animationgirl89 - Tumblr blog

animationgirl89 · 8 hours

Text

Hazbin Hotel: The Contract of Blood Ep. 18

*Hey guys, we're back with another chapter/episode! This is published on April 24, 2024. If you guys like this episode, don't be afraid to heart it, reblog, and comment! That would be appreciated. Warning: blood, gore, violence, and vulgar language. Enjoy!*

Episode Eighteen: Taking A Gamble

The sting from the whip wakes Husk up from his black-out.

Husk cries in pain, his legs wobble and his wrists are tied above his head. Breathing heavily, he sucks his breaths in through his clenched teeth. He can feel the blood dripping down his back, his wings quivering from the pain.

His vision is a blur. He is face-to-face with the dark brick wall in front of him. Before he can utter his first words, another crack of the whip strikes at his back. Husk yelps in pain, feeling blood drooling off of the corners of his lips.

Husk huffs heavily while hearing familiar voices. He turns his head to the side to find silhouettes of Angel and Valentino.

“I’m not signing this, Val!” Angel shouts at Valentino.

“A-Angel--?” Another strike from the whip interrupts his sentence. Husk cries in pain, finding more blood spilling from his mouth.

“Oh, Angel baby, are you hearing the sounds of your beloved boyfriend suffering?” Valentino asks while they both enter the dungeon. Valentino gestures to Husk, who looks battered, beaten, bruised, and bloodied all around his body. It’s a surprise that Husk is still standing, but he would’ve collapsed if his wrists weren’t tied above his head.

“Husk?” Angel mutters, tears edging out of his eyes.

Husk grunts in pain. “D-Don’t sign anything--”

Another strike from the whip digs deep into his back, causing him to cry out in pain.

He huffs in pain and looks up at his lover. “Don’t you sign anything--!”

Valentino chuckles while watching Husk getting struck by the whip twice, now striking at his front and his sides too.

“Even when he’s all beaten up, he still thinks of his little Angel,” Valentino teases Husk.

Angel glares at Valentino. “Fuck you, Val!”

Valentino grabs Angel’s chin and moves his head to look at Husk. “Look at what you’re putting your precious boy toy through.” He nods to the demons whipping Husk for them to keep going.

Once the number of strikes from the whips increase, Husk starts to scream in pain. He looks to see Angel staring at him with tears in his eyes.

“Close your eyes!” Husk screams before feeling another strike from the whip. “P-Please--! AAH! Fuckin’ assholes--!” The strikes become harsher after he curses. Husk is trying to stay awake and strong, looking at Angel. He starts to shout in between the strikes. “Close your eyes-!! Please! Angel--Ow! Angel--! ANTHONY!!”

Husk’s sentences shorten while screaming Angel’s real name. His vision worsens when the one whip strikes Husk’s eyes without aim. Luckily, Husk closes his eyes before the whip can gouge out his eye. But his eyelid is scarred where he can’t open his eyelid at all. Husk watches more of his blood spilling on the floor, bit by bit.

Meanwhile, Angel breathes heavily from hearing his real name. He watches Husk’s blood pooling on the floor under his feet, causing him to shake his head.

“Make it stop!” Angel begs Valentino. “Please, I’ll do anything for you! Just don’t hurt him!”

Valentino grins sadistically. He raises his hand to signal the demons to stop whipping Husk. Husk croaks when he tries to breathe again. He looks up to see Angel tearing up at the sight of his beaten-up appearance.

Valentino rolls out the glowing contract in front of Angel. “Sign here. And I’ll see to it that your little worthless boyfriend will be spared.”

Angel and Husk exchange worried looks for each other. Husk shakes his head for Angel to not sign anything.

“D-Don’t---” Husk croaks, his legs wobbling.

Angel bites his bottom lip. He’s given a feather to sign his name with.

“A-Anthony, don’t--” Husk utters, his body shaking.

Angel signs his name desperately. The pink chains around Angel tightened around his throat as Valentino rolls the contract back up.

“I always knew you would come through, Angel,” Valentino responds.

“Fuck,” Husk replies under his breath.

Valentino smirks and looks at the floggers. He gives a shrug before pulling Angel close to him.

The floggers begin to flog Husk, causing him to cry out loud.

Angel widens his eyes and then glares at Valentino. “You said you’ll spare him!”

“I did, didn’t I? But you didn’t read the contract, did you? Typical Angel. Signing a contract without taking the time to read it.” Valentino takes out the contract and rolls it out in front of Angel. “It says here that you’re only attached to me. You can sleep with anyone you want, but you can’t have any romantic relationships. If you have any romantic relationships, well, they’ll die.”

Angel squints at the words at the contract to find that it does say that. Then he glances up at Valentino with a deadpan stare. “Does it actually say that?”

Valentino arches a brow and looks at the contract, trying to read it. “It should say it somewhere--”

Angel manages to pull out an angelic gun from Valentino’s pocket and shoots Valentino in the stomach while Valentino is distracted trying to read the contract. Valentino doubles over and stumbles back away from Angel.

Angel shoots the floggers beating up Husk, knocking them against the wall. Angel attempts to finish off Valentino, but the gun is empty. He knows he has a small amount of time before Valentino can recover from his wounds. He cuts Husk down from the straps and helps him up.

“An-Anthony--?”

“Shh, don’t talk. C’mon,” Angel whispers to Husk. He pulls his lover out of the cell and helps him through the hallway while Valentino is slowly recovering from his wound, the blue aura healing him.

“I-I’m going to slow you down,” Husk stutters.

“I’m not going to let you get killed here,” Angel determines. He looks to find an open pipe to slide in. However, he feels the chains yank him back from the pipe. Both Husk and Angel look to find Valentino pulling at Angel’s chains by the wrist.

Angel cups Husk’s face with a soft smile.

“Anthony--”

Angel kisses Husk in the lips softly. Before Husk can melt into the kiss, Angel shoves him into the pipe. Husk falls in, trying to reach Angel for him to come with him too.

“ANTHONY!!!” Husk screams while tumbling down the pipe with the last thing he sees is Angel being grabbed harshly from behind by Valentino.

