Lucifer sat on his throne-like seat in the club's VIP lounge, swirling a glass of deep red wine that looked suspiciously like blood. He gazed lazily at Liam and Zatanna, a smirk on his lips. "Well, my dear new employees, it seems we have some unwanted guests in town," he began, taking a slow sip. "Orabos thought he could set up shop in one of my abandoned slaughterhouses on the outskirts of L.A. He's been bringing in demons bit by bit, probably thinking he's subtle. I let it slide for a while, just to see if the little shit had any real ambition." Lucifer's smirk widened. "But now, his cult is growing, and I really don't like it when roaches start thinking they own the kitchen." Liam crossed his arms. "So we go in, kill the bastard, and that's it?" Lucifer chuckled. "More or less. His followers are humans, though. Fanatics, sure, but humans nonetheless." Liam's heart tightened at those words. Killing demons was one thing. But people? Even if they were cultists? Sparda's voice slithered into his mind, dripping with mockery. "You wanted to get stronger, didn't you? Here's your chance. Don't start bitching now." Liam clenched his jaw. "They worship a demon, kid. They're not different from his minions. If you hesitate, they'll gut you like a pig and serve you to their master. Wake the fuck up." Lucifer raised an eyebrow at Liam's silence. "Something on your mind, kid? You can always quit and go back to sweeping floors for me." His grin sharpened. "Oh, wait—you can't quit a deal with the devil." Zatanna looked at Liam, concern flickering in her eyes. "Liam, what's wrong?" "Nothing." His voice was clipped, firm. He turned for the exit. "Let's go." As they left the club's lobby, Sparda's voice returned. "You can't run from this forever, dumbass. Sooner or later, you'll have to kill someone." Liam's fists clenched. "Be thankful you're getting an easy start. If you keep this attitude, you'll get yourself killed. Or worse…" Liam frowned. "Worse?" "You'll get her in danger." His gaze flickered toward Zatanna. Sparda's voice darkened with amusement. "Or even worse than that… you'll get raped by some big-ass demon. And as much as I'd love to watch that shit unfold, I'd rather stay the fuck out of it." Liam stopped dead in his tracks. Zatanna glanced at him. "Liam?" He exhaled sharply, then looked at her, his expression hardening. "You're right." Sparda laughed. "As always, dickhead." Liam scoffed. "You talk a lot for a fucking chain hanging around my neck. Are you sure you were a demon lord?" Sparda hummed. "I should have kept your dick cut off, would've been fun watching you cry about it. Like that one surgeon who turned a man into a woman. You ever seen that movie?" Liam grimaced. "You're fucking disgusting." Zatanna watched their exchange, a crease forming between her brows. "Liam, you're awfully quiet. Is something wrong? Did I do something while we were running Lucifer's little errands that pissed you off?" Liam shook his head. "No, Z. Never." He hesitated before admitting, "It's just… we might have to fight humans. Unlike your magic, my abilities are meant for murder and destruction." Zatanna smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "Damn, I didn't know the devil had a heart. I thought you stabbed it last time." Liam's lips curled into a smirk. "No, you stole it, darling." Before she could react, he grabbed her arm and pulled her closer. Zatanna's face exploded red. "I hate you." She quickly recovered, crossing her arms. "Fine. I'll take care of the cultists, but you better have my back." Liam's grin widened. "I can't refuse that offer. But… we already left the hotel." Zatanna's eyes twitched. She smacked him so hard his head snapped back. Sparda cackled. "Thank you, girl. I wanted to do that for a while." They kept walking, the tension settling, but Liam knew—this mission wasn't going to be easy. Arrival at the Slaughterhouse The air around the slaughterhouse was thick with the scent of blood—old, rotting, and fresh, all mixed into a metallic stench that clung to their throats. The building itself was a rusted mess of metal and dried gore, the dim light from flickering lamps barely illuminating the horrors inside. Liam wrinkled his nose. "Jesus. Smells like a serial killer's wet dream." Zatanna gagged. "Ugh, this is worse than Hell. And I've been to Hell." Sparda's voice slithered