I found myself staring at two red double doors that opened by themselves. Before me was the One Star Wonder lobby with the same worn red walls, cobwebs, dusty features, and unsettling vibe. I glanced over at the front desk at a figure sitting by an old boxy computer. I saw a slender balding man wearing golden-brown square sunglasses, dark pants, black shoes and a pressed hotel uniform of a red vest and a long-sleeved gray undershirt. He had a black pencil-thin mustache, a thick unibrow, pointed ears, and a black toothpick in his mouth. He had blonde hair near his ears and one strand of hair at the top that pointed off to the side.
"Hey, over here, Miss!" he called.
I froze on the spot.
He smiled widely and beckoned me over with a long white finger.
My body shook as I headed over.
He folded his hands together. "Welcome to the 'One Star Wonder', where it's a wonder we still have that star!" He cocked his head. "How may I help you today?"
I looked at his nametag: "Rolando."
My blood turned cold, and the air made me shiver.
"You…" I gasped. The events started to come back to me. "You killed me at the pool!"
Rolando scoffed. "Now where did you come up with something crazy like that?"
"I swear it's true!"
"Perhaps you had a bad nightmare outside," he said, looking concerned. "You look pretty frazzled. Is that why you have no clothes on?"
"What do you…" I began, then glanced down at my nude body.
"Fuck!" I swore, shrinking inward. I curled up into a ball onto the floor by the desk. My face turned red.
Rolando smirked down at me with his hand under his chin.
"Rolando," I spat, "This illusion isn't funny!"
"There is no illusion," he replied.
"I must be dead," I thought aloud.
"You still look alive to me," he mentioned. "And if this is an illusion, it is quite real."
My confused brain was at a loss. It was crazy enough that I had fallen through the portal to the world of Helluva Boss…a parallel one at that. Perhaps the drowning was an illusion after all. Was I stuck in some eternal nightmare?
I soon felt his very real hands gently lift me up. He must have come from around the desk.
"Listen, this must be an awkward situation for you. How about you come with me to my quarters, and I'll find you some extra clothes?"
I stepped back. He was inviting me right into his trap! I glanced at the double doors.
"It's not like you can go back outside," he mentioned. "Don't want any perverts seeing you."
I gasped as I saw the double doors slowly open. Guests were about to come in!
"This way, dear," he said, quickly escorting me down the dim hallway. His hand was on the middle of my back, and he gently nudged me forward. I felt strangely at ease as he led me along.
"W-wait, what about Room 42?" I asked. "That was where I was last time."
"That room is taken," Rolando remarked. "I think you'll appreciate my personal suite the best."
We continued walking until we reached a door with a small "manager" sign on it. He pulled out a set of keys from his pocket and inserted one key into the keyhole. The door creaked open, and Rolando held it open for me.
I slowly stepped inside, and he closed the door behind me.
What I saw made all my fears melt away.
I became mesmerized as I took in the sight of his room. The soft carpet on my bare feet wasn't a carpet at all: it was real white beach sand. I curled in my toes, enjoying the sensation. I saw a few shells on the sandy floor, and it brought back many happy memories of going to the beach during summer vacations. The overhead lights were tinted blue and indigo, adding to the peaceful oceanic vibe. The walls were white with small blue sea-shell designs along it. The couch was black and shaped like the inside of a clamshell. The door frames and structures near the windows resembled red octopus tentacles or some curled eldritch limbs. Green slender seaweed was in a small blue pot with ocean waves painted on it. An orange seahorse made up a post of a lamp.
A golden sea star sculpture shone in the light on one of the desks, looking much like the One Star hotel logo.
"I figured you'd adore my abode," he added to me with a wink.
I was so entranced that I didn't care that he was reading my mind. I was content to let myself be carried away by whatever strange dream this was.
I saw vivid portraits around his space as well. In the small living room was a painting of two green moray eels posing in the ocean. A stealthy shark hunted for food in another.
And…where those glowing teal escas strung in lights around the walls and near the ceiling?
How in the world did he even get all this stuff?
Rolando walked past the small kitchen and pushed open a door.
"There are some extra clothes in there. Pick whatever you like."
I started toward the door.
"…and don't touch anything!" he finished.
I turned around, but he had disappeared.
He might as well have told a child to not touch a tempting jar of candy. I was inside his bedroom and still mesmerized by the sight.
