Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Nowhere To Go” (Rolando Theme)

“At the One Star Wonder, meet your host
Come on in, but beware the ghost
Don’t get mellow, for this fellow
You’ll learn to fear the most

He is not who he seems
He reads your thoughts and knows your dreams
He’ll pull you apart at the seams
And no one will hear your screams

Oh, here you’ll find
A malevolent mastermind
Who’ll send shivers down your spine
Let out your cries
As you realize
This is the end of the line

He is Rolando! (Rolando!)
He sees what’s in your heart (your heart)
Oh no! (no, no!)
You’ve nowhere to go
Surrender as he tears you apart

You may hear things go bump in the night
Or see shadows stalk to give you a fright
He’s in your mind
Don’t try to fight
For you’ll never see the light

He delights in your tears
Feeds on your fears
Your traumas and dramas are his show
Feasts on your sorrow
Like no tomorrow
Oooh, he’ll never let you goooo

Oh, here you’ll find
A malevolent mastermind
Who’ll send shivers down your spine
Let out your cries
As you realize
This is the end of the line

He is Rolando! (Rolando!)
He sees what’s in your heart (your heart)
Oh no! (no, no!)
You’ve nowhere to go
Surrender as he tears you apart

You’re out of your depth (little one)
You’re out of your depth (little one)
You’re out of your depth (little one)
Nowhere to run (run, run, run)
He has his fun and now you’re done

A demonic mystery
An elusive history
Born a Leviathan monstrosity
Face your Demon in the mirror
Or let your sanity disappear

He is Rolando! (Rolando!)
He sees what’s in your heart (your heart)
Oh no! (no, no!)
You’ve nowhere to go
Surrender as he tears you apart

His wide grin fills you with dread
Once he’s in your head…
You’ll want to be dead.”

0 0 0

I don’t really know what happened…or why…

One moment, I was watching a Halloween themed Helluva Boss episode. I walked along outside the next day…and then felt myself falling through some kind of portal…

I soon hit the ground, thankful the fall wasn’t too high. I stood up and brushed myself off. Looking up in shock, I saw the portal shrink and disappear into the sky.

A wave of panic then hit me. Was I in a dream? Did I accidentally fall into a parallel universe? Or perhaps a TV show?

I scanned the area…nothing but gravestones, dead trees and a black wrought iron fence, no civilization for miles…

…except for the old hotel in front of me.

But not just any old hotel.

On top of the building full of hanging cobwebs, read in orange near the roof, “ONE STAR WONDER.”

I gasped. This was the exact same hotel that appeared in the Helluva Boss Ghostf***ers episode!

I was excited, confused, and panicked all at the same time. Was I in some sort of simulation? Was it some VR show set displayed to look like the real thing?

I looked down at my body…same skin, same identity, same clothing just like from the real world. There was no sign of I.M.P. or the main characters.

Lightning flashed and I instinctively rushed to the building for cover. In any other situation, I would’ve traveled to a less shady place or looked for the police or perhaps searched for a spell book that could get me back home.

But I was stuck in the middle of nowhere with no other choice.

I leaned against the building wall and closed my eyes. Tears began to fall, and I suddenly missed the real world.

‘I know I love Helluva Boss and Hazbin Hotel,’ I thought, ‘but not so much as to become a part of it!’

I would’ve expected to actually appear at the Hazbin Hotel as some Sinner demon, helping Charlie redeem her clients and singing musicals. Or perhaps watching I.M.P. go off on their adventures.

‘This is all just my imagination,’ I thought. ‘Maybe if I fall asleep, I’ll wake up back in bed.’

But if this was a dream, it was much too long. I started to worry. Would I ever see my family or friends again?

I glanced up at the sky as it rained. No portal. I prayed, I meditated, I moved back and forth, seeing if anything would happen in the same spot I was at when I fell. Nothing.

I walked back to the hotel and leaned against the building wall. Too scared to go in by myself, I figured I would rest here and hopefully this strange dream would end.

“Hello, Miss. Is everything alright?”

I must have dozed off because after I shook myself awake, I couldn’t tell who it was.

“I sensed a strange commotion from outside and I find you sitting here all by yourself. Why is that?”

It was a male voice, strangely comforting.

I stood up. “Oh, sorry, sir. I got lost and was about to find my way back. I think my friend group went that way,” I pointed off to the side.

“I certainly don’t see anybody,” he mentioned. “Why don’t you come on in out of the rain and I’ll get you checked in?”

Like that was going to happen.

“I have no money, sir, plus I’m not from here,” I said.

He waved an unseen hand. “That’s no problem. You can stay as long as you need until your folks come back.”

“Thank you…”

I reluctantly allowed him to lead me through the red double doors. The lobby looked just like in the episode: the red carpet floor decorated with eyes, cobwebs hanging in every corner, worn torn red wallpaper all around, black hanging lights with round white extended bulbs, worn orange couches near a round white table with a couple dead plants on it. There was a front desk in the background with an old boxy computer, another plant, and a green lamp.

‘Why was I transported to a Helluva Boss episode?’ I wondered. ‘And who in the world is…’

I turned around and froze…my jaw dropped.

Before me stood a slender tall man with white skin, large golden square sunglasses and a mostly bald head with a wave of blond hair pointing off to the side. He wore a red vest, a gray long sleeve shirt, dark pants and black pointed shoes. He had two thin black hairs near his nose and a thick black unibrow.

No, it couldn’t be…

He glanced at me and grinned. “Come along, now. I’ll get your keys here at the desk.”

He soon sat down and smiled at me as I crept forward. A door behind him read “Staff Only” with a skull on it. A small black toothpick was in his mouth.

“Welcome to the One Star Wonder, where it’s a wonder we still have that star!” He cocked his head. “How may I help you, today?”

I decided to play it cool. “Hello there…John Waters! It’s a great honor to meet you! You sure got an incredible haunted set here.”

He stared at me confused. “Who’s that now?”

I brushed it off and winked. “You know, John Waters…voice actor? The one who plays Rolando, the incredible antagonist to I.M.P.? You’re my favorite villain, by the way.”

“You know my name. How?”

“I’m a fan of you.”

“Really?”

“Of course! One of many, of course.”

He rolled his eyes. “You from Hollywood?”

“No.”

“Yes, my name is Rolando, dear. And I’m not part of any show.”

“Staying in character, okay,” I said. “One: can I get your autograph? Two, can you help me find a way back home?”

“The first one I can easily do,” he said. He scribbled his name onto a white card and handed it to me. I glanced at it, then looked back up.

“The second option…might not be so easy…”

Ignoring my shuddering, I figured I was just in a very complex convention and stuck in a haunted hotel set where I would meet all the VAs after completing a maze. That had to be it. I couldn’t be stuck in another world, right?

I pulled out my cell phone and the screen stayed dark, even after I pushed every button.

“Darn. No service.”

Of course…a phone from another world wouldn’t work.

Rolando held out his hand. “Perhaps I could see?”

I gave it to him, and he ran his fingers along the sides and tapped at the screen a few times. After a moment, he gave it back to me.

“There you go, good as new.”

“Thanks.”

I opened it and stared at a cool but freaky phone screen of a black watery void. The only things that were on screen was a black ENVE app with half faces in a white heart and a call and text icon at the bottom.

I checked the contacts, and I gasped. All my original contacts were gone, save for one: “New contact: Rolando.”

“W-what, how did…?”

“Let’s say I have a way with social media,” he said with a wink.

I looked around. This roleplaying was getting a little too accurate. “Okay then…I’ll just explore a little bit and meet the cast and crew on the other side.”

Rolando snickered. “Other side of what?”

“Other side of this set. For the Ghostf***ers episode.”

He still looked confused. “You believe in ghosts?”

“I do now, after many years of being skeptical,” I said. “Ghosts, angels, demons, you name it.”

“Well, I’m glad that you’re here.” He pulled open a drawer next to him. “We’ve been having more…”

He smirked with an evil glint in his eyes, “…disturbances than usual, lately.”

“What kind of disturbances?” I ask.

“The kind that are killing my guests!” he declared.

He pulled out three crime scene photos of a woman being tossed in a room, a man with black hair cut in half with exposed organs and a beheaded brown-haired lady.

I flinched. “Yikes. It was…a ghost, right?”

“This place is haunted, so most likely. Just to clarify, you do believe in ghosts, yes?”

I nodded.

He peered closer. “Are you sacred?”

I gulped. “A little bit, yes. But I’m not too afraid. I know I.M.P. will come to save the day. And I know about the afterlife.”

“You do?” Rolando narrowed his eyes.

“Yeah. Souls get stuck on Earth or are guided by their spirit guides and soul groups to the divine loving universe and God Source where they review their lives before they reincarnate back on Earth to learn the lessons they chose before birth…”

“Wait, wait, wait,” Rolando held up a hand. “You actually believe that human souls and ghosts can just reappear on Earth after their death?”

“Well…yes!” I smiled.

Rolando froze. Then without warning, he banged his fist on his desk and burst into laughter.

“Hahahahaha! Oh, holy shit! What kind of weird stuff are you on?!”

He wiped his eyes and straightened up, “Wow, I know many humans have some crazy ideas, but you’re just too much!”

An awkward pause.

“So…uh, what do you believe in, sir? Heaven and Hell?” I asked.

“Maybe,” he eluded. “But I think for now, it’s best for you to get some rest. It wouldn’t be a good idea to spread any crazy ideas to the residents here…”

He then added in a low threatening voice, “…and I wouldn’t want you getting hurt in the process…”

I soon felt shivers down my spine. The way he was grinning at me, eyeing my form intently…it seemed too unnerving for any regular cosplay.

“Y-you…you’re not John Waters, are you?”

“No,” he replied. “And you…you really are all by yourself, aren’t you?”

Either he was a really creepy cosplayer…

“Nice meeting you sir, gotta go…”

I started to head toward the door…

…and he blocked my way in the blink of an eye…

…or I was standing face to face with the real Rolando.

He sniffed the air around me. “I sensed something different about you, too. You definitely aren’t from this world…”

I was about to make something up…

“Don’t try to lie. I am already starting to sense your thoughts.”

I was suddenly in a living Hell…and it wasn’t even the Helluva Hell.

He held out a pair of gray keys on a chain. “This place may be a dump, but I’ll give you the best room in the place. Room 42 is off to your left.”

I took the keys with shaking hands and walked toward the hallway. The lights flickered overhead.

I turned around and Rolando smiled at me. “Enjoy your stay, my dear! Just give me a call if you need anything!”

I waved weakly.

I walked down the dim hallway until I arrived at my room. I turned the key, and it opened.

Nothing exciting about the room: just an old bed with a purple flower sheet, a bathroom, an old TV…

…and a giant portrait of a grinning Rolando holding a rose in his hand. His eyes followed me as I double-locked the door, placed a desk against it, and settled into bed in the dim room, leaving one light on.

After dozing off, what I saw next almost made my heart stop…Rolando hovered near my bed with glowing yellow eyes and a grinning mouth of yellow sharp teeth.

There was no way a regular human could’ve entered my room!

“It’s no hallucination or movie set…what you see is real, my dear,” he mused.

I took a deep breath. ‘Just incredibly advanced special effects…’

“No special effects either,” he read my thoughts again.

I was frozen in fear and disbelief. He licked his lips.

“Can you let me go home now?” I asked.

Rolando smirked. “Even if you were born in this human world, do you really think I’d let you go? No imps are coming to save you, no family, no friends, nobody.”

I shivered. “So…you do kill and possess demons and humans! I just never thought that…”

“You would meet your favorite character in person?” he finished.

“Y-you’re not…” I began, but he cut me off.

“You know my secret now,” he continued, “So you have two choices. If you try to run or tell anyone about Hell…I’ll have to end you like I did to those other humans…”

I tried to repress my fears, but I couldn’t help it.

He continued, “…or you can do what I say, and I’ll give you an easier death later on!”

“There is no easy death!” I cried. “Everyone dies painfully and alone!”

Rolando cocked his head, and his features shifted to his true demonic form with gray scaly skin, glowing yellow eyes, fin ears, transparent white hair, and sharp teeth. He wore a dark suit and red pointed sunglasses with sharp yellow trim. “I assure you, you won’t die alone…I’ll be helping you through the process! No worries about your so-called reincarnation and life reviews. Just a straight trip to Hell…although since you’re from another world, perhaps your demise will lead you back home.”

He continued. “You’re a tasty looking human with delicious thoughts…I’m not gonna ignore this great opportunity…”

“To kill me and blackmail me and possess me?” I spat.

“Pretty much,” he shrugged. “Of course, if you’d like…”

He leaned closer, his yellow tongue briefly stroking my neck, “…I can make this more fun for both of us…”

“No!” I turned red in the face.

“I sensed fear and arousal just then. You can’t hide your thoughts from me.”

“Y-you’re wrong!”

“I bet you’ll be into it…” he added with a sly smile.

I muttered, “This isn’t real…this isn’t real…”

Until I found myself hanging upside down by an invisible force. Rolando grinned at me as I yelped.

“Do you believe now?”

I nodded, shaking. Surely this was the end.

“What’s your choice?” he asked, peering into my soul.

“E-easy death,” I stuttered.

“Excellent!” Rolando beamed. I felt myself being turned right-side up and being lowered onto the bed.

He pulled the covers over me, tucking me in.

“I do hope you enjoy your time here…I look forward to getting to know you more tomorrow. Sleep well, dear.”

He chuckled darkly as he slithered out of the room and closed the door, leaving the room pitch dark.

Sleeping well? That wasn’t going to happen.

0 0 0

ENVE:

Radical-Rolando posted a new video:

The video showed me waving to Rolando and heading to my room.

“A pleasant surprise today at the One Star Wonder…this little human came to check in after she got lost. I read her thoughts and she’s not from this Earth. She calls herself HelluvaScribe or something like that, thought that I was some actor. She also believes ghosts are real, lol. Can’t wait to mess with this one.”

Envious-Karen: Heading to the store to shop for my son. I’m thankful I don’t have to hunt for my food like those infestor demons all the time.

Glamorous Glim: How boring it must be to spend time at the dump of a place. Where’s the entertainment?

Glimmering Glam: Killing is fine and all, but what’s the point if you have no audience?

Seviathan-The-Man: Glim and Glam, loved your performance in Greed last time…too bad you lost to a jester, lol

Glamorous Glim: What a pompous loser. I think he still misses his princess ex.

Glimmering Glam: Lord Mammon will make us rich soon enough! You’re just envious of us, Seviathan!

Helsa-Alpha-Bitch: Not rich like me, lol. Go back to lap-dancing for Mammon.

Glamourous Glim: Good luck actually getting an episode appearance, Helsa.

Envious-Karen: If Ronaldo wants to play with his food, have at it. I have better things to do than think about firetoads, humans and riffraff.

Radical-Rolando: At least spell my name right, it’s Rolando.

Envious-Karen: Whatever.

Chapter Text

I opened my eyes. I saw a dim room with a lone window, an old TV, peeled wallpaper, cobwebs in the corner.

On a nearby dresser, I saw a pile of new clothes and a black bikini bathing suit that had not been there before.

‘This is odd,’ I thought.

Then I saw the smirking Rolando portrait off to the right and it hit me.

‘Oh shit, it wasn’t a dream. I’m trapped in the Helluva Boss universe with an Envian serial killer demon.’

As if to confirm my thoughts, I heard a knock on the door.

With shaking hands, I turned the knob and opened it.

A red rose on a black stem appeared in front of me in a white hand.

“Good morning, little one!”

There was Rolando in his human form, grinning like nothing had happened last night.

“Did you sleep well?”

I took the rose with a shaking hand. “Yeah, I guess…”

“Just wanted to let you know that breakfast is being served. Why don’t you get dressed and head on down? We’re serving waffles.”

I smiled nervously. “Thanks.”

Rolando nodded and strolled away.

After I got dressed, I wandered down the hall until I reached a sign that read, “Dining Hall.”

Hunger replaced my apprehension, and I walked over to the counters where the food and drinks were served.

To my dismay…but not to my surprise, the only drink they had was water and the only breakfast was waffles in the shape of one star with syrup but without any butter.

I sighed and got my waffle and drink. I settled down into a chair and began to eat. Many of the guests didn’t seem to notice me…they were busy scrolling on their phones and one couple named Harold and Delores were blabbering about Harold’s World War II adventures. The guests who did notice me gave me glares as if they knew I was some kind of alien outsider.

I dug into my waffle, thankful that I was alone.

“Feeling left out?”

I jumped.

There he was again, standing by my table.

“Uh, no Rolando, I’m…I’m fine.”

“Perhaps you’d like some company?”

Too afraid to refuse him, I nodded. He sat across from me.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” I asked.

“I already did earlier,” he said. “Though the food sucks here, to be honest.”

A small grin appeared on my face. Then it fell as I stared at him drumming his long fingers on the table. Did he actually eat food or did he only eat…

“Souls?” he asked.

Crap. It felt bizarre to sit with someone who could read my thoughts.

“People don’t really know what souls taste like,” he said. “Have you ever wondered?”

“Um…n-not really. I know in my world, there are parasite energy beings that feed off fear, but since people only eat food…”

“Food has energy in it, right? And souls and emotions are energy so…I don’t really see much difference.”

“Surely some souls don’t taste good,” I said. Why were we even having this strange conversation? “They’re eternal energy, so they can’t be destroyed…”

“They can perhaps change form or be transferred to another place,” he added. “Or into…” He licked his lips slightly, “…someone else…”

I took a shaking breath. Even the spiritual conversations were creeping me out. Rolando was too good at bringing out the negative emotions.

