Inside The Speaker's Domain.
"You want me to what?" Noctis asked the angel standing by, looking at her in skepticism after she materialized a figure of Romna clad in angelic armor.
Once again that smile of hers remained and annoyed the man while he stood uncomfortably in a meadow with his new wings tied to his back with holy rope.
He didn't understand how she could be so calm and happy at starting his training with something so simple yet so confusing.
The Speaker only chuckled and gestured to the task as the figure was nothing more than a figment of his soul she had pulled. It stood ominously in a defensive stance and waited with hollow care as she explain to Noctis.
"I want you to surpass yourself. You cling to being who you are now but you must accept what you were then as well."
"How am I supposed—"
He was sorely interrupted by the Romna-piece delivering a punch to his jaw, his eyes wide in shock and pain before the blow sent him sliding across the ground. He didn't even have time to process that his training started or that the lookalike was so emotionless with that single blow.
"Careful, this is a piece of you." The Speaker mused teasingly as he laid there groaning with a half awareness if he was awake or not.
She watched as Noctis struggled to get up and shake off the blow to his now red and swelling cheek, and observed as he foolishly got let his emotions control him, and tried to go on the offensive after getting his bearings.
"Remember you must accept who you were back then. Don't fight with yourself." She teased, while seeing his first swing fail miserably in frustration.
He growled in frustration and barked at the angel in response, forgetting that his former self wasn't there to be patient.
"The fuck does that—"
Again he got distracted and was met with an unforgiving blow to his abdomen by Romna, unable to even see this fake move with so quickly.
The impact alone had him gasping in horror as the spit was knocked out of him, his eyes wide with realization of the torture he would endure.
"Fake or not, I can't even see him move!"
Reluctantly he doubled over clenching his stomach after Romna removed his fist and stepped back. Against his will from the oain he gasped for air while The Speaker just giggled at his struggle and stood there.
"You have to at least try." She teased and began to circle the two. "This is not about training just your body to be ready against Michael. It is also about accepting yourself and awakening some of your power."
He thrusted a middle finger at her, and earned a sigh of annoyance that proved she did have her limits.
"Honestly, you are lucky we all love you." She said to herself while shaking her head. But still her smile remained with remembrance. "Nevetheless, even Romna was hot-headed and foul mouthed back then, so I guess some things don't change."
Noctis had a cocky grin for but a moment at flipping her off. Romna made sure it was gone by controlling a kick to the stomach that made Noctis lose the color in his eyes for a moment.
Of course The Speaker still remained in the sidelines of the relentless cruelty of seeing this piece of his soul be so merciless. She had a job to do though, a duty to heaven and hell in bringing back The Leviathan as foretold when god spoke to her back then.
And although she considered all creatures her children, tough love was exactly what Noctis needed now.
Even if it hurt her to see him struggle and suffer on the ground.
"Yeah well I am not Romna!" Noctis snapped through his and narrowly dodged the lookalike that tried to grab him. "So stop referencing him!"
The Speaker sighed again underneath her smile whilst Noctis suffered another controlled blow. Her eyes though couldn't fool as well as the expression continued to maintain with some strain.
She could only hope for the best and thought herself with a long-lingering sadness.
"My child, you must learn to accept."
Meanwhile in Hell….
"Max is trying to walk." Charlie whispered in the hospital bed, watching not a shred of change but holding onto her belief in the man she loved as he laid there with Vaggie fast asleep on his shoulder.
She continued her watch over Noctis and traced the parts of his chest that were not wired up.
He was still unconscious and barely breathing through the machine as the princess fought to put on a smile underneath her despair. She had worked tediously throughout the last two hours after the surgery ended to sponge bath his body and reluctsntly work with Vaggie to dress him in at least the hospital gown.
But in her heart was still that seed of doubt she had about the former angel that was trying so hard to win her love back.
She frowned at this and continued to speak softly with a bit of admittence after looking at Max next, seeing the pup curled up on his stomach and sleeping.
She smiled with her own thoughts about the parenthood they shared, and rested her head on his other shoulder.
"I never thought I would be a mom either, but the way the three of us are with Max...." She paused with swelling need of her quivering lip. "I wonder what it would be like if we had one."
Charlie's confession hung in the air as she watched his face for any sign of awareness. Like all the romances she read or watched on tv she hoped such an impossible moment would wake him up.
He was unresponsive though except for the hissing from the machines, and it chipped her thoughts about how they needed a miracle to come.
She tried some more secrets.
"I thought about what it would be like if three of us were married as well, having a little wedding in the hotel and starting our own family."
Again her breath hitched with need to see if Noctis would respond at all.
"Noctis?"
She forced herself to remain calm when the silence continued and went onto trying harder with her imagination, not knowing that Vaggie stirred awake and was listening to her.
"I even thought about if we had babies if they would have your hair or mine, or if you and Vaggie had a baby with silver grey hair."
She giggled quiet while looking up at the ceiling, but it was all she could do tocstay positive.
"I could imagine if you and Vaggie had a baby and it turned out to be goofy like you and serious like her."
Vaggie had to use every ounce of willpower to not make a peep as Charlie focused on the negatives so far, and glared open-mindedly with remembering the council meeting.
"I can't believe she hid this from me." She closed her eyes and took a breath while the former angel had her own amusement replaced with guilt. "I love her still but I am so angry with her and I can't trust her right now."
Vaggie almost gasped at that painful truth as she laid there and listened to the heart wrenching despair of her girlfriend, but shared the same desperate need in how she held Noctis' hand while Charlie held the other and started to hold the other.
Charlie's emotions started to get the best of her while the room became heavy with their strained relationship, sobs both quiet and deep escaping her breaths whilst the former angel shed her own in secret.
"I love you both so much it hurts, but Vaggie…..she..." Charlie had to pause and let some of it out. "How do I forgive her for this?"
She sat up suddenly and tried to wipe her tears that came out faster than they could be erased, and cried to the wall in front of her.
"How can I even forgive myself for what happened!?"
Vaggie blinked at that question and slowly sat up, confused and worried when she found Charlie hugging herself on the edge of the bed and shaking.
