~The Next Day~

Y/N's P.O.V

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?" Kiki asks me.

"I mean, I wouldn't have walked all the way here if I absolutely abhorred the offer" I reply, lightly shrugging as we both stand off to the side of the place where Verosika will be performing today.

Many demons are streaming inside what's probably the largest stadium I've ever seen. A massive structure that stands incredibly tall and is probably just as huge inside as it looks from the outside. And after reading the job offer I got last night for myself, the gist I got from it was that Verosika had a show to do today and needed extra protection, even needing to go so far as to hire assassins that could double as bodyguards. As to why, I didn't want to ask, since I don't really want to talk to her anymore than I have to, but I'm willing to bet that her management is probably on-edge after the, now overstated, party killing that they didn't want to take any chances on their most popular performer get killed. Or it could just be that since this a very, very big show, it'll require more people to keep the crowd in check, as in preventing people from trying to climb on stage to be close to Verosika or any other such thing. But I can only speculate. Kiki came along with me, though, since she wanted to talk with her boss, whom I now know is my ex after a longer talk we had last night before going to bed. It was also during that time that I recapped my previous relationship with the now famous popstar, Kiki feeling bad about what happened, but promised me that she wouldn't do it to me too.

"But what do you want to talk with her about?" I ask my girlfriend, seeing as she didn't already tell me.

"Resigning" Kiki admits, catching me by surprise, "My job under her is, well 'was', traveling with her and, alongside my co-workers, seducing humans/other demons while she performs. But I wasn't the most dedicated out of everyone and didn't end up with any of them sticking with me for a night or so afterwards, unlike the rest of the crew. Like I told you, you were my first and only client, but I guess this context helps understand what I meant by that in much greater detail."

"You're serious?" I say, trying not to be too loud that it would draw attention, Kiki nodding in response.

"Yes, I am. I want to prove that I'm going to take this relationship seriously and I think keeping a job that involves me seducing other demons while that happens isn't the best sign of commitment, don't you think?" Kiki answers, letting me digest what she's saying.

"If that's what you really want, then, sure. But I do appreciate that you're willing to do that for you and me" I smile, her also smiling, "But what do you think you'll do after?"

"Well, as much as being a stay-at-home mom sounds nice, we both know you can't get me pregnant, so that option's out" Kiki partially teases, "But I'll see what's out there and do some looking to find something. I'd rather you not feel like you have to take care of me in that way."

"But that didn't stop us from the clothes we got you this morning, did it?" I say, referring to what she's wearing along with her other new clothes back at my apartment, now her apartment too, "Still as beautiful as ever with no sign of that changing."

"Says the stud with the stylish and strong-looking armor on" My succubus girlfriend counters, still smiling as she looks me over, "It's a shame you won't leave it on when we're in bed~."

Like she says, I'm wearing my armor, the same visor, shoulder pads, gauntlets, chest-plate, and ankle boots that I wore yesterday. Though the difference between yesterday and today is that today I have my weapons with me, my sniper rifle over my shoulder with both handguns strapped to my waist. I didn't bring them last night because those at the party would've thought that I was there to start trouble right off the bat. But Kiki looks great in the clothes she's wearing. Instead of the tall boots, skirt, and fishnet top, now she has on a solid black bralette top that doesn't show a lot of boob, a leather jacket over top of that, skinny black jeans, and high-heeled lace up shoes, her hair and earrings remaining the same.

"Are you saying you want it rough next time~? Because I can certainly provide~" I tease her back.

"Oh, really? I'll have to hold you to that" Kiki replies, crossing her arms and grinning confidently, "But for now, we should probably head inside before the show starts. I have a feeling that my boss will need to give you some instructions before she goes on stage."

"More than likely, yeah" I agree, "And even though I hope not to have to use the weapons I brought with me, I'm sure her management won't care if a few members of the audience get a more painful reminder not to get too close to my employer."

I then put my visor down to conceal my face and walk beside Kiki as we head towards a side entrance just off-shot of the primary entrance, going around the long lines of demons positioned at the two gates. This 'side entrance' is guarded by two hellhounds in sunglasses and suits, their stoic stature reminding me of Vortex. When I approach them, I ready my phone to show them Verosika's job request as proof of me needing to get in. I won't rely on them just letting me in just because of my assassin status alone, since the more well-known/popular assassins have some celebrity-type recognition to their names, though it mainly stems from a fair share of notoriety they have, and I'm not the most popular assassin in this city. I'm still up there, though, not to sell myself short or anything.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" One of the hellhounds with red fur demands.

"I'm C/N and Miss Verosika hired me to provide assistance today" I reply shortly, holding up my phone so that both security guards could see it.

The two hellhounds take a long, good look at it and then nod.

"Ok, then, you're good to enter" One with pure white fur tells me, letting me put my phone away before glancing at Kiki, "You can go in too, Kiki."

"Thanks, Rascal. I'll show Y/N the way" Kiki says back, the guard with red fur opening the side entrance for Kiki and I to walk inside.

"So I take it you've worked with them before?" I ask, my girlfriend leading me down a circular, curved hallway that's almost completely devoid of other demons.

"Pretty much, yeah. When guards are consistently good at their jobs, it's better to keep them around rather than having to constantly hire new ones. It's cheaper that way" Kiki briefly explains, "And while we're on that topic, do you mind if I ask you something?"

"Sure, ask away" I reply.

"You told me about your past relationship with my soon to be former boss, along with how it ended and how you felt about it. So, my question is, why take this job in the first place? Doesn't it hurt to see her again after all this time?" The succubus asks.

"I'm sure I'll feel something like that when we see her soon, but maybe now that we've spent time away from each other, we can have a chance to talk and have it so that it no longer festers in my mind. By no means am I looking to take her back, especially since I wouldn't do that to you, but I think this could still end well provided that I keep my cool and don't go getting all accusatory on her when we talk" I admit.

