Chapter 7: Welcome to the Darkside!!!

Three days had passed since the grand finale of Valentina's Hell Tour and her declaration of a hiatus.

The city was still abuzz with the news, but for Valentina and Tucker, a well-deserved break was in order. To unwind, Valentina suggested something that seemed perfectly normal by Hell's standards: A spa day.

The Devil's Delight Spa, nestled in the heart of the Greed District, was famous for its... unique approach to relaxation.

As they entered the dimly lit establishment, the air was heavy with a mix of sulfur and incense.

The receptionist, a demon with six eyes and a smile too wide for comfort greeted them with a hiss. "Welcome to the Devil's Delight Miss Valentina, it is an honour to serve you today."

Valentina, nodded then, signed them up for the 'Deluxe Descent Package', while Tucker looked on sceptically. "Just what exactly does this package include?" he asked, his eyes scanning the corners of the lobby, where he noticed some imps Eying the two.

Normally Valentina would have more security around her, but she trusted him so much she didn't bring any.

The receptionist's smile widened. "Oh, a bit of this, a bit of that. You'll see. It's... transformative."

'That isn't creepy at all...'

Their first stop was the Slime Baths of Misery. Instead of soothing mineral-infused mud, they were greeted by a pit of bubbling, viscous slime. "It's great for the skin," Valentina said, diving in without hesitation.

The Deluxe edition came with a private room so Valentina didn't hesitate to strip, and Tucker had seen her skinny dip in the pool so many times he's gotten used to it.

Seriously, she had no shame whatsoever.

Tucker followed suit, albeit with less enthusiasm. A towel was wrapped around his waist to hide his...Dick, but Valentina could see the outline nevertheless.

'Down Girl, he's just a friend, he's just a friend, but fuck do I want to pounce on his...**** and fuck his—****..."

Tucker who was relaxing suddenly felt a shiver down his spine.

The slime felt alive, wriggling and crawling over his skin. "I'm not sure if this is relaxing or disturbing," he muttered, trying to ignore the sensation of the slime squirming beneath his fur.

Next on the list was the Massage Chamber. However, instead of trained masseuses, they were met by tentacled creatures whose arms twisted and turned in lewd ways.

Tucker lay on the massage table, trying to relax as the tentacles kneaded his muscles with surprising gentleness. "This is... actually not bad," he admitted, just as one of the tentacles got a little too adventurous, prompting him to use his bokken to gently guide it away.

The most bizarre treatment was yet to come: The Scream Steam Room. As the name implied, it wasn't steam that filled the room, but the wails and shrieks of souls.

The sounds were meant to be therapeutic, echoing the frustrations and stress of the patrons. Tucker and Valentina sat in the misty room, surrounded by the screams. "This is supposed to be relaxing?" Tucker shouted over the din.

"It grows on you!" Valentina yelled back, looking bizarrely at ease.

After several more unconventional treatments, including a facial with lava ash and a pedicure by fire ants, the duo emerged from the spa, feeling oddly refreshed.

"That was... an experience," Tucker said. Honestly, it was better than he thought it would be, though he performed the onsens of his home country more.

Valentina laughed, her spirits lifted. "Je te l'avais dit...only the best for us, Tucker. You won't find a spa like this anywhere else."

.....

Unfortunately, the spa day, took a turn for the worse when a group of imps disguised as guests, sneaked in to Kidnap Miss Valentina.

Valentina, blissfully unaware of the unfolding drama, lay relaxed in the final mud spa, cucumber slices covering her eyes. She hummed contentedly, sinking deeper into the warm, squelching mud.

Tucker, however, was on high alert. He noticed the imps' suspicious glances and the way they inched closer to Valentina. His instincts, honed over centuries, kicked in.

He positioned himself between the imps and Valentina, feigning relaxation.

"So, how are you finding the mud bath?" Valentina asked, her voice muffled by the cucumbers.

"It's... interesting," Tucker replied, just as an imp lunged at him. Reacting swiftly, he grabbed a nearby towel, flicking it with precision to wrap around the imp's feet, sending him tumbling into a vat of slimy goo.

Another imp charged, wielding a loofah like a weapon. Tucker sidestepped, using the spa's slippery floor to his advantage. He slid, kicking a bucket of mineral water into the imp's face, momentarily blinding him.

Valentina, oblivious to the commotion, continued chatting. "I'm glad you're enjoying it. You should try the facial next."

Tucker, grappling with two more imps, responded casually while expertly dodging their clumsy attacks. "Maybe next time. The mud is quite enough for today," he said, using a nearby steam vent to his advantage, releasing a burst of steam that disoriented the attackers.

He flipped over a massage table, using it as a barrier, and tossed scented oils onto the floor, creating a slippery trap that sent the imps sliding into each other.

Throughout the ordeal, Valentina remained blissfully unaware."This has been such a wonderful day," she sighed.

Tucker, finally having incapacitated the last of the imps, dusted himself off and replied, "Absolutely, it's been quite... rejuvenating."

.....

[Location: Hell: The First Ring - Pride - Gloutvile - Greed District - Valentine Tower]

Back at Valentina's luxurious Tower, the duo settled down to unwind after their eventful spa day.

Valentina switched on the TV and navigated to Vox-Flix, Hell's version of streaming services.

She selected a show titled "The Hellashians," a reality series centred around a famous demonic family known for their extravagant lifestyle and never-ending drama.

As the show started, Tucker watched with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.

The Hellashians were a spectacle unto themselves, with outrageous fashion choices, over-the-top personalities, and drama that seemed too absurd to be real.

"So, this is Hell's idea of entertainment?" Tucker asked, raising an eyebrow as he watched a scene where the family argued over who had the most fashion sense.

"Absolutely," Valentina replied, chuckling. "It's all about excess and ego here. You should see the episode where they have a contest to see who can curse the most souls in a day. It's ridiculously hilarious."

Tucker watched as the family on-screen threw a lavish party, complete with a fountain spewing molten lava and a live band of tormented Sinners. "And people enjoy watching this?"

Valentina nodded enthusiastically. "It's a guilty pleasure. You get drawn into their life. Like this one episode where they try to outdo each other's lair renovations. One of them ended up with a throne room made entirely of bones."

As the episode unfolded, the family's matriarch scolded her children for not being evil enough, leading to a melodramatic scene filled with tears and flying imps.

Tucker couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity. "Is this for real? They actually fight like this?"

"It's part scripted, part real," Valentina explained. "But it's all about the spectacle. Hell loves its drama."

The show continued, each scene more extravagant and ridiculous than the last.

Tucker found himself oddly captivated, asking question after question as Valentina provided a running commentary, explaining the family dynamics, past scandals, and various Hellashian memes that had made their way into popular culture.

By the end of the episode, Tucker had a newfound appreciation for Hell's bizarre

entertainment. "I have to admit, this is strangely addictive," he conceded.

Valentina laughed, pleased to have converted him. "Welcome to the dark side, Tucker."