~.~

Husk rolls down the pipe, using his claws to stop him from sliding down too fast. The screeching noises alerts the demons above the pipe and the sparks nearly burn his hands. He grips the edge and looks at the lake of fire below him. Breathing heavily, he starts to climb up towards the slope. He hears cries from souls swimming in the lake of fire below him.

Husk grunts in pain, feeling his wounds from being flogged stretched and tearing open his fur and skin more. He slips and nearly falls into the burning lake until his claws dig into the dirt. He climbs up further up the slope, reaching to the cliff. Once his paw reaches to the dirt edge, he musters some of his remaining strengths and pulls himself up to the top. He lays on the ground, breathing heavily. He turns over and watches the souls trying to crawl out of the burning lake, but they keep slipping back in the fire.

Husk grunts when he stands up, however his legs wobble. His ears twitch to hear the sound of shouting voices. He doesn’t care who or what was said, he pushes himself away from the castle. He limps as fast as he can away from the voices. He enters the desert, his blood still dripping on the ground.

As he makes his journey across the desert, he looks up to find the Light barely shining up the sky. He breathes heavily in fear, trying to hurry across the desert. Visions of a black hole sucking everything out of existence invades his mind. Husk pushes through, despite his visions.

However, those visions disappear and he’s all alone in the desert again. He looks ahead to find I Am sitting at the table doing puzzles by himself. The music starts out slow as Husk stumbles over.

“What the hell is going on?” Husk questions I Am.

I Am responds with a singing voice.

“The Light is only going to get darker from here.”

“Wh-What?” Husk utters, nearly stumbling over to the table, but it disappears from his vision along with I Am. He collapses on his knees, his arms trembling.

Then I Am reappears behind him and helps him up on his feet to sing.

“We don’t have much time left in this surface.

We cannot prevent damnation in this place.”

Husk blinks in confusion. “Why are you singing?”

I Am wraps his arm gently around Husk.

“Even though you’ll do whatever it takes to protect Angel.

Your journey will end with dead bodies if you’re not careful.”

Husk breathes heavily. “I don’t have time for this!”

“Shh,” I Am shushes Husk and then sings.

“Take deep breaths and keep going.

Your path will be narrow the more you walk to the Light.”

Husk growls and starts singing unexpectedly.

“I don’t know what the fuck is going on!”

“Language,” I Am reminds Husk.

Husk ignores I Am’s scold and continues to sing.

“Please, tell me what’s going on!

Why am I suddenly singing?!

Am I really dead?

Am I in Double Hell?”

I Am sighs and sings in response.

“You die over and over again.

That’s the consequence of Hell!

I know that you want to break these chains.

But you can’t unless you go to the light.”

Husk breathes heavily and sings.

“We need to find Angel!

We have to--”

Husk feels his green chains around his neck as he’s yanked to the side until he’s face to face with Alastor.

Alastor starts to sing, holding the chains close.

“Why do you have to fight a bigger battle?

Why do you have to fight a bigger battle?

Soon, you will be dismantled.”

Husk is spun around to face the dead bodies of his friends as Alastor continues to sing.

“Why are you fighting while running out of breath?

Travel through Hell until you walk to your death?

You’ll be wandering in the wilderness until you collapse.

It’s only the matter of time before you relapse.”

Up ahead, the dead bodies disappear, and Husk sees Charlie singing up ahead.

“Dreams are the foundations of what you believe in.

But they’re never real, are they?

You seek for the happiest days of Hell, but there is none.

You think you’re ready for this path of redemption.

But in reality, there’s nothing left to save.”

Husk shakes his head. “Wait, what?”

Moxxie appears with the candelabrum lit beside him and sings to him in despair.

“Try not to divulge too much.

You’re in too deep right now.

There’s a hole in your heart

And we all can see it.

Alastor is the one who brought you here,

You might as well drown your sorrows.”

Husk winces away from Moxxie with flickering visions of him drowning in the ocean.

Fizz puts a hand on Husk’s shoulder to sing softly, snapping him out of his vision.

“Don’t waste your time and breath.

You have taken enough shit already.

Put your two-minute notice in.

Your body is fucked up.

Lay your head down and rest.”

Blitz plays the pipe organs while singing with his melodramatic voice.

“You’re a bright guy, bitch!

It’s a shame that you threw that away.”

Carmilla approaches Husk while his legs are wobbling.

“Why are you out of love?

Why are you out of love?

Your wicked soul is too far gone to be saved.”

Husk breathes heavily with tears in his eyes. He grabs his head while singing.

“What the fuck?”

Clara, Odette, and Nora appear beside Carmilla to sing with her. Husk closes his eyes to ignore his visions, but he can still hear their voices.

“Why do you always do whatever it takes?

Roll the dice without minding the stakes?

You’ll be gambling at a world’s end.

You have to quit while you’re ahead.”

Husk cries in his verse passionately, collapsing on his knees.

“No! These are just the voices in my head!

I know I’ve fucked things up back in Earth!

And I’ve already fucked up my afterlife!

All I want is just to save Angel from his cycle of abuse.

Just show me a way to save him!”

Sera appears above Husk on the judgment seat while singing croonly.

“Are you willing to do what it requires?”

Husk grits his teeth and cries out.

“I’m willing to save him!

I know that there is no hope left for me.

Just save him from the hands of his abuser.”

I Am sings passionately beside Sera in his seat higher than hers.

“You both have missed your chances when you drown in drugs and alcohol.”

Stolas sings solemnly in the background, appearing away from I Am and Sera.

“Let us in, let us help you, there’s a way out.

Look our way, look our way.”

I Am continues to sing more sadly.

“Oh, eternity is which way you lean.

You empty and break yourself.”

Husk breathes heavily, his eyelids getting heavily from the blood oozing out of his body.

Stolas continues to sing, now tears in his eyes.

“Don’t drink your fill, don’t lay your head down.

Dear Husk, we don’t want you to drown.

Please, look our way. Just look our way.”

I Am sings over Stolas with a broken-hearted tone.

“I’ve wished you both have seen me before you died.

I’m sorry that the darkness covers your eyes.”

Husk shakes his head and clenches his jaw in anger, music building up. He raises his head up and sings passionately.

“If Pentious can be redeemed, why can’t Angel be redeemed?!