"I'm sure you'll do fine" Kiki reassures me, the two of us now walking into a part of the stadium where behind the scenes crew members and walking around carrying equipment and setting things up.

"Well, thanks, Kiki. I appreciate it" I thank her, my girlfriend smiling at me and making me feel happy inside.

Then, almost immediately after we wrap up the conversation, the two of us come across a couple sets of double doors, going through one only to be met with another, which we pass through as well. On the other side is a wider hallway with more polished walls and doors on both sides of it, though most of the doors line the right side. Kiki doesn't stop walking, instead continuing past the doors that read 'Escalator', 'Stairs', 'Small Dressing Room', and 'Local Crew Room' and even past the larger dressing room with Verosika's full name written on it. We're also forced to maneuver around the multiple workers moving about the hallway too, Kiki slowing down when we're farther down and at a door labeled 'Loading Dock'. My girlfriend then puts her hand on the door knob, gives me a look that says 'this is it', and then opens the door.

The room on the other side is a larger, but shorter room filled with lighting, sound, and different smoke and vapor machines lining the sides, many stacked in trolleys and in organized rows. On the far end is a small set of stairs with a railing that leads onto the stage, which I can tell from the loud noises of the crowd made up of thousands of Hell's citizens. However, standing just a bit before the stairs, talking with one of the backstage crew members is Verosika herself. My chest tightens the moment I see her, my breath also catching in my throat. Seeing her in-person is much different than just seeing her on social media, the news, or just on my phone. Now she's really here. And just like in pretty much every video I've seen of her, which actually isn't that many since I don't actively stalk her online like some other creeps would, Verosika wears her accessorized pink fur coat, a tightly-fitted white and black mini dress with 'X' and 'O' patterns on the chest, and long black thigh-highs with black high heels that have a heart motif. Though the most intense part is that her hot pink/yellow eyes are out since her pair of round shades with pink heart designs in the lenses are resting on top of her long, white hair. Her and the crew member seem to be in a small argument, the three female succubi around her just lazily lounging around close to the stairs. Two are tall and thin like Kiki, one having medium length blonde hair while the other has a black afro, while the other one is shorter and has more juicer-looking arms, legs, and body overall.

"Hmm, looks like she's not in a good mood today" Kiki murmurs to me, Verosika and the other succubi still not noticing us yet, "I'd just recommend not pushing her buttons, if at all possible."

"I'll try my best" I murmur back, the two of us walking up as the crew member leaves, Verosika huffing before finally seeing us approach.

"Hmph, glad you could make it, Kiki. I was wondering if I'd have to send someone to come find you" Verosika says with annoyance in her voice, Kiki just nodding in response.

"And you must be, C/N, I presume?" She says, glancing my way. I merely nod, not wanting to speak in the event that she'll recognize my voice. I still want to talk to her, but it's probably best saved for after the concert concludes.

"Good. Now, listen carefully, because I'm only going to explain this once, ok?" Verosika continues, her voice decreasing in annoyance as she goes on to lay out my role in her performance, "You're going to be up at the front with Kiki, Apple, Coco, and Milky. Your job is to keep anyone from getting on the stage and/or hurting any members of my posse. They can handle up to a certain amount, but if concert goers get too rowdy, violent, or touchy, that's where you step in. Do all that and you'll be paid generously, got it?"

I nod again, Verosika appearing to calm herself down as she also nods and tries to smile with a sense of optimism behind it, then turning around and addressing her 'posse'.

"Alright, you guys, the show will start here in a couple minutes or so. You know what to do, just don't be scared or overwhelmed by the crowds out there. C/N here will help you if needed, but other than that, you're on your own. That's all" The singer announces.

Verosika then leaves the room and heads out into the hallway, probably going to prep herself one final time before things start. I, however, go up the stairs and peek out into the stadium to see if it's been filled yet. It is, the massive crowds all amped and ready, but I also spot where Kiki and I will be with the rest of the succubi. There are already some hellhound guards, like the ones that were guarding the stadium's side entrance, directly below where the stage ends, though they're also leaving a space to which I assume is where we'll be placed. I remind myself of the fact that I have weapons with me, but that it's probably best to not let off loose shots if I don't have to.

"No offense, Kiki, but you don't look ready today" Apple comments.

"Because I'm not planning on doing any seducing today" Kiki replies simply, "I'll still go out there, but I'm not going to do anything after I just recently got myself a boyfriend."

A collective gasp can be heard from all three succubi.

"Are you fucking with us?" Milky asks.

"No, I'm not. I finally found someone whom I'm willing to be in a solid relationship with" Kiki smiles.

"Well, you'll have to introduce us to him sometime. We need to see if the boy you picked is right for our best friend" Coco teases, lightly nudging Kiki, my girlfriend chuckling.

"Looks like it's time" I say to them, Kiki and the others looking my way.

"Ok, then. Let's get to it" Apple replies, the group coming up the stairs as I wait and watch them pass.

The crowd gets even more lively and excited once they see the four succubi come out on stage and hop down to the spot below, some having to already be held back by the hellhound guards since the show hasn't officially begun yet. I come out and hop down to the side but still come around to where Kiki is standing in front of the stage, standing by and crossing my arms. But then the smoke machines go to work on the stage and the crowd cheers loudly, Verosika coming out with her microphone in hand.

"Allllllllright, everyone, are you ready to have the time of your lives~?!" She says to the crowd.

