Chapter Text
2000 - Manchester, England
Amaya was now starting year 10, once again as an outcast of her school, but that was fine, she’d survived this long, whatsmore is that she didn't need these losers anyways.
Making her way through the halls to her first class, english.
Amaya never understood english, she didn't think that studying Romeo and Juliet, or Hamlet, or even Macbeth would be helpful to her goals in the future, she held more of an interest in chemistry and fashion design.
She sat at the back of the class, as usual, with an empty seat to her left.
Another girl came in through the door, she was definitely new, Amaya had never met her before, long blonde hair, wearing her navy blue uniform as any other kid would, holding her stack of books.
She made her way to the back of the class and sat in the empty seat next to Amaya “hi” she muttered, Amaya was able to get a closer look at her, deep brown eyes and pale skin with pink-toned lips.
“Hi” Amaya said “I'm Kaitlyn” the girl said, “But I honestly prefer Katie” she said “I'm Amaya” She said.
“It's lovely to meet you Amaya” “You too Katie”. The blonde girl shuffled her chair a little closer to Amaya
“You seem like the kind of person who knows everything about everyone” She whispered “perceptive” Amaya chuckled “So, what's the tea?” Katie asked.
Amaya sat there happily in english class, explaining who was in love, who hated each other, the social groups of highschool, who to stay away from.
“Sounds like i might be sticking around with you then” Katie told her, as they were walking out of english to math.
“You sure?” Amaya asked “you see like the only good company is this torture chamber”
That got a laugh out of Amaya. “I wouldn't hate it,” she admitted.
Suddenly on that day, going to school got a lot easier.
—
Velvette’s phone alarm started blaring, she aimlessly moved her hand around the bedside table desperate to turn it off. Her head pounding
Finally, the alarm stopped, Velvette rolled over onto her back, looking up at the ceiling. Body aching and pain everywhere, she hadn't even drunk anything last night!
Fuck it, get the day over and done with, then she can go back to sleep.
She mustered up the courage to get out of bed, and put on her outfit for that day, tie up her hair, and put on a bit of eyeliner.
Making her way into her kitchen for coffee and a morning scroll on sinstagram.
People were still going nuts over the crazy shrieks of radio feedback they heard a week ago, most just presumed it was the Radio Demon doing his usual creepy 3AM activities, others suspected foul play.
And then there was the small amount that were concerned for the radio demon, putting together certain pieces of information, And tying them back to Vox.
Some suspected he and Vox were on friendly terms again (technically true)
Others thought Vox had Alastor in a soul deal (Velvette thought this was hilarious, Alastor would never sell his soul)
Plenty of people were talking about how the V’s had disbanded, Valentino was missing, however Vox and Velvette seemed perfectly fine and refused to answer any questions
Some presumed Valentino was dead (Velvette could only wish that was true)
Alastor had gone on broadcast, claiming that it was just another late night venture for the demon.
But internet detectives were working overtime, they were comparing the radio feedback with Alastors usual broadcasts, and it just didn't add up.
Alastor played it off, and when Vox was asked about it, he said quote ‘Like I would fucking know, I dont handle the radio shit, thats Alastor’
However they knew exactly what happened that night at witching hour. Velvette had internally dubbed that night as ‘The Alastor lore dump’ as she, along with the other overlords, had learnt how truely fucked up Alastors life was while he was alive, and how its haunted him to present day in hell.
They faced Lilith in Alastor’s body, which was one of the top three most horrifying things Velvette has ever experienced. (thought she still didn't understand why Lilith tormented Alastor of all people)
But that didn't change the fact that she still remembered when Alastor’s head turned to her like an owl, purple eyes staring into her soul “What's wrong Belle?” She could hear Alastor and Liliths voices in that sentence. It haunted her thoughts and dreams.
She shuddered at the thought, just as her water boiled and she poured it into her mug, adding her coffee, sugar and milk.
She remembered Alastor had always laughed whenever she put sugar and milk into her coffee, given that he was a weirdo who drank black coffee. Velvette could never handle the bitter taste.
Her phone dinged with a reminder from her calendar. Did she have a meeting today?
She opened up the reminder: BIRTHDAY - TOMORROW
Oh, Velvette had lost track of the months, was it November already?
She took a double take, 12th of November, which means that today was… oh.
That's why her body hurt. Death anniversary.