His bed cover was black and decorated with green eye designs and matching pillows. A small fountain trickled in the corner, with water spewing from a stone eel's mouth.
No clothes to be found.
What really stood out were the photos on the shelves and some on a wooden board on the wall. Several were old photos of Rolando sitting at the front desk. Some showed buildings decorated with eyes and coral like what one would see in Atlantis.
Then I found pictures in eel-shaped frames on his bedside table that I'd never imagine I'd see. The sight of them made me gasp.
The first one showed what appeared to be Rolando's parents. A gray-skinned woman with yellow eyes, sharp teeth, fin ears and esca earrings that glowed, her hair transparent and white…Rolando's mother. She wore a purple dress and a pearl necklace. Rolando's father appeared similar, with yellow glowing eyes, matching pointed glasses, gray scaly skin, a thin mustache and an eel-like appearance. He wore a black business suit. The second picture showed his mother swimming by a filmy white egg in the ocean.
The third framed photo was also surprising. It showed a younger demon Rolando laughing with a bunch of his infestor demon friends. They all had their cell phones with them. The males wore long pants, t-shirts decorated with eyes and sunglasses. The females wore short dresses of purple and blue and spiked black heels on their feet. A banner behind them read "Scary Sinsmas!"
A smaller photo showed Rolando…
…lying in bed with three of his fishy friends?!
Two women and one man, all smiling shirtless in bed with Rolando in the middle.
I never could have imagined someone so sinister actually having some kind of previous lifestyle. If he hadn't been sent to Earth to infest humans…maybe things would've been different.
Did he miss his family and friends?
Was he destined to haunt humans until the end of his life?
Most importantly, why was I showing sympathy for a serial killer?
Something gleaming caught my eye. I walked over to another shelf and spotted a diamond-shaped crystal. It hummed softly and was indigo in color. I picked it up and examined it before placing it back down.
It looked suspiciously like the Asmodean crystal Blitzo used to travel from Hell to Earth.
Perhaps…that's exactly what it was!
'Now that makes sense,' I thought. 'He's been traveling to Envy on and off during his time on Earth!'
I glanced up at the last of the pictures hanging on display. I flinched. They were the crimes-scene photos of the woman being tossed in the room, the black-haired man torn in half and the brown-haired beheaded Rita. Then near those where four photos of…
…I.M.P. dead? No, that couldn't be right! But my eyes didn't deceive me. Blitzo, Moxxie, Millie, and Loona, all were brutally murdered, lying in black pools of blood.
Then I saw the very last photos…
…and then realized I should've trusted my instincts.
The picture showed…demon Rolando holding my nude body by the pool. He was eating my heart in another one, red staining his sharp teeth.
The drowning event had actually happened!
"Find anything?"
I turned around and screamed.
Human Rolando leered into my face with his prominent grin of large teeth and gums.
I shook. "You…what is this? What's going on?!"
"Figured it out, yet?"
Goosebumps spread across my arms. "I know this is some kind of illusion or nightmare. But it feels so real. Is it?"
"Yes and no," he began.
"Is this eternal reincarnation?"
Rolando shook his head. "You would be a different person if you were reincarnated."
"But you ate my physical body."
"Indeed, I did."
"How can I have another one? It doesn't make sense."
"One interesting thing about people from your world I just found out…" Rolando began, stepping back. "They not only have physical bodies but other bodies underneath it. Forms that are replicas of their physical bodies that can also feel emotions and sensations…perhaps even more so."
"So that means…" I started. Then I froze in realization and looked down at my body…it suddenly seemed more transparent than before.
'M-my astral body?!' I thought. 'How is he able to…'
My body slowly hovered up beyond its own accord.
"I mess with people's minds, dear," he explained. "Why wouldn't I be able to do the same to your soul?"
"I-Is my soul actually at the hotel?" I asked.
"More or less," he replied.
I found myself being slowly turned around and then upside down.
Rolando hovered next to me. His features shifted to that of his demonic fish form. He placed his hand under his chin again.
He spoke in an eerie sing-song voice.
"Eenie, meenie, miny, mo…"
He pinched my big toe with his clawed fingers.
"Catch a morsel by her toe…"
He trailed a hand along my stomach, creeping up my chest and up to my chin. I whimpered out loud.
"If she hollers, don't let go…"
His claw pressed into my chin, and I felt a sting. He licked a bead of red blood off his claw.