“H-haven’t you ever wondered what positive energy would taste like?” I asked in a low whimper.

“Haven’t you wondered the same thing about air?” he asked.

I briefly looked confused.

“Air has no taste and neither does positivity,” he said. “Fear gives demons nourishment…power. And besides…there’s only fear and death when combined with the taste of flesh…”

I looked down at my empty plate and cup…trying to look anywhere else, but at Rolando. The anxiety was almost suffocating the longer I sat with him.

Things became too much when he added…

“I bet you’re wondering whether demons or humans would taste better to one like me…”

“N-no!” I replied in a shaky voice. I glanced up and his eyes seemed to pierce my soul. He said in a low voice, “I think we both know the answer to that…”

My face turned pale and the hairs on my neck stood up. I was surprised he wasn’t feasting on me then and there.

“I-I think I’d better go…” I stuttered. “Thanks for breakfast.”

Not even bothering to put away the plate and cup, I stood up and walked fast out of the dining hall.

“Oh no,” he mused, “Thank you.”

0 0 0

There wasn’t much else to do, except reading magazines and watching the hunch-backed bellhop drool drag people’s suitcases to their rooms.

I thought getting into my black bikini suit and swimming some laps in the lone pool would take the edge off things.

Oh, how wrong I was.

I didn’t know how Rolando could be busy being the manager and keep following me at the same time…but I didn’t feel like questioning anything else at this point.

I floated on my back in the water…with only a few others in the pool. For a moment, all was quiet and peaceful.

“Looking nice, dear.”

My face turned red, and my eyes widened. Rolando was staring at me…and his shadow appeared on the wall like his aquatic demon form with large glowing eyes.

I blinked several times…and he was gone!

No one else noticed, of course.

‘Bad enough that the government and spirits spy on humans 24/7,’ I thought with a shudder. ‘But this is getting ridiculous! How am I supposed to escape now?’

After I got out of the pool and got dressed, I later checked my phone and saw a text: “Dinner at 7, see you soon. – Rolando”

I sat with Rolando at dinner, eating spaghetti and meatballs. We were the only ones there. Once again, he didn’t eat. I would’ve enjoyed it more had I’d been by myself back at home. He kept eyeing me and I continued eating with shaking hands. I was too sacred to run or to talk to anyone else…I already felt more and more at his mercy.

“You still miss your home?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“So, the humans in your world don’t believe in Hell?”

“Some do. Some don’t.”

“I could certainly have a lot of fun if I could come along with you…”

My anxiety spiked. “No, no, no, no! You wouldn’t want to go there! The humans are horrible…very…god-fearing…”

“All the more reason to feast on them…” He grinned widely. “Now that you’ve met me, are you sure you really want to go back?”

I sat there in mental anguish. I hadn’t thought about how easily he could follow me back through a portal.

“You back at home, more souls for me to take to Hell…a win-win.”

“I really shouldn’t be in this world…b-but I’d rather stay here than let you into mine.”

“Your world can’t be too much different,” he said. He briefly scowled. “Humanity has always been rowdy and stupid and confusing…”

“Ghee, thanks.”

“They have no respect for anyone, not even me. But If I stay here,” he continued, “I’ll just kill off some guests and enjoy myself some more. But your world would be spared. Would you prefer that?”

“Prefer what?”

“Prefer if these humans died instead?”

“Yes.”

I gasped, realizing too late what I accidentally said.

“No, no, no, I didn’t mean…”

“It’s all good, my dear.” He held out his phone to me.

To my horror, there was a video of me during the recent conversation. Rolando was not shown.

“Would you prefer that?”

“Prefer what?”

“Prefer if these humans died instead?”

“Yes.”

His eyes widened like an excited child. “This video will get some good views back in Hell. And I hope I don’t send it to anyone here by accident…” He waved a finger over the screen. “They really wouldn’t want to see you…”

“Please, no!”

He was toying with me and enjoying every moment of it. He pocketed his phone…it had to be magic.

“Just wait until my boss sees how pathetic you look…”

Great. Now a hellish ruler could mock me, too.

I finished the last of my dinner and high-tailed it back to my room.

“Good night, Rolando!”

Rolando looked back at me. “Good night, little one,” he trilled in a sing-song voice.

I rushed back to my room, locking my door, despite knowing it was useless. I curled up in bed, praying I could somehow find a way to escape this nightmare.

I heard dark chuckling in the night, but I couldn’t see Rolando. I felt a faint drop on my forehead. I brushed it off. Then I felt another, and another.

Sitting up, I glanced at the ceiling. A strange black liquid was dripping down the ceiling and more of it began to thicken and slide down the walls.

“Eugh, what is this stuff?” I asked out loud.

Then I remembered that Rolando used the substance to activate his illusions.

When more began to fall and soak the bed, I jumped off of it and onto the floor…

…the floor that was now starting to get wet from more black goo pouring in from the opening beneath the door!

I pulled on the door, but it wouldn’t budge. Desperate, I got back up on the bed as the liquid flowed all around the room.

This was surely it…Rolando was going to drown me.

More black goo creeped up onto my face, arms, and legs. My limbs suddenly felt numb and tired. I looked down and saw…rusted chains binding down my arms and legs?!

“Rolando, enough with your illusions!” I yelled.

When I struggled, the goo felt like it was gripping my chest. But when I relaxed, it strangely felt like I was lying in a hot tub…

…a black puddle that seemed to…

I felt myself collapsing onto the bed, like I was being held down by weights.

“No, no, let me go!”

I couldn’t seem to fight this strange substance, whatever it was. I was soaked in the liquid and my eyelids began to get heavy.

When I saw a blurry vision of Rolando’s shadowy face, I let the darkness overtake me…

I couldn’t see or feel much of anything…but I did feel like I was being carried…to somewhere…

When I slowly came to, I felt a tightness in my hands and neck. I opened my eyes and saw a floor a distance away and glowing lights surrounding me. The room was spacious with large windows and some furniture below.

Then I noticed my arms were pinned behind me. My arms and hands were tied with rope. A noose was wrapped around my neck, and the rope trailed up to the top of the chandelier.

I screamed in sheer terror as thunder crashed from outside.

I looked around, slowly standing up and stumbling, trying to catch my balance.

“Bet you weren’t expecting this, huh?”

Demon Rolando smirked as he floated slowly over to me.

“Rolando, what is this?! What are you doing to me?!”

Rolando shrugged. “Well, you said you wanted an easy death. Now I’m giving it to you!”

“NO! NOT NOW!”

Rolando chuckled evilly. “That’s what they all say before death comes upon them.”

I cried out some more.

“Save your last breaths,” said Rolando. “No one can hear you. No one can save you!”

Lighting flashed, lighting up a disturbing and convincing illusion. I saw the shadows of Blitzo, Moxxie, Mille, and Loona being hung from the chandelier, their bodies limp.

“W-why are you…”

“Why am I doing this? You know who I am, plus you’re from another world, so I can’t let that get in the way of my plans. Also, your fears and despair are so intoxicating right now…”

He trailed his long yellow tongue along my neck, and I whimpered. He bit softly into my neck, and I grunted. He licked his lips, red blood trailing into his mouth.

“It’s been a pleasure spending time with you, but I do have other humans to haunt.”

I shuddered as I looked down at the ground. Rolando put his clawed hands on my shoulders.

“You should count yourself, lucky. Usually, I rip apart my victims…but since you behaved so well, I’ll feast on your organs after you fall…you won’t feel a thing!”

That definitely did not make me feel better.

He stared into my eyes. “I can still sense your thoughts. You know you don’t belong here. You don’t even feel you belong fully in your world. Your so-called spirit helpers abandoned you, all your family and friends just temporary players in a game your soul chooses to play…”

“That’s not true!”

“How do you know, though? Certainly no one will save you now, living or dead. If everything and everyone is one in your universe, you have nothing to lose.”

“My body! My identity!”

“Things you will no longer need to worry about. Your so-called past life flaws, endless lesson learning by the ethereal elite…those are nothing, just like you are nothing.”

“Stop it! I’m not nothing! I’m divinely loved by the universe!”

Rolando scoffed. “The universe does not care. Evolution stops for no one. It’s all eat or be eaten…fuck or be fucked! You think everything is just some part of a pre-planned script before being born on Earth, right? Look how well that’s turning out. Humans kill and destroy and taunt right and left…they’re nothing but mindless food! They delay the inevitable and accomplish nothing! Your kind will be wiped out just like any other species. But I’ll continue my haunts in this world and your world…and then I can feast on human despair for eternity!”

I sobbed some more.

Rolando continued hovering around me like an aquatic vulture.

“Little bitch, you’re so sweet and so pathetic…you’ll never be perfect for those you love and not to the universe. Just like a bug, your life is short and meaningless.”

He hovered some more. “After you die, the question is, where will you go? Will you go to the Pride Ring with the other Sinners? Will you cease to exist altogether? Or perhaps…you’ll be safely back in your world…”

“You don’t know that!”

“Only one way to find out, isn’t there? The longer you stay here, the more those in your world will miss you, wonder where you are…but if you do end up in Hell, I’ll be sure to visit you…”

Rolando pulled out something glowing and held it in front of my eyes.

It was an indigo crystal…the most beautiful etheric fragment I had ever seen. It hummed with a strange vibration…a vibration that reminded me of the beginning pulse of the universe or the rush of a primordial ocean. All my fears slipped away as I let my eyes drink in its beautiful purple light.

Tears flowed from my eyes as I slowly inched forward.

Rolando whispered in my ear. “This nightmare can end for good. All you need to do…is jump.”

I shook my head and scooted back, shutting my eyes. He propped my eyelids open, and I saw the crystal again. I reached out for it, one leg hanging over the edge.

“Your body, your mind, your soul, your very identity, it’s all mine,” he purred. “You’re gonna taste delicious!”

I strained and groaned, trying to fight the sinister urge.

“JUMP, LITTLE ONE!” he bellowed.

But like a moth to a flame, the crystal drew me in, and gravity began to pull me down.

Rolando cackled as I closed my eyes and began to lean forward…

0 0 0

ENVE:

Radical-Rolando posted a new video:

The video showed me balancing on the chandelier, rope around my neck and Rolando hungrily hovering nearby.

“Had an absolute blast messing around with this little doll. She sure loved HANGING out with me! Whether her world exists or not, I’m sure we’ll find a way to influence Earth more and drag more souls to Hell. My job’s not half bad, feel free to get jealous, lol.”

Envious-Karen: Going up to Earth seems pointless to me…playing around with humans, ew!

Glamorous Glim: I agree. Nothing beats the performing life!

Glimmering Glam: I figured infestor demons were weird to begin with.

Helsa-Alpha-Bitch: Strange that infestor demons get decently paid for going to Earth. Emphasis on “merely decent,” still a commoner, imo.

Seviathan-The-Man: I think his human disguise is hideous. Besides, we have tons of luxury foods in Envy!

Radical-Rolando: You guys are foolish…you’re truly missing out on the tasty thrill of a lifetime. If you ever got a whiff of despair from a human, you’d never want anything else again.

Envious-Karen: That’s exactly the kind of things drug addicts would say! And I think it’s very strange he’s obsessed with this mortal.

Helsa-Alpha-Bitch: Not nearly as pathetic as Charlie’s stupid rehab hotel for Sinners. Frankly, all of Hell would be better off if ex-humans weren’t here…or at least have them be our servants.

Radical-Rolando: Get your head out of the water, Helsa. I hate humans and Sinners too, but they will play a great part in helping us demons get our revenge. I wouldn’t even be here enjoying what I do if it weren’t for them.

Helsa-Alpha-Bitch: If only we were immortal like the Sinners…we’d be unstoppable Overlords…well, even more than we already are.

Seviathan-The-Man: Yeah, and then we’d have to hide our hides from the Exorcists. I’d say my life is nearly perfect…if only the Morningstar Family properly allied with ours…

Helsa-Alpha-Bitch: No bimbo Charlie in my vicinity…what a dyke!

Glamorous Glim: Hey, Rolando, how did she taste? Did you kill her?

Radical-Rolando: Just about to, I can’t wait to find out!

Envious-Karen: I think this hobo needs to get a real job…go back to the soccer field, Ronaldo.

Radical-Rolando: Bitch can’t read or spell my name, smh.

Envious-Karen: Watch your tongue, mister!

Radical-Rolando: Whatever you say, “mom” lol.

Chapter Text

Rolando froze as his cell phone started to ring. He removed the purple crystal from my gaze, snapping me out of the trance. The restraining discomfort feeling around my neck returned. I shook, gasping for breath, holding onto the chandelier metal for dear life.

He retrieved his phone and held it to his ear. “Hello?”

His eyes widened, “Yes, my Lord, what can I do? No, I didn’t kill the human, I was about to, though…”

I glanced around with worry. Was he about to send a powerful being to finish the job? And wasn’t Leviathan supposed to be a two-headed female?

“Yes, she is from another world…you want me to…”

He looked at me and a sinister grin appeared on his face. “Oohohoho, that should be fun! Of course, sir, she’ll be ready for you. No, no other human knows our plan…of course, I’ll keep in touch. Goodbye, sir.”

He hung up and hovered over to me.

“I have some unexpected news for you, lucky mortal girl!”

Whatever it was, it didn’t sound good at all.

“That was my boss, Lord Leviathan. Since you’re not from this world, he’s considering transferring your soul to Envy when you die!”

“WHAT?!” I gasped. “T-that’s impossible! I was supposed to go back to my own world!”

“That was a possibility…though not a good one compared to you going to Pride.”

“But all Sinners are supposed to go to Pride!” I countered, shaking, trying not to move too much. “Though I-I’m not really a Sinner, so I should at least go to Heaven…”

Rolando scoffed and hovered behind me. “Originally, you’d probably be in Pride right now. But with your connection to a universe beyond this one, Leviathan thinks you could be a great asset to him. He’s counting on your soul making it through. And I’ll get to feast on your flesh and your mind no matter what…and get a good bounty from him if this works out. Sounds like a great deal to me!”

“N-no, no…!”

Rolando gripped the rope around my neck slightly, making me look into his eyes. He spoke in his low creepy voice.

“Besides, if you’re not a Sinner by now…you will be when I’m done with you.”

I couldn’t believe it. By a stroke of hellish luck, or unluck, I was stuck with Rolando again.

“Of course,” he added, moving to the side, “Leviathan wants to see if you’re ready for Hell in three days. If someone so passively delicious can shift into one ruthless and without mercy.”

“No, that will never…”

Rolando gripped my bound hands. “I’ve broken you good thus far. There’s much potential in you, more depths to uncover.” He briefly poked at my forehead. “I can turn the bravest men into shriveling saps and make the most innocent fall to their knees in despair. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. All you humans reek with regrets and wither in your weaknesses…and you are all equally delicious to me. If you want to survive long enough, I’d suggest you be on your best behavior. You’ll be my best hotel assistant for now. No running away, no telling others about demons and Hell…and you’ll let me uncover each and every thought in that little noggin of yours.”

He ran a claw along my cheek. “Are we clear, dear?”

I nodded, whimpering.

He untied my hands and removed the noose from my neck. He carried me over his shoulder, chuckling darkly as we headed back to my room.

0 0 0

To my dismay, I was still in the dim hotel room when I woke up later the next morning. I felt a sting on my left arm and looked down. One noticeable scratch, made from last night. Day One.

I had no idea what Rolando was preparing me for, but my nervousness was much worse than before.

A purple and black hotel uniform was folded for me on my bedside table. I put it on and glanced in a dusty mirror. My shirt was dark purple with small pockets up on top and a small gold star logo to the left. Below that was a long black skirt that went slightly past my knees. I also had black socks and black pointed shoes.

I guess I was now his assistant, whether I liked it or not.

I got dressed and slowly opened the door. No sign of anybody. Submitting to my stomach, I headed to the dining hall for breakfast. Same old one star waffle and water. Thankfully, I was alone with only a few other people around.

I got another text from Rolando: “Meet me at the front desk.”

I finished breakfast and headed over. Human Rolando, wearing his red and gray hotel uniform and golden sunglasses, showed off his creepy wide grin and waved me over.

“Good morning, my dear!” he called. “I need your help for a moment.”

I almost couldn’t believe that this professionally dressed gentleman just tried to kill me last night.

He mentioned for me to take a seat.

“Do you mind if you help work at the front desk for a couple of hours? I need to go around and…”

He winked, “…take care of some of my guests.”

“I-I don’t know what…”

“Hey, it’s easy,” he explained. He pulled open a drawer which revealed several sets of keys on loops and a few crime scene photos. Before I could reach them, Rolando scooped up the photos and pocketed them. He smirked as if to say, “nice try.”

I muttered, “I could still tell them that the ghost is you…”

Rolando just smiled, unfazed. “Do you really think that our guests would believe the words of some new assistant over that of their hospitable manager?”

I froze in defeat. There was no getting around this guy.

“That’s what I thought!”

Rolando mentioned to the big boxy computer. A screen showed up, showing the rooms. A list appeared with names and room numbers.

“All you need to do is greet the guests and give them the keys to their rooms. There is a list of names on the computer and some on this piece of paper here.”

I sat with a gulp as a family of four entered the lobby.

Rolando patted me on the shoulder. “Hey, perfect timing! I’ll be back in a few hours or so to check on things. Good luck dear, and don’t forget the motto!”

Rolando vanished into the shadows.

With a deep breath, I spoke the motto.

“W-welcome to the One Star Wonder, where it’s a wonder we still have that star. How may I help you today?”