"I should've been more careful!" Charlie scolded herself as the haunting memory of Michael stabbing Noctis replayed in her head, dark and bloody flashes of his blood on her face and hands before were all cast back to hell by Adam.
"Charlie?" Vaggie began to worry and reached over Noctis to the princess as she drowned in her own thoughts.
She wasn't even aware of the former angel awake and hearing as she continued to berate herself.
"I should have been more careful. I shouldn't have pushed to make you come with us and now you're here fighting for your life. I was selfish in thinking I had a chance in you helping me win!"
Charlie hugged herself tighter and broke down whilst Vaggie swelled with tears and shot off the bed to confront her.
"You deserve better than me because it is my fault you are like this! And now you might die and—"
"Charlie stop!" Vaggie rounded the hospital bed hastily and grabbed her shoulders. "None of this is your fault!"
"No!" Charlie snapped and tried to shake off the woman. "It is my fault and—"
Vaggie refused to let this self-loathing continue and hugged Charlie close, though it was still met with resistance by the princess harboring anger still and a need to express herself in smacking her on the back.
"You were an angel! You killed my people!"
"I am sorry Charlie, I hate myself for it." Vaggie whimpered quietly on her shoulder.
Her eye shined harder with tears as she took each smack on her back from Charlie knowing that it was justified, but still she had to try and talk to her.
"I was wrong okay! I was so very wrong and I will live this guilt forever, but please just listen to me!"
"Why should I listen to you!?"
Vaggie finally allowed her emotions to break free before she looked over to see Carmilla checking in the room for a moment before hardening her gaze back at the waiting room and leaving. She held Charlie tighter as shouting was starting outside the room with Carmilla and Lucifer arguing all of a sudden.
"Because I love you!" Vaggie pleaded and stepped back to cup her face. "That was never a lie or a secret. I love both you and Noctis and I hate myself for hiding this from you!"
Charlie's eyes widened as she pushed Vaggie away and made space, her emotions and mind spinning between love and hate.
"It doesn't change the fact you murdered so many of my people!" Charlie snarled defiantly, stumbling a little after she backed away. "How do I know you won't come after me or Noctis!?"
Vaggie was disheartened that her words did not have effect on Charlie and approached her as the arguing outside got louder with an unfamiliar voice now in the mix.
"Charlie I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you, but on my soul I love you both. I don't want to be without either of you!"
Charlie was about to let loose until her fixation on the shouting outside got the best of her. She clenched her eyes shut and shook with confusing emotions to Vaggie and her darkest secret as her mind and heart battled.
"Charlie I love you both. That isn't fake!"
"We will discuss this later!" Charlie said roughly and left the room in a storm with Vaggie quick to follow.
A foolish move on their end with a pair of red eyes opening in the corner and a quiet snarl escaping, whilst max began to whimper on Noctis.
"Now to finish the job."
Both girls marched in silence through the halls and came to a stop to find Carmilla in a shouting match with Lucifer while a very tall and regal owl demon stood in the middle silently after his opinion was brushed aside, frowning distantly in annoyance while the overlord's security went back into lockdown.
Vaggie was immediate in summoning her spear while Alastor snuck around the arguing with easy use of his shadows.
"Quite the show this particular fellow has put on." Said demon gestured to the drama ever-so casually as the mystery demon had a red friend of his peeking around from behind.
The arguing only got louder.
"I cannot properly heal him!"
"So you summon a Goetia to handle the matter!?"
"His dark magic can heal Noctis!"
"And did you think maybe he will want something in return!?"
Charlie was surprised to see the tall owl demon as he perked up at the sight of her and made a careful approach whilst Vaggie maintained a hard gaze on him.
"Stolas Goetia?" Charlie breathed as he took a slight bow with his hat in respect of her as his little friend kept peeking around in suspicion with a pistol ready, waiting for whatever to happen.
"Pardon the most childish display behind me—" he straightened up and adjusted his attire. "But your father called me about your consort needing powerful healing."
"My consort?" Charlie questioned with a raised brow before it finally dawned to her, remembering what it meant for Noctis to be hers. "Oh you mean Noctis!"
"Noctis," Stolas hummed the name with a taste of curiosity on his tongue. "What a unique name for someone so lucky to have you."
"Both of us." Vaggie said dangerously with her spear still pointed at him but her eye on the imp behind him that was giving the same look.
"Oh my." The prince pressed a hand and blushed in surprise of that correction while Alastor made the surprising response of leaving the group to go watch Carmilla and Lucifer fight.
"Damn." The imp gave a low whistle and holstered his pistol. "Banging the princess and her bodyguard. Must be some wicked dick."
Both girls looked to the nonchalant imp in disgust of his commentary as the owl demon sighed and shook his head in embarrassment of his crude personality.
"I swear Blitz, one day you will be the death of me." Stolas muttered frustratingly before waving him off. "Go be a bodyguard or check on your friends out in your van."
"Hell no. I want to see who this demon is that is getting his dick wet on hell's royalty." The imp said proudly and looked to the room down the hall.
Vaggie had just about enough his comments and was ready to ram her spear where it does not belong until Stolas showed her and Charlie some respect as colleagues in the matter of Noctis.
"Blitz!" Said prince barked his name in a tone only those two knee as lovers, and glared down at him with a glow in his eyes. "I will not have you acting so crude in front of the princess. Either behave or remove yourself from my presence and tend to your employees outside."
Blitz had a look of betrayal on his face by this scolding and let his emotions get the best of him. He hated being treated like a child and so lowly with such a passion it fuel his poor impulses that were ready to unveil their relationship in a counter about denying him pillow talk.
That is until Stolas narrowed his gaze in a threatening manner and bristled.
"Do I make myself clear?"
Blitz was turning different colors from biting his tongur but finally gave in with a huff and looked away with his arms crossed.
"Yeah. Yeah. I gotcha your royal birdness." He huffed with a pout.
Stolas twitch an eye at that response and wondered internally how low respect was on the imp's standards, but he remained composed and addressed strictly the hell princess.
"Forgive my bodyguard." He said politely and coughed to the awkwardness. "He is still in training."
Blitz gawked up to that lie and wanted to show him 'training'.
