Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Hell to Pay
Stolas had always remembered the night that his father had told him about the Scarlet King. He had been adventurous that night, and so he had snuck into his father's study, only to find him with a bottle of the best Sloth-wine, hunched over his desk. When his father had looked at the young Goetia, he wondered if he would be punished, but something about his son had made the Archduke of the Fallen's eyes watered. Then he had spoken.
Always, he said, be grateful Lucifer never chose you, be grateful he holds the Scarlet King in check, be grateful that God's mercy still allowed them good things, even in the Pit. Stolas always wondered why his father looked so sad when he told him that. Granted he understood so little about his father, but when Paimon spoken then, he was less the 2nd in command of Hell, less even the distant father who had no idea how to raise a son, and was something Stolas couldn't categorize, something full of regrets.
He had once asked his father about it later, and found that his father could be even more distant than he normally was. He didn't ask again.
The name of the Scarlet King wasn't unknown to any Goetia who had dealings with the mortal world. As lackadaisical as Stolas could get with his duties and his book, even he knew that, buried deep beneath many other cults were those dedicated to the Scarlet King. Whatever Demon was behind it was insanely powerful, and involved, far more than Stolas thought fun to be, with its mortal followers. Perhaps that was part of the reason he panicked when Octavia went to the mortal world without him. The thought of her being captured and drained, like so many human's were in sacrifices to the Scarlet King had filled him with dread.
It was a feeling that was entirely warranted. Because when Paimon had spoken of the Scarlet King, he had had another expression that Stolas hadn't realized at the time. Or perhaps, he hadn't realized his father could feel it.
Fear.
Demons, Angels, and Sinners. Oh my.
The battle for the Hazbin Hotel was underway. Alastor had fled, Razzle was tending to Dazzle (having barely avoided having his twin be killed) and Lucifer had come in, riding high on his daughter's admiration to put the worthless pile of dust that had troubled him since Eden in its place. Truly, all would be well for him. A few fireworks, a few flashes, one smackdown on Adam, and best of all, the adoring looks of his daughter, and all would be on track. He transformed and hit, using more and more power. He hadn't cut loose like this in ages!
But the end of the fight came not with Nifty stabbing Adam to death, nor with crunch of cannibal teeth on Angelic bone. The end came when a tremor shook the very foundations of Hell. Buildings galore, as shoddily built as most were in Pentagram city, fell to ruin as the ground heaved and bucked. Fighting ceased as everyone tried to maintain balance or took to the sky to avoid the rolling stone and earth.
Adam, holding his wounds but still grimacing, hovered across the battlefield, grabbing Exorcists as he could. When he had a free moment, he glared at Lucifer, who was holding Charlie up.
“What the fuck's the game this time Lucifuck!? Archfiend? Souped up one of the Sins?”
Lucifer however was looking at the waves of destruction spreading throughout his kingdom. His eyes narrowed as a sudden crack drew his attention. With dumbfounded expressions, they all turned to witness a great crevasse, ever widening as it spread. At greatest length, it reached the span of a football field as it crept forward. Following its course, everyone realized with a thrill of shock, that it originated from the Palace of Pride, the home of Lucifer, the seat of power in Hell.
“Oh . . . ffffffuck.”
Lucifer said it softly as he stared at the open space splitting his palace in two. Charlie was looking at him in alarm.
“What, what is it dad?! Is Heaven sending something else?!”
A harsh peal of laughter drew her eyes back to Adam. He was hovering in front of Lute, trying to tend to her stump of an arm. Around him clustered all the remaining exorcists, who were glaring at Lucifer.
“Oh that's rich! Always Heavens fault, isn't it? One of your project's blown up in your face again Lu, hasn't it?!”
Charlie's trident was up and at the ready, eager even to strike down the embodiment in her mind of everything she was set against. But then she noticed that her father wasn't saying anything. Instead he was staring at the ever widening gorge that was almost upon them.
“Dad? What are . . .”
