Isobel didn't sleep at all that night. She spent much of it with Charlie and Vaggie. They talked about everything and nothing for hours. The rest of the night she sat in bed waiting, letter in hand, but Alastor never returned.
Just as well, she thought. Maybe one day he would forgive her. That is, if he could get over his insufferable ego.
In the early morning glow, dressed in her old jacket and boots, Isobel placed Alastor's letter on the bed. It was the thickest of the lot with more pages by far than any of the others. She kind of hated that she had been so sentimental and sappy when writing it, but she couldn't change that now. The rest of the letters she left on the bar. The others would find them when they all woke up, but by then Isobel would be gone.
She left through the lobby doors and waited for Enki and her impending death. Standing on the stairs, hands deep in her pockets, she looked out over Pentagram City, perhaps for the last time. She felt strangely calm, resigned to her fate. But the angels didn't come.
Isobel had thought since they had come so early the time before, it would be the same today, but the morning waned on and still nothing. She began to feel nervous. At this rate everyone would be awake and her plan would become far more complicated.
An hour went by and then two. People started to appear on the street. Isobel could now see the sun rising above the buildings.
Suddenly, with a loud bang that threatened to break glass, Angel Dust charged out of the hotel. He instantly locked eyes on Isobel and held up the letter grasped in his hand.
"What the fuck is this?" he yelled as he approached with long angry strides. Isobel instantly put up her hands ready to explain, or plead, or something. It wasn't supposed to happen this way. He put his hands on her shoulders, holding the letter in her face, and opened his mouth to argue, but just then an ear shattering trumpet sounded from above. They both froze.
Looking up, they saw Enki, her enormous wings unfurled, and a contingent of angels descending upon them. They surrounded Isobel as they landed and she gently pushed Angel Dust away. He was not going to be a part of this.
Enki, herself, landed right behind her. Placing a plump, gentle hand on Isobel's shoulder, who instantly shrugged it off.
"A bit of a spectacle, don't you think." Isobel said, acid dripping from each word.
"You say spectacle, I say an example for all." Enki waved her hand grandly gesturing at the crowd of people that was starting to form, curious yet weary and fearful. She pushed Isobel forward so that all had a better view of her. She then, with a voice magically enhanced so that it boomed loud enough for all to hear, addressed the crowd.
"Attention, wretched sinners!" Not a great start. Enki didn't really know how to read a room. "Look upon this vile creature, a living soul trapped, living amongst you in this hive of scum and villainy. She was offered a way out, a road to the light, but she chose to stay within the stinking pile." There were mumblings of displeasure from the crowd. Isobel could hear Angel Dust's angry voice, but couldn't make out what he was saying.
"And what is her punishment for such a poor decision?" She continued, zealotry burning in her eyes. "Her soul will be forfeit and extinguished. Take heed all who hear me, know your place less you be destroyed."
There was a brief silence, and then Isobel couldn't help herself.
"Bullshit," she yelled. "This bitch is just mad because I didn't do what she told me to do." Some in the crowd laughed, some called out in approval, but those were sparse. Most were too afraid of the angels to do or say anything.
Enki's fingernails dug into Isobel's arm making her wince.
"Best not rial up the locals," she hissed into her ear. She turned Isobel to face her and waved a hand. Shackles appeared on her hands and feet. They were heavy and Isobel sank under their weight, stumbling forward as she tried to keep her balance. "It's time to go, dear."
Isobel felt something like a lifting of her body. She seemed to escape her connection with gravity and her feet left the pavement. She looked over her shoulder at Angel. Husker was now by his side, arm around him.
"Don't worry, dear." Enki wrapped her fingers around Isobel's biceps. "It will all be over soon."
Isobel cringed at the touch and once again being called 'dear.' Slowly, she turned toward Enki, a dark gleam in her eye and a devious smile crossing her face.
"Yup," she said. "It's over."
Enki's eyebrows furrowed, bewildered at Isobel's statement just as the lobby doors of the Hazbin Hotel flew open. A cloud of ashy, black smoke exploded from within.