When the anniversary of their death comes upon a sinner, their body loves to recreate the day through physical pain, shitty nightmares, and overall making the afterlife a lot harder than it needs to be. It was worse when you didn't even know why you were in so much pain.
She made her way over to the medicine cabinet and grabbed a few pain pills, she had some spares in her office, worst case scenario she takes a few more later.
Well she was in for a shitty day.
—
Vox had cooped himself up in his old office, hundreds of screens around him scanning cameras that spread all across pride, looking for any trace of the three people currently on his black list.
Valentino
Lilith
Albert
He’d spent hours here over the past few days, but there was nothing, total silence.
Val’s studios had been left untouched in the last two months, as was his room in the Old Vee tower, the last time anyone had stepped foot in that place was when Vox had come in to start working through the cameras, and shifting the laptops to his new building
He heard the shadows morph behind him “I’m fine” Vox said over his shoulder, watching his screens, waiting for the alarms to blare.
“I didn't even ask” Said Alastor, a sense of joy in his voice “You should be at home” Vox said, Swirling in his chair to face his boyfriend “It's been a week” Alastor complained, walking along the bridge above the giant chasm “I can walk, dear” Alastor assured him “I'm not concerned about the walking, i'm more concerned that you used a lot of power, you slept for eight hours Alastor!” Vox argued.
“What isn't that normal?” “for you? no” Vox reminded him, Alastor sighed, Vox turned back around in his chair, Alastor came up behind him, wrapping his arms over his neck, and resting his head atop Vox’s monitor.
“What are you doing?” The demon asked, looking at all the monitors “Looking for any sign of the people I really want to kill” Vox said.
“Valentino, Lilith and my father?” Alastor asked, Vox hummed in agreement “Daphne has her operatives in every corner of hell looking for Albert, Lilith isn't stupid enough to show up on your cameras, most likely to show is Valentino but we haven't heard from him in two months” Alastor explained.
“We know Albert and Lilith were working together, who's to say Valentino isn't?” Vox asked “And if they are, what are they planning?” “You're thinking too much” Alastor said “I’m just worried” Vox said, putting one his hands over Alastors.
“I don't like this either, but waiting on the edge of our seats won't make the jump scare happen any sooner” Alastor explained “You have other things to do, take your mind away from them” Alastor said.
“How do you suggest that?” Vox asked “you have a mountain of paperwork for your silly broadcasts” Alastor suggested. Vox sighed “yeah maybe I should do that”
Vox and Alastor walked out of Vee tower together “I’m presuming you're going to see Rosie” “I was able to ward her off for a week, I owe her a visit” Alastor said “And an explanation” He added.
The two went their separate ways, Alastor to cannibal town, and Vox to the Voxtek building.
—
Alastor walked through the door of Rosie’s emporium, it was an unusually quiet day in her shop, she stood behind the counter, speaking with one of her loyal citizens (Rupert was it?) until she saw Alastor and practically screamed in excitement, rushing over to her friend and wrapping him in a hug, which he happily returned.
“I can't believe it, like I can, but I don't!” Rosie explained, clutching her friends shoulders “I'm more than happy to explain, somewhere private ” Alastor explained, she guided her friend to her living quarters, where she had already prepared tea and biscuits.
Rosie guided him down on the couch “Tell me EVERYTHING!” Rosie said “How much do you know?” He asked, so not to bore her with information she already had (though Alastor doubted Rosie could become bored with information about anyone's love life)
“Up until seven years ago, and obviously what I witnessed at the gala, which was just the two of you dancing away” She explained.
“We had a chat that night” Alastor said, Rosie beamed “TELL ME!” She demanded “ok ok” Alastor said.
He explained the conversation he had with Stolas on the balcony, and later with Vox, how that night his perspective on love had changed. How to love meant to stay, not to leave, and Alastor’s insecurities and fear of unlovability.
“I gotta say, after meeting dear old dad, that makes more sense” Rosie said, Alastor tensed up at the mention of that horrendous meeting. Rosie put a hand over his.
“How are you doing, after all of that?” Rosie said. Alastor drew his smile wider, not quite to psychotic level, but enough to hopefully assure his long-time friend that he was fine.
“I'm fine dear” He said, "Just a slight bump in the road” “Alastor, your father quite literally put a gun in your mouth and explained all the shit he put you through in your childhood” “Not all” Alastor said, Rosie looked at him surprised. “I mean, he got the general gist of it” Alastor said.