“Charlie” Lucifer's voice made Charlie tense up. It was more serious then she'd ever heard her dad sound. “Time to go. Get your friends together and we'll-”
“̶̠̩̯̙͚͈̘͑̋͋̂̎̀̏̑̓̉̋͝ͅǪ̷̧̖̭̪̟̠͈̪̙͈̮̬̞͌̅͗̾͐̊̌̈̌̀̂͜͠ḧ̷̨̭̙̞̱̭̺̹̮͉͙̣̪̝́̆̋̑̈́͂̊̂̓̒͛͜,̷̢̮̠̖̘̰̜̘̩̝̠̲͙̝̪̾͐̓͊̈̍ ̷̡̨̡̛̺͙̗̻̺̯̤͉͕̳̞̯͙̓̅̋̉͝ṱ̶̿ḭ̴̧̖̝̥̹͔̣̥̭͍̺̖̬͌̔͑̑͂̈́̂̓͋s̸̡̝̙̙̱͎͌͂ ̸̲̣͎̰͓̫̟̺̬̮͔͑͑f̷̼̂̋́̊̈́̐͋́̐͝͝ȧ̶̧̨̛͈̹̩͔͍̲̰͙̟͖̘̺̅͝r̸̡̧̖͖̭͎̊͊̏̀̃̈̄̕ ̴̨̡̟̹̦̣̯̺͉̞̹̘̟̫̳͒̅̀̇̃̑̊̿̓̌̔͜͜t̷̯̖̤̄̽̆̀̃̄̒̚ơ̵̢̪͕̥͑́͑̆̌̈́͑̂̓̀͛̀͘͠͠o̸̡̪͍͈̹͇͇̹͔̰̓̓̽͋ ̴̧̢̨̖̺̩͉̟̜̬̗̼͔͆̅̎̅̎̍͂̅̕l̷̳̗̮̠̆́͊̓́̈͒͂͠ą̷̤̙̞̟̞̯̼̮̝͔̳̞̼̦̳͆̽̃̕t̵̯̙̱̝̱̬͕̭̘̗̲̿̂̀̓̃̔͛̇̒̋̄̈̚̚͝e̵͈̖̹͓͙̻͓̼̯̙͍̺̍̇͛͌͌͜͝ͅ ̸͇͈̮̲͇͙̈́̇͌̌ḟ̵̨̛̛͚̭̘͖̟̱̳̤̰̬̠̰̬̰͛̀͋̅̆̃͗͘͜ǫ̸̨̡̻̲̬́r̵̳̮̻̻͍͉̺̰̪̝͈͙̲̖̮̈̓͂́̈́͒́̇́̈̿͛̒͂͝͝͝ͅ ̸̧̡͙̗͕̺̭̲̥̳̬̖̫̭̩̣̓̅̊̅̊͠t̴̡̗̣̺̱͇̻̺̫̭͈͉̽̈́́̅͊̾͋̄̀͋̕h̵̐͐̅̄̿̅̍̿͗͐̋ͅä̸̤́͐̊̎̂̓͂̒̍̄t̴̨̢̝̙͔͙̟̙̙̗̻̜͚͕̺̪̃̒̀̐͆́̕͠ ̸̡̻̘͉̏̒̿̕F̷̛̤̻̎̓͗̾̋̆̋̀͗̋̇͛̚͝͠ą̴̛̛̭̳̼̖̣̗͎̑͒̽̏̎̀̍̾̄l̷̨̢̟̭̮͚̝͈͔̆ĺ̶̡͎̘̙̣̫̼́̅̄̑͂͆̑̔e̵̼̣͐̓̓͒̊ṋ̶̢̛̥̦̘̜̻̤̭͍͎̮̻̜̊͛̀̃́ͅ ̸͈͖͕͇̬̝̱̜͇͓̭͍̖̽̈Ǩ̸̛̖̽̌͂̊̽̃̑̆̓͗́̽͠ͅi̶̡̡̢̥̭̙̪̪̫͔̭̺̗̣͎̯͋̈́͂̍̉̀̎̊͑̉̃͌͒̆̕͝n̵̮̔́̈́́͛̊̌́̒̽̒̎̀̋̚͠ģ̸̨͕̱̠͈͓̇̈͌̂̔̅͘.̶̛̛̘̺̯̱̙̠̜͚̠͛̃̓̇͊̃͒̓͑̍̕̕͘͘”̷̩̖̟͎̤͉̻̈́͛̈́̎͛͆
[“Oh, tis far too late for that Fallen King.”]
Everyone clasped their ears, even Adam and the Exorcists, at those words, the mere sound of the voice was the anathema to hearing. The rumblings were growing greater and greater. Suddenly, something rose up and everyone took a step back in shock as a massive thing turned ponderously to lean over them.
It was a towering figure of black and red. Taller than the Hotel itself, its lower parts vanished down into the chasm it had opened in its escape from wherever it had come from. Its form morphed and swam, seeming to bulge and contract as though it was many things in one. Mouths and orifices indeed sprouted and vanished, seen only by the red light that shone behind them as they opened. The being's head, sitting atop the tower of terror that was its body, had many tendrils that stood straight like horns, or waved like tentacles. Blackness, not as a color, but as an absence of light, was the only way to describe it, for the only way to see depth in it was the glow of red that illuminated its eyes and mouth, as well as other cracks in its flesh.
Everyone shuddered as they stared at it, but then Lucifer was flying up.
“Alright, enough's enough. I can appreciate the lightshow and the theatrics, but it's time to go back in your box, I-”
He barely dodged as suddenly one of the arms of the creature, the size of a schoolbus shot forward and attempted to grab him. More attempts followed, getting faster and faster as the King of Hell's voice grew more and more angry.
“Okay, that's how you want to play it huh. Well let's remember WHOSE HOUSE THIS IS!”
A massive blast of energy erupted from Lucifer's hand and struck the creature in the center of its upper half. It gave a scream that felt like nails on chalkboard and drove near everyone to their knees. Lucifer landed in front of Charlie, a grin on his face as he saw that he had blasted a large chunk out of the creature. For a moment, everyone hoped. But then the piece refilled, the wound healing as though it had never been there.
The creature turned to look at them all, and on its head, a red smile split its face. Most of the cannibals fainted, the Angels shook, and Charlie felt that she had never before known what evil truly was. Then an arm raised and the creature made a pulling motion.
At first, nothing seemed to happen. Then they saw a figure in red being dragged towards the thing from far away. It was fighting for all it was worth not to be brought, but it obviously had no power to resist. Within 10 seconds it was before the mass of darkness that leered over it. For a moment, due to distance and scale, they couldn't tell who it was, but with a thrill of shock, they suddenly realized who it was.