On and on it went. Some guests came and others left. It wasn’t too bad…some people were nice, others not so much. I could see why Rolando had a distaste for pompous Hollywood folk as they looked at me like I was a slob in a circus costume.

Rolando eventually came back after I finished checking in a couple of people. “Not bad for your first day! You can head on over and get some lunch!”

I didn’t want to think how many people had fallen victim to this guy while I played hotel host.

0 0 0

After I finished lunch, Rolando called me over again. The hunch-backed bell-hopper wandered over and held a black video camera on a stand.

“I just need one more thing from you and we’ll be all set,” Rolando mentioned.

“What is it?” I asked.

He mentioned for me to stand beside him. “We’re gonna make a little commercial to help promote the One Star Wonder!”

“Oh! Uh…how do I…”

“You look perfect, my dear. Just follow my lead.”

Brushing aside the weirdness, we practiced our lines in front of the camera. I thought the front desk job and the commercial seemed innocent enough.

Then I remembered that with more guests coming in, Rolando could feed off more people.

Then the camera was rolling, and I had to play along.

“Welcome to the One Star Wonder…!” Rolando began.

“…where it’s a wonder we still have that star!” I finished.

“I’m Rolando and here is my… ‘Helluva’ assistant! Want a place to stay at, but can’t afford a regular hotel?”

“…and you don’t trust motels? Visit this convenient place in the middle!” I recited.

The camera moved to show the lobby, dining hall and rooms. The bell-hopper also briefly stepped in front of the camera, wearing his red outfit.

“Toledo the Igor is our bellhop,” Rolando explained. “He’ll gladly help carry your suitcases to your rooms and help show you around. Don’t mind the drool.”

I added, “Here we have our dining hall where you’ll enjoy a wide arrangement of our specialty drinks and meals. Spaghetti and meatballs, hamburgers, star waffles, water…that’s pretty much it. And don’t forget to check out our private swimming pool.”

Rolando sat at the desk, eyes shifting, “By the way, some say this place is haunted, so…keep your eyes peeled for the local ghost!”

The One Star logo appeared on screen.

“The One Star Wonder…Be A Star and Enjoy Your Stay!” we both finished.

The video ended and Rolando sent it out. “Fantastic work!” he said to me. “Business should be much better thanks to you. You can head on back to your room and stay out of trouble.”

I yawned and headed back.

“Oh, I forgot,” he added. He mentioned to a cart full of cleaning supplies and a pair of rubber gloves. “If you see anything…bloody, feel free to clean it up. Wouldn’t want to freak out our guests too much, do we?”

I headed over to the cart. Already I thought I saw an ominous red stain near the bottom of the worn red wallpaper.

“Didn’t you already have a cleaning lady?” I asked.

“Well, we did,” Rolando shrugged. “But she saw me when she wasn’t supposed to, so I had to…heheheh…”

Another victim of Rolando’s. Yikes!

‘I might as well say goodbye to proper sleep,’ I thought sadly.

“Your help is very much appreciated!” Rolando called to me.

Trying not to throw up, I scrubbed the areas along the halls and in some of the rooms, Rolando’s laughter echoing in my head.

0 0 0

As the sun began to set, I was able to head back to my room. I stayed in there for a while, reading, and looking around the corners. No Rolando.

“I’m not scared of you,” I declared, trying to feel brave. “You’re just a fictional character. I.M.P. will be here any minute!”

No answer.

If this was a test of fear, I was going to conquer it. At least I could pretend that nothing was wrong.

Nothing new appeared on my phone, just a couple of disturbing videos on the ENVE app. He had been stalking me since I first came in…and other Envian demons were commenting on his videos!

Usually, I loved taking pictures and being on video, but not like this.

No sign of Rolando anywhere. He wasn’t even at the front desk in his human disguise. There was some other human there obliviously doing his work.

I tried typing in every phone number I could remember. I even typed in random numbers. Absolutely nothing worked. The only person I could call was Rolando.

I didn’t even want to imagine how twisted the technology was where he was from.

In a spur of courage, I raced to the red double exit doors. Locked.

No sign of any other doors or open windows. I was completely trapped. I carried a knife around with me, despite knowing it was useless.

I finally had another spaghetti and meatball dinner, floated in the pool for a while, then headed back to my room. Night came and the day was practically over.

‘Well if Rolando was planning anything evil, he certainly wasted one full day. Maybe he’s forgotten about me and is off haunting the other guests.’

I yawned in my black bikini and headed back to my room.

I wandered around the halls to where my door was.

But something was off. There was no 042 number on it. I tried to put the key in, but the door stayed shut.

I decided to head back to the lobby…

…but I ended up in more dim hallways. I was lost in a labyrinth.

I saw Rolando’s glowing eyes lock onto mine. He crept closer and closer until…

“Hey, ugly! Go back to Hell!”

It was the sound of Blitzo’s voice in the distance. Millie was with him!

“What the…?”

Rolando whirled around just in time to see Blitzo fire a wooden arrow into Rolando’s chest. Rolando hissed in anger, ripped it out and disappeared.

I sighed in relief. “You were wrong, Rolando! I knew they would be here!”

“Time to put this cum-jockey in Hell behind bars!” Blitzo declared. He and Millie raced off.

“Get back here, you little shits!” Rolando bellowed. He zoomed forward in shadow form, then paused to glance back at me.

An intense silence.

I spotted Blitzo not too far away. “So long, Rolando.”

I began to race toward the imps, but Rolando’s shadow carried me to my room. The door opened and he plopped me down onto the bed.

“You will stay here while I take care of those imps.”

“Not for long,” I declared. “I already know what happens next. They’ll defeat you.”

Rolando merely growled and slammed the door. I pulled on it, but it wouldn’t budge. I took deep breaths. I knew someone from I.M.P. would come back and save the day.

0 0 0

“So, you figured it out, have you?”

Rolando’s distorted voice echoed through the hallway as Blitzo and Millie got into fighting stances. He stood in his human disguise, hands behind his back, then briefly vanished.

“A bit out of your depth, aren’t you little ones?” Rolando grinned. His features shifted in the dark, eyes glowing yellow and fin-like white hair appearing.

The imps ran for their lives as the lightbulbs burst above them. Rolando laughed as he chased them as a slithering shadow with red eyes.

“Damn our tiny fucking legs!” Blitzo yelled, breathing heavily. More lights burst into shattered pieces. Rolando chased them and morphed into black goo.

“You know my secret…” he hissed.

He grabbed onto Blitzo’s leg, making him collapse to the floor.

Millie reached out to Blitzo but was caught in a chokehold by the shadowy Rolando.

“I guess you gotta die like all the reeeessssttt!” Rolando screeched.

He lifted Blitzo up with an invisible force and shoved him through several walls. Blitzo banged his head against a column and groaned on the floor of the pool area. He coughed and gasped, slowly sitting up and wincing.

A hand with three claws gripped the wall. Rolando came out from among the pipes, grinning in his dark suit and red and yellow pointed sunglasses.

“Oh, this is fun!” Rolando mused in his distorted voice.

Rolando leapt forward and kicked Blitzo down. His foot was on Blitzo’s head, and he laughed.

Millie responded by swinging her leg and kicking Rolando hard into the wall.

“Atta, girl, Mils!” Blitzo praised, raising a fist. Millie smiled.

Rolando’s eyes glowed from under the surface of the water.

“No, thatta bitch!” Rolando roared, leaping out of the water. He bent his body in a wide arch before turning around to attack. Rolando kneed Blitzo in the chin and sent Millie down with a kick as she tried to attack.

Blitzo avoided Rolando’s attack as Rolando grabbed Millie’s foot and swung her around. He grabbed hold of Blitzo as well and tossed them both into the pool. He grinned above them as they fell through the water.

As quick as a shark, Rolando rushed at the imps underwater. He headbutted Millie into a nearby pool wall and she winced at the impact. He flipped, then turned Millie around, slamming her against the pool floor. He held onto Millie and raced at full speed toward Blitzo. Rolando then leapt out of the water, holding onto the imps’ feet and slammed them against the floor. They both cried out.

Rolando laughed evilly as he paced back and forth.

“You call yourselves assassins?” he mocked. An invisible force shattered the light bulbs overhead and knocked the imps back.

Cocking his head, Rolando hovered off the ground and spoke in an eerie voice.

“Eenie…meenie…miny…”

Blitzo and Millie looked up with terrified looks.

“…mo!” Rolando finished, his eyes widening as he stared at Blitzo.

He zoomed toward Blitzo, intending to possess him…

…then he thought, ‘I have a better idea!’

In one swift motion, Rolando gripped Blitzo’s arms from behind and bit hard into his neck.

“ARRUUUAAHH!”

“BLITZ!” cried Millie.

Black blood spurted from the imp’s neck.

“Get away from him!” Millie shouted.

Rolando licked his lips before he rushed at Millie. Blitzo groaned in pain, rolling on the floor. “Get him, Mils!” he wheezed.

Millie and Rolando shared several attacks, blocking punches and exchanging kicks. For a moment, Millie gained the upper hand, knocking him back and punching him repeatedly in the face. She shoved him away and raced toward Blitzo.

“Did you get him?”

“I think so…”

“I think…I know how to defeat him! Throw him in the water and kick my Ghostfucker device in. He’ll be a fried fish in no time…”

Millie spotted the device near the pool.

“Hurry before he possesses us!”

Millie nodded and raced back toward Rolando.

But Rolando had already left the spot he was at before.

“Looking for this thing?”

Millie paused and spotted Rolando lifting up the device with telekinesis.

He smirked. “You do know I can read both of your thoughts, right? How else would I have created my illusions in the first place?”

With a flick of his wrist, he sent the device toward the wall, destroying it with a crash and a flash of electricity and sparks.

“Oops.”

Blitzo and Millie looked on in horror. The imps moved back as Rolando strolled forward, towering over them.

He pointed at Blitzo. “You know, I figured that I could toy with your mind for a while and taunt your lowborn hick friend. But then I thought, ‘why not weaken you first?’”

Rolando rushed at Blitzo again and pressed his foot into his throat. Blitzo coughed and gasped for breath.

“With a weakened body, your mind is practically mine for the taking,” Rolando smirked.

Millie slammed into Rolando, but he soon shoved her aside. The two rivals fought for several minutes. She slammed him into the walls and floor, punched him multiple times and claimed his taunts had no effect on her.

“Your words don’t mean shit to me!” Millie declared. “Blitzo and I can handle this!”

“You sure about that?”

Rolando appeared to flee from her, but soon rushed into Blitzo’s head. He gleefully saw all of his tragic traumas, from his dad hitting him to his mother’s death, to Stolas breaking up with him, to the arguments with his sister and Fizzarolli and Verosika.

Blitzo’s eyes turned blank yellow. Millie braced herself to attack her possessed friend.

“I know you’re in there, Blitz. He hasn’t weakened you that much. I’ll knock that comrover out of you and we’ll defeat him toget…”

To Millie’s shock and horror, Rolando seeped out of Blitzo, grabbed him and leaped sideways into the pool. Blitzo struggled to lift himself to the surface.

“Oh no you don’t, asshole!” Millie hollered. She dove into the water, wrapped her arm around Blitzo and swam up as fast as she could. They both breached to the surface, catching their breath.

The hairs stood up on Millie’s neck.

“Oh shit, it’s a…”

She was cut off by a hand grabbing her leg and dragging her toward the bottom. She was shoved into the wall, barely having time to react. She swam forward with all her might, Blitzo reaching out to her with his hand.

Rolando grabbed hold of Blitzo and slammed him hard against the pool floor once last time.

Millie hoisted Blitzo in her arms and kicked upward to the surface. She gasped for breath and lifted Blitzo out of the water. She climbed onto the floor and bent down to look at Blitzo.

“Blitz! Sir! Stay with me, please, you’ve got this…”

“Mils…” he groaned. Black blood poured slowly from his neck.

She gasped.

“Come on, come on, don’t give up…” Millie begged.

“You…can handle this…” Blitzo wheezed. Millie’s hands shook as his head flopped to the side.

“No…no, no, NO, Blitz!” She shook him.

He remained motionless.

‘Please let this be an illusion…this…this can’t be happening…’

“This is no illusion, my dear,” Rolando purred from behind. “This is the reality of your defeat.”

Millie whirled around and snarled at him with razor sharp teeth and crimson red eyes.

“I’LL KILL YOU…FISH FACED BASTARD!”

She blindly threw punches which he blocked.

Rolando licked his lips. “Your anger and grief is utterly INTOXICATING! I don’t even need to be inside your head to feel it!”

“I can still defeat you!”

Rolando moved from side to side, dodging her attacks. He chuckled when he saw she was getting worn out. He slid over and pinned her against a pillar.

“What would your parents think of you now? How disappointed they would be to find that their daughter let her assassin boss die!”

Milie fumed. “I don’t regret it! I joined I.M.P. and I found a place I could call home. I don’t care what you say about me, I’ll defeat you alone if I have to!”

“Go ahead,” said Rolando. “I’d like to see you try as I’m feeding off your despair right now!”

He stepped back, arms out. Millie cursed to herself that she didn’t have her knife with her.

Millie glanced toward the door and began to run.

“Running away like a coward, are we?” Rolando called. “Not so tough now, are you?”

Millie was almost out of the room.

“What are you gonna tell your coworkers back in Hell?”

Millie yelped and skidded to a stop just as Rolando appeared in front of her. He lifted up Millie with his powers and slammed her into another pillar. She slid to the floor.

Millie groaned and spotted Blitzo’s corpse off to the side. She stood up in a fighting stance on shaking legs.

Rolando strolled forward. “Look at you, you’re nothing but a brute and still no match for me! It’s so pleasing to see you cry.”

Millie wiped tears from her eyes.

“Think you can still handle this? You all alone?”

Normally she would easily…she was the finest warrior in I.M.P.

But with her boss now dead…

‘I…I can’t…he’s gone, I can’t do this…’

Millie couldn’t hide her true thoughts…and Rolando knew it, too.

Rolando smirked. “So here’s to the end of Bethany Ghostfucker and the lowborn hick!”

Before she could blink, Rolando rushed at her with his jaws open wide and she screamed.

0 0 0

Loona and Moxxie arrived at the One Star Wonder lobby, looking around.

“They’ve got to be here somewhere,” Moxxie said. “Let’s hurry, I still got to figure out those numbers!”

Loona sniffed the air. “There’s a great evil here…he’s right over…”

“Hello!” called Rolando in his human form. “How can I help you?”

“We’re looking for our boss and our other coworker,” said Moxxie.

Rolando grinned and pulled out two photos. “Do these two individuals ring a bell?”

Moxxie and Loona’s faces turned pale.

“N-no, what happened? What is this?!” cried Moxxie.

“W-what the fuck?” Loona barked. “What did you do?! Is this some sort of prank?”

“It’s no prank, little ones…” Rolando’s features shifted into his demonic form with glowing eyes. “It’s the beginning of your doom!”

Loona and Moxxie’s terrified screams were enough for Rolando.

“I can’t wait to enjoy my feast tonight!”

In Rolando’s hands were four new crime scene photos. One showed Blitzo dead on the floor surrounded by his black blood. Another showed a motionless Millie with a gaping hole in her chest. Moxxie’s body had been torn in half with his arms separated. And poor Loona was now a beheaded corpse.

Rolando cackled in victory as lightning flashed outside.

0 0 0

The door to my room slowly opened as I was curled up in bed.

“Blitz?” I asked, standing up and moving toward the door.

I only saw Rolando’s grinning demon face as he held up the gruesome photos of the dead I.M.P. members for me to see. His fingers and clothes were stained with black demon blood.

I stepped back in sheer shock. “No! No, no, no! That’s not supposed to happen! You’re supposed to be electrocuted dead in the pool!”

Rolando laughed evilly again. “Well obviously, I killed them. I told you that I.M.P. would be defeated…”

He chuckled again, “I’m just surprised I actually got my victory!”

Tears came to my eyes. “Surely this has got to be a trick! An illusion!”

Rolando grinned and shook his head.

I thought for a moment…the unexpected deaths of I.M.P., how Leviathan appeared to be male instead of a two-headed female…how Rolando had survived…

I realized in horror that I was in a parallel Helluva-verse.

I barely gasped before Rolando rushed toward my head in liquid form…and I soon collapsed.

0 0 0

The next moment, I found myself bound to a worn seat in rusted chains. I was in an old worn movie theater with ripped maroon-red seats, large eye designs on the walls, coral within the seats and a large old screen with a projector. It was the same theater that Blitzo had gotten trapped in during the episode! I strained and struggled but it was no use.

I felt a cold pressure and flinched as Rolando flowed out of my chest and swirled around me. He was surrounded by water with bubbles that appeared to glow. In one swift motion, he ran his long yellow tongue up my neck. I whimpered.

“Caught you off-guard didn’t I, dear?” he grinned.

He flew through the room in dark shadowy liquid and manifested next to me with his feet propped up and his arm around my shoulder.

“Should be an interesting titillator of a show!” He held a bag of popcorn in his hand. “You have a treasure-trove of traumas waiting for me to tap into!”

The curtains parted and the round spinning “3, 2, 1,” appeared on the green-tinted screen.

A fast-paced frenzy of scenes flashed past my eyes. Snippets of various fears and phobias. One of the worst ones was being forced from my mother’s womb, struggling for breath in a bright cold place.

And then, of course, I saw myself fall through the portal, standing before the hotel and seeing Rolando grinning at the side of my bed.

