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Working hard on their dreams or glorious revenge is all good, but with the big spectacle completed, they all should rest for a while, so Alastor sternly ordered everyone to take some proper time off.
With that, he is right now watching an animated Lucifer who talks to Zestial. Under the deal of secrecy he did with the Radio Demon, the old overlord is presently with them in the Great Market. His lovely duck in his excitement decided to carefully explain to him everything about this unique place.
Zestial was an excellent listener; he praised Alastor’s work and the magic he put into it, he respectfully asked many questions about magic and sigils, and most importantly, he observed the demons around him. No one could blame him, seeing satisfied demons with a peaceful life in a place that looks like a fairy tale town from Earth? No wonder he was questioning everything.
Alastor invited him to this lovely tea, because besides himself, he seems to be the only overlord who realizes that happy souls mean loyal souls, which means a lot of power for a long time. Therefore, when they finally got to one of Lucifer’s favourite teahouses in the Great Market, run by a nice bat-demon named Ruri, the old overlord feels free to ask the questions he finds most important.
“So,” with gentle hand around a delicately painted porcelain cup with hot tea, Zestial looks at his companions, “why are you revealing this to me?”
Alastor smiles, watching as Lucifer sneaks more sugar into his fragrant tea.
“Old friend, I think your souls deserve a similar place in your own territory, don’t you agree?”
The black spider demon is genuinely surprised, so Alastor continues.
“Yes, right now it is safe from Heaven, but every day more and more dangerous people fall to Hell. One more maniac like Vox and another part of Pentagram City will be gone,” correctly pointed out the deer demon correctly.
Zestial nods in mutual agreement and looks at the King of Hell, who almost vibrates from his chair. Whether it was because of all that sugar or because he was looking forward to a new project is to be decided.
“Yes!” happily started Lucifer, “I will carefully help you create a place like this. Alastor shared with me how he made it. I have so many ideas. To be sure, we will do it aesthetically how you like it!”
“Thank you,” the black spider gives Alastor a keen smile and then turns his broad attention to his little duck.
“Well then, since you genuinely thought about it already, what biome should be created? Alastor has this lakeside ecosystem, but I would prefer something with less water,” politely informed him Zestial with a pondering face.
Lucifer’s eager eyes instantly turned into glittering stars.
…
Angel Dust undoubtedly feels like a housewife. Right now, he’s walking around this amazing secret Market, picking up local vegetables for today’s dinner, spreading gossip with lovely ladies living their best lives here.
While the owner of the pastry shop told him in specific detail how they now make duck-shaped sweets for Lucifer, the spider demon was recalling how Husk brought him delicious cake from this place for him. That time, the old grumpy cat respectfully asked him to date him and to go live with him.
Oooh, Husky was so serious that time and Angel did jump into his lap when he realized the real meaning of those questions. He was still feeling like he is in heaven. Well, this place helped.
Saying his goodbyes to the pastry owner, Angel Dust checked his bags and decided to go home. Proper home, here in Hell. It still feels unreal and he wants to giggle. Now they live together in Husk’s charming house, which is similar to Alastor’s in the sense that it has its own elevator tree. The upper part is connected to his biggest casino and the lower part has secret rooms.
Husk is a well-known associate of Alastor; he must have his own house up in the Dead Air District. And he has to check on casinos in the territory. Those casinos… the pink spider still feels embarrassed. He somehow didn’t realize how rich Husk is. All that cheap booze, moody personality, being owned by Alastor… All that provided in his eyes a different picture, but the successful casinos, ooooh boy, his black cat is filthy rich!
But since he is a gambler, he would have lost almost everything if not for the Radio Demon. Husky is not allowed to gamble like crazy anymore, so he was capable to get back on his feet. That is why the cat demon will not allow his deal to break. Yes, Alastor is a crazy maniac, but it’s worth it.
Angel Dust himself is not allowed to do drugs now that the Radio Demon owns him as well. And oooh, it helps. He would fall back into it with stress, but that dark magic with a greenish glow restrains him anytime he fails. It’s scary and a little painful, but it gives him a kick in the proper direction.
Consequently, with no drugs and a lovely boyfriend, he has a lot of free time and spends it in the theatre!
An amazing historic one, with all those fancy golden balconies, seats high and low, and all red drapes and carpets. After all, Alastor pointed out that he is an actor, so he could accept some unfamiliar roles this time. And he did! Right now, they are preparing the musical Mamma Mia!
The pink spider was surprised something like that would be heard in the Radio Demon’s domain, but other actors just waved their hands at him – drama queen much? Despite everything, Alastor never pushes his likes and dislikes on others. Their old-fashioned overlord may never come to see it, but he will praise their efforts, sales, and talent.
Putting all the groceries on the table in their kitchen, Angel Dust wonders how a cannibalistic overlord can be a more outstanding leader than many who are more educated. So many weaker and less scary people could be imagined in that position, but in the end, they are all worse than him.
Hm, the Radio Demon will always be a surprise, one way or another. He should now prepare some pasta for his grumpy, beloved cat-lord.
…
Niffty was professionally cleaning his desk in the Connection Centre – his own building in the Great Market. It was probably the most modern one, but still, only on the inside. From the outside, it fits the outside décor and biome of this unique place.
This building was predominantly just the Centre – inseparably connected to the Radio Tower spreading a signal to Hell, Heaven, and Earth. Alastor now can choose where he wishes to broadcast and Baxter knows he launched a few regular shows to Earth with a few sparse to Heaven.
