Post by Bene Elohim on Feb 8, 2024 15:07:04 GMT -8
~{Disclaimer}~
~{This post contains scenes of graphic violence and extreme situations. Viewer discretion is advised.}~
The entire aura of Hell had changed since they returned from the HYBRID Wrestling show over the weekend. There was a cold air that swept through the environment that had nothing to do with the chilly winter months.
The Twins, Sariel, and Ani barely spoke to anyone now. They refused to do so much as meet their comrades’ eyes as they passed in and out of the house on whatever assignment they had been given. Their renewed, permanent presence on Friday before they all had to leave told those within the compound that whatever assignment Lucifer had entrusted to them was now complete. However, they didn’t speak and often sat alone.
More then any of the others, Sariel seemed to be beside herself as if she had done something horrible. Something she thought she’d never have to do ever again. Ramiel spent much of his time with her, trying to comfort her.
Martin, Chelsea, and Johnny returned late that same night and met with Lucifer and a contingent of Demons in secret. A body bag was passed from them to the Demons who disappeared into the depths of Hell without a word.
And then life returned to normal. They enjoyed a quiet Saturday and a mandatory show appearance on Sunday. When they returned Monday, however, something changed in Lucifer as they crossed the border into Hell. As they climbed out of the vans, Ashley and Martin turned to head inside to check on Maiko and Maricela respectively. Meanwhile, Xaria came around the van, leaning up and planting a kiss on the lips of the Children’s leader. Unfortunately, she found no warmth in Lucifer’s kiss.
Lord Lucifer: “Rami. Naani.”
The Twins looked up from shouldering a handful of the bags, each looking at Lucifer, an unspoken fear in their eyes. He was going to ask them, wasn’t he?
Both: “Sire?”
Lord Lucifer: “Escort the Harbinger inside and keep her there.”
Genuine confusion surfaced on Xaria’s face as her eyes shot to Lucifer, a little hurt showing within them.
Xaria Linette: “Mon Seigneur?! Have I done something to upset you...?”
Lucifer didn’t even so much as look at Xaria, looking instead at the Twins and Sariel, who came around the back of the van. He simply motioned with his fingers toward the house. Ananiel and Ramiel each took one of her elbows and escorted her into the house. She protested the entire way, even saying a few words in her native tongue.
The others all looked between Lucifer and Xaria before heading in themselves, leaving him standing outside next to the vehicles alone. He looked up to the window where the little girl who had stolen his heart slept and found Penny standing at the window, waving at him.
He forced a smile and waved back, whispering to himself.
Lord Lucifer: “...For you…”
Lucifer turned, and without a word, headed into the depths of Hell. He walked so long he couldn’t even see the house or the dorm used to house the Demons anymore before the small wooden shack came into view.
It was the size of a large closet and made from plain, ordinary brown wood, sitting on a plate of concrete. The structure had no windows and a simple flat roof with a single windowless door at the front, facing Lucifer as he approached.
When he reached the door and pulled it open, the interior was finally revealed. There was no bed, no couches, and no clothing. A single figure was in the center of the room with chains around his wrists, ankles, and neck. All of them attached to the concrete with ring loops.
The man had brown hair neatly cut and a thin stubble beard. Medium build and was only a little taller than average height. When his head came up, the man who they had claimed for so long as the father of Shay’s daughters, Johnny Dawkins, found himself locking eyes with Lord Lucifer.
Johnny Dawkins: “...Shit…”
Lord Lucifer: “Johnny… we need to talk…”
Lucifer slowly pulled the coat off his shoulders, letting it drop to the ground behind him and raised an arm, undoing the cuff at his left wrist.
Johnny Dawkins: “Look, man… I didn’t know what the big secret was, okay?! I was just asked to stand in…”
Lord Lucifer: “You did an honorable thing, Mr. Dawkins. I understand Shay’s need to keep that secret from me.”
Johnny Dawkins: “...Then why am I…”
Lord Lucifer: “In Hell?”
Johnny nodded as best as he could. Lucifer raised his other arm and undid the cuff before moving on to his shirt and undoing the buttons.
Lord Lucifer: “You know something, Mr. Dawkins, and I need you to tell me.”
Johnny Dawkins: “What do you need?! I’ll tell you right now, man!”
Lord Lucifer: “Where were you held? When you gave up Shay and my daughters?”
Johnny’s eyes widened and he began to stammer.