Just then Rolando looked down and saw a series of buttons. They were labeled with “Rewind” and “Fast-Forward” symbols with numbers next to them, plus a button with an infinity symbol on it.

“Huh? The fuck is this, I wonder?” Rolando said, hovering a finger over the buttons.

He pressed the “Rewind” button with a one next to it.

The scenes shifted and I saw flashes of a different time. It appeared to be in the 1960s. I saw myself chugging down a bottle of some alcoholic drink. Her arms looked feminine.

To my horror, I saw the woman begin choking from the first-person perspective from some kind of overdose. Her world spun with vivid colors and abruptly turned black. She had died alone.

What was even worse than the death scene was a strange, almost distant sense of familiarity. Like it had happened before, and I didn’t realize it.

Rolando scoffed, then laughed out loud. “Well, that was quite interesting.”

He pressed another button and then more scenes appeared. This one was me but as a male, fighting in some kind of battle. I gasped and flinched as I saw the enemy soldier stab the former me in the stomach.

Rolando giddily pressed more buttons, and I screamed in desperation. All kinds of traumatic memories and strange scenes appeared before me, all feeling as real as my current life: me as a boy being assaulted and killed by a towering man, me a woman with dark skin being married off to an older man, me falling to the ground from a building, me being dragged to a stake to be burned in the forest, me as a slave worker in the hot sun, me dying from illnesses as my past family members watched…

…then me as various species of animals being devoured by predators in many parts of the world. When Rolando pressed the “Fast-Forward” buttons, I saw myself as strange alien beings flying through the air, arguing with others, seeing loved ones die, watching my children get taken…

“Holy shit!” Rolando declared. “How many fucking lives have you had?!”

I flinched and yelled as I saw what appeared to be long black bugs crawling up my legs and onto my chest.

I screamed and sobbed, begging for him to stop.

“A million flaws, a million unlearned lessons and yet you still come back for more?!” Rolando pondered. “Identity after identity lost and forgotten. I bet you don’t even know your true self, do you?”

He was right about that.

He stroked my chin with his finger. “You really are full of surprises, aren’t you? I guess in a way you were right about your universe. And I thought the Sinners in Hell had it rough!”

Rolando then pressed the infinity button, and the screen shifted to black. Before me appeared a very peculiar scene. I couldn’t see any arms or hands…I only saw myself as ethereal light. I saw black holes devouring planets and me looking over planet Earth, worried about its future.

And then I saw a council of etheric elder beings made of light, standing before me at a round transparent table. They wore medallions and long white glowing robes, reminding me of gurus or Greek philosophers. A holographic bubble appeared, showing various scenes of lives on Earth. I also appeared to be with a group of souls, going over roles and blueprints of our future human bodies.

I gasped. This was me as a soul planning for my lives on Earth!

“Are these beings…judging you?” Rolando inquired with a smirk.

Judging me? It was hard to tell since they didn’t have faces. In the ether, everything was supposedly unconditional divine love, and telepathy was the method of communication.

“I…I came from a realm of perfection…”

Rolando scoffed at me. “Perfection? There is no realm that is perfect. You really think that a place which forces souls to go to Earth is worthy of perfection? A place where you agree to take on fake harmful human roles in the hopes of learning some long-forgotten lessons?”

“B-but I chose my lives on Earth!”

“Did you, though? Or was it your so-called Source God? Or by elite aliens? If you think that souls are perfect, why do they keep coming back to Earth to face their lessons and new traumas to get passed onto the next life? Your shadows outnumber you a million to one. Even after thousands of mortal years, you can’t seem to get it right!”

“B-because Source is perfect and always evolving and we are all one and the same!”

Rolando shrugged. “Well, if that’s the case, you’re destined to incarnate and be a failure forever! Your eternal energy God doesn’t seem to care about your lives…only its own evolution. Your ‘perfect’ spirit realms are only temporary before your so called ‘spirit guides’ force you to come back!”

Surely that wasn’t the case…right?

“The Ascended Masters…”

“Are also part of the game, the Matrix. You souls test yourselves constantly, thinking you can see through separation and duality. But you get fooled each time…you succumb to fear and war and brutality against one another, never seeing the divine in every being. You’re left with more regrets, more unfulfilled soul plans. Your Earth will cast you humans off and you’ll have nowhere else to go. Your alien supervisors will be disappointed in all the versions of you…”

“SHUT UP!”

“…who knows how they’ll manipulate you next? And even if you ‘merge with the Source’ and complete your incarnations, it’ll send your soul off to begin the cycle again. There’s no real rest in the afterlife. Face it, your soul may be eternal, but you’re in an ETERNAL TRAP!”

I gasped.

“But…my families…”

“…don’t care about you! They disappear at their death and then disappear at your birth again! Think of how many people you’ve disappointed: your many parents, spouses, children, friends. So many families becoming dust at the end. Your guides don’t care, the universe doesn’t care! They only care to evolve themselves, and ditto to those who can’t ascend fast enough…!”

“YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT MY DIMENSION!”

“But now I know all about you,” he mused, saying my real name.

I was left sobbing and shaking in my seat. Rolando bit into my neck and licked up my blood, groaning softly in pleasure.

“Oh yes, that’s the stuff. Pure utter helplessness.” He faced me. “I can see into your eyes and we both know you’re done for.”

He leaned in and began to brush his tongue against my lips. He gently pressed his claws into my cheeks and my mouth opened. His tongue went right in, exploring along my tongue and moving along the top and sides. My face turned red, and I grunted. It felt wet, warm and incredibly weird…but somehow pleasantly stimulating after all I had felt. He trailed teasingly along my teeth before he pulled back.

I gasped, opening my eyes. “W-what the hell was that?”

“A little thank you for allowing me into your head.”

“Y-you’re a sicko!”

“But so are you,” he mentioned. “Don’t try to lie to me inside your own mind. I know you found some sick enjoyment in that.”

I lowered my head, glancing off to the side.

He slowly began to hover backward.

“It might seem strange being possessed for the first time, but just try to relax and enjoy the show.”

“You can’t possess me!” I cried. “I’m not from your world!”

“But you’re not in your world, are you?”

“W-what are you going to make me do?”

“You’ll see,” he answered darkly. He morphed into liquid and water spilled and splashed into the seats and aisles. A dark fog obscured the screen, making it hard to see. His cackles echoed through the space as I felt my eyes close…

0 0 0

ENVE:
Radical-Rolando posted a new video:
The video showed me hovering in the air, eyes blank with an evil grin.

“Most of the time I kill humans, but it turns out possession can be just as fun. I’m breaking this one down to make it easier for Leviathan if he meets her. Heh, I’d still do this even if I wasn’t ordered to! I’m gonna love this tasty morsel!”

Envious-Karen: Ronaldo’s gone off the deep end! Now he not only plays with his food but has fallen in love with it!

Glimmering Glam: His methods are nothing! Me and my sister’s siren songs and sexy sways have lured male demons and humans alike to their doom. Works wonders in our shows!

Glamorous Glim: We don’t need to possess anyone…all we need are our fabulous looks!

Seviathan-The-Man: No one can beat this heart-stopper!

Helsa-Alpha-Bitch: Apparently Charlie’s ex-Exorcist lover can!

Glamorous Glim: Oooh shit!

Seviathan-The-Man: Seriously, what does she see in that exiled angel? She barely shows her emotions and isn’t even royal!

Helsa-Alpha-Bitch: If I had my own resort, Charlie’s little Hazbin Hotel would turn into another One Star Wonder dump, LOL!

Radical-Rolando: Don’t diss my haunting lair. Its tacky appearance works wonders in unsettling mortals who wander in.

Helsa-Alpha-Bitch: “Helsa’s Hella Resort”: Sinners and low Hellborn need not apply!

Envious-Karen: Hey, Helsa, I’ll take you up on your hotel.

Helsa-Alpha-Bitch: If I had it, it would be up in Pride…most convenient that way…would surely rival Charlie’s.

Envious-Karen: And put Ronaldo’s motel to shame!

Radical-Rolando: I wouldn’t dream of inviting stupid mis-spellers, anyway. And my place has tasty mortals in it. Have fun wallowing in your envy!

Chapter Text

Rolando grinned as the mortal woman’s body slowly rose into the air at his mental command. A wide creepy smile appeared on her face as Rolando stared at his new reflection. White skin, green-hazel eyes now blank, small thick eyebrows, dirty blond hair down to her shoulders, thin glasses around her eyes, slightly overweight belly, thin slightly curved toes, thin fingers…

She still wore the black bikini.

Rolando usually detested humans, but being inside one was an interesting experience.

He lowered her and was soon walking casually down the hall. He came across the dining hall and quietly strolled toward the kitchen. Reaching a pale hand forward, he opened a drawer and inside were rows of knives.

He was just about to eagerly grab one when a voice called out.

“What are you doing, lady?”

He whirled around and closed the drawer. A man glared at him suspiciously, a guy with a bald head and a red shirt with a white “LOL” on it.

“Oh, hello,” Rolando said in HelluvaScribe’s woman voice. “I was just checking to make sure all the utensils were clean.”

The LOL guy raised an eyebrow. “In a bathing suit?”

“I swim every day and have specific eating needs. Wouldn’t it be awful to eat with only partially clean forks at breakfast?”

LOL guy shrugged, confused.

“You were cozying up to that shady manager earlier today and now you think you can just snoop around like you own the place?”

“In a way…yes.”

“Heard your name was ‘Luva’ or whatever. Do the guests a favor and stop acting like some weirdo bitch.”

“That’s not my…”

“I don’t care what your name is!”

LOL guy rolled his eyes and strolled away. “This place is full of nutjobs,” he muttered.

After a pause, Rolando looked around, then retrieved the sharpest knife, the light glinting off the blade. He spotted a woman with long blonde hair and a long teal dress.

‘Rolando, please, don’t!’

It was the Helluva girl, talking in the back of his head! She was struggling against her chains.

“There’s nothing you can do about it,” he said. “Just sit back and watch how it’s done. And if you cause any trouble, all the guests will see is you committing the crime!”

He walked behind a woman with long blond braids, a purple shirt and blue pants. The woman’s thoughts entered his mind.

‘What a fucking dump this place is! In my right mind, I’d have this rundown mill demolished in an instant! Not to mention the ghost activity here…perhaps it’s demons! And that manager guy? He needs to grow some hair.’

A soft distorted growl rose from HelluvaScribe’s throat.

A new target!

‘No one demolishes my lair and gets away with it,’ thought Rolando.
After the woman closed the door, Rolando returned five minutes later with a key to her room. The perks of being a manager were having access to keys to all the rooms.

He put the key in and slowly opened the door. With quiet steps, he entered. The bedroom was empty, but running water could be heard from the bathroom. He peered in and saw her silhouette washing her hair and humming.

He slowly inched closer and closer.

Rolando raised the knife in his hand and was about to pull the shower curtain aside.

HelluvaScribe flinched and turned away in her seat.

“Blaurgh…bitch…bitch!”

Rolando whirled around and let out a distorted yelp. The bell-hopper was standing in the bedroom, missing his teeth and raising his gnarled fingers.

“Missing suitcase…room 25…” he sputtered.

“Do you mind…?” Rolando began.

The woman yelped. “Who’s there?!”

Rolando dropped the knife and hid it under the sink just before the woman appeared with a towel wrapped around her.

“Ack! Who in the world are you?!”

“I’m Rola…I’mmm Helluva,” he corrected.

The woman looked with disgust at the bell-hopper. “The fuck is that thing?!”

“Toledo Igor,” said Rolando. “Poor thing can’t even blink.”

“Where did he even come from?!”

Rolando glared. “Apparently, the very first hotel owner did experiments on his troublesome son, creating a Frankenstein being that is him.”

Toledo pulled out a chicken leg and gnawed into it.

“He has quite a fondness for chicken.”

“And you know this how?!” the woman screeched. “You barely got here, and you think you can just barge into my room?!”

“I’m terribly sorry, miss…”

“Are you on drugs, lady?”

The bell-hopper pointed to the knife and gasped loudly in warning.

The woman stepped out of the shower and landed a kick at the bell-hopper. He yelped and stumbled to the floor. “And keep this freak away from me!”

‘Okay, that’s just asshole behavior,’ Rolando and HelluvaScribe both thought.

Rolando reached down and retrieved the knife. The bell-hopper raced out of the room. HelluvaScribe and the woman both screamed as Rolando jabbed the knife into the woman’s stomach. She gasped in pain and soon collapsed to the floor. Red blood pooled on the floor and stained the towel.

Ignoring HelluvaScribe’s horrified cries, Rolando washed off the knife and turned off the shower. He stepped over the body, turned off the light and closed the bathroom door.

‘That was fucking close…’ he thought.

He closed the bedroom door and strolled down the hall. He went to the pool and spotted a lone shirtless man with black shorts and short black hair sitting on a lounge chair, fooling on his phone. A young brown-haired boy was wearing red boxers and sat by the edge of the pool, waving his feet back and forth.

Rolando’s Hell cell phone hovered silently in the air in the shadows. He took off HelluvaScribe’s glasses and set them on a lounge chair.

Rolando silently dove in and popped back up near the kid.

“Hello, little guy,” he called with a smile. “Would you like to come swim with me?”

The boy looked over.

‘Don’t swim with him! Run away!’ cried HelluvaScribe.

He held up a purple swim ring. “I believe this is yours?”

The boy nodded.

“Hey, dad!” the boy called to the man. “I’m going swimming with this random lady!”

“Mmhmm…” the dad muttered, not looking up from his phone.

The boy laughed as Rolando spun him around and they playfully splashed each other.

Rolando tossed the ring down to the bottom of the pool and the boy dove down after it. He reached down and grabbed it with a triumphant grin. He popped up and held the ring in the air.

“Look, dad, I…”

The boy yelped as Rolando grabbed hold of him with both hands and shoved him under the water.

The dad let out a “Yes!” as he beat a level on his “Coco Rush” app game. The man looked up to see a lady in a bikini plop his unmoving son onto the floor by his feet. The man stared perplexed as the lady’s arms were bent at unnatural angles.

“I believe this is yours, sir?”

The man glanced down.

“Henry? Why are you asleep?”

He stood up and shook him. He gasped softly in realization and turned to Rolando.

“The fuck did you…”

The man yelped as Rolando grabbed him by his ankles and yanked him to the floor with his superhuman strength. The man screamed as he was dragged backwards into the pool. He held onto the metal ladder railings but was soon pulled under. The man’s body sank underneath the water.

Rolando got out of the pool, leaning his head back with a malevolent cackle.

He retrieved his phone and tapped onto the screen. He set the phone to record another video, speaking in HelluvaScribe’s voice. His face glowed an eerie green from the lighting in the pool.

“Hello there denizens of Envy! It is I, a random mortal lady who just killed a whole bunch of people.” He briefly spoke in a seductive tone, moving a hand toward the groin. “Actually, a demon named Rolando is inside of me and man it feels good!”

He continued. “You may not think much of infestor demons, but we play an important role in influencing humanity through fear. War and disease and STDs can weaken mortals, but nothing destroys a species quite like the infernal of the internal! As the oldest of the Sins, even older than Satan and Lucifer, Leviathan has been around since the dawn of Hell. Exposing their deepest shadows, humans become our food to savor or our clay to mold. If I can possess demons and humans, I’m sure many of you folks can, too! No matter how rich or poor you are, Hell needs you and your natural powers to help us take over Earth. Go see Lord Leviathan to sign up and may every world soon be ours for the taking! Hahahahaha!”

He grinned with a dramatic pause, then added, “And may Leviathan pay me well this time…seriously, I’m kinda getting broke on Earth.”

He ended the video, and his phone vanished into black shadow. He placed HelluvaScribe’s glasses onto the ground.

He opened his mouth and flew out of HelluvaScribe in a black liquid shadow form. She collapsed to the floor.

0 0 0

I groaned and stirred, staring at the pool lights dancing across the ceiling of broken bulbs. I sat up and saw the pool in front of me. A second scratch was now on my arm. Day 2. My glasses were on the floor, so I put them back on. A kitchen knife was next to me. I looked around…then wished I hadn’t.

Two bloated bodies were on the floor by the pool…a shirtless man and a young boy.

Worst of all, a human Rolando stood with his arms folded…and an evil smirk.

“Care to explain what happened, dear?”

I shivered, standing up. “I-I swear, I don’t know what happened.”

Rolando walked over and showed me his phone.

“Perhaps this will refresh your memory?”

To my horror, Rolando had gotten pictures and videos of what looked like me dragging a boy and a man to their watery graves. Then there was a picture of me waving a knife over a screaming blonde lady in a bathroom.

Then I remembered me being chained in my mind and my body moving on its own accord.

“No, no! You did that! You possessed me!”

“You murdered my guests! Shame on you!”

I sank to my knees. “Stop it! I didn’t do it by my own will! It’s not my fault!”

Rolando shrugged, his slender shadow towering over me. “You were the one who let me into your mind.” He leaned in and I tried to scoot away.

“If you hadn’t been so weak and pathetic, those people would’ve been alive right now. In fact, I think I might go show this to the guests…”

“NO! DON’T!”

“No? Tell me why I shouldn’t. They’ll never believe you if you say it was me. You have no proof. I don’t want to see you kicked out or arrested…you’d never be able to go back home then…”

I yelled and tried in vain to stab him with the knife. He grabbed my arm and pulled the knife from my grip, tossing it aside. I sank to my knees.

He leaned in and breathed against my neck, creating goosebumps.

“Look at you…killing people, trying to kill me…getting stimulated by the slightest touch…such easy prey.”