If eternity is forever, then why does Emily and Pentious fall so easily?!

If Hell is forever, then Heaven is unattainable for redeemed souls!”

I Am softens his gaze at Husk.

“But through me--”

Husk sings in a hurt tone.

“I can’t save my soul.

I can’t save what I have left.

I’ve already fucked up.

I should’ve been the one who is left behind,

Because Angel’s got a chance.

So, you got a plan? Spit it out! Save him!

Let him see you like I have!”

I Am sighs and sings.

“He chose to not see me.

In order for him to see me, he must ask me to reveal myself.

Otherwise he’ll suffer.”

“Suffer?” Husk questions, glaring at I Am. He sings angrily.

“He has fucking suffered enough!

He has been fucked over and over again!

Drank his poison with no antidote!

We’re drowning in the black waters.”

I Am tears up and blurts out.

“I can be both your antidotes

You just have to put your trust in me.”

When I Am reaches his hand to comfort Husk, Husk winces back with his limbs trembling.

“Trust is a hard-earned process.

He dissociates, and I’m too far gone.

How can you cure us from our diseases

If we think you’ll take advantage of us?”

Husk suddenly sees a vision of him drowning in the ocean, tasting the waters like alcohol. He struggles against the waves as the music intensifies. There, standing on the alcoholic ocean, I Am gazes at him with tears in his many eyes.

“It hurts to see you suffer like this.

You keep swimming in the ocean of agony.

You let your senses get jaded by the alcohol.

I want to help you so much, don’t you realize?

You’re convinced you’re too far gone to be saved.

Don’t let yourself drown. Take my hand and let me pull you out.”

Husk clenches his jaw with tears streaming down on his face and sings.

“I’ll take you down with me.”

I Am shakes his invisible head, reaching his hand out.

“I’m much stronger than you think.

Just take my hand and hold onto me.”

As the music intenses more. Husk breathes heavily and reaches his hand out for I Am’s. The waves succumbs him and pull him underwater. He holds his breath, trying to swim up but he can’t find the light. He tries to look around for I Am’s hand. Small bubbles escape from his lips, alcohol slipping past into his mouth. He opens his mouth to let the alcohol fill up his lungs. He flails his limbs, trying to scream for help but it comes out in bubbles. He keeps his hand out, hoping someone will grab it. He feels a hand grabbing his, pulling him towards the surface.

He wakes up with a gasp, noticing his hand out to the dimming light. He realizes that he’s still bleeding and laying in the middle of the desert. The music softens as he sits up with a pained groan. Then he feels a hand grabbing his and pulling him up to his feet. He glances up to find Emily standing beside him in her angelic form.

“Look at where you are now.

Look at where you’re standing.

The fact that you’re alive is a miracle.

Just stay alive, Husk, and that will be enough.

You didn’t know this, but you still have a shot at this.

If you can keep your head above the waters, it’ll be enough.”

As Emily sings this, her angelic form turns into her fallen angel form. She then disappears into butterflies that is flying around Husk. Husk spins around to look at the butterflies and sees Alastor is sitting behind his desk in what appeared to be his radio station. Then he sings into his microphone, the music growing darker.

“Let’s begin,

You know they will make you wish you stayed gone.

I will wait for you to come undone.

Which of the voices will you listen to?

That’s up to you to decide.”

The music starts to build up while Alastor continues to sing further.

“In the end, it doesn’t matter what you choose.

It’s not like I can convince you.

I have one question for you, dear Husker.

Why do you desire him?

Why do you let him fill your empty husk of a man?

Like he’s the only antidote to your poison.

Is he the only antidote for your poison?!”

The ghosts from Alastor’s radio sings along with Alastor.

“Why do you care about living?

Why do you want to keep believing?

Looking to him as if he’s your only Angel!

Your only Angel, your only Angel!”

Husk stumbles away from Alastor, breathing heavily.

Ozzie appears behind Husk and sings in a solemn voice.

“In the house of Asmodeus, there’s nothing right about love.

Love and Selflessness are rare to find down here.

Crooked and broken as you always are.

Now it’s up to you to let your brokenness define you.”

Husk thinks about what is said to him during the song. The song picks up the speed when he starts singing. He makes his way through the empty desert, pushing through his pain.

“How can I make things right?

How can I make things right?

How do I choose a different path then the one I’m used to?

No, I won’t throw away my chance to fight back!”

Charlie appears beside Husk and sings anxiously, causing him to ignore her.

“How can you be so determined

When everything is going so wrong?”

Vaggie approaches her girlfriend and holds her to sing while Charlie sings her worries in the background.

“He’ll do whatever it takes! (Has he gone insane?).”

Charlie and Vaggie sing together while holding onto each other.

“Whatever it takes!

Whatever it takes!

Whatever it takes!”

Then the ensemble of his friends start to sing together.

“The worlds will have their eyes on you!”

Everyone Husk knows and loves appears in the skies and their voices start to mix with the familiar lyrics. Husk is traveling through the desert, ignoring the voices around him.

Octavia sings from the distance.

“Even when there’s nothing else left,

You will be okay. You will be okay.”

Stolas cries out from the skies.

“Let us in, let us hold you!

Look our way. Look our way.”

Blitz plays the piano harshly.

“What are you doing, bitch?”

Moxxie clenches his hand close to his chest.

“You’re in too deep now.

Will you come back to the surface?

Will you stay true?”

Angel sings with a bruised up face in the sky.

“I’m addicted to the poison, breaking me so slowly.

And there will be no more tomorrow to live for!

I might as well take it as a sign--”

Vaggie and Carmilla sings in the background.

“You’ll make your mistakes.

You’ll be the armor and the keeper.

Do whatever it takes! Whatever it takes!”

Carmilla twirls in the sky.

“Think of the one you love the most.

Fill yourself with the fear of losing him.

Be out for love! Out for love!”

Fizz sings passionately.

“Give them your two minute notice

And tell them to go fuck themselves!”

Ozzie sings along with the other voices.

“We’re forever going to have a reason to be crooked.

In my lustful lounge, we all have an escape.”

Alastor growls from his radio booth.

“You’ll wish that you stay gone.

Tune on in to your demise.”