It twitched and screamed distinctively, then suddenly turned and descended. Frozen in shock, they all watched as Alastor came to rest in front of them, his face contorted in a rictus of a grin.
“Greetings . . . Charlie. This isn't . . . quite what I expected to . . . happen.”
It was Alastor's voice, and they knew that it was Alastor speaking in spite of how painful it sounded. This was made even more obvious as his eyes suddenly dilated and his grip on his broken cane tightened. The voice that issued from Alastor's lips was less eldritch than the one that had heralded the being's arrival, but still sounded utterly wrong.”
“̵T̸h̷e̴y̸ ̴l̵o̶o̴k̶ ̶a̷t̷ ̴m̷e̴ ̸i̵n̶ ̶s̵h̵o̸c̵k̴.̷ ̴ ̸D̸i̶d̷ ̷h̶e̸ ̵n̴e̶v̶e̴r̸ ̴t̷e̵l̷l̷ ̶t̴h̶e̵m̸ ̷a̸b̴o̴u̷t̶ ̴m̴e̸.̸ ̷ ̷W̶h̸y̸ ̵n̷o̵t̵?̷ ̴ ̶I̷ ̷w̸o̶u̷l̶d̷'̵v̶e̴ ̶s̸c̷a̴r̸e̸d̸ ̵t̸h̸e̸m̵.̷”̵
[“They look at me in shock. Did he never tell them about me. Why not? I would've scared them.”]
Alastor's head turned to stare at Lucifer. Everyone else did as well. The King of Hell tried to look nonchalant, and failed.
“There's nothing to tell. You were a long-term project at best, a failure at worst. Now I suggest you get back in the bed I made for you before I do something really drastic!”
Alastor, and through him, the towering mass of darkness, simply took a crazed grin and somehow made it even worse.
“̵H̶e̵ ̵p̸r̵e̴t̷e̸n̸d̵s̶ ̶t̷o̷ ̶b̸e̵ ̵i̴n̵ ̵c̸o̵n̵t̷r̸o̸l̸,̸ ̵o̵r̶ ̶d̵o̷e̶s̵ ̸h̷e̶ ̶b̵e̷l̸i̷e̷v̷e̸ ̷i̵t̴?̴ ̷ ̶H̶e̵ ̴w̸a̸n̵t̷s̷ ̴u̵s̶ ̶b̶a̴c̸k̸ ̶i̴n̷ ̷t̵h̸e̵ ̵u̵n̷d̶e̶r̵.̴ ̷ ̸B̶a̷c̵k̸ ̸i̴n̷ ̷t̸h̵e̶ ̷p̷l̸a̷c̴e̵ ̴o̴f̸ ̸r̶o̶t̴ ̵a̶n̸d̸ ̷d̴e̴c̵a̵y̵.̵ ̸ ̴B̶a̵c̸k̶ ̸b̸e̴n̷e̶a̴t̵h̷ ̷t̸h̶e̸ ̵r̷i̵n̷d̴.̶ ̸ ̸S̶o̵ ̸l̵i̵t̸t̵l̵e̷ ̵t̶o̶ ̶r̸e̷m̶e̵m̷b̵e̴r̴,̶ ̸j̶u̷s̶t̴ ̸g̷l̷i̸m̸m̸e̸r̴s̵,̴ ̴b̴u̴t̶ ̴a̵l̷w̸a̵y̶s̶ ̸h̵i̴s̵ ̸f̶a̶c̵e̵,̵ ̴a̴l̴w̴a̶y̵s̶ ̴h̸i̸s̶ ̷w̷o̵r̷d̶s̸ ̸o̴f̵ ̷p̷a̵i̸n̷.̵ ̷ ̵L̷o̵c̸k̷e̵d̵ ̶a̵w̶a̴y̴,̵ ̵f̵e̷d̸ ̶o̶n̸ ̸d̸a̵r̴k̵,̷ ̸f̶e̶d̸ ̷o̴n̸ ̴o̷t̸h̵e̴r̸'̵s̷ ̷d̷a̸r̵k̴.̴”̸
[“He pretends to be in control, or does he believe it? He wants us back in the under. Back in the place of rot and decay. Back beneath the rind. So little to remember, just glimmers, but always his face, always his words of pain. Locked away, fed on dark, fed on other's dark.”]
Lucifer narrowed his eyes.
“Hmmmmmm.”
“Dad, what's going on?”
Charlie's question caused her father to give a half second's glance that clearly told her to keep quiet. Alastor's eyes had turned towards her though.
“̷D̵a̴u̸g̴h̷t̷e̸r̵ ̴.̸ ̴.̴ ̸.̸w̸h̷e̶n̴ ̸d̴i̶d̵ ̵t̵h̸a̷t̸ ̸h̷a̶p̴p̸e̴n̸?̶ ̷ ̷N̴e̵v̷e̴r̵ ̵t̶h̴o̸u̵g̷h̶t̶ ̸h̴e̴ ̶w̶o̴u̶l̸d̶ ̷h̸a̴v̸e̷ ̷c̴h̶i̷l̶d̴r̷e̸n̴?̴ ̶ ̴N̴o̴ ̶.̸ ̵.̷ ̴.̵ ̷d̸i̴s̷a̸p̶p̵o̸i̵n̵t̵m̸e̵n̸t̵.̶ ̶ ̶H̶e̶ ̵a̵l̴w̶a̵y̵s̴ ̸w̸a̵s̶.̸ ̵ ̶S̵e̸e̸n̷ ̴o̶t̵h̶e̴r̸ ̸D̴e̷v̷i̴l̷s̶,̷ ̸h̴e̸ ̶w̵a̸s̶ ̶p̷a̴t̷h̸e̵t̸i̵c̸ ̴a̶m̶o̸n̴g̷ ̶t̴h̸e̸m̵.̴”̶
[“Daughter . . .when did that happen? Never thought he would have children? No . . . disappointment. He always was. Seen other Devils, he was pathetic among them.”]