As expected, they enthusiastically shout their agreement, prompting the concert to begin with music starting, Verosika beginning to sing, and the hellhounds letting go of the rowdy demons. I'm worried that they're going to rush Kiki and the others and turn this into a bloodbath, so I keep a tense and careful eye as Milky, Coco, and Apple start their seduction poses and the first demons come up to them. And, to my surprise, they don't go attacking them with viscous lust, the succubi flirtatiously touching the demons and winking at them. The music isn't loud and blaring like it would be at a rock concert, but it still packs enough beat and intensity to be loud enough for me to not hear much with the combination of the stadium going wild and Verosika doing her thing.

"People come here to forget about the troubles of their daily lives" Kiki explains to me, having to really raise her voice for me to even hear her, "They'd rather forget themselves and get lost in the joy and pleasure that comes with being seduced by both Verosika's singing magic and the succubi themselves. After a while, I found it to be a bit sad, that people don't have enough joy in their own lives that they have to seek it out from other means. But it keeps the money flowing, so I'm sure the management doesn't mind one bit."

I merely nod in response, not wanting to talk over the rampant noise in the air. I stir on her words as the concert continues to play out, time passing by with one song ending, another starting almost immediately after, and so on and so forth. As the songs pass, I don't have to do much roughhousing of the local populace, seeing as they keep in their pants more than I thought they would. However, I did have to step in on about 3 total occasions. Near the middle of one slower song playing, a female was trying to stick her hand down Milky's pants, but I stopped her before she went too far, promptly pulling the demon away and breaking one of her fingers to get my point across. Another instance was two songs later and Coco was in danger of  having her shirt yanked off. But, I went over, pulled the guy away and both punched him in the face hard enough that he started bleeding along with kicking him in the nuts. It was about that time when I felt like I was being a bit too harsh with my 'keeping the demons in line' methods, but it got a bit worse on the last occasion. Someone had Apple pinned up against the stage when the last song was going and had gotten her pants down, them try to forcibly have sex with her. What I did was grabbing the person by their neck and actually killing them by snapping their neck. The demon fell to the ground and I stood in front of Apple as she collected herself and pulled her pants back up, her sending me a thankful glance as the song continued playing until its end. At that point, Verosika thanks everyone for coming out and walks off the stage, signaling that the concert has reached its conclusion.

As the demons in the audience begin to leave, the hordes slowly making their way out of the stadium, I climb up on the stage and help each of the succubi up, the stage being low enough to the stadium floor that it isn't too much of a hassle considering there aren't any stairs. We then turn away from the leaving demons, walk across the stage, and walk down the small set of stairs back into the loading dock area. Though they all don't look excessively tired, Milky, Apple, and Coco are all catching their breath. However, that doesn't stop them from coming up to me and thanking me....in their own way.

"We appreciate you having our backs out there, C/N. Some other guys would've just let those pricks violate us without a care in the world. But I'm glad you're not one of those guys" Milky says, the shortstack pressing up against me with those bulging assets of hers, "Say, do you have anything going on? Because I wouldn't mind expressing my thanks alone with just two of us in one of the dressing rooms backstage~."

"Hey! Who says you're the only one who wants that?" Apple snaps at Milky, the smaller succubus rolling her eyes as the two thinner succubi come over and do essentially the same thing she was just doing, "Don't mind Milky. She can get a little feisty over strong men that stand up for her. I, however, admire your ability to stick to your job and not being afraid to get dirty while doing it. It gives me all sorts of dirty thoughts, the kind that typically revolve around a threesome with you, me, and my girlfriend Coco here. Interested~?"

"Yes, C/N. Doesn't that sound exciting~?" Coco smiles lustfully.

"Ladies, don't get me wrong, you're all lovely and sexy, but I'm also the kind of guy who has a girlfriend and doesn't cheat on her with other women" I tell them, "But I appreciate the sentiment towards wanting to show your appreciation."

"Oh, c'mon, she won't know~" Apple pushes, still trying to seduce me.

"Oh, I believe she already does, because she's standing to your immediate right" I reveal, the 3 succubi looking in that direction and find themselves glancing at Kiki. Once they connect the dots, realization and surprise sets in, their faces reflecting as much.

"No fucking way. Kiki, how you'd bag this hotshot all by yourself?" Milky asks in disbelief.

"I'll tell you guys later" Kiki grins, savoring the shock and minor jealousy that Apple, Coco, and Milky are displaying right now.

There's then some clapping and Verosika walks over from the door leading out of the loading dock.

"Good job to everyone today, especially you, C/N. I saw how you handled those fuckwits as I was performing. And since you did a good job, I'd be willing to offer you a little something extra besides just the agreed upon payment~" Verosika flirts, getting closer to me, "How about we go discuss this in my dressing room? That way we won't be disturbed~."

I glance briefly in Kiki's direction, wondering how she feels about this. Her boss is clearly making moves on me, despite not knowing that it's her ex-boyfriend underneath all this armor, and I already made it clear to the other succubi that I'm a loyal boyfriend. Kiki would probably be skeptical if I said yes to Verosika, maybe seeing it as me going back on what I said, but I would hope that she would trust me enough to know that I'm no cheater. That's something Verosika would do, especially given how outwardly flirty she is towards just a stranger she hired for the day, from her perspective. But, Kiki nods, giving me the sign that she's ok with it, though I'm probably guessing that this'll be a test of whether I'm a man of my word or not.

"Ok then" I reply to Verosika, my ex grinning and motioning me to follow her as she turns around and heads for the door.

I follow her out into the hallway and into the dressing room with her name printed on it. It's not the most lavish dressing room imaginable, but it does have a large rectangular mirror with light-bulbs around the perimeter, a granite countertop with a comfy chair, a couch pressed against the opposite wall, and a rack of hung-up clothes. Verosika takes off her coat and lazily throws it onto the couch before sitting down in front of the mirror, removing her gloves, and beginning to apply lipstick.

"You know, I wouldn't mind it if you were my personal bodyguard full-time~" Verosika casually flirts, looking in the mirror, but only occasionally glancing at me, "My last boyfriend was a complete limp dick, but I think that'd you'd easily outshine him."