By the time Husk reaches to the iron gate that guards the Hazbin Hotel, the voices start to sing in unison while their faces transform into red eyes staring down at Husk from the black sky of Hell.

“The worlds has their eyes on you!”

Husk shakes his head to ignore the eyes watching him and opens the iron gate, singing passionately while marching up to the hotel. The voices harmonize in the background, and many hands of his friends reach out for him.

“No, I’m not gonna to give up! (Just hold on).

No, I’m not gonna to give up! (Just hold on).

No, I won’t give up! (Just hold on, hold on, hold on!)”

The music stops for a moment before Husk sings his final line with clenched teeth.

“I’ll break these fucking chains!”

The music drops once Husk opens the doors to the hotel that has the light within it. After he opens the doors, he notices his friends and family staring at him with shocked looks.

“Holy shit! What the fuck happened to you?!” Blitz blurts out when he notices Husk’s battered, bruised appearance.

Husk blinks his only open eye in confusion and looks behind him to realize that he has been hallucinating the entire musical number. Then he turns back to his friends.

“T-The fuck?” Husk utters before collapsing on the hotel floor from the loss of his blood.

“HUSK!!!” everyone calls out for him.

Everything goes black.

~.~

Husk groans awake, fluttering his eyes open in his blurred vision. He feels something soft underneath him. He sits up slowly, his back popping.

“Ow, fuck,” Husk groans while feeling bandages around his body and stitches. Looking around, he notices that he’s in some kind of a familiar room. Wait, is he in his room? Husk looks to find the sheets covered by his blood.

He hears footsteps in his room. He turns his head abruptly to find pink eyes glowing the dark before revealing a small pig under the blue light. Husk’s scowl instantly softens at the sight of Fat Nuggets staring up at him. The memories of Angel saving him from Valentino and those floggers flood into his mind when he sees the little pig.

He clenches his teeth, tears streaming down his furry cheeks.

“He’s not coming home,” Husk says with a croaked voice.

Fat Nuggets oinks softly.

Husk wipes his tears away, growing angrier at the silence. “Did you not hear me? I said he’s not coming home.”

Fat Nuggets sits on the floor, staring up at Husk innocently.

Husk’s ears are pinned back. “Stop looking at me like that.”

Fat Nuggets oinks in response, tilting his head.

Breathing heavily, Husk starts to throw a vase next to him out of anger. Fat Nuggets scurries off into the shadows with a squeal when the vase crashes in front of him.

“I said he’s not coming home! That bastard took him away from us! He’s not coming home because of me!” Husk softens his gaze after he blurts out his last sentence. “Oh, fuck, he’s not coming home because of me.” He covers his face, sobbing into the yellow hearts on his palms. “It’s my fault. It’s all my fault.”

Fat Nuggets peeks out from his hiding spot, slowly approaching Husk. He hops onto the bed and takes his place on Husk’s lap. Husk cradles Fat Nuggets, sobbing into the pig’s back. The pig relaxes in Husk’s arms.

Unbeknownst to them, Bella peeks into the bedroom. She softens his gaze at Husk and Fat Nuggets. She carefully approaches Husk, tiptoeing around the broken pieces on the floor.

Before Husk can look up to see who’s approaching him, Bella climbs up on the bed and hugs him from the side.

“It’s not your fault,” Bella whispers to him.

Husk lets her cling onto him.

Bella tries to find more words to say to Husk. She sighs and snuggles up against his furry shoulder. “We’re going to save Angel. One way or another.”

Husk perks his head in shock at Bella’s words. Then he softly smiles and pets Fat Nuggets. “You damn right, kid.” He ruffles her head, which causes her to smile playfully.

She giggles and notices his wounds. “Oh, you need to change your bandages. Hold on, I’ll get Mama and Nora.”

“Wait, kid,” Husk utters while getting up to follow after Bella. He trails behind her, stumbling a bit and holding Fat Nuggets in his arms. Once he follows Bella downstairs, the group turns to notice him.

“Husk!” Charlie exclaims happily before rushing towards him and hugging him. She accidentally squeezes him while he’s injured.

“Ow!”

“Sorry,” Charlie apologizes, letting go immediately.

Vaggie approaches beside her girlfriend. “Glad to have you back. Take a seat, we’ll change your bandages.”

She sits Husk down on the couch in the lounge, with Nora giving Vaggie the med-kit while Bella unwraps the bandages.

“Be careful, hija,” Vaggie cautions her daughter.

Bella carefully unwraps all the bandages, revealing stitches underneath them.

Husk chuckles. “I never realized how fucked up I looked.”

“Well, that’s to be expected when you crawled out of Morrigan and Orais’ castle of all places,” Blitz points out.

“We’re glad you made it out in one piece,” Stolas says with a warm smile.

“I can’t say the same for Angel. I don’t know what the fuck they’re going to do to him,” Husk says solemnly.

“Fuck him up, that’s for sure,” Lilith responds.

“Yeah, Val is already pulling Angel around like a dog on a leash,” Mox blurts out.

Everyone widens their eyes and turns to Mox.

“When the fuck did you see it?” Blitz questions Mox.

“While I was on patrol last night, sir,” Mox responds quickly.

“How long was I out?” Husk asks with a brow raised, not noticing Vaggie wrapping up his wounds with clean bandages.

“A few days, give or take,” Alastor answers with a shit-eating grin.

“Do you know where he takes Angel, hun?” Millie asks her husband.

Mox clenches his teeth. “So, I did follow Valentino and Angel, and it turns out that Valentino is taking Angel to the casino.”

“The casino?” Husk utters. An idea slowly forms into his head.

“I didn’t follow them inside, but I can assume Val is just gambling away his riches and Angel sucking his dick under his control,” Mox says with a low growl.

“Poor thing,” Stolas adds.

“And you didn’t shoot him because--?” Vaggie questions.

“I would’ve gotten Angel if I shot at Val,” Moxxie responds. “Besides, it’s too damn dark to even see while he’s out of the buildings.”

Husk looks at Alastor, narrowing his focus up at the Radio Demon. He stands up from the couch once Vaggie is done putting on fresh bandages on him. He gives Fat Nuggets to Bella when he stands up from the couch.

The others look to find Husk walking up to Alastor.

“We need to talk privately,” Husk says with determination.