"Just as tasty as your original body," he mused.
I closed my eyes, trying to escape from this weird simulation.
"You know," said Rolando. "I still haven't given you a place to stay yet."
"Isn't my soul going to Hell?" I asked.
"I suppose it is, but what if I decided to…keep you instead?"
He had to be kidding, right?
"I do own your soul, so why not have you here for a little while?"
"Staying here with you in your room forever?" I wondered.
"Sort of…"
His elusive speaking was twisting my spirit mind.
"I have a special suite for you," Rolando said in a low voice. "I'll take you there right now."
"What are you talking about? I'm already in your room!"
"It's not my room."
"Your couch?"
"No."
"Any other room in this place?!"
"Try again."
I shuddered. I wouldn't be surprised if he tossed me into the Envian ocean.
"It's still in the hotel," he mentioned.
Did he have a secret evil basement somewhere?
And why did Rolando appear to be growing?
I slumped…I couldn't comprehend what he was talking about.
Then I felt myself being slowly lowered and Rolando opening his jaws wide.
'Oh, shit!'
I let out a wail of terror as I felt his hot fishy breath against my ethereal skin. His yellow-green tongue flicked in anticipation. Before I knew it, I landed on his tongue and blackness closed around me.
It was incredibly dark and damp inside his mouth. If this was an illusion, then it was way too convincing. I briefly felt the sharp jabs of his teeth, so I had to crawl deeper inside to avoid them.
"That delectable taste of terror on you…I've been looking forward to this!"
His voice echoed in my mind and reverberated around me.
His tongue moved in smooth motions on my skin, bringing a gross sensation that was also…warm and stimulating? It wrapped around me and moved me side to side and around the walls of his mouth. It steadied me and the tip prodded between my legs for several moments. I had no actual body, but the rush of liquid heat within my clit was unmistakable.
"My goodness, little one," Rolando chuckled. "It seems that it's not just my tongue and saliva that's making you wet in there."
His tongue nudged me closer to his dark throat and fear rose up again.
"Your suite is down below, you'll be safe and sound," he mused.
I struggled to fight the fear, push away the peculiar pleasure, and escape…but his slimy tongue made me slip further and further down. I clawed at the surface, but there was nothing to grab onto. I yelled as I fell feet-first down his gullet. His throat muscles squeezed me and pushed me down further.
Finally, I plummeted into his stomach with a sickening splash. I heard gurgling in the darkness.
Rolando was back in his human form, checking in guests at the front desk, hand occasionally under his chin with a smirk. He watched them with hungry eyes as they left and rubbed his belly with a sinister grin.
"Do you see the pulsing walls? Can you hear my soothing voice? Appreciate it…because this will be your new home for eternity."
Anxiety raced through me. What about Hell? What about my world? I couldn't tell what was real or not anymore. Maybe the drowning was an illusion. Maybe he was trying to trap me the whole time.
And now he had succeeded.
"I own your soul, remember? So perhaps even Leviathan won't get a chance to see you. Or your Earth family and friends. Just staying with me at no cost. Except perhaps your sanity."
Whether he was bluffing or not, I couldn't tell. I kicked and pounded at his stomach walls but to avail. I wailed and slid against the wall, sobbing in the sea of acidic black.
Rolando laughed hard. "Nothing like the sweet sounds of sorrow. Now you know it's futile to escape, yes? Normally, you'd be dead and melted by now, but I think both of us can benefit from this unique situation."
Rolando chuckled again. "You're an eternal immortal soul. Sinner souls are also immortal. But despite living long, Hellborn like me are not immortal. But perhaps with your energy inside me, I can feel more…full as it were. Maybe there is a good use for humans after all. Maybe us demons can use souls to make us invincible. Make the Rings of Hell and the human worlds ours for the taking. Though I do enjoy it here. Leviathan says I'm too reckless and illegal with my kills, but I don't fucking care, of course!"
I wailed again.
"Aw, don't be like that. In this strange ocean of universes, eldritch beings like me are predators. You, little human…or ex-human, are my prey. It's fascinating…you were never permanently human to begin with…just a strand of delicious spirit energy fortunate enough to reside in the bowels of yours truly!"
'Please don't hurt anyone I love!' I sobbed.
"Hey, don't worry. They'll die their own deaths and feel their own grief when they realize they'll never see you again. Now as for those I.M.P. imps who killed my canon counterpart…"
He growled and spoke in a distorted tone. "…when I find them, I'll make sure their agony and despair is very slooooww."
