he spoke further. "Well, if I recall my own history lessons well enough two warrior angels or exorcists as you call them up here did make themselves known to humanity a while back fought off some great demon before leaving. Honestly, I wasn't too sure about the idea when I was still alive but being up here, I guess I owe my history teach an apology."
"There was a creature from hell on Earth?" Emily found herself shocked as she tried to process what she had heard and to learn that it had been a rather large and public event as well. Is hell interfering with humanity and their lives on Earth? Maybe that's why the number of human souls that have arrived at the gates have been dropping and why so many of those that do come here. Thinking on it a bit more maybe that's why newer souls didn't like the idea of not looking human if a hell-born was the last thing they saw in life.
It can't be that bad though can it. After all the armies of heaven haven't been rallied to head for Earth or Hell. Emily rationalised it as the act of a few from Hell and that Earth had it this handled as according to Abraham the exorcists had left behind a tool that had helped humanity not to mention humans had learned how to handle and fight back as well.
Despite the warmth of the meal in her stomach all Emily felt as a bit of cold dread wondering if this was why Sera had kept this a secret from her. All Emily could think about was how horribly it must be for the humans on earth to have to deal with demons. Part of her wished hadn't learned about this as now all she could think about was how to help and she couldn't really help without her sister finding out about her little trip nor did she really have any idea on what she could do. She wasn't a fighter or a healer in any real sense, she had a great deal of power and it hurt her thinking about how ignorant she had been of what the human souls had to deal with.
As the artificial night cycle in the Meadow began Emily realised, she had spent a great deal more time in the Meadow than she had meant to. She had been rather engaged in some of the stories Abraham had been telling her about his family and how he was waiting for the day they joined him.
As she got up to leave and thanked Abraham for the meal she looked down at the helmet in her hand as an idea niggled its way into her mind. After all the exorcists seemed to have a strict policy of keeping their faces hidden and keeping the helmet mask on. She could stick around, learn a bit and be more useful and helpful if the need ever arose. Emily flew off her mind made up about what she planned to do and was now working on ideas and plans on how to keep her sister from finding out what she would be up to. Emily looked down at her hands wondering if for a change she could be more than a simple smile and the friendly face of the angels towards humanity. She was the angel of joy, the joy bringer and that was all the angels of heaven saw and while she enjoyed her job it was frustrating how the rest of heaven often treated her like a child even though she was a seraph, one of the mighty. It will be nice to be more than a pretty face for to help keep the humans calm and happy. I can have a chance to be proactive and do some good in the world beyond heaven and not just be a clean up and repair person to fix what reality did to a human before they entered heaven.
/
Void between worlds
Adam growled in frustration as he avoided a giant tentacle like root as he cut through another that tried to grab him when he avoided the first. "When did I take up a job as a gardener. I feel like I'm more of a weed remover than a warrior these days." Adam unleashed a blast of holy light frying a dozen more roots that had managed to corner a few of his girls.
This had become a rather annoying repeat occurrence for Adam and his elite warriors as they started having come to the void every few months to wipe out the strange roots that grew out from the Purgatory realm reaching for Hell, Heaven and Earth. For a while Lute had been more than enough to keep an eye on the realm and keep the roots in check but after a few years she had been forced to call in Adam telling him the roots had grown in number, strength and speed and now here he was being the interdimensional gardener.
The worst part for Adam was the screams and wailing he heard whenever a root was destroyed and how he was the only one who ever seemed to hear the noise. The voice that produced the wailing sounded so familiar though that it felt like torture for Adam whenever he heard it even though he shoved his feeling of discontent down refusing to let it stop him from doing his duty and protecting the realms from what was likely his own screw up.
Lute arrived by his side having burned away the last of the roots reach out to the other realms. "Sir the attempted breach has been ended."
"Good, anything new to report about what's happening down in Purgatory?"
"It's been a stalemate for the last few decades now sir. An attempt was made by one of their versions of the sins, but the humans managed to push it back. There was an odd surge of divine energy though, much greater than any previous attempt by the humans of this world when they tried to shape and wield holy energy." Lute didn't sound very worried, rather she sounded so hopeful and happy especially with how angry she had been when so many in the world had started using hellish power, rejecting or ignoring the power of the divine and holy simply because of how difficult it was to shape, control and master. "Sir, are you sure I should still just be an observer? I know we should leave them to make decisions on their own, but I worry that someday they may suffer a defeat or make a mistake they won't be able to recover from and then the darkness infecting this world could overtake it."
Adam could see that Lute was worried. While the world and its denizens were resisting and fighting back against the dark forces seeking to devour them it was a situation with a very small margin to allow for an error that could be recovered from. Adam pondered on what to do for a moment as he thought about his own investment in Purgatory. Sending Lute in would definitely help the humans of the realm but if she directly entered the realm now it would definitely draw Sera's attention and likely see the end of the experiment. Sera is happy that souls are entering heaven. She doesn't need to see the bug in this little program, she just needs to know that it works. "For now, just keep an eye on things. Like you said the humans are doing well on their own and are even showing a greater appreciation for the divine and holy energies. Only step in if things really do seem dire for the human souls of the world." Lute gave Adam a salute as she left to back on her patrols of the realm.
Adam grimaced as he felt bad about how things seemed to be turning out. It really would be better to inform Sera now before anything really bad happened or one of those strange roots by some cosmic joke managed to connect to the other realms, but he couldn't afford for that to happen, for the truth of the matter to get out and risk the erasure of Purgatory and the souls on it. It was selfish and petty of him, but he needed to project to keep going until his own investment paid off. Until their souls reach heaven, I can't let Sera know or all of this was for nothing… I can't lose them again; I have a chance to save them, and I won't let it slip through my fingers.
"Come on girls its time to go home. I have a ton of paperwork to write up and I'm sure you would all love to get a chance to get some rest in after that work out." Adam himself felt exhausted, this was starting to get out of hand, and he knew it, but he just couldn't let go. He could fix this and make things work, he just needed time to, time to. He wasn't sure to do what be he knew he still needed to time to figure everything out and fix things.