"Fuck you, you horny-ass bird" He screamed mentally.
"Now then," he kneeled down to meet Charlie at a better eye level. "Congratulations are in order for you two finding someone, but I am quite confused as to why your father summoned me to heal your demon-half."
"Noctis is not a demon." Vaggie was firm to clarify with the prince now eyeing her curiously as Blitz listened.
"Oh, then what is he?" Stolas asked politely.
"Yeah what is he!?" Blitz raised his voice, only to be silenced by a flicker of Stolas' magic that sealed his lips shut.
Stolas twitched his eye at that once more but collected himself with the regal smile he donned per usual before taking both girls away from the chaos with a nudge of their shoulders.
"Now then, why don't we all go somewhere quiet and discuss this without the chaos behind us."
"You had me at quiet." Vaggie snipped, earning a glare from Charlie, only to glare at her back while Blitz followed and mumbled foul words about not being silenced.
That is until he saw a shadow looming down the hall, and his curiosity was piqued.
Before Stolas or the girls knew it when they entered a separate hospital room, the unpredictable imp snuck away and got his voice back when he reached outside of Stolas' control.
"Let's see what has all these fuckers so antsy." He whispered to himself before entering the hospital room as the shadow disappeared.
All in the while of his curiosity, Stolas took a seat and gave a snap of his fingers to materialize some tea while Charlie and Vaggie sat separately on the patient bed as he added ambience to the room with his regal display in how he crossed his legs and sipped said tea.
Of course he still smiled even when he senses the tension between the two and saw how they looked away from one another.
"Now then, tell me about this consort of yours, Charlie."
Charlie recoiled slightly as the background of Lucifer and Carmilla muffled behind the door, wondering why the goetia prince was so curious about Noctis in the first place when he should be helping.
"Why do you want to know about Noctis?" Vaggie asked cautiously.
Stolas could understand their weariness and chuckled lightly after another sip of tea.
"Well my dears I would like to be informed what exactly it is I am getting pulled into and be prepared for the worst." He answered cooly with another sip of tea and his chin high, though the ruffling of his feathers hinted excitement.
"Plus I am very curious about this individual and his importance."
Charlie sweatdropped at his nosiness while Vaggie was already thin with patience in the matter. She didn't know why Stolas needed to know so bad as he waited eagerly to hear the story, but cooperation was key in the matter.
Frustratingly she answered as he took another long sip.
"Okay asshole, he is the reincarnated Son of the High Seraphim ."
The moment those words filtered through Stolas he went wide eyed and did a spit take on the floor before choking both on air and the remants of tea that did get down his throat. He gagged and coughed harshly while unknown to them the rambunctious Blitz was scoping out the hospital room and checking out Noctis.
"HE IS WHAT!?" Stolas shouted after finally catching his breath.
Vaggie crossed her arms and gave him a flat stare before adding, "And he is a divine beast, exclusively known as The Leviathan."
Stolas could not believe what he just heard as the two stared in waiting of his response. Blankly, wide eyed, he stared at them as the revelation had him drop his tea cup and completely shatter it.
Now he understood what the importance of Noctis was and why he was summoned. He was not just helping a man that was their consort, but a being of the highest rank and unfathomable power—both of which had him processing shakily.
"Oh lords…"
"Hey little guy." Blitz saw Max nestled in Noctis' neck and was immediately fluttering with affection at that pup sleeping tightly to his father. "Whatcha doing there?"
Of course Max was unresponsive due to being succumbed with Noctis' body heat, but it didn't stop the imp from enjoying the moment so obliviously he paid no attention to the features on Noctis or the massive hellhound in the corner shadow that was waiting impatiently.
Blitz remained as he was but finally made an effort to examine the man Stolas was brought to heal, and actually found himself surprised by the appearance whilst Blitz was now trying to mediate Charlie and Vaggie who were now arguing again when the conversation reached hostile argument in the other room.
"The fuck? The princess is dating some freaky human?"
Just as that thought crossed his mind came the familiar sense of danger he got on a job. His thoughts narrowed to one thought as Max woke up sensing something hostile and began to whimper at what was behind him, looking up to it with wide eyes and nestling harder to Noctis.
Regardless, Blitz didn't make a move to look back due his expertise as an assassin but hardened both his heart and expression while slipping a hand under his cost for the pistol he kept on his person.
Whatever it was, it loomed as a large shadow and breathed heavily with raised hackles while staring down at him like an object needing moved, breathing so heavily on his back he leaned a little from the force of it's breath.
"It's big…."
He focused his attention on the nearby mirror and saw it was indeed a massive hellhound with runes embedded in its fur, eyes as hungry as a glutton demon without food while the jagged teeth reeked with the scent of blood and the sight of flesh wedged inside.
Slowly he played the dumb visitor and picked up Max in his arms for safekeeping, acting as if just wanted to see the pup.
"You are just so fluffy." He cooed, pretending to play dumb with the most darkened expression, before whispering. "Dont worry kid."
He walked further in to the other end of the room of Noctis' bed to get some distance before spinning with his pistol pointed up and ready to put a hole in the beast.
His expression almost dropped though and the sheer size of the beast that growled as it loomed over with said runes glowing.
Nevertheless, he always had commentary to go with his now wide eyes as Max started yelping.
"THAT'S A HUGE BITCH!!!"
In that instant the tension rose to untold levels with the hellhound roaring down at Blitz with blood and saliva flying as he opened fire, alarming everyone in the hospital.
"Blitzy!?" Stolas snapped to attention with Charlie and Vaggie, and ran out of the room just in time with everyone now following the gunfire, even the rest of the hazbin gang.
"What is going on!?" Carmilla shouted as she and Lucifer closed in on the prince and girls that stopped in the hall.
They heard Blitz making a commotion between his shouts of insults, gunfire, and destruction in the room, and worried that he had caused something to happen with Noctis.
Vaggie was quick to draw out her spear while Charlie was more worried as to what was going on when hospital equipment was getting thrown out of the room and more gunfire was heard.
"BRING IT BITCH!"
Finally the entire group made the conscious effort to hastily approach when Max was heard crying, but the first step to the room was stopped by uncertainty when the imp came barreling out with Max in one arm and the other wheeling Noctis' hospital bed wildly into the hall.