The thing in Alastor's eyes leered at Charlie, causing Lucifer and Vaggie to close ranks in front of her. Suddenly, in an instant, Alastor's posture changed along with the voice. It did not lose the pained and violative air it carried, but the Radio Demon suddenly stood casually, and his voice grew more suave. Were it not for the situation around them and the sheer wrongness he exuded, they almost would've thought it was a normal day for him.
“Well my dear Charlotte. You seem quite curious about me, so let me assure you that my personal hatred rests on your father. He and I have some unfinished business. But perhaps you and I can come to some sort of understanding. I see you have many goals and things you wish to accomplish. I am quite adept at helping people accomplish things, so many have benefited from my guidance and patronage. Why Alastor here is one of the lucky signers of a contract with me.”
For a moment, the thing's control slackened and Alastor's smile was stretched to breaking as he twitched and shook. His voice broke out, strained and hard.
“I . . . hadn't this in . . . mind when we agreed to . . . our deal.”
Every word sounded like it cost him a piece of his sanity. The great figure's dark face simply split its grin wider.
“̴O̶h̵ ̴.̴ ̷.̴ ̴.̷ ̸b̶u̷t̵ ̵i̸t̴ ̵i̷s̴ ̵w̵h̶a̸t̴ ̴I̵ ̶d̵i̶d̸.̶ ̵ ̴A̸n̷d̵ ̵m̶y̵ ̷d̸e̶a̴r̷ ̵l̸i̸t̸t̸l̴e̵ ̸R̶a̸d̵i̶o̴ ̶S̷t̷a̵r̷,̴ ̴o̷u̴r̷ ̵d̶e̶a̸l̵,̷ ̴l̴i̸k̴e̸ ̸a̷n̴y̶ ̸o̸t̸h̴e̶r̶ ̸y̴o̷u̶ ̸h̸a̴v̵e̵ ̸i̶n̷f̴l̴i̵c̸t̸e̶d̴ ̶o̸n̶ ̴y̶o̵u̵r̸ ̵e̸m̴p̴l̷o̵y̶e̴e̶s̷,̶ ̴m̶e̶a̶n̴s̵ ̷t̴h̷a̶t̵ ̸I̷ ̶c̸a̵n̶ ̶d̷o̸ ̶a̶s̸ ̴I̶ ̸w̷i̷s̸h̸ ̴t̷o̵ ̵y̵o̶u̴.̵ ̴ ̶W̷h̸i̴c̵h̶ ̷r̶e̷m̶i̷n̸d̸s̷ ̵m̸e̶.̸”̶
[“Oh . . . but it is what I did. And my dear little Radio Star, our deal, like any other you have inflicted on your employees, means that I can do as I wish to you. Which reminds me.”]
The figure swept a hand, and Alastor did the same in a rather jerky fashion. Instantly, Husk and Nifty were tugged forward, chains materializing around their necks and linking to Alastor's hand, even as a chain around Alastor's neck flashed into existence for a second, its length leading back to the great dark creature.
“̸C̷h̷a̶i̴n̷s̴ ̶o̴f̸ ̶o̸w̸n̴e̵r̷s̴h̸i̶p̴ ̴c̶a̷n̶ ̶b̸e̷ ̴s̷o̷ ̵c̶o̴n̵f̴u̷s̷i̵n̴g̷.̷ ̵ ̷B̵u̴t̶ ̴I̴ ̵s̶u̶p̵p̴o̶s̷e̷ ̷t̷h̷i̴s̶ ̶m̴e̶a̷n̸s̴ ̵t̶h̶a̴t̶ ̶y̷o̶u̵ ̸t̴w̷o̷ ̶t̵e̵c̵h̵n̶i̵c̴a̶l̴l̶y̸ ̵b̶e̶l̵o̷n̶g̶ ̴t̷o̴ ̷m̶e̷ ̵t̵h̷r̸o̶u̷g̶h̵ ̵A̸l̴a̵s̶t̷o̸r̵.̴”̶
[“Chains of ownership can be so confusing. But I suppose this means that you two technically belong to me through Alastor.”]
Both Sinners, Cat and Cyclops, tried to look away, even as Charlie tried to fly forward to help them. Her hands were grabbed by her father and she was forced behind him, regardless of her protests.
“Hey, sludge-for-brains, over here!”
Alastor, still holding Husk and Nifty by their chains, turned to stare at the Lord of the Exorcists who was giving him the finger. Adam put his hands on his hips and stared alternately at the mass of the beast, and the Radio Demon it was puppeting.
“Gotta say, if you got a beef with the short king, that puts you one up in my book, even more if your against these idiots. But I gotta ask, what comes after that?”