Alastor tilts his head creepily. “Of course, Husker.”

Both of the men step off to the shadows, but the others perk their ears to overhear the conversation.

“What’s on your mind?” Alastor asks sinisterly.

“I need to gamble again.”

Alastor blinks in shock. “You’re asking me for your overlord powers back?”

With a gulp, Husk nods.

Alastor huffs up a laugh. “Ah, I do love your sense of humor.”

“It’s not a joke.”

Alastor’s eyes lit up.

“The world’s going to end anyways. Might as well spend it gambling something away since I ain’t losing anything.”

Alastor blinks in confusion. “I’m confused. Why would you want to gamble? Does it have something to do with Valentino?”

Husk doesn’t respond, which gives Alastor all the answers he needs.

“Oh, I see. You want to gamble back your sweet sweet Angel, don’t you?”

Husk is silent for a moment and sighs. “I have a proposition.”

“Another deal, Husker? You’ve already bet on your soul--”

“Look, if I lose in the game of poker, you get to turn me into one of your shadows or put my soul into your radio broadcast,” Husk says.

“Husk--” Charlie calls, but Husk raises his hand to stop her from speaking.

Alastor tilts his head. “And if you...somehow win this game and gain something...like a soul--”

“If I win and gain a soul, you will let me go and I will no longer be in debt to you,” Husk replies. “I will have my soul back if I win and gain one soul.”

“And if you lose, I get to broadcast your screams on the radio,” Alastor repeats the deal.

Husk nods his head.

“Husk, this is suicide!” Vaggie shouts for Husk.

“What are you doing, man?” Fizz whispers to himself.

Husk extends his hand. “Do we have a deal?”

Alastor takes a minute to ponder, smiling wider with sadistic intention. “Deal.”

Both Husk and Alastor shake hands, their hands glowing green. Everything shakes around them while screams echo through the halls. Alastor’s mouth is no longer stitched since Lilith has set him free.

Lilith widens her eyes in fear.

“What the fuck?” Blitz gasps and looks up at Stolas.

Stolas’ red eyes trembles at the sight, shielding his daughter, Octavia.

Nifty watches in fascination while Carmilla shields her two daughters.

Charlie clenches her teeth with Vaggie clinging onto her arm and Bella clinging to her leg.

Nora widens her eyes in shock, almost dropping her jaw.

Husk notices his body acting strangely until he recognizes what’s coming back to him. He sees the gold aura seeping under his skin while he watches a suit he once had as an overlord coated around him. Husk straightens himself up and glances at Alastor.

Alastor grins sadistically. “Look at you. All proper for once. Never gamble unless you’re fully dressed, I always say.”

Husk narrows his brows in determination. “Thanks.”

Before Husk walks away, he feels a tug from Alastor’s hand.

“Remember our deal, Husker,” Alastor says, more as a threat than a warning.

Husk nods and walks forward.

“Husk,” Vaggie calls for her friend, but he marches out of the door of the hotel. He notices how dark everything is becoming.

Mox looks at his watch. “It’s night.”

Husk takes a deep breath and looks at Mox. “Thanks.”

With that said, he walks away.

Everyone watches him exit through the iron gates from the doorway.

“Oh no, he’s not going alone,” Vaggie determines before following after him.

“Can I come, Mama?” Bella asks her adopted mom.

“Hell yeah, kid,” Blitz says before lifting her up on his shoulder. “We can both go together for support.”

“I’ll come too,” Alastor volunteers.

“But--”

“I just made a deal with Husker. Do you really think I wouldn’t watch him play his little game to see whether he’ll lose or win?” Alastor interrupts Blitz with a cocky tone. He walks off to follow after Husk.

Vaggie sighs and looks at the others.

“I’ll keep everyone company,” Charlie reassures her girlfriend.

“We need to form a plan,” Lilith says while ushering the rest to the blueprints.

“We’ll be back. I promise,” Vaggie whispers to Charlie before pecking her lips.

“I love you,” Charlie says.

“I love you too,” Vaggie responds, their foreheads touching.

“You comin’, mama, or what?!” Blitz replies with a smirk at Vaggie. He holds Bella onto his shoulder.

Vaggie rolls her eyes at Blitz and walks past him and Bella. “Only Bella gets to call me that.”

“How about Mamacita?” Blitz teases.

“Don’t make me punch you,” Vaggie groans at Blitz.

Blitz glances back to find Stolas and puts Bella down. He climbs up on Stolas, grabbing his face. “In case I never come back from this, I just want you to know that I fucking love you.”

Stolas chuckles. “Oh, Blitzy, I know you’ll come back.” He leans over to Blitz’s ear. “I’m counting on it.” With the nip on Blitz’s ear, Stolas leans away and kisses his lover’s lips. They start to make-out slightly with small moans until Blitz and Stolas break away.

“Okay, okay, I better let go before I get tempted to fuck you now,” Blitz says with a teasing grin.

“Maybe you’ll get to fuck me later,” Stolas whispers to his lover’s ear, rubbing his finger against Blitz’s hardened crotch pressed against his pants, which is clearly shown to only Stolas.

Blitz hops down from Stolas, blushing madly. “Hehehe, I shall be back, your Highness.”

Stolas smiles and watches his love take off with a pink hue on his face.

Blitz immediately lifts Bella up on his shoulder before she can notice his hard-on pressed against his jeans.

“Ready to kill some fucks, Bella?” Blitz says with a pep in his step.

“Yeah!” Bella chirps.

“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!” Blitz responds while catching up with Vaggie and Alastor.

~.~

Husk walks through the destroyed town to find Valentino taking Angel inside along with his film crew. With a glare, Husk dusts off his new suit and takes a deep breath. Flicking his wrists to straighten his sleeves, Husk strides into the casino with a newfound confidence, unaware of Alastor, Vaggie, Blitz, and Bella following closely behind him.

“Husk!” Vaggie shouts for him, but Husk is already inside of the casino.

“Well, fuck,” Blitz says. “There’s no use in stopping him.”

“He’s already made a deal. I have to see how this will all come down,” Alastor says with a sinister grin.

Before Alastor goes into the building, he’s tackled against the wall by Vox.