Johnny Dawkins: “Look, man! Look! I didn’t have a choice but to tell him! You don’t know what it was like…”
He never finished the sentence as the second Lucifer got his shirt off, he threw a right hand into the helpless man’s face. The crunching sound of his cheekbone cracking was matched by the bright red shine of the blood launching from his mouth.
Lord Lucifer: “Where. Is. It?”
Johnny Dawkins: “PHILLY! IT’S IN PHILLY!”
Lord Lucifer: “...I wish I could believe you…”
Johnny’s eyes widened and he opened his mouth to scream; he was telling the truth. That was when the next blow came and then the next... and the next. Lucifer throwing them in rapid succession, the blood shooting from his mouth and broken nose, coating the man’s bare chest, each blow sending cast-off spatter across the walls as he pulled his arm back for the next.
Johnny tried his best to repeat that Valdemar’s Hell was in Philadelphia, but all that came out was the sound of him choking on his own blood. Lucifer continued to pummel him without hesitation or remorse.
It continued for ten full minutes before Michael finally slowed his blows to a stop. Johnny was left a whimpering mess who didn’t even have the energy to cry. He hung there from the chains, limp and mumbling to himself through the blood and broken bones in his face.
Lord Lucifer: “It’s not personal…”
Lucifer panted as he turned away, wiping the blood from his face, and moved to a small alcove beside the door. On it sat a brown rolled-up bundle that he slowly unrolled. The metallic objects inside making soft clinking sounds.
Lord Lucifer: “...For what it’s worth, I am sorry… more sorry than you’ll ever know.”
Silent tears were streaming down Michael’s face as he reached a shaking hand out and grasped the metal handle of one of the objects. When he began this charade, he never wanted to ever have taken it this far. This was something he didn’t ever want to do, but…
The sound of a blade coming free hissed through the dark cabin as he turned to face the broken Johnny Dawkins.
Lord Lucifer: “...I have to end this before he hurts the children… I’m sorry…”
**
How long has she been waiting for him? Seven hours? Ten? All Xaria Linette knew was that she had been placed under guard and Lucifer was nowhere to be found. She paced in the master bedroom she shared with him until the tension simply became too much to bear.
Xaria Linette: “I cannot just sit here…”
She slipped to the doorway, peeking out. Ramiel was the only one out there now. Xaria silently moved through her room and the adjoining door leading into Penny’s bedroom. Her little four-year-old girl was asleep. She let out a little smile when she saw her daughter, eased through her door just out of Ramiel’s sight, and slipped down the stairs.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she was met by Zachary Sears and Ashley Kenyon who were discussing her newly won HYBRID Grand Championship. When they both saw her and the look on her face, they followed along behind her.
She was going to find out what Lucifer was hiding... and they both wanted to know as well.
The three of them exited the house and began in the direction Lucifer had gone. Only a few minutes passed when the Twins and Sariel realized they were gone and frantically began to search the house for them, alerting the others.
Four minutes after the trio left, Martin, Johnny, Chelsea, the Twins, and Sariel joined them heading in the direction Lucifer had gone.
When the first group arrived, Zachary froze in place, his mouth opened in shock and horror at the sight of the Cabin. Immediately, his PTSD was triggered, his breathing growing heavy and his heart pounding against his chest. Everything he suffered during his time in Hell rushed back to him, his entire body trembling in shock and horror.
Zachary Sears: “Nein... nein, nein, NEIN…”
Xaria raised her hands to her mouth, tears running down her face. She had never seen one in person, but she knew exactly what it was, what it was used for. The last cabins burned down with the Old Hell in September of last year. Ashley’s eyes narrowed in absolute disgust.
The others had no idea what this actually meant, so when they arrived, it didn’t even seem to phase them. Only the Twins and Sariel reacted as they hurried around to stand between the group and the cabin.
Ramiel: “We should…”
Ananiel: “...Not be here. Lord Lucifer…”
Both: “...commanded you stay.”
Their words dragged the Demon Knight out of his personal mental Hell. Sharply, he turned towards them with a glare.
Zachary Sears: “Tell me… you didn’t do zhis… Naani, tell me you didn’t!”
Ananiel, who had become friends with Zachary over the time they had spent together, flushed and looked down. It was all Zachary needed to see… to know...
Ashley Kenyon: “What the fuck is this!? You said this shit was fucking done!”
The tears would not stop. The Harbinger-- no, the Rainbow Angel was in complete disarray.