“Please, leave me alone!”

“Oh, I’m just getting started. Say you’ll do anything for me, and I promise you won’t get into trouble.”

“I’m not killing any more people!”

“Oooh…so you do admit you’re a murderer?”

“No!”

“And you admit you enjoy my handsome features?”

I lowered my head, pausing too long.

“I know your thoughts already, there’s no point in lying.”

He brushed back my wet hair and rubbed circles on my neck with his thumb. “If you enjoy it so much, why stop there? You’re a whore! A monster! A demon in the making!”

I stared sadly at my reflection, feeling like an utter loser.

“I’ll need to kill more people later. Do you want to help me on your own or shall I possess you again? Either option works for me.”

I buried my face in my hands. ‘If I have no choice…then at least it won’t be…completely my fault if he’s in my head…’ I thought.

“Possession it is, then! You see how easy it is to let me take over. So…you’ll kill for me?”

I nodded.

“You’ll die for me?”

I nodded, too wrapped in shock and grief to resist.

“And…you’ll indulge me as well?”

“H-how so…?” I breathed.

He wiped tears from my eyes. “You’ll see. Leviathan seems very pleased with your ruthlessness…or at least your obedience. You’ve worked hard and devoted yourself…now it’s time for your reward!”

“D-death?”

Rolando chuckled. “Well, eventually! Surely you don’t want to leave me without having some fun? You’re a real titillator, you are!”

“W-what’s a titillator?” I asked.

Rolando hovered his hands around my bikini top and spoke in his low distorted voice.

“Wanna find out?”

0 0 0

ENVE:
Rolando posted a video:
The video showed me getting possessed, knife in my hand, and then me kissing human Rolando.

“A real titillator this girl is…she will kill for me, literally! I have broken her inside and out…she’ll be ready for Hell in no time. Enjoying our last moments before she goes. Can’t wait for my bounty from Leviathan himself!”

Envious-Karen: Stop playing with your food, Ronaldo!

Radical-Rolando: Stop misspelling my name on purpose, bitch!

Glamorous Glim: We have powers of seduction, don’t really see what the big deal is.

Glimmering Glam: It would be fun to seduce some human males, though. Mermaid transformation is actually not too hard.

Helsa-Alpha-Bitch: You guys are commoner morons! Royal males lust for me all the time. I was the most popular cheerleader in Hell High after all.

Seviathan-The-Man: And I the richest one and lover of sports.

Helsa-Alpha-Bitch: You’re still single, brother.

Seviathan-The-Man: Your boy toys never last.

Helsa-Alpha-Bitch: Jealous little bastard.

Chapter Text

It wasn’t long before Rolando took me back to my room. We entered the bedroom and then arrived in the bathroom.

“Would you like to take it off, or shall I?”

I looked up. Rolando was glancing at my bikini.

Trying to pretend he wasn’t there, I pulled down my bottom and lifted the bra-like top over my arms.

Rolando sneered as he stared at my nude body.

I turned red in the face. “D-do you mind?”

“No, not at all,” he replied.

I hurried into the bathroom, closed the door and headed to the shower. The wall tiles were green. I turned the knobs…

…but instead of water, Rolando’s black goo poured out from the tub faucet.

I yelped out loud, backing away from the tub, closing my eyes and rubbing my head.

“Something the matter?”

I looked up.

Rolando…a nude, gray-skinned Rolando appeared out of nowhere and was lounging in the bathtub covered in the black goo. He had the same transparent white fins sticking from his back.

“No,” I squeaked, heading for the door. The bathroom door wouldn’t budge.

“Please come join me. Don’t be shy.”

I inched forward. “When I said a wash, I meant with water, not…”

“Oh, this? It feels good on the skin. Come on in, you’ll love it.”

‘Do I really want to refuse?’ I thought.

Rolando beckoned me forward and I felt my legs move of their own accord.

“I have something special to show you. On your knees, if you please.”

I carefully lowered myself to the floor.

He chuckled. “I have a… ‘Five-Star-Wonder’ ready for you…”

He lifted himself out of the tub, lowering his feet. His feet were also gray with four curved claws on each foot. Right in Rolando’s clawed hands was…

Oh shit…

“Hey, keep watching,” Rolando called as I slowly opened my eyes.

There it was…his gray dick before me.

My hands shook, my mouth dry.

“Come on…suck and get started,” he whispered.

With trembling hands, I took his dick, slowly moving toward my mouth. I tentatively moved my tongue and licked the end.

I flinched.

“It’s okay. Go deeper,” he said.

‘Guess I’d better get this out of the way,’ I thought.

Black goo crept up my body and created a cold soothing sensation on my head. I felt strangely hungry, and the goo pooling under me created a strange, pleasing sensation between my legs…

‘Are you sure you’re not an incubus or something?’

“I’m someone even better,” he responded.

My mouth closed around his member, and I froze. Why the Hell was I doing this?! How could he reduce me to being in such a state?

I slowly began to suck, and he smirked. I expected it to taste fishy and awful, but the goo was doing strange things to my body and mind.

His dick began to swell as I ran my fingers along it. So gross…so vile…but why was I starting to enjoy it?

“Keep going,” he growled.

My mouth felt hot and wet. If he had pupils, they’d probably be rolling in the back of his head. I couldn’t stop myself.

“Heheheh! I don’t even need to possess you anymore. You’re my perfect puppet already.”

I gripped it harder. A few minutes later, he let out low groans. He gripped the sides of the tub with his long, clawed fingers.

It felt strangely good being the one doing the influencing for once.

“Swallow it all,” he mentioned, breathing heavily.

His dick was engorged now, and my heart was beating rapidly. My heart chilled as he reached a climax, letting out a distorted roar and making the lights flicker.

Without warning, I felt hot semen ejaculate from him, flowing into my mouth. After gaging a bit, I swallowed without thinking. I collapsed to the floor, and he lowered his head, panting.

After a moment, he looked at me again.

“Wow…we seem to be… ‘cumming’ along nicely.”

I rolled my eyes at the random joke.

He bent down to pick me up and I found myself in the black goo tub.

“Can’t wait to see how you taste after this,” he mentioned.

“After what?”

He put his hands on my shoulders and pushed me down.

I expected to hit my head, but I could see nothing but darkness.

0 0 0

The scene shifted, and I soon found myself hovering in a vast indigo ocean. It was icy cold. There were no other fish or marine life around. I couldn’t see any sand or coral beneath me…only a dark abyss below. Strangely enough I could breathe just fine and see underwater without having to close my eyes. My glasses were missing. I swam up to a deep blue light on the surface, but I felt myself staying in place, no matter how fast I moved to try to reach the top.

I then froze in fear as I spotted a dark shadow swimming around me, not too far away. It appeared to be some kind of shark or eel.

Becoming shark bait was not my idea, but at least I wasn’t at the hotel anymore.

The shadowy shark swam closer, and I took deep breaths to try and stay calm.

The creature entered the light, and I gasped.

It was incredibly huge, covered with scales in varying shades of gray. It had transparent white fins, and a long tail with fins on the end. Black spikes lined its back, and more fins stuck out from its back and even along its long, clawed arms. Glowing yellow eyes paralyzed me in place.

For a moment, I thought I was finally face to face with Leviathan.

‘Like my true demon form?!’

Rolando!

He opened his giant mouth, revealing his sharp teeth and I screamed.

Before I could react, his jaw enclosed over me, and I found myself in darkness. Something large, soft, and wet was running along my body. It felt strangely stimulating.

Oh, Satan! It was his yellow tongue!

I was almost completely wrapped in it, feeling it move along my chest and back. It licked me in circular motions and slowly nudged me toward his dark throat.

I was too scared to move.

Closer and closer, I was pushed to the edge.

I yelped and cried as I found myself slipping and sliding down his gullet. It was like a waterslide but more terrifying.

I landed with a sickening splash into his stomach. The liquid felt like a hot tub, not painfully burning at all.

But when I smelled rotten fish and my body appeared to be melting, those were enough to almost make me pass out.

‘Surrender,’ Rolando mused in my mind.

I made myself go limp, as the acid grew hotter, I found myself slipping away, blissfully unaware of anything…

0 0 0

I woke with a start back in the tub at the hotel. I was lying in regular water. The space was quiet as if nothing had happened.

With shaking breaths, I got out and dried off.

I entered my bedroom, worried that I would collapse at any second.

Sharp pains suddenly raced through my groin.

Another illusion?

Nope.

I felt the familiar cramps and saw a trail of red blood on the floor.

Fuck!

Out of all the times to be having it, why now?

“Everything okay?”

Of course. Rolando had to be there, too. He was sitting on my bed next to my black PJs.

‘Stupid period!’ I seethed inwardly.

Avoiding Rolando’s gaze, I reached for my PJs.

He cocked his head.

“Are you bleeding, dear?”

“No,” I lied. I sat on the bed. Rolando moved in front of me and shifted to his nude human form.

My insides squirmed and my clit felt wet at the end.

I buried my face in my hands, screaming in my head.

‘Stop with the arousing and the tormenting, already!’

Rolando laughed and lowered himself to meet my face.

More blood spilled onto the bed. I tried to cover it up.

“Oh shit, I’m making a mess.”

Rolando waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it. Cum and bleed as much as you need.”

“Y-you don’t think it’s gross?”

In response, Rolando licked his lips and inched closer.

“R-Rolando? What are you…?”

He rested one hand on my leg and one slightly over my groin.

“There’s nothing gross about it, little one. Whether you’re male or female, young or old, any kind of blood is savoring to me. You’re just making me more hungry.”

He grinned and held up two fingers. “May I?”

I took a deep breath and nodded.

He gently rubbed his hand on my skin. He moved his two fingers closer and tenderly touched the end of my clit.

I seethed.

“This will sure be fun,” he said.

He moved them deeper into me, ever so slowly. When he moved them in circles, I felt a pang of pleasure. Rolando snickered at my reaction.

My body began to shake and jerk as he moved them faster. Groans began to escape my mouth.

He eventually pulled out his fingers and my clit was pleasantly hot. Blood and cum spilled out onto the floor.

His fingers were coated with blood and white liquid. Fear and arousal flowed through my stomach as he ran his tongue over his fingers, licking it all around.

The sensation was dizzying…I felt like I was going to faint then and there.

I found myself being lifted up, slightly over my bed. It felt like there was an invisible pillow behind my head and rope binding my arms and legs, despite nothing being there.

Demon Rolando hovered over by my legs.

“I think both of us will enjoy this part. You ready?”

Once I felt relaxed enough, I answered, “Yes.”

He read my thoughts. “Don’t worry about any diseases or pregnancy. That won’t happen. Just enjoy the experience.”

My eyes soon rolled in bliss after Rolando gently stimulated my clit and privates for what seemed like forever. He pushed open the flaps of skin, briefly moving his fingers around.

His penis was soon inside me and I gasped.

“Arrrghhh…Rolando…”

“Say my name again.”

As his thrusts quickened, my back arched, and my hips jerked on instinct. He was getting closer to his climax when he leaned his head almost completely back and let out a distorted yell.

I yelled out his name again.

I thought that would be the end of this strange sexual session…

…but when he ejaculated and the sensation reached my clitoris, I screamed so loud that I figured I must have woken up the guests.

He groaned and soon pulled his dick out of me. My legs were coated with blood and semen.

I fell with a start onto the bed. More blissful groans came from me as he licked the stuff off my legs. Then as if that weren’t enough, he playfully squeezed my butt as well.

I was covered in sweat, and it felt like all my nerves were on fire.

My breathing gradually slowed as Rolando finished.

After my body had settled down, human Rolando stroked my head. “Feeling better?”

“Y-yes,” I croaked.

My body collapsed onto the bed, grateful for the rest.

0 0 0

Rolando let me rest for a while, then tapped my forehead.

“Here’s a question for you,” he said.

He shifted into his fish demon form.

“Which of my forms do you like the best?”

I sat up, dumbfounded. I was drowning under his sinister sexual spell…there was no way to answer that.

“I…don’t know…”

Rolando hovered into the air. “Hmmm…Hard choice, isn’t it? I hope you’re ready for what’s next.”

I gulped, excited and terrified at the same time.

“You wanted to know what a titillator was, yes?” he asked.

I could only watch as Rolando morphed into liquid shadow in the air. His distorted laughter echoed in the room.

He lowered himself to the floor. What I saw next was worthy of being another terrifying illusion.

Only it was 100% real.

His lower half hovered in darkness. Rolando’s demon face looked intently at me…

…and so did human Rolando.

Rolando soon appeared as a conjoined twin, his demon head on the right, his human head on the left. His two suits, the red one and the dark purple one seemed to merge into each other.

Both Rolandos spoke in unison: “Looks like you’re in double trouble!”

I screamed, finding myself cornered.

“This form is only temporary,” said demon Rolando. “Now you can have the best of both worlds!”

The two Rolandos looked at each other and stared at me with wide eyes. Demon Rolando licked his lips.

Both were staring at…

My face turned beat red, my arms crossing over my chest. “Oh, shit, shit, shit, shit!”

In the blink of an eye, his two faces appeared right in front of me. Human Rolando’s fingers curled in and separated again, making playful grabbing motions.

“If you’d be so kind…” human Rolando purred, his voice alluring. “We’d like a taste of you, please…”

I found myself lowering my arms.

Human Rolando extended his fingers and lowered them to my right nipple. Sweat beaded my face as he gently rubbed the top. He ran a hand along the sides, giving it an occasional gentle squeeze.

Demon Rolando’s grip was rougher on my slightly larger left breast, but no less stimulating. My breasts began to go erect, and my hips jerked a bit.

The Rolandos paused.

“More?” human Rolando asked.

“Yesssss…” I answered with a shaky moan.

Demon Rolando ran his tongue along my left breast, making me yelp. Human Rolando did the same on the right side. My breasts were soon swollen, wet, and I let out another moan.

“Looks like you’re at our mercy now,” they said, both with their wide wicked grins.

After several minutes, both of them cupped their hands around my breasts. They opened their mouths, slowly inching toward them.

The tension was unbearable…their teasing terrible.

When they both latched their mouths onto my breasts at the same time, I thought my brain would burst. They sucked and I shook. They licked and I laughed uncontrollably.

When they were through, my face was in between their two faces. After they
licked my cheeks, they both whispered into each of my ears: “Surrender, little one.”

The sensations were too much, and darkness came over me.

0 0 0

I found myself in the hotel hallway, some of the lights flickering above me. I was enjoying his erotic exploits like a sicko, but I was also incredibly tired. My exposed body shivered in the open space.

The grinning Rolando portrait stood before me, his eyes boring into my soul.

Distorted laughter echoed through the halls and more lights flickered.

I looked around and saw one of the doors open. From the darkness, human Rolando strolled out.

“You always were a weakling to begin with.”

From another door, out came demon Rolando.

“You knew you were done for the moment you stepped into my hotel.”

“W-what the Hell is going on?!” I cried.

I was soon lifted upside down, unable to move. Around the other side I caught a glimpse of a nude human Rolando and a nude demon Rolando coming in.

“You’re nothing but mindless meat for my own satisfaction!” they both chanted.

“Seriously?!”

The four Rolandos crept closer like zombies as I was suspended helplessly.

Then a shadow Rolando grinned at me with yellow eyes and gripped my throat.

I screamed in terror again as all the Rolandos let out evil distorted laughs.

Shadow Rolando hovered up to watch, as the Rolandos began licking and nibbling along my body.

I yelped in pleasure, despite myself. One bit lightly into my shoulder. Another one ran his tongue along my clit and slithered it inside. I felt more licks and caresses along my butt and more across my stomach.

I felt like I was trapped in some psychedelic trip.

My right arm was coated in black goo and soon went wet and numb. I didn’t think much of it…too immersed in pleasure.

When sharp pains raced across my arm, I began to sob. I felt a cold blade on my skin.

One of the Rolandos hovered next to my other arm.

“Crying like a baby, huh? Music to my ears. Don’t worry, I’m almost finished.”

Almost finished doing what?!

I broke down. “I surrender, Rolando! I’ll do whatever you want!”

The Rolandos taunted me, calling me “demoness,” “whore,” “puppet,” and “tasty morsel.”

I succumbed to the terror and pleasure, tears trailing down my face, soon believing every word they said. They were savoring my fear, pleasure, and desperation. Not even my yells of protest could drown out his words.

“Make this end, please!”

The Rolando near my arm turned to me and slowly licked the blood off the knife.

“All done! Hope you like it!”

I looked at my arm, about to pass out. “ROLANDO” was carved into my arm in red blood.

The last thing I saw was the Rolando portrait enjoying the show before I crashed into blackness.

Chapter Text

I was utterly exhausted, dizzy, and blissed out when the illusions began to fade. I remembered Rolando snapping a picture of me, but it wasn’t with his phone. It was with an older looking black camera, presumably the same one he used to take pictures of his murder victims. My tired brain then realized something…if he had used the old one, that meant he planned on keeping it for himself. Having seen the gruesome pictures of me being possessed and wielding a knife over the human victims on ENVE, I was surprised he didn’t gloat about his sexual escapades with me.

Coated with semen and sweat, I lay on my back. Rolando hovered over me. I could barely feel the third scratch on my arm…or the recent “ROLANDO” name etched into my other arm.

“Looks like someone enjoyed herself.”

I could only groan and nod.

“It sure has been a lot of fun playing with you. Perhaps you’d like to wash up and get some rest?”

Darn it. He vocalized my thoughts out loud.