"RUN MOTHERFUCKERS!"
He zoomed past everyone like a bullet, even dropping his now empty pistol as everyone saw him make haste to leave.
"Hey!" Charlie snapped and bolted after him with Vaggie as the roaring in the hospital room got louder. "Give them back!"
"Blitz what did you do!?" Stolas exclaimed after looking away from source of the trouble.
Said imp continued to run with the girls hot on his trail, running past Carmilla, Lucifer and the gang but pointing back to the now destroyed room.
"NOT ME! THAT!!!"
All eyes turned back and widened in horror of the massive creature thrashing and tearing the doorway apart to get to freedom as its claws did not just dig into the floor and walls but slice them open.
It saw Blitz again and immediately howled while Lucifer was flooded with memories of this species, and showed what nobody thought the most powerful being in hell could ever feel again.
Helpless.
"What is that!" Carmilla asked, hardening her gaze on the beast and siding with Stolas who was already erecting a barrier.
"Everyone get back!"
"The fuck is that!" Angel Dust shouted while the others gawked.
"That's a primordial hellhound!" Lucifer answered with a raised voice, though cracked with his usual cockiness nonexistent with how his heart raced.
Carmilla and Alastor shared the same wide-eye stare as the monster slashed and rammed its head against Stolas' barrier, causing shockwaves that shook the hospital.
"I need assistance!" He shouted back, sweating profusely from the struggle of his magic.
Carmilla broke out of her stupor and pulled out a small radio whilst Alastor was more inclined to fight by adding his own power to the barrier.
"All security forces to the east wing. We are under attack!"
A few minutes prior to outside of the hospital…..
"Jeez, look at all the security around the hospital." A smaller imp commented as he scoped out from the company van with his wife and not-so friendly coworker. "Millie, those guards are all employees for Carmilla Carmine."
"No kidding?" His imp wife replied in awe of seeing the premises surrounded by armed guards blocking anyone and anything from getting in after Stolas and Blitz entered.
It was obvious to the the pair that whoever was in there to have royalty and an overlord inside clearly meant of great importance. The burning need to find out ran hotter in the van while they turned their attention to their fellow employee who was still on her phone.
"Hey Loona," Millie leaned over the seat to see the uncaring hellhound scrolling through social media. "Who do you think is inside to have Stolas so fidgety earlier?"
"Fuck if I know." The hellhound responded per her usually rude tone of voice, though her curiosity was piqued ever since Stolas said it was the princess' consort.
She gazed both critically and longingly to the double doors with a curious need showing in the way her tail thumped in the seat as they waited any sign of Blitz. Normally for the hellhound this would be just another day of moping after what happened at Beezlebub's party and giving not two-shits about anyone or anything, but this craziness had her wanting to know who was so damn important that it had Carmilla Carmine, Lucifer, and now Stolas involved.
"Maybe it's a big bag demon?" Millie guessed with a raised brow.
Loona looked over her seat with a raised brow and was completely skeptical of Millie and her short thinking.
"A demon that has the king himself in the hospital?" She questioned with a stare that was flat and unamused.
Moxxie was with Loona on that and shook his head as the guards continued to stand there like statues, and shook his head.
"No, whoever is in there is clearly someone of big importance."
Loona didn't show agreement to the polite imp but was on the same page with him while she checked her social media to see it was blowing up after posting a picture of the hospital. Everyone who followed her on Voxstagram was sharing the post across the platform while her texts kept blowing up from acquaintances and what few friends she had.
Of course this swelled her attention-seeking heart as said phone rang with a familiar friend from Bee's party, and she answered with haste.
"What up Gigi?" She answered with anbetter attitude.
"Hey girl, haven't heard from you since that party with Bee. You good?"
Loona rolled her eyes and sat lazily in her seat with a huff, dreading that night last week when she went with Vortex to impress him. Embarrassing wasn't accurate to call the moment she met Beezlebub and found out they were dating, especially when it wasn't just looks but power and authority that had her outmatched.
"Yeah," she sighed hollowly and pretended to check her nails. "Just been busy with work and now we are on a job with Stolas. Some big wig that needs healing."
She listened to Gigi humming in the background with interest.
"Top dollar huh. Know who it is?"
"Don't know," Loona pinched her to her cheek and shoulder so she could kight a cigarette. "But they had Stolas nervous earlier."
"The goetia prince. Girl you in deep if you guys are doing this. Maybe the mystery demon is tasty."
Loona felt awkward at thinking about the situatiom they were in but soon accepted with the idea of getting a good payout as she checked her social media some more. She hoped for enough cash to pay rent and a new phone while hearing Gigi talk to someone in the background and both imps having more lovey-dovey moments in the back.
"Yeah I know," she sighed tiredly as a ruckus started to be heard in the hospital. "And who is that in the background?"
And just like that her mood was worsened by the persom in the background taking the phone.
"Hey bitch~"
Loona cringed at the drawl of that demoness and mentally cursed herself for asking before putting on a fake sweetness.
"Hey Bee, what's up?"
She could almost vomit in herself for sounding like that.
"Oh just setting up my next gig with girl helping out since Vortex is disappearing alot."
"Great," Loona drawled awkwardly, kicking her paws up on the dash. "Sounds like you guys—"
"Oh hey, what is this I heard about you and your friends doing some royal stuff?"
Loona rolled her eyes and quietly huffed, dreading the conversation already but too afraid to ghost a sin.
Especially when she already witnessed Beezlebub's power firsthand.
"Just guarding Stolas is all so he can heal someone. The king personally called him."
"Dang. No shit?"
"No shit." She answered flatly, hearing the enthusiasm of the gluttony demon.
"Well girl, if you catch a glimpse of this mystery demon then send a pic to my digits."
The cringe only got stronger as she threw her head forward in frustration.
"I will be sure to—"
Suddenly there were gunshots heard and a what had to have been the biggest roar she ever heard in her life. She paused and shot a suspicious glance at the front entrance with her ears perked up as shouting could heard.
"That doesn't sound good." Millie pointed out just before they all heard another roar and more gunfire that had them flinching.
