Ishnofel stepped out of his room with his usual dignity.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XHrIAMSdH
The hallway of the Hazbin Hotel greeted him with its habitual decadence: flickering neon lights buzzing with exhaustion, worn carpets soaked in old alcohol and sin, and the distant echo of laughter, arguments, and off-key music that never truly slept. The air was thick, hot, heavy with smoke and unresolved emotions.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOajTt8qEM
He walked with his back straight, arms crossed, chin held high, as if that unworthy place did not deserve his attention. Every step was firm, calculated, authoritative. An ancient demon crossing modern chaos.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUfbqRivvA
The only detail betraying that impeccable composure was the faint blush that refused to fade from his cheeks.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpu6Ur3iVhq
—Ohhh… —murmured Angel Dust from the wall, lounging shamelessly among cracks and graffiti as if Hell were his personal couch—. Well, would you look at that. The great and terrifying Ishnofel looks… shy.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZY81xHQkg
—Don’t say nonsense —Ishnofel growled without stopping—. Move aside.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ypuTc5TGZ
—Honey, when you say that with a red face, it kind of kills the threat —added Cherry Bomb, sitting on a half-broken railing, swinging one leg with amusement—. It’s actually cute.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv3Kvd0NnR
Ishnofel stopped.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpxVPElrae
The ambient noise seemed to lower, as if the hotel itself were holding its breath. He turned his head slightly and glanced over his shoulder, his calm far too perfect to be honest. His eyes burned with a silent warning.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ERWlvXKA3
—Keep talking —he said quietly—. And I promise the next loud noise will be your impact against the wall.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSE31SF2ao
—Ooooh —Angel clutched his chest theatrically—. Violent and sensitive. Carmilla’s going to melt.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh6BtBWUSZ
Before Ishnofel could reply, quick, chaotic footsteps broke the tension. Something small and energetic came running down the hallway, dodging suspicious stains and crooked furniture.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fuxqHsgwk
—ISHNOFEL! —Niffty sang out, skidding to a stop right in front of him and kicking up a small cloud of dust.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFncFn4b9B
—What? —he answered, instantly tensing.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38ChdqGdZV
She held out a red flower, a bit crooked, with uneven petals, but clearly cared for with almost obsessive dedication.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9qysqRaOU
—For Carmilla Carmine! —she announced with a radiant smile—. When someone turns red like that, it’s because they like someone.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuKexCxtag
The demon of suffering looked down at the flower as if it were a cursed artifact. The intense red seemed to mock him, alive and fragile between his fingers.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK7nibKW2v
—I-I don’t… —he swallowed—. This isn’t what it looks like.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2E6YQa2uCG
The blush deepened, spreading across his face without permission.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGoWfhqHlT
—Oh, it is definitely exactly what it looks like —Cherry commented mercilessly, pointing at him—. Look at that face.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qmIPb9aPz
—I’m not in love —Ishnofel snapped, taking the flower with an awkwardness that didn’t belong to him—. I don’t even know her. I’ve never spoken to her.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMMN7loJlN
—That’s never stopped anyone —Charlie intervened, stepping forward with her usual gentle light, sharply contrasting the surrounding gloom—. Sometimes things begin before we put a name to them.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMcHYKcBTk
—And then they explode gloriously —Angel added—. But the beginning is always awkward. Just like this.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsJFA5EhUD
—It’s not awkward —Ishnofel muttered—. It’s irrelevant.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuBCsaYCBK
—Uh-huh —several voices replied, unconvinced.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHagRt48qX6
Elegant footsteps descending the stairs caught everyone’s attention. The sound was different: confident, assured, almost theatrical.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDlOCmElr4
—Why does the air smell like romantic tension? —Lucifer Morningstar asked, casually swinging his rubber duck—. And not the fun kind.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR69H2cKpox
Ishnofel opened his mouth to respond, but Angel was faster.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQd6oqT4o6
—Boss, we have a critical situation: Ishnofel is madly in love.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡainFR00L3W
—I am NOT —he snapped—. And stop saying it like that.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIN9Huv7Km
Lucifer studied him closely, slowly circling him as if examining a rare collectible. He tilted his head, amused.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZDOZL8vF0
—Interesting —he commented—. You say one thing, but your body language tells a different story.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVegCO7hJP
—It’s hot —Ishnofel replied stiffly—. This place is suffocating.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUxwof4keq
—Of course —Lucifer smiled—. Internal heat.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Nm2Dy8eaG
Nearby, an old radio crackled with static, as if something else wanted to join in.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOyJtAwueW
—What a delicious moment —Alastor chimed in, appearing with his impossible smile—. Especially since today there’s an Overlords meeting.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoGXEXvT7F
—I won’t attend —Ishnofel replied instantly.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vHeApOUhR
—Oh, what a shame —Alastor continued with feigned sadness—. Carmilla Carmine confirmed her attendance.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrwf3EqBlK
The world stopped.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLDonmxwLl
Ishnofel froze, like a cracked statue.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuLBayXqPM
—…Oh? —he asked, far too quickly.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z13DD33TH
The silence was absolute.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6Mx9F9pXx
—Yep —everyone replied in unison.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyIz8o4b9U
Ishnofel closed his eyes for a second and exhaled slowly, as if trying to regain control over something that had never escaped him before.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5o0bame27
—I’m going for practical reasons —he clarified—. Information. Strategy.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIiRyh0r1c
—Naturally —Alastor nodded—. Strategies of the heart.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRW0HkpBNc
—I’m going —Ishnofel said finally—. And if anyone comments—
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipMmnPJfiB
—What? —Angel grinned—. You’ll break our hearts?
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3ibYEojE7
Ishnofel didn’t respond. He simply turned around and walked away, his figure disappearing among faulty lights and dancing shadows.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkV8W8IwtT
Laughter erupted behind him, bouncing through the hotel corridors.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AoaQlhCvB
Alone at last, he lowered his gaze to the flower still in his hand. Without realizing it, he was holding it carefully, as if it were something valuable… something vulnerable.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpQTW9PxS2
The demon of suffering frowned.
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKifArpxNA
For the first time in centuries, he didn’t know whether what he felt was a dangerous weakness…
107Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQfIIGZJe7
or the beginning of something truly worth suffering for.
ns216.73.216.250da2
and then Add to home screen.