With shaking legs, I hobbled over to the bathroom. I turned the handles to the shower. No creepy black goo illusions, just regular lukewarm water. To my surprise and relief, Rolando wasn’t there. A fury of fear entered my mind…it was one of my last days on Earth and not even on my familiar Earth. I could only hope that I was still in some psychedelic nightmare and that when I died, I would end up back in my world.

Thankful that I was clean, I dried off, got dressed, and headed back to bed.

To my surprise, there was a small plate of food on a small table for me. Next to it was a fork and knife, a glass of water, and a red rose in a vase. My phone dinged and I looked at Rolando’s text: “Getting things set up for the ritual. Enjoy.”

My heart pounded. Perhaps Rolando was expecting me to die during the ritual. I hoped he couldn’t sense my fear from wherever he was.

I sat down and looked at my dinner.

It was a plate with blue pomegranate-like berries and two cut-up cooked fish on it. One looked like regular salmon. The other had skin that looked purple with a couple small unmoving eyes in the scales.

Envy.

I didn’t want to believe he had traveled back to his world to get this fish, but the ominous evidence stared me in the face.

So, this was the type of food that his kind commonly feasted on. I didn’t want to know if other demons or humans were also on the menu.

I ate everything, trying not to focus on the strange taste of the purple fish. Rolando had drained any last hope of me escaping…I felt utterly helpless. The only thing that could bring me comfort was…

I shuddered. I didn’t like to think that getting intimate with Rolando would be something to crave. But he had breached my very soul, my very willpower. He had turned me into his obedient puppet…and I wondered if even death would allow me to escape his influence.

Then, I thought of something else. This was no redeemable quality of his by any means, but he looked incredibly pleased when he saw me surrender in sexual bliss. Infestor demons only got pleasure from fear and suffering, so this new discovery didn’t make sense.

After finishing up a complementary chocolate piece shaped like a star, I curled up in bed again, staring at the wall.

Before long, I could hear Rolando coming back down the hall. He stopped by my door and appeared to be talking on his cell phone. I pressed my ear against the door to listen.

“Is the mortal ready?”

“Yes, my Lord. I’m retrieving her as we speak. Thanks for helping me get the fish for her dinner. A fitting last meal before her similar meals as a demon.”

I shuddered. Maybe I was a Sinner after all. I couldn’t believe that I could potentially become one. But would being a potentially eternal demon be worth it over being hundreds of humans?

I closed my eyes. Surely there had to be a way back to my world.

“I’m quite pleased with your videos of her murders, Rolando. Even if it was just possession. No one else will know the difference.”

“Yes…she really broke down after her first kill…allowed me to possess her the rest of the time.”

“Ruthlessness and obedience…she’ll be perfect. Tell me, what did you do to her during the last part? I didn’t see any videos.”

Rolando glanced around. “Oh, just messed with her head some more…gave her some…creepy illusions.”

“Excellent. Wouldn’t want you getting too attached to the girl, right?”

Rolando glanced at the door, sensing my presence. “O-of course, my Lord.”

Rolando cleared his throat and grinned. “So…about that bounty…”

“It’ll come in due time after I sense her soul.”

“How much, my Lord?”

“Incredible news! This time, you’ll get 20 souls more than usual!”

Rolando froze. “Uh…20, sir?”

“Yes. 666 souls plus 20.”

“With…all due respect, sir…I’ve been working hard these past few days…devoting extra time to the mortal and posting videos for you. And you seem very keen on taking this soul from another world. Shouldn’t I get paid more…like say, 1,000 souls plus?”

Leviathan let out a low “hmmm.” “So, are you saying that your reward is not sufficient enough?”

“Uh…I didn’t really mean…”

“You think a little cretin like yourself really needs more? I’m being generous. The least you could do is show me some respect.”

Rolando gulped. “It’s…just…considering the situation…”

“I decide what’s best in the situation. Perhaps you’d rather not be paid at all?”

“No, no, sir! Um…I just don’t get why us infestor demons get…paid the way we do…I mean, you know how expensive it is to live in Envy, yes?”

“It should be more than enough, Rolando. You get paid more than the average aquatic for going up to Earth.”

“But your elite make thousands more and they don’t risk their lives to go here!”

“They’re royalty. You’re not. It’s quite simple.”

Rolando glowered, teeth barred. I moved back to my bed before he opened the door. His distorted voice sent chills down my spine.

“At least let my videos go viral…get me some internet fame. I killed I.M.P. for fucks sake!”

“Hahaha!” Leviathan laughed. “You think you’re gonna get immortalized on our social media? Shelly Siren the sexy singer will always be on the top slot. I know you’re one of my best demons, Rolando, but surely you should know that you’re a passing trend. Nothing more.”

Rolando’s eye twitched before he closed the door.

A tense pause. Leviathan spoke. “I can sense your thoughts. I sense you may have some…thoughts of the mortal beyond just business?”

Rolando scoffed. “No way! She’s just my pawn made to suffer!”

“Are you really being fully truthful here? You, an assassin, would blur the line and give into your immature desires?”

“I can sense your thoughts too…you wouldn’t do the same?!”

“Silence!”

Another pause.

“I ordered you to make her into my loyal servant, not some sex toy. I expect this ritual to be completed and the mortal’s soul in my hands by 3AM!”

“Yes, sir! Right away.”

“And do you accept your bounty now?”

“Y-yes, thank you sir!”

“And Rolando…” Leviathan added. “Consider the mortal nonexistent to you from here on out! And don’t let anyone else find out.”

“I won’t leave a morsel behind,” he spoke in a low voice.

He hung up and looked at me.

Hold the phone!

Rolando was surely angry and very scary at the moment.

But did I just see…a hint of fear and sadness in his eyes?!

He paced back and forth, muttering to himself.

“Fucking old hypocrite. He thinks he can just tell me how to behave with humans. It’s my mission. I act how I want!”

He paused, taking deep breaths, occasionally glancing at me.

It felt incredibly strange to try to sympathize with a villain, but I had to break the tense silence.

“I-I’m sorry to hear about all that,” I said quietly. “Very mean of him to boss you around.”

“No one bosses me around,” he replied. “How many more mortals must I kill before he recognizes my full potential?”

I smiled nervously. “How about…none?”

Rolando rolled his eyes. “Very funny. I’ll just keep going…even if I have to kill every guest in this place…the delicious despair…the sweet sadness…I can never get enough!”

“And yet you ignore your own sorrow?” I asked.

Rolando shrugged.

I dared myself to smirk. “Your own sorrow not tasty enough for you?”

Rolando glared at me. “I’m still going to kill you, you know.”

Courage rose in me. “I know that. Do you really think that will make a difference? You could kill everyone on Earth, but what happens next when your loneliness comes back?”

Rolando paused in thought.

“I think I know your worst fear, Rolando.”

Rolando forced a laugh. “I am fear itself, dear. I’m immune to it.”

I stood up. “And my soul is love…yet I enjoy it with all my might. Love is eternal…fear needs vessels. What happens when fear can no longer consume others around it?”

I pause. “It will find what’s left and consume itself.”

“I’ll never consume myself.”

“You of all beings know the sinister powers of psychology! After you’ve been fed your despair and everyone is nothing but bones, you’ll find yourself chained to your own mind, searching everywhere for someone’s sob story, when the only story you’ll ever see is your own.”

Rolando gasped softly.

“There’s no escaping your own trauma…and sooner or later, you’ll need to figure out how to transmute your own pain into something else.”

Rolando rolled his eyes. “Like what? Love? No way.”

“I bet you were born into a place where you knew no real love…you only learned to seek power from the very beginning.”

“I need fear like animals need meat!” he roared.

Then he added, “You’re nothing but a useless little bitch!”

I folded my arms. “Who’s lying now? If I were useless to you, I wouldn’t be in front of you right now!”

“You know nothing! You can’t even possess me!”

“I don’t need to. Sometimes intuition is all you need.”

A tense silence.

I inched closer.

“It’s okay, Rolando. Even the fiercest of monsters need some…appreciation.”

“If this is some pathetic trick to somehow redeem myself…”

“I don’t expect you too,” I cut in. “I’m just giving you something to think about. When I’m gone and you’re alone.”

Rolando ran his claws through his hair. “I don’t need anybody else! I only need fear and other’s pain!”

I stared at him in the eyes, bravely. “Is that what you think? Or is that what your society thinks? You…like dominating others, don’t you?”

Rolando paused and then showed a small grin. “Yes.”

“This is how I know you’re…n-not a mindless monster. You say you only like suffering. Why did you enjoy having sex with me?”

“Because I overpowered you!”

“But like a sicko, I…enjoyed it. And you enjoyed my bliss.”

“So?”

“You got off something other than fear! I’d say for an infestor demon, that’s an incredible change.”

I tried not to laugh as Rolando briefly stood with a stunned look. He hovered around me, lost in thought.

Then he faced me and sighed. Ideas came to his head. “My, my. You really are something else. No other mortal would dare guess my own fears. You try and turn me good…perhaps I can keep trying to turn you evil.”

“I’ll never be evil! Killing those people was not by my own will!”

“And I’ll never be what you call ‘good.’ And here we are.”

He peered deep into my eyes. “Now that I think about it, you’re far from useless. You seemed to see right through me…dare I say you’re special.”

I blushed despite myself.

“If you really are foolish enough to…”

Ocean water morphed around him, small bubbles glowing.

“…dive into my depths, perhaps you’ll find something interesting…”

He was manipulating me once again, but I couldn’t hide my morbid curiosity.

“I will be killing you, so knowing my secrets won’t be a big deal,” he said.

‘What if I tell them to other demons in Envy?’ I thought. ‘Reveal your own fears on the ENVE app?’

“I’ll make sure you won’t,” Rolando mentioned. “No one will believe you and you’ll be mine.”

‘Hey, you said you wanted me to be evil. Who’s the manipulator now?!’

“Heh. You got me there.”

He hovered back. A wide grin spread across his face as he waved his hands in front of him. Darkness danced as he focused intently.

“W-what are you doing?”

“Making sure you get to stay with me.”

I raised a playful eyebrow. “So you love me?”

“I love how delicious and pathetic you are.”

I shrugged. “I guess that’s what happens when you spend time with mortals too long…others would think you weak for forming relationships…”

Rolando seethed. “You will not tell my boss or anyone anything!”

I held up my hands. “Even if I wasn’t your puppet, I would never do such a thing!”

Rolando briefly looked taken aback.

“You’re an untrustworthy person,” I said, “But you can trust me fully that I mean it.”

Rolando peered into my head and his face softened. “Ok…well, I guess that settles it.”

He focused on his dark magic again. “I think I figured out something that’ll be a win-win for both of us. How about you accept my deal?”

I shook my head. “Fuck, no! You really think I’m stupid enough to make a deal with a demon?”

“No. Quite the opposite.”

“I don’t need to know your secrets if you don’t want me to! Why not just let Leviathan take me for himself?”

Rolando’s growls turned distorted as he manifested something and showed it to me.

“Because we both know I want something more…”

My blood turned to ice. I was staring at…

“Yes, it’s a contract. Yes, I want your soul. Cliché but true.”

“No way!”

Rolando chuckled darkly. “This isn’t a choice, sweetheart. I have already claimed your body and your mind the last few days. Naturally your soul is next. Go ahead and read it.”

“I, ----- hereby offer my body, mind, and soul to the infestor demon Rolando of the Envy Ring of Hell in exchange for these benefits and circumstances:

- “Immediate return to my home world upon my own (second) death (as a Sinner demon via angelic weapons, death by elite, magic or other natural causes) and upon the death of Rolando. Upon Rolando’s death, both our souls shall be transferred to my home world at once, back to the same time as when I fell through the portal…”

I gasped. Surely that couldn’t be possible! It would be like I had never left home! But being the trickster that he was, Rolando wasn’t going in without something benefiting him.

And that’s when I saw the catch:

“…and Rolando’s soul shall follow me as well, allowing him the chance to feast on the fears of humans in either world.”

“Rolando, please, you can’t do this!” I cried.

“You should thank me that I came up with this idea to save your skin from eternity in Envy! Keep reading.”

“Other benefits:
-Enhanced powers, instincts and possession abilities as Rolando’s counterpart, Rolanda.”

“You dare try and change my name?!”

Rolando chuckled. “You’re gonna be an incredible monstrosity!”

“I’ll never be like you!”

“We’ll see about that.”

‘Just you wait, Rolando, until I can possess you and move you around with my powers! See how it feels to be mentally powerless!’

Rolando licked his lips slightly. “Try it, dear.” Was he seriously getting off at the thought of me dominating him?!

“How can you even make a contract anyway?” I asked.

“I’m a demon, what else do you expect? Mortals have been making deals with the devil for thousands of years. This contract will affect your very afterlife.”

I froze. “W-why not just dump me to Leviathan and accept your bounty? Not enough for you, isn’t it?”

I whimpered and shook…and felt a tang of arousal as he purred, cupping my chin: “Your soul will be more than enough payment for me.”

He stood behind me, hands on my shoulders. “For both of our sakes, I suggest you sign it.” He released me.

“Can I wait until…”

“No!” He let out a deep sigh. “You must sign it before the ritual. Please.”

I looked up at him. Was he really that desperate?

“Yes, you could say I’m desperate. After that phone call and all I’ve worked for, do you really think I’d let my boss keep you all to himself?”

“You’re bluffing.”

“Am I?”

He stepped away, folding his arms with a small smile.

“What are you doing, Rolando?”

“Waiting for you to sign it.”

“I’m not gonna sign it!”

“You read it. You know it’s your only chance of going back to your world.”

“I don’t suppose you could help me find a portal instead?”

“I already told you I wouldn’t let you go. I intend to keep that promise. Now it’s your turn.”

“You really are a sadistic freak!”

Rolando grinned. “It’s what I do best.”

“Then make me sign it!” I declared. “Possess me! Harm me! Do something if you wanna stoop so low!”

“You must sign it of your own free will.”

I scoffed, folding my arms. “So NOW you say I finally have free will? Just make me if you’re so desperate.”

“It’s how contracts work. Both parties must agree.”

“But I don’t agree with it.”

“That’s up to you.”

“Maybe I should let your boss get angry at you! Then maybe he wouldn’t send you to haunt more humans anymore!”

Rolando just stood unfazed. “I suppose you could do that. But let me ask you this: do you want to have a chance to get back home and stay with me…or would you rather be Leviathan’s eternal commoner servant?”

“M-maybe Leviathan will take me back home instead…”

“We both know that’s bullshit,” Rolando stated.

Once again, I was helplessly wrapped around Rolando’s finger, falling into one dark deceptive hole over another.

With a shaking hand, I took the hovering fish bone pen in my left hand.

“Y-you know if you don’t take me home, you’ll have to pay some price, right?”

“Things will naturally work out on their own,” was all he said.

I hovered the pen over the parchment, over the signature line. Before I could start, Rolando got to my thoughts again. “Sign with your full mortal name, please.”

I gulped. “HelluvaScribe not good enough?”

“I only want the best from you. I promise you will not regret this.”

“Swear on it!”

“I swear on Leviathan’s fury that you will not regret becoming mine!”

“That wasn’t what…”

Rolando cocked his head.

“Now swear that you will also sign a contract I’ll make for you!” I tried.

Rolando laughed. “Name one human who has successfully overpowered a demon. I’ll wait.”

“King Solomon!”

“Was an asshole and we both know it.”

I had to chuckle at that.

Rolando stood and waited some more. His unusual method of suspense worked, and I finally couldn’t take it.

Blinking back tears, I held the fish bone pen and signed my name. Rolando traced his claw over one of my scratches, drawing a bit of red blood. He then scratched his own arm with a clawed finger. He held his two claws over the paper. The red and black drops fell onto the parchment, merging into each other.

Rolando cackled wildly as the parchment and pen vanished. Bulbs burst from outside the hall and the room was plunged into darkness and cold.

I was lifted into the air and then set down on the bed. All I could see was Rolando’s glowing yellow eyes and sharp teeth. He pressed his knee into my chest and gripped my wrists, pinning me down.

He inhaled deeply and slowly opened his mouth. As he breathed and growled, I felt numb and incredibly cold. My chest and head started pounding and it felt like a snake was wrapping around my chest. I shook and gasped for air, my eyes beginning to roll back. Dizziness took me in and out of consciousness and a few times, it felt like was outside my body.

Finally, Rolando moved back, and my head rolled to the side. My hand and arm looked incredibly pale in the dark. Was I dead?

Rolando licked his lips and chuckled. “Ohhohoholy shit! I forgot how delicious the stuff is!”

My worst fear came true when Rolando leaned down and spoke in a dark whisper.

“I just consumed a good chunk of your soul.”

I was too drained to speak.

‘Why did you do it?! Surely this wasn’t in the contract!’

Rolando smirked. ‘I told you that I own your soul, especially after you signed it. Perhaps you didn’t read the invisible fine print!’

‘Why not just…’

‘Consume it all? I would, but I have to leave some for Leviathan since I’ll be sending the rest of you to Envy. Don’t worry, though, I’ll give you back your energy once we make it to Envy together.’

‘I don’t trust you!’

‘Heh heh, heh. We’ll work on that.’

He helped me sit up on the bed, me staring at the floor, the room out of focus.

“By the way, Leviathan doesn’t need to know about my little feast on you. He is the embodiment of Envy after all…but even he will know that he can’t get his way all the time. And thanks to you, I believe I’ll finally get mine.”

He stared at me again, water forming around him. “Now, before we start the ritual…”

He hesitated a bit. “Let me try something different…”

As quick as thought, I was consumed by him in his liquid form, collapsing again.