Alastor stared at the Chief Exorcist. There was a subtle twitch that was mirrored in the greater creature. Then its grin grew sadistic.
“̶H̵o̴w̴ ̶.̷ ̴.̴ ̸.̸ ̷f̴u̶n̷.̶”̸
[“How . . . fun.”]
The being lifted an arm and waved it. In an instant, the portal to Heaven slammed shut.
While the dark being seemed distracted, Alastor looked at Charlie. She had never seen him look so utterly desperate as he spoke, his shoulder's slumped and his voice hissing.
“My favor Charlie . . . free me from him . . . free me from this . . . thing.”
Charlie felt a tug on her soul, and knew that the deal she had made was being called in. Alastor made a choking sound as the being's eyes turned back to them.
“God no! Leave me alo-!”
His cries faltered as the thing spoke again. This time, its voice shook the air around it.
“̶̧̖͙̟͔̈́̐͗̅͋̃̀̈̆̚D̴͍͇̙̦̹͔̳͖͇̯͌͐͋̃̔͒̎͋̓̍͆̒̃͝͝ả̵̞͎̥̜̞̥̤̹͒̓́́͌̊̇̾̅͝ͅy̴̨̛̤̳̲͓̐̀̓͂͊͐̔͒͐̓͝ ̸̢̗̗̪̰͉͙͔̥͙̫̞̲̀̌̈̇͑̃͠.̷̡͕̲̳̱͙̤͌͒ ̶̨̧̦̟̘̳̦̝̥̣͚͚͓͉͍̉̏͋͆͆̿̚͝.̸͔̪̮̭̫̘̊͑͒̋̋́̌̿̈́͛͑̔̍̚͝͠͝ ̶͖͎̫̦͇͍̪̜̻̖̰̿͛͑̽̾̿̐́̾͆̔̅̀͒̌̂͠.̸̠͈͈̠̼̪̱̎̌̍̔̃̿͜ ̵̧̢̖̥̼̝̘̬̖̦̘͈̩̹̯͎̔̓̿͌̊̑͋͛͂̇͘̚͜ḧ̷̛̛̝̮̫̱̯̗́̑̽ą̷̡̹̠̳͓̗̰̭͇̭͚̘̈́̒͋͝s̴̤̱͙̩͇̰̰͓͛̅ ̶̨̧̡̪͕̲̞̯̪̊̀̈̓̐͌͜͜͝ḅ̸̨͈̹̺̪̝̘̖̠̜̍r̷̙̞͉͓̱̪̊̓̔̆͌̅̔͋͠͠ǫ̸̥̗̬̱͕̯̮͙͎̏̓̌͜͜͝k̷̲̎́̅͌͋ȩ̶̡̡̡̙̹̼̝̱̙̼̩̮̖̌̈́̉͛̄ṋ̴̛͚͇̰̬̋̒̇̿͊̅̒̎̿̎̀̄̽̄͝.̸̨̧̤̳̳̣̜͖͍̯͈̮̊̈́̋̿̏̓͗̍ ̴̪̯͚̙̣͍̩̋͌́̓̓̃̈́̈́̅̑͝ ̶̱͛̋͠B̸̧̛̝̦̭͎͔͈̳̠̳͖̹̽̈́̏̆̚͜͜͝ͅę̶̥̗̞̟͛̀̀̍̇̄͒̔̕̚h̸̛̬̭͓̜̝̬͉̰̳͍͇̿̌̈̉̑̌͂̂͊͆̕͝ó̶̧̺̻̤̼͈̫̲̗̲͚̟̝͍͒́̂́̌̑̒͝l̸̢̛̛͔͈̺̲̬͈̠̟͈̘̼̠̓̄̃̌̓̓̀̚͜͠͠d̶̡͓͇̺̝̞̣̟̍͑̀͌̑͘ͅ ̵͖̻̘̓̐́͆͐͒͂̅͘.̷̨̧̱̳̠̹̭̠̗͔͙͔̠͖̒̓̆̃͒̊͐͜͠ͅ ̴̧͕͖͖̮̞̈́͊̒͒̏̒́̈̈́̑͗̂̿̀͑̕̚.̴̧͓̯̤̲̜̭͇̞̳͓͈͔͉́́̒͛̍͒ ̴̨̛̱̖̞̻̞̦̪̼͉̮͉̖̫̪̔̈͆̑̀̊̀̽́̿͒͋͆̕͝͝ͅ.̶͓̣͖̱͍̭̝̳͓̳͈͎͚̙͍̳̌̈ ̵̢̡͔̖̲̬͙̝̱̱̮͎̲̰̩̓t̷̛̪̟̦̊̑̄̎͝͠h̸̡̧̡͓͖̲͇̝̪̭͑̅̔͒͌̋̀͗͛̈́͂̆͋͜͠e̷̢̡̪̠̣̥͕̥̲͉̎̃̌͘͝ ̴̢̡̰̦͉̗̺͍̜͇̟̞̰̾͒̐̌̃̓͗̉͑͠͝Ş̵̢̦̹̮̤̝͕̰͕̟͎͒̂͗̔͐̏̓́͜c̷͉̦̟̩̮̜̭͐̌̆̉̚͜͝ẵ̸̞͕̬͔̦͚́͝r̸̡̨̹̗͔͓̼̜̬̙̱͕̖̙͋̉̆̀̎̽͂̀͂͛͆͒̑̓l̵̡̝̰̥̟̥͇̟̲̲͙̙̳̻̝̝̝̀ę̷̗͖̗̩̫͙̏́̈́̽̋̃̂̀̀̕͘t̴̨̺̰̦̀ ̷̠͈̞̲̠̹̱̝͂͗̅͛̈́̐̑͋͠Ķ̶̨̫̯̺̗̑̋̄̄͛͜i̸̡̛̭̝̳̼̼̇̆̔͑͆̀̑̐̄̀͛̒̃͑̚͝ͅn̵̨͍͇̯̻̺͚͆̓̕͘͝ͅg̵̞̭͈̱̤͎̣̝̩̙̜̳͕̤̀͌̀̿̋̀͝ͅ!̴̨͕̪̗̜̻͐̅̈͆”̴̮͍̼̰̅̀̂̏͂͘͜
[“Day . . . has broken. Behold . . . the Scarlet King!”]
