It all happened so fast, Cobalt could barely keep track of it. With the Tempered Bastion finally above ground, the paranoia of Devils mounting within the populace of Brimstone had finally come to fruition, giving rise to an overwhelming panic. Despite the terror of that first day, Brass' preparations had done well; he and the other members of the Rowdy Boys spread the word of a safe haven at B.I.D., and before the day was out the old Incubus was at the school, instructing people to mount mirror wards along the exterior walls. Hundreds fled onto the campus, with the Sulfur Bloods arriving from Inferno not long after, though whether it was out of a genuine need to protect the town or simply Lorenzo Suyas finally calling in that favour from Brass, he couldn't tell.
The people came in droves, abandoning their cars outside the gates in order to get inside, screaming all the while. The mighty form of the Tempered Bastion cast a long shadow over the town, and its ancient machinery scattered sparks and sprayed steam everywhere. Devils were everywhere, and though both the police and the Sulfur Bloods made valiant attempts to hold them off, eventually the surviving population of the town was forced up the hill into B.I.D. The wards seemed to keep the Devils at bay - just as Brass said - so barricades and watchpoints were erected, and the long waiting game began.
Most of the townsfolk had bedded down in the student's rooms, much to their dismay. In most cases it was four or more people to a room, and even then, others opted to sleep in the classrooms. As for the assembly hall, it had been converted into a refugee shelter of sorts, with a temporary canteen for dispensing food to the masses. But it was clear that the populace couldn't hold out like this forever. The school's food supply was running low, and many people were on edge, driven mad by the cramped conditions and paranoia of the Devils. The Sulfur Bloods were doing a fine job guarding the place, but having them around presented a whole set of other problems.
The Devilsbane Pact had been doing what they could, but just as Cobalt had always thought, there really wasn't much they could do. Dallas and Gail had been getting a lay of the land and reporting their findings to the Titch siblings, who had bunkered down in their lab. But with them stuck underground hiding from the Devils and Brass taking refuge with the rest of the family in B.I.D., functionally they were backed into a corner.
This was it, wasn't it?
The assault on Hell by an army of Devils - always just barely on the horizon - had finally arrived, and Cobalt felt sick to his stomach. In the week since the Tempered Bastion rose from the earth, he had been making himself scarce, sitting by himself for hours at a time in the basement of the dormitory building, where nobody really dared to go. Since what happened on the roof with Karazelle, he hadn't been able to calm himself down; his blood refused to cool, his heart hammered constantly, and the teeth lining his hands remained at the ready. His mind was afire with panic and hunger, and all around him, the Incubus could still see the roses bloom, no matter how hard he tried to blot them out.
It was like every inch of him was slowly burning away, and what was left behind was completely unrecognisable. Not even Lilith knew what to say anymore, and even if she did, he doubted she would be able to be heard over the screaming of his own thoughts.
He could feel his phone buzzing in his pocket. This was the third time in the last ten minutes. Perhaps he ought to answer it.
Slowly, the Incubus reached for his mobile and flipped it open. A call from his father.
"Hello?" he breathed in a cold, quiet tone, holding the phone to his ear.
"Cobalt, where are you? I've been tryin' to find you for the past three days and-"
"I'm fine, Dad," Cobalt lied, right through his jagged teeth.
Brass went silent for a moment, parsing his son's words.
"... You sure?" he asked.
"Yeah. What do you need?"
"Need you to get your ass down to the assembly hall. Your mom's been beside herself with worry, and your sisters ain't much better. Besides, the bigwigs are gonna be holdin' some kinda meetin' to try and plan the next steps. Fuck knows we can't bunker down here forever."
Cobalt swallowed hard.
"Weren't we supposed to save Brimstone, Dad? Wasn't that the plan?"
"... Yeah, I know. But sometimes the best way to save people is to turn tail when shit goes fanwards. These Devils... They're a Hell of a lot more organised than we thought, if Gail and Dallas' reports are anythin' to go by... Look, just get over here, alright? Before Jezzy busts a blood vessel."
"Dad, I-"
"Son, we're up shit creek. Times like this, you need to be with family, okay?"
"I... okay."
"Alright, see you in a few. Love you."
His arm fell by his side as the call ended. He felt dead. Moreso, he barely even felt like Cobalt Trayer anymore. Rather, some kind of animal wearing a schoolteacher's skin.
"Don't keep him waiting, Cobalt," Lilith reminded him.