Striding out of the cloud, horns blazing toward the sky, Charlotte Morningstar, Princess of Hell, came out eyes flashing with red hot purpose. Vaggie followed close behind, angelic spear at the ready. Without a word Charlie braced herself and reached a hand out toward Isobel.
A golden chain appeared floating in the air just beyond Charlie's reach. One by one, the links of the chain materialized, running into the sky and anchoring itself deep in Isobel's chest. Charlie grasped it in her fist and gave an almighty yank.
With a jolt, Isobel's ascent came to a shuddering halt.
Enki's eyes bulged as her small hands took hold of the chain.
"What?" She viciously cried.
"I can't forfeit what I do not have," Isobel said, calm and smug.
"You sold your soul."
Isobel scoffed, "Nah, I didn't even make a deal. I just gave it away."
Enki furiously pulled at the chain. "You think this changes anything? You think you can defeat me?"
"I don't know, Enki." The defiance in Isobel's voice made Enki grind her teeth. "Let's see you lay waste." Enki's eyes darted away. "It was a good threat, but I eventually realized it was all a lie. You can't do shit."
She was right. Enki was under strict orders to only retrieve the rebellious woman and her living soul. She could not destroy anything or anyone. And the other angels were instructed not to interfere. It had all just been talk and Isobel was calling her bluff.
Charlie now grabbed the chain with both hands and pulled hard. Isobel's body started to drop back toward the ground with each haul.
Enki roared with anger, "You have no idea what I can do." She desperately clung to the chain at Isobel's chest. Her massive wings flapped propelling her back, dragging Isobel with her.
On the ground Charlie's feet skidded forward, but she kept hold of the chain. She grunted and pulled harder, digging in her heels. Vaggie threw her arms around Charlie's waist adding her weight to the unholy battle of tug-of-war. Enki's wings beat down again, this time sending a gust of wind that bombarded them. The chain slipped a few links in Charlie's hands before she was able to find purchase again.
Isobel clawed at Enki's hands trying to break her grip but she pulled ever harder. Now with every yank, Charlie's feet left the pavement before crashing down again. The only thing keeping her grounded was Vaggie's hold on her.
The chain slipped again. Her grip was just not strong enough to resist the angel's strength. Afraid she wouldn't be able to hold on much longer, Charlie closed her eyes and gritted her teeth with pure effort.
Suddenly she felt someone next to her. Her eyes opened and saw black hands reaching past her to grab the chain. Long red fingers wrapped around as Alastor grappled with it and wrenched it down. With his strength added, the chain started to move again. They dragged it backwards several steps as Alastor growled and gnashed.
Isobel started to move down again, Enki still clinging to her.
A black tendril shot forward climbing the chain. Alastor would knock the angel out of the sky if he had to. The deadly shadow wound its way as quick as lightning upward along the golden chain. Isobel could see it coming and stretched out a hand while still battling the crazed angel. If only she could reach it, reach him.
Enki saw it too and with one last furious stroke she cracked the chain like a whip. A reverberation rippled down until, with a great cacophony of splintering metal, it shattered. A cascade of golden sparks erupted in the air covering them all. Alastor, Charlie, and Vaggie crashed to the ground.
As the bond on her soul broke, Isobel felt a great force like a punch to the chest. It knocked the wind out of her and before she could react Enki pulled her through a portal which instantly closed behind them.
Vaggie scrambled to her feet and ran to Charlie who was dazed and crying. They both looked up to the sky and saw that all the angels were gone and along with them any sign of Isobel. They held each other. The plan they had hatched the night before had failed and she was gone.
Their attention turned to Alastor, face down on his hands and knees, muttering. His fingers clawed the ground leaving deep gouges as his antlers branched chaotically this way and that, the tines twisting and contorting.
"Alastor?" Charlie cautiously reached out a hand to touch him on the shoulder, but it was caught by Vaggie who pulled her away. They drew back as Alastor's muttering grew into a bellow and the pavement cracked beneath them emitting an intense light like a green inferno.