Chapter 6: To the Happy Hotel

I spent the majority of the next few days in the Doomsday district. Only popping back to try to sleep, cook dinner for everyone, and take a much needed shower. Leaving again after I had cooked breakfast, and conversed with Annabella.

Though one of those days were spent in the basement with Annabella, helping her take her frustration out on the raccoon demon. After she was satisfied, I had my fun, finishing up with the butchering and distribution of the meat.

Rosie, wanted fresh heart, liver, and fingers for a recipe.

Franklin, had wanted the lungs, and kidneys.

Annabella, kept what she wanted, and took the rest with her to trade for vegetables at the produce market.

On my 3rd day in the Doomsday district, I was feeling much more confident with both my ice, and fire magic. I had almost as much control over my flames, as I did my ice.

I was resting, sitting with my back against a half destroyed building as I watched a soul fall right in front of me.

The demons robotic skin looked like metal plates, a bright pink glow back-lighting it. Light pink shoulder length hair, and a pair of bright pink cat-ear headphones atop their head in place to ears. They were dressed in a very E-girl styled fashion, their face a pixilated screen mask. They looked like they walked right out of a sci-fi movie.

I watched over the soul, taking out anything that came close. I was curious, and what better time to make a deal than with a newly fallen soul.

By the time they woke up, I was half covered in the blood and gore of my opposition. My white hair and fur tinged different shades of red and brown from the drying blood. My pale gray skin splattered to match.

The tech demon introduced themselves as Dex. A high grade hacker up top, that was assassinated because they had hacked some ultra elite people, and eventually got caught.

A grade 'A' soul if you ask me.

I made them an offer. If they offered their soul, and loyalty. I would offer both my knowledge and protection. I outlined that they would not be mistreated, and they would have the opportunity to grow in power with me.

After some convincing, they agreed, and my first soul contract was collected.

I walked with them and we headed to the tech district. After all, you can't have all your secrets in one place. We found an apartment for them, and I paid for it with money I'd snatched from my victims over the last few days. Leaving Dex, enough money for clothes, a laptop, and essentials. Giving them a head start on life in Hell.

I told them, if they needed me, they could contact me through Cannibal town by giving them my name.

I had been bringing dead sinners back with me regularly, so the whole town of gossip crazed cannibals knew me by name now.

It wasn't uncommon for me to gift the kids toys made of ice either. Or ice flowers for the ladies and gents, that are having a hard day.

I was late getting back that day though, and was reprimanded by all three of my new friends. Even if I had stopped at the butchers and grabbed fresh meat for everyone as an apology. Still I had worried them, so I stayed at the house the next day. I caught up on reading all the books I had bought, I made meals, and I helped out at the emporium. It was a day of leisure.

The next day I went back to the bookstore in the old Overlord's territory. Zestial, I had asked Rosie, for information on the other Overlords, and found out his name is Zestial. It's an interesting name.

The books I had purchased last time had been helpful. I was already able to use the low level spells held within the pages, and it made finding my other magic affinities, easier than the trial and error method.

I obviously specialized in ice and fire, but my affinity for the other elements were high as well. It was probably the reason why I could 'float' the ice.

This time I had wanted books with higher level spells, and books on herbs. I had some basic herbal knowledge from up top, but having more wouldn't hurt. And if not herbs, then a few on wards, and seals, would do.

I had been browsing, reading the summaries and contents pages, when the tall cloaked spider demon came into the shop. He greeted the shopkeeper with familiarity as he shuffled to the back of the store, browsing the books as he went, then shopkeeper followed behind him with respect. And when they reached the back room, the shopkeeper grabbed a bundle of old looking books, handing them off to the calmly excided spider.

I had already gathered the books I had wanted, so I beat them to the front. Making the comment to the returning shopkeeper, that the selection there was much better than the other shops I had visited.

The spider having heard me as he was leaving looked at me with faint recognition, greeting me in old English, commenting on my cleaner appearance, and asking politely if I could read the books I had. Most people nowadays had a problem understanding old English.

I had informed him that while it may take an extra moment to 'reword it' in my head as I read, it didn't really bother me. I had minor knowledge of almost a dozen languages, with English being my first, it was easier than translating a book from scratch. I had done both. The internet makes getting a ruff translation easy, sorting through the mess afterwards, and correcting the grammar is more tedious.

The real problem was going be finding enough decent books to go through. I was always a fast reader, and absorbed the information without the need for re-reading the material.

Sharing my dialema with the spider, I learned of his considerable personal collection. A personal library far older, and many times larger than the shop I was currently in.

My envy must have shown clearly on my face. I had a love for books, be they simple novels, or textbooks. Reading for unhealthily long periods of time without breaks before even noting time had passed, and becoming twitchy if having to pause, or being unable to finish a book I had started.

After I made my payment, I said my polite goodbyes. Assuring the shopkeeper that I would be back in a few days for more, and took my leave.

My days continued to pass in much the same way for the next two weeks. I had managed to snag several more interesting soul contracts, and set them up according to their specialties.

My power had grown too, though it's true extent was only visible when I lost control, or wasn't suppressing it. My flames could change colors, and the stronger I and my contacted demons got, the more tails I grew. With each tail, another flames color was revealed.

My current tails flames being blue, red, orange, and yellow. Each flame beautiful and different, and each one seemingly activated by different emotions, different sins. I had been right before, my sloth being my most prominent sin, reflected in my blue flames. My prideful nature reflected in the deep red flames. My wrath calling forth the redish orange. And Gluttony the golden yellow.