Now that his table is polished, Niffty ran to their private apartment, going to prepare delicious lunch for the two of them. She asked him to live together and that is the sole reason that the deer demon didn’t turn him into sushi. They moved out after the building was completed. The small demoness is happy so Baxter MAY stay happy and healthy as well.
He isn’t complaining. The anglerfish sinner demon may be less romantic than the rest of their family group, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t experience those emotions. His dear Niffty also shows her likes and dislikes in very uncommon ways, and for them, it’s okay.
The mad scientist thinks his life right now is perfect – lovely girlfriend, home, guaranteed safety, a ton to study, and talk with other great minds at the Academy.
Baxter looks over at the monitors, indicating a connection to Heaven – steady, no problems, still secret. Hm, his academic research on redemption here is way more fruitful than at the hotel. Charlie had a excellent idea, but no results of her doing, desperate people simply had too miserable lives there. The Princess forced them too much in areas she shouldn’t and didn’t push them enough where they needed help.
Alastor has no problem with that. Whatever harms you is banned. If you desperately need a wake-up call, you’ll get one that you will NEVER EVER forget. Seems cruel, but better than rainbow promises.
The anglerfish demon looks at the demons that enter the Connection Centre from his high glass office inside the building. They pay a reasonable fee, enter a glass-door booth, and talk to their family in Heaven. It seems that the winners didn’t inform a single angel about it. The Radio Demon’s voice message plays before the first direct connection.
Greetings dear winner, this is a call from Hell, rejoice! It’s illegal, but whoever is calling you already paid a steep price to achieve that, so you don’t need to make it even harder for them. Enjoy!
It’s all true, they had to pay a high price – their souls naturally belong to him – but it works and they had no problems. Plus, his scary but deeply charming voice and charismatic personality make even winners hesitate to disconnect calls. Not like any of them regret it. It seems there is a lot of mutual love between long-lost family members or dear friends.
Surprisingly, sinners use this place for calls in Hell as well. Some old-fashioned or anxious people prefer it that way. But there are no calls to Earth. That was banned by Lucifer, and Alastor agreed. Baxter is not snooping, but even he knows the Radio Demon will use a connection to Earth for more than just a few broadcasts. Not his problem.
“Baxter, hee-hee, lunch is ready! I made a lot of sandwiches!”
Niffty calls for him from their apartment and with a gentle smile, Baxter turns off his tablet, walking leisurely to his girlfriend. He loves her cooking.
…
With the house now emptier, and only Cherri Bomb living with them, some may justly think it’s quieter or lonelier. Haha, Lucifer was genuinely worried about that, but nope. They all come for lovely dinners regularly. Any problem they need help with is usually cracked at this house, and sometimes they just come to talk and spend time together.
The fallen angel is glad and genuinely loves to have his queen all to himself. Getting to know him a little more every day is exciting. Another new thing in private life is when Lucifer himself talks about his eternal life. Alastor actually listens to him. He asks questions about times long gone, laughs at funny stories that happened in places long gone, and carefully helps him when Lucifer mourns people he misses. Wow, look at him, the King of Hell, having a healthy relationship with a notorious sinner. The strongest and most dangerous sinner in Hell.
Right now, they are in the living room, having a tasting test. An excited Lucifer bought a lot of sweets and rare meats for them to try as something new for today. Alastor probably already has his favourite meat – smoked sinner meat with exotic spices. Lucifer is still unsure, and it’s a 3-way tie – blood apple, juicy peach, or caramelised pomegranate.
He offers one delicious slice of blood apple candy to Alastor, who devours it with a sigh and grins.
“Haha, I love your face… and all this,” the King of Hell points at their situation.
Alastor looks at him, finishing the newest piece of meat, glazed in honey, enjoying their pleasant afternoon as well.
“Yes, I do too, but… nothing really changed,” the Radio Demon tells him. “I still eat people, am still extremely proud, petty, and sarcastic… I merely showed you more parts of me. It didn’t erase any bad part of me.”
A joyous laugh breaks out of Lucifer: “I love those bad parts as well.” With a sinister smirk, he adds, “I love when you properly teach people lessons.”
Alastor’s smirk is for a second wicked, clearly showing he enjoys it himself a lot. Then his sinister face gets more serious as he picks up one of the meats and slowly places it in Lucifer's mouth. The Devil takes it slowly, making sure he licks Alastor’s elegant fingers.
“But…,” starts the Radio Demon as he grabs his naughty duck and puts him in his lap, “I want to teach a really hard, but absolutely needed lesson to Charlie.”
That dampens Lucifer’s mood a little, but he nods. Lilith was… well, he doesn’t in fact know if she was a good or bad mother, does he now? She took her from him long ago and made sure he would not interfere with her… parenting. The Fallen Angel himself was… not good, but not the worst parent.
“Yeah… can I help you with it?”
“Hmmm,” in Alastor’s hand appears his grimoire, flipping pages turned by his will, and it opens at a specific page with a lot of handwritten notes and a complicated magic circle in the middle, clearly lacking something.
Lucifer stares, his creative mind swiftly connecting everything. Oh, his clever deer, he was carefully preparing for this for a long time. The building of a special radio tower, spying on the hotel, not stopping ANY of Vox’s crazy media bashing – everything for this ambitious plan. His poor daughter will be receiving a lesson she will never forget.
One snap of a finger later, in the devil’s hand appears a pen and he elegantly writes the missing sigil into the magical circle, making it complete. Alastor clearly never wanted to initiate this plan without his official approval. The sinner demon smiles, his grimoire disappearing in shadows, and then Lucifer gets a tight hug.
Damn, this is so comfortable.
The End