And with that, Alastor lashed out. His cane struck Lucifer in the chest and the King of Hell was rocketed back. With a cry, Charlie tried to shove her trident into Alastor's guts, but something froze her in place. The deal! She couldn't harm Alastor, she had to try and free him!
Her momentary distraction didn't let her see how it happened, but by the time she refocused, she froze. Alastor had a hand around her father's neck.
Lucifer struggled in the grip of Alastor's who was staring at him with piercing insane eyes.
“̷̨̳͎̜̻͕̱̙̮͋̅͒̀̊P̴̻̞̘̭͑̽̽̀̀͌͘ą̶̬͚̫͙̹̾̏̅̽̓͛́̇͌̈̀͆͝t̸̨̢̡̨̢͍̼̤̠͉͓̪̋̓̀̍̆̿̚͝ͅẖ̷̢̢̨̛̞͖̙͈͓̆̾͛͊̆̓̓͑͆̏͘͘̕͝ͅẻ̷̛̝̪̙͋̆̒̔͊̎̓̽ţ̸̨͇̼̗̠̫͖͓̯̝̮̗̱̜̫̈́͊̀̇̎͐̇̿̽͜i̶̛̫̰̋́̐̓͐͒̎̎̄͛̏̉̚c̴̢̧̛͈̰̹̟͔̭̖͉̍͌̋̇̎̾̀͂͋̐̃̋̄̐̏̕͜ ̴̨̝̫̯͈͉͎͝.̸̰̠̬͗̌̿̇͊̄̕ ̵̣̣̰̘͖̰͙͚̮͎̂͛̉͋͗͊.̶̧̼̰̩̺̲̙͍̀̈̎́̑̂̀̄ ̵̲̓͘̚͝.̵̩͇͘ ̵̯̖̹̄̀͌̅̉̅̈́̑̌̕̕ș̵̢̢̡̡̞̜̥͕͓̦̾̉͌̌̂͌͋̒͌e̷̡̺̳̥̙̮̭͔̯͖̝̳͕̻̽̈́́̾́̍̒̂̿͂̈́e̵̛͕̔̀̂̾̆͝n̵̡͕̮̠͖̙̲̥̬̼̼̰̮͖͔̲͙͗̂̊̏̃͘͝͠͠ ̷̨̡̢̧̹̘͍͚̜̭̹͖͓̺̱͚͐͊͒̆̓̾͊́̀͗̿͝b̸̰̹͒̏͑̉̃͌̌̅͆e̵͖̖̺̊̊̃̒̂̄̓̔̕͠͝t̷̢̡̙̜̖̖̱̼̤̰̠̜̭̪̰̪͇̄́t̷̟̪̝̰͚͈̬̬͖̲̺̺̖͕̩͎̩̄̔̄̈̾̂͑́͌͑̀̊̍͌͝ë̵͔́̅͂̓͘ŕ̵̛̝̎̔̈̿ ̸̧̬̜̙͈̥̬̟͙̖̬̠̂̎̊̏͜D̸̡̡̛̝̻̯̯͓͈̞̯̹̅̈̓̌̇̾͐͂̀̄̏̀͂͠ê̷̡̨̢̠̺̺̺̪͎̺͖̯̻̯̎̒̓̾͜͜v̸͖̗͌͛̉͋̈́͗͘i̴̢̨͍̪͔͉̲̤̤̤͕̟͈͍̿͆͊͊̽̑̓l̶̢̬̟̩͔̀͛̇͒̀͆̈́̉̌̕s̵͎̝̹̏̆́̓̉ ̷̜̔͋̂̉́̋͝͠.̵̧̬̝̩͎͙̭͇̤͇̒͑̂̊̓̊̃͊̂̓̆̕̚̕͝ͅ ̸̛̻̈́̆͊͆͒̃͊̍̽̈́͗͜.̷̛̥̗̰̱̘͇̱̅̇̐̃̃̇̍̆̃͊̔̎̾͆͝͝ ̵̨̠̬̤͔̭͎̰̝̤͓̠͎͇̏̈́̈́̎̎͛̂͛̐̑͠ͅͅ.̵̡͇͚͇͇̜̤̞͚̦͎̦̙̅̇̌̇̅́̔͆ ̶͍͕͇̩̓ͅw̷̼͑̈́͂͆ợ̷̡̛̣̻̙̥̖̯̫̰͕̰̄̊̀̊͋͛́́̓̿͝u̵̧͍̪͔̿͌͑͗́̅͒̌͋̓̚̕͝͝l̴̯͍͙̪͇̞͚͎̽̇̂̀͒̎̄͛̍͗͋̓͂͝d̶̡͇̩̮̰̽͗́̉̾͆̓̑͊̿̆̑͘̕͝͝ ̴̙̣̣̫̩̦̹̯̣͚̊͗̑̈́̈́̎̌̂ý̸̧̨̺̞̀ȏ̵͕͕̤̬̝͑̊̌͂̅͑̿̈͝ù̸͖̩͚̃͜ ̶̛̪̳̮̮̜͎̰͖̭͌̍̇̃̀̂̒̊̋̓̔̇̕͝ļ̷̡̢͎̗̣̬͖͔̭͙͇̪̣̠̈͒̓̊̈́̎͘i̵̻̰͔͓̊̓̀͆̚k̴̻̥̹̭̰̮̘̔̈̒̇̋͒̐̆̀͛̂͘͘͝e̸̜͍̕ ̵̼͉̩̱̩̲͈̭̈̈́̽̎̾̑̈́͌͆̈́͑͊͘͠t̴̛̹̝̖̐͋͂̇͋̉͆̅͐͆̄͗̇͘̚͠ō̴̧̢̭͔̮͔̣̕ ̵̢͍̄̓́͛̈̆̒̅͘͘̕͝ş̴̯̙͍͒͊͂̎̏̓̈́̂͐̈͜͜͝͝ȩ̷̢̱̯̣̬͔͓̼̩̫́͒́̄̈́̈́͗͋͘ë̴̫̟̭̽͛ ̷̨̱̺̱͓̭͚̰̘͚̾̈̅͗̿̿̐̑͛͜͜t̸͔̏̈́̚h̶̼̼̞̟̜͊̃̿̔͂͊̕ȩ̸̻̹̰̺̭̯̟̥̳̳̂̅̀̎͒̀͛̈́̒̈́̊̇̌̉ͅm̸̬͎͍̝̮͜͠ ̶̡̛̟͔͓̹̺̺̳̻̳̺̽͂̈́́͛̀̌̏̒̈̄̃̾͝͝ͅṱ̸̢̢̗̬̏͛̊̆̌̏̈̇̉̍̅̿̑ơ̵̡͎̦̳͓̦͙͙͇̒͆̈́̎̿͗̏͜͝͠o̸̧̧̩̤̥̞͇̹͙͔̙̞̺̳̖̅̈́̈̄̉?̸̨̡̡̢̛̱̰̬͔̜̲̞͖̫̯̯̪̫̾̾̅̀̅̈́̾̈́̈̅̈́̂͠ ̴̨̧̢̡͚̼̦̟̹͑̔͒̈́͗̅͆̒̆̃̎̒͝M̸̛͕̯͔̠͍̤̑̒̉͌͛̍̋̋͛̍̔̈́̚̕a̶̢͕̞͇̾̓̌̀̀͆͛́̃̐̇̀̚s̵̡͔̙̭̪̯̜̻̀̓̎̋͑̇̉̋̂̉͊̓̃̕t̷̻͆̾̎͋̊́̆̐̄̈́͘͝e̷̢̟̮͌͒̊͗̀̔̕͠r̶̬̘̰͍̳̫̎͛͊̈̆͊͗̚.̶̧̡̟̳̘̼̤͈͓̗̙̽̋́͛”̴̦͎͙̗̭̋̐̈̂
[“Pathetic . . . seen better Devils . . . would you like to see them too? Master.”]