I had shifted forms in front of the mirror in my room, my curiosity driving me. I wanted to see what changed when I changed.

My eyes sclera turned from black, to red. Patterns glowing blue around them. My fangs and claws were larger and sharper. I looked taller, as I had grown with the changes. And on my forehead was a glowing icey blue snowflake, it's pattern twisted around the pattern of a matching flame. My other tails showing themselves with the shift as ghostly glowing copies of the original.

I looked very much like a nine tailed fox demon... It kinda fit. Some of the legends kind of matched my past acts, and how I died. Though the motivation was different, I doubt that whatever decides a sinner's form would care if it matches to a 'T'.

My confidence in my combat abilities had also increased with my knowledge of magic. The books had been a valuable asset in learning spells, transportation, manipulation, and manifestation magic. The ability to summon things from my room, or from a storage space was rather handy.

On my frequent trips to the bookstore, I had run into the tall spider demon three more times, each time stopping to chat about books before I took my leave.

The last time I had talked with him, he had mentioned some old books on the verge of ruin, and how he was trying to preserve them.

I mentioned that in such cases, coping before restoration was key in case of accidental mishap. And it was also a good idea to do a second copy that is translated into modern English as well. It would allow both preservation of the book, and ease of reading for new generations.

I also mentioned that I had a team that could do it quite well. I added that, I had picked up a few damaged ones myself, and put a small team together then.

I offered to let him barrow them for a small time after the extermination in a week, as long as they were treated well.

He seemed thrilled with the prospect, taking me up on my offer immediately.

I told him that I would draft a ruff agreement, while we wait and then we could work out the details once we meet up again. After all I wasn't willing to put my soul on the line. I knew my worth.

The next day I stayed in Cannibal town, helping at the emporium, and talking to Rosie and Annabella. Franklin had started a fight with Rosie, the past couple of days about the business, and it seemed like a falling out was eminent.

With the extermination in a few days, I wanted to get a jump on things.

I has to check on each of the souls in my care, and make sure they had a safe place to ride out the extermination.

But first, I had promised to check out the hotel run by those two girls I ran into my first day in Hell, so I made plans for after dinner to check it out now that I've grown more used to Hell. And it was easy to see the hotel from the Doomsday district, so I knew where I was going.

They had offered a job, and a place to stay. So hopefully this worked out in my favor.

***

My walk to the hotel was relatively peaceful, or as peaceful as the Pride ring got anyways.

People had started recognizing me from a social media post someone made on one of my Doomsday district runs, and would normally steer clear. Nobody wanted to become splatters on the pavement.

I had picked up some modern clothes in the last weeks as well, dressing in a black ribbed tank, black cargo pants, and combat boots. Steel chains, and geeky charms, decorating the outfit.

Dex had also made the phone I had in my pocket, and a laptop for me. I would rather use what they made than anything from Vox-tech. I'd seen how people would be hypnotized by the TV demon through his medium.

When I reached the gates of the hotel, I took a moment to soak in the hodgepodge of esthetics on the exterior of the building.

The ship on the side was certainly a unique design choice. The road from the gate was long and winding.

Pushing through the gates, I trek up the hill to the double doors of the building, knocking, and waiting.

Through the door I hear a scramble of feet, then the door swings open to reveal the tall blonde woman. Charlie I think her name was, was out of breath, the excitement just radiating of her in droves as she was practically vibrating.

"H-hi! Welcome to the Happy Hotel!" Charlie almost yells out. "Are you here as a guest?!"

I chuckle at her enthusiasm. "I'm here for a job, dear. You and your cohort asked me to visit the hotel the day I fell into Hell. It was about three weeks ago. I wanted to familiarize myself with Hell first, and made a friend that took me in for that time."

Her eyes flash with recognition. "Oh! You're the one who jumped off the building!"

"Yes. Allow me to introduce myself, I am Willow Frost, you can call me, Snow." I hold out my hand to shake.

"I'm Charlie! And this is my girlfriend Vaggie!" Charlie opens the door wider to reveal the shorter latina from before, and shakes my hand.

"A pleasure to meet you both." I take my hand back.

Vaggie was staring at me with suspension. "I don't trust you. I seen the post of the carnage you left behind in the Doomsday district, and don't deny it was you."

"A new soul had fallen next to me when I was resting. The carnage was the aftermath of my guarding the new demon until they awoke. The other sinners had been too cocky, and thought they would take advantage of situation." I fired back calmly. "I wasn't just going to let them take the easy contract off my hands."

"Right..." Vaggie drags out the word.

"Come on, Vaggie! Guarding a new soul is a good deed." The blonde said. I think she was only hearing the parts she wanted to though.

Grinning, I looked at the shorter one in amusement. "Yeah, Vaggie, it was a good deed. I even set them up with a safe place to live, and the stuff to work with." I teasingly explain. My ears and tail showing my amusement clearly.

Vaggie twitched, her irritation quite evident. "Fine, Charlie. But if she becomes a threat, I'm killing her."

I tilt my head, my fuzzy ears flopping to the side slightly. "Vaggie, dear. If I wanted to be a threat to anyone here, I wouldn't have even needed to knock. I'm not your everyday sinner, honey." I smile with sharp fangs.

Charlie, claps her hands with a loud pop. "So do you feel like a tour?"