Chapter Text
To want is a hell of a thing. To want something unattainable, to crave the thought of possessing it was something crippling. Hands grasped at him, fingers sinking into his shoulders and clutched at his flesh, but his interest was piqued. Husk became uninterested in satisfying himself or the soul he’d been fucking for the last half hour, forgetting his usual want for release and allowing himself to slip out halfway through a thrust. He disregarded his partner as she called to him, begging him to come back and stop teasing, but the bathroom door shut behind him, the lock sliding into place with a click.
Husk was bored, lacked enjoyment, losing interest in the world he once ravished and owned with a powerful fist. He’d become accustomed to his afterlife, and for once, he wanted more for himself. Husk dragged his dull claws through the mess of tangled hair atop his head, scowling at his reflection. He looked haggard, annoyed, and empty. Husk hauled himself into the shower and tried to scrub off the scent of booze that emanated from every pore. He ignored the knocking of his entertainment for the night, listening to her request to join him and get him off, but he’d lost interest in what she had to offer.
Week in, week out, he had the same seven souls at his command. They each held the privilege of a night of their own to do as Husk demanded of them, although he occasionally combined a few nights together when he felt he needed extra exertion to release the tensions he’d built up throughout the days. He was often overwhelmed from the stress of his position, valued as one of the most successful and malevolent overlords in Hell. And yet, his life reeked of boredom, the routine something he no longer cared for, needing something to fuck him over and shake him up- no matter the cost. He studied his reflection in the mirror, and grinned as an idea began to form.
~~
It was the event of the month in Pentagram City, and it was going to be huge. An exclusive overlord celebration was to take place in Husk’s casino, every soul in his possession set to work to make everything perfect. They were there to entertain, to serve, and if the opportunity came up, to drag the overlords to a private room and provide whatever they wanted. He was prepared to make room amongst his collection for any new souls he’d win amongst games with his “friends”, eager to discard the ones that had become boring to him, those lacking the ability to satisfy him any longer. Husk combed back his hair and bared his teeth at his reflection as he passed the bar, finding them sharp and pristine, perfect for scaring the fuck out of the other overlords, to convince them to bet higher, to throw in their own souls or their collections as collateral.
The night kicked off with a heavy rush, performances on every stage running throughout the night. Husk rubbed elbows with whom he considered adversaries more than friends, dragging them into games he knew they’d lose, feeling his power ebb and flow with each contract that was signed upon his tables. He gained souls by the hour, by the minute at some tables, especially those run by his most experienced and stealthy dealers. Husk watched from his favourite booth by the bar, three souls under his arms, one on his lap, but his eyes were locked on the door as it swung open. He stood, knocking the souls that were hanging from him off, and for the first time in a decade, he felt something.
Husk weaved through the crowds at his tables, through the dance-floor, and found himself standing below the entrance stairs, hand extended to his least-favourite overlord. Valentino tilted his head and sneered as Husk kissed the back of his hand in a chivalrous show of respect, grinning at the discomfort that Husk’s nature caused him.
‘Valentino,’ Husk greeted coldly, leaning around him to catch sight of the enchanting creature that Val had brought with him, ‘and guest. Welcome to my casino.’
A lithe, tall figure clad in red and purple stood behind the overlord, uncomfortable in the matching colours his boyfriend had forced him to wear. They were Valentino’s colours, not his, looking strange against the soft white and pink of his fur. Angel felt Val yank him forward, showing him off as the prize he was, and smacking his ass for good measure. The spider lifted his head, feeling hundreds of souls turn their eyes to him, and he relaxed. They wanted him, and the feeling he was used to fuelled his courage and devastatingly devilish personality. He met Husk’s eyes, feeling his hand be drawn to the overlord’s lips, a gentle and genuine greeting compared to the callous and habitual greeting Husk had used for everyone else.
‘A pleasure,’ Husk murmured, kissing Angel’s hand softly before releasing it.
‘Pleasure’s all mine, baby,’ Angel replied, feeling his boyfriend’s sharp claws sink into his hip, wincing and returning to cling to Val’s side. ‘I’m thirsty, Val, where’s the bar?’