"What the hell?" Loona stepped out of the van and went to run inside to find Blitz, all under the assumption that he did something stupid again.
She dropped her phone without ending the call and was about to rush in as all the guards bolted inside.
"Hey Loona, everything good?"
Blitz came running out with a figure on a bed and the princess behind him, along with her guard as they heard Stolas shouting from inside.
"GET HIM TO MY PALACE BLITZ!"
"Start the van, Loona!!!" Blitz shouted and jumped on the unconscious figure to use the bed as a skateboard down the steps. "Moxxie open the fucking side door!"
Before any of them could question or so much as process, the front doors exploded open with the same hellhound roaring down at them as Lucifer, Alastor, and Stolas worked together to hold it back with magicsl chains.
"All of you get out!" Alastor snapped in his full demon form, glaring at Angel Dust and the others as he struggled to hold the beast in a headlock.
"Go girls!" Lucifer yelled in the struggle, feeling his feet get dragged with the others. "Keep Noctis safe!"
The hellhound in question thrashed and started breaking the restraints even with Stolas using his grimoire to bind the creature to the concrete.
"Holy shit!" Moxxie screamed before thrusting the side doors open, watching Charlie and Vaggie rush down and balance Noctis as he bounced on the bed with each step of the descent.
"Loona start it now!" Blitz shouted again and removed a pair of extra pistols from his coat.
The fight was now on with the imp turning back and opening fire on the hellhound after he tossed the crying Max to Charlie.
It's claws tore through the ground with sheer determination to get to the divine beast and ignored all pain of the restraints tearing its hide. Thankfully the IMP crew was accustomed to some of this intensity and quickly snapped into action by drawing out their own weapons to join.
Sadly though their intentions were halted by Carmilla leaping out and taking her place between them and the closing-in hellhound before she opened fire with a rifle she took from a now dead guard.
"You heard him. Get my son to the palace!"
"Vaggie help me!" Charlie exclaimed while trying to lug Noctis into the van with Loona making haste to help.
"What the fuck is going on?" She barked angrily as Blitz hopped off the bed and dove through the window.
Nothing made sense at this point to the assassins as they sharpened their reflexes and wits. However, a quick glance of the unconscious man made Loona freeze her aggression and actually give a brief wag of her tail when she got in with Charlie and Vaggie.
"Woah."
"GO BLITZ!" Moxxie shouted after slamming the door.
Blitz only nodded his head after Charlie and Vaggie secured the man with their bodies since there was no seatbelts, and slammed his foot onto the pedal.
Everyone screamed at the sheer force of being thrown around in the van as they peeled out, but this was no situation to sct lightly on.
The massive hellhound broke free at the last second and threw Alastor back to Lucifer and Stolas, and swiped Carmilla away before making a leap at said van.
It swiped to rip the vehicle apart but Blitz was was already at full throttle and swerved out of the front entrance with a middle finger extended out the window, disappearing into the city distance with one thing to be said.
"EAT MY RED ASS!"
The beast only snarled before giving chase while the others tried to recover.
Fear….
Fear and unknowing to their next step, that is what Charlie felt as she helped Vaggie keep Noctis secure while the van zoomed around cars and pedestrians through the chaotic streets whilst IMP took preemptive action to keep themselves alive.
Blitz was completely focused in on the road and driving like a madman while Loona took her chance to look over the unconscious man. With what little time to breathe her instincts were both suspicious and very curious as they subconsciously moved her hand to lift his hair.
"Don't touch him!" Vaggie snapped, her eye burning with protective malice as she braced his head during a swerve.
That was a bad move on her part with Loona giving a flinch before she raised her hackles and snapped back.
"I was checking on him, bitch!"
"Well don't!"
"Hey!" Blitz shouted into the rear view mirror, snarling at the situation and catching their attention. "How about you fuckers shut the fuck up and help out!?"
What the IMP gang forgot though was Loona's phone was still on call with Beezlebub still listening at this point and finding it to be bittersweet drama.
But emotions are what she fed on and this stuff was drug inducing even over the phone.
"Blitz its coming in fast!" Millie pointed out while looking out the back window, tossing a shotgun to her panicking husband before she took aim herself.
Before anyone could react, the massive hellhound came up to the side while barreling other cars out of the way and rammed its body against the van.
"Fuck!" Blitz yelped furiously, his eyes shimmering yellow as it roared at him. "YEAH I SCREAM TO YOU FURRY FUCK"
Everyone watched from the right as it regained balance and went into a dead sprint to ram again while Loona was checking the duffle bag for a weapon of her choice.
The nervous Moxxie fidgeted with the shotgun as Charlie and Vaggie covered Noctis with their bodies.
"The fuck does this thing want?" Millie yelled angrily, taking the first shot.
"It wants Noctis!" Vaggie barked, tightening her grip.
"HANG ON!" Blitz yelled before his warning came with swerving onto the freeway ramp, using the momentum to get space while the beast howled in frustration.
He took a quick breath and locked himself on driving full speed with the motor roaring, dodging and weaving car after car while the situation grew more intense.
"Alright princess pussyfoot—" he glaree back at Charlie through the mirror. "Why the fuck is that thing after your man!?"
"No shit!" Loona commented before climbing into the front seat with a rifle ready. "What's so fucking important that we have a twelve foot tall hellhound chasing our asses!?"
Charlie was already in a panic as is and found the aggression to not help her calm down, but in this case there was nothing to use as a focus from her emotions running rampant as the massive hellhound was chasing them still but from under.
"Noctis is Sera's reincarnated son!"
Blitz almost lost control of the car while his team went wide eyed and gawked, but it wasn't over from there when the princess continued.
"He's also The Leviathan, a divine beast."
Little did they know that Beezlebub heard all of that over the phone and immediately hung up.
"Are you serious!?" Blitz snapped into the mirror before the hellhound leapt onto the highway with a new size to it, causing a shockwave that shook the freeway.
"IT GOT BIGGER!?" Moxxie squealed with dinner plate sized eyes.
"Can you go faster!?" Vaggie snapped.
"I have the pedal to the floor!"