It was funny how much she had changed. Gone from an unwelcome presence in his head, to the closest thing resembling a conscience he had left. Heaving himself to his feet, the Incubus ascended the staircase and stepped out of the dorm building, into the refugee camp that was once the campus of the Brimstone Institute of Demonics.
The weather had only grown worse; unbearable heat and humidity ruled the day, while the cloud cover remained thick and impenetrable. The dying sunlight struggled to pierce through, and as Cobalt made his way down the gravel path, he passed by countless scenes of suffering. A wounded Golem mother holding her baby close sat upon the benches were gangs of second-years used to sit and smoke redreed. As he passed by the main school building, he looked in the window to find that the infirmary was completely filled with injured demons, and many more spilled out into the hallway and other classrooms. Volunteers rushed to treat their wounds, his sister Viridi among them. Rounding the structure, he saw police officers in the canteen, consolidating and organising what few supplies they had. Judging by the amount of empty boxes, they were running out quickly.
Those he passed by got out of his way, unwilling to cross paths with him. Cobalt didn't blame them; he looked awful, and probably smelled awful too. He hadn't changed his clothes in well over a week, and his overall appearance was nothing short of haggard. Coming to a stop in front of the assembly hall, he peered up at its doors, listening to the thrumming of voices from within.
For a moment, he was reminded of his first day of the academic year, when he was once again late. How he stumbled into this very hall, interrupting the proceedings within.
Behind him, he heard leaves shuffle, prompting him to crane his neck. There, by the edge of the path near the bushes, Elya Yalfre stood frozen. She was dressed in hand-me-downs, carrying a tray of soup bowls in her arms. Without the medical knowledge she once had, she was likely doing everything in her power to remain useful by helping with keeping the masses fed. He could see it in her glimmering green eyes.
For a moment, the two gazed at one another, completely silent. Not that Elya had a choice.
"I'll get it for you," Cobalt finally said, grabbing the door handle and opening it.
The hall was packed full of people, none of whom were remotely happy to be there. Tables and makeshift beds had been set up for various different families, though many more had to sleep on the floor. As Elya quickly shuffled in, the Incubus took a moment to scan the crowd, trying to find anyone he recognised.
Sulfur Bloods stood at regular intervals with their firearms firmly grasped in their hands, as over by the stage their patriarch and his family were discussing something with one of the teachers. Lorenzo Suyas argued firmly with Ethan Zespire, while his wife Aelda sat, tending to the knotted hair of her daughter. Izzbelle herself looked miserable, her arm finally free from a cast. Jelli was sitting next to her, panicking to herself as she rocked back and forth on the ground. Her family was still up Earthside, and with the Gate down, they had no idea that she was in danger. At the other end of the hall, Whitney was hunkered with her guitar, half-heartedly plucking at the strings to her butler's encouragement. Cobalt was surprised to see Gulliver here, but something told him that he had willingly braved the warzone of Brimstone to ensure his lady's safety on behalf of her parents. Lottie and Quinn were both helping with the distribution of food, but when Elya drew near, he noted the Imp give her a hateful look and rip the tray right out of her hands, almost spilling its contents. There was still bad blood, despite everything.
And in the middle of it all, Karazelle stood, taking it all in just as he was. As soon as the Incubus arrived, however, she turned and set her gaze upon him, staring with a look that betrayed... what, exactly?
He couldn't figure it out, because he couldn't maintain eye contact. It just hurt too much.
Instead, Cobalt kept his head down and headed over to the corner of the assembly hall, where his family had been assigned a pair of cots between the lot of them. Brass was seated in his wheelchair, holding the hand of Jezebel as she lay with a cloth upon her head. Amber slept on the other bed, leaving Violet to sit awkwardly on the end. There was no denying that she was pregnant now, and it was clear from the look on his sister's face that the current situation was not helping her stress levels.
The Incubus announced himself with a cough, whereupon Brass tried to greet him, only for his wife to fly out of the bed and tackle her youngest in a desperate hug.
"Oh my baby, I've been worried sick!" Jezebel Trayer cried, her voice carrying even over the general hubbub of the hall.
He didn't try to push her away, not like he usually did. Instead, Cobalt just hugged his mother close. He could hear the rapid hammering of her heart, even when she pulled his head away to scold him.
"Where have you been, snookums?! I've looked everywhere for you!"