While I was curled up in the wet of his gut, I caught a brief vision of Rolando watching what was to me the Helluva Boss episode where he had died at the end.
Why did parallel and alternate worlds have to exist?
Rolando cleared his throat. "Back to you, dear. Your experience here doesn't have to be painful. In fact, consider yourself lucky to be swimming within me. You technically can't feel any pain unless you want to since you're dead. I just need some easy favors from you. You have about a thousand years worth of trauma from your past lives on Earth. And I still have more guests to haunt for a little while. All you need to do is let me into your head, your spiritual memories from time to time. Let me get a good taste of your repressed regrets…fatal flaws, tear-jerking traumas and the like. I can feed off you and anyone else I like."
My spirit body turned pleasantly numb as the black liquid lapped over me. I curled up some more and sobbed.
"We both know that's gonna do you no good. I know your mind and I know you won't be able to resist me. The best thing to do is let your emotions out and allow me to…savor your flavor." He chuckled again. "Ah yes. I'll make sure you can have some fun with me too…you don't have to hide anything from me…not like you can, anyway."
Rolando let out a deep satisfied sigh, briefly pressing his hand on his stomach. He sat up as a group of people entered the lobby.
"Oh! Looks like I have some more guests to welcome. I have a feeling that things are gonna be fun! You're all mine!"
He said my real name after the "you're all mine," part, chilling me further. I decided I had no choice but to make the most of my new situation. No reincarnation, no outside threats, no earthly worries…
Perhaps being a part of Rolando wouldn't be bad after all.
"Welcome to my Five Star Wonder, dear HelluvaScribe! I do hope you enjoy your stay!"
I soon found myself swallowed up by the darkness and his echoing laughter.
My astral body was curled up inside him, but I hardly noticed. How long would he keep infesting my mind while still gleefully murdering his hotel guests on the side?
Thankfully, there were plenty of breaks, with Rolando talking sweet to me and saying that I was being very helpful in satiating his primal hunger. As a spirit, I didn't have to worry about food or sleep…and being in him often felt soothing and nice, at least when he wasn't invading my thoughts.
Also, there were plenty of times when he would create illusions for me to keep me at ease…sort of.
Like recently.
I found myself in my old One Star Wonder uniform: a black skirt and a dark purple buttoned shirt with one gold star off to the side. I was sitting on a soft seashell-shaped chair in Rolando's ocean-themed bedroom. I glanced around at the crime scene photos taped on a wooden board, his dark bed cover with eye designs on it and his framed photos of him, his family and his friends by his bedside table.
I felt black gelatinous liquid move up my side before it morphed into clawed hands on my shoulder.
"Hasn't anyone ever told you to knock, dear?"
I glanced into demon Rolando's glowing yellow eyes hidden behind his red pointed sunglasses with yellow trim.
I sighed. "Hello, Rolando. What memories do you want this time?"
Rolando chuckled. "No need to be so glum, now. I'm working at the front desk in my human form and taking a break from your mind for now. I'm feeling nice and full thanks to you."
Rolando was in front of me, so that made absolutely no…
Oh, of course. He was making another illusion for my trapped soul. I was probably swimming in layers of his illusions.
"Let me guess…you want to tear me apart?"
"I already did that, remember?"
"Want me to work for you again?"
"Well yes, but since you're a spirit on your way to Hell, you can't exactly interact with any humans yet."
"I bet I could if I was back in my world!"
Rolando scoffed. "You know that the majority of the time spirits can't be seen and heard by humans. And as for the humans here, I want them terrified but with no knowledge of demons or Hell. Leviathan's orders."
"W-what are you gonna do to me?"
Rolando briefly traced two clawed fingers under my chin. "That's the question, isn't it? You won't know until I do it. You know how it works: you let me infest your mind for a while and then I take you to…what should I call it? A psychological paradise? A simulation for both of us to enjoy."
"Again, with your illusions! Why do you think I would…"
"I know you enjoy them deep down because I know your mind inside and out. And when I'm away from Envy, I can have my little spirit morsel companion to keep me company. Pretty nice to have an eternal soul, isn't it?"
Not like this. Fear and arousal flowed through me again and I couldn't hide it.
Rolando's eyes brightened. "Oh, and speaking of company, perhaps you'd like me to introduce you to someone special?"