Charlie was on the verge of a breakdown at this point and tried to drown out the IMP employees opening fire on the beast as it moved closer to the side. Her eyes were wide with fear and helplessness as she knew that no matter what they did they would be torn to shreds soon by the hellhound.
She choked out her emotions for a moment before the reality of things hit her like a tidal wave.
"Charlie calm down!" Vaggie ordered, but the princess finally lost it and sobbed on Noctis' chest while holding Max.
"We can't lose him."
"Hey, have a crisis later!" Blitz disregarded the princess and earned a horrified look from her while Vaggie looked as though she would spear his skull.
"How can I be calm, Vaggie!?" Charlie asked desperately, pouring herself out amongst the chaos in sobs. "How can I be calm when Noctis got stabbed by Michael and is fighting for his life while we are trying to keep him alive?"
"Michael—as in Archangel Michael!?" Loona asked, looking back and reloading in assumption.
Part of her hoped it wasn't who she thought.
"Yes!" Charlie and Vaggie shouted in unison.
As soon as that answer passed them, Blitz and Loona stared blankly at the highway. Neither had any idea how to process what they just heard while the massive hellhound was showing no signs of letting up even under Millie and Moxxie gunfire.
The two continued to stare for a long moment while Vaggie tried her damn best to calm Charlie down.
Until Blitz let his voice be heard.
"WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT DID WE WALK INTO!?"
"We will explain later. Just drive!" Vaggie ordered as the gunfire came to a halt.
"Blitz, it ain't hurting!" Millie yelled after tossing the gun out and shutting the side door for safety. "What do we do?"
"Oh I got something for that oversized cuck!" He grinned maliciously.
Thankfully he already had that covered and looked to his daughter that finally shook herself out of her stupor.
"Loona break out the grenade launcher!" He commanded before hitting the brakes to dodge another ram. "Burn that bitch!"
The smile that formed of her lips was unsettling but unseen before she reached under her seat and did in fact pull out what Blitz described.
"Oh now this will be fun." Loona chuckled darkly before checking the drum.
The massive hellhound quickly regained its bearings after Blitz swerved out of the way, and went to ram the van once more, until Loona poked herself out of the window and took aim.
To everyone's surprise it made some distance when the launcher was visible, but not in time with the first round exploding on its side and singing the fur in a fiery explosion.
"DIE MOTHERFUCKER!"
"THAT'S MY GIRL!"
The hellhound howled in pain and rolled off the highway, crashing onto multiple cars in the streets and causing widespread panic.
This would not stop it though.
"YOU WILL DIE LEVIATHAN!"
Everyone's expression unified into surprise as the beast recovered quickly and started running once more in the streets.
"It talks!?" Vaggie said loudly while trying to hold Charlie together.
Suddenly their thoughts were taken by the ringing of Stolas' phone as the beast waited to make its jump again. Much to Blitz's chagrin of being chased like a mouse, he picked up said phone and weaved between more cars before answering.
"WHAT, STOLAS!?"
"Where are you!?"
"On the goddamn freeway dodging this fucker!" He screamed furiously into the phone and turned into another lane at the last second. "Just passed the exit to work!"
"Excellent. Look ahead!"
The imp instantly narrowed his gaze ahead and saw Stolas using his grimoire to split the traffic and stop it while holding open a portal.
"Do you see me?"
"Yeah I see your scrawny ass!"
"Drive through the portal!"
"Its back!" Moxxie squealed, pointing his gun as the monster leapt again onto the highway and tore apart the road.
"Are you fucking serious!?" Vaggie screeched as it started throwing cars at them in its chase.
Blitz recognized the area through the portal and floored the pedal once more as Loona leaned out again and looked back to said hellhound right on their rear.
She screamed with Millie as they both started emptying their weapons into the hellhound to get the van some space and a chance to escape.
Moxxie on the other hand was just flat out terrified and dumping slug after slug.
It was a matter of speed now as everyone was depending on the imp to maneuver around the remaining traffic while his daughter went into a grenade launching frenzy.
She wasn't alone though when Millie ran out of ammo and took drastoc measures.
She kicked the rear open suddenly and tossed away her rifle, scowling with a certain hostility the crew knew.
"Okay asshole. Now you made me mad!" She snarled and pulled out her signature axe as Charlie and Vaggie scooted themselves and Noctis to the back of the middle seat.
Without warning she hurled said axe to the hellhound and watched as it reached its mark and split the left eye wide open, making her grin with pride.
"Nice shot Mills!" Blitz praised while watching the beast scream in a blood gushing fashion of agony and rage after falling over.
It was the time they needed though to get through while Stolas teleported at the last second without warning Blitz that the portal led right into the courtyard full of goetia family members.
"FUCK!"
"Watch out!" Loona screeched and reached over at the last second, jerking the wheel to herself as he slammed the brakes to hopefuly avoid running over a goetia royal.
The van swerved out of path but came to a spinning stop at the edge of an ongoing party with Millie having to help Charlie and Vaggie brace Noctis and Max from any momentum that would harm them, leaving dug in trucks of the destruction to the gardens while Stolas closed the portal at the last second.
Unfortunately the left rear fender did smack right into a table and launched a cake at a certain goetia that despised the imp crew and stolas, splattering her form in frosting and candles before she screamed bloody murder.
"Everyone okay?" Blitz asked after he caught his breath, his mind elsewhere in ignoring the certain goetia having a tantrum.
Subtle nods was given individually when he looked back— not Max of course with his crying.
"We're good." Charlie panted but collapsed against Vaggie with an audible 'bleh'.
"Thanks." The fallen angel panted heavily with a tired expression.
"You okay sweetie?" Millie asked her husband while somehow keeping her chiller attitude while he clung to her leg.
"I'm never riding with Blitz again."
Stolas made his way to the destroyed van with haste while the goetia family gathered and murmured about his actions.
Time was on his side now as he ripped the side door open with a wave of his magic and glared intently at Charlie.
"Are you all alright?"
Charlie was too emotionally and mentally drained to speak and simply answered with a thumbs up.
He looked to the others to find them mostly unharmed but annoyed at this point.
He extended his arms to Charlie and Vaggie.