“WHAT THE FUCK?!” Blitz quacks.

“I got you now, fucker!” Vox barks aggressively.

“Oh great,” Alastor says with a groan.

“Hold on, Al!” Vaggie shouts while taking out her spear.

“Vaggie!”

Blitz, Bella, and Vaggie turn their heads to find Charlie approaching them from the side.

“Babe, what are you doing here? I told you that I’m going to be back,” Vaggie replies.

“I know, but I’m worried about you. I don’t want you to get hurt and alone,” Charlie utters worriedly.

“Honey, what’s wrong with you? You know I can handle myself,” Vaggie responds harshly.

Blitz squints at the princess for a moment in suspicion. He looks down to find a lava lamp waist under Charlie’s usual red suit.

“Wait, that’s not her!” Blitz shouts before shoving Vaggie out of the way and getting out his pistol to shoot at Charlie’s stomach.

Charlie cries in pain before shape-shifting to reveal it to be Velvette.

Velvette snarls at Blitz. “You little imp sure like to fuck things up.”

“Yeah, that’s in my job description,” Blitz says before putting Bella down and standing in front of the ladies with the pistol out, ready to fight Velvette.

~.~

Husk searches through the crowd to find Valentino winning a round of poker from a patron, taking all of his money with Angel sitting pretty in his red sparkling dress. A small smirk appears on his face before squeezing through the crowd to get to the table where Valentino and Angel are. Once the patron leaves, Husk takes his seat without fear.

Valentino and Angel notice Husk across from them. Angel smiles brightly, tears streaming down his eyes to find that his boyfriend survived. Valentino growls at Husk.

“You got a lot nerve to show up here. And here I thought Angie pushed you into the lake of fire just to save you from me,” Valentino snarls.

Angel clenches his teeth and mouths, “I’m sorry.”

Husk notices Angel’s words and takes his cards out, shuffling them. “He knows me well enough to know that I’ll crawl right out of that hellhole. Besides, I’m not here to fight. I’m here to gamble. Wanna join me in a game of poker?”

Valentino tilts his head up, a brow arching up. “What’s your game?”

“I’m just a poor soul who knows that the world is ending soon. Might as well gamble the last of my assets. Or what’s left of my soul and powers.”

Angel watches with anticipation, his heart racing.

When Husk takes a side glance at his lover, he sees bruises around Angel’s throat. He can feel his anger rising, but he takes a deep breath. He has to be calm in front of Valentino. He glances up at the moth.

“So, do you want to play a game with a poor old sinner, who’s got nothing left to lose?” Husk asks, holding out his hand for Valentino to shake.

Valentino leans forward. “What are you betting?”

“My soul. My freedom. All of it. What about you? Got something or someone to bet?” Husk questions.

Valentino corners a small smile and shakes his hand. “I got fifty million dollars if money is all you desire.”

“Bet anything and I’ll take it if I win,” Husk responds. “If I lose, you’ll have my soul.”

Angel widens his eyes in fear for Husk.

Valentino smirks at the feline. “That means I’ll have another slut.”

Husk cringes internally for a moment until he relents with a sigh. “I’ll be whatever you want me to be...daddy.”

Angel’s face grows bright red, going hard.

Valentino’s sick smile widens. “Alright. We’ll play a round. Don’t be surprised if I kick your ass.”

Husk smirks. “Don’t worry, I don’t get surprised easily.”

~.~

Vox slams Alastor against the wall, despite Alastor using his tentacles to get Vox away from him.

“You’re going to die, motherfucker!” Vox barks aggressively. “And I’ll get it all on film!”

Vox’s screen reveals Alastor’s scared expression on the television. However, an idea comes into Alastor’s brain, a growing smirk plastering his face.

“You’ve been filming me? Gross,” Alastor reacts while glancing away from Vox.

Vox glitches, his own face back on the screen. “What?”

“Oh, come off of it now, Vox. I know what your game is. You have a crush on me,” Alastor says, looking into Vox’s eyes.

Vox blushes, starting to overheat. “What?! No, I don’t!”

“Hm, yeah you do. I bet you have a body pillow with my exact image,” Alastor says with a flirty grin.

Vox blushes more, smoke coming out from the back of his head. “Fuck you!”

“I mean, if you want to fuck me so bad, you could’ve just ask,” Alastor responds, leaning forward. Though he starts to sweat profusely in the hopes Vox will say no.

Vox starts to blush and overheats, catching fire on his wires. “W̵̨̞̿͘ḧ̶͖́̅a̵̹̣̔̈��t̵̙̠̒ ̸̳̱̈̍t̸̼́̾h̶̬̃̀ẻ̸͙͉͝ ̵̢͊f̵͕̠̓ŭ̶̙c̶̺̍̾͜k̴͕͊̌ ̶̳̈́̇ì̸͔̰̏s̴͎̐ ̸͉̩̿̚w̷̜͆̕r̴̯̬̔ơ̸͊ͅn̴̝̮̈̔g̷̯̘̍ ̴̹̻͗̔ẅ̵͇͌i̴̬̒͜t̸͈̫̓h̸̹̗͐͂ ̴̗̅̀y̷͉̬̔̿ò̸̖͑ȕ̸̹̘̂?̶̳͉̍!̶̛͉̞̕”

Vox’s head explodes from the heat, his headless body falling down in front of Alastor.

Alastor smirks, the red and orange powers of pride and wrath flowing inside of him now. “I’m afraid you’ve lost your signal...again.” He looks to see Vaggie and Blitz fighting Velvette while Bella is watching in fear. He straightens his red suit and sighs, walking into the casino to spy on Husk and leaving his three friends to fend for themselves.

Meanwhile, Blitz shoots at Velvette before she shapeshifts into his mother. Blitz freezes up when he sees his mother.

“Remember what you did to me, Blitzy?” his mother growls demonically.

Vaggie slashes her with her spear. “Fuck off, bitch!”

Velvette grows bigger, pinning both Vaggie and Blitz onto the ground. “I’m going to make sure you all die a horrible death.”

“Uh, yeah! The world’s gonna fuckin’ end and you won’t be a trend!” Blitz shouts at Velvette.

Bella notices a phone on the ground and picks it up to realize that it belongs to Velvette. She’s able to get into her phone easily as she holds it up to film Velvette.