I sat up. That was unexpected. I looked again at Rolando's friends in the moray eel-framed picture.
'Who is it?' I wondered.
Just then, my old cell phone rang next to me on the floor. I picked it up and glanced wide-eyed at the screen.
'Apology text from my long-lost estranged cousin? Loving voice mail from a parent? Old friend and her spouse here to explain? Your spirit guide wants to reconnect?' Their smiling facial icons were next to the texts.
So many contacts that would be impossible to realistically manifest in my normal human life. But there they were. Illusion or not, I had to reunite.
A clawed hand pulled my phone out of my hands with ease. Rolando tauntingly dangled my phone in front of me.
"Sorry, Rolanda. No talking to people from…your previous life."
I gave him an angry stare. 'How could you stoop so low, asshole?! Those are my family!'
"Not anymore."
"Give it back!"
I reached out my hands, but Rolando stepped back. A force gently pushed me back into the chair when I tried to leap at him.
"Hey, take it easy," he said with an evil look. "Let me introduce you to my special visitor first."
I briefly wondered if it was Toledo the Igor, his hunched-backed bell-hopper sidekick.
Or maybe one of his infestor demon friends was also assigned to haunt people on Earth.
Rolando glanced off toward the doorway and held up the phone. "My dear friend, look who decided to call our morsel!"
Oh, Satan.
My hairs stood on end as…human Rolando entered the room!
Best friends with himself! Why wasn't I surprised?
Human Rolando adjusted his square sunglasses and looked at my phone. "Surprised they decided to wait this long."
"They think they can still talk to their lost mortal friend! And frolic around in the afterlife!" Demon Rolando snickered and waved his arms.
Human Rolando grinned and waved one of his arms. "'Oh, hello there fellow humans. Here's your fellow friend…"
He said my real name. "'She's really missed you. Glad you're all reunited on Earth. Don't try to get too upset…she might just climb on into your heads!'"
The two Rolandos burst into menacing laughter.
I curled into myself and closed my eyes.
'Okay, Rolando, you've stooped really low this time!'
"Oh?" Human Rolando caught his breath and cocked his head. "You think I stooped low, huh?"
"Stop reading my mind!"
"I pretty much am your mind at this point," he sneered.
He towered over me with his hands behind his back. The lights in the room briefly flickered.
"Would you like to see how low I can go?" His voice became deliciously dark.
"You really think I'm gonna give in after what just happened?" I folded my arms.
"I don't think it. I know it."
"A-are you sure you're not an incubus?"
"I'm even better than one," he bragged. "Where's the fun if you can't read your partner's mind?"
He had a good point there.
Human Rolando gently rubbed my head with his hand and moved his fingers in slow circles under my ear. I gasped softly.
"I don't even need to possess you anymore," demon Rolando mused. "I can just look at you and you'll break."
"Then how about you do it not in your illusion," I countered.
"Not much I can do about that," said human Rolando. "Tell you what. I'll let you contact whoever you want. Just try and stay dry."
"What the hell is that supposed to…?"
My face turned red, and my body shook as human Rolando got on his knees by my feet.
"W-what are you…?"
"You thought I couldn't stoop even lower?"
He took the top of my black skirt and slowly moved it backwards onto my lap.
"If you'll allow me to show you…"
I made the mistake of staring into his eyes for too long. He moved his head forward and I felt his warm fingers press against my underwear.
I let out a sharp breath.
Tears streamed down my face as I quickly realized that 'staying dry' would be a losing battle.
After he moved his hand around, sometimes kneading my undergarment with his fingers, I could already feel myself getting tingly.
Demon Rolando scoffed. "Pathetic little bitch didn't even try to stay dry!"
Human Rolando rolled his eyes at his counterpart. "You might want to call her nicer names."
"She's wet and at our mercy, isn't she?"
Human Rolando displayed his creepy big grin. "Yep."
"Then I'm calling her what she is. She knows it, too."
Human Rolando removed his hand, and I sighed.
'More…'
"She wants more, Rolando," said demon Rolando.
Human Rolando winked at me. "Then let's continue."
I was flustered and dizzy after several more rounds. Human Rolando let out a playful sigh.
"I asked you not to react…I wanted you to stay dry. But it's clear your mind is even dirtier than you'd care to admit."
Demon Rolando tsked at me. "I think she should be punished for that."
I gulped.