"Give him to me now. I do not know how long we have before that—" Stolas froze with wide eyes and looked back to the city after hearing the massive hellhound howl in the distance.
His blood ran cold underneath the ruffling of his feathers as the entire goetia palace heard the beast in the distance and gathered closer to him in wonder of what could make such a sound.
"Oh lords….."
"Fuck. That asshole is not giving up." Blitz drawled dramatically and looked over his seat. "Mox, how much ammo we got left?"
Moxxie collected himself a little and checked the duffle bag, only to be disheartened by the emptiness except for a few loaded pistols and some snacks.
"None sir."
"I'm out as well." Loona said in frustation and threw out the grenade launcher before grabbing her phone to fine the call was recently ended. "How the fuck did bullets not work anyway?"
"Thick hide from making itself grow?" Moxxie suggested, and for once not getting shit on by his thought.
"That actually is smart, Mox." Blitz admitted, clearly surprised and impressed.
"Quickly now." Stolas ordered the girls.
Charlie did not allow anymore tears to fall at this point and helped Vaggie lug Noctis to the prince's arms while his daughter grew too curious of the commotion and shoved her own enraged mother screaming foul curses to get to him.
"Dad what is going on?"
"There's no time Octavia." He answered softly and adjusted Noctis in his arms before they all ran inside.
Unfortunately for Stolas his daughter was much more persistent in the matter and although she couldn't get answers now she would get them one way or another.
Starting with following everyone inside.
"How fucked are we?" Blitz asked in a serious tone as they entered the palace, ignoring all the family members following.
"Royally." Stolas answered, striding through corridors with the same darkened expression. "A primordial hellhound isn't just some beast. Its a magical being predating the fall of Lucifer. They are the apex of demons."
The situation was looking more grim by the second as they pondered the severity of Noctis' safety throughout their long walk through the castle. Everyone was on edge, especially Charlie and Vaggie after witnessing firsthand magic from all sources didn't stop it and gunfire only pissed it off more.
Stolas quickly used magic to open a guest room with a flick of his head, and laid Noctis gently in the bed just as the goetia family continued to murmur in follow with his wife quick to shover her way through even in her caked ridden mess.
"What the fuck is going on Stolas!!!"
Just her voice alone was enough to make everyone in the room cringe and surprisingly silence the crying Max and scrunch up his nose like Loona.
This was the last thing Stolas needed to deal with while upholding his summons from Lucifer. However, a broken marriage was still part of his life and he had to manage it theough the annoyances of today.
Albeit reluctantly.
"Not now, Stella." The goetia prince said firmly before he started his work in healing Noctis while Charlie and Vaggie held him.
"Not now!?" The enraged wife screamed before storming around the bed to find the reason.
"Kinda wish I had a bullet to eat." Blitz whispered to Loona, but she was too fixated on Noctis once his face was uncovered.
"What the is disgusting fucking human doing in my castle!?" Stella screamed even louder with the goetia family covering their ears.
"Disgusting?" Charlie questioned before going blank with her hair whipping all of a sudden, watching the two argue but focusing only on Stella for that insult.
"I don't have time to deal with right now, Stella!"
"You better have a good explanation for bringing this filth into my house!"
"This young man is not filth at all. If you would stay your tongue I could—"
Loona looked over from the argument and past Octavia standing there unamused to both Charlie and Vaggie sharing the same darkening expressions as the tension in the room became almost too much for Stolas to heal Noctis. His magic flickered and pulsed from his strained self control while Stella continued to push the matter.
"Stella I am—"
"I don't care what you are doing when you bring these fucking lowlifes into my garden party. I will have their fucking heads and have this human shit cooked alive and—"
Suddenly the goetia princess found herself silenced like the rest of the people as the room went cold and darkened.
Malice, protection, both a dangerous combination surrounding the room as everyone realized Stella had invoked the emotions of someone in the room. Even Loona felt her fur bristle at the danger radiating the bedroom while Stolas sensed the source of this dark energy.
"Charlie?" Vaggie said quietly and touched her girlfriend to make sure she was okay.
All eyes turned to the Princess of Hell standing on all fours with her horns and tail showing while a mix of red and black covered her skin. She was like an animal prowling but on top of Noctis' form as if shielding him from Stella.
Her eyes had no change except for the slight glow in them while she stared intently at Stella and growled like a jaguar out of nowhere, warning her with a whisper in her voice that echoed much like death and the posture of protecting Noctis over his unconscious form.
"If you lay a hand on our Noctis—" she paused with her teeth showing, similar to a a dog raising their hackles at danger. "I will take your soul from your body and feed on it."
The threat hung in the air with even Stolas puffing his feathers instinctively to the danger she reeked in her voice and form. The wntire goetia family watched from the doorway while IMP was given a new light to the princess they believed to be soft from hearing all the news lines they heard from Vox and his show.
Even Blitz wasn't unimpressed by this. No, rather he was surprised and a little worried that the chaos today pushed her limits and Stella had just tripped her over the edge of kindness.
"She isn't fucking around anymore."
"Get out." Charlie commanded quietly to the now shivering Stella that couldn't speak any longer.
The rage and hatred that was Stella Goetia was replaced with a rare and genuine fear for the first time as she showed submission underneath her messy form.
She turned and marched out of the room with quick shoves of the family members standing in silence and awe of Charlie dominating the situation.
"Damn." Blitz gave a low whistle as the hell princess changed back to Vaggie's relief and took Noctis by his right side. "Who knew you had balls, princess."
"Charlie, you okay?" Vaggie asked and reached out to touch her girlfriend on her shoulder, but stopped herself midway.
"I am fine." Charlie answered though a bit coldly before curling up to the man with Max between them.
"Right." Vaggie sighed and focused on Noctis again, knowing Charlie was still against her.
She looked up to the goetia prince smiling down at her, clearly impressed by her authority with Stella.
"Can you heal him?"
Stolas shut his eyes and nodded before displaying a gentle aura, reassuring her Loona exited the room to answer her phone.
"I can heal his wounds." He answered before turning his attention to a less trusting relative that came in from the crowd. "Yes Andrealphus?"