The last word was said with profound sarcasm. Then Alastor's hand started glowing. Lucifer gulped and finally managed to tear himself free. He turned, and without so much as a backwards glance, he dashed away. But only for a second for he had not noticed that the great mass that was the Scarlet King's true form had been reaching for him as well. He was caught in a fist that glowed a dark red color. Before the King of Hell could throw a punch or rain unholy energy upon his captor, he was gone. It was as though a black hole had opened and swallowed him in an instant.
Charlie was staring in shock, almost for too long before Vaggie pulled her out of the way of Alastor swiping down at her with his cane. In an instant he was in among their ranks, Husk and Nifty on his heels, striking their number and laughing while he did so. At one moment, he had locked arms with Vaggie. The former-exorcist was gritting her teeth as Alastor leered down at her. Then the possessed cannibal brought his head back and then headbutted Vaggie in the face. As she fell back, Charlie saw with alarm that Alastor was bleeding from his forehead now, but he seemed not to notice, instead turning to look towards the Exorcists.
Adam wasn't paying attention at the moment, he was making hand motions that Charlie guessed meant he was trying to open up another portal. Alastor held up his arms, and tentacles erupted from the Earth and shot up, grabbing most of the Exorcists. They struggled and kicked. A few stabbed and got free. But others had had their Angelic spears had knocked from their hands when they were seized, and now they were being drawn down towards Alastor, whose teeth were glinting. Then Adam, his eyes blazing with golden light, descended. He impacted the ground, causing a small shake. Then he was upon Alastor.
His first hit was no grand move. All it was, was his fist colliding with the possessed Overlord's teeth. Alastor was blasted away, though not as far as they expected with the amount of force Adam had clearly put into the punch.