Biting my lip, I don't let my emotions get the better of me, since I feel like she just referred to me. But, I sit down on the couch beside her jacket and raise my visor, thinking that this will be the best way to surprise her and get this whole talk with her over much quicker.

"Oh, was he?" I reply, my face unimpressed while my voice displays some feigned interest.

"Yeah, he uh-" Verosika then pauses.

The succubus looks up and freezes when she sees me in the mirror's reflection. Her breath hitches and I can briefly see her pinching herself on the arm to confirm that she isn't dreaming or imagining this. Verosika then turns her chair around and stares at me with disbelief all over her face.

"...Y-Y/N?" She slightly stutters.

"Didn't expect this, did you?" I say, my eyes not leaving her, "It's been some time, Vee."

"..Yeah, it has" She agrees, collecting herself and trying to remain calm.

"If it's any consolation, you did great out there" I say, complimenting her.

"Well, thanks" Verosika replies, looking a bit uncomfortable by the praise coming from me, "So..um..how are things?"

"Look, Verosika, I'd rather not spend this time to chit chat and catch up" I say a bit more firmly, leaning forward with my arms crossed, "Could I have my payment, please? And then I'll be on my way."

"Well, sorry, but I do want to catch up" Verosika retorts, frowning and crossing her arms, "Because after losing contact with you over the past 3 years, I genuinely want to know what happened to my ex-boyfriend that I still care about."

"I came here to try and make peace with what ended our relationship, so maybe then all the bad memories can just disappear" I tell her, Verosika listening intently, "But how can I when only minutes before, you offered yourself to someone you considered a stranger and then minutes later claim to care about me? It just doesn't make me believe you."

"Well, let me give you some insight on what life as a celebrity is like, Y/N" Verosika huffs, standing up from her chair and walking over to the couch, sitting down next to me, "When you're as famous as I am, people all over Hell want you. But many of them are filthy, degenerate pieces of shit that don't genuinely care about me. I learned that early on and from then on didn't care about finding someone else nice, instead taking any chance I could get to let my desires out on any half decent demon that works for me and does his job well."

"I mean...as long as you're happy" I say, not wanting to talk about her complete devolving of character.

"Most of the time I am, yes" Verosika sighs, smiling as she takes out a silver flask with a heart on it and drinking down some yellowish liquid, "Knowing that hundreds of thousands of people love you, having a nice place, having tons of money, and the great sex makes it a thrilling lifestyle. And knowing that I accomplished my dream of becoming a successful singer."

She then turns in my direction, scooting a bit closer to me.

"Though I'm a bit sad that you ended up accomplishing your dream" The succubus then says. I look at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Assassination is a grim, dark, and lonely business. Having to constantly murder people for money. Needing to be so aggressive, angry, and violent all the time. It's not good for you" Verosika says, though I roll my eyes at her since she can't possibly understand what it's like.

She then gets even closer to me, her leg touching mine.

"You know, my offer I made back when we were dating still applies. You can come work for me and we'd get to see each other a lot more often. I'd actually really like that" Verosika offers, acting warm and kind even though I know it's just to rope me in to have me under her thumb, "And we can go back to my place and we can confirm by me showing you what you've been missing out on all these years, if you know what I mean~."

There's then a knock at the door and Verosika huffs at being interrupted at such a pivotal point.

"What?!" She exclaims unhappily.

"It's me, boss" Kiki's voice sounds from the other side of the door, "Can I come in?"

"...Hold that thought" Verosika says to me quietly, then getting up and going over to the door, opening it to let Kiki in.

"This better be good, Kiki" Verosika huffs some more, shutting the door, "I was just about to secure a new employee whom I had a past relationship with."

"Oh, trust me, I know. Y/N told me all about your relationship with him" Kiki calmly gloats, Verosika frowning.

"What do you mean?" She asks.

"Because we're now dating, of course" Kiki grins, Verosika's face freezing.

"What?" My ex says, sounding borderline pissed at her plan getting suddenly foiled.

"And since this is as good a time as ever to bring this up, I quit" My girlfriend continues.

Verosika looks mad now, her fist clenching as she turns around and walks to her make-up mirror. Instead of hitting the counter, though, she angrily smacks her palm against it.

"You can't quit now!" My ex-girlfriend exclaims, "We're already down three members ever since Ace, Josh, and Kat quit last week! I can't have our numbers dwindling any further! And I don't feel like scouring Lust to find new candidates to replace them! Why do you even want to leave, especially now of all times?"

"I made a promise to Y/N here that I'd be a loyal girlfriend that doesn't go chasing after and sleeping with other men behind his back. That's why" Kiki replies, being honest but also feeling/sounding like a shot fired at Verosika herself since I told her about Vee's cheating.

"We're succubi, Kiki! It's not in our nature to be loyal!" Verosika seethes.

"Maybe you think so, but I don't. I'm going to be better" Kiki retorts, crossing her arms and glaring at her boss.

"..................Fine" Verosika grits her teeth, Kiki grinning in victory, "But you'll need to come with me back to my place since that's where the contracts are kept. And I want Y/N to come too."

"Not sure why you'd want that, but, eh, I have nothing going on" I shrug, though I know exactly why she wants that and I don't want to leave Kiki alone with her in the event that Verosika tries to force my girlfriend to stay employed to her.

Verosika seems to subdue her anger enough upon hearing my response that she grins herself, walking back over to the couch, picking up her coat, and putting it back on before sliding her sunglasses over her eyes.

"Let's go, then" Verosika says, leading to me putting my visor down and her opening the door, Kiki and I following her out into the hallway where Milky, Coco, and Apple are waiting.

"Are you serious, Kiki? You're leaving?" Coco asks in disbelief, Milky and Apple looking like they want to ask her the same thing.

