With Hellish Nectar Compléte (Patreon)

Many cultures and faiths throughout history had many interpretations and ideas regarding what the afterlife was like. A place of eternal bliss and peace for the virtuous after a lifetime of struggling, and a land of darkness, suffering, and pain for the wicked, punished for their sins in life.

Depictions of Hell showed a place of fire and brimstone, desolate wastelands filled with unearthly monsters and horrors beyond counting. Nightmares come to life as every act of unimaginable torment was performed upon the grievous sinners by the fiends of hell, monsters of unimaginable cruelty and malice, laughing and feasting upon the torment of their eternal prisoners. Images of terror unending lived in the minds of mortals as they pictured in their faith and philosophy what this place of eternal torment had to be like.

The truth was… complicated.

People certainly did not expect the hells to be conformed of modern-looking cities, where vice was rampant and free in every single conceivable way. The ludicrous nature of its inhabitants contrasted by the fact they were demons and sinners condemned to hell clashed so much with the depictions of the underworld that one would almost think it was deliberate.

Perhaps due to the actions of one fallen angel who decided to run his kingdom as an amusement park or a circus for the fun of it, his own little way of rebellion.

Pentagram City was where most sinners spent their unlife as tenants of Hell, the unlucky ones were dregs who slipped through the cracks and lived in misery and poverty, while those with the cunning, the drive, the will, and the power rose through the ranks to become lords. Perhaps it was unfair, that those who were evil in life could become more powerful in death. But the universe did not run in fairness.

Though one establishment prided itself in standing up for something virtuous in Hell, as impossible as that sounded. As the ever-present fear of angelic extermination loomed, culling Hell’s overpopulation in brutal massacres, one demon decided to do something different. To look into the souls of the damned and find light, find something worth in them that’d be worth saving. Rehabilitate them, make them suitable to ascend to Heaven.

The person at the head of such endeavor was no other than Charlie Morningstar, daughter of Lucifer Morningstar, the Fallen One himself, and Lilith the First Woman, First of Sinners.

Ironic, that the daughter of ‘evil’ beings would believe in such things like redemption for the lost.

But she was driven, and so she had built a hotel of all things, where those who actually sought a chance to improve themselves would be welcomed. To reach into the depths of their issues and help their souls heal and cleanse the sins and evil in them.

It was often a thankless job, a very arduous one, so one wouldn’t blame Charlie for needing some fun and relaxation from time to time.

On any other day, the Hotel ran its business like usual. Tonight, it was Girls’ Night.

The participants were not particularly numerous, but they sure were a varied bunch. A sinner, an imp, a Goetia, a hellhound, a Sin, and the daughter of Lucifer himself, all gathered around a table drinking and eating snacks. It sounded like the setup for a joke.

The multi-armed fox-bee Sin of Gluttony threw her head back, on each hand a shot of liquor which she quickly downed. She quite literally let a fiery breath, showing the drink was not far from normal. “Wooooo! 20 points!” Beelzebub cheered happily as she slammed the glasses down at the same time.

“20 points of what?” The silver and black-furred hellhound at her right drone, nursing her own drink in hand with a swirl. “We’re not playing a game we’re just getting smashed”

“20 points of awesomeness, that’s what!”

“Cheers, I’ll drink to that!” The small red imp lady at the Sin’s left proceeded to lift a mug of beer larger than she was and proceeded to drink it all without spilling a single drop.

“Look at her gooooo!” Bee cheered and Loona could not help but smile impressed at her coworker’s ability. “Millie’s going for in for the grand prize!”

The mug was emptied, and Millia let out a long and loud burp as she slammed it down on the table. “That’s how we do it in Wrath!”

“We have a winner!” The Sin of Gluttony announced.

“What do I get?!” Millie had stars in her eyes.

“Another drink!” And Bee proceeded to refill her mug.

“Hell yeah!” She grabbed the mug again and slowly leaned back as she drank the contents, going further and further until her seat fell down backward.

“And she hasn’t even spilled!” The mistress of Gluttony gushed impressed. “She’s a pro!”

Loona snorted, downing her own drink before going for some of the salty treats on the table. She looked at the other gal sitting next to her. Avian in looks with a pale face while the rest of her plumage was darker in coloration, dressed in a shirt and jacket, and a beanie, she was the only one at the table who looked a bit uncomfortable with how she kept playing with the grumps of food scattered in the table and barely touching her own drink.

Hells, did Loona understand that she wasn’t exactly a ‘social butterfly’ either, and would still have a hard time mingling with others if not for the efforts of a certain Sin and her boyfriend. “You doing okay, Via?”