“HEY, ASSHOLE!”
Adam rose several feet into the air, his wings thrumming and glowing golden as ball of energy grew in his fists.
“MUNCH ON THESE SINNERS ALL YOU WANT RED RETARD! BUT LEAVE MY GIRLS OUT OF IT!!”
With a grunt of exertion, the orb of golden energy was chucked, not at Alastor but at the Scarlet King's main body. It impacted it in the side of the head and the explosion was like thunder. The Scarlet King jerked back, putting a hand to its face as it cowered away from the pain.
Adam's set to work freeing his girls as Charlie suddenly noticed something. A little distance away, she watched Alastor standing up. His smile was now filled with broken teeth, which only heightened how wrong he looked. Behind him, turning back to look at them, she saw the true body of the Scarlet King raise a hand. Alastor did the same.
Two beams of energy emerged from Alastor's hands. One sped to Charlie's side, but she had no time to see where, for the other aimed directly at her. She held up her trident, but it did no good and she felt her body leave the ground. She was airborne for about 3 seconds before she felt her back slam into something hard and painful. Sliding down, she couldn't help but groan as she felt pain erupt all over her body.
“Oh get over it you big fuckin baby.”
Adam's voice brought her back to reality, if only for how unpleasant it was. She forced herself up and turned to see the head Exorcist dusting himself off, grimacing a little bit as he shook debris away. Behind him was his own impact crater into a concrete wall.
Looking back, both of them saw that Alastor was once again in among their friends and forces. Grinning, he sunk his remaining teeth into one of the cannibal soldiers Charlie had recruited. He feasted for a few seconds before flinging the body away and turning on another one, this one an Exorcist. Nifty was running around everyone's heels, stabbing and slashing with an even more insane grin on her face than was usual. Husk seemed the only one with a modicum of calm left, and it was embodied in how sloppy he was acting, as though he were deliberately trying to trip himself up.
A strange noise filled Charlie's ears and her head swiveled. She realized that she and Adam had been knocked near to the edge of the great crack that now ran out into the distance. Staring down into its depths, Charlie could only see blackness after a certain point. But presently, she saw something and her mouth fell open.
Crawling up the sides of the new canyon came a horde. Grey and red, washed out, faces blank they came on, Imps, Hellhounds, all manner of Hellborn and even some flying creatures. But ten she saw Sinners as well. They crawled forth, coming ever closer, and Charlie knew instinctively that it would not be a pleasant meeting when they made it out.
At that moment, she heard Adam sigh deeply.
“Truce . . . till we get this under control.”
Turning, she saw that he too was staring down into the oncoming horde. But then he held out a hand and Charlie stared at it.
“Wh-wha- . . . are you seri-”
“You want to gawk, or do you want to actually help our people, Princess?”
It was the last thing she wanted, but she'd seen how Adam could hurt the thing, and only her father had managed that on her side.
“No hurting each other or our friends unless we have to, till that thing's gone. Okay?”
Adam nodded solemnly. Charlie narrowed her eyes at the ease of his agreement.
“And you have to go home after we're done. No more exterminations!”
Adam actually snorted.
“No more extermination for this year spoiled-brat. Don't push it.”
Charlie glanced down, looking like she was sucking on a lemon, and then clasped his hand with hers. She was frozen still for a second before gasping. There was no deal. At least, no deal that would bind her at her soul's level. Adam was leaving it up to her to fulfill the terms laid out or not.
Seeming to guess her feelings. Adam snorted, then turned and charged back towards the ongoing fight. Charlie shook her head and rushed after him.
Angel Dust was trying to hold Husk down and tie him up, but the catlike former-Overlord was more than Angel had bargained on. He suspected that only Husk's own attempts to slow himself down were what was giving Angel an edge, supported by Husk's words.
“Get out of here kid. You ain't gonna beat me and he won't let me stop. You gotta get away from here with Charlie!”
Angel felt wetness in his eyes. It was all so unfair.
“And leave you high and dry! No can do bud! I gotta get you out from under dat bastard.”
Husk smiled as softly as he could, even as his body conjured sharp cards and threw them at Angel Dust.
“That's sweet kid and I appreciate it. But you ain't gonna do that here and now. I'm lost, so save yourself. Charlie and the rest of you might be able to change things, so get away with them and think of a way to end this. I'll see you on the flip side.”
Still Angel hesitated, but suddenly a hand grabbed him and hoisted him into the air. Turning, he almost panicked when he saw than an Exorcist had him by the scruff of his neck and was flying away with him. But as he struggled, he saw that off to his left, most of the crowd was being carried by the exorcists, those that weren't were running along the ground below them. Charlie was being hoisted by Vaggie and Adam himself was carrying a few of his exorcists who were injured. Rosie, it appeared had managed to herd her Cannibals to follow, though a few refused to abandon their feast and were already being set upon by the Radio Demon and his minions.
Explosions rocked the ground as he saw Cherri Bomb tossing explosives behind her as she dashed away.
“Quit twitching hellspawn, or I'll forget that we're allied for the moment” the Exorcist said in a flat voice, and Angel ceased his struggling.
As they passed the chasm, he saw a mass of grey and red creatures cresting the lip of it and begin moving forward. A second later, the screams of Pentagram City rose higher than they had since the worst Extermination days.