"I'll text you guys after it's done" Kiki indirectly confirms, Verosika, and I beginning to go down the hallway in the opposite direction of where Kiki and I came from while she waves goodbye and follows us.

The hallway continues on and on before it then curves to the right, leading us to a door that once we're through takes us to the outside of the stadium. However, it's a parking lot that now stretches out in front of us and the VIP parking lot at that since the spots indicate as much. The three of us walk and weave between some of the cars parked here and there, the area a lot less busy than any other parking lot here. Verosika then stops beside a pink drop top with a gold license plate and gold trim around the front and back bumper. Vee unlocks the car, Kiki and I getting in the backseat as she gets in the driver's side, though from her face in the rear-view mirror, it seems like she wanted me in the front seat with her. Biting her lip, Verosika starts the car, backs up, and heads out of the parking lot, pausing at the exit before she turns onto the main street.

Though I don't know where her place is, what I do know is that all three of us are quiet on the drive there. Verosika does occasionally glance at me, but she can't see the flat expression on my face that I return to her every time due to the visor concealing it. It's becoming apparent that her past behavior of not taking a relationship seriously has not only gotten worse, but has also sprouted some other less than desirable traits that I see within her now. Among other things, Verosika's become a lot more cocky, rude, and uncaring towards others, along with fully embracing herself as a succubus instead of striving to be more than that. It's not that she's become a whole different person than when I last knew her, but she's way worse now compared to before, which is why I'm not going to tell her yes when she asks about employment again. Right now, I'd rather work under Blitzo, though mainly because he's a more interesting boss that still somewhat cares for his employees.

Verosika's car then slows down and she turns into the parking lot of a large skyscraper that looks to be one of the tallest, if not the tallest, buildings in Imp City. However, instead of parking, she goes around the circle drive in front of the building itself and temporarily parks the car in front of the main entrance, a valet demon coming up as Verosika gets out. This signals Kiki and I to get out as well, the two of us waiting by the front door before Verosika comes over, having talked with the demon to park her car somewhere probably meant for VIP's. The three of us then head inside, the interior looking all fancy and modern with couches and lounge areas all around as Verosika stops by the front desk, talks to the demon lady behind the desk, and walks back to us with a keycard. We then walk through the center of the commons area and up to an elevator, all of us getting in before Verosika swipes the keycard through a slot on the elevator panel. The lift moves almost immediately after that, taking us up, up, and up some more, the floor numbers increasing at a steady rate the higher we go. We must be going to the top floor, because there's no way that she'd settle for just another apartment, and sure enough, the elevator stops on the 69th floor, the doors opening and Verosika casually walking out. But when Kiki and I step out of the elevator, we're both amazed at the penthouse we've found ourselves in. 

Though it's probably not the entire penthouse, what lies in front of us is a large room with multiple housing-related aspects implemented that aren't overly fancy, but would still be expensive. To my immediate right is a wine cabinet built in a 90 degree look and has doors made entirely of glass. To the left of that is the living room area with a large TV built into a wall of slate gray wooden blocks with horizontal silver lines between them, a rectangular fireplace placed below it, a large tan couch with white pillows and an ottoman, a dark gray square armchair, and a circular podium with a lamp on it. Further left are two black doors a short distance away from a rectangular dining room table with curved, comfy chairs, and lights that look like small globes on strings hanging down from the slanted ceiling with windows in it. In the very middle of the room is the small stainless steel and glass spiral staircase with a glass railing leading up to what looks like a second level with an outside pool. To my immediate left is a door leading to what appears to be Verosika's bedroom, followed by a window wall with a bar/kitchen counter amalgamation built into it that consists of a stove, fridge, oven, and white-colored cabinets placed above the counter-tops. But, like with the couch being placed a bit back from the TV, there is a circle of armchairs on a circular rug placed a bit back from the kitchen. The rest of the room is just glass walls and a door that leads out onto a balcony that goes both directions when stepped out onto.

"I gotta go change. Feel free to wait here" Verosika speaks up, walking to her room and closing the door as Kiki and I just continue standing around looking at the place.

"Have you ever seen this place before?" I ask, raising my visor.

"No, I haven't" Kiki admits, "Though it isn't far from what I pictured her living arrangements to be."

"Yeah, I agree" I nod, leaning on the back of one of the chairs in front of the kitchen.

"But have you realized that she's going to try and force you into saying yes to her offer?" Kiki asks, changing the subject.

"Yes, I have. She can try all she wants, but I lost the desire to work with her when we went our separate ways and didn't talk to each other anymore" I reply, getting beyond tired of talking about the break-up, but knowing that it won't stop until it's been thoroughly addressed by both Verosika and I.

"Ok, good. I just wanted to bring it up in the event that you hadn't realized it yet" She nods to herself, "What did you think of my co-workers?"

"Aside from being a bit too like Verosika in some ways, they seem like decent people. Plenty attractive too, but you're still the prettiest among them all" I say, being truthful but also complimenting.

"Aww, stop it!" Kiki smiles, giving me a little wave of her hand, "You're gonna make me blush!"

"Though I don't envy the position they've chosen to put themselves in during shows like that. I would never let some horny strangers put their hands all over me, female or male. But I guess if they wanted to do something different with their lives, they would've picked that career path over this" I surmise out loud.

"Maybe. But I do remember that when Apple and Coco started out, they didn't like it very much at all" Kiki recalls, "The two actually stated at the time that they were just doing it for the money, which wasn't that far off from my own personal reasons to join up with Verosika. I guess sometimes people are just forced to do something that they'd rather not do because the gains from it outweigh having nothing."

"True, true. But it's sad nonetheless" I sigh, standing up straight.