Demon Rolando hovered closer to me and aimed his teeth below my neck. I flinched and closed my eyes.
"No, Rolando," said his human counterpart pulling him back.
"Why not?"
"You need to be gentle with her."
"You're literally me! We both know she's incredibly tasty! Just gleefully watch like we planned!"
"She doesn't even have flesh anymore!"
"Exactly! She won't feel…too much of anything." Demon Rolando smacked his lips.
"I already said no."
"Not even one little bite?"
The two Rolandos had a stare down.
Demon Rolando growled. "You're no fun."
Human Rolando snickered. "You just said you're no fun!"
"No, I said you're no fun! If I don't see her moaning or crying, then what's the point?"
I shuffled in my seat. "Uh…is this still part of the illusion?"
"At least I'm the hospitable one," declared human Rolando. "I'm the one who would offer tea and cuddles and even a kiss or two…"
"With your own food? Give me a break!"
"She's a spirit and a human. It's obvious she's more at home with me."
"Well guess what? We both know your human self is fake. We will always be a demon, and she will become one, too!"
"You haven't even gotten a chance to know her."
"I already know all her thoughts. She'll be our precious food source and perhaps a powerful ally."
"I'm not gonna let you eat her anytime you please. You may be a demon, but you can't even possess me!" Human Rolando folded his arms.
"Oh, really?"
Demon Rolando morphed into black shadowy liquid and entered into human Rolando. Human Rolando's eyes glowed yellow and blank and his teeth grew pointed and sharp.
This was getting freaky.
Their voices overlapped. "I think she likes us together."
The demon-human hybrid transfixed me with his gaze. He leaned to the side and moved his long tongue toward my earlobe. I shivered as he began to lick inside my ear.
This didn't feel like punishment at all.
He then moved back to the center, leaning forward and slowly opening his mouth. I felt my eyelids close and my mouth opening to reciprocate…
Rolando suddenly pulled back. "This is fucking awkward!"
Demon Rolando exited human Rolando, and his eyes returned to normal.
"The hell was that for?" human Rolando snapped.
"You know we can't actually possess ourself!" Demon Rolando explained.
Human Rolando looked at me. "She certainly looked like she enjoyed it. But then you had to ruin it."
"You know I'm…we're not into romance or sex unless it's once in a while with our group of buddies," demon Rolando explained.
"Well if that's the case, I'm surprised you don't eat our friends too, the way you behave!" Human Rolando shook his head.
"Of course I don't," said demon Rolando. "She's my friend, too." He appeared beside me, licking his lips. "I'd never eat someone like you."
"Then how about you step away and let her take a break from being infested," human Rolando mentioned.
"Now where's the fun in that? She still needs her little punishment. Now can we get to the part where she begs for mercy on my lap…?"
I clutched at my hair and closed my eyes. I took a brave breath.
"ROLANDO! GO FUCK YOURSELF!"
The two Rolandos paused for a while, stunned at me speaking out.
Then a slow grin appeared on demon Rolando's face. Human Rolando soon followed.
They both turned to me. "Okay, then!"
I yelped as chains held me down in my seat by my legs.
"Really? More mind reading?"
"You're right, Rolando," mused human Rolando. "She does need to be punished. If she craves touch so much…"
"…then perhaps she shouldn't get any," finished demon Rolando.
Human Rolando winked at me. "Let's let her watch the show this time!"
'What show?'
Demon Rolando handed me a tub of popcorn. I soon saw the weirdest spectacle before me…
…but weird in…a good way?
Human Rolando walked over to his demon self. He handed him a red rose on a black stem. "Here's a token of my appreciation. For my closest friend and the one who will always be there for me no matter what."
Demon Rolando grinned. "Oh, Rolando, that's so thoughtful of you."
Demon Rolando took the rose and stroked it with a claw. The petals turned black and fell into his palm.
"Aw, shit."
Human Rolando pulled out some purple condoms from his pocket. "I've had these for a while in case the guests needed them, but…perhaps you'd like one?"
Demon Rolando grinned. "You're ready for the next step then?"
"Yes."
He gave him a teasing look. "Don't we have to get married?"
"Whoever said we had to do that? I'm just hoping it…it will be safe…"
Demon Rolando examined the condoms in his hand. "These condoms will be good protection…but since I'd be doing it to myself technically…do we really need…"
Human Rolando shrugged. "Let's just roll with things as we go along."