"Sorry Mom, I was-"
"Oh, just look at the state of you! When did you last shower?!" Jezebel interrupted, licking her thumb and rubbing it against his face in an effort to wipe some of the dried blood off.
Cobalt noted the desperation in her eyes; that wide, terrified stare. She wasn't coping with this, not at all. Throwing herself into her motherly duties was the only thing keeping Jezebel Trayer from having a total nervous breakdown.
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"Mom, give him some space to breathe, jeez," Violet spoke from the other cot, shifting about uncomfortably as her sister nudged her in her sleep.
"Where's everyone else?" Cobalt asked, looking around for his other three siblings.
Brass rolled forward and gently tugged on Jezebel's sweater, signaling for her to let Cobalt go.
"Viridi's gettin' the wounded patched up, and Azul's over in the dorms helpin' out with the lil' kids. As for Scarlet, she said she wanted to help with guard patrols. Don't know if the Sulfur Bloods'll let her, but she was gettin' antsy just sittin' on her ass."
"Tell me about it," Violet added irritably.
"You're haulin' precious cargo, missy. Can't have you overworkin' yourself. Especially not with freaks around," Brass said, hushing his voice as he wheeled himself closer to the Succubus.
He nodded at the other end of the hall, drawing Cobalt's attention to a large crowd of demons, each kneeling huddled away with their backs turned to the rest of the populace. They were all wearing white shirts spattered with red paint, and as he squinted at them, he was disturbed to see that many had painted their horns grey. His worst fears were confirmed when he saw none other than Olive standing in the centre of the group; the plucky young Golem whom had fallen in with a strange crowd. Despite the dire circumstances and the visible injuries on the flock, she was still wholeheartedly proselytising to the rest of the Iron Hound Faithful, occasionally pointing over at Cobalt and his family when they thought they weren't looking.
"Have you been getting much trouble from them?" Cobalt asked in a worried tone, turning back to his family.
Sitting back down in the cot, Jezebel squeezed Brass' hand and shook her head.
"Nothing too bad, but they've been around the house a few times. Worse than paparazzi, those lot."
"Told 'em if they bothered us again, I'd knock 'em for six with my bare fuckin' hands, legs or no legs," her husband added dourly, presenting a middle finger to the cultish collective.
Cobalt sighed.
"I'm... sorry about that. They just kind of appeared after... well..."
Brass patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry about it, son. That's just the Trayer blood, eh? Naturally charmin'," he said with a wink.
Despite his father's best efforts to raise his spirits, Cobalt couldn't help but feel a twinge of pain in his chest upon hearing that. Rather than converse further, he just sat down next to his sister in silence, lost in thought. Violet glanced over at him and gave him a nudge, allowing him to rest his head on her shoulder. It was strange for her to be so nice to him. Stranger still for his incessant hunger to grow the longer he remained close to her.
Before long - or perhaps after considerable time had passed; he could no longer tell - Viola Terna took the stage, looking for all the world like she hadn't slept in days. Her tight bun was coming undone, and she had abandoned her usual cloak and wore her hunting revolver openly on her hip. Behind her, Lorenzo Suyas stood representing the Sulfur Bloods, while Calvin Srenth appeared to be there too on behalf of the Brimstone Police Force. Additionally, a very sweat Mayor Quincy Hanlon hovered about the stage, though Cobalt had no idea what useful information he could bring to the table, all things considered.
"Here we go; Queen Bee's got a speech to give," Brass murmured as the Headmistress approached the stand.
Viola cleared her throat.
"If I could have your attention, I think it's about time we took stock of the situation and formed an action plan going forward," she said hastily, wiping her brow as she produced a notebook from her shirt pocket.
Cobalt had never seen her look so shaken. Her shirt was soaked through with sweat, and seeing the formidable Headmistress of B.I.D. with her sleeves rolled up just looked... wrong.
"From what we can see from here, those... things... have the run of almost the entire town. Why they're here and what they want, I have no idea, but they've been leaving the school alone for the most part, thanks to, ah... certain contributions from Brass Trayer."
"You're welcome!" Cobalt's father yelled, only to be scolded by Jezebel.
"Quite. I think we ought to just count ourselves lucky that as many of us managed to escape as we did."
Lorenzo, with a mighty snort, pushed past her and grabbed the microphone. From atop the stage, it was easy to see the scar from where his finger had once been severed.