Verosika's bedroom door then opens back up, Verosika herself coming out barefoot, dressed in black short shorts that hug her thighs a lot and a light gray sports bra that accentuates her chest more than it should, and with her hair up in a ponytail. The succubus then walks over to the kitchen counter and places down two pieces of paper along with a pen, Kiki and I walking over, me looking over her shoulder as she stands over the counter and looks at the contract she initially signed when agreeing to join Verosika's posse and the contract nullment form.

"You better be sure about this, Kiki" Verosika huffs, then sitting on the counter with her legs swaying freely over the side.

My girlfriend is clearly sure of her decision because, without much hesitation, she picks up the pen, makes sure it's the right line to sign, and signs her name under the contract nullment form, casually putting the pen down afterwards. Verosika looks over with disappointment blatantly clear in her eyes, but sighs and picks up both papers and the pen again.

"That's that, I guess" My ex mutters, getting off the counter and standing in front of me with a hand on my chest and her leg and foot seductively rubbing against mine, "But now that you're no longer working for me, could you get the fuck out and leave me alone with Y/N? There are things we need to discuss that don't concern you."

"If it's about your offer, then my answer is no" I straight up tell Verosika, Kiki smiling as Verosika's face falls.

"W-Why?" The succubus says in shock, "I thought this was what you wanted. Us getting to spend more time together and being able to work together like we wanted to do."

"At one point I wanted that, yeah, but I don't like you anymore and don't trust you anymore. So I don't want to work with you" I say, being not too brutally honest, but not sugar-coating my words either.

"Oh, and what the fuck gave you the impression that I can't be trusted?" Verosika snaps, crossing her arms.

"Are you serious, Vee? I lost trust in you after you cheated on me and tried to hide it from me. Why should I trust you after such a blatant betrayal of my trust?" I state, getting a bit angry but keeping it in check so that I don't come out looking like the villain here.

"We never talked about being 'boyfriend and girlfriend' and all that crap" Verosika dismisses, even though I definitely remember us agreeing to it, "Besides, relationships aren't built on love and trust. They're off of attraction and the desire to fuck."

"Sounds like you have a really shallow view of relationships, though maybe it's because you forgot what it was like from just pursuing others for sex" I calmly retort, Verosika going to slap me, but hitting her hand on my visor since it lowers right as she goes to do it, her having to hold her hand in pain immediately afterwards, "And the only reason I keep bringing it up is because you refuse to take responsibility for your actions and admit what you did was wrong. You didn't even apologize when I confronted you about it. Some part of me was hoping that you would've come to these conclusions for yourself by now, but it seems like you just want to gloss over it and/or think it wasn't anything bad and just use the other happy memories we had to downplay how important it was in the grand scheme of our relationship."

"That was then, now is now. Quit living in the past, Y/N, because it's not relevant anymore" Verosika says, clearly upset, "What happened did happen, but it's not like I can take it back even if I wanted to. Now, do you want to let go of that one little thing, start living in the present, and get back to getting along with each other? Because we're both standing here now and can make it happen with no problem. All you have to do is say yes. I would like that. And after we get the contract signed, I wouldn't mind us making the binding official by having a round in my bed."

"No. My answer is still no" I stand my ground, "Now can I please have my payment so that I can go?"

Verosika's face is a mixture of anger, disappointment, and internal sadness. She really thought that she could sell me with guilt tripping and the promise of sex. But it also seems that she doesn't like getting told 'no'. I can't really tell if she really does miss me and does want us to talk to each other again, but even so, the behavior she's exhibited makes me even less likely to consider the idea compared to before.

".......Fine" She sighs, getting her phone out of her pocket as her tone changes to sly and self confident, "But don't think this is the last time we'll be seeing each other. I can always hire you for any other job I want to hire you for just to make you spend more time with me in the hopes that you'll want to have me in your life again. And I'm not going to give up that easily. I always get what I want."

"We'll see about that" I reply, getting the payment notification on my phone.

I then put my phone away, Verosika doing the same before staring at me with an expectant look on her face.

"Anything else?" She says, her arms still crossed.

"Yeah. Do you know of any assassins from the Lust Ring?" I say, taking this chance to see if she knows anything that could further the investigation.

"......No, no I don't" She shakes her head, "Why?"

"I have my reasons, as do we all" I respond cryptically, "But thanks away."

Kiki and I then walk to the elevator, opening the doors and getting in as Verosika trails after us. But, instead of trying to keep me there by pulling me out, she's just forced to stand there as the doors close and the elevator begins moving away from her, her face still mirroring the disappointment she's internally feeling. But once she's out of sight, I raise my visor once more and run a hand over my face, letting out an audible sigh as I try to process everything she just said.

"Thank goodness that's over" I vent, leaning against the elevator wall.

"Agreed. It irked me to see her try and seduce you along with pretending that her past mistake is something that can just be glossed over" Kiki frowns, keeping her arms crossed.

"....I just hope that, at some point, we can talk again when she's ready to get past the delusions of her own growing arrogance and apologize. But until then, I'm moving forward with other things, whether her statement about not knowing any assassins in Lust is true or not" I say, pressing the button on my right gauntlet and bringing up the phone screen while searching the contacts for the person I'm thinking of.

I end up doing a video chat and Octavia quickly picks up, showing her sitting at the same table that she sat during her birthday party.

"Y/N, hi!" Via says happily.

"Hi there, Via" I smile, "Is your dad around? I was hoping that he could conjure up a portal so that I wouldn't have to walk miles and miles to come visit."

"I can understand that" Octavia chuckles, "Hold on, I'll go get him."

The elevator continues humming as Octavia gets up from her seat, the screen now pointed upward towards the mansion ceiling as Octavia walks through the hallway. She doesn't walk around for long, since Stella and Stolas' voices become louder and clearer after Via heads out a door to the backyard of the mansion. The screen then gets held up more appropriately as Via nears her parents.