“Alastor”
“Yes?”
“Are you telling me it gets worse?” Rosie asked, Alastor fumbled over his words for a moment “No” He said softly.
“I've known you for years Alastor, you don't have to tell me everything, I just need to know that you're going to be ok” She said. “I’m fine, really Rosie,” Alastor said.
“I’m not repeating myself” She said sternly. Alastor sighed and leant back against the couch “You don't hate me right?” He asked.
Very rarely does Rosie ever see her dearest friend in such a vulnerable state, She wrapped her arm around his shoulders “Never” she said “Not even when I left you for seven years?” He asked, “it wasn't your choice” She said.
“Not even now that you know the battle I’ve been facing against my father and I never let you help me?” “You had your reasons” She assured him “Fuck this, your meant to be mad at me” Alastor said in a strained laugh.
“Why is NO ONE mad at me?!” He asked “Because they're not mad Alastor, they're worried” She explained. “We’re all worried” “It's easier if they're mad, I know how to handle people when they're mad” he said.
“Do you know how to handle it, or is it just such a regular occurrence that you're used to it?” Rosie asked, Alastor looked up at her, then rested his head against her shoulder.
“I should really get Charlie to put you in therapy” Rosie said “I think Vox is putting together a petition” Alastor confessed, Rosie laughed.
“You know, when we find your dad again, im gonna beat the ever-loving shit out of him” Rosie said “That would be merciful” Alastor said “Monsters like him don't deserve mercy, not that he ever gave it” Rosie only held him tighter.
“I’m proud of you” She said “Why?” Alastor asked “I think you just needed to hear it” She said “I think you need to hear that people love you, and they're proud of you, and they need you” She explained. Alastors ears pinned back to his skull.
“I suppose I did” He said.
—
Velvette took two steps into her building, and she already had the feeling it was gonna be a long day. Given that she had several launches and shows lined up, she was always busy as it was.
Velvette's good at what she does, she knows that, everyone in hell knows that, but she cant take a day off on account of trauma, She doesn't get days off.
So she sits in her office, going through the pile of paperwork for her shows, budgeting, employee count (which has gone up significantly after Valentino stopped killing them), and other crap.
Velvette just had to get this done, despite the pounding in her head, the ache in her bones, and spasming of her hands, the ever growing sense of fatigue, she just had to get this done.
Then she could go home.
It didn't really feel like a home though.
Her apartment consisted of moving boxes in every other corner, dim lights, not much decoration as she hadn't been able to find the time, no laughter or light, no one knocking on her door asking about dinner, no one to talk to in the lounge.
Since her first day in hell, she had not lived in an empty house. Sure it had been chaotic, and with Val, awful, but never quiet.
Never alone.
She never liked alone
Alone always brings something bad with it, and when you're alone, no one is there to help you.
Velvette knows, logically, she has allies, Vox is a phone-call away, and she just presses a few buttons on the radio in her office, and Alastor will be there faster than the gingerbread man.
There's even Zestial, Velvette is convinced the guy has a sixth sense of danger to his allies, and even though her and Carmilla have a complicated relationship, the weapons dealer would be more than happy to chop someone's head off if they hurt her (estranged) family.
She’d even made good friends with Vaggie and Charlie during her stay in the hotel, princess bubbles was actually a really nice person, it wasn't some whack-out trick, she genuinely wanted to help people.
It brought velvette back a conversation they had, a few days into her stay at the hotel
—
It was nothing really, Nifty had accidentally caught her apron and skirt on her knitting needle while running around the hotel stabbing every bug that dared come into her eyesight, Velvette happened to be sitting on the couch, invested in her book ‘Little Women’.
Nifty was examining the hold in her clothes, seemingly disappointed “you want me to fix that?” Velvette asked, Nifty looked up at her “You don't have to” Nifty said, Velvette summoned her sewing kit “I want to” She said with a smile, patting the space next to her.
Nifty clambered onto the couch and the two picked out a square of fabric to cover the hole within her skirt as it was larger than the one in the apron, which Velvette could easily stitch back up.
Nifty took off her apron, and turned out the skirt, leaving her in her pink top and petticoat. (she had several spares so it doesn't really matter)
“You're very good at sewing” Nifty said, watching as Velvelettes skilled hands sew the patch onto her skirt “I’ve had a lot of practice” Velvette said. “Your voice is also kinda funny” Nifty said, Velvette looked up at her “It's not like Husks, which is kinda like sandpaper, but it's similar to Alastors, but I know his voice is fake” Nifty explained.