“Huh?” The Goetia snapped her head up, large red eyes blinking, well, owlishly. “What? No no yeah I’m… I’m okay just… thinking you know” She muttered lamely, “Sorry I must be really bringing the vibe down”

“Oh nonsense honey,” The understanding voice of the only Sinner in the group chimed in. An understanding ivory white eye looking at her patiently, long wide hair hiding the left eye but still the ends of an x-shaped red sign peaked under the bangs. “It’s Girls’ Night, you can tell us what’s bothering you”

“Um…” Octavia did not look too enthused at the prospect. She only knew the people here by association really. Beelzebub and Charlie, from her dad’s dealings with Hell’s royalty, Loona and Millie due to her dad’s… ‘relationship’ with Blitz. Vaggie in turn she knew because, well, she was always around Charlie. They were a friendly group (as friendly as Loona could be, but the hellhound has a very warm side she rarely showed anyone), but still it was… awkward to talk about.

…Though honestly, they were the only people she could talk to.

“There’s this… person,” Octavia began.

“Ohhhhhhhh~” Millie, pulling herself over the table, looking half-drunk, cooed. “Got a lil’ crush, hmm~?”

Octavia glared, “Forget it, I’m not talking about this”

“Relax, relax Via, it’s all good.” Bee raised two of her hands as she reassured her with a smile. “Teasing is part of the process, so what are they like?”

“They…” Via paused, before taking a deep breath, “are you actually an imp assigned to my service”

“Ohhhh” Vaggie smirked, “And they cute?”

“They’re so hot,” Via moaned, dropping over the table. “Like, how, how can they be so hot? Did father find them on the Lust Ring?” She pulled her beanie down, covering her eyes. “It’s a nightmare! I can’t talk to them without getting all tongue-tied, I end up squeaking like a damn bird!”

“You are a bird,” Millie pointed out.

“The point is,” Via growled before sighing. “I’m going crazy over them and I can’t do a thing and…” She paused before muttering in desperate realization. “Oh Hells I’ve become my dad”

Loona patted her shoulder in sympathy.

“Don’t you worry, you’re among experts!” Bee proudly said, puffing her chest. “We’ll help you out, right Charlie?”

The host of the party and hotel owner, who had been rather quiet until now, looked up from her lap with a startled look. “Huh? Oh yeah totally!”

Several deadpanning looks were sent her way.

“Are you still reading that book?” Vaggie droned.

“…Noooo?”

“I can see it in your lap!”

The daughter of the Devil himself squared her shoulders and sunk into her seat, looking as apologetic as she could. “Sorry, sorry! I know this is our night and I should just let this go but I came across something amazing and I really think I could make use of it-!“

“Breathe, princess, breathe!” Millie drawled. “Now what’s got your panties in a twist?”

Charlie sighed, holding up the book from her lap so the others could see. It had multiple sigils and demonic lettering neatly arranged in a circle, clearly a magical tome of some sort.

“Oh hey,” Octavia perked up. “That’s the copy of the tome I gave you”

“You finally got your own grimoire?” Loona asked.

“Nah, just a minor spellbook. Typical stuff young Goetia have to study” The owl girl waved it off. “Nothing like what’s in my dad’s grimoire”

Bee leaned in on the table, using two of her hands to support her head. “So what’s caught your attention?” She asked the hotel owner.

“It’s… silly,” Charlie replied with embarrassment, rubbing her neck. “Just a spell to boost confidence, you know… feel empowered…” She mumbled out the last part.

“Ah,” Beelzebub clicked her tongue. “Need to prepare for another interview?”

“Last was so bad!” Charlie moaned, and Vaggie patted her back. “Seriously, if I had an ounce of my dad’s character, I’d make anyone who doubts me shut up”

“If you were like your dad, you wouldn’t care about this hotel” Vaggie gently said.

The blonde demon sighed, “I just… want to have more confidence, if I showed some more spine people would be more willing to give this place a chance”

“You are the Princess of Hell,” Octavia pointed out. “You have more power on your fingertip than most demons in their whole body.”

“Still growing into it,” Charlie muttered. “Not quite there yet, lot of demons and overlords are a real problem”

“Hmm…” Beelzebub let out a humming sound as she looked at her friend. “You really think some spell can help you?”

“I want to be stronger, I need to appear stronger if other people are to take me seriously,” She firmly replied. “And to keep potential enemies at bay”

Bee slowly nodded, she looked deep in thought.

The tension around the previously cheerful party was heavy, so Millie did what she did best and defused it. “Hey, any naughty spells in it?”