"Dad? Y/N's on the phone. He'd like it if you could supply him a portal to get here quickly" Octavia reiterates to her father.

"Oh, yes, surely" Stolas accepts, briefly appearing within frame as Octavia stands next to him, "Where are you exactly, Y/N?"

"The main elevator at the Mammon Estates building" I tell him.

"Hmm, hmm, yes, ok, got it!" Stolas confirms.

Just as promised, a swirling blue portal appears in the elevator behind us, Kiki and I turning around to see it. The two of us then quickly step through, going from tile to grass as Stolas closes the portal leading us into his garden. Aside from being a large garden in general, there's neatly trimmed hedges and bushes around the perimeter and various stone statues spread about the area, no doubt people that crossed Stolas and had to be on the receiving end of his power. To my immediate left is a circular table with simple but still nice-looking chairs, a fancy tablecloth, and platters of tea and snacks. Stella sits across from Stolas, but all three of them stare at me and Kiki, though probably more so her than me. And now that we're here, I tap the 'end call' button on the screen, the video chat stopping on both mine and Octavia's phone.

"I'm glad you've come, Y/N, because I was hoping to have a chance to talk and this is the perfect opportunity to do so" Stolas comments, gesturing for me to sit down at the table.

"Well, as luck would have it, that's exactly why I wanted to come here, so I guess this just can't get any better" I reply, smiling, taking a seat as Kiki sits on my lap, her arm around my neck as Octavia sits across from us.

"Before we start, though, can she be trusted with knowing this information?" Stella says, referring to Kiki. "Because succubi are well-known to let just about anything slip if their sexually pleased enough."

"That may be true, but I didn't just quit my job doing exactly that if I meant any harm to Y/N" Kiki replies, leveling with Stella, "If what you're going to be talking about with my boyfriend here is very secretive, then, fine, I'll keep my mouth shut about it. Though not to protect your image, rather his."

"Fair enough, let's begin" Stella shrugs, finding that she can't argue with that.

"So, has Octavia told you two what I told her yesterday in regards to the Wrath and Lust Ring?" I ask.

"Yes, yes, she did" Stolas nods, "And it is a good idea for further investigation. But the part I'm struggling to see is exactly how you'll get to them. I'm sure it doesn't need to be overstated that you can't easily leave this Ring."

"Mm hm" I also nod, very well aware of that.

"But have you tried the transit system at the station?" Stolas asks.

"Yes, I did. A while ago. It didn't work, but I can try again" I say, being slightly sarcastic at that last bit since I know any amount of time won't make the slightest difference.

"I worry about that, though, Y/N" Stella speaks up, making me look at her, "Though there aren't any publicly forbidden rules stating that sinners can't be in other Rings, I can't imagine that those who made the restriction would be all that forgiving if they heard that you were spotted in Lust or Wrath. So, do be careful about being seen, because words travel fast."

"I can't wholeheartedly promise that, Stella, since there's a fairly likely chance that I'll have to do a bit of asking around to see if the assassin we're looking for is somebody that the local populace knows. But, to make sure you guys don't get in trouble, if anyone captures and tortures me, I won't tell them that I'm affiliated with any of you" I reply, being rather grim with my response.

"Hey..uh?" Octavia adds, looking at Kiki.

"Kiki" My girlfriend helps.

"Right, thanks. Kiki, have you ever been to Lust before? And, if so, how have you gotten there?" Octavia finishes asking.

"I have been to Lust before, yes. Many times, in fact. Though I can't say it's been anything special. I've just used the same method that every imp, succubi, or other hellborn uses whenever I need to go down there. So, sorry, but I don't have any alternative travel methods I can offer" Kiki answers.

"Oh, ok" Via sighs, sounding disappointed but still trying to show it in her voice too much, "Thanks anyway."

"Mmhm" My girlfriend nods.

"Well, how about we test that theory of yours out, Y/N?" Stolas suggests, "It's best that we try the most obvious approach first before then resorting to searching out other means, don't you agree?"

"I do" I nod, "So are you hinting that you want me to go now to test it out?"

"Yes, I am, but I actually want to accompany you to see it for myself. That and I could use a little change of scenery" Octavia's father admits.

"Dad, are you sure that that's a good idea?" Octavia speaks up.

"Our daughter is right, Stolas" Stella adds with some gentle concern, "We need to limit our time out in the public domain as much as we can right now and taking a little walk around the station is not a good idea at all."

"It won't be for long" Stolas promises, "And if anyone should try anything, I'll just turn them to stone like those that tried to pick on Via when she was younger."

"Wait, you can do that, Dad?" Octavia says in slight surprise.

"Why, yes, I can and if you'd like, we can see if you have the same ability too when I come back" Stolas smiles, turning his attention from his wife to his daughter.

"Yeah, I'd like that" Octavia says, returning the gesture to her dad.

"Splendid!" Stolas claps, "I'll be off, but I'll be back shortly, I promise."

Stella looks like she wants to argue further, but knows that once Stolas makes up his mind about something, it's hard to get him to change it, so she just sighs and tries to smile with some optimism backing it. Stolas then creates a portal a little ways off to the right side of the table, placed on the opposite side of the table compared to the portal that brought Kiki and I here. After Stolas, Kiki, and I get up from our chairs, I wave Octavia goodbye, her doing the same, and walk through the portal, Kiki and Stolas right behind me. Stolas is quick to make the portal disappear once we're where we need to be, which just so happens to be just a bit back from the station's main entrance. Around us is a large collection of parking lots, streets merging together and splitting apart to go different ways, and tons of imp demons. The station's main entrance is a nicely constructed mix of metal, glass windows, curved roofs, and circular beams holding them up, along with no stairs needed to get in. However, there's two two-lane streets placed right in front of us, traffic moving through fast and frequently, which means we'll have to carefully time it as we try to make it to the entrance.