Human Rolando propped himself on the bed, long legs extended. Demon Rolando leaned over him and gently licked his cheek.
Human Rolando snickered. "You call that a kiss? Let me show you how it's really done."
He leaned forward and kissed him several times on one of his cheeks. He used his fingers to gently brush one of demon Rolando's fin-like ears. Another hand reached up and stroked one of his white transparent fins near his head.
"You're awfully brave, or foolish to get this close to a demon," Demon Rolando playfully sneered.
"Well, I wouldn't want to summon anyone else but you into my space," human Rolando retorted back.
"I could infest your mind…take your very soul."
"Before such a powerful entity such as you, looks like I have no choice but to…let you in."
Both of them embraced slowly and leaned in for a few light kisses. They stared into each other's eyes until demon Rolando gripped the bottom of human Rolando's gray undershirt.
"Easy on the claws," human Rolando mentioned. "I can't let my uniform get torn."
Human Rolando took off his red vest and lifted his gray undershirt. His pale shirtless chest was revealed, muscular but nothing too enhanced. Faint blond hair was near the center of his chest and a few more hairs trailed under his belly button.
Demon Rolando soon unbuttoned his purple vest and took off his black undershirt. He showed off roughly the same shirtless chest except his skin was dark gray dotted with a few black spots and a small white fin was sticking out in the center of his chest.
The Rolandos embraced again, stroking their hands over each other's chests and nipples. Demon Rolando's low growls synced with human Rolando's deep moans of pleasure. They gripped each other's hair and closed their eyes as their tongues locked in a deep kiss.
They sighed as they slowly pulled away.
Human Rolando seethed as demon Rolando gently bit into the top area of his chest.
"Hey," said human Rolando. "I think some pervert over there is watching us."
They both glanced at me. I turned red in the face and hid my face behind the popcorn.
Demon Rolando shrugged. "Oh, let her watch. She's just jealous that she can't be me right now."
They laughed and leaned into each other some more as I ate my popcorn.
After a few moments, they both sat up.
"You ready for this next part?" asked human Rolando.
Demon Rolando smirked. "You don't have to ask me. I know your mind better than anyone."
"Then will you expect me to do…?"
Both of them called "…this?!" as they dug one of their hands into each other's pants at the same time. They stimulated each other's dicks, eliciting gasps and hitches of pleasure.
I gasped wide-eyed, mouth agape, dropping the popcorn onto the floor.
"Looks like your mind isn't the only thing I can consume," Demon Rolando purred.
"I am getting pretty hungry myself," human Rolando added.
"Let's play a game then," demon Rolando suggested. "Whoever sucks the longest gets to have her. You're done for, earth-ape me!"
"Challenge accepted, fish-face me!"
The men slowly pulled down their pants and were soon down to their underwear. I wanted to look away but…I couldn't.
The Rolandos began to lower their underwear…
Ring! Ring!
The vison shattered into blackness, leaving me with the dark damp view of his stomach. Human disguised Rolando gasped as he retrieved his cell phone as he sat at the front desk.
He held it to his ear and cleared his throat. "Hello?"
"Rolando…" murmured a dark voice in warning.
"L-Lord Leviathan?"
"Where. Is. The. Sinner. Girl?!"
Rolando chuckled nervously. "Oh, right, about that. She…appears to have escaped my grasp and is now a ghost wandering the hotel…"
"You do realize that the majority of souls go to Hell, right?"
"Well, not in her universe. Hers has afterlives from all kinds of cultures…"
"That's irrelevant at the moment! It's been almost two days since I ordered you to bring her to me. Add onto that your sloppy killings of the humans you left behind! It's a wonder your little hotel hasn't been shut down!"
"Heh. I do have a knack for keeping people away…"
"You're one of my top infestors, Rolando. I trained you better than this. Don't think that just because you are well known in Envy means that your arrogance will get you far. Be thankful you're not an electrocuted dead fish."
Rolando's white face briefly turned even paler.
"Bring her to me now or consider yourself fired!"
"Y-yes, sir."
"And stay at your shady hotel why don't you? If you're just a passing trend, it's not like anyone in Envy will miss you much, anyway."
Rolando seethed and glowered.
Rolando glanced around glumly at the worn walls, old furniture, and faint red bloodstains on the carpet. He peered into my mind for a moment, sensing my fear of going to Hell…and a slow determined grin appeared on his face.
