Hell's Belles

Johnny was still looking around the room when Kris arrived demanding answers. Though he was still piecing things together in an attempt to get a more complete picture of what had happened, he knew the broad strokes well enough to explain it to her. Whether she believed him or not was a different story. He was far from an expert on the supernatural, not like Stephen Strange or Doctor Voodoo at any rate, but you don't live the carnie life let alone have a Spirit of Vengeance riding around in your head without picking up a few things. Problem was normal folks usually didn't want to hear or believe what they when they were told about the other worldly. Even less than normal folks, the capes and tights crowd, seemed adverse to being exposed to the world of magic.


Giant robots, mad scientists, and ray guns they are fine with, but once you start tossing demons, angels, and things that go bump in the night into the equation and suddenly it's too much for them, Blaze thought. Once you realize anything and everything is possible and the rules don't apply you have to start thinking about the big questions like Heaven, hell, life after death, and all those things that make leaping off of buildings in your underclothes look kind of small and stupid in comparison.

Considering Kris had seen the Rider already he hoped she'd be more open to the truth, no matter how weird, but one could never be sure. Some folks in S.H.I.E.L.D still classified him as a superhuman or a mutant because even if a flaming headed biker skeleton screamed supernatural, they were more comfortable with science, even fringe science, than facing the mystic. There was only one way to find out how his new employer would take it.

“I'm not completely sure,” he said.

Why lie Blaze? You KNOW where he was taken. We've both been there and neither of us want to go back, Zarathos snarled.

“I asked around. Some stage hands saw him talking with a couple of fangirls. Ken, one of the pyro technicians said he rarely brought groupies backstage, but there were three, and I quote 'total knockouts' he was getting very friendly with,” Johnny said, ignoring the Rider. “I came to let him know I was taking off and found the room like this.”

Walking over to the hastily drawn pentagram he kicked over a bottle.

“This was drawn with blood. Not his mind you, they brought their own supply in this. Not human by the way,” he told her, hoping she didn't ask how he knew it wasn't human.

Tossing a pillow aside he nudged a discarded bra with the toe of his boot.

“If I had to guess, I'd say that three woman who seemed incredibly attractive to everyone that saw them and got your roadie to act against his better judgment, to bring them back here for some happy fun time despite that not being a part of his nature or usual behavior, kinda scream succubi. Demons of lust essentially. They bewitch the mind, feed off of life force or psychic energy while they, uh, engage in adult activities. Rarely do they kill outright unless its an ancient one or one that hasn't fed in a long time,” he explained. “The magic though, that's a new one on me. Just...strange. Succubi tend to have to be summoned and they don't kidnap. But this isn't a summoning circle, its a hastily made portal.”

Turning around to take in the scene once more in its entirety he sighed, the wavy lines of energy only he could see painting a fairly grim picture.

“My...friend sees the veil between here and elsewhere. It's been torn open. Its already healing, but its definitely a sign that they grabbed him and took off. He...he thinks he knows where. And, uh, its kind of a doozy so you may want to sit down for this.”

Swallowing hard he tried to ignore the Rider's harsh criticism and the mini-tirade it was throwing. Unlike the Spirit of Vengeance Blaze realized some news had to be broken as gently as possible. When you are telling someone their good friend was ripped away into the abyss by demons there wasn't really a good way to say it.

“I'm pretty sure they've taken him...to hell. And I'm not being metaphorical I mean hell, hell. Fire, brimstone, demons, torture, the whole shebang. In and of itself that is unusual. I mean demons pop topside all the time. Some possession here, attempts to kick start the apocalypse there, and always with the damnable deals where your soul is on the line. But taking people back to the Pit wholesale? That's...frankly that's against the rules. I'm sorry.”

 Gensokyo Girl

Johnny listened to her assessment of the situation and nodded. It wasn't often that you could tell someone a loved one was dragged off to the pit without getting calls for a straight jacket and professional help, but Kris was taking it surprisingly well. He could only assume that after meeting the Rider and seeing everything that went down in Pine Gap the case for the existence of the supernatural had been made.

And to think, a flaming skull is just the tip of the weird iceberg, he thought

“Pretty much. I'm thinking either their intended, uh, activities got out of hand or the release of energy from the portal is what trashed the room. But yes, this is a big no-no, even for folks from down below. See they don't see war the way we do. To them death and destruction is all fine and good, but it has to be in the service of something larger. Their battlefield is for the soul. Whisper in the right ear, get mankind to do the wrong thing, tempt a good person into doing something horribly evil, that kind of thing. Dead folks are only useful if they can condemn someone else to the pit or if they arrive there themselves. So this taking a person wholesale? That is a play that just isn't done. They could invite...retribution from the opposite side so to speak. Question is, what is worth it? A lone roadie is not worth upsetting the cosmic balance.”

It was only after he had said it that Blaze winced. That last bit sounded harsh and he had long since learned just how close Kris was with her crew. His refusal to really open up and let anyone close had already gained him a reputation of being an introvert and a loner among the close knit family.

“Not to say Danny isn't important,” he clarified. “But if the forced of hell were going to unbalance things this much he's not exactly a prime target, you know?”

It is likely a trap Blaze. This could be to draw us out. We've escaped that place twice, a third time may not be so easy.

Ignoring the Rider even though it could very well be right, he continued on to the other half of her question.

“Hell is...well its weird. Hell seems to be a dimension or maybe a place where several dimensions intersect. Nobody really knows. But powerful demons called Hell-Lords have carved out their own domains there. Many of them have claimed to be the biblical devil, only one I've met may actually have a real claim to that, but all are cruel and twisted. They work against mankind, against Heaven, and each other as they jockey for power. Each domain can be vastly different from the last. When my friend and I were there unimaginable nightmares, things that can drive you mad at a glance, pursued us endlessly. We traveled over roads of flesh and veins, through seas of acid, storms of fire and bone, you name it. All the while you are chased while the chorus of the damned plays, the screams of suffering, pain, and eternal torment. There is no real rhyme of reason to it and no way to help them,” he explained.

Most belong there! Their suffering is pitiful compared to the vengeance they deserve! Zarathos snarled in the back of his mind.

“So you need to understand,” he continued. “This is to rescue Danny, no one else. He doesn't belong there.”

THE GIRL IS A LIABILITY! SHE SHALL SLOW US DOWN! LEAVE HER!

“My, uh, partner thinks it best if you stay behind. Salt, silver and the like they'd be of some help, less than if there were monsters topside, but Kris this isn't....we are not talking about storming a castle or dropping into a warehouse where mobsters are holding someone hostage. This is like nothing you've ever seen and nobody should have to. Demons will try to tempt you, deals will be offered, easy ways out for you and Danny and everyone, but they will come with a hidden cost. And they are powerful. Even the lesser demons will know your mind and the secret things you don't share. Your desires, fantasies, every bad thought you've had about getting even with someone, that piece of candy you shoplifted in middle school, all of it. And it will be used against you, to damn you, forever.”

Sighing he turned around, glancing at the broken mirror and seeing Zarathos' reflection staring back at him despite not having changed.

“But I know what it is like. There was a time where I wasn't the Rider anymore. I had a family and they were taken from me. I didn't sit on the sidelines despite my lack of power and let others do the work for me. I fought side by side with another Rider to take it to the evil SOBs. So I can't deny you the opportunity to do the same. But you have to understand the stakes. This is bigger than costumes, capes, and masks. This is you accepting the risk and wading head first into a war that has been raging since mankind began. Believe me when I say having your soul on the line is a lot different than just your physical well being. So are you sure you want to do this?”

 Gensokyo Girl