0 0 0

I found myself in the old mind theater again in my seat. Strangely enough, I wasn’t bound by rusted chains this time. What was he up to now?

He slipped out of my chest and manifested next to me. He was eerily silent as the curtains opened and the silent mind movie began.

I prepared myself for more mental torment.

But the green-tinted memories I saw this time weren’t my own.

I was staring at what appeared to be a black watery void. I spotted a large demonic-looking fish with its mouth open wide. The camera raced to the right as the teeth barely missed. Black underwater caverns twisted this way and that. When a clearing was revealed, I saw a serpentine figure with long white transparent hair, gray skin, glowing escas on her fin ears, and glowing eyes. She smiled softly with her sharp teeth, moving close in an embrace.

She had to have been Rolando’s mother.

His mother nudged Rolando forward toward a group of smaller fish. She caught one in her mouth and handed the half-eaten bits to him. I saw a series of fish getting eaten, more and more as he grew up.

Then to my amazement, I could see the Envy Ring itself. The buildings were decorated with coral, seaweed and eyes along the sides. Mega-size billboards and TV screens advertised everything from phones to drugs, to aquatic themed music and movie stars. The demons were morphing and shifting from aquatic forms to more bipedal forms suited for navigating on land. Royal demons in scaly dresses and pearls were posing in videos and posters around every corner… “Jealous yet?” read the ads. With so much emphasis on trends and being the best, I could see why anyone would get messed up in a place like that.

Your worth…the amount of love you received…your very livelihood dependent upon your ruthlessness and influence! If you weren’t seen and heard by the best or by many of the masses, you were nothing but a bottom feeder sulking in the bowels of the Envy Hell civilization.

And Rolando’s killings were his twisted form of entertainment…an escape.

The next scene, though I couldn’t see him, I sensed a younger Rolando being pushed around by a group of bullies. I then saw the stern faces of Rolando’s mother and father, both with transparent white hair, fin, ears, and glowing eyes. Both wore nice suburban clothing. There was no hitting or abuse, but a lot of silent chiding and disapproval. From watching other scenes, I also got a sense of disdain from the Envian demons against other species like imps, succubi, Hellhounds, and humans. It was like seeing a malevolent elitist Atlantis.

Then there were flashes of Rolando traveling into mind theaters and looking at other demons’ memories. A clawed hand reached out to a fish demon chained in his head, propping open his teary eyes to make him watch more.

I was appalled by Rolando’s sick pleasure in seeking other people’s suffering. I saw face after face of crying demons…male and female, rich and poor, being forced to view their own flaws.

Then to my surprise, I found myself sobbing at a sad scene. Rolando appeared to be of age…a young age. His parents gave him a hug, a wave…and then swam off.

Just vanishing without another glance.

The tall imposing buildings, the bustle of the crowds, glares from passerby, many looks of disgust down at him from the higher-ups…

Rolando was left to survive all on his own!

Without thinking, I leaned in and sobbed into his chest. Rolando didn’t harm me or chide me…he let me stay there for a moment. Then he gently pushed me off, making me sit up.

Then I saw another scene on the screen: a snapshot of a poster from Lord Leviathan, a job advertisement to encourage infestor demons to invade the human world! Dread spread through me when I saw a sort of slogan on the ad: “Taste human flesh for the first time!” I saw Rolando’s arm move forward, shaking hands with a mysterious figure…but could only see the glowing eyes.

Then the last several scenes were of several hotel guests and the previous manager berating him while he was in human form. I flinched as more scenes showed him disemboweling and killing several other humans at the hotel. Then he was hovering through the air, fighting Blitzo and Millie in the pool room.

Then the screen went blank.

I sat stunned in my seat…hardly believing what I just saw.

“You…may be wondering why I’ve chosen to share this with you,” Rolando said.

“Normally, I’d never share this stuff with anybody. Ideally, you’d be dead by now and in the Pride Ring.”

I lowered my head.

“But since Lord Leviathan has taken an interest in you…it seems that I have as well.”

He looked me deep in my eyes.

“Since I’ll be killing you shortly and Leviathan is close to getting you, I figure you deserve something…special. I know what it’s like to be you, now you can find out what it’s like to be me…sort of. I’ve lived in Hell for a long time…a hundred years of human time means nothing. I guess you could also say that I…or another version of me worked for the Queen Leviathan. I’ve never shown these to anyone else…I’ve certainly had fun manipulating you, but I’m being completely real this time…I, a Hellborn, won’t last forever, but you, a new Sinner, will be practically indestructible…and under my power. Who would be more fitting than you to carry on my fearsome legacy, eh, Rolanda?”

“So that’s your plan? Using me to immortalize you and your legacy?!”

Rolando shrugged. “Why the fuck not? Besides, you and I do have some things in common. We both wear glasses, we both love taking pictures, we love to swim…”

“I am nothing like you!” I protested.

“You killed my guests!”

“Not of my own will!”

“You killed people in some of your past lives!”

“THAT DOESN’T COUNT!”

Rolando cupped my cheeks as tears spilled from my eyes. He scooped up a drop and dabbed it on his tongue. “Face it, dear. Leviathan wants you to be his vicious loyal princess. And I’ve made you into my sweet little plaything. Death is coming to you, and the only choice you’ll have if you want to endure my world is to become like me.”

“Would you…really like it if I tried to kill you like a monster?!”

“I own your soul, remember? If you killed me, both of us would return back to your world…and I’d get to feast on the rest of your kind while you would watch like a pathetic helpless husk!”

He gently poked his claws into my neck, inching his teeth close. I closed my eyes in surrender.

“It’s over, little one,” he mused. “No matter what happens next, I’ll get to enjoy myself. You have reached my darkest depths, so relax and let me string you along for the ride.”

Dark waves and fog obscured the screen, numbing my mind and body.

I drifted in and out of consciousness as he carried me down the hall.

I could barely scream or move. I soon found myself nude on a wooden floor in the same room with the chandelier overhead. My left thigh was sharp with a pain, almost burning. Black, blue, and indigo candles were in a wide circle. A cold knife blade dug into my skin as Rolando carefully carved Leviathan’s sigil into me. I heard a few “jedans” in the chant, but the rest sounded like demonic gibberish.

I was in a fetal position, my arms and legs bound with rope and covered in Rolando’s strange black goo. I was biting a dark cloth in my mouth. Rolando snapped a picture of me with his phone and sent it to his boss and the rest of Envy.

I let myself get carried away by Rolando’s last illusions, thankful to find a perverted distraction from the sacrificial ritual.

“Indulge me,” an illusion Rolando echoed to me.

I wasn’t sure if it was the pain, or the illusion Rolando moving his gray dick toward me, or if I was actually biting the cloth, but I bit down as hard as I could. For all the shit he did to me, perhaps showing him some pain might draw some sense into him. Seeing him gasp in surprise, even if he wasn’t there, gave me a strange satisfaction in all this madness.

Wait…why…why was I doing this?! Suddenly craving lustful domination and inflicting pain?

Rolando was right…I was helpless and utterly pathetic.

I sobbed heavily.

Both Rolandos appeared very pleased. The illusions faded and I surrendered to my thoughts.

Chapter Text

The ritual was finally over. The candles were blown out, leaving the vast room in darkness. My left thigh burned and stung from the carved Leviathan sigil. My eyes grew wide as I stared at my left arm. Over the three thin scratches was a new one.

Still curled up on the hard wooden floor, I closed my eyes, hoping to get some rest.

“You’ve been an absolute gem these past few days, dear,” Rolando praised. He took out the cloth from my mouth and untied my bonds. “Are you ready to go home?”

“Yes,” I answered weakly. I had to get back to my world, no matter what.

Rolando carefully picked up my nude body with his clawed hands. I let myself be carried along out of the room and down the hallway. The lights were dim and no one else was there.

“Huh?” I asked as he carried me past my room. “Where are we going?”

“For a little swim,” he mentioned mysteriously.

I figured he was going to taunt me more and wash off the dried blood from the sigil.

We entered the pool room, and the pool glowed its eerie green light. I seemed to be accepting of whatever plan he had next.

But when I heard a deep growl rumble from his throat with a hint of sadistic pleasure, my blood turned cold. He hovered closer to the pool, and I shuddered.

“Hey, what’s wrong, dear? I thought you liked being in the water.”

Brief yelps came from my mouth.

“That’s not really gonna do anything. There’s just the two of us here,” Rolando said. “But your primal panic is particularly pleasing, so please continue.”

I just shook and looked away. “I-I said I wanted to go home.”

“You are going home,” Rolando chuckled. “Your new eternal home.”

“Let me go, please, Rolando!”

“You should already know why I’m going to kill you,” he mused.

He lowered himself halfway into the water.

He leaned closer and I could feel his hot breath on my skin.

“I won’t let Leviathan or anyone else watch this time…this session is too special for that.”

He leaned in. “Plus, I’ve been desperate to feast fully on your flesh and feelings for a while and I think it’s time I receive my due reward.”

He lowered me into the water ever so slowly.

“Heh. I actually think this is a better scenario than the hanging I had planned. We both get to be in our element, and I get to be the last one you see.”

“But…but I’ll just go back to my own world…”

Rolando just tsked at me.

“I don’t think so. Lord Leviathan is the oldest of the infernal rulers...at least in this world’s Hell. When he wants souls, he gets them. And when I get hungry…”

My back touched the water.

“…I always find a way to feel satisfied again.”

I shuddered some more.

He gently stroked my cheek. “Remember, this will only feel unpleasant for a moment, but it’ll soon be over. I’ll try and come visit you in Hell if I get the chance…it’ll be interesting to see how far you’ve progressed.”

The water crept over my legs, arms, and chest until only my face was visible.

His yellow eyes glowed with malice, and he barred his teeth in a wide sinister grin.

“This is my favorite part, so I hope you can enjoy some of it, too. Best of luck…my little Rolanda…”

Before I could blink, I felt myself being shoved under the water. He went under with me. For the first seven seconds or so, it was relaxing.

Then I felt pressure building in my chest. I instinctively lifted myself toward the surface…

…but strong clawed hands held my legs and waist.

I gasped in a panic, bubbles near my mouth, clawing at the water. I let out scared garbled sounds, kicking and flailing and punching. No matter how much I moved, it was useless; his grip was too strong.

I gasped and choked some more, black spots starting to creep into my vision. I lowered my head and my body went limp, my eyes staring at the floor. I thought it would be the end…

…until I felt the brief sharp pain of teeth digging into my neck. I could barely see the red blood flowing out and I didn’t want to see it.

Through the pain, time seemed to stand still, and I felt darkness around me…

…and strangely enough, there I was back in the worn movie theater of my mind. I sat weak and wheezing in a seat, glimpsing at a black fog and water rushing in along the floor. Peering at the theater screen, my heart stopped when I spotted a green-tinted image of Rolando winking at me before the screen faded to black.

There were no chains binding me to the seat this time.

Then I saw Rolando appear before me as a dark silhouette, towering over me. He didn’t need to keep me in place…even if I had more strength, I couldn’t struggle against him.

The last words I heard from Rolando chilled me to my soul: “Sweet dreams, little one.”

I almost felt like passing out…I could still feel the pain of dying. I barely noticed Rolando morphing into his naked form, pushing apart my legs and beginning to grind himself against me.

I was being murdered and mindfucked at the same time…and there was nothing I could do about it. I almost wished he had killed me off earlier…heck I almost wished I never discovered the Helluva-verse in the first place.

The only thing left to do was let Rolando drag me along and wait for it to end. Through the last agonizing moments, I could still feel a fiery flow of pleasure from down below in my groin.

After what seemed like forever…the terrified thoughts and the agony finally ceased…

0 0 0

ENVE:
Radical-Rolando posted a new video:
The video showed Rolando eating my heart and organs with a sinister grin, red blood on his face and clothes.

“Finally got to kill her! Just as tasty as I thought she would be. Sweet human said she’d die for me and that I could have her heart…she certainly kept her promise!”

Envious-Karen: What a show-off. I don’t go around posting what I eat.

Glimmering Glam: Holy shit, he really does get off killing humans. Perhaps we should incorporate a similar theme at our next show.

Glamorous Glim: You know Mammon, though, we need to stick to the latest trends. One that doesn’t involve that Fizzarolli freak!

Helsa-Alpha-Bitch: Possessor hippie played with his food too much. Now her soul will be stuck in Pride like all the other nobodies.

Seviathan-The-Man: Lord Leviathan must have some strange reason to think that mortal will somehow end up in Envy. Lucifer won’t let that happen. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if that soul was double dead by now.

Envious-Karen: Hell is utterly confusing anyway. And frankly, I don’t care. So long, Rolando!

Radical-Rolando: Thanks for spelling it right this time!

Envious-Karen: I meant Ronaldo, you freak! Darn typo!

When I opened my eyes, I saw what looked like a purple sky underwater. Silhouettes of fish swam overhead, and a shark’s shadow swayed to the side.

I slowly lifted up my head and saw some coral in front of me. The ocean was cool but felt really nice. It was so beautiful being so deep…

Wait…HOW WAS I ABLE TO BREATHE COMPLETELY NORMALLY AT THIS DEPTH?!

I felt way too heavy to be a free-traveling spirit. Sadly, my spirit felt like it was in a body…and from what I could vaguely remember, it was the first time that it was a body my soul did not choose.

Hovering in front of me were a pair of long gray scaly legs and four small claws on each slender foot. Where those mine?! They couldn’t be!

I wore what appeared to be a black skirt and a plain purple short-sleeve shirt. Strangely enough, the clothes didn’t drag in the water. In fact, they almost merged against my form like a second skin. Two slender gray limbs with four clawed fingers hovered in front of me.

A crystal shard appeared in front of me, allowing me to see…

…my face?!

A gray scaly demonic face with sharp teeth, glowing yellow eyes, fin-shaped ears and dark spots off to the side like freckles. I was wearing red sunglasses with sharp yellow trim and when I opened my mouth, my long tongue was yellow. The strangest features were my hair of purple and black tentacles which almost reached to my shoulders and a glowing esca hanging down from the center of my head.

A distorted scream escaped my throat, scaring away the nearby marine life…

…except for one ominous, very familiar figure standing next to me.

“Hello again, my sweet.”

Looking up with wide eyes, I saw Rolando standing smug in his black pants, shoes, black undershirt and purple vest. He waved his hand, and the crystal mirror shard dropped to the sandy floor.

I had been hovering a few inches off the sea floor. He held my legs and lower back before I could think of swimming away.

“My goodness little morsel,” he purred, “You new form and that scream of terror you did…a doubly divine taste!”

“Y-you killed me…”

“Sorry, but it had to be done,” he mentioned. “Everyone here is native to Envy. Even if Lord Leviathan didn’t want you here, you’d still have to become a demon and be owned by someone here.”

He spoke in a dark tone. “Fortunately, you already are.”

I could see a flash of Rolando holding purple glowing chains in my mind before it faded.

Rolando leaned down and whispered in my ear. “Could you do a little flavor for me?”

I gulped and nodded.

“Now that I’ve successfully taken you to my home world, can you call me Master Rolando?”

I closed my eyes and nodded.

“Don’t be shy. I wanna hear you say it.”

I stuttered.

“Hey, I know what you’re thinking. Don’t worry, you’re not a slave or anything. I won’t beat you or make you clean things all the time. Just think of the role as an assistant, a partner in crime of sorts.”

He traced a claw along my jaw. “And of course, my go-to snack.”

‘Please don’t eat me again! I just got here!’

“I won’t eat you…yet,” he read my mind. “Just say my title. I am the most infamous infestor in Envy, after all.”

He glanced over at a few aquatic demons, and they shrank back.

He turned back to me. “So, I had fun with you at the One Star Wonder, gave you a new form, no one else can invade your mind thanks to me, and I’ll show you how to survive and thrive. I’ll even let you stay in my underground mansion. What do you say?”

“Thank you…”

He stared into me. “Yes?”

“Thank you…M-Master Rolando.”

“Very good,” he grinned. “Humans, Sinners, Imps, Succubi, Angels…the sea’s the limit when it comes to all the delicious beings we’ll eat together!”

Rolando’s dark laughter gave me chills.

He set me down, allowing me to test my new body. Like Rolando, I had fins sticking out from my back and a hidden eel tail I could extend out and retract back into my body.

Rolando hovered in front of me. “You don’t always have to turn into black goo and enter someone’s head. Sometimes physical pain and emotional torment is enough to break them.”

Rolando pointed at my head. “Did you know that you can use your esca to hypnotize your prey? You’ll be able to see their darkest thoughts like a movie in your mind.”

I stared into Rolando’s eyes and waved my esca back and forth.

Rolando smirked and grabbed it with his fingertips. “Nice try, my precious pearl. Your new powers don’t work on me, since I own you. But we’ll have plenty of time to practice later!”

He chuckled again and licked my neck softly with his yellow tongue. He scratched me lightly on the arm and was pleased to see my blood was still red…the last reminder of my human traits. “Your new body is only the beginning of your new life.”

Rolando spread out his arms. “On that note, welcome to the Envy Ring.”

Rolando held out his hand and I took it.

“So, Rolanda, you enjoying Envy so far?”

I nodded, too dazed to speak.

“Allow me to show you the best place here.”

I spotted glimmering underwater mansions and gold statues in the distance.

Was everybody rich and pompous in this ocean?

Rolando stood in front of me and held my hands. It suddenly felt like my body was being pulled to another location. When the feeling stopped…

‘D-did we just teleport?’

‘Yep,’ Rolando answered me in my mind.