Andrealphus, the Marquis of Ice and Ruler of Cocytus, sneered at the sheer numbers of unwelcomes guests that forced their way here through the portal earlier, but eyed Noctis with calculating interest.
He slowly walked around the bed with Stolas, the IMP gang, and both girls watching carefully as he puzzled his chin.
Menacingly by default his approach had everyone uneasy while his examination of Noctis stopped with the gorgeous wings.
"An angel?" He hummed thoughtfully with a smug grin. "Why Stolas, just how low are you willing to fall?"
Stolas narrowed his gaze on the peacock demon and sensed the challenge behind that implicarion whilst his magic began its work.
"Not an angel." He answered sternly.
The arrogant demon chuckled with amusement as he tried his luck touching Noctis on his abdomen to see the damage, earning himself a dangerous glare from both girls.
"If not an angel, then what?" He leaned over the bed and added with muse. "Enlighten us with your blatant disregard of mannerisms, oh so high and mighty Prince of Goetia."
"I really don't like that guy." Millie whispered to Blitz.
"He is Princess Morningstar's consort." Stolas answered again but diverted his attention back to another howl from the hellhound earlier in the city. "And his status without her is far above nonetheless."
Andrealphus was completely piqued with interest and giddy with hunger to this mystery man, turning his attention to Charlie and Vaggie holding his sides.
He ruffled his feathers with excitement.
"Really now?" He leaned to the girls. "Well I see no mark of the Morningstar on him, nor a ring. So what makes him so special?"
Stolas was the first to bristle at those words as he worked his magic on Noctis, knowing that his brother-in-law was making a presumption to find what he could about the man.
Vaggie shook her head at Charlie in warning when they knew the rumors behind Andrealphus and the unproven crimes of his royal climb. However, Charlie was already drained of her friendly nature and boldly told Andrealphus, along with the crowding family.
And even the still caked Stella listening from the other side of the wall in the hallway.
"He is a reincarnated Seraphim Angel, his mother is Sera and he is the divine beast known as the leviathan. We are here because Michael stabbed him yesterday and now a primordial hellhound is trying to kill him."
Gasps of shock echoed around the goetia crowd before they murmured altogether, whilst Stella melted her own shock into a sinister smile beneath her beak.
Now she understood the importance of the creature in the palace, and like her brother it was all too sweet to not think of ways to turn this situation into a gaining of power and status that could make her a god with authority.
"My, my, my…." Andrealphus remained eerily calm and smiling at the man with lingering obsession now. "We are in the presence of angelic royalty."
Stolas nodded and took a breath while the revelation had some family members leaving to go spread the word to the rest of the castle.
"Yes, which is why we need to prepare for battle." He paused his magic long enough to glare at the peacock demon. "The primordial hellhound we encountered was able to break restraint from me, Lucifer, and even the overlord Alastor. Its coming for this boy and we need to be ready."
Andrealphus, to Stolas' surprise, only nodded with a sudden firmness to himself and left the room.
"I will gather our brethen."
Stolas was no fool of that compliance, his experience as a prince and around the peacock giving him a certain edge of sensory to the manipulation he countereed for years.
But time was his friend for now and he needed to use every second in healing Noctis.
"Did you hear all that?" Andrealphus asked in a whisper to his sister after leaving the room, his focus on the walk ahead as she smeared frosting off her dress.
"I did." Stella beamed to his question. "This just got more fun."
"Quite." He chuckled, his mine running various situations. "A being so powerful in our grasp would make us gods."
Back in the bedroom Stolas worked diligently and found himself grinning at his curious daughter that couldn't take her eyes of Noctis, even if she was getting looks from Charlie and Vaggie that were both friendly and possessive.
"Darling." He chirped, startling his daughter from touching his wing. "Perhaps you can help by find proper attire for our guest?"
Octavia nodded hastily and left the room but was determined to find out more later. Strangely Blitz, Millie and Moxxie were leaving as well, which caught the attention of the prince when he rather enjoyed the compamy of one.
"Blitz where are you—"
"Making a call." Blitz interrupted after snatching Moxxie's phone from him. "Gonna need some big shit to keep angel ass there safe."
"Didn't know angels could be so cute." Millie commented as she looked back at Noctis, earning a glare from her husband while Blitz smirked and added his input.
"I'd put it in his ass."
Meanwhile in another room Loona checked over her phone to see that Gigi's phone had called multiple times but came with various texts directly from Beezlebub that were more intense and desperate as she scrolled through.
She looked at each text confusedly and fed herself the urge to read each one.
Answer the fucking phone now!
Where are you?!
Bitch I will run up your friend's phone bill!
"What the fuck?" Loona said quietly beforr calling back.
She didn't get the phone to her ear before a scream of fury made her cringe and fold her ears back.
"About fucking time!"
"Bee?" Loona said concernedly.
"Who else. Now did I fucking hear that right earlier!?"
"Which part?" She scoffed, leaning back on a wall.
"The reincarnated angel part!!!"
Loona squinted her eyes distantly as she took in how angry and desperate the queen of gluttony was sounding. She realized that whatever was special about Noctis it affected the sin in a way nobody had ever heard.
"Yeah, the princess said he is the reincarnated son of Sera."
The call went dead after that, and Loona looked to her screen to find Bee had hung up.
She shrugged and stuffed her phone away before leaving to find her coworkers.
After that though came a distraught and crying Beezlebub whipping her fluid like hair from the flood of emotions that exploded from her history while her party preppers stopped building up her palace with the upcoming rave she was planning.
"He can't be back!" She snapped, throwing herself into sobs of forgtten heartbreak after dropping Gigi's phone and teleporting to her room. "I watched Lucifer bury him!"
She closed her eyes and screamed for all it was worth. There were questions, there was pain, but most importantly there was memory after memory running through her mind as each one had the sin clawing at her own head.
"HOW CAN YOU BE BACK NOW!" She yelled at herself, absolutely beside herself with justified rage and was glaring at the broken ring she had kept amberized in a small case, titled with the engraving— "The Bee of My Hive"
She refused to pay attention to it though and turned herself to the window with an overview of her district, knowing from hearing the chaos over the phone where everyone was at.
"Romna….."