"No tryin' to kid ourselves; these are bona fide Devils we're up again. They're tough, they're mean, and they're organised. My guys say they're usin' pretty archaic equipment, but they know how to use it, and I've already lost a few to potshots from crossbows and-"
The Chief of Police cleared his throat and stepped forward, wresting control of the mic.
"I think we ought to keep the gory details out of the report, don't you think, Lorenzo?" he said in a tired tone.
"I don't need to hear that from you, boot boy! I've been bustin' my ass all week, meanwhile you've just been sittin' pretty on coffee and doughnuts!"
"If you call watered-down piss coffee and stale bread doughnuts, then I suppose I have been, between all of the organising-"
Viola shoved the pair apart, almost knocking them over.
"Enough, both of you! Sit down, shut up, and listen to me!"
Lorenzo snorted once more, but the Oni just folded his arms and glared at the crowd.
"We can't sit with our thumbs up our asses any longer. We need to plan a counter-offensive," he grunted, much to the shock of a few people in the crowd.
Calvin shook his head.
"We don't have the numbers for that, even with both the police and the Sulfur bloods."
"Got a whole fuckin' town packed in here, Srenth! We're bound to outnumber them!"
"These are civilians, Suyas! Not soldiers!"
Over by the side of the stage, the mayor cleared his throat and raised a finger.
"Gentlemen, if I may offer a small suggestion-" he began, adjusting his sweater vest.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, HANLON!" they both roared, sending him back where he came from.
As the bigwigs on stage continued to bicker, Cobalt scanned the faces in the crowd all around him. They were terrified. Hungry. Tired. Confused. And the infighting amongst their de facto leadership was not doing much to ease their minds in the slightest. The familiar worm of guilt began to eat at the Incubus as deep down, he realised that this all fell on his shoulders. Those Devils out here, the reason the entire town was at risk, they were here for him and Lilith. The Jump Gate being destroyed was his fault. The abandonment of further investigation into the Tempered Bastion was his fault. Everything... it was his fault, no matter what way he flipped it.
Standing up, Cobalt began to approach the stage. Around him, his family asked after him, but he was deaf to their words. Instead, he pushed through the crowd with single-minded purpose, stopping only to give his students cursory glances as he passed them by. The arguing from the head of the hall died away as the Incubus took the stage, and by the time he reached the stand, silence had fallen.
"What are you doing, boy?! This is no time for your games!" Viola hissed through her teeth.
Taking a deep breath, he leaned into the microphone.
"Hello," he said, his booming voice shattering the silence.
Nobody responded, save the squealing of feedback.
"My name is Cobalt Trayer. I used to be the core teacher for Class 3-F, teaching Science, Language and History. That is no longer the case," he continued.
His family looked shocked, while over in the corner, the Iron Hound Faithful clung to his every word. Olive especially was enraptured; she beamed up at him, the light from the overheads glinting off her braces.
"The fuck is he doin'? What are you doin'?!" Lorenzo demanded, first to Viola, then to Cobalt.
The Incubus took a deep breath before continuing.
"I'm the reason all of this has happened. And for that, I am so, so sorry."
He gripped the pedestal tight.
"I will make this right, I promise. Whatever it takes."
Taking a deep breath, Cobalt addressed the crowd with a determined look in his wild, manic eyes.
"I once stood here and preached about the value of resolve. About fighting tooth and nail for what you love. So that's what I'll do. I'll take the fight to the Devils. Tooth and nail."
A stunned silence settled over the room, before - gradually - people began to speak out, their voices mixing together into an outraged cry. The townsfolk seemed unconvinced of his conviction, meanwhile the Iron Hound Faithful were trying to drown them out with ecstatic chants. HIs family could only watch on in horror, while through it all, Karazelle Terna just stared at Cobalt with that same, pitying look in her eye, not saying a word.
The pain in his chest worsened.
Behind him, he heard Lorenzo growl.
"So, what? You're gonna fight them all by yourself? Just Cobalt fuckin' Trayer, alone against the Devil horde?!"
The Incubus shook his head.
"I won't be alone."
In the back of his mind, he felt a flash of resolution from his Devil companion. Like she had finally made up her mind on something.
"That's it; I've had it with your bullshit, Trayer...!" the Oni barked, lunging for the Incubus.
But he never managed to lay a finger on him. At that moment, in a burst of ferromantic magic, Lilith ejected herself from Cobalt's body, catching Lorenzo mid-tackle and redirecting him into charging right off the side of the stage. As the grey mist settled and the Devil took her position by her host's side, everyone went quiet once more, completely dumbfounded.