“You won’t get viewers and you won’t be trending anymore because you’ll be dead,” Vaggie adds with a grunt. “Is that what you want?”

“What I want is for those damn overlords and everyone in all the realms to respect me! I do as I damn well please! I got the powers of envy, gluttony, and greed! I don’t fucking give a shit if somebody dies,” Velvette growls, her words caught on video.

“There will be nobody left to give you respect, ya stupid bitch!” Blitz shouts at Velvette.

Velvette looks up to notice Bella holding up the phone to record Velvette.

Velvette starts to crawl her creepily. “What do you think you’re doing with that phone?”

Bella looks to find that Velvette losing her viewers.

Blitz doesn’t hesitate to get up from the ground and slides in between Bella and Velvette. Velvette shape-shifts into his mother again with a crooked smile.

“Are you really going to shoot me, Blitzy--?”

Blitz pulls the trigger of his pistol, creating a hole on her forehead.

Velvette shape-shifts back to herself, she looks at her blood dripping down and then back at Blitz. “You mother--”

She collapses on the floor, dead.

Blitz lowers the gun with a glare. “Can’t fool me three times with the same old shit.”

Before Blitz can check on Bella and Vaggie, he sees powers of envy, greed, and gluttony flow into him, changing his body with a lava lamp waist.

“Damn!” Blitz cries in pain.

Vaggie runs to him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, never better,” he whimpers.

“What happened?” Bella asks.

“I--I must have absorbed her powers after I killed her.”

Vaggie looks to see Vox’s dead body, but Alastor is nowhere in sight. “Wait, where’s Al?”

~.~

Husk takes a win for a first round, not aware of Alastor watching him. However, his fur stands on its end as if he senses the Radio Demon’s presence.

“Must be a lucky round,” Husk says, taking fifty million dollars from Valentino.

Valentino growls. “You must be cheating!”

“Hey, I’m an honest man when it comes to gambling,” Husk says, his voice husky.

Angel tries not to get turned on by Husk’s look and voice. Husk subtly glances at Angel, smirking at him.

“How about this then?” Valentino growls, gesturing towards his film crew behind him. “If I win the next round, your soul is mine and you will be my little slut! If you win, you’ll get to have the film crew and the studio.”

Husk shuffles the cards and smirks. “That sounds like a deal.”

Angel tries not to blush madly while Valentino plays with his cards.

Alastor watches the game, smiling sadistically at both Husk and Valentino. He doesn’t care when Vaggie, Blitz, and Bella enter the building.

“You know, we could’ve used your help with dealing with Velvette,” Blitz says with a deadpan tone.

“Shush, we can’t let them know we’re watching them,” Alastor shushes Blitz. The three of them glance to see Husk playing poker with Valentino. It appears he’s losing by Husk’s face.

“Oh, Husk,” Vaggie mutters to herself.

Valentino puts down his cards with a sly smile when he sees Husk not reacting behind his cards. “Full house.”

Husk sighs and puts his cards down. “That’s a damn near shame.” He spreads his cards out to be four aces and a king, now cornering a smug grin. “‘Cause I just got four of a kind.”

Valentino clenches his jaw angrily. “You motherfucker!” Valentino’s film crew hurries over by Husk’s side, in fear of Valentino’s rage.

“Now, now, you wouldn’t want to lose your head just yet. It’s only the beginning of the game,” Husk says, leaning back against his seat. “Maybe you’ll have better luck next round.”

Valentino huffs and snarls, “You know what, smartass. I’ll bet on my powers of lust and sloth and my clothes that I’ll beat your ass!”

Husk corners an amusing grin as he shuffles the cards again. “Game on.”

Valentino and Husk plays another round of poker with Angel, Alastor, Vaggie, Bella, and Blitz watching them.

“Beat his ass, Husk,” Blitz whispers to himself.

Husk shifts his attention to the side to find his friends watching them. Alastor grins sinisterly while Vaggie stares at him in concern. Blitz clenches his fists and nods, as if he’s encouraging him to beat Valentino. Bella gives him a hopeful smile and nods at him to encourage him to win for Angel.

Husk shares a small smile at Bella and nods back at her, almost like he’s telling her he will. He turns back to Valentino, playing a round with Valentino.

Angel watches intensely as the round ends with Valentino puting down his cards that shows he has a four of a kind this time. However, Husk puts down cards that shows straight flush. Once Husk wins this round, the powers of lust and sloth transfers over to him. Valentino also losts his clothes, which is put on Husk.

Valentino starts to get pissed off.

“You know, I thought I’d be a bit rusty at this, but I guess I still have my talents,” Husk says with a taunting smirk.

Valentino growls and yanks Angel up on his feet, throwing him against the poker table. “I’ll bet his soul! If I win, I get everything back! If you win, you can have him!”

Husk growls at how Valentino throws Angel on the table like he’s nothing. Then he calms himself and keeps himself composed for a moment. Letting out a sigh, he nods.

“Game on,” Husk says without hesitation.

The game is on as the others watch intently at the round. Angel looks at Husk anxiously, his heart beating in his chest.

Husk and Valentino plays the final round, careful of their moves. Once the round ends, Valentino places his cards in front of him, showing both Husk and him straight flush.

Husk doesn’t seem phase by the cards once he looks back into his. He slams the cards down with a glare at Valentino.

“Royal Flush, fucker,” Husk growls.

Angel corners a relieved smile while the others try to quiet their cheers except for Alastor.

Valentino snarls, “You know what, fuck you! C’mon, Angel baby--”

Angel winces back from Valentino. When Valentino attempts to get Angel to come along with him by making the chains appear, the pink chains turn into gold around Angel’s waist.

Husk gently pulls Angel to his side. “He’s mine now.”

Valentino growls. “You son of a--!”

A bullet crashing into Valentino’s shoulder causes the naked moth overlord to fall to the side. He is on the floor while looking up to find Blitz carrying a pistol.

“Finally! We get to kill this motherfucker!” Blitz shouts with a bright smile.

Vaggie stops Blitz before he kills Valentino. “Hold on. I gotta do something real quick.”

“Wait, what? Why?!” Blitz questions Vaggie.