through the chain around Liam's neck. "Get used to it, kid. She'll smell just like this for a week every month." Liam groaned. "I swear, I wish she could hear you." Sparda scoffed. "Try me, bitch. If I passed by her in my prime, she'd be kissing my feet." Liam rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure. Every demon we've faced so far has looked like shit, and I doubt you were any different." Sparda sneered. "Where do you think your white hair is coming from? You're starting to look like me." Liam deadpanned. "I'll put a gun in my mouth before that happens." Sparda chuckled. "Shove it up your ass while you're at it." Zatanna pinched the bridge of her nose. "Can you two not bicker before we step into the murder house?" Liam exhaled. "Fine. Let's get this over with." With a push, they stepped inside. Slaughterhouse Bloodbath The moment they entered, the darkness shifted. Shapes lurked between hanging slabs of rotting meat—twisted, sinewy demons with hollow eyes and jagged claws, their forms twitching unnaturally. One lunged first. Bad move. Liam cracked Chantinelle forward, the segmented blade snapping apart into a whip mid-air. The tip coiled around the demon's throat before Liam yanked it back, the segmented edges ripping through flesh and spine, decapitating it in an instant. Another demon snarled and pounced from the side. Liam flicked his wrist, reforming Chantinelle into a solid blade, and drove it through the creature's gut, twisting hard before ripping upward. Zatanna was already moving, her hands glowing with blue sigils. "Flamma orbis!" A burning ring of fire erupted beneath three demons, incinerating them instantly. One managed to leap through the flames, claws bared, inches from Zatanna— Gunshot. Liam, now wielding Satanus, aimed effortlessly and pulled the trigger. The hellfire-infused bullet tore through the demon's skull, sending it crashing lifelessly to the ground. Zatanna smirked. "Nice shot." Liam twirled Blaze in his other hand. "You expected anything less?" A pack of demons emerged from the shadows, their bodies writhing grotesquely. Sparda cackled. "Now we're talking." Liam holstered Chantinelle and dual-wielded Satanus and Blaze, opening fire. Satanus' bullets exploded on impact, sending demons flying into the walls, their bodies torn apart by hellfire. Blaze's concussive rounds shattered bones, knocking demons back like ragdolls. Zatanna kept pace, her magic acting as both offense and defense. Chains of light erupted from the ground, binding a demon mid-air, giving Liam a perfect shot to blow its head off. The last demon, a towering brute with jagged blades for arms, swung at Liam. He dodged left, spun behind it, and jammed Blaze under its chin, pulling the trigger. The demon's head exploded in a mist of black gore. Liam exhaled, flicking Blaze back into its holster. Zatanna dusted off her coat. "That was fun." Liam smirked. "A little warm-up before the main event." But before they could move forward, footsteps echoed from the far end of the slaughterhouse. The Cultists A group of hooded figures emerged, their eyes gleaming with unhinged devotion. Some carried daggers, others rusted firearms, but all bore the mark of Orabos across their foreheads—carved into their flesh. Zatanna raised a hand, her lips moving in a spell to knock them out— Gunfire. More cultists appeared from behind, catching them off guard. A blade sliced toward Zatanna's ribs, but Liam was faster— Chantinelle cracked through the air, wrapping around three cultists at once. With a swift pull—bodies split open, blood splattering against the cold metal floor. The fight ended in seconds, but the damage was already done. The room fell silent. Liam stood over the bloodied corpses, staring at what he had done. The sight of human blood pooling on the ground twisted something inside him. His grip on Chantinelle tightened, his stomach churning. Sparda snickered. "You look like a virgin looking at her blood for the first time." Liam didn't react. He just stared. Zatanna stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm. "Liam… they were trying to kill us." His jaw clenched. He forced himself to speak. "It's either them or us. Let's keep going." Zatanna hesitated, but nodded. "I'm with you." Liam exhaled, shaking off the hesitation, and turned toward the corridor ahead. Orabos was waiting.