Teleportation, manifesting, and mind-reading were normal powers for spirits and demons. Having been a human for so long, the effects were still jarring.

Rolando moved to the side. “Welcome to my Five Star Wonder!”

Off to the side, I spotted hunched-back demons using pickaxes and their sharp nails to mine for crystals, pearls and shells. They placed the pieces in carts made of coral and swam for their journey toward a large factory building. The demons looked like sand-colored miniature trolls wearing clothing made of seaweed. One of them resembled the bellhopper from the One Star Wonder.

Rolando glanced over. “Oh, don’t mind them. Those are the Igors. They mine for crystals and take them to the LeviTech factory. That’s how phones, technology and crystal portals are made, both here and the other Envy Ring where Queen Leviathan is. With this realm being the birthplace of social media and advancements, is it no surprise Envy is so exclusive. Makes other demons envious of us.”

I stared sadly for a while at the subservient creatures.

He snickered. “Did you think all of us in Envy were just rich possessor demons? Every civilization has its bottom-feeders. Igors are one of them.”

“W-where is…?”

He led me to a large round black hole that almost perfectly blended in with the surrounding black sand.

“Right here.”

The hole was covered by an iron black grate. In the center was a white circle with a gold “R.”

Rolando pressed his hand against the “R” and a few moments later, the gates opened. He mentioned for me to go first, so I slowly swam down the hole. Rolando followed me and the gates clanged shut above us.

“No need to be sacred of the dark, my dear. Though I wonder if you’ll be eldritch enough to experience the wonders of my home.”

Traveling through the tunnel, I discovered Rolando’s lair was a sort of mansion underneath a cave. It was not as overt and glamorous as the gems and gold-filled mansion that Helsa and Seviathan lived in Beverly Gills. Heck, it looked different to all the other underwater buildings I had seen.

But it sure as hell was just as impressive.

Rolando typed in a passcode and two black doors opened. Overhead, I spotted a teal lantern-shaped light hovering in place. We went through another tunnel until we arrived at a wider clearing. There was no longer sand below me. My clawed feet brushed what looked like blue tile. My eyes drank in the sight of an underwater mosaic with designs of purple tentacles, colorful fish and green electric eels. I looked back at the entrance, the large round hole that was perfectly cut into the blue wall.

I flipped upside down with delight. I was in a swimming pool!

Rolando led me up and we both broke the surface of the water.

I mentally asked him. ‘Why do you need a pool when you’re already underwater?’

‘Why not?’ Rolando shrugged as he spoke in my head.

‘Fair enough.’

Around us, the cave walls were made of stone, and several crystals had been cut into the shape of seashells that emitted teal, blue, and purple light. I wasn’t surprised to see a few small crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.

“Where’s your fancy car?” I teased.

Rolando snapped his fingers as we hovered out of the pool. A slot off to the left opened, revealing a small garage. Floating in place was a long black vehicle shaped like an eel. The front was decorated with sharp teeth designs, the side mirrors were fin-shaped, and the headlights looked like large slanted green eel eyes. A large overhead tube allowed the car to travel back up and out of the seafloor.

I looked around…aside from the crystal lights, there were no windows. It was not really a problem since we could both see in the dark.

But despite how cool it looked, it felt like I was entering a tomb with hardly any routes to the underwater outdoors.

Rolando manifested a large piece of fish in his hand and tossed it to…

I reeled back as three shadowy eels darted from the kitchen and chomped into the fish right after he tossed it.

“Nox, Nyx, Nil…such good girls,” Rolando cooed.

“Y-you have servants and pets?!” I exclaimed.

“Yeah, pretty much,” he mentioned as the eels grinned with glowing yellow eyes before zooming off. “My fiendish little friends can morph into other beings to scare off intruders. They can turn into a person someone fears the most…and they love the mental torment as much as I do!”

I made a mental note to stay far away.

“They are very affectionate to their fellow infestor demons.” He then whispered, “Don’t let them catch a whiff of your blood: most demons have a…notable craving for humans.”

I was swimming in a sea of both wonder and dread…and Rolando was enjoying both those feelings from me.

Near the garage entrance was the drawing room, complete with black leather couches with eye designs, purple lamps shaped like jellyfish, and a large flat screen TV. The floor wasn’t wood or carpet, but soft black sand. Strangely enough, it floated in place and didn’t make any grainy messes.

The TV was impressive enough, but I was floored when I saw near the kitchen, red doors that led to a mini movie theater. And of course, there was a popcorn maker decked in red right outside. Under the glowing blue “Now Showing” sign were a list of Rolando themed films: “Helluva Infestor,” “Sinner Dinners,” and “Hazbin Wonder.”

I face-palmed. No wonder he liked popcorn and movies so much…he could warp minds and make his own stuff in a private cinema!

Rolando briefly showed me one of his bathrooms: a spacious area with a toilet, sink, a large shower sectioned off on one side and a jacuzzi on the other. The walls and floor were white tile with blue, green and purple diamond designs. The light on the ceiling was in a spiral shape, glowing teal.

Instead of stairs, a small river of water carried us up to the other floors. I saw more dark holes that led to secret passageways and bedrooms. A few more Igors were cleaning the floors and one of them straightened up a portrait of Rolando and his parents.

“Wanna see my room?” He winked at me. “I’ll show it to you after you see something special.”

The current took us back down to the living room. Rolando led me to his favorite spots: the dining room and kitchen. The dining room table was made of colored sea glass. In the kitchen, he had a sink, a stove, microwave, refrigerator with an attached freezer and mother-of-pearl counters. There was also a bar off to the side with bottles of all kinds of Hellish flavors: Beelzejuice, Sin Gin, Envino, and a new one: Best Infest.

Rolando mentioned for me to take a seat. He opened the fridge.

“Is there anything I can get you, little morsel? I have Envian eel, catfish, oyster, shrimp, salmon…”

I chose shrimp and salmon. He placed a dozen shrimp and a large blue fish on a plate made out of bone and gently pushed it in front of me.

I stared in confusion. “Thanks Rolando, but…”

“But what?” He filled up his own plate and sat across from me.

“Shouldn’t this all be cooked?”

Rolando shrugged. “It can be if you want. But if it’s too much trouble, just eat it raw.”

My eyes widened. “I can’t eat raw things, I…”

Rolando snickered softly. “Still not used to your new form, I see. You’re a demon, now. That means you can eat pretty much anything, raw, cooked or otherwise.”

He greedily took big bites of his fish. “Utensils aren’t required either…our claws work just as well. Just don’t leave any messes behind…I like to keep the place tidy.”

“Yes, sir,” I responded. Then I thought, ‘Says the one who left messes of his human victims behind.’

“Hey, I heard that,” he poked me in the arm.

I gingerly lifted a piece of shrimp and popped it into my mouth. It wasn’t too hard to chew at all. I happily ate the rest of my seafood. And just to be on the safe side, I said, “Thank you for the meal, Master Rolando.”

“You seem to be adjusting and behaving quite well. I’m pleased,” he mentioned. “But that was only a snack.”

“Wait, what?!” I washed the dish and put it away.

“Yes, I have some more food downstairs. Right this way.”

He led me to the back of the kitchen and to a large round hole in the wall, covered by another black grate.

With a supernatural force from Rolando, the gate swung open. There were no stairs…just a tunnel sloping downwards.

Sensing something off, I swam backwards, but Rolando was already behind me.

“Come on now, there’s no need to be scared of the basement.” He gently nudged me forward. Despite my eyes and esca helping me, it felt like I was swallowed by the black.

We made it to the bottom. The basement looked just as impressive as the upper floors. It had a TV, a sandy floor, couches and various books. Further back was another fancy bathroom with a hot tub and shower.

And the high ceiling…I swore I was looking at a bunch of hanging crystals glued into place. They glowed soft blues and purples, making me sleepy.

Finally, against the wall was a magnificent looking bed. The headboard was shaped like a black clamshell and the sheets and bedspread were violet in color and softer than silk.

I resisted the urge to crash down onto it.

Rolando smiled. “If you haven’t already figured it out…this will be your new home. I do hope you enjoy your stay.”

It felt bizarre to feel safe and trapped at the same time. I mentally wished I could teleport back to the real world.

Rolando paused at a giant white freezer box at the end of the hall.

“All the good food you can eat is stored in here,” he mentioned.

‘More seafood? That’s crazy!’ I thought.

Rolando opened the freezer door.

My curiosity quickly turned to shock and horror.

Inside were weakened shivering demons chained to the wall with spread-out arms and legs. Several of them were imps, while a couple were succubi and incubi. Rolando had even captured a brown female hellhound. They all looked skinny and starved; many of them were covered with Rolando’s bite marks.

“These victims are oozing with hopelessness, fear, and some spicy anger,” Rolando grinned. “Tasty morsels for me that I now share with you, dear Rolanda!”

I stepped back. This was NOT my idea of a meal!

“Or perhaps you’d like to join them?” Rolando hissed.

“N-no, Master, no!”

My back met the cold cave wall.

Rolando chuckled darkly, finding delight in having me cornered in many ways.

“Now’s your chance to prove your obedience to me. Either we can infest and feast together, or I’ll be the only one enjoying a good meal.”

He held out his hand for me to take. My hand shook as I reluctantly took his. I whimpered as he nudged me toward the imprisoned demons.

“Let’s start with this little imp right here,” said Rolando, turning me to face a small female imp wearing a torn black dress.

‘It’ll be okay,’ I thought, trying to reach her. ‘Just resist any fear…’

“How pathetic, Rolanda,” Rolando mused. “Infestor demons can’t feed on positivity. There’s no point in trying to save them.”

‘I can sure as Hell try!’

‘Even if they were positive, you’d only be able to sense their insecurities!’ Rolando smirked.

‘I shouldn’t be using mind control for evil!’

‘Then feel free to starve while I have all the fun. Don’t believe me? Go inside her mind yourself. Or use your esca.’

“I’m not gonna use my…”

Rolando held me by my waist with one arm and his fingers snaked up to my head. A strange sensation flowed through my head as he ran his fingers along my esca.

“Close your eyes!” I pleaded to the imp.

But fortunately for Rolando, she was staring into the light at the end of my esca. With a flick of Rolando’s fingers, the esca moved from side to side. Rolando held my arms behind me, keeping me from stopping my esca.

“Keep going, little morsel,” he whispered. “The good part should come up shortly.”

The female imp grew more and more frightened the longer I stood there, hypnotizing her and feeling helpless.

I suddenly gasped as flashes of the imp’s traumatic memories flashed before me in my head. The imp mourning the death of her parents. Watching a bunch of mean goons boss the imp’s sibling around. The imp screaming as Rolando bit into her shoulder and dragged her to Envy.

“Isn’t it nice to not have to view your own traumas for a change?” Rolando asked, followed by a sinister chuckle.

“I’m sorry!” I called to her.

“Don’t apologize to your food.” Rolando’s teeth gleamed in the dim light. “Eat.”

More tragic scenes appeared before me like a fast movie. Rolando crept his fingers under my chin and slowly opened my jaw.

I soon felt dark energy and black demon blood flowing into my mouth. I suddenly felt like a wolf biting into a slab of tasty meat. The negative energy shouldn’t have tasted good. I…like nearly everyone else in my world was a spirit made of positive energy and love.

But being trapped in a demon body and being controlled by an infamous infestor changed a lot of things. I felt a rush of power, a rush of energy…the scenes became entertaining…she was a tasty prey at my mercy…

I sobbed and used every ounce of willpower to break free from the feeding frenzy spell.

Rolando hoisted me up as I slowly recovered from feeling dizzy.

It felt like I was being coerced into consuming drugs.

“Now you see how tasty their despair is,” Rolando told me. “Don’t try to fight it, my sweet. You’ll soon crave it as much as me and it’ll be your main meal for the rest of your afterlife.”

I sobbed again as Rolando dug his claws into the incubus, causing him to cry out. When Rolando entered into my head, I had to watch my own fingers choke the life out of another demon.

“Still a pleasure to possess you,” Rolando cooed. “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”

I was shaken after Rolando had killed off all the victims. I couldn’t stand the cries and screams and horrific scenes of death and despair from their minds.

Most of all, I was appalled by how some demonic part of me relished in the feeling of domination as I ate.

Chapter Text

7 Deadly Sins (A Spooky Kind Of Love)
Queen Roo – a chaos goddess and ultimate ruler of Hell, Root of all Evil. She wears a checkered hat and short top of white and orange squares, and a leather jacket and high boots to give her a sexual appeal. Orange parasites emerge from her mouth to devour other demons. For every Sinner killed by the Exorcists, she gains power from feeding on fallen souls. It is a win-win situation for her…she is able to spy on demons everywhere with the eyes of the fallen demons in objects. She hopes to use demonkind to invade Heaven and Earth, devouring everyone in her path…and get revenge on her sister Goode who had imprisoned her in the Tree of Good and Evil. When she meets HelluvaScribe and Rolando, she comes up with a plan to finally allow her the freedom to spread her eldritch terror. When a merged “Roo-lando” gains the power to devour and infest many demons at once, it is up to the Hazbins and Helluva Boss’ I.M.P. to save all the realms.

Lord Lucifer – no depressed rubber-duck-loving Lucifer here. This Lucifer has dark black hair, fiery red eyes and six black wings. He is more distant to his daughter Charlie and doesn’t believe that all Sinners deserve second chances. In fact, he not only allows the yearly Exterminations, but also enslaves Sinners who threaten his rule. He was once God (Goode) best angel until he grew jealous of Goode praising the most recently created human race. Wanting the humans to bow to him instead, he gathered up an army of angels. Lucifer and Lilith gave Eve the apple from the forbidden tree, accidentally setting free the chaos goddess Roo, Goode’s younger sister. Threatened by the release of Roo and Lucifer’s rebellion, both Lucifer and Lilith were cast down to Roo’s realm, Hell. Lilith forms a secret resistance against the angels, but can only go so far against their angelic weapons. Lucifer and Lilith hope to get back to Heaven…will they ever listen to their daughter’s Hazbin Hotel ideas? Charlie listens to the Sinners’ backstories carefully but will that be enough?

Lord Belial – ruler of fire and earth and the 8th Ring of Worthlessness. He has black long hair, coal-black skin, large black wings and rides a flaming chariot. Belial is in charge of the worst of the worst: rapists, pedos, addicts, murderers etc. He also happens to be Roo’s advisor, keeping her grounded when she feasts on the fallen demon souls that come to her realm.

Lord Satan – similar in appearance to HB Satan, except slender and orange designs, large black bat wings, black curved horns and orange eyes. Rules Wrath. Satan also enslaves imps and jinn, training them to ignite wars on Earth and punish demons and Sinners who misbehave. Weapons are forged in volcanos and many fiery performers like Phenix, Aim, and Amy reside here. Wrath is more of a party Ring than Gluttony.

Lord Beelzebub – He is no partying fox. This mighty ruler of Gluttony is a giant black fly with yellow eyes, a black tongue and large wings. (Don’t worry, he doesn’t handle any shit) His Queen is a Bee who supervises her bug-demon workers who spread honey and food throughout the Rings. He rules the Order of the Fly and sends fly minions to spread disease on Earth. He is tired of humanity squashing bugs and looking down on them…now he vows to eat any human and demon who tries to fight him and brainwash the rest. He spoils his minions with food and drink and sometimes eats them. Beelzebub pampers HelluvaScribe with a buffet, plans to eat her and give her a new definition of “fly-fucking.”

Lord Mammon – a very rich, very scary black wolf king with glowing green eyes. He rules Greed, a green place populated with werewolf mafias and scammers. Like Mammon in HB, he makes many commercials to promote his products. He is the one who sends Hellhounds to Earth to track Sinner souls, and sells Hellhounds off for money to be pets or performers for his sinister circus.

Lord Asmodeus – King of Lust, with blue flaming hair, a ram head, a bull head and a head of a black-haired man in the middle. He has a harem of succubi and incubi and rules lust and sex of every kind. He sends succubi and incubi to Earth to spread lust and STDs. His greatest rival is the angel Raphael. He tells HelluvaScribe that she’ll never want to be fucked by anyone else when he’s through.

Lord Leviathan – The oldest of the sins and the leader of Envy and social media. He is a giant purple dragon sea monster who can shift into a more human form. Sensing that HelluvaScribe was from another world, he orders Rolando to sacrifice her to him so he can use her to open a portal. Leviathan plans on getting revenge against various sky gods who killed him when he was other incarnations (Typhon, Tiamat etc.) He vows to turn every realm into his underwater kingdom. Like Queen Leviathan in HB, he sends infestor demons to Earth to spread fear…and both Rolandos are reckless with their killing of humans. He is mad when he finds out Rolando bound her to him first in a soul contract before the ritual. He later orders Rolando to bring her back when she travels the Rings to try and reach the Hazbin Hotel so she can get to Heaven and/or return to reality. But Rolando’s not going to let his precious morsel escape from him…

Lord Belphegor – A lazy goat-like demon with a pink flaming candle on his forehead. He has magenta furry skin, pink glowing eyes and often wears a white labcoat. He rules Sloth and all kinds of drugs. He sends his goat demons to Earth to spread drugs and encourage laziness. He also makes medicine and pharmacies very expensive. Belphegor invented a sinister sleep machine that harvests the energies of trapped sleeping demons, sending the energy to his demon clients. He controls their dreams and when their sleeping bodies rot away, he just replaces them. Fascinated by her immortal human energy, Belphegor gives HelluvaScribe a drink from a goblet shaped like his sigil and promises her arousing sweet dreams.