Loona and Octavia choked on their drinks. Vaggie snorted behind her hand while Bee openly laughed. “Really?!” Charlie giggled, taken aback by the outburst.

“Hey, me and Moxxie like to keep it fresh, ya know?” She wiggled her shoulders and gave a saucy drink. “Might want to borrow that book for a bit then~”

“It doesn’t have ‘naughty spells’,” Octavia droned, drying her wet beak with a napkin.

That apparently was the wrong thing to say as the imp gave her a wry grin, “Ohhhh you checked then?”

Octavia’s red eyes widened a lot, her beak slamming shut with a ‘click’. “Um…”

“Maybe you can use a bit of that confidence spell,” Vaggie teased with a wiggle of her brows. “Impress that imp you like with some ‘royal presence’”

“Ohhhh right,” Charlie smiled as she began recalling the bits of the conversation she heard in passing. “So which of the two is it?”

Octavia paled, her plumage standing on edge as various looks were sent her way.

“Wait what?” Loona muttered.

“Yeah, Via got two servants. And she’s right, they are like Lust Imps” Charlie said, oblivious to the mortification the Goetia was feeling. “Is it the guy or the gal?”

Via slowly sank in her seat.

“Ohhhhh you got a crush on the two?! You naughty girl!” Millie cried out in approval.

“Nice” Loona grinned.

Bee howled, “You dog!”

“I wanna die” Via droned in despair. “I wanna die and go to Super Hell”

Laughter rang around the table while Charlie smiled at her in an apologetic fashion, mouthing ‘I’m sorry’, repeatedly.

“Okay okay, poor Via had enough!” Bee wiped a tear from her eye, “How about we start hitting the good stuff”

With a wave of her hand, yellow-honey-colored magic glowed like a stream of mist and conjured a round of drinks on the table. This wasn’t the usual brand she had summoned before, the liquor was gold like honey, it smelled sweet, and looked even tastier.

“Ohhhhh!” Millie had stars in her eyes. “What’s this?!”

“My personal stash,” Bee said with no small amount of pride. “Brewed in Gluttony for ages, on the finest soil imbued and fermented in pure hellfire. My very own Hell Nectar”

“Oh my…” Charlie muttered in awe. “Bee you shouldn’t have bothered, your nectar is literally the best in Hell. It’s priceless and-“

“I’ll be the one to decide how valuable it is,” Bee cut her off with a hand and a grin. “’Sides, what better time to drink it than with friends”

“You,” Vaggie slowly said, “are my favorite Sin”

“You’re the best, Bee” Loona agreed.

“Is this gonna get me drunk fast?” Octavia pleaded. “I need to forget the shame I’m feeling right now”

“All that and more!” She cheered, raising all four of her arms as the mugs with gold liquor flew towards her friends. “Now drink and enjoy! You’re gonna get the best hangover of your life!”

And so they did, they feasted upon the drinks which tasted like honey with lemon, sweet and juicy, warm but it did not burn the throat going down. If there was such a thing like a heavenly drink in Hell, Nectar had to be it. It tasted like glory, like pleasure in liquid form.

They drank to their hearts’ content, getting more and more tipsy with each mug, yet they did not want to stop. They were celebrating and letting all their frustrations be doused by this wonderous liquor, some drank far more than others, as evidenced when Millie decided it was a good time to start dancing in the middle of the table.

“If you wanna see clothes come off you better have your bills ready!” Millie laughed out as she twirled around in what could vaguely be defined as dance moves. “Moxxie won’t mind, he’ll find it hot~!”

Some laughed at her display, others cheered, Charlie for her part laughed while covering her eyes, tipsy and distracted, she forgot about the book she had set aside on the table.

Amid laughs and dance moves, Millie tripped on a bowl of snacks and fell right over the book, the mug in her hand spilling drops of liquid gold over its pages. Right on top of an arcane circle.

It glowed… then burst with a sudden release of magic.

The result was several half-drunk girls tumbling down to the floor, falling backward on their chairs while Millie was sent flying, smashing against the ceiling, and remained there for a moment, before gravity returned and she fell upon the furniture, splitting the large table in half.

For a moment, nobody said a word, the only sounds that came out were groans of discomfort and pain.

“…Maybe that’s enough for one night” Charlie muttered, her unfocused gaze blurry as she tried to smother a headache she was getting.

“Need to get home anyway…” Octavia droned.

“Anyone can portal me home?” Came Millie’s muffled voice, face planted against the floor. “I can’t feel my feet…”

X~X~X~X~X

End of the previews.

Happy Halloween!

Tassedar finished the story just before the end of October. Just in time.

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