Vaggie pulls out her phone and dials a familiar number.

“Hello?” a familiar voice utters.

“Hey, babe. Bring out the Angel Protection Squad,” Vaggie replies.

A gasp from Charlie can be heard from the phone. “Is it time?”

“Fuck yeah.”

“EEEEEEEE!!!” The phone hangs up.

Husk arches a brow. “Angel Protection Squad?”

“Give it a moment,” Vaggie says with a proud smile.

A portal opens beside Valentino with Charlie exiting out of it first with an angry glare at Valentino, her horns appearing on her head and her eyes turning red with white pupils. Fizz, Cherri, Sir Pentious, Nifty, Emily, and Nora follow behind her with glares at Valentino. The portal closes after the squad came out.

“It’s about time I beat your ass!” Cherri snarls.

“Attack!” Sir Pentious declares as the group kicks on Valentino harshly around his naked body.

Blitz smiles maniacally. “This is so much better!” He joins and starts to kick on Valentino without hesitation. Vaggie and Bella soon join them while kicking Valentino.

Husk and Angel watch with shocked look on their faces while Alastor sips on his tea.

“Ah, this is entertaining,” Alastor says.

“Angel Protection Squad?” Angel questions.

“Oh, that’s a silly thing Charlie came up with while you and Husk are captured,” Alastor explains.

“That makes sense,” Angel responds.

“Take that, you pussssy!” Sir Pentious barks while whipping his tail at Val’s legs.

“I’ve been wanting to do this to you for a while now!” Charlie growls.

Emily kicks Val in the eye. “I’m gonna stick it to you, you nasty old fuck!”

Cherri smiles at Emily proudly. “Hey, you’re getting the hang of the curse words.”

“Oh, I wish Ozzie is here to beat the shit out of you!” Fizz yells at Valentino while picking up an unused wooden chair and smacking it on top of Valentino’s naked body, breaking the chair in half.

“Nasty ass bitch!” Nora yells while beating Val with the sharp edge of her axe.

Husk kisses Angel on the lips. “Be right back, babe.” He joins the group to kick Valentino in the face. “This is what you get for using me to fuck Angel up more, you bastard!”

“YEAH!” the group shouts in unison.

“Now, I get to punish the bad boy!” Nifty says and takes out her rusty knives. She starts stabbing Valentino’s torso while laughing like a maniac. Valentino screams in pain, but the group doesn’t care to hear his cries of pain.

Blood spurts everywhere.

Angel tries to pinch himself awake as if he’s in a dream. “Is this really happening right now?”

“Yes, it is,” Alastor replies with a snicker.

The group backs away, watching Valentino battered and bruised, stab wounds and cuts all around his body.

“Huh, karma is a bitch, ain’t it?” Blitz replies while pointing his rifle at Valentino to give him the final blow until he feels a tap on his hip. He looks to find Bella taking out her hammer.

“C-Can I give him the final blow?” Bella asks nervously.

“Sure, kiddo! Have at him!” Blitz says.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea--”

“Shh,” Blitz shushes Charlie.

Bella steps closer to Valentino, growing a bit larger and extending extra limbs to hold her hammer. Her eyes glows yellow, four of her small eyes under each of her two larger eyes glow.

“This is for Angel, you fucking bitch,” Bella growls demonically, smashing Val’s head in. The blood splurts on Blitz, Vaggie, and Charlie.

Nora’s face turns beet red while trying to fan herself from sweating so much.

Bella turns to her group innocently, no longer in her demonic form. “How did I do?”

Vaggie and Charlie are silent from shock of their daughter’s demonic form.

Blitz licks the blood on him. “Hmm, you know, having moth for dinner isn’t a bad idea.”

“I know some cannibals that would love to eat him,” Alastor says with a sadistic grin.

“Let’s take in our fresh course meal!” Fizz determines, picking dead Valentino up over his head with the help from Sir Pentious and Cherri.

“Fuck yeah!” Cherri shouts in agreement.

Emily cringes a bit. “I’m not sure if moth meat will be good.”

“Eh, don’t worry about it. It tassstes like chicken,” Sir Pentious responds.

The group walks out of the casino with the naked dead Valentino.

Before Husk and Angel follow the group, Alastor steps in front of them.

“As per our agreement,” Alastor says, ripping the chains off of Husk.

Husk gains his own soul back with a gasp.

“Now, you’re free and no longer in debt to me. Unless you want to go for another round--”

“No. Never again,” Husk says.

“Aw, you’re no fun,” Alastor responds with a sigh, walking away.

Angel leans against Husk. “So, what’s sugar daddy gonna do to me, hm?”

Husk arches a brow at his lover. “Let me see your contract.” He manages to pull the contract out of his lover’s chains, putting on his square reading glasses from his suit pocket and skimming through it.

“Have I told you look hotter wearing those glasses?” Angel flirts.

Husk glances at him. “No, you never did.” With that said, he rips the contract into pieces.

Angel widens his eyes shock, watching the shackles crumble.

Husk smiles softly. “We’re free now, baby.”

Alastor turns his head sharply. “Wait, what?! This isn’t what we agreed on!”

Husk looks at Alastor. “I did win and gain a soul. I never said how long I was going to keep that soul.”

Alastor narrows his eyes at Husk. “You sly trickster.”

Husk smirks and holds Angel’s hand. “Besides, I got what I really want.”

“What does that mean for us?”

Husk and Angel turns to the film crew. They share looks at each other and then shrug.

“Do whatever you want,” Husk says. “Spend the fifty million dollars. I don’t give a fuck.”

The film crew look at each other in shock at the fifty million dollars in front of them. Husk and Angel link arms and walk out of the hotel with Alastor grimacing at them.

Once they step out of the casino, they see the light getting darker to the point where they can barely see anything in front of them.

“Oh shit,” Charlie utters.

“We don’t have much time,” Fizz says.

Vaggie glances at her group with determination. “I have a plan, but it’s going to be risky.”

“Whatever you got planned, we’ll do it,” Blitz responds to Vaggie.

Vaggie nods. “I’ll tell you at the hotel.”

The portal opens in front of them as the group walk through with dead Valentino in their grasps to be eaten later.

To Be Continued...

6 notes · View notes