Stolas is too lazy, though, or just doesn't want to take the risk, because he just creates another portal that comes out on the other side of traffic. I merely smile, shake my head, and go through the portal with him and Kiki, now directly in front of the station. The three of us then head inside and are immediately greeted with the shiny and bustling interior, the main area consisting of four square pillars, six large entryways with three on the left and right walls, a large diamond-shaped clock up high on the wall, another level above this one where imps are looking down at others below, and multiple screens that show arrival and departure times for the elevators to Wrath, Greed, Lust, Sloth, Envy, and Gluttony. Then coat all that in a mix of white and gold and that's the station, as if it was ripped straight from Heaven itself, though the apple designs show that it was Lucifer who requisitioned the building of this place. Plenty of imps are going in and out of the entryways or are just hanging around in the main area in groups.

"Since we're only looking to test it right now, let's just pick the next available departure and go with that" I suggest, walking up to one of the screens on a podium.

"Mmhm" Stolas hums, bending down and looking at the list, "Well, Greed has an arrival is only in a couple minutes, let's try that."

"Good eye, Stolas. And Greed is....that one" I say, pointing to the middle entryway on our left.

We all leave the screen and walk to the entryway, passing through it and entering the waiting area that has seating arranged in a sort of Roman amphitheater type of way, where it's all curved in a semicircle and goes down from the top like a flight of stairs. The elevator station is just a hop and a skip from the bottom seats, so Stolas, Kiki, and I go right to the bottom, ignoring the stares from imps around us, and sit down. Now comes the waiting game and the inevitable result of it not working, which I know it won't but I want to show Stolas so that he believes me. We sit around for only a little while, though, until a familiar couple comes and sits next to us unknowingly.

"Oh, hey guys" I say to Millie and Moxxie, not wanting to startle them.

"Oh, hi there, Y/N! I didn't expect to see you here!" Millie happily exclaims.

"But yet, here I am" I muse, now noticing how they're dressed, "Date night?"

"You betcha" Moxxie smiles, "It's something we haven't done in a while, more so when it comes to visiting Greed than just a nice restaurant here."

"Say, are you looking to try and traverse the Rings?" Millie says.

"Yes, that's right" I nod.

"Then we'll help as much as we can" Moxxie states.

"It's ok, you two. You don't have to" I respond, the elevator arriving, "And I'm going to show you why."

Moxxie and Millie then stand up alongside me and we walk to the now open doors of the elevator. The imp couple head right in like it's nothing, but as soon as I get close enough to where the inside of the elevator is, I touch a sort of invisible wall preventing me from going further. I also press on it with my gauntlets, Stolas, Kiki, Moxxie, and Millie all watching, but I can't get through no matter how hard I push. But the other waiting imps are now wanting in, so I step back so I'm not in their way and wave Moxxie and Millie goodbye, them doing the same as they disappear within the crowd. So, now, I just walk back to Stolas, him looking disappointed that it didn't work.

"Well, damn it" Stolas sighs, "I guess that option's no longer viable. In the meantime, though, I'm sure you can figure something out. I need to get back before I attract anymore attention."

I nod in agreement and Stolas opens a portal back to his home, heading right through without looking back. It disappears a few seconds later, but by that point I'm sitting back down in the same place I was sitting before to think, Kiki scooching over to be right next to me. But then something clicks in my mind seeing Stolas portal his way home. Sure, it was something I was used to from him by now, but when thinking about it in this situation specifically, a portal sounds like the solution to my problem. But, I don't think I should go right back to Stolas with this idea since he and his family have already given me enough. Aside from their time, a direct way to talk to them, a place in their life, their money, and their trust, they also gave me this armor, which all together is more than I would've ever asked from them.

"I think I've thought of something, Kiki" I tell her.

"Oh, yeah? What is it?" She asks curiously.

"Stolas was able to use a portal to bring us here and to leave, something that not very many people can do. And it comes across to me as a kind of magic, just like how succubi have magic that makes them able to seduce others. But, if it's possible to be taught this magic, maybe that's how I get to Wrath and Lust" I explain to her in hushed tones, not wanting others around us to hear.

"Portal magic is definitely learnable. Verosika had to learn it to perform shows up in the living world" Kiki confirms.

"Sounds like a special privilege, since I don't know any other succubi who's been given that" I surmise.

"Well, it actually was a lot more common many years ago, but that's going into the past history of succubi, which I don't know if you're interested in hearing about or not" Kiki replies, then continuing on after seeing me giver her the 'go ahead', "So, basically, succubi from the human's perspective are creatures that use seduction to lure them in and have sex with them. And they aren't wrong, but how do you think they came to know this? It's because those humans met actual succubi that traveled from Hell to the living world. Though I wasn't alive when it was common, it was no secret that succubi went to the living world, since it was their purpose at the time. It lasted quite a long time, but then it happened too frequently that those in the living world were beginning to get suspicious of what the succubi were up to and Hell's higher ups were forced to slim it down, though they ultimately got rid of it altogether. How Verosika gets away with it is because of her fame. People in both realms love her, so that means an equal gain from both areas, which is why she's allowed to go up there. I even asked her at one point how she was able to do it and all she told me was that she was taught. But, from my understanding, the magic acts as a bridge between realms, working as a bypass over the normal laws of the realms. But because of that fact, it's use is strictly prohibited outside of those deemed ok to use it."

"So, even if I go to Verosika and ask her to teach me, she'll more than likely say she can't because she doesn't want to get in trouble with those that gave her the privilege of using it too?" I guess.

"I believe so, yes" Kiki nods.

"Huh" I think, "Then I guess I'll just have to find whoever taught her and make them teach me the magic themselves."