Xaria Linette: “Oh mon Dieu…”
The door of the cabin pushed open and Lucifer came out with two Demons dragging the bloody body of Johnny Dawkins behind them by the arms.
Lord Lucifer: “Take him to Dr. Mangold.”
Demon: “Yes, Sire.”
Ashley looked down at the body being dragged past them and then back at Lucifer who was shirtless and covered in Johnny’s blood. He didn’t seem to be phased that they were all standing here.
Ashley Kenyon: “WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO?!”
Lord Lucifer: “Valdemar’s in Philadelphia. I have the address.”
Zachary Sears: “. . .”
His sapphire eyes were staring at the cabin, the memories of what they had done to him flashing through his mind. The beatings, the torture, the cruelty done to men who resembled his beloved Gael. His entire body was shaking violently.
Xaria Linette: “You… Y-you promised me you would never…”
Tears spilled down Xaria’s reddened cheeks as she stared at her feet, but Lucifer didn’t so much as take a step forward. He set his jaw and looked past them.
Lord Lucifer: “I have a war to end.”
As he moved to walk past, Martin laid a hand on his chest, only to pull it back with disgust. He looked down at the blood now literally and metaphorically on his hands.
Martin West: “Was… that the man we brought in?”
Lord Lucifer: “And if it was?”
Ashley threw her hands up with a frustrated, even angry scream and poked Martin in the chest.
Ashley Kenyon: “I’m getting Twoey and we’re getting the fuck out of here. Now. Tonight! She would lose her shit if she knew this was still happening here! If you’re smart? You’ll grab your fucking kid and Maricela and get as far away as you can!”
Out of everyone, Chelsea seemed to have some level-headedness to her. She’s been in more than a couple of gang wars growing up in Detroit. She knew the method ‘whatever it takes’. She turned towards the others, a grim expression on her face
Chelsea Pryce: “We promised to help…”
Sears couldn’t stop himself from lashing out. How dare his mother figure defend this!
Zachary Sears: “Not vith ZHIS, Hündin! I DIDN’T AGREE TO ZHIS!!”
Tears were running down his face. Chelsea was slightly taken aback by Zachary’s emotional response, a brief widening of her jade green eyes, a frown crossing her face. She looked towards Johnny for something, anything. Johnny Maverick leveled a glare at Lucifer. All this talk of tests and of Johnny’s character… Johnny finally just shakes his head.
Xaria had her arms around Zachary’s left arm, her face buried in the side of his shoulder to hide her own tears. All this time, she had been taken for a fool.
He had used her.
‘He never loved you…’
Lucifer, however, looked at each of them, slowly turning his eyes from one face to the next, but there was no warmth in his gaze.
Lord Lucifer: “You have all outlived your usefulness. See yourselves out.”
And without another word, Lucifer turned and disappeared back the way they had come from.
When all of them returned to the house to look for Lucifer and demand some kind of explanation, no one could find him. It was as if he had vanished.
Johnny Maverick: ”...well fuck you, Mike.”
So, one by one, they all packed.
Ashley marched right into the room she shared with Maiko and explained it all.
Maiko threw up at the realization that the God she had come back to serve had not changed. That he was the same man she had fought so hard to stop.
Ashley packed for herself, Twoey, Shay, Lena, and their daughters. She loaded them all up into Bumblebee and pulled out of the dirt path of Hell without ever so much as looking back.
The still stunned and broken Zachary returned to his bedroom and explained what they had found to Gael, who did his best to comfort his fiancé and dearest friend. The two of them packed their belongings and took one of the vans, heading for a place they haven’t been to in so long.
Home.
Martin, Johnny, and Chelsea helped get Maricela packed, and after a brief debate, they left Hell with Xaria and the children. They would explain to the kids where “Mikey” was when they awoke the next day.
After all the cars and vans had departed, Hell was quiet, and now for the first time, empty.
Lucifer had been alone in the rooms beneath the house. Only Alistair remained now and even he would be sent away for his own protection.
Too many people had been lost to this conflict already.
Too many lives lost by the monster Michael himself created.
He sat in the command center alone in the chair at the head of the table and took one last look at the chairs around the table. Letting his mind wander to the people he had just driven from Hell. Each of them had suffered enough for him and his sins.
He’d hold the weight of the wars ending alone.
And therein that room, as cold as a grave, he put his face in his hands and wept for what he had done. The pain and trauma he had caused Johnny Dawkins, who had been telling the truth all along.
At that moment, alone with the truth only he himself knew, Michael Rivers wondered if he was still… Pure.