"Okay, sir!" Rolando lied.
Rolando hung up. He sighed while staring down at his belly.
"Looks like someone had to ruin our good time," Rolando seethed. "Ah, but don't worry, little one. You're always welcome to your special suite anytime."
I shivered.
One bald white guy wearing a red shirt with "LOL" on it in white letters folded his arms and stared at him.
"The hell are you doing?"
Rolando froze, then had an idea.
"Oh, hello there, good sir. I just got called for a very important meeting and I'll need you to help out at the front desk for a while."
"But I'm just a guest!"
"A very fine one, though, with charm and customer experience. What was your last job? Huh?"
"McDonalds," he deadpanned.
"Close enough." He steered him toward the seat.
"Don't you have any working computers in this place?" The "LOL" guy looked around in disgust.
"Hey, this boxy one still works…most of the time." He patted the top of it, sending whisps of dust into the air. "Here are the sets of keys in this drawer, the lists of the guests are on this paper and on the computer."
"No key cards?" "LOL" guy shook his head.
"Hey, we like to keep things classic," Rolando shrugged, twirling a set of keys. "An extra uniform is in that staff room there. Just greet the guests, point them to their rooms, help them with anything they need help with. Oh, and the motto's down here."
"LOL" guy read from a note card, "'Welcome to the One Star Wonder where it's a wonder we still have that star'…? That's cheesy as fuck."
"Well feel free to come up with a better one! I should be back in…a little while, I don't know."
"This place seriously needs a cleaning lady," "LOL" guy grumbled.
Rolando smirked. "Well, the last one had…an unfortunate accident, but I'm sure you'll find a good replacement."
Rolando strolled toward the halls. "Oh! Keep a close eye on Toledo the Igor. I don't want him freaking out the guests too much. Good luck!"
Rolando disappeared just as "LOL" guy turned around. A hunched-back bellhop wearing a red uniform drooled several feet below him. He had gnarled fingers and missing teeth.
"Aaaarrrggghh!" "LOL" guy reeled back in disgust as the lights flickered overhead. "The fuck is that thing?!"
Rolando shifted back into his demon form once he made it back into his room. He took the indigo Leviathanian crystal and rubbed it. A purple diamond-shaped portal appeared.
Rolando leaned in and sniffed the salty sea air. His dark heart warmed at the thought of going back home.
Rolando's eyes and mouth turned yellow as he morphed into his liquid shadow form. Me…my soul body slowly emerged from his mouth…his hold of me lessened.
Back in my reality, in the afterlife, I would've manifested my own paradise or reunited with my spirit mentors to prepare for another reincarnation on Earth.
Unfortunately, I was not in reality.
I felt my soul plummeting down…and wherever it was going, it was not the Heaven in the Hellaverse.
Rolando's shadow followed me not too far away.
Usually, when a soul incarnated it was one or two ways. Most of the time, they would orient themselves into a newborn's body and fully merge with it after nine months or so. For the advanced souls, they could manifest an ascended physical body without having to be born or die.
For a soul to forcibly take on a body as a Sinner without life planning or preparation…not pleasant in the slightest.
My soul gradually felt entrapped as it fell. Dark manifesting matter enclosed around my body like heavy clay. My soul had already gotten used to being more formless energy. Now it was forced to work with a new forming brain, nerves, muscles, etc. My soul had been countless humans, animals, plants, aliens and other energy beings.
This was the first time in my soul's eternal existence that it would be the animating force of a demon body.
I couldn't see my new form yet…I felt like I was just shadow…but I soon could feel water around me…and see the faint light of an indigo sky.
I found myself collapsing onto black sand.
I was amazed…terrified…overwhelmed.
In Hazbin Hell and Hazbin Heaven, the Sinners or the good ex-humans would get new bodies based on their choices in life.
Could this be how it felt to reincarnate into another world?
Rolando zoomed through the air in his shadow form, turning and twisting and laughing. He was clearly glad to be home.
My eyelids were almost closed, but I could still hear his chilling voice above me.
He whispered into my ear as I sank into slumber. "Welcome to Envy, dear Rolanda. I'll infest you and feast on you until no trace of humanity's left in you. And the next time you return to Earth or to your world…"
He chuckled evilly and purred, "…I'll watch as you kill and torment the humans all by yourself!"
THE END? ROLANDO WILL RETURN…