“Yeah, my accent’s just different” Velvette said “Where are you from?” Nifty asked, Velvette turned the skirt to get a better angel “Uhm, Manchester” Velvette said, Nifty cocked her neck to the side “England” Velvette said, nifty’s singular eye lit up “Like the queen!” She asked. Velvette laughed, “Yeah” she said.
“I always wanted to go to England” Nifty said “but I was stuck in New York forever” “You lived in New york?” Velvette asked “Yeah, dad moved us there after mom died” “Where did you live before then?” “Tokyo,” Nifty said.
“You're from Japan?” Velvette asked “Yeah, mom got killed by some of the soldiers when I was young, so dad moved us to New York to ‘start a better life’” Nifty explained “Then I got married and killed my husband cus he was mean” She added in a smaller voice.
“No one likes mean husbands” Velvette said “Did you have a mean husband?” Nifty asked “Uh, no” Velvette decided on as she finished the stitching “Did you ever love someone?” Nifty asked
Velvette hesitated.
Vox and Alastor had asked a few questions about her life, but she was reluctant to tell them anything, and they respected that.
Not everyone liked talking about their time on earth, especially if they didn't remember it
“It's ok, you don't have to tell me” Nifty said “Alastor once told me that sometimes people don't want to tell you things, not because they don't trust you, but because it might be something that makes them sad” Nifty explained with a smile on her face “Alastor is very smart” Velvette said.
She helped Nifty back into the dress and apron, and the tiny cyclops was off killing bugs like nothing had ever happened.
Little did Velvette know that Charlie was standing in the doorway the whole time “Awww” She said, giving Velvette a mini heart-attack.
“‘Awww’ what?” Velvette asked “It's just nice to see you being… nice” Charlie said, Velvette chuckled “People never expect that” She agreed.
“It's just, a lot of people down here put on a dark, evil, broody persona that keeps them in control” Charlie explained “And it's good to see that this place, and the people here, allow people to drop that mask and be themselves” She added. Velvette nodded “It's pretty helpful” She said.
“You must be exhausted from it” Charlie said, Velvette wrapped her arms around herself “Princess, for seven years I lived and worked in the same building as Vox and Valentino” Velvette explained “I’ll admit, Vox wasn't half bad, but Valentino…” She trailed off, Charlie was well aware of Valentino’s lack of decency.
“I can't be kind and nice to prove myself, especially down here, it's fatal” Charlie nodded.
“So I’m cold-hearted, mean, and awful, I don't care, it means people fear me, and that's power” Velvette explained “power gets you far down here” she added.
“What is fear if not learnt respect?” Charlie asked “And, would it not be easier to have people immediately respect you for your kindness and generosity, then breaking them with fear and building them back up?” She asked.
“I'm not going to pretend I understand you, honestly you're a mystery to me, but I know that sometimes, the best way for people to respect you is by showing that they can trust you” Charlie said. “Think about it”
And so Charlie left Velvette to think, it made perfect sense if the overlord was being honest.
The easiest way to earn respect was with kindness, prove someone can trust you
—
It reminded her of her first day in hell.
Alastor could've left her for dead, or finished the job in that alleyway, instead he brought her to his home with Vox, patched her up, and taught her everything she now knows about hell.
That's why Velvette respects Alastor, she doesn't fear him like others.
Thats a lie, the guys fucking terrifying when he wants to be.
She respects and trusts him because he proved that. As did Vox, even during their time in the Vee’s, he always helped her and defended her.
That was respect.
She’d only ever ‘respected’ Valentino because she knew what he was capable of.
She’d seen first hand exactly what his pheromones could do.
One minute two people loved and trusted each other, the next, one of them was brainwashed to become a mindless killing machine.
She feared him. A lot of people feared him.
Velvette decided she needed to change what she was doing. This whole ‘control people with fear’ thing was pretty exhausting as it was.
—
It had been a complicated few months being an overlord.
Valentino went MIA, which isn't uncommon for overlords, Alastor disappeared for seven years, for reasons still unknown to Carmilla.
Then the princess and Velvette got her involved in what the young overlord called ‘the greatest love story of the 20th century’.