Husk snapped his fingers, a waitress he owned appearing at his side and offering to take their orders. ‘You’re theirs tonight. Follow, take orders, get drinks, understood, Sunny?’
Sunday nodded and smiled at Valentino, gasping as he leaned in close and grabbed her chin, assessing her. ‘Oh, I like you, you’re fuckin’ gorgeous, baby!’
Angel glanced away as the attention usually lavished on him was turned to someone else, and he hungered for it to return. He wanted Val to want him like he always did, but he’d been a smartass one too many times, and he was going to pay for it for the rest of the night. Angel’s eyes followed the gambling demon as he walked away, regretting his choice to attempt at flirting with his boyfriend’s favourite enemy.
Val hauled him around for hours, playing with everyone who was in his reach, keeping a tight grip on his pet and dragging him into his lap any time he seemed twitchy and wanting to wander or go off on his own to find entertainment. He was just a flashy feature to get attention for his boyfriend, dragged around and paraded and groped when Val got bored. Angel pouted as he found himself draped over Val’s shoulder, whining in his ear and begging for them to leave or go do something more fun. Val stood quickly, sick of Angel’s bitching, and turned to smack him to the ground. His movement halted halfway through, Val’s head snapping to the side and finding Husk holding his elbow tight. Husk’s usually gold eyes were a void of black surrounding by a cold and thin ring of gold, his magic revealed with a terrifyingly confronting emptiness.
‘Retract your claws, kitty,’ Val growled, narrowing his eyes coldly.
‘You first,’ Husk challenged, watching Val balk as he realised what those empty eyes meant, the dark shadow that represented Husk’s magic as it began tracing his entire outline.
Angel trembled softly, glancing between Husk and Valentino, dreading being at the centre of another fight. He stood quickly, placing his hands over Husk’s, easing the gambling demon’s grip as he locked eyes with Val, hoping to talk him down.
‘Daddy, stop. Please,’ Angel pleaded, wrapping himself around Val and hoping to distract him, to ease the conflict. His voice was like its own special magic, lulling both the overlords and turning their attention away from each other. ‘See, ain’t that better? Now, let’s play a game, huh?’
Angel felt himself be yanked harshly into Val’s lap, tensing as Val’s crotch rubbed against his back, knowing what had built up between Val’s thighs had nothing to do with him. Husk dropped into the other seat across from them and scowled across the table at his opponent, and the game begun.
Anger and curses spewed from the overlords as people came to watch their game, intensity growing with just a simple game of Texas Hold’em. Angel winced whenever Val sunk his sharp teeth and claws into his flesh, the moth hoping it would distract Husk, wanting to win more than anything else. He wanted to prove he had the bigger dick of the two, reconsidering the metaphor and thinking he could just fuck his pet against the table to turn their measuring competition into something more literal. Angel glanced up at Husk from his side of the table, looking forlorn as his face screwed up at another claw-mark being permanently etched into his body. They played game after game, taking turns winning and losing with only money or random souls they owned as stakes, but Husk wanted more. To own the overlord who carried a similar level of power, to take it all for himself... it drove Husk mad with potential power, claws gripping onto his chair as he called over the dealer and whispered in his ear.
The soul paused, looking to his boss to confirm, then shifting his gaze to Valentino. The moth scowled and snatched the document from his hand, looking over it for only a moment before seeing what it was.
‘I play for other's souls, you idiot bitch,’ Val snapped, shoving Angel off his lap and storming over to Husk, jamming an accusatory finger in his face. ‘Mine isn’t part of the bargain, gato, ever, because mine actually means something to me!’
‘Then play for your empire,’ Husk replied coolly, locking eyes with Val. ‘Your power, your collection of souls, something interesting. And in return, my soul joins the pot. You want it, I know you do, but you have to play me for it.’
Val turned and gazed at the cards, his luck had been shifting towards more wins the last few rounds, and Husk was right. He didn’t have to offer his own soul, and if he won, he’d own the second most powerful overlord. The idea of that much power drove him crazy, and he dropped into his seat again, scrawling on the contract and dumping it into the middle of the pile. Val snatched Angel’s waist and yanked him back onto his lap, fingers tugging desperately at the edge of the skirt and wanting to make his hotheaded little spider cockwarm him just to rub it in Husk’s face, knowing he couldn’t do a fucking thing about it.
He leaned forward and whispered something to Angel, Husk’s eyes losing their colour for a moment when he saw the fearful pink glow in Angel’s eyes. It was an awful thing to see someone have so much fear for someone they clung to like Angel clung to Val. He was terrified of him, but needed him more than anything else, relying on him out of a desperate need for any form of safety, even if it was just a show of possession beneath it all. Angel was beautiful, but more so beneath the gaudy makeup and jewellery he’d been decked out in by his boyfriend. Rarely did Val let Angel leave the confines of their room, but tonight was a celebration, and he wanted to present him to the Pentagram’s elite as his personal favourite slut.
As much as Angel hated how he was regarded by the public, he longed to be wanted by them, to be shown and adored, worshipped, finding nothing better than getting fucked into a haze as a reward for convincing people to do what Val had asked. It was his afterlife, and he wanted to please so badly, he just hated how he had to do it.
Husk considered his every move very carefully for the game, feeling the worry about what would happen whether Val won or lost from every onlooker in the room. With a worried flick of his eyes at the cards he’d been dealt, Husk locked eyes with Valentino and quickly forced a smile to hide his clear discomfort, tossing his cards into the middle and watching Val triumphantly flip them over and slam his own down- only to find he’d lost. Husk grinned wide, the fake one he’d put on disappearing as he kicked back in his chair, smiling nonchalantly as pink smoke poured from Val’s body as he rushed the gambling overlord the heat of fury. Valentino stood so fast that Angel fell from his lap, scrambling out of the way as Valentino lunged at Husk, being yanked back by two of Husk’s personal security. He cursed with his wild tongue, screaming profanities as he was held back from tearing the cocky demon to shreds, shoving back Angel when he tried to pull him away.
‘Look, pal, this is getting pathetic,’ Husk taunted, sneering up at Valentino as he lunged for his throat again, and rising to his feet. He leaned up to Val and pressed his cheek within millimetres of the other overlord’s ear, chuckling lowly. ‘So pay up, let me see that pretty pink power of yours drain from you. Or just hand me the keys to my new empire, hmm? Maybe I’ll even buy you a drink before kickin’ you out of your tower on your ass. Give me my prize.’
There was a long pause, Valentino realising what he’d bet had actually meant something to him, turning to the shaking Angel as he gazed up at his boyfriend, who refused to meet his eyes. The chains around his neck appeared in that warm, neon pink, before they turned black. Angel held still as Val turned to look at him over his shoulder.
‘No... baby, no, please- tell me ya didn’t.’
Husk paused, summoning the contract that was part of their game, and feeling his chest tighten when he saw what he’d won. Not Val’s power, his empire, his collection of souls, but just one soul- that of his most prized possession. Angel stood and tugged at Val’s arm, begging him to answer, to say it wasn’t true, to take him home or fuck him against the nearest surface for making a scene in public, anything to show he still wanted his beloved fucktoy. Val ignored Angel, shaking him off and knocking him to the floor of the casino, and fluffing up his coat. He sneered and held out his hand to Husk, who refused to touch him.
‘Get the fuck outta my casino, and don’t come back,’ Husk snarled, his voice cold as Valentino was escorted out.
He glanced to the trembling spider on his floor and went to help him up, but hands smacked his away in disgust, Angel backing up and refusing him. Angel scrambled to his feet and tried to chase after Valentino, but he was shoved back hard against the nearest wall, not even a word said as Val’s car peeled off into the night. He sunk to his knees as tears streamed down his cheeks, not even noticing as Husk sent over two of his girls to care for him. Husk didn’t need to tell them what to do, it had been a long established routine now, more souls falling into his possession with each passing week. He needn’t remind them of what they’d suffer if they caused trouble for their own entertainment, either, both aware of their likely punishments.
Angel sobbed as he called for Val to come back, screaming and turning violent the longer he was ignored, demanding an answer to why, why his soul? Of all things to offer, did he really mean so little to Val? He was led along the back halls behind the stage, beyond the bar and upstairs, one of the girls escorting him- the same soul of Husk’s that had been supplying him with drinks all night. Angel tried to recall her name, but his head was empty and cold, and he felt exposed to the walls of the casino and its many rooms.
‘I’m Sunday, you can call me Sunny,’ the girl said, her ears twitching as she sat Angel down on her bed. She knelt in front of him and pulled makeup wipes from her bag, reaching up to help him. ‘This is Nes, or Wednesday.’
‘Sunday, Wednesday?’ Angel repeated confused, looking between them. ‘Who the fuck named ya that?’
‘The boss,’ Nes replied, looking to Sunday as she sat beside Angel. ‘Not really a name, though, it’s what he uses to determine who he’s fucking for the night. He’s too drunk to deal with names, so he gives us a day of the week. You do good, you get a better day, you do shit, you get replaced. Some people cycle through five or so days before he gets bored, but we’ve been here a few months now and haven’t changed more than once.’
‘I’m not changin’ my fuckin’ name to a day of the week,’ Angel muttered, swiping his arm across his cheek to hide his tears. ‘My boyfriend’ll be back ta get me, anyway, so don’t get too attached.’
Nes and Sunday exchanged glances, Sunday returning to clean more makeup from Angel, watching him wince as his bruises were revealed. Angel hated how kind they were being, waiting for the sick joke to end and they just beat the shit out of him for entertainment. That was what he’d expected the moment he left Val’s place, that he’d be used and abused again, just like he was before Val. And, he supposed, during. Angel’s mind froze, glancing up to see the damage done to his face being revealed inch by inch in his reflection, unsure how to feel once he realised he hadn’t been any better off at all. He pushed down the negative thoughts about his lover, knowing he was lucky. He had a bed to sleep in when he was with Val, but... he supposed that even that wasn’t safe, and Angel felt it all come up his throat.
The girls cared for him and offered him a bed and spare clothes as the party began to wind down below them. Sunday worried about breaking the news to Husk that his new soul was even more of a fucking mess than all of them put together, chewing on her lip as their newest addition smacked away any food or drink they offered. When they were summoned to report on Husk’s new acquisitions throughout the event, Angel’s care fell to the next in line- the longest soul that Husk had kept around, at least that any of his favourites knew about. Monday, the coldest of the lot, was prepared to scare the fuck out of Angel, to get started on breaking him in before Husk even had the chance. It was what she did, she just didn’t let her boss know that, and the others in Husk’s regular rotation knew better than to tell the boss.
Monday, affectionately nicknamed Money, had become cold since her appointment to this particular day of the week. She hated what she got, the least satisfaction and want from the boss, whatever energy left over from the weekend never enough to satisfy either of them. But she refused to let the others in on her secret, she wanted them to envy her, to fight for her place, because it was the only power she still had.
‘Pathetic,’ she scowled, crossing her arms and watching Angel ignore her and sulk in the corner of the room. ‘Let me guess, you were some random thrown in on the last round? God, he needs to get some fucking taste.’
‘Shut up,’ Angel muttered, looking away from her.
He felt his head hit the wall, crying out as she slammed her knee into his cheek. Angel winced and grabbed for his cheek, but Money grabbed his wrist and yanked him forward, knocking him over and sending him sprawling.
‘You’re not gonna last a fucking hour,’ she taunted, pressing her foot to Angel’s chest and holding him down. ‘The boss is gonna haul you into his office, get one pump, and realise you’re not even worth the entry fee.’
‘Fuck you,’ Angel replied, grabbing her ankle and shoving her off. ‘I don’t fuckin’ want him.’
‘Good, because there’s no fucking room for a little bitch like you,’ she snarled, rolling her eyes and stalking off toward the balcony. ‘He’s going to ruin you.’
Angel swiped the blood from his eyebrow, pulling his hand back to see it and just frowning, tucking his knees against his chest and hiding his face there. He didn’t want to be in the stupid fucking casino, he wanted Val, but he knew he couldn’t leave.