Lilith took a sharp breath.
"All of you, shut the fuck up and listen to what he's got to say! This moron has shed blood, sweat and tears for all of you a hundred fucking times over, so the least you can do is give him a minute to speak!" she barked, sounding like a drill sergeant in the moment.
No-one dared even breathe. The Sulfur Bloods clung to their weapons shakily. The Iron Hound Faithful sunk further to their knees. The world seemed to fall still.
"... I've been in a contract with a Devil for months. I'm sorry that you all had to find out like this. But that is why they're here; to take back something that has been taken from them. So to spare you their wrath, I will go and face them, alongside Lilith here."
The Incubus took another quivering breath. Lilith placed a hand on his shoulder, but he could feel her apprehension, and her fear.
"... From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry. Even if I'm remembered for nothing but the misery I've cause you all, please know that I never intended for this. For any of this."
Behind him, the Incubus heard a quiet click.
"Turn around slowly, boy. You and your Devil pet."
A lump formed in Cobalt's throat. Slowly, he raised his hands and turned to face Viola, standing just behind him. The Succubus had her revolver drawn, and was aiming it right at his head.
"Lady, are you crazy?" Lilith asked, narrowing her one good eye.
"I'm not speaking to you, monster," Viola spat, glaring at her.
She turned her attention to her ex-employee.
"So this - all of this - was down to you?" she asked in a quiet voice, keeping her gun level.
He nodded.
"After Diate, at the start of the school year. That's when it happened. The Devils, the Bastion, the Gate... everything."
"Why?"
"There's not enough time to explain it all. Just understand that I never meant to-"
"Why shouldn't I put you down right here?"
The crowd began to show their support for Viola, outraged at Cobalt's sudden reveal.
"Who the fuck made you judge and jury, you psycho?! He's done nothing but try and protect you fucking people!" Lilith cried, only to be silenced by Cobalt.
He took a breath.
"You have no reason not to," he said simply.
The Incubus took a step towards her.
"It's always been your style. A show of force above all else. But I have to agree with you, Viola; you have every right to shoot me, right here and now."
Another step. The fire in his head grew hotter, burning through everything; memories, inhibitions... and reasoning.
"It would be justice, plain and simple."
Another step.
"A part of me wants you to. If not for the part of me that wants to set this right."
Another step. The barrel pressed right against his forehead. He could feel the Headmistress' hand tremors through the metal.
"But if you feel the need to do right by Brimstone and put me down like the animal I have become, then I can only ask you don't stop at one shot. Make it hurt. Please," he told her in a resolute tone, raising a hand to stabilise the barrel for her.
Beads of sweat formed on Viola's forehead as the shaking grew worse. Her gaze flitted from one of his eyes to the other, unable to settle. Her finger grazed the trigger over and over again, but she couldn't seem to fire it.
"... I don't who you are anymore, boy," she breathed, scarcely able to hide the fear in her voice.
Cobalt shut his eyes and slowly nodded.
"... Neither do I. But I'll do right by this town, Viola. Even if it kills me."
With that, the Incubus turned on his heel and marched off the stage, with Lilith following close behind. As the gun slipped from Viola's grasp and clattered to the floor behind him, the entire crowd erupted into chaos. The enraged civilians of Brimstone surged towards the Incubus - the man they perceived as a betrayer - fixing to finish what Viola had started, but much to his surprise, it was the Iron Hound Faithful who rushed to his aid.
"Keep them at bay! The Iron Hound bends even Devils to his will!" one man shouted, flanking Cobalt as he shoved the masses back.
"Show them what for! Show them your might!" another woman shrieked, forming a path for him by shunting a pair of demons to the floor.
"Remember the teachings of Rave, my friends! He'll strike the Devils down, and usher in a new world!" Olive screamed from the back of the hall, throwing the doors wide open for the Incubus.
He blocked out their inane drivel, his mind firmly set on the task at hand. Out of the corner of one eye, Cobalt could see his family; his confused sisters, his concerned father, and his crying mother. Out of the corner of another, he saw the faces of those he abandoned; all seven of them, equal in their fear, grief and rage.
All barring Karazelle. She just watched him leave with that saddened, hurt look.
The doors slammed shut behind Cobalt Trayer as he turned his back on the population of a town that once loved him, and with only a renegade Devil by his side, he began the long walk to Tempered Bastion 31-3.