Carmilla had to admit, the two worked well for each other, but she wouldn't go as far to say ‘Greatest love story in the 20th century’ she would however say it's one of the greatest love stories hell’s ever known. (emphasis on the one )
Not even to mention the horrible shit she’d learnt about Alastor’s childhood last week, her daughters being held hostage, and Lilith possessing Alastor.
Now with the face of war upon hell from heaven.
Carmilla really needed a drink.
Which is why she was currently sitting in her office with a glass of whiskey in her hand, debriefing with Zestial.
She calls to debriefing, it's really just gossip (though she would never admit that to anyone)
“It certainly has been an interesting era to be an overlord,” Zestial admitted “The last time I was this concerned for the overlords was when Alastor started his killing spree” Carmilla said.
“Upon the topic of our dear friend” Zestial said “methinks one is not the only one whom harbors a certain concern for him”.
“You certainly aren't” Carmilla agreed “his fathers clearly a piece of work that's left him with plenty of issues” She explained, taking another swig of her whiskey “Vox is clearly doing a good job though, I dont think I’ve ever seen Alastor become that vulnerable” Carmilla confessed. “They do make a wondrous pair,” Zestial agreed.
“They protect each other and look out for one another, they bring out the best in each other, they clearly only want to live in peace” Carmilla explained “Peace is nay an option” Zestial said “However, there are those that allow one to be at peace, even if only for a short time” He said with a smile, Carmilla couldn't help but agree.
“Tis understanding why they kept their relations disclosed from the eye of public” Zestial explained “Alastor is known to be powerful, if a weakness wast to be exploited, it could have ghastly results” He said.
“Which is why we are now the keepers of such secrets” Carmilla added, the two clinked their glasses together.
At the end of the night, Zestial returned to his corner of hell, as did Carmilla.
Carmilla thought about what Zestial had said; there are those that allow one to be at peace, even if only for a short time
Carmilla wondered if for Zestial, that person was her.
As Carmilla knew, if she was ever to find peace in this hellhole, she would look for Zestial
But she knew all too well, there were those who did not want peace.
Those who wanted war. Who would go to any lengths to achieve such outcomes.
—
Lilith, Sera and Lute all stood in the Grand Seraphims office.
“You said this would work, and it would stop them,” Sera said, standing behind her desk. “Oh it will” Lilith said “I have allies that are working on stopping this dam hotel and those pesky overlords” She explained. Sera sighed.
“As Long as that hotel has Lucifer's protection-” “Lucifer is not my priority” Lilith interrupted Aera “You don't take down a pyramid by just taking of the top, no, you start at the supports, you start at the bottom and you work your way up” Lilith explained.
“I'm starting with the overlords, I have the allies to help, but we need time,” Lilith explained.
Sera sighed “I'm running out of time, Lilith,” Sera said “Sooner or later, someones going to catch onto our plan, and you’ll face a fate far worse than hell” Sera explained. “We all will”
“How much time can you give me?” Lilith asked “It's been nine months since our last extermination” Lute said “We can't let those demonic scum think they have the upper hand, we need to continue with our exterminations” She explained.
“With Adam unavailable, and hell clearly willing to fight back, exterminations are risky” Sera explained “I’m more than willing to help” Lilith said “Not enough” Sera said “You might be” Lute suggested, looking to Sera.
—
Little did these three know that outside the seraphims office, the younger seraphim was listening.
Emily had overheard a conversation between Sera and Lute two days ago, and sent a small angelic tracker after them to follow their movements, where they met with none other then the queen of hell, where the three agreed to an alliance to destroy the Hazbin Hotel, and with it, all of hell.
Emily had kept a close eye the following two days on the patrons of the hotel, eventually leading her to find two people in heaven, Mabel, the radio demons mother, and Molly, Angel Dust’s sister, with sir pentious, the four conducted a plan to find other possible relatives of the hotel patrons and overlords in hell that made their way to heaven, and do all they can to secretly help the people in hell.
When Lilith took hold of Alastors body, Emily sent down Mabel's spirit, to help her son, with great success (almost, as now Lilith was angrier than ever)
And now, they were tempting Sera to join them in the fight.
Emily doesn't know what she’ll do next, but she knows that somehow, someway, she must stop her sister from destroying the Hotel.
She moved away from Sera’s door, and began the walk back to her office, to continue the search for relatives.
She could only pray Charlie would also come up with a plan